Please accept my apologies for getting this list together so late. Have been traveling extensively for business lately and helping out with our daughter's Girl Scout troop. I want to acknowledge the help of Jacque Otts and Liz Hicks for their input on the following suggestions. I met both of these ladies for the first time at the Bibb County, AL genealogy swap meet in August, 1997. Both are great and always willing to help. The following is a compilation of suggestions. Your input will be helpful in developing the final plan to make Union Reunion '99 a real event. DATE: I have not been able to determine the date of the Shiloh Baptist Church 150th anniversary celebration. No responses to my email requests. If someone can find out for us, it may be one possible suggestion. I believe that it is scheduled for the weekend of May 22-23, 1999. This date could keep families with children in school from coming from out of town. I also don't have the date for the Bernice 100 year celebration. Anyone know? If during the school year, could have the same problem as above. This essentially leaves a summer date. TYPE: Do we want the simple large gathering of families, sharing a potluck lunch or a genealogy swap meet? Most of you are familiar with the former. A swap meet involves inviting anyone with interest in genealogy research of a particular area to come. During the meet, individuals have the opportunity to meet other individuals who are researching the same lines, the opportunity to meet "new" cousins, and the opportunity to exchange information. My observations on both. With the large gathering, you will probably have family groups sitting pretty much to themselves with a few individuals mingling among the various groups. With the meet, you will have fewer family members attending, but most of the attendees will be interested in exchanging information. Which type do we go with? The type chosen determines the audience and work that needs to be done. To the best of my knowledge, a parishwide swap meet has not been held in Louisiana. LOCATION: Darbonne State Park is relatively new and my understanding is that it is quite pretty. However, weather is always a factor. For this type of large gathering, indoors is the way to go. Our family uses the Shiloh Baptist Church fellowship hall for our reunions. But it cannot handle the large crowds that would be expected. We would need the fellowship hall/family life center of one of the larger churches that could handle several hundred people or one of the school cafeterias. We will need a volunteer to locate the site. PUBLICITY. We can't start soon enough. Should have started "yesterday". We need to publicize on the web, send notices to all of the libraries in Louisiana and possibly Texas and Arkansas. Notices need to be sent to all of the genealogy publications possible as well as some of the genealogy columns. The newspaper "Louisiana Roots" contains a good list of Louisiana societies and publications. You can probably think of many more. Remember that Texas and Arkansas need to be considered since Union Parish families moved to these states. SPONSORS: If we go the swap meet, it would be appropriate to have sponsors present. Genealogy publishing companies could be invited to bring their books for sale. Local societies should be offered table space for their displays. BENEFICIARY: A swap meet can be used as a fundraiser. Copy machines and supplies are generally donated; charges for copies are made. Proceeds could be donated to a group. Possible suggestions would be the Bernice Historical Society or the Union Parish Library system with funds dedicated for genealogy materials. In the two meets that I a familiar with, over $2,000 was given to the local library or genealogy society. "OFFICERS": Believe not positions to be envied. But someone needs to be "in charge" to be contact points and answer questions, account for funds received/disbursed, etc. REGISTRATION: We need to have some idea of how many are expected. The Bibb Co. group did not charge a registration fee. The Cherokee Co. TX group did. The fee charged was used to cover expenses including postage, printing of notices, etc. Definitely open for discussion on the fee issue. EQUIPMENT: We'll need some audio equipment so that speakers/announcements can be heard without screaming. Copy machines are usually donated by a local business. Toner and paper are also donated. There have been professional photographers present who could make copies of photographs that were brought. Having a computer present so that GEDCOM files can be exchanged is another possibility. SPEAKERS: Having at most two speakers during the day adds a special touch. For example, Cherokee Co, TX had a speaker talk on the Ghost Towns of Cherokee Co. and one to talk on Little Known Genealogy Sources. Something similar could help someone discover a new resource that might be the springboard for their own project. SAMPLE MEET AGENDA: >From the Cherokee Co, TX swap meet: 9-11 Registration and sharing, copying, etc. information 11-11:45 Greeting and introductions--those wanting to come to the microphone could give their name, address and surnames of interest 11:45-12:15 Speaker One 12:15 - 1:45 Lunch Break 1:45 - 2:45 Speaker Two 2:45 - 3:30 Continue exchanging info, copying, etc. 3:30 - 5:00 Questions and answers All Day Sale of books and publications All Day Sharing , Viewing, Copying Information FOOD: Potluck, on-your-own, catered? Perhaps a booster club would want to set up a booth to sell burgers, etc. as part of a fundraiser for themselves. LODGING: Lodging is limited in Union Parish. This means going to Ruston or Monroe. Would need to gather information and possibly negotiate a preferred rate. EXTRACURRICULAR: Each swap meet had a cemtery tour. These tours included some history of the cemetery and tried to point out graves of individuals of interest. Family group sheets are a definite requirement. Are we up to the task? Provide your suggestions and let's move forward. Roy Austin 7342 Hazel Cove Drive Houston, TX 77095 (281) 463-4312