Good question from Sue and a good answer from Karen. At first, I didn't think I wanted to join GSMD. It cost too much to gather all the certificates and papers and besides, I had done enough research in the prior 27 years to be comfortable with my results. Almost no one in my family seemed to care much, either. It was my hobby and only my dad's sister seemed to enthuse with me (although my late mother would have). But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could leave a pretty good legacy for others in future generations who MIGHT care. And I might learn something in the process. Well, I did and I did. My lines had to been followed further than thr first 6 generations - so I had 6 or 7 generations to prove - for all 11 Mayflower connections in my family! I solved mysteries that other family researchers and distant cousins had been unable to solve. I learned great histories and fuin anecdotes. And I met new cousins - as close as second cousins - whom I had never met. And through those cousins, I obtained PICTURES of ancestors I never would have know except from documents. I now have 30 8x10 pictures hanging in my office, including one from an exquisite tintype from about 1880 and another of Julia Asentha Delano - my great-great-great-grandmother. And I have a few more coming from another cousin in Salt Lake from the other side of my family (the Paine connection to Brewster and Hopkins). So, am I glad I decided to do the work to join GSMD? For each of us, the fun in in the JOURNEY and not the end. And the SERENDIPITY that accompanies our searches makes it a glorious adventure indeed. Happy hunting. Blessings to each of you, Father John >From: KARENE1@webtv.net (~Karen E~) >To: MAYFLOWER-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [MFLR] Why join? >Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 22:45:18 -0500 (EST) > >Sue, I thought your question was an honest one and not mean spirited at >all. Joining a Society is really a matter of personal objective. I >don't belong to an individual Society but I may join the John Howland >and/or the Warren Cousins groups. That would be strictly for my own >enjoyment. I joined the Mayflower Society in honor of my grandparents. >To my knowledge, I am the first one in my line to prove and join, and >that is a real honor for me. The day I received my certificate, I >offered up a prayer to my ancestors and thanked them. It was the >culmination of much work and many "coincidences". We "worked" together >for that certificate and that is why I am proud to be a member of the >National Society of Mayflower Descendants. > >Karen Flanders Eddy > > >==== MAYFLOWER Mailing List ==== >Check out the Mayflower FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)page at >http://www.macatawa.org/~crich/mayfaq.htm . _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail