Sisson Gathering Richmond, Virginia June 23-26, 2004 The Sixth Bi-annual Sisson Gathering will be held June 23-26, 2004 at the Best Western Airport Inn in Richmond, Virginia. Whether you know your ancestors or are interested in finding them, you are cordially invited. We will share our known genealogical data, and offer the opportunity for research. The Sisson Archives containing digital copies of wills, photographs, maps, and other material will available and will gladly receive copies of anything you'd like to add to the collection. Our group rate at the Best Western Airport Inn is $45 per night (single) or $50 per night (double), which includes a Continental Breakfast. The deadline for room reservations is May 23, after which, the room deposit is not refundable. The phone number for reservations is 1-804-222-2780. For information about the hotel, go to: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=47066 The $35 registration fee includes dinner on Saturday evening. Transportation, lodging and other meals are not covered. Please return the registration form and fee to Annie Sisson by May 1. The registration form is on our website at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dasisson/registrationform2004.html Wednesday, June 23 will be an early arrival day. Thursday, June 24 will be a day for informal meeting and socializing. We will have space available to set up displays of family records, photos or treasures that you'd like to share, and the archives and searching resources will be available. Friday, June 25, we will meet in the morning, with presentations about the resources available, things to see and do in Richmond, and, since we'll be in the Confederate Capitol, we'll have "first hand" information about life during the Civil War. We will leave time in the afternoon for those who'd like to take advantage of the Virginia State Library and Archives or other resources in the area, or do a short sightseeing trip. The meeting room will still be open for those who'd rather just socialize, and the archives and searching resources will be available as well. We'll reconvene Thursday evening, for a special "visit" with our founding fathers, Robert of Virginia and Richard of New England. On Saturday, June 26, we'll have an update on the search in England for information about Richard and Robert. We will discuss the results of our on-going DNA project, and we'll learn about becoming a professional genealogist. Does your family have interesting tales and legends? Have they interacted with famous/infamous historical characters? If you have a good story to tell or an idea for a 10 to 15 minute presentation you'd like to do, please let us know. We'd like you to help us make the event fun and educational for everyone. Saturday evening we will share dinner, and then Dr. Dorothy Boyd-Rush, Professor of History at James Madison University, will talk about the transport system and indentured servants who populated the early colony of Virginia. We'll end the Gathering with a brief business meeting, including selecting a location and a committee for the next Gathering in 2006. We will have doorprizes to award, as well. We look forward to hearing from you and to meeting you there. Sisson Gathering 2004 Committee Sharon Sisson Miller