Thanks, Susan, for the input about a Reunion. Your cautions and suggestions are well made. It seems that we would need to form a Washburn Family Association and have an election of officers in order to organize such a reunion. The president of the group could be in charge of planning and appoint various committees. Does anyone know if there is already an association of Washburns? If one does exist, could it be expanded through the internet to include the members on this list? If not, is someone on the list willing to organize such an association? There could also be regional associations of Washburns since there are so many of us, and so far flung. I belong to another family association which has minimal dues of $12 a year (with an initial fee of $5) for which you receive a quarterly newsletter on family issues and information. I agree with you that a summer 2001 weekend in New England, probably Bridgewater, Mass, where the Washburns began their American odyssey, would be a good place to initiate a yearly or bi-yearly reunion. Because of its historical significance, it would offer valuable sites for field trips, such as Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrim Museum for the Washburn's Mayflower connection. There would also be adequate accommodations at various prices in and around the Boston area. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents of ideas for what their worth to the discussion of a reunion. Washburnly yours, Nancy ---- Original Message ----- From: <SUSANLB@aol.com> To: <WASHBURN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2000 5:29 AM Subject: Re: Fw: WASHBURN NATIONAL REUNION > I like the thought of a Washburn family reunion, but the organization behind > putting one together is overwhelming to me. > > Someone has to plan at least my catered luncheon or better yet dinner that > everyone will attend. Even though each attendee pays his own way, someone > has to contact an establishment, or rent a hall and get a caterer and be > responsible for paying the bill. > > There should be at least one planned activity - visit to an historical site, > something just for the fun of getting together with family and interacting > (No visiting a cemetery or going to a research facility is no a planned > family activity!) > > The location where the reunion is held needs to have housing facilities equal > to the number of people coming, at a variety of prices so that all can afford > it. - Which leans things toward a metropolitan area. > > If you have a dinner, it would be nice to have a speaker for the dinner who > could give an entertaining, but information talk on some aspect of the > Washburn family. > > There needs to be some form of organization to get members of the same branch > together. Probably broken down by descendants of William, descendants of > Phillip and then a series of groups for descendants of each of the > children of John Washburn & Elizabeth Mitchell. > > The first reunion would probably be a simple "long Week-end" affair. > Perhaps, Get in on Friday, trip on Saturday, meals on your own, group > discussion in the evening. Luncheon with speaker on Sunday and go home. > > Since the roots of most Washburn's are in New England - I would suspect the > first meeting should be there. But for the most part any planning done this > year would be for an event in 2001 - most place are now booked with summer > vactioners in New England, and then in the fall with the leaf-peeping tours. > I wouldn't do it in the winter - I moved out of New England because i didn't > like the winters. > > Anyone belong to other one-name socieities that hold a reunion? What do > they do? > > Susan Bingler > Fairfax, VA > >