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Archiver > BONIFACE > 2003-01 > 1042658166


From: "Pauline Mowbray" <>
Subject: RE: [BONIFACE-L] U.K.Reunion, 2003
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 05:16:06 +1000
In-Reply-To: <MABBJDBKKJEOFEKBAICJEECCEMAA.dparsons@centrenet.co.uk>


Hi Derrick & Everyone
I know when the Woolgar's had one of there picnic's they had it in the
open at Seaford, I think they went on to go though the Museum & the
church, I do not know if Allan & Dorothy Martin who are BIG members went
they may be able to help how that one went Dorothy is my 4th cousin 1
time removed on my GREEN/WINTER line from Seaford.

Another one was the Shoesmith's they had a organized meal at the Boship
farm Restaurant which is near Hailsham from memory I think some people
stayed there then they went on to view some of the places ancestors
lived.

Now from memory there are some Boniface's from the Hailsham branch who
have the Boship address am I correct?

Also I read about the Shoesmith event on the Internet they even had the
menu I will see if I can find it again.
BFN Pauline


Hi Michelle (and others),

Many thanks for the suggestions which will come in very handy as things
develop.

Just to let you all know that I have investigated the suitability of the
Fisherman's Club in Eastbourne and I don't think that it's going to
offer us what we want. They have just the one function room (the
ballroom) and this has limited availability on weekends. We'll need to
look elsewhere. I think a village hall or community centre is what we
should be looking for. Any suggestions from anyone?

Those of you who subscribe to the Sussex-Plus and SFHG lists will see a
note from me asking for suggestions for suitable venues. Maybe someone
on these lists has already had experience with get-togethers of this
type and can point us in the right direction.

More later,

Derrick

-----Original Message-----
From: Michele T. Boniface Tsuji [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 9:03 PM
To:
Subject: [BONIFACE-L] U.K.Reunion, 2003


Hi Steve, Hi Group,

So sorry to be silent for so long. Christmas is over, my brother is
married off, and I am once again healthy. It's time to catch up on
writing e-mail. I have tried to keep up on reading it, though you've
been talking so fast and furiously about new stuff that I've just had to
go and re-read.

It sounds like the Reunions are coming along. I'm glad to hear the
discussion on the U.K. reunion. I hope to make it, but can't say for
certain, yet. I've got the date marked off, though.

I'll try to share what I've learned, though the reunion here in
Michigan is of much looser organization. I basically start calling key
relatives a month or so in advance, to remind them and ask them to
remind their families. There are some people I check in with a week or
two beforehand, to see that they haven't forgotten. We always have it
on the same weekend, at the same time, so it's easy to pass on the word.
So I can't give any tips on mailings. I do, however, call the resort
and reserve our weekend, early in the summer. They are also Boniface
members, but they are waiting for that call.

At each reunion I pass around a sign up sheet, asking for names,
addresses and phone number. This also helps to get a count of how many
people attended. Recently I've been collecting e-mail addresses of
those who have them. This all helps for future contact. I also have
addresses of some cousins who can't come, but who like to get the info
and newsletter.

Our reunion is a picnic potluck, so someone is delegated to get there
early, to hold tables. First thing I do when I get there is put up a
noticeable "Boniface" sign by the road, indicating the entrance to the
park. Once the attendees are inside the park, there is a banner which
my kids made with the computer years ago, which we often hang on the
pavilian roof, above the tables.

Everyone brings a dish to pass, and their own drink and table service.
I usually bring some extra, just in case. I also try to bring a roll of
table plastic or paper, to cover the picnic tables.

Because ours is such an informal affair, people take seats wherever they
want, as they arrive. However, groups tend to sit here and there, so
we often have families sitting together, with lots of empty space
between. I've always felt that it would be nicer to fill up one stretch
of table before starting another, and having everyone sitting and
talking together. I've made the suggestion, however, it's my parents and
and their generation that I'm talking with, so I don't feel comfortable
being pushy. So we have two lines of tables, with the food tables in a
line between them. With the U.K. reunion, perhaps a more unifying set
up could be planned.

Name tags when people walk in would be helpful. Perhaps with several
ancestors and main birthplace mentioned above our own name. For
example, mine could say "William and Elizabeth", "Francis and Lucy"
"Hailsham" or some such. That way we could easily discover connections.

We always start the meal with someone leading us in prayer, because our
group is comfortable with that. I think that's about the only time we
get the whole group is quiet. Perhaps at the larger, U.K. gathering,
there could to be a planned time for an introduction, with a person
prepared to make it. I don't know how informal/formal you want to be,
but decide that beforehand.

Someone usually brings old pictures to show, so it's good to have a time
and place for that. Any old photos that I've copied are in a Boniface
album, which is out for anyone to see. I try to take photos during the
reunion, and add them for the next year, so there's a mix of old photos
and new. Years ago I printed out a family tree which stretches the
length of six or seven tables, which people like to come look at. Those
of us who are into
family history want to talk, copy notes. etc. All these things need a
time to happen, and in Barry County they usually happen after the meal.
Those not into genealogy sit around catching up on what has happened in
the last year. The kids are usually swimming, so they are having fun,
too. A volley ball game used to occupy some of the kids and adults for
several
hours, but that hasn't happened in the last five years or so, perhaps
because everyone who once played are a bit older now. There's lots
going on at a reunion besides eating. We usually eat at 1:00, and the
last people leave after 5 or 6, depending on the year.

In years past the reunion mainly fell on my shoulders to coordinate.
Everyone just showed up with the food. This year I tried to involve
several sisters in planning a few projects. The more people willing to
help in the preparation and planning, the easier it is, and the more you
can accomplish.

This last year we had a township map, with the farms of the first
several generations marked in bold color. Then we had a county map,
and a state map, with paper tags and string. People wrote their names
on the paper, and attached them with string to the spot on the map where
they lived. This was an attempt for us to see how much we had spread
out from the original homestead. Everyone seemed to enjoy this.

Other than casual photos while people are talking and eating, this year
we tried to get family group photos. We also attempted an "all reunion
Photo" Of course, some people had left right after lunch, and some
didn't get there until after the photo. But hopefully we got everyone
in one picture or another. I'm usually the self-appointed photographer,
and everyone puts up with me graciously, but this year a sister with her
digital camera took the photos. I'm sure many of us will come to the
U.K. armed with cameras, but if we want to attempt an "all reunion
photo" we need someone who is not part of our group to take the picture!
Also, do we want someone to take a video?

The potluck idea works very simply when people are coming from their
homes, in their cars. We'll need to consider how many people are
coming, and from where, to figure our how to make it work on a large
scale. If lots of people are coming from their homes to the potluck,
they can maybe carry the bulk of the main dishes, with visitors from
hotels, etc. bringing salads, breads, cakes, etc. ...things that don't
need to be cooked. Or things that can be purchased already made. We
need to keep discussing this as the day grows nearer, to make sure it
works smoothly.

I guess that's about all I can think of. I heard some ideas for other
activities, it might be nice to have options for Friday, or Sunday.
Hope this has been of some use.



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