Well another year has come and gone and so has yet another reunion! This year was the eighth Emmons Family Reunion.
Well this year was no different that the last two, I was too busy to really take notes and this year I don't even have minutes to look at, so bear with me as I tell you what I can tell you.
Grace was given at about 1:15 and then we all dug into all the fixing's that had been brought by our numerous cousins in attendance.
After lunch the reunion business meeting was called to order by predident Fran Emmons Shields. The minutes from the 2005 reunion was read by Linda Emmons Self and the financial report was given by Phyllis Emmons Wininger. Then I, Lori Stephenson, was called upon to read the names of our cousins who have passed away since the last reunion. A Poem was read while a Candle was lit that remained burning in their memory throughout the reunion.
Births, and Marriages were then announced. Unfortunately I didn't hear what was announced. The only news I was aware of is that my grandmother, Edith Jones Emmons passed away June 14, 2006 in Indianapolis, IN at 85 years of age. Tim and Jackie Emmons Roberts celebrated there 50 wedding anniversary in April.
THe business meeting continued with discussion about officers and games and whether we even wanted to contiinue the reunion. This is hard for me to convey because I have worked so hard to give everyone I can their past so the reunion means a lot to me.
This is what was decided. Next year there will be a reunion held the 4th Sunday in July at the French Lick Senior Citizen's Center at 1 PM. This will make the 9 reunion. But next year there are no officers but Phyllis Emmons Wininger as Treasure. There will be no structured Business meeting. And it was voted that there would be no games.
Basically, I feel the reunion is dying. I am left with asking how can I ask people to travel hundreds of miles to sit and eat and leave? I'm devestated that the reunion has come to this. So that leaves me to one thing if you want to save the reunion from implosion please come next year amd voice your opinion help me save our connection to the past.
I wanted to tell you all why all this means so much to me. Most of you have never met me so have no reason to know what I am about to tell you. The truth is I am legally Deaf. I started researching the Emmons Family in 1995. Then in the fall of 1996 and Spring of 2007 my hearing what little I had went away. I couldn't hear even with my hearing aide so I poured myself into genealogy and research. It was my way of having meaning. I spent hours in the libraries reading obituaries, Death records, marriage records, birth records and census records. I would spend probably 40 hours a week researching the family. I wanted so much to give people their past and to have a reason to exist myself. Then my hearing improved to where I could hear again with my aide but I didn't stop with my desire to connect people with their ancestors so a cousin and I started the reunion as another way of connecting people with their ancestors but with their families. And now I feel everything I did was for naught. This is why I hope that you will help me save the reunion by coming to it even though there is nothing to keep you there. So please do come.
Games
Merle Emmons was the oldest man in attendance. He's a youngster at 87 years of age. He recieved a hand painted birdhouse designed by myself. Carmen Emmons Hueston was the oldest woman in attendance. It was only her second reunion and we were thrilled to have her.
I don't know who the uongest in attencance were by this time I'm trying hard not to cry and feeling sorry for myself.
Nancy Heckmaster traveled the farthest. She came from Arkansas and it was her first reunion. She stayed with my family while she was here and I still talk about getting to ride in her car, a jag!
Winners of Bingo were: Pat Emmons, Keith Emmons, Clayton Tow and many others
Reunion donations were taken to pay for the costs of renting the senior citizen's center and to pay for games and prizes.
Officer
Treasure: Phyllis Emmons Wininger
The reunion is set for the 4th Sunday of July 2007 at 1 pm at the French Lick Senior Citizen's Center. The date is July 22nd so mark your calendars.
Lori
Reunion Pictures, Thanks to Nancy Heckmaster
Marilyn Stevens Emmons and Virginia Pruett Emmons
Clois Rominger Emmons, Phyllis Emmons Wininger and Jerry Emmons
