From Dave's Desk
by David L. Fulbright
It is a rare day that I find myself at a loss for words. Today is such a day. I have rewritten this introduction to the newsletter four times. I am trying one more time, because I want to share clearly some simple things with you. First, this newsletter is free-free. I am like the man who does adds for a men's clothing store in my town. He always says, "The second suit is free-free. It costs you nothing, absolutely nothing." This newsletter goes to every person we have on our mailing list. If you have a paid up membership, you receive this newsletter. If you haven't ever given the Fulbright Family Association a dime, you receive this newsletter. It is raining on those who pay and those who don't pay. At the Lake Junaluska Fulbright Family Reunion, the family voted to do this once a year, because the association wants to stay in touch with every family member, but we cannot afford to publish a "free-free" newsletter four times a year. We don't have the money. It is that simple.
We send you a "free-free" newsletter to invite you to the Fulbright Family Reunion in Springfield, Missouri on June 26, 27 and 28. We also want you to join the family association. Why? There is no other legitimate organization in the world that seeks to promote an accurate knowledge of the Fulbright family. We work to publish the family history and genealogy. By pooling the best work of many family members, we can do more than any of us working alone can accomplish. We seek to bring our family members together for mutual enjoyment, education and recreation. We call that "having a reunion." The reunions are wonderful times of sharing and visiting.
If you join the family association, it will cost you ten dollars for a two year membership. For that you receive four newsletters a year. The last edition cost the association one dollar and seventy-eight cents a copy. We know that we cannot continue to publish at that cost. The reason for the high cost of publication is that we have more to publish than we have ever had. Thanks to a growing membership, we have a backlog of articles. This edition could easily be another six to eight pages longer. At the moment, we cannot afford to publish a "free-free" newsletter of that size. We have to limit a newsletter like this to once a year.
I hope that you do the right thing and join the association. Take out your checkbook and write a check out for ten dollars. Send it to Roger Gephart at 1430 Community Drive, Derby, KS 67037. Then, do something that will give you enjoyment and help you to learn more about your family than you have ever known. Register for the family reunion in Springfield.
That is it. This is my fifth attempt to say clearly and simply why this newsletter is different and what makes it special. I always thought the guy on television who talked about those "free-free" suits was pretty stupid, but you know, I never pass his store without remembering his commercial. I sincerely hope you don't forget what is being said in this "free-free" newsletter.
All of us are descendants of two, probably related, German-American couples. It is one of the most delightful things in life to find out what your roots are. Members of your family have sponsored a named room in The History Museum of Springfield-Green County. In Springfield, you can visit that museum. The Fulbright Family Archives Room is a part of our ongoing, developing heritage as we seek to better understand our family and preserve its history. Visit the Fulbright Family Archives Room with us. We shall have a chance to visit and share a meal with members of the Louis Fulbright family. This will be their first reunion with us.
This issue contains important material including two articles on the Fulbrights and Springfield, Missouri by Ed Stout, a report on our web page by Karen McClaran, introduction to the Louis Fulbright line by Clara Maddox, and general information on the reunion. Read on!