From our President
Bill Eddleman
I hope the holiday season found most of you in good health and that you were able to spend the time with family and friends. I’m happy to report yes to both in my case. It’s been a busy year-thus the late newsletter. Chris and I had a great time on our trek last summer. We walked 56 miles in 10 days, got to see a lot of great scenery, and participated in a lot of fun activities at Philmont Scout Ranch. We’d both like to do it again in two years!
We are moving along at the Eddleman house. I was selected to be the next chairman of the Biology Department starting in August. This will give me some new challenges, but relieve some of the work I’m doing now (less teaching, for example). Chris started high school this fall, and is finding it to be a LITTLE more of a challenge than grade school. Hope is continuing to work with special needs pre-school children, and keeping very busy with that.
I’m sorry that we were unable to attend the reunion last summer, but we are definitely planning on the Lake Junaluska trip next summer. I’m sure Judy is planning an eventful get-together for us. I have heard, however, that her mother Betty is not doing well, so let’s all include her in our prayers. I’ve heard of a number of our stalwart members who have passed away or are having health problems. I’m sure those who are suffering from illnesses have all of our best wishes.
The FFA is going to have some special challenges to meet this year. I am just too busy to even think about being President of the group again. In addition, David Herd has indicated he no longer will serve as Treasurer and Membership Chairman. After all the hard work he and Patricia have done for the FFA, I can see why they need a break. I have not spoken to Janice Fulbright recently, and I also assume she wants to step down as Recording Secretary. Thus, we need a whole new slate of volunteers to serve as officers for the FFA. We need for some of you to step forward and help out. All those of us who are currently officers have done our part, and just want to be contributing regular members after this year.
I appreciate hearing from a number of you, although I’d like to get more articles for the newsletter. Let’s hear about you! Not all of our members are genealogists, and I’m sure some probably get tired of the genealogically-oriented articles I generate to fill these pages. I also have a lack of material on the Andreas line, and many of the FFA are from this branch and would like to read about their kin. Send it on to me for the next newsletter, and have a happy 2003!