The reunion plans are rapidly coming into place, and I hope that you will be able to be with us in Springfield in '93. At the board meeting on July 27, we ate at the Quality Inn and saw the facilities we shall be using for the reunion. They are attractive and ample for our needs. Next year, we shall be able to go to one place and stay until done. Our visiting, eating, and sleeping will be under one roof.

We have tried to make our planning as broadly based as possible. The phone lines have been hot at times, and the area representatives have been consulted with written surveys. Finally, the board met and made program decisions for the reunion.

I am going to North Carolina and meeting with a group of Fulbrights on the 8th of August. We are hoping that this meeting generates interest in North Carolina for the reunion. It promises to be a delightful experience and an historic one in some ways. This reunion began with southwest Missouri Fulbright conversations and became nation wide in scope, but my own part of the family has been out of contact with North Carolina Fulbrights for a long time. From my knowledge of events, my own direct ancestor left there in or about 1812! It is time that we learn more about each other.

I recall walking up to Jimmy Fulbright at a Branson, Missouri music show and introducing myself. We had not met each other, and I briefly sketched in the details of the history of our family. Jimmy was astonished. He had not known about the Missouri family. He was from North Carolina. I am finding that the situation is pretty common. (Incidentally, Jimmy has the famous Fulbright dimple and is now with the Branson Brothers at Silver Dollar City. You could see him perform before or after the reunion. The Branson Brothers have the leading role in the Echo Hollow Show which is seen each evening at silver dollar city. A lot of observers feel that it is as good a show as Branson has and may be the best of the lot.) We need to get acquainted.

When I discussed going to North Carolina with our late cousin, Marion Hoblit, her immediate response was, "0h, David, go. It sounds like fun. I would like to go with you." We miss Marion a lot. With her zest, she might have gone with me, had things happened differently. As it is, the reunion will still be fun, but each of us will have to do a little more on the planning this year, because Marion won't be with us. I am thankful that we had her while we did. I shall never forget talking with her about family history in our first meeting in 1990. She looked up, eyes twinkling, "Let's have a reunion. We haven't had one in years, and it is such fun!" Indeed it was fun, and no one had more fun than Marion! My own sense of things is that as much as we shall miss Marion, we shall have that same spirit in Springfield in June, 1993.

Plan now to join us on June 26, 27, and 28 in Springfield and join the fun.

It is great to be related to you.

David Fulbright