I wonder if the family from out of town brought the heat? It got hot about the time you got here and cooled off just as you left. We had record temperatures and record humidity while the Fulbrights were in town. Perhaps, it was the involvement and energy of all us working together that warmed things up.

As I looked out over the group on Saturday night, I started a list of people whom I felt should be thanked publicly. I soon realized that I couldn’t do that. I might miss someone. In writing names down on that list, I realized that over half of the people there had participated in actual work to make the reunion what it was, and others had traveled many long miles to be there. Those who traveled so far had contributed with their presence, helping to make it a wonderful occasion.

I have never see anything like it. I’m in a lot of organizations. Many of them survive and get along with only a few members working, but it was the participation of so many of our family in making the reunion what it was that was different. It is as if a lot of Fulbrights made the association their association, not something that belonged to some one else.

A lot of folks went above and beyond just attendance and really contributed for the enjoyment of all of the family. I think that was the key to what happened in Batesville. I had a good feeling from people who attended, including some of my close relatives whom I had not seen in awhile. They were glad to be there and glad to be a part of things.

I am pleased that we met so many of our association objectives in Batesville. We wanted to get away from Springfield this time to involve local people of other areas. We had a good local representation. Several folks became involved for the first time. It created new interest in our family around Batesville and in Arkansas. I hope that carries over to the North Carolina Reunion; I believe that it will. I see the interest stirred up at this reunion lasting locally for the next several years. The meeting increased membership. It increased participation in the association. Both of these things were our goals. It began to get Fulbrights involved in the Old Independence Museum project. Both local Fulbrights and those who live at a distance have already contributed to the Museum that is now under construction. Hopefully, others will contribute. By the way, I need to send you a letter about that.

I believe we had just over a 100 people registered. Ninety of us were at the Saturday evening banquet. I am glad we met in Batesville. I saw a result that I had not anticipated. I saw the reunion bring members of my family together who had not seen one another for a longtime. One of my cousins said to me, "Call me, I would like to sit down and visit." I saw brothers get together who had not seen each other for some time. It was very real and very personal. If we hadn’t had the meeting in Batesville some of those relationships would not have been renewed.

I also saw a number of us getting closer as family. People like Judy, Cat and Myrtle, Ed and you, Donnie and Jim......I could name a lot of names, but we all continue to get closer as family. That continued to happen in Batesville. We hadn’t planned on it. It’s great!

People who were new want to be in touch. They want to receive the newsletter. They want to be a part of the association. The interest is real down here. We can build on that and on the interest of all the people who came so far. I was pleased with both groups.

Family, I am glad you came to Batesville. I look forward to seeing you in North Carolina in ’97.