Happy Valentine's Day! It seems we're getting closer to spring and it won't be long before we all convene for our George McElroy Fishback and Catherine Canfield Railey Family Reunion, June 8th & 9th, in Versailles, Kentucky. When you sign up to join our blog site at left, please select, "Follow Publicly," so we know who you are when you RSVP below. If you prefer, you may email (privately) john@drewstl.com or write a "Comment" (publicly) in the section below telling us your plans to attend and your thoughts on early arrival activities. Joining our blog site will keep you updated and informed as more information on the reunion is available. This blog and all information is only available to family members who have been invited to join and no public access is allowed.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We are holding all rooms at both A Story Book Inn [formerly the Haupt/Amsden Home] (2 suites still available-price varies) and The Woodford Inn [formerly the Cleveland Orphan Home] (5 double rooms still available-$103/night), but we will need to let them go soon. Plans are in progress, but it is expected that all activities will be held at the Woodford Inn. You can find more information on these and other accommodations using the links at right. If you have reserved accommodations with John you will soon be contacted to confirm and make a room deposit. If you are interested in securing sleeping accommodations, please contact John as soon as possible. john@drewstl.com or by phone at (314) 308-0877.
ACTIVITIES*
A tentative outline of reunion activities to be held at the Woodford Inn includes:
Friday: Evening welcome reception
Saturday: Mid-morning socializing/meet your family
Lunch
Afternoon socializing/meet more of your family
Dinner
Note: All listed Inns, below, provide a full breakfast. Woodford Inn is the only one that has a full restaurant serving lunch and dinner.
We are considering arrangements for several optional Friday morning activities for those arriving early. Links and some suggestions, or your own thoughts, are listed below for your vote. We are fortunate to have professional equestrian tour guide, Martha Buster Martin, available to provide an outing to the thoroughbred farms if we have interest. We may also be able to arrange transportation to some of the other destinations, depending on the feedback you provide. Please express your preferences below.
*There will be reasonable costs for Meals and Activities and we will need to make advance reservations and payment before arrival. More on this after we get your feedback and details are worked out.
FAMILY DEMOGRAPHICS
We are in contact with all living members of of the family we know about except as noted below.
Genetic living family members* 100
Spouses 33
Living in Kentucky 25 TOTAL INVITED = 133
Everywhere else 108
*We have lost contact with the three children of Catherine Layton & William Sullivan.
If anyone has information on them we would appreciate hearing from you.
FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION
We have compiled a spreadsheet of all family members that breaks down each sub-family, spouses, children, and email contact information of the descendants of George McElroy Fishback and Catherine Canfield Railey. This document will be distributed solely to each family member before the reunion, as background information. What we do not have are postal addresses and telephone numbers. If you would like those included, or if you do NOT want your contact information included, please post a comment or email John and let him know. john@drewstl.com
FAMILY HISTORY AND MEMORABILIA
Show and Tell: We thought it would be fun if everyone brought a bit of family memorabilia to share with other family members. This could be one or more objects or photographs or photographs of objects with historic family significance and interest. Photos of people, furnishings, portraits, homes, documents such as letters, deeds, bibles etc., or actual smaller more portable objects would be fun to share. Please think about what you may have of your family's that you would like to share with the rest of us. History has been passed down through stories and folklore from time immemorial. Bring yours to share with your aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
OUR FAMILY TREE ON ANCESTRY.COM
John has created a family tree on Ancestry.com that includes all of our connections and goes far beyond that to include many Woodford County families. He is in the process of uploading more than 12,000 photographs he took of the Versailles Cemetery over a four-year period. If you have an interest in exploring our family tree, please post a comment or email John and he will send you an invitation to view the family tree. john@drewstl.com
WHAT'S NEXT?
With your feedback, we will be able to firm up the details of our Reunion weekend. Please let us know of any additional suggestions, thoughts or concerns you may have. This is YOUR reunion and we want to do whatever we can to make it the best! We
will keep you updated as arrangements solidify.
* * PLEASE COMPLETE THE RSVP and ACTIVITY QUESTIONS BELOW * *
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