Jessie,

What great ideas! I particularly love the idea of presenting an award to the branch with the most attendees. I might have to pilfer that idea for our Bahamas reunion next year! I'm thinking of starting a passport countdown on our website to remind those who don't have them that they need to apply in advance. I know we'll have a crowd of Bahamian Allens present at this reunion, but I want the Americans to be strongly represented as well.

I also like the idea of honoring family members who are 75 years and older. We did something similar in 2002 in Key West, in that we honored the first generation American Allens with a corsage or buttonier at the banquet. These are the offspring of the seven Allen siblings who immigrated to the States. We didn't leave out their Bahamian first cousins, either. They received the same honor, as offspring of the two siblings who remained in the Bahamas. I think there was a total of twelve of the honorees in attendance, which was precious to us because most are quite elderly or have passed on by now.