Hi all,
Well the Douglass-Blount reunion was held this past weekend July 19-22 in Augusta, GA. As of last Wednesday, we had 66 people paid. We ended up with 105 in attendance. I have no shame in asking people for money. We had preprinted name tags for those who paid in advance and we had a paid checklist. As people came in who had not paid, I nicely handed them a registration form and told them to pay the treasurer. Even though it's a 4-day reunion, we do offer a one-day price for people how just come to the Saturday picnic. My folks don't put up a stink when asked to pay. They just haven't fully grasped the concept of paying in advance. It makes it hard to budget. We thought we would be in the hole, but by Friday night, we were in the black. In our family business meeting, we voted in institute optional annual dues in addition to reunion registration fees. Hopefully, the dues will provide the seed money for deposits, printing & postage costs in between reunions.

All-in-all, we had a wonderful reunion. We started out Thursday night with a get aquainted gathering in the hotel. Friday, we had a family history tour (on charter bus) of our old family land & cemeteries where ancestors are buried and a banquet/dance that night. Saturday, we had a fun day at a park with food, spades games, swimming & just talking. Sunday, we worshipped at the church that our ancestors started and many family members still attend there. By the end of church, we were all crying and hugging goodbye.

We'll be going to Atlanta in 2009.