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President’s Letter – June 2009

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

My apologies for taking so long to get this newsletter to you and the website updated.  But we are moving forward again and as we continue to refine our new systems we will be back to sending out newsletters three times a year and updating the website on a much more regular basis.  Nancy Matheny Nasim is on board taking over the website and newsletter production.  Sylvia Fiscus (a James Andrew Hewitt descendant) has updated our database and is working on setting us up for bulk mailing.

This newsletter will catch you up on some of the changes we’ve been making such as developing privacy policies for our publications, and setting up email addresses for the council and committees to make it easier to find whom to contact (the addresses will stay the same even when the person holding the office changes).

Then look for our 90th Anniversary edition in a few weeks for the details of our celebration at the Reunion in August and maybe a couple birthday gifts to our organization from some of our members!  In the meantime, check out the Classified Ads in this newsletter for ways you can participate in the party planning.  Bring or send photocopied or digital copies of family pictures showing generations that are no longer with us to add to the Photo Wall or help to bring back one of our most cherished traditions by dusting off that ice cream maker.  And if you have any other party ideas, please contact me.

Two pieces of good news about the Reunion: our Reunion site coordinator, Mike Layman, has secured our regular spot in the park for this year; and Brian Hewitt has come out of ‘retirement’ to be our auctioneer again, freeing up Louis Rodge, our treasurer, to manage our new tracking system for the auction/raffle/donations.  For those of you who were not around when Brian used to be the auctioneer, read his story in the Storytelling Area article below to get a hint of his oratory skills.

Please share the Children’s Corner articles with your young family members and let them know that we are looking for a young person to take over this section of the newsletter and website to be by and for their generation, including renaming the column.

Finally, be sure to let us know if you want to receive the newsletter by postal mail, just email notices telling you when the website is updated, or both.                   -Barbara

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER June/July/August 2008

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

History, more recent or ancient, is not just an interesting hobby.It is how humans learn about life without having to make all the mistakes themselves. It is also what gives us a sense of stability, knowing that life goes on in spite of our mistakes and misfortunes if we learn from them.And through connection to other people and other times, we learn who we are.

As I simultaneously took on the position of president and temporary newsletter editor while Mildred Kirkwood is on leave, I found myself doing those ‘history things’ I always put off for ‘someday’. I really read Into the Eye of the Setting Sun, and “Googled” some of the famous people Charlotte talks about our family encountering. Also at Don Rivara’s suggestion, I read his past newsletter article with the minutes of the first reunions. I talked with my nephew about how these people whose story his dad, my brother Bruce, found on the web were his great-great-great-grandparents and what they did that made them important. Most of all, I sat down with my Dad and my daughter to listen to and write down his stories of growing up. I wasn’t able to spend much time on any one of these, but I started and, as I see how much I don’t know, I wish I had started a long time ago.

So if you see the Kerr name a few times in this newsletter, you’ll know it’s because I have been talking with my family. When you talk to yours, please share with the rest of us what they say. And if you have lived long enough to have history, read on about our storytelling area at the reunion and dust off those story-telling skills whether you have ever used them or not.

Speaking of long lives, 2009 will be the 90th anniversary of the first Hewitt Reunion in 1919. (It’s not the 90th reunion because the family decided not to have them during World War II.) We are looking for a photographer for the reunion this year and someone to do publicity for the anniversary. Check out the new HMC Classified Ads for information. Send your ideas for how we should celebrate to council@hmcfamily.org.

As you read Elma Hewitt’s newsletter report, remember this newsletter is about family and that’s you.Let the family know who you are, especially if we don’t get to see you at the picnic.We’re looking forward to meeting many of you online through your contributions to our upcoming website.

Please note: We are holding the reunion in a different part of the park this year. Read on for details.

Have a great summer and hope to see you in August! Barbara

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