September 2012 Newsletter
Bonjour, Juneau's!
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Meet Your Board
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2014 Family Reunion in Pine Mountain, Georgia!
Callaway Gardens is a stunning 13,000 acres of beautiful Georgia countryside in the Appalachian Mountains featuring various lodging options and activities for every member of the family.
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A History of Reunions
By: Sandy Sandell
In the search for Juneau stories, I came across a newspaper article dated January 2, 1910 entitled "Juneau Family Reunion." The article reads:
With the original calumet, the pipe of peace smoked by the Indians and whites at the settlement in 1834, at which Solomon Juneau, founder and first mayor Milwaukee, acted as interpreter, and other relics to bring recollections of the pioneer days. For three generations the Juneau family held their annual reunion, and it was their custom to devote the day to reminisce of the days of their noted ancestor. They told of a supposed attack of the Indians from Minnesota in 1859. This incident was one among many to be told to the great-great-grandchildren of the old pioneer as they sat about the table.
What relevance does this tale hold for us today? As the early pioneer's made hard work of creating new communities, they did so hand in hand with the vital and important task of establishing roots. Communities are made up of families, and well, families are made up of memories and stories. This anecdote reminds us how important it is to pass down to our children our memories and share with family our stories lest they be forgotten. After all, when we have passed, who then, will our children be able to ask?
On July 31, 1960 in Cap-de-la-Madeline, QC, Canada, 600 people took part in the "Canadian Ralliement des Families" what was described as a monstrous rally. At this event, plans were made to meet for another rally in 1965, but that never happened. It was not until June of 1991 that the first Juneau International Family Reunion took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, about 350 attended. The reunion in New Orleans was so meaningful and so much fun that everyone decided to meet for another and the rest is history.
To date, there have been eight tremendously successful reunions and two kissing cousin reunions. A Juneau Family Reunion taking place approximately every three years. We have met new Juneau cousins from all over the U.S., Mexico, Canada and France. We have been on the local and national news, in newspapers, and magazines. We led the parade in Juneau, Alaska twice. and met the wife and had lunch at the home of the former Governor of Alaska Tony Knowles. At the "Kissing Cousins Reunion" in Juneau, they literally rolled out the red carpet for us! In Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien hitched a ride on our tour bus. We had the somber honor to decorate the graves of Joe Juneau, Richard Harris, and Chief Kowee. We have visited our ancestor's home sites, listened to songs and instruments played by our Juneau cousins and toured the world together.
I hope to impart on my cousins that this family organization is important to each of us, and bringing all of us cousins together is an experience you can’t find anywhere else. It is so important that you help your children to see the value of our extended family, in our great heritage, in our loving spirit, and in our high regard for the unity of the family.
With the original calumet, the pipe of peace smoked by the Indians and whites at the settlement in 1834, at which Solomon Juneau, founder and first mayor Milwaukee, acted as interpreter, and other relics to bring recollections of the pioneer days. For three generations the Juneau family held their annual reunion, and it was their custom to devote the day to reminisce of the days of their noted ancestor. They told of a supposed attack of the Indians from Minnesota in 1859. This incident was one among many to be told to the great-great-grandchildren of the old pioneer as they sat about the table.
What relevance does this tale hold for us today? As the early pioneer's made hard work of creating new communities, they did so hand in hand with the vital and important task of establishing roots. Communities are made up of families, and well, families are made up of memories and stories. This anecdote reminds us how important it is to pass down to our children our memories and share with family our stories lest they be forgotten. After all, when we have passed, who then, will our children be able to ask?
On July 31, 1960 in Cap-de-la-Madeline, QC, Canada, 600 people took part in the "Canadian Ralliement des Families" what was described as a monstrous rally. At this event, plans were made to meet for another rally in 1965, but that never happened. It was not until June of 1991 that the first Juneau International Family Reunion took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, about 350 attended. The reunion in New Orleans was so meaningful and so much fun that everyone decided to meet for another and the rest is history.
To date, there have been eight tremendously successful reunions and two kissing cousin reunions. A Juneau Family Reunion taking place approximately every three years. We have met new Juneau cousins from all over the U.S., Mexico, Canada and France. We have been on the local and national news, in newspapers, and magazines. We led the parade in Juneau, Alaska twice. and met the wife and had lunch at the home of the former Governor of Alaska Tony Knowles. At the "Kissing Cousins Reunion" in Juneau, they literally rolled out the red carpet for us! In Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien hitched a ride on our tour bus. We had the somber honor to decorate the graves of Joe Juneau, Richard Harris, and Chief Kowee. We have visited our ancestor's home sites, listened to songs and instruments played by our Juneau cousins and toured the world together.
I hope to impart on my cousins that this family organization is important to each of us, and bringing all of us cousins together is an experience you can’t find anywhere else. It is so important that you help your children to see the value of our extended family, in our great heritage, in our loving spirit, and in our high regard for the unity of the family.
Growing up Juneau
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Glamorous and a little strange (tea instead of cafe au lait?!), my Mum found herself with few friends. She however found solace in an unusual friendship with a petite baby pig. So there went my Mum through Bordelonville holding my then infant older sister and a trailing piglet. One day as Hazel sat down for Sunday dinner, she was grateful for an impromptu French lesson. When she asked what the succulent dish was, she was told it was "Cochon de Lait," also known as roast baby pig!
As soon as my Dad returned from his tour, Mum strongly persuaded him to move us to the big city of New Orleans. Although we three Juneau girls were raised in the big metropolis, my Dad's family and upbringing remained our focal point. I remember with much affection visiting my Dad's childhood home and potent memories of my grandmother Naomi sitting in her rocking chair, while we three girls observed as she rocked and embedded her hair pins into the linoleum floor. Even though my Mum's first Juneau family experience was a bittersweet one, that home proved to be such a happy place that instilled a strong sense of community and optimism in the children raised within its walls. |
I am proud of my heritage and encourage everyone to share their stories in our family newsletter and hope that all family milestones can be celebrated with notices of weddings, births and family passing's.
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