INTRODUCING THE NEW NAVVF BOARD MEMBERS

Florence W. Davis: The New Membership Director

Thanks to all of you who voted for Florence W Davis in the recent election of NAVVF directors, I find myself in charge of membership for the coming three years. I appreciate the honor very much, but I'm aware that Pat Mersereau, past membership director, is a hard act to follow! So I'm asking for your patience and your help, as I earnestly try to fill her shoes.

Let me begin by telling you a little bit about myself, genealogically speaking. I'm a member of Branch 7, but I'm also a descendant of the first immigrant's daughter, Catryn Lambertse W, who married Andries Hanse Huyck. Which perhaps makes me a W twice over?

My father Ralph Buell W, was the second son of Elisha W, born in Tompkins, Delaware Co., NY. Elisha was the oldest son of Isaac W, a Civil War veteran of Delaware Co. His parents, Francis W and Rachel Cutler, moved to Masonville, Delaware Co., from Athens, Greene Co., NY, before 1850. Descendants of Francis and Rachel began to meet annually soon after Francis' death and this year celebrated their 102nd reunion.

I'm married to Rendell A. Davis and live in Tucson, AZ. I'm a retired writer/editor, most of my career having been with various religious publishers. Other interests, in addition to family history, include quilting, letter writing, cats, and volunteering for various social justice ministries.

I first discovered the NAVVF in 1991, while searching out family history in Franklin, NY, my father's birthplace. At the same time, Marilyn Susoeff was in Franklin, searching for a lost W Family Bible. The news story mentioned a national association of Ws and I was astounded. My sister and I, growing up in a small town in southern New Jersey, had always thought we were the only Ws in existence, except for our Philadelphia cousins. I was also very pleased to discover this opportunity to learn more about the W family. Our parents had separated when my sister and I were young, and we knew next to nothing about our W ancestors. What a wonderful feeling it was to learn that there were many, many other Ws in this country. And when I first saw a copy of the W Family History and found my name and my sisters' on page 51 of Vol. II, I almost cried. At that point, I surely never dreamed that in less than 10 years I would be elected to office in the NAVVF. But here I am!

As director of membership, one of my obvious jobs is to gain new members as well as retain present members. And this is where I need the help of each one of you. I'll be compiling a mailing to go out to past members whose memberships have lapsed, as well as to new potential members. For this, I need not only names and addresses, but also any additional information about these potential members. Do you know of someone who used to belong but no longer does? Or do you have cousins in your line who have never joined? If so, please send me their names and addresses. Better yet, would you be willing to write a brief personal note to add to the form letter I'll be sending out?

Another important way of keeping present members happy is through interesting stories about Ws in our excellent newsletter. Here again, you can help. Let me know of Ws whom you know - in your family or not -who have done something unusual or discovered something fascinating about their W line. If you would like to write the story up, that's wonderful. But if writing isn't your thing, drop me a note or give me a call or send me an e-mail, giving me the basic information. I'll take it from there.

There will be a regular membership column in coming newsletters, called "Meet Your W Cousins" I hope to present your stories in the column to the rest of the NAVVF...So keep your cards and letters coming! Florence W Davis

Fall 1998