Sitting on my sun porch overlooking Lake Allatoona, north of Atlanta, my thoughts turn to the summer ahead. Perhaps you, too, have been looking forward to the vacation months and what you and your family would like to do together. Maybe there is a beach resort or mountain retreat, camping in a national park, visiting friends or family in your wish book.

In addition to whatever else you might be planning, I surely hope you will include coming to our NAVVF reunion in Hartford, CT, on August 4-8. You received information and registration forms in this issue of News Notes. The activities planned for our time together promise to offer entertainment, sight seeing, family togetherness, opportunity to learn more about our shared and individual heritage.

A number of family members enjoy the opportunity to search for and learn about personal genealogy, but many others including myself, come every year to enjoy getting to know more members of our extended family and share in family fellowship and the fun of being together. I've made some great new friends through NAVVF and you can too. If you have been before I hope you had a good time and want to come again. If you've never been, I encourage you to come and spend quality time with some fine folks. Try us, you'll like us.

See you there?

It is with great sadness that I must include in my message to you that Jean Van Valkenburgh of Raleigh, North Carolina died on Tuesday, April 20, in Raleigh. She had been courageously fighting a battle with cancer for several years. For the past few months it was apparent that medical treatments were no longer effective. Her husband Robert survives Jean; sons Tom of Crystal Springs, MS, John of Raleigh and granddaughter Alanna. To Robert and his family, please know that we share your sorrow but also join you in celebrating a life well lived.

Those of us who knew Jean, even casually, will remember her warm and gracious personality. Never one to put herself forward, preferring to remain in the background, she nevertheless stood out in the group. Always generous with her time and talents, she was a joy to know. I will miss her, others will miss her and NAVVF will miss her.

Her contributions to NAVVF were enormous. She was deeply involved in the initial organization of NAVVF and has sustained her dedication to it, especially in detailed genealogical research. She was an unbelievable source of knowledge of V.V. history and individuals. It seemed she could recall hundreds of persons from past generations, relate stories about them, place them in relationship to each other and help many of us find our "space" in Van Valkenburgh history. We are so grateful for her presence in our midst.

With an anonymous gift of $500 in Jean's memory, NAVVF has started a Memorial Fund in her name. This fund will be used as the Board of Directors will determine, possibly in some way connected to the next NAVVF genealogical publication. If anyone wishes to contribute to this Fund, please send your contribution to:

Treasurer Dalton Van Valkenburgh,

1230 Janet Ave.

North Canton, Ohio, 44720

by check, indicating it is for the Jean Van Valkenburgh Memorial Fund