From Florence Davis, Membership Chair:
MEET YOUR COUSINS

If you have attended many NAVVF reunions over the last 25 years, this charming couple may look very familiar. Russ and Barbara haven't missed many since they joined back in 1974.

Barbara is the VV descendant and comes from a well-known line. She is the niece of Franklin VV, Captain of the USS Arizona which was sunk in Pearl Harbor at the beginning of WWII. Barbara is also first cousin of the late Anne VV MacKrille, who was very active in NAVVF prior to her death.

Russ and Barbara will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary in June 2000. They are the proud parents of seven children who have given them 13 grandchildren. And five great-grandchildren now grace their family tree.

Being parents of a large family didn't keep Barbara and Russ from enjoying a lot of other interests. They both have been very active in church activities through the years. In addition Russ has enjoyed barbershop quartet singing for nearly 50 years and still is active in SPEBSQSA, an international barber shop quartet organization.

Barbara's lifelong enthusiasm has been Scouting. Starting as a Girl Scout herself back in the 1930s, she continued as an adult, assuming various leadership positions, including the presidency of the Girl Scouts of America. "I've been in Scouting for 67 years," Barbara said and one could tell from her voice that she loved every bit of it.

The NAVVF is a more recent interest for Barbara but one she continues to work very hard at, and always with the support and encouragement of Russ. Barbara has served on the Board of Directors as Vice President in charge of Membership, as Director of Publications, as Assistant Treasurer, and since 1994 has chaired the Ways and Means Committee. This means that Barbara is the person who sets up the attractive displays of VV memorabilia at reunions, and handles orders for pins, notepaper, VV crests, and coat of arms patches all year round.

Russ and Barbara helped organize the 17th Annual Meeting held in Albany, NY in 1986 and are always available to help in many ways at other reunions. Those who have attended reunions over the last few years will remember seeing the delightful life size paintings of a man and woman in traditional Dutch costume. Members could stand behind the figures and have their pictures taken as true descendants of Lambert VV. The figures were the result of Russ' artistry and interest in NAVVF. (Editor's Note: The cutouts appeared in the December issue of NAVVF News Notes with the faces of Karl and Johanna VV, Hartford Reunion hosts) And there's no telling what Russ and Barbara might do at the Indianapolis reunion this August. Thanks to both of you for all your invaluable efforts for NAVVF.