*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* CFA Online Newsletter December 2002 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Thank you for subscribing to the CFA Online Newsletter. We're happy to have you with us and we'd like to hear from you. If you have something to add to the newsletter or ideas for future editions, please contact Cindy at (archive only). Thanks! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ANNUAL CONVENTION The 2003 Annual Convention will be held May 16-18, 2003 in Richmond, VA. The convention will be held at: WYNDHAM HOTEL - Richmond 4700 S. Laburnum Avenue Richmond, VA 23231 804-226-4300 Fax 804-226-6516 http://www.wyndham.com/RichmondAirport/ For reservations (which must be made by April 15 to get CFA rates of $79) call 1-800-996-3426. The rate will be available for three days before and three days after the meeting for those who will need extra time for research, tours, etc. Please mention Chapman Family Association reunion when making the reservation to be sure they are recorded as part of our group and to get our rate. The CFA is in the process of completing the Convention Registration form, making arrangements for meals and arrangements for tours. If you know that you'll be attending the convention, please drop us an email at cfa@chapmanfamilies.org and let us know how many will be attending. This can help give us a rough estimate on attendance and will help in designing the registration form and making arrangements in Richmond. - Thank you! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Happy Holidays! The Twelve Days of Christmas (Genealogy Style) My true love gave to me Twelve census searches Eleven family bibles Ten e-mail contacts Nine headstone rubbings Eight wills and admins Seven miners mining Six second cousins Five coats of arms Four GEDCOM files Three old wills Two CD-ROMs And a branch in my family tree. --Author Unknown A GENEALOGIST'S CHRISTMAS EVE ' Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse. The dining room table with clutter was spread With pedigree charts and a letter which said "Too bad 'bout the data for which you once wrote It was lost in a storm on an ill-fated boat." Stacks of old copies of wills and the such, Were proof that my work had become much too much. Our children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads And I, at my table, was ready to drop From work on my album with photos to crop. Christmas Eve now was here, and such was my lot, That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot. Had I not been so busy, with grandparents' wills, I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills. While others had bought gifts to bring Christmas cheer, I'd spent time researching those birth dates and years. While I was thus musing about my sad plight, A noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright. Away to the window I flew in a flash, Tore open the drapes and yanked up on the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But an overstuffed sleight and eight little reindeer. And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs. The TV antenna was wrecked by their horns, And we now had a roof with hoof-prints adorned. As I drew in my head and bumped on the sash, Down the cold chimney fell Santa -- CR--RASH! Dear Santa looked like he'd been in a wreck, Tracked soot on the carpet (I could wring his neck!) Spotting my face, good old Santa could see, I'd no Christmas spirit, you'd have to agree. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings (I felt like a jerk). Here Santa had brought us such gladness and joy, When I'd been too busy for even one toy. He spied my research on the table all spread, "Genealogist!" he cried. (My face was red.) "Tonight I've met many like you", Santa grinned, He pulled from his sack a large book he had penned. I gazed with amazement -- the cover it read, GENEALOGY LINES FOR WHICH YOU HAVE PLEAD. "Like you, I'm too, a genealogy bug" He said as he gave me a great Santa hug. "While elves make the sleighful of toys I carry, I do some research in the North Pole Library. A special treat, I am thus able to bring, To the genealogy folks who can't find a thing. Now off you should go to your bed for a rest, I'll clean up the house from this horrendous mess." I climbed up the stairs feeling gladness and glee And looked back at Santa, who'd brought much to me. While settling in bed I heard Santa's clear whistle, To his team which then rose like the down of a thistle. And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, "Family History is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!" -- Author Unknown *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS - GENEALOGY STYLE **Family History Card Game **Tree of Life Quilt Pattern **Hand-held Scanner **Digital Camera **Subscription to Online Database **Scrapbook Supply Kit **Genealogy Books & CDs **Personalized Family Ornaments **Genealogical Software **Genealogical Magazine Subscription **Family Tree Puzzle This is just a list to give you some ideas. Try using an online search engine such as www.google.com or www.yahoo.com to search for specific items. Good luck and happy shopping! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* WEBSITE UPDATES Here are just a few of the databases that were updated or added to during the month of November 2002: Census Records - 1900 DC and DE indexes. Census Records - 1870 IN and IL indexes. Obituaries - added many obituaries. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MEMBERSHIP INFO You can view the membership information on the CFA Web Site at: http://www.chapmanfamilies.org/member.html *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* OFFICERS FOR 2002-2003 PRESIDENT - Don Chapman, Minnesota VICE-PRESIDENT - Ernie Chapman, Illinois SECRETARY - Jackie Konecny, Texas TREASURER - M. D. Chapman Morgan, California BOARD OF DIRECTORS Al Chapman Bob Sonfield Ernie Chapman Donald L. Chapman Jackie Konecny Joanne Sedricks Liz Codding Mike Chapman Morgan Paul Rekow COMMITTEE CHAIRS Quarterly Editor - Kathleen Tovar, California Annual Meeting Standing Committee - Gil Alford, Missouri Corresponding Secretary - Gil Alford, Missouri Genealogy Committee - Bill & Faye Chapman, Texas Librarian - Dian Chapman Gustafson, Oregon Website Coordinator - Cindy Kuhn, California Publicity - Shelly Chapman, Missouri Historian - Bob Chapman, Florida & Vermont *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Cindy Kuhn, CFA Online Newsletter Editor, by email at sinda_k@yahoo.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*