Violette Family Reunion
30th Anniversary Celebration
“We Are One”
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Greetings Violette Family! Next year the Violette Family Association, created by our founder Rita Violette Lippe, will proudly host our 30th Anniversary Reunion Celebration. Our very first Violette Family Reunion had its humble beginnings at St. Theresa's Parish Hall in Metheun, MA on July 16, 1978. Rita Violette Lippe had expected 50 people to attend but to her delight 375 showed up to celebrate the Violette Family. Since then, we have had Violette Family reunions on a regular basis, usually three years apart. The largest ever was held in Van Buren, ME in 1981 when 810 showed up in the "cradle" of the Violette family.
The purpose of this message is to spread the word of next year's reunion. We are relying on you to spread the word about the reunion to your immediate family and all your relatives. We encourage entire families to attend, from the great-grandparents to the newest babies. The 2005 Reunion had many toddlers, teens, and those in-between, enjoying the “living genealogy” of their roots. Let us continue this wonderful, fun-filled history lesson in the lives of our children.
The Board of Directors and Executive Committee of The Violette Family Association, under the leadership of our President Paul Bunnell, have been hard at work organizing the reunion. Shown below are the dates and location of next year's reunion, our guest speakers for the weekend, and a list of attractions located in the immediate area. As with any wonderful endeavor, we are still soliciting help from our membership-at-large to aid with next year's Violette Family Reunion. Families and/or individuals from the central Connecticut area would be very appreciated as volunteers since the reunion will be held there.
We hope you will make a special effort to attend the 30th Anniversary Celebration. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for it. We are all looking forward to a successful family reunion!
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 8-9-10 August, 2008.
Location: Beverly Hills Suites (right off of Interstate 91)
383 South Center Street, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Jennifer Feigenbaum – Director of Sales& Catering
Website: www.bhsuites.com Phone: 1-860-623-4400
Room Rate: $79.00 + Tax = $88.48 per night (50 rooms reserved)
Free complete breakfast (Saturday & Sunday)
(NOTE: You must make your own room reservations)
Registration: Fees are $10/adult and $5/child under 12 years
Please register by June 2008
Room Drawing: Drawing for One-Night Free Room ($88.48) for Early
Registration (July 1, 2008). Drawing will be held at
the reunion.
Meals: Friday Night Casual Buffet
Pasta, Salad, Garlic Bread, Dessert, Beverage
Adults - $14; Children under 12 - $7
(Price includes Tax & Gratuity)
Saturday Night Gold Dinner Buffet
Marinated Grilled Chicken, Lemon Pepper Cod, Baked
Ziti, Sirloin Tips, Tossed Garden Salad, Rice Pilaf,
Green Beans or Vegetable Medley, Fresh Fruit with
Sherbert, Assorted Desserts, Beverage
Adults - $30; Children under 12 - $15
(Price includes Tax & Gratuity)
Guest Speakers:
Friday Night Speaker: Martin Violette, President of the Violette’s of Virginia, Talk on the English Violette’s
Martin Violette will talk about the background of the English Violette's, especially a noteworthy character as Edward Violette, Overseer on George Washington's plantation. Also, Martin will give a geographic outline of the family distribution throughout the 18th and 19th centuries from Virginia leading out westward that created "muddied waters" between all branches of the Violette family. He will also discuss the interesting approach to DNA to help solve our family connections.
Saturday Night Speaker: Ann Roy, Director of the Acadian Village in Van Buren, ME
Ann Roy will talk about the Acadian’s of the Upper Saint John River Valley and the town of Van Buren, ME that was once called "Violette Brook". She will then discuss the Acadian Village and all the latest events happening there, ending with an Acadian Musical piece accompanied by her wooden dancing man.
After Saturday Banquet: Dancing with music by Disc Jockey Phil Violette
Sunday Church Services:
St. Mary’s Church – 42 Spring Street, Windsor Locks
(860) 623-2524
St. Robert’s Church – 52 South Elm Street, Windsor Locks
(860) 623-0240
Nearby Attractions (in Hartford, CT area):
Six Flags Amusement Park Mark Twain House & Museum
New England Air Museum Museum of Connecticut History
Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, MA)
Dinosaur State Park Governor’s Residence Tours
Windsor Historical Society Lady Katherine Cruises
Connecticut Firefighter’s Memorial Foxwoods & Mohegan Casinos
The Old State House Bushnell Carousel
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens New England Trolley Museum
Alert! Alert! Alert!
Volunteer Teams Wanted (Please remember, you may volunteer to help a particular team rather than lead the team):
1. Family Reunion Coordinator. OPEN. A primary reunion coordinator is still needed. Thus far this duty has been accomplished by the Violette Board of Directors. This volunteer will be the liaison between the hotel and the reunion committee to make certain that what was contracted for is being provided and to coordinate the efforts of the other volunteers. Guidance and help will be available from past reunion coordinators, if necessary. However, as mentioned above, it would be most beneficial if the coordination was done by someone near the reunion site.
2. Reunion Treasurer and Registrar. Louiselle Violette (coordinator) and her son Paul, our current treasurer. Reunion sign-in registration assisted by Leslie Bunnell and Candice Cairns. They will be responsible for registration, finances and attendance.
3. Entertainment: OPEN. Responsible for arranging a small band or DJ for the Saturday post-dinner dance. Recommendations welcome for entertainment choices from the Connecticut Violette Family.
Photographers: Bob Lippincott and Paul Violette (coordinators). Responsible for group photos and other reunion activities.
5. Clothing with Violette Family Logo. John Violette (coordinator). Responsible for organizing and selling Violette Family clothing to include polo shirts, T-shirts, etc.
6. Memorabilia. OPEN. Responsible for the display and sale of souvenirs and family memorabilia.
7. Raffle. Chris Lippincott (coordinator) and her sister Carolyn. Responsible for soliciting donated items and running the raffle.
8. Genealogy. Rita Lippe and Rod Violette (coordinators). Responsible for having the Violette Family Tree genealogy available for members to update.
9. Sale of Books. Paul Bunnell and Amanda Bunnell (coordinators). Any other Violette Family authors out there who would like to bring their books?
Poll: Please indicate by return e-mail your intention to attend or not, so that we can get an early indication as to how many people for which to plan.
Violette Family Board of Directors:
YOU ARE INVITED
30th. Violette Family Association Reunion
“We Are One”
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BEVERLY HILLS SUITES
(old name) Howard Johnson Inn & Conference Center
383 South Center Street (right off I-91)
Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096
Website: (www.bhsuites.com). Phone: 860-623-4400
Jennifer – Director of Sales & Catering (Hotel Only)
Paul J. Bunnell, President, Violette Family Association
Friday & Saturday 9-10 August 2008
3PM to 5PM Registration
Room Rate: $79.00 + Tax = $88.48 (50 room reserved for now)
Note: You must make your own room reservation
Free Complete Breakfast (Saturday & Sunday) (Each overnight stay)
Free Meeting room
Free use of main lobby for registration
Cash Bar
Registration Fee
Made out To The Violette Family Association
$10 per Adult - $5 per Child under 12 years
One Day Free Hotel ($88.48) Drawing For Early Registration. Deadline is July 1, 2008. Drawing will be at the Reunion
Meals
Friday Night Casual Buffet
Pasta, salad, garlic bread, dessert, beverage = $14 Adults, $7 Children under 12 years
(Price includes Tax & Tip)
Friday Speaker
Friday Talk on English Violette’s, by Martin Violette, President of The Violette’s of Virginia
The background of the English Violette’s, especially noteworthy characters as Edward Violette, George Washington’s Overseer. Also, Martin will give a geographic outline of family distribution in the 18th and 19th century from Virginia leading out westward that help create “muddied waters” between all branches of the Violette families. He will also discuss the interesting approach to DNA to help solve our family connections. Martin plans to ad much more as the months draw closer to our reunion.
Saturday Night Gold Dinner Buffet
Tossed Garden Salad/two dressings, Fresh fruit with sherbet, Baked Ziti, Marinated Grilled Chicken, Lemon Pepper Cod, Sirloin Tips, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans or Vegetable Medley, Assorted Desserts: $30 Adults, $15 Children under 12 years.
(Includes Tax & Tip)
Saturday Speaker
Anne Roy, Director of the Acadian Village in Van Buren, Maine will talk about the Acadian’s of the Upper Saint John River Valley and the town of Van Buren that was once called the Violette Settlement. Anne will try to get a DVD of the Valley and the Acadian Village. She will complete her discussion on the Acadian Village and all the latest events there, and end with an Acadian Musical piece accompanied by her wooden dancing man.
Other Reunion Activities
Family Donated Raffle Items & Drawing (Many Violette Related Items)
50/50 Raffle
Violette Family Donations Box
Family Memories Table (Photos & Other Items of Interests Shared by All)
Family Genealogy
Prize For Oldest & Youngest Person
Prize For The Farthest Traveled Attendee
Prize For Longest Married Couple
Family Group Photo (available later for sale)
Sale of Rita’s Book
Paul’s Acadian Cook Book ($1 for each sale of my book will be donated to association)
Adult & Children Activities
Dancing (DJ)
Nearby Attractions
Six Flags Amusement Park (in season)
Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford
New England Trolley Museum, East Windsor
Dinosaur State Park
New England Air Museum
Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield Mass.
Lady Katherine Cruises
Bradley Teletheatre
Foxwoods & Mohegan Casinos
Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, East Granby
Connecticut Fire Museum, East Windsor/Manchester
Martha A. Parsons House, Enfield
Smyth’s Trinity Milk Farm, Enfield
Connecticut Audubon Society, Glastonbury
Museum on the Green, Glastonbury
Bradley International Airport
Salmon Brook Settlement, Granby
Ancient Burying Ground of Hartford
Behind the Scenes at The Bushnell, Hartford
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Bushnell Carousel, Hartford
Butler-McCook House & Garden & Main Street History Center, Hartford
The Connecticut Historical Society Museum, Hartford
Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens, Hartford
Governor’s Residence Tours, Hartford
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford
Heritage Trails Sightseeing Tours, Hartford
Menczer Museum of Medicine & Dentistry, Hartford (ouch!)
Museum of Connecticut History, Hartford
The Old State House, Hartford
Supreme Court Building Tours, Hartford
The Trash Museum, Hartford (what!)
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford
Cheney Homestead (c.1785), Manchester
Lutz Children’s Museum, Manchester
Oak Grove Nature Center, Manchester
Old Manchester Museum (1859), Manchester
Wickham Park, Manchester
Luddy/Taylor Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum, Windsor
Northwest Park & Nature Center, Windsor
Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, Windsor
Vintage Radio & Communications Museum of Connecticut, Windsor
Water Gardens of Eating Greenhouse, Windsor
