A Brief Report on the 2005 Annual Meeting
 by Wayne E. Nelson

The Officers and Board members met on Thursday evening, July 28. Various committee reports were submitted and approved. Discussion during much of the meeting centered on locations and agendas that might attract more members to attend future meetings .

On Friday, after a continental breakfast at the motel, the display room opened for registration, research and a review of Sheldon material prepared and displayed by Rose Sheldon Newton. Following a sandwich buffet lunch, the display room remained open for get acquainted activities and additional research. 

Friday evening we enjoyed a picnic dinner of chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, watermelon, chocolate chip cookies and a special Sheldon birthday cake. The after-dinner speaker was Mr. Michael Dwyer who gave an interesting and entertaining talk on problems and errors in primary and secondary sources, Internet issues, and the four W's in determining the value of information (What is it; When created; Why created; and Where created). He also suggested some of his favorite Internet sites for genealogy research.

Saturday morning we boarded the bus and promptly at 7:45 left the motel for the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury. The museum was founded by S#3822 Henry Luther Sheldon. During his lifetime, Henry collected almost anything he could get his hands on and in 1882 purchased the house that is now the museum. Sheldons were given a tour of the house and grounds as part of our visit. About noon, we gathered at a pagoda in the city park for a delightful picnic.

After lunch we boarded the bus for the trip back to Burlington and a cruise on Lake Chaplain aboard the 500-passenger Ethan Allen III. The weather was nearly perfect, bright sunshine and a soft breeze. The scenic, narrated cruise lasted about an hour and a half. Afterward, we returned to our motel for naps and preparation for the evening dinner and meeting.

We enjoyed a Saturday dinner buffet of carved roast beef, Boston crumb scrod, veggies, potato and season fruit crisp.  Rose Sheldon Newton, in mourning attire,  presented a program on unusual death records. Rose's presentation was followed by the business meeting. Reports were given and approved and elections held: Wayne E. Nelson, President; Ruth Watson, Recording Secretary; Board Members, Kim Nelson and Patricia Long. The meeting closed with the traditional circle and the singing of "Bless Be The Tie That Binds." The meeting next year is planned for Windsor, Connecticut.

http://www.sheldonfamily.org/2005mtg_rpt.htm
© Sheldon Family Association 2005
Revised: 29 August 2005