Hotel and Talent Show Information

WE NEED THOSE DUES!!! KEEP THEM COMING.
This DUPLICATE letter is going out to highlight TWO REMINDERS….
􀂃 Deadline for Hotel Reservations is June 15th. Please act quickly so that we get all of the space we need for our large gatherings. If the 30 rooms are not reserved by the deadline, we will not get the free space for the talent show and the meet and greet. Thanks for your speedy response.
􀂃 Talent Show: CASH PRIZES!!!
1ST -$200
2ND -$100
3RD -$50
You must register your talent with Ruby by June 30th, no exceptions!!!
April 11, 2007
Dear Family Members:
We are less than 4 months away from seeing each other again!
July 19-22, 2007 is going to be a fantastic weekend and here are the latest details.
You will NOT receive another letter about the weekend events, so you should make your plans according to these details.
As you know, Uncle James has chosen our Theme for this year:
"Ye shall know them by their fruits…" Matt. 7:16
This will be printed on our T-shirts (color to be determined)
Sunday Service, July 22 (8:30am-until)
Location: Mt. Zion A.M.E Church, Summerton, SC
Transportation: Chartered Bus (bus departs hotel at 8:30 am; service will start at 11am)
We will have services with the members of Mt. Zion A.M.E Church. The order of the Church service will be conducted by the Pastor; Dr. Willie J. Heggins.
A separate letter is going out to three family members inviting them to speak on this year’s theme on behalf of the Miller Family.
Should any one decline their invitation, additional invites will have to go out.
But for now, the speakers will be announced Friday evening at the Talent Contest.
We plan to give a donation to the church. But we will not ask the members of the church to prepare a brunch.
WE NEED THOSE DUES!!! KEEP THEM COMING.
Everyone should plan on providing his/her own lunch after the service. We will go over to the old homestead and eat our lunches together.
I recommend getting together as families and bringing cold sandwiches and drinks.
If we have additional funds in the budget, lunch will be provided. We will let you know upon arrival in Charleston. But again, PLAN TO BRING YOUR LUNCH ON SUNDAY!
Our family members in Charleston have been doing a great job of raising money for transportation. Thank you so much!
IMPORTANT:
If you plan to fly back home on Sunday, please keep in mind that the bus may not return to Charleston until 3 or 4pm. So, schedule your flights accordingly.
Lodging: (Hurry! Make your reservations as soon as possible.)
Radisson Hotel
5991 Rivers Avenue
North Charleston SC 29406
Reservations: (888) 201-1718 USA
Telephone: (843) 744-2501 Fax: (843) 744-2501
The hotel rate is $84.99/night. This price does not include breakfast but the hotel has a breakfast buffet.
30 rooms have been reserved. Please make your reservations as soon as possible.
Thursday, July 19 " Meet and Greet"
Location: Radisson Hotel Banquet Room Everyone should arrive at the hotel.
Friday, July 20th, 10am – 4:30pm
Location: Wannamaker County Park & Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark
Transportation: Chartered Bus (bus departs 10am for park, returns 4:00pm)
Entry to the park is $1/person and free for children 2years old and younger.
Entry to Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark is $13/person. This is just for water activities.
12:30pm
We will have our annual family picnic while at the park. James Jr. has agreed to bring his grill and BBQ for us. Thanks Bubba!!!
7:30/8pm-10pm Miller Family Idol Contest (Ruby has extended deadline for entries to June 30th )
LOCATION: Radisson Hotel Ballroom
WE NEED THOSE DUES!!! KEEP THEM COMING.
Only those registered with Ruby will be allowed to compete for the prizes.
Of course, anyone can perform a talent that evening if there is time available.
Saturday July 21 (9:30am-2pm)
Tour of the Avery Normal Institute and other areas in Downtown Charleston, SC. (to be decided)
Transportation: Carpooling (meet in front of hotel at 9:30 for rides)
We are counting on those of you with cars to make sure everyone has transportation. Thanks for your help!
(If funds are available, a bus may be provided. We will inform you upon arrival.)
About Avery:
Avery Normal Institute came into existence in Charleston, SC, with the aid of the American Missionary Association. In addition to offering "common" courses (farming, sewing, cooking, millinery, laundry, housekeeping, etc.), Avery offered its students a classical education based on the missionaries' beliefs in the importance of such an education. Students took course in history, government, economics, languages and literature, methods of teaching, natural philosophy, and physiology.
In the early 1880's, Avery served as the only educational institution in Charleston which prepared "promising" blacks for college, playing a role in the development of the professional class of blacks. Avery students managed to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and teachers, participating in a movement of upward mobility not only of the black elite, but also of former slaves and working class blacks. The developing aspirations of blacks during this time period experienced the heavy influence of the ideals set forth by the northern missionaries, placing a good deal of importance on the notion of progress.
Saturday 6pm-10pm
Family Banquet at The Park Circle Community Center
Transportation: Carpooling (meet in front of hotel at 5:30 for rides)
Family meeting will be held at end of banquet (as always).
Ok, that is the entire weekend.
I am looking forward to this family reunion being just as exciting as all of the others. Again, everyone, we need you to pay your dues.
Please feel free to contact me, or any member of the Executive Staff if you have questions.
You know I Love You!!!
Tonya (510) 728-1463, (510)-396-3145

Romeo and Juliette

We Welcome Trina Renay back to NYC after a successful run with Romeo and Juliette. Now what is next for Trina Renay -- She will be playing Clara in Porgy and Bess at Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis Missouri, this coming August 07. Please stay tuned for ticket information so we can support our cousin as she thrives successfully as one of our brightest and greatest opera singers around. In October Trina will be headed for Germany and Austria to do an extensive audition tour. Anyone who would like to sponsor or donate to her career please feel free to contact Trina at trinarenay@yahoo.com

All the best to Trina, and we lift her up in prayer for safe journey.

Condolences

We send our condolenses to Pearl (Miller) for the loss of her son Timothy (24), who was killed in a car accident early this month. Our prayers go out to her and her family. Timothy will be greatly missed.

Family Happenings

Congratulations to Ann Miller's new website bookstore - Check out JaylilPublishing.com for all of your children's books needs

Congratulations to Trina Renay for her booking the lead role in Romeo and Juliet - in Binghamton, NY with Tri Citi Opera.

Update Letter for Upcoming Family Reunion

Please start paying your Family Reunion Dues. None of This will happen if we don't have your money in the Treasury as soon as possible.

Dear Family Members:

Happy New Year! 2007 has arrived and we are just 6 months away from seeing each other again!

July 19-22, 2007 is going to be a fantastic weekend and here are the details so far:

Uncle James has chosen our Theme for this year:

“Ye shall know them by their fruits…” Matt. 7:16
This will be printed on our T-shirts (color to be determined)

Radisson Hotel
5991 Rivers Avenue
North Charleston SC 29406
Reservations: (888) 201-1718 USA
Telephone: (843) 744-2501 Fax: (843) 744-2501

The hotel rate is $84.99/night. This price does not include breakfast but the hotel has a breakfast buffet.

30 rooms have been reserved. Please make your reservations as soon as possible.

Thursday, July 19, is the day we will expect everyone to arrive at the hotel. We will host a Meet and Greet at the hotel that evening.

Friday, July 20th, 10am – 4:30pm
Wannamaker County Park & Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark (Char
Bus transportation will be provided to take the family to the park. This will be an all day affair.

Entry to the park is $1/person and free for children 2years old and younger.

Entry to Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark is $13/person. This is just for water activities.

12:30pm
We will have a family picnic while at the park.

7:30/8pm-10pm Miller Family Idol Contest
Hotel Ballroom

Saturday July 21 (9:30am-2pm)
Tour of the Avery Normal Institute and other areas in Downtown Charleston, SC. (to be decided)

About Avery:
Avery Normal Institute came into existence in Charleston, SC, with the aid of the American Missionary Association. In addition to offering "common" courses (farming, sewing, cooking, millinery, laundry, housekeeping, etc.), Avery offered its students a classical education based on the missionaries' beliefs in the importance of such an education. Students took course in history, government, economics, languages and literature, methods of teaching, natural philosophy, and physiology.
In the early 1880's, Avery served as the only educational institution in Charleston which prepared "promising" blacks for college, playing a role in the development of the professional class of blacks. Avery students managed to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and teachers, participating in a movement of upward mobility not only of the black elite, but also of former slaves and working class blacks. The developing aspirations of blacks during this time period experienced the heavy influence of the ideals set forth by the northern missionaries, placing a good deal of importance on the notion of progress.


6pm-10pm
Family Banquet at The Park Circle Community Center

Sunday July 22 (8:30am-until)

We will have services in Summerton, SC with the members of Mt. Zion A.M.E Church. We are believing to have buses for transportation to the church. Please, believe with us and pay your dues!!!

The order of the Church service will be conducted by the Pastor; Dr. Higgins. However, the pastor has generously allowed us to add to the service. We will have a few of the family ministers as speakers for the service.

We will have 3 speakers from the family deliver a message during the service based on our theme for this year: “ye shall know them by their fruits…”

Each speaker will be given 15 minutes with 1 min for overflow. Dr. Higgins will ensure that each speaker sticks to the time limit. We want to be sure to respect their time and maintain good fellowship with the members. They are not used to being in church all day. The speakers will all be notified before May 30th. This should give each of them enough time to prepare their teachings.

The church will provide a brunch for the family after the service (paid for from the reunion fund).

Then we will drive over to the old homestead for a visit.

Ok, that is the whole weekend.

There may be some variation in the activities by the time July comes around. A lot of them depend on how successful the Executive Staff is in collecting the dues.

I am looking forward to this family reunion being just as exciting as all of the others. Again, everyone, we need you to pay your dues.

I believe most of us are challenged with paying because we wait until the last minute. This year I have been more diligent and have already paid my dues. I encourage all of you over 18 (and not in college) to do the same. Let’s show love and respect to our family by making this the year that everyone who enjoys the fruit has contributed their fair share in the planting.

These family reunions cost us about $8000, but we can do it! When everyone pays their dues, the only additional expense per family is transportation and lodging. You could just show up and have fun if you help me encourage everyone to pay their fair share.

Please feel free to contact me or a member of the Executive Staff if you have any questions.

You know I Love You!!!
Tonya (510) 396-3145

Congratulations to Trina Renay

Trina had a wonderful performance with the Opera Noire of New York Gala Concert. She performed with the Top Black Opera Singers in the World and now is the newest member of Opera Noire. So lets give her a great big congratulations and may she continue to have success in her career.

Graduating News This Year

Allissa - One of Lorraine's Twins (Alberta) will be graduating from Spelman College, in Atlanta, GA - May 20, 2007. She will be attending Medical School in the Fall.

Let's all congratulate her and come out and support her on her big day.

Happy Anniversary

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO UNCLE JAMES AND AUNT LOU - ON 53 WONDERFUL YEARS OF MARRIAGE.

They celebrated their anniversary on October 17, 2006.

We wish them many many more wonderful years of marital bliss.

God Bless

Congratulations

We would like to congratulate Andre'l and Larry Karl on their wedding. Held in Columbia, SC on December 2nd 2006.

We wish them God's blessings in their marriage. Andre'l is the Daughter of Angela and Henry Hicks our Summerville, Cousins.

Aunt Ada Mae's Granddaughter.

Lots of Love to them.

Family Dues and Pre hotel information

The statements placed on this blog were from the letter mailed out from our Executive Director. Some of the information will still need to be voted on by the Family members. These are just preliminary suggestions.

The dues per family is $250. All children over 21 and not in college, will be considered a separate family and will be expected to pay their own dues.

Senior Citizens are still paying $100.00

Those families that can do more please do.
When the reunion is held in Charleston, we are proposing a supplement of 10% - 20 % for each room from the ones who reside in Charleston. This will take the burden off some of the families that are traveling from out of town to attend the reunion. This is to ensure everyone is paying their part by paying their dues.

Now, you may say that some of the family members won't really need assistance. Well, that may be true, but still it is their option as to whether or not they want to accept this assistance. You just pay your dues so we have the money we need in the treasury.

If we end this year with an excess, then it will go toward the next years events.

Executive Team of Directors.

The statements placed on this blog were from the letter mailed out from our Executive Director.

Some of the information will still need to be voted on by the Family members.

These are just preliminary suggestions.

For the first time in our reunion history an Executive Team of Directors has been created.

2007 - Executive Director - Tonya B. Katsir
Family Reunion Theme Advisor: James Cobb
Outside Activities Directors: Wanda Miller and Tracey Murray
Lodging Directors: Marie Brown and Trendell Miller
Talent Director: Ruby Griffin (assisted by Blondel Footman)
Awards and Recoognition Director: Janice Moore
Master of Ceremony: Willie Cobb and John Miller
Chief Financial Officer: Lue Ida Cobb