Congratulations to Katie Lee, on the birth of a healthy baby boy today. Katie is the daughter of Michelle, who is the daughter of Barbara, who is the daughter of Jean Stone. This makes Aunt Jean a great great grandmother!
Congratulations to Cousin Mark Harrington (son of Gale).
In local elections on 11/8/11, he was elected as the new Mayor of the city of Plymouth, IA, population 409. It was apparently a grass roots write-in campaign, with many Plymouth residents, including Mark, unaware that he was running for mayor.
So we had another meeting, but this one was with some new committee members, down in Des Moines, Janet, Babby and Trudy. And we got a great offer for a new venue for the 2012 reunion! Janet and Alan offered the use of their home and really big yard for the festivities! It is in Ankeny, IA, just north of Des Moines, kind of out in the country. They have a huge house and room for dozens of campers/tents/baseball diamonds/volleyball courts/three legged races, etc. The house is open for reservations, with preference going to those family members over 70 years of age. They have three bathrooms, three bedrooms on the main floor, a "suite" upstairs, and a fully finished basement. Alan has a big military type tent that would probably sleep 20 or so, but thinks it would better serve as a beer tent (Kevin & Jennifer). He also has a big shop building (bigger than the house) that we can use as a dining hall/kitchen. Then we can do meals and stuff like we had in AZ at the last "fabulously planned and executed (thank you again Croxtons)" reunion that was held. They have two decks, a huge barbeque and a fire pit. It also has a small lake a couple miles away for fishing and sand volleyball. There is also a casino near by and Adventureland and big shopping centers close by. So our committee has grown from 4 people to 7 people and changed location. Let us know what you think and if you and your family would like to make the trip. Anyone with the last name Schmitz, or related to someone named (or previously named) Schmitz, or anyone who knows someone named Schmitz and is up for a weekend party, is invited. Tell your families and get back to us.
(Originally posted by Candy Evans on Facebook, August 3, 2011).
So, all ya'll Schmitz relations..... The meeting was held and it was decided to have the reunion on July 6, 7 and 8, 2012. It's a Fri, Sat, Sun. The fourth of July is on a Wednesday, so if people come early, they can enjoy all the local 4th celebrations - especially in Clear Lake - or they can stay late and miss all the hysteria. Talking about a cruise on Clear Lake Friday night, all day picnic/games/swimming/etc. on Saturday out at Rudd lake, Sat.night pot luck/pig roast at Rudd Community Center and brunch somewhere on Sunday. Extra things to be arranged other times - canoe rides/inner tube floats down river, rock hunting, historic homes tour, Music Man Square - whatever people would like to do and finding out if others would like to join in.
(Originally posted by Candy Evans on Facebook, July 7, 2011).
