63rd – 2021 Virtual Reunion Highlights

It was the second R-CA Reunion held virtually due to continued COVID concerns. Participants represented 27 states including: AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, KY, KS, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OK, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI. There were 28 videos available, which had well over 400 views on Vimeo, with well over 60 viewers. Some families had more than one participant, but we did not capture that information in all cases.  Nine participants were first time reunion attendees. We welcome them and hope they plan to return next year.  

This year, we held our first R-CA Zoom meeting on September 26th. In all, twenty cousins from around the country met virtually for 1 1/2 hours and got to know each other a little better. It was fun being able to visit and meet new cousins — and all from the comfort of our homes!

In case you missed the 2021 Virtual Reunion, or you would like to view a part of it again, below are a few Reunion highlights along with the links. There is also a short video with a few of the Reunion highlights.

• President Dave Johnston welcomed Virtual Reunion attendees.
• The Featured Presentations included a beautiful song, “To Be Remembered” written by Daniel Roark especially for the Reunion. He sang it and played the guitar too! Some of our ancestors were remembered in the excellent presentations: “The Conner Family” by President Dave Johnston and “Joseph and Juda Roark” by Debbie Johnson and her daughter Jessica Johnson. We had another touching tribute to remember our ancestors during the “Birchwood Cemetery Tour” by Connie Perrin (Past President 2013-2014) and Steve Perrin.
• The major highlights of the Meet and Greet activities were an enlightening and entertaining interview with John J. Roark, Past President (1993-1995) and author of several outstanding R-CA books, as well as a “Tribute to Our Cousins 90(+-) Years Young!” We also had a Pictorial Directory of Roark and Conner cousins provided by Chuck Gross (Past President 1992).
• The Board Meeting began with our traditional Patriotic Salute sung by the “Jubilate Choir,” St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, California. The song was submitted by choir member and cousin, Janet Downey. William “Bill” Witt (Past President 2007-2008) highlighted some of the excellent books available through the R-CA, and we paid tribute to Bill and Mary Hotze Witt and Debbie and Herb Gatlin for their continued dedication and many contributions to the R-CA. Betsy and Bryan Gentry led our annual Memorial Service to remember loved ones who have passed. Finally, we conducted a vote for 2022 Officers, and provided updates to our ByLaws and the Board Member Reports. 
• For the Worship and Songs activities, we were honored to have inspiring messages from Rev. James Scott and his son Rev. Aaron Scott along the theme of “How Do You Want to be Remembered?” We had a lovely song, “How Great Thou Art,” dedicated to Dallas & Elaine Roark, sung by Debbie Johnson, who was accompanied on the piano by her daughter Jessica Johnson. Jessica also played “The Bells of St. Mary’s” dedicated to Margene Roark Higham. The Jubilate Choir, with cousin Janet Downey, provided several more beautiful songs for our entertainment including “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” We have an extremely talented family!
• Our bonus Learning Center included: Conduct Your Own Cemetery Tour, a Kid’s Activity Book, Family PowerPoints and a Family Structure Chart developed by Chuck Gross, and R-CA Books and DVDs, which are available for sale on this website.