Wittevrongel Reunion Planning Committee
Meeting 4 Dec 2024
Present:
Suzanne Maes-Toay (Maria), Shirley Isford (Maurice), Barry Wittevrongel (Leon), Maurice Claude (Marguerite), Norman Wittevrongel (Michel), Leo Lane (Rachel), and Joanne Prejet (Madeleine).
Due to an error on my part, Lynne Lafreniere (Clara) was unable to attend. I’m sorry for that, and will do my best in future to remember to send the Zoom link out as soon as a date and time is decided.
Website
The website, https://www.wittevrongelreunion.com
is up and running.
For those getting a ‘This site cannot be reached’ message, the problem is not yet resolved. You can still reach the website, by going to https://sites.google.com/view/wittevrongelreunion
A new logo has been designed by Karen Niedzwiecki, and is posted there.
Family colours
At the last meeting, it had been decided that we would have some kind of distinct colour recognition for each family line.
We have a number of rolls of ribbon in various colours. We will make sure we have 8 colours of ribbon, and make lanyards of them.
We will also produce coloured nametags, again trying as much as possibly to have all tags of a family line have the same coloured nametag, without duplicating across family lines.
Action: 2024120401 – Ray to ensure adequate quantity of 8 different ribbon colours, make lanyard, and print nametags so each of 8 family lines is distinct.
Supper Saturday
Joanne reported that the caterers indicated that if there were over 40 people, the meal would be fully catered. Under 40, they would drop off food boxes. We can be very confident that there will be more than 40, and the meal will be catered.
The basic meal is 1 meat and 3 sides, with everything provided. In the new year, when actual prices for 2025 are made available, Joanne will confirm exactly what ‘everything’ include. We presume it means plates, cutlery, etc., but need to make sure.
Action: 2024120402 – Joanne to confirm with the caterers in the new year what ‘everything’ means, at the same time obtaining exact prices.
Wittevrongel family banner
Shirley asked if we wanted grommets to be put into the canvas banner, as it has always been taped up in the past, and it’s getting to the point where it can’t really be taped much more without damaging it. It was agreed that having grommets inserted was a good thing to do. It’s also the best way to display the banner, as the building where it will be displayed doesn’t have walls on which to tape it. Shirley said she and Tom would be able to come up with some light rope to hang the banner.
Action: 2024120403 - Shirley to arrange installation of grommets, provide rope for hanging the banner.
Campsite reservations:
We are still waiting for response from Carman Recreation director regarding site reservation opening date. In 2024, the site opened on April 17th.
When reservations open, you will be able to reserve online at https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/carmandufferinrecreation/reservation/landing
There you can select whether you want to reserve a serviced or unserviced site.
Joanne said that, if the campsite is full, and you don’t require services, the Ag site is also available for camping, free of charge. Camping there also provides access to bathrooms and showers.
Things for kids to do
We want parents and their kids to be able to enjoy themselves. Part of that is making it possible for parents to have time with others, knowing their kids have worthwhile fun things to do in a safe environment.
What would kids like to do, and parents like to see their kids able to do, during the weekend?
A page has been produced at
https://www.wittevrongelreunion.com/for-children
Note: As indicated earlier, if you are having difficulty reaching the site on your computer, you can also reach this page at
https://sites.google.com/view/wittevrongelreunion/for-children
There you can identify yourself, give an overview of the children (names not needed) for whom you would like activities, and the kind of activities you would like for them. That will give us one table in which all suggestions are placed, making it easier to follow and determine what can be provided.
Action: 2024120404 – Ray to produce page for suggestions of activities for children
Included in that page is a question: Would any extended family members be able and willing to spend say 1 or 2 hours on the weekend helping with / supervising children’s activities? This is not, at this time, a request for commitment, but an indication of possibility.
We have the use of the splash pad, skateboard park, pool and slides, climbing equipment, tennis, pickleball, frisbee, and perhaps more.
General activities
Norman indicated that, at the reunion at Medicine Hat, no specific activities were planned, and the general feedback was that it was a great reunion.
This indication was confirmed by others.
It seems best, then, to follow that example, having things like Belgian bowling, frisbee, etc., all available, but leaving it up to individuals and groups to organize whatever they want to have happen on an ad hoc basis, with everyone free to participate, but no expectations that people do so.
The main intent of the reunion is to give people time and space to connect with other family members. If playing games of various types helps with that, great. If it doesn’t, then no one is expected to do so.
Still Photography
We would like to be able to have photographs taken, of family groups and the whole group.
While we intend not to impose on anyone in the family to take such photos, we are also aware that there may be someone in the family who may want to do that as their contribution to the weekend, and so put it out there for consideration. (Bear in mind that this may involve things like climbing on the roof of the large picnic shelter in order to get enough height to have everyone included. And we don’t want any of the family to risk getting hurt in the process.)
While we would be delighted if one of you were wanting and able to provide the photographic work, we are not expecting that, and so will investigate the possibility of hiring a local photographer.
Drone Photography
The suggestion was made to have a drone taking photos of the area and activities. We don’t know how possible that would be, given the trees that help make the campground such a beautiful place. We also don’t know if that would even be allowed by the town.
Joanne will ask at the town office about approvals needed for drone photography. Working on the assumption that it’s approved, is there anyone out there who is able and willing to do that?
Action: 20241205 – Joanne to check with town about possible drone photography
Indication of intent
We had decided at the last meeting to canvas the family about who hoped / planned to attend the reunion. This is not to be seen as a commitment (it’s way too early for that, and people’s plans may well change between now and the reunion. Rather, this is to gain some sense of possible numbers and needs.
A web page has been built whereby families can indicate their intentions.
https://www.wittevrongelreunion.com/reunion-intentions
Or
https://sites.google.com/view/wittevrongelreunion/reunion-intentions
Please fill out the page and click ‘Submit’, so we can get an idea of what we are looking at. It will be a great help to the planning committee.
Action: 2024120406 – Ray to include invitation and link in email sent to whole family.
Icebreakers
A suggestion was made once again to have an ‘icebreaker’. to help people talk with each other, meet and get to know family members they haven’t seen in a long time, perhaps never.
Suzanne, who will not be able to be at the reunion, volunteered to develop such an icebreaker. It was suggested there could also be a scavenger hunt as part of such icebreaking, but that is so far only a suggestion.
Action: 20241207 – Suzanne to develop icebreaker
Introductions
We want to make sure that everyone gets introduced at some point in the weekend.
It was proposed that at supper on Friday, we would have a person from each family line stand up and introduce the members present from that line, giving first names. (Note: I don’t think this was mentioned in the meeting – if I’m wrong, feel free to correct me - but would an alternative be to have that person invite each member to introduce themselves, perhaps giving information like where they live? Please let me know your thoughts before I send this out to the whole family. I want to include what we have agreed, not just an idea I have.)
Water and other supplies
Shirley suggested we purchase cases of bottle of water. Keeping properly hydrated is very important, especially if it’s a hot day. Also we could have freezies for the kids. And scissors. These were all agreed.
We will look to places like Carman Co-op for purchase of such supplies, and ask if they will take back any packs we have not opened.
Next meeting mid Feb
Action: 2024120408 – Ray to send out new doodle poll about Feb 1, and zoom link as soon as the date is decided.