1998 Reunion, El Dorado, KS

Friday, June 26

On Friday afternoon, at the Red Coach Inn, El Dorado, KA, 51 Junkins from 11 states registered and enjoyed meeting new cousins and old during a cocktail hour in the hospitality room before dinner. Junkins came from ME, NH, CT, MA, IL, OH, CO, ID, TX, MO and KS.

At 5:30, all were seated in the dining area for a Swiss Steak and/or Roast Turkey dinner. After dinner, the group retired to a private meeting room where KS host, Tom Junkins, had set up for cordials and an evening of conversation.

First on the agenda was a welcome from El Dorado's Mayor, Ed Blake, who attempted to convince the group that it was not hot outside (it had cooled off to 95Ā° by 9:00 p.m.). Next, the President and Founder of JFA, Alan Junkins, spoke to the group about the Association and its activities over the years.

Tom Junkins reviewed the events for the next two days and the rest of the evening was spent with cousins looking over displays of Junkins memorabilia, back issues of the Association's newsletters and photo albums of family members. Many just spent the evening talking with new found cousins or reminiscing with those they hadn't seen in many years.

Saturday, June 27

After an early breakfast at the Red Coach Coffee Shop, the JFA Board of Directors met for about an hour taking care of several items of business. Although there were only five members of the Board present, the President held proxy votes from two other Board members, so that were seven votes of the required six needed to conduct business.

President Alan Junkins read a report from Secretary Ruth Hodgin and a Treasurer's report from David B. Junkins. Alan also reported on his activities since the last Board meeting in 1997, including the installation of the new fence at the Samuel Junkins Burial Ground in York.

The Board voted to purchase a page in York's 350th Anniversary Book, "350 Years as York, Maineā€¦Focusing on the Twentieth Century," to be published in 2001. They voted to support the Old York Historical Society by donating $500 toward the conservation of the "Moody Papers" recently purchased at auction by the Society. They moved to hold the 2000 reunion in the Buck's County, PA area near Philadelphis, to be hosted by Director Team Ken and Kathy Junkins. 2000 will also be the 350th anniversary of Robert1 Junkins coming to the colonies. The 2002 JFA reunion to be held in York, ME will be held during the year-long 350th celebration of the incorporation of York. The 1999 JFA Board of Directors meeting also will be held in York.

At 10:00 a.m., the Junkins cousins assembled for a bus tour of El Dorado, including some of the Junkins' ancestral homes, burial grounds and the surrounding areas. The bus and driver were provided by the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce and the tour was narrated by Tom Junkins, with added comments by Jim Junkins. Some of the points of interest on the tour were the Walnut Valley Cemetery, the Boyer Pump Station, Sunset Lawns Cemetery, several Junkins' homes, the Old OIl Hill area and the Stapleton #1 Discovery Well.

At noon, the group was treated to a buffet lunch at the Golden Corral Restaurant. After lunch, some of the cousins abandoned the tour the the chance of a cool nap before the evening events. Others continued on the tour to additional points of interest including the Coults Museum, Dewey Junkins' home, John Junkins' home and the area where Ethan Allen Junkins' home was. The last stop was the El Dorado overlook at the Lake. By 3:00, all were ready for a cool hotel room or a dip in the pool before the evening dinner and program.

At 5:00, there was a cocktail party in the hospitality room, followed at 6:00 by a buffet dinner of baked steak and/or baked chicken with all the trimmings.

After dinner, there was a talk on old El Dorado by local historian Jean Plummer, in the conference room. Following that, a JFA meeting was held with the normal Secretary and Treasurer's reports and the nominating committee report, followed by election and installation of officers.

After adjournment of the business meeting, Jim Junkins spoke on "Dad, Me and some of our Missouri Cousins." Don Junkins read some of his poems from "The Graves of Scotland Parish" after which the formal part of the evening was ended, but the enjoyable mingling and talking with cousins continued.

Sunday, June 28

At 1:00 p.m., the Junkins cousins began to assemble at the pavilion in East Park, El Dorado for a brisket and chicken BBQ. Many wandered over to the Oil Hill, Oil Museum to see some of the living history of the largest oil field in the United States, where many of our mid-western Junkins cousins have worked and raised their families for several generations.

Meanwhile, Tom Junkins entertained everyone with some Karaoke songs as all dined on a great Kansas BBQ.

By 5:00 p.m., most had started home or back to the Red Coach Inn to prepare for the trip home.

The Kansas reunion was most enjoyable and informative, especially for those who had never been to the state before. Who would have guessed that it could be so hot, so windy day and night, and that everything in Kansas leans to the north. It is hoped that someday all can go to York where their roots started in 1650.

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