JOHANNES SCHWALM HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

2007 ANNUAL MEETING

Dear Friends of JSHA,

Our JSHA Annual Meeting is fast approaching! "Hessian Heritage Day" will be held at the Valley View Park, Valley View, Pennsylvania, starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 15, 2007. Members and the public are invited to the 33rd consecutive Annual Meeting of the JSHA. Admission is free to all. The event will be held rain or shine, as pavilions and trees offer shelter and shade. Children's activities include a playground and games.

Genealogy, history, folklore, fun, fellowship, and food are the ingredients for the Hessian Heritage Day event. Throughout the day, short talks and demonstrations will be given on a variety of topics enjoyable to all ages of men, women and children. A panel of JSHA researchers will be available to answer your questions. The panel includes Katherine Ludwig, librarian of the David Library of the American Revolution, Donald Londahl-Smidt and Henry Retzer, JSHA researchers.

Our featured attraction this year will be a George Washington impersonator. Carl Closs is a former educator and business executive who has dedicated his retirement since 1997 toward helping children and adults discover the real George Washington. Attend the Annual Meeting in July and you'll realize his portrayal goes a lot deeper than simply dressing in a buff and blue uniform. Carl has spent countless hours poring through General Washington's original writings. This allows him to communicate little known, instructive facts to various audiences. Read more about our guest at www.gwashington.net.

Our JSHA 2007 journal will be available at the Annual Meeting. The 120 pages contain 20 articles of history and genealogy, including the cover story Military Justice in a Hessian Regiment in America, 1777-1783, by Michael Gadue, and contributions from researchers Donald Londahl-Smidt, Henry Retzer, Robert Webler, and Thomas Barker. The always-popular All in the Family features 23 pages of news and old photos of Hessian families.

Many visitors bring their own picnic lunches. Others look forward to the traditional bean soup cooked in a large iron kettle over a wood fire, hot dogs, and beverages that are available for sale. Following the short business meeting and afternoon program, a "Kaffeeklatsch" will be held with coffee and punch provided. Donations of cookies, pies or cakes would be appreciated. A sales booth will offer publications, badges, and other JSHA-related items. This year's featured item will be a lovely glass vase with the JSHA emblem imprinted on it.

Valley View Park is located in Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 8 miles west of Interstate 81, Exit 112 (old exit 34). Follow Route 25 toward Hegins to Gap Street in Valley View and turn left toward the gap in the mountain. Directional signs will be posted. For further information contact N. Daniel Schwalm, Annual Meeting Coordinator, 30 South Second Street, Shamokin, PA 17872 (e-mail address dan_jsha@verizon.net) or the organization's web site www.jsha.org.

If you have paid your 2007 annual membership, you will receive your membership card in this mailing and you will be able to pick up your 2007 journal at the Annual Meeting (or it will be mailed to you the following week). If you have not renewed your 2007 JSHA membership, this is a reminder to do so. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Annual Meeting.



Sincerely, Linda B. Schwalm, Membership Chairperson and the Annual Meeting Committee

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