Roederer Reunion 2018

This Reunion has been life-changing for me. My new relationships created, the rekindling of old ones, witnessing of tension within families lessened or totally disappear, and being a part of a long lost family finding one another after 46 years! I never dreamed of such rewards on so many levels that would come to me through this undertaking. This experience has taught me that the possibilities are endless when people come together with a common goal… sometimes not even knowing what that exact goal is. This Reunion started out as a fairly simple gathering of family members, building on the 2010 Reunion and sharing my passion (and Linda’s) for family history.

Before we knew it, it morphed into something bigger, deeper and inexplicable. Upon reflection of the weekend, Linda told me, “You can’t explain this to people who were not there to experience it.”We both struggle for the words to describe these three days. It wasn’t about the city of Louisville… it wasn’t about Churchill Downs or the German-American Club. It was about each and every person and the tremendous enthusiasm, energy, commitment and love they all share to connect with other family members near and far. I am amazed at how many people, of no relation by blood or marriage, who wanted to be a part of this wonderful event. They put their heart and soul into it, just as if it was their own family… photographers, hotel managers, caterers, wine vendors, and sales reps. Little did we know that our event was listed on the books with the Louisville Tourist Bureau as a premier city eventthat weekend, along with Breeders! I kid you NOT!
THE GRAND FINALE
 What a way to end an amazing weekend of family fun and togetherness! Day 3 of the Roederer Family Reunion was a “bucket list” event! Even for the many Louisvillian cousins who have experienced Churchill Downs many times, this was a unique treat to experience the track at the newly-opened Starting Gate Suites. I never dreamed this could be an economical option… but it couldn’t have been more perfect!

I have to give credit to Tom & Janet Raderer for suggesting this venue and the rest of the credit belongs to blind luck… or maybe divine intervention. Crazy circumstances and last minute changes all went in our favor, making this incredible venue solely for us! 11 spacious suites, large dining area, delicious buffet, friendly bartenders serving up killer mint juleps, perfect views of the track, and a huge suite reserved just for the kids!

Parents were able to enjoy the day without worrying about the little ones. The incredible team at Churchill  thought of EVERYTHING! The 64-person suite was setup as a kid’s paradise… complete with Sponge Bob on the tube, coloring tables, jockey silks and crowns to color, over-sized games of Jenga and Connect 4, fun balls to jump in, a tent, and so much more. 

SURPRISE SPONSOR
The day before the Reunion kickoff, we had a preliminary face-to-face meeting with the Churchill reps to finalize details. We were pleasantly surprised to see the Roederer name proudly displayed for the Breeders’ Cup. Louis Roederer Champagne
sponsored the Breeders’ Champagne Bar! For those of you who may not be familiar with this brand of champagne, Louis Roederer has been around since 1776. Most people have heard of the ultra premium champagne “Cristal”… well, that IS Louis Roederer’s premier bubbly! Unfortunately, we had no luck in having that bar moved up to our Starting Gate Suites for our event. Corporate rules demanded tear down immediately after the last race of Breeders. We did, of course, take advantage of the awesome photo op!

CHURCHILL TEAM

For an entire year, the details of this Sunday grand finale were carefully planned out. Sean Sterner, our event manager, and I got to know each other pretty well during this process. He and his wife, with their precious daughter, agreed to be honorary Roederers for the day! They joined us and fit right in as they mingled with our family. Our event rep, Wan, stayed with us the majority of the time, making sure everything was perfect… all while looking like a model that just stepped out of a GQ magazine! Many thanks to this amazing Churchill team!

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

With so much room at our disposal, we even had one of the suites designated as a photography studio! Families were able to walk into the “photography studio” and get those special photos with the perfect backgrounds of the Churchill Downs logo or the track or the beautiful fall foliage with the iconic twin spires. I have a feeling some of those pictures taken have made it onto Christmas cards this year… ours did!

Many thanks to Anita and Gary Terry (GJT Photography) for spending 3 full days with us, sharing their passion of photography and becoming a part of our family.
CHEF’S BUFFET
 The catering staff outdid themselves with our delicious Chef’s buffet. Who would dream of combining Louisville’s signature dish, Kentucky Hot Brown, with Mac ‘n Cheese? Both are favorites of mine and putting them together… well, magic happens! So delicious! Other delicacies served: Fall Salad with Almonds and Cranberries, Herb Chicken, Smoked Pork, Cheddar Grits and an assortment of sinfully good desserts. Trust me, nobody left hungry!

HAT CONTEST There is no rule that says you can only wear a hat to the track during the Kentucky Derby. Several cousins enjoyed showing off their favorite headwear on Sunday. We had a number of participants strutting their stuff, eager to show off their track accessories. There was a wide variety represented, including a fascinator, straw hats, beret and a Texas-size cowboy hat!

Each participant was given a number and everyone voted for their favorite. The winner was Katherine Stonecipher, donning an adorable beret and taking home and extra $25. Many thanks to all who participated. GERMAN-AMERICAN PRIDE Each day of the Reunion had certain moments that were burned into my memory, bringing about unexpected emotions within me. In our previous newsletter, I shared the special moment involving Art Raderer. Sunday was no different. It happened during the customary national anthem played before the first race. As the bugler started, everyone respectfully rose to their feet. I happened to glance over at the table where most of the Germans were sitting and they all put their hands over their hearts without hesitation or prompting. I immediately thought of our ancestors and wondered how they would have felt at that moment. How proud they would be to see the love and respect of family and the blending of two cultures. My, how far we have come! 

DOOR PRIZES
 We had more prizes given away than we had planned on. All attendees’ names were put in a basket to be drawn for door prizes on both Saturday and Sunday. These were not your typical cheesy giveaways. The winners were all smiles when they won Roederer pen sets, Roederer champagne posters and even a gorgeous Roederer Champagne bucket!
SPLIT THE POT A disease that has affected so many people in the world and 

particularly in our family is Alzheimer’s. When it was suggested to have a Split the Pot event, it was easy to decide which charitable organization to donate half the proceeds… the Alzheimer’s Foundation. We raised $250, with one lucky cousin receiving $125 and the other $125 going to this worthy cause. Thank you for everyone’s generosity!
ALL WINNERS… NO LOSERS

We heard from quite a few big winners in the room. Halfway through the races, one cousin told me he had NOT lost a single race all day. So naturally, I immediately went to the betting box with him for my first shot at playing the ponies. Yep, you guessed it… I broke the winning streak! I still felt like a winner while watching everyone having a great time, whether their horse won or not.
SHARE THE MEMORIES With families getting together for Christmas, now is the perfect time go through those old family pictures, reminisce about old times and capture those beloved family stories (via audio, pen/paper, or Word doc). It doesn’t matter how you get those precious memories down, just do it… before they fade into history and lost forever. We have received quite a few submissions for the “Remember When” publication, but we need more. Our goal is to have at least 100 entries. Be sure to read the “Remember When” section of your Roederer Cookbook… you will laugh, cry and get inspired to tell your favorite family remembrance. Email them to Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com.
REUNION STORE The Roederer Reunion Store will continue to be open while supplies last. Family treasures are always the perfect size! Give the gift that lasts for generations. Click Roederer Reunion Store.HEARTFELT THANK YOU

Linda and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for making this weekend one to remember for a VERY long time! May this new year bring you health, happiness, prosperity and joy! A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

Lasst uns unsere Herkunft nicht vergessen! Let us not forget our origins!

Day 2 of the Roederer Family Reunion completely embodied this motto which is prominently displayed at Louisville’s German-American Club. There is so much to tell all of you ― it was an action-packed day full of fun and surprises. Stay with me until the end to hear about the most wonderful surprise of all!

Saturday morning began with many of our out-of-town family members touring Louisville. While others took the more relaxed approach spending quality time connecting and re-connecting with family members they met the night before.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel’s Pegasus Room, seventeen enthusiastic cousins joined Linda and me for our two-hour genealogy seminar “Looking into Your Past”.We learned how to start climbing your family tree, what online records are available, mysteries of DNA, preserving family treasures, how to bring your ancestors to life and so much more!

How many of you have boxes similar to this tucked away and forgotten in closets, basements and attics? Unfortunately, this is too familiar a sight… I am guilty, as well. We began the class with this picture and accompanying poem, “Strangers in the Box”, by P.A. Harazim. I find this poem quite powerful and thought-provoking and just had to share. Hopefully, this will convince others to do their part in preserving family history… before it’s too late.
The last stanza sums it up beautifully!
Take time to save your memories,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours
Could be strangers in the box.
Not only did Linda and I share our knowledge and passion for family research, but she and I both learned from others in the class. We appreciate everyone’s participation and making this class a huge success. Everyone took home a booklet with the PowerPoint presentation so they could dive right into their own family discoveries.

Aaron Lowe, owner of Real Tek Solutions, was the hero of the day for donating the projector, screen and his IT services. Aaron, husband of our cousin Jennifer Sawaya (Christian clan), can help you with network design, security, custom software design, hardware upgrades, disaster recovery and more. Visit www.realteksolutionsinc.com.

Shortly before 4 o’clock, everyone started arriving at the German-American Club. As you walk in, this wonderful venue makes you feel like you are back in the Old Country with its Maibaum-like chandelier, Bierstube, German flags and beautiful murals of German scenes, making the perfect stage backdrop.

Everywhere you looked, you couldn’t help but embrace your German heritage and ooze with pride. The banner of this newsletter depicts the scene gracing the right-side wall as you enter. If you look closely at the map, notice the two red plaques next to each other in the SW corner, near Freiburg. At the 2010 Reunion, we proudly added Diersburg and Friesenheim to the wall! Looks like we need to make two more for Oberschopfheim and Strassburg/Strasbourg. We can let our French cousins decide the appropriate spelling.

What better way to embrace the Germanic culture than to don a Dirndl or Lederhosen? A little family trivia… our cousin, Laraine Hauschulz Rank and her husband, Steve, were official German dancers at their California German-American Club. Laraine’s grandmother, Karolina Roederer Hauschulz, left Diersburg in 1910 and settled in North Lake, ND.

Most of the crowd had already picked up their registration packets and merchandise, so the bartenders went right to work pouring those hearty German beers and tasty wines for our thirsty guests. All of the tables were decked out in German-color table cloths, beautiful floral arrangements (courtesy of Janet Raderer) and a few extra Mardi Gras beads that were not allowed to return to New Orleans. To say this is the perfect place for our Reunion is an understatement!! It would not have been possible without German Club members and family extraordinaire, Tom and Janet Raderer. There are no words to express our appreciation.
RAFFLE… DOOR PRIZES… AUCTION!
Before feasting on Jägerschnitzel, there was a lot of activity to work up everyone’s appetite. We were pleased to so many of our local sponsors donated tickets to area attractions for us to give as door prizes. Some of our generous sponsors… Corvette Museum, Farmington, Thomas Edison House and Churchill Downs!

Nearly everyone purchased a ticket for a chance to win our raffle item, a large, framed “Roederer Immigrants of Diersburg” family tree. The ticket-selling ladies were easy to pick out in the room! They were wearing special Roederer Reunion 2018 aprons, courtesy of Linda Pennington. The raffle winner was Todd Roederer, sporting the lucky Lederhosen and looking like he stepped right out of scene behind him. Congratulations Todd! 

Now for the much-anticipated auction…we had a perfect space to display the items for viewing and placing bids. A spacious room across from the dining area held the 20+ items for auction. A special, unexpected donation came from the Louis Roederer Champagne Company. They pulled promotional items from both their West Coast and East Coast offices just for us! When I opened the boxes, I couldn’t believe my eyes! They sent engraved cuff links, pen sets, leather-embossed key chains and a cool Roederer Champagne poster! The silver Roederer champagne bucket put this auction bundle in a different league!

There was something there for everyone… a 150-year old German cookbook, antique beer steins, Diersburg wine glass, hand-made quilted purse, gorgeous hand-carved cross, a doll and the hot item of the night with fierce bidding… the bourbon basket. A huge thank you to those who generously donated so many wonderful items for the auction: Chris and Anita Roederer, Steve Roederer, Marilyn Moser, Janet Raderer and Brian Broussard.

Our special French cousin, Diane Roederer, graciously donated a basket of culinary delights. Her truffle products made one lucky cousin VERY happy! For those of you who lost that bid or didn’t have the opportunity to bid, you can still indulge yourself with a number of truffle products from which to choose. Looking for a unique gift to give a loved one this Christmas? How about exquisite truffle butter, caviar or even edible 24K gold flakes! Visit www.drdelicacy.com for a culinary experience you soon won’t forget!
MEMORIALS
 Since our 2010 Reunion, we lost far too many loved ones. Even though they were not with us physically, they certainly were all there in spirit. Becky Ettel Burnard, made sure of that! She made the most beautiful, memorial tributes to 16 of those dearly departed family members. Becky and her parents, Calvin and Annabel Ettel, were all with us in 2010 and I still remember seeing their infectious smiles like it was yesterday. I thought Becky was the perfect person to take on the task of putting together a tribute to those lost since she was the only person to lose both parents in that time. I n

ever would have imagined anyone taking this task to the incredible level that she did!

Becky made personalized 2′ x 3′ memorial boards for all 16, giving each one as much care, respect and attention to detail as she did for her parents’ memorials! These boards were beautifully displayed along an entire wall in the auction room. These were Becky’s gifts to be taken home by the family. The picture and my words cannot appropriately describe how incredibly moving this labor of love truly was. Becky, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Another special gift of Becky’s… a living tribute to Art Raderer, our only living Roederer centenarian. Art turned 100 years young this past May and over 250 of his dear friends and family gathered here at the German-American Club to celebrate his life’s accomplishments. At 100, he still drives, doesn’t use a cane or walker, mows the lawn at his lake house, and has a 

memory that is sharper than people half his age! Unfortunately, three weeks before the Reunion, Art fell and broke his hip. After surgery, he powered through PT several times a day to get stronger as fast as possible, just so he could attend the Reunion. We are all so delighted that he was able to join us that day! One particular moment that is burned in my memory… I asked for all of the veterans to stand and be recognized so that we could thank them for their service. I glanced to my left and got a lump in my throat as I saw Art slowly stand up from his wheelchair, all on his own. A truly remarkable man in so many ways!

GUTEN APPETIT!
Our catering team, A Full Plate, outdid themselves with the delicious menu, presentation and service. The German feast included apple/cranberry/pumpkin seed salad, Jägerscnitzel, Garlic/Paprika Chicken, Spätzle with peas and carrots, red cabbage and the special item featured in the new Roederer Cookbook… Sauerkraut Balls. Chef Maureen graciously shared her “secret” recipe so the Roederer family could make this wonderful dish for their own family gatherings. A German meal is not complete without a dessert… the Black Forest Cake was to die for!
SURPRISE OF LIFETIME On April 16, 2016, I receive a captivating notification through Ancestry.com. This special date will remain etched in my memory forever, as it started an incredible adventure that was life-changing for me and for many others. Here’s how it all began…

My name is Daniel Critser. I am very new to this genealogy process and I promise to keep it short. According to my DNA results from Ancestry, you and I have a common match (I believe 4th cousins)…  Just a little about me, I don’t have anything to go on as I was adopted at birth from Louisville, KY in 1971. Critser is my adoptive name. I did request and receive a short non-identifying letter pertaining to my birth parents from the Archdiocese of Louisville… Both where white and listed to be of German descent and that’s about all I have… Anywho, I apologize if I’m bothering you. I’m not trying to solve a life’s long mystery of ‘my lost family’ I am just curious as to learning a little about my roots… Without any blood relatives to go off of, this can be quite a task… I greatly appreciate your time in reading this and hope to hear from you. Best regards, Daniel

This adoption mystery intrigues me and I immediately respond…
You have presented me with a challenge and I want to help you in any way I can! Please feel free to contact me via my email… Looking forward to hearing from you and helping to solve your mystery.
Your new-found cousin (degree to be determined),
Rhonda Roederer

It took a little over a year to solve the mystery of Daniel’s parentage. He and I spent countless hours on the phone and exchanged hundreds of texts and emails. Along the way, Daniel and I discovered we had so much in common, aside from the mysterious familial connection. For starters, we have the same birthday, Nov. 28th, we both work in the oilfield, been married twice, no children, left-handed… and the list goes on and on. Another crazy coincidence is that I met his grandfather about 23 years prior!

Daniel and I formed an immediate bond the moment we met in person. Our spouses, Michelle and Brian, felt the same. Since that time, we have had 8 or 9 face-too-face visits and we happen to live 6 hours apart!

It’s hard to explain the range of emotions that I felt when I had the privilege and honor of publicly introducing Daniel to everyone that day. There at the reunion, Daniel got to meet three aunts, a great aunt and several first cousins along with over 100 other blood relatives. Everyone welcomed him with open arms!

To bring this story full circle…  along his round-trip travels from Houston to Louisville, he was also able to meet both his birth mother and half sister in other states. Unfortunately, circumstances were such that neither was able to make it to Louisville, but they were there in spirit. Through the wonderful technological advancements, his birth family and adoptive family have now all connected and are overjoyed to celebrate this new chapter in Daniel’s and Michelle’s lives as one family.

It is difficult to explain the profound impact Daniel and his story has had on me. To have the opportunity to be a part of something so personal… so raw with emotion… so life-changing… well, it’s just an incredible feeling! Daniel and Michelle have become more than just “cousins”, they have become the dearest of friends. I am also thrilled that his “new family” has embraced me and Brian totally and completely, making us feel like an extension of their families! I never dreamed so much joy could come out of a random email from a stranger.
REUNION STORE
The response continues to be great with the reopening of the Reunion Store. Unfortunately, there is not time to get items in before Christmas, but family treasures are a treat anytime of year! Get them while they last! Click Roederer Reunion Store.
 Stay tuned… you’re not going to want to miss the wrap up party newsletter to this unbelievable weekend!

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

Once again, this is the time of year that centers around… yes, family. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of fun, family and food. I’ve heard from several of you who have served a few dishes from the new Roederer Family Favorites cookbook for your Thanksgiving feast. I’d love to hear from more of you on which recipes you plan to serve this year for Christmas dinner. Personally, I am planning on tackling the Sauerkraut Balls, which were a big hit at our Reunion’s German Feast. I’m guessing that many of you are going to try this recipe also. I know our St. Louis cousin, Linda, is going to share them with her large family on Christmas Eve. I seem to remember her saying more than 50 people are attending, including her brothers’ and sisters’ families and her mother who will be turning 97 on Christmas day!

It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since our Reunion’s first event on Friday, November 2nd – the Treffen und Grüssen (Meet & Greet) which was held at the Holiday Inn East. Our host hotel pulled out all of the stops to accommodate us in EVERY way. About 180 of the Roederer clan took over the large atrium and bar areas. As soon as the doors opened, family members came pouring into our registration room to pick up their name tags and registration packets. Mardi Gras came a few months early in Louisville!

I know I wasn’t able to get to everyone during this event to share the meaning behind the beads and name tags. The colored dots on the name tags were not just random. Everyone’s name tag lanyard was made of Mardi Gras beads which were collected from many Mardi Gras parades over the years… saving the more unique and “coveted” ones (even by local’s standards). Nearly everyone’s beads were different; except for our German cousins, who all sported their German colors with one strand of beads, each of black, red and gold! It was easy to pick them out of the massive crowd!

The name tags were not only festive, but were all tagged with a color-coded dot which was unique for each immigrant ancestor clan. Everyone with the same color dot was a 3rd cousin or closer in relation; different color tags would primarily be 4th, 5th or 6th cousins. A large family tree chart served as the key so all could see how they related to one another and their descendancy from our Diersburg forefather, Conrad Roederer (b. 1697). 

Here is one of our very special cousins, Kurt Roderer, as he points out his place of birth, Diersburg, Germany. He is the only surviving Diersburg immigrant in the US today. We were honored to have Kurt join us from Evanston, IL, along with his wife, Kathy, 4 daughters, a new son-in-law and 2 grandsons.

A special surprise for the family, courtesy of my cohort Linda Pennington… in the registration packets were personalized Lines of Descentfrom their immigrant ancestor, if this ancestor was born in early/mid 1800’s. Again, please contact Linda at lrpenn@yahoo.com if there are any corrections that need to be made.

We had an amazing team of about a dozen people working registration… passing out name tags, handing over neatly bundled pre-ordered Reunion merchandise and explaining all the goodies in registration packets. On the opposite side of the room, was the Reunion Store.

There were so many pre-orders that we decided at the last minute to have items available for purchase onsite. I predict that there will be quite a few of these family treats under the tree this Christmas for some of those who were unable to come. Cookbooks, family charts, cemetery guide, and T-shirts were quickly flying off the shelves! Kudos go to the storekeepers, Patti Jako our Cookbook Cousin, and my husband, Brian. Many thanks again to each and every one of these wonderful volunteers who got people checked in quickly and store items purchased so everyone could have lots of time to eat, drink and meet new family members.

Speaking of meeting new family members… I believe our German visitors were overwhelmed with the warm welcome they received by so many family members. Three German sisters, traveling together, arrived several days before the Reunion and stayed for two weeks! Several family members took these adorable ladies (2 were first-timers to the US) and showed them much of what Kentucky is known for… in addition to the bourbon!

So many wonderful connections happened over these three days! And there was one that deserves special mention. During my 30-year research of the Roederer family, I have had very little success in bringing the French Roederer clan into the fold with our German ancestry. Strasbourg, France (only 25 km from Diersburg) continually shifted between German and French rule for centuries and has been part of France since 1944. In my naivety, I though that ill feelings would have disappeared between the two countries after 50+ years. I was saddened to find in some cases that was just not true. Whenever I had a French Roederer descendant on the phone, as soon as I mentioned that I descended from the Diersburg clan, I was met with a curt “We are not related to Germans… click!”

I’m delighted to tell everyone that the war is over! I never dreamed that we could have family from all four major Roederer places of origin together under one roof. We accomplished just that with families descending from Roederer ancestors born in Diersburg, Oberschopfheim, Friesenheim and now finally… STRASBOURG!!!

A few months ago while on a business trip to Houston, I had the honor to meet Diane Roederer and her daughter, Victoria. Diane was born in Strasbourg and has lived in the Houston area for over 20 years. During our brief visit, Diane and I were intrigued with one another… wanting to know more about our prospective heritages. She and Victoria decided to join us, tour Louisville and meet lots of Roederers. This is just the beginning of a beautiful blending of cultures, heritage and focus on our commonalities, instead of differences. Diane, affectionately know as the “Truffle Lady”, graciously donated a truffle basket to our silent auction.  You can check out her delicious products at www.drdelicacy.com and read more about this interesting French connection. Merci beaucoup, Diane et Victoria!

Several family members brought their family treasures to share with the group. Some brought scrapbooks while others brought meaningful heirlooms in shadowboxes and framed pictures. My biggest regret of the entire reunion is that there was not enough time for me to look at all of these wonderful family treasures that were so graciously shared. Thank you all for sharing.

We have had a great response with the reopening of the Reunion Store. There is still time to get those last minute Christmas gifts, as long as your heart is NOT set on one of the T-shirts. The T-shirts sold out, but we still have a few of the other items left. Get them while they last! Click Roederer Reunion Store.

Stay tuned… you’re not going to want to miss this next edition of our Reunion Recap.

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

We are excited to report that the Roederer Reunion Online Store is OPENand ready for business once again! We received so many requests from family members who were unable to attend the reunion, we had to restock the shelves and open the doors.

Wondering what to give that hard-to-buy-for family member this Christmas? Here are a few ideas:

FYI… the Vol. 2 Roederer Family Favorites Cookbook has been a HUGE hit… even with those who are not the cooks in the family. The anecdotes accompanying many of the recipes are priceless and the “Remember When” section will leave you wanting more; hopefully, also influencing you to submit your own family remembrances to share for our next special publication.

The special continues… buy 4 cookbooks and get the 5th one FREE! These make perfect stocking stuffers!

Ordering from our store is easy! Here is the link! Click https://squareup.com/store/roederer

You may also pay by sending a check to:
Rhonda Roederer
6807 Louisville St.
New Orleans, LA  70124

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

What an amazing 3 days we had of fun, feasting and family connections! Over 200 Roederers and Roederer descendants gathered in Louisville, including family from 22 states, 23 different immigrant branches and the 4 main places of origin – Diersburg, Friesenheim, Oberschopfheim and the French connection, Strasbourg! We had 9 from Germany, several who were visiting the US for the very first time!

I would first like to thank all who contributed with the sponsorship which covered the unexpected cost associated with the change of venue for the Friday night Meet and Greet. With so many generous contributions and a successful auction, we were able to meet our goal! There were several more sponsors who came forward after our sponsorship board was printed. I want to thank the many volunteers of whom there are too many to name.

The planning began well over a year ago and I am amazed and honored that so many people wanted to be a part of putting on this event. The key instigator was our Oberschopfheim cousin, Linda Pennington. She was with me every step of the way and did countless tasks behind the scenes – many were special surprises for everyone. Every time I heard her say “I have an idea”, I would get even more energized with the endless possibilities. All those extra little details… yes, much of that was Linda’s touch!

I want to share with you all a recap of the highlights of the weekend. When reviewing the event, I quickly realized that there is far too much to report in one newsletter. So we will have a multi-part recap over the next few weeks which will include some of our favorite pictures.

Now for a few important announcements regarding 1) merchandise, 2) photo access, 3) family stories, 4) lines of descent, and 5) an unfortunate loss.

Since some items were sell outs and requests for others are still coming in, we have decided to reopen the store for a limited time. Stay tuned for the announcement of when the store is open for business once again.

We appreciate Anita and Gary Terry being with us to capture those special moments all 3 days! They did a fantastic job!

Here’s a message from Anita and Gary with the photo gallery links…
Be sure to look through all the photographs to select printing choices or for digital downloads.
Anyone who would like for GJT Photography to custom print any of your selections, please contact us at the contact points listed below. We were thrilled to meet all of you and thoroughly enjoyed being with you all.

Friday, November, 2, 2018 – https://gjtphotoandvideo.zenfolio.com/roederer1
Saturday, November 3, 2018 – https://gjtphotoandvideo.zenfolio.com/roederer2
Sunday, November 4, 2018 – https://gjtphotoandvideo.zenfolio.com/roederer3

GJT Photography & Videography
Gary & Anita Terry
Contact Anita at: dja84@me.com or (502) 938-1925
Contact Gary at: gwterry1946@gmail.com or (502) 718-0255

During the 3 days together, we heard a lot of incredible family stories! Others would love to hear these stories, as well. Everyone received a memory tickler sheet with their registration packet. While gathering for the holidays, get out those family pictures and take a stroll down memory lane. Capture those wonderful memories and send them in to rhonda@roedererreunion.com, so that we can include them in the next publication. Feel free to include pictures and bring those memories to life!

Many of you received a little personalized surprise from Linda in your registration packets – your Line of Descent (LOD) starting from your immigrant ancestor.  Please look them over for any obvious errors. Linda will be happy to make the corrections and email it back to you. Contact her at lrpenn@yahoo.com or call 636-227-7001.

Shortly after our Saturday night German Feast event at the German American Club, one of our cousins received word that her husband back home had suddenly passed away. This is a harsh reminder to us all of how important it is to not let time pass us by. Spend more time with loved ones, put aside any family differences, and make family time a priority.

By the way, I just have to share a little news flash… www.Ancestry.com has their DNA test kits 40% off until November 21^st. This price of $59.00 is the lowest that I have ever seen and would make a perfect Christmas gift.

Stay tuned for the next edition of the Reunion Recap coming soon. We have lots of incredible news to share. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

It was nearly a year ago that the first newsletter went out announcing the Roederer Family Reunion. It’s hard to believe we’re just a few days awayfrom gathering in Louisville!

And what a year it’s been… 16 newsletters, 300 new family recipes & stories gathered, over 600 visitors on the website, with over 2000 pages viewed, new family branches discovered, a change of venue (that was fun!), incredible auction items gathered, a busy Reunion Store and so much more! We have even more surprises in store.

We have 208 attending from 22 states for 3 fun-filled days! And let’s not forget our German guests, some of whom have already arrived in the city. We’re thrilled that over 50 family members from our first reunion will be joining us again.

Now for some of the nitty-gritty details many of you have been asking about… schedule of events, proper attire, Churchill Downs parking, sponsorship, etc:

The response to our Sponsorship drive has been greatly appreciated. We are almost half way to our goal of $2500. Anyone who would like to make a contribution to help defray the cost of unexpected expenses is welcome to do so on Friday evening with our fervent “Thank You”.

Just a reminder that we will be unable to accept anyone at the door who has not pre-registered.  The final number of guests at each event has been tallied and given to our caterers.

Please consider carpooling Saturday and/or Sunday with your new and reacquainted relatives. We would appreciate it if local volunteers could swing by the Holiday Inn to pick up our out-of-town family members. Contact me on Friday night or beforehand to coordinate. Breeder’s Cup weekend will have surging Uber/taxi rates… that is IF you can even get one.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Come one! Come All!

THIS IS THE LAST CALL!!!

The much anticipated Roederer Reunion of 2018 is only 23 days away!

No registrations will be accepted after midnight this Thursday! And no one will be admitted at the door without having a paid registration!

So don’t waste another minute! Check in at Reunion Registration
We want to see everyone there!!

• In what year did Oktoberfest originate? 1810
• For what occasion did this celebration begin? Wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
• Why does the majority of Oktoberfest happen in September? Empty kegs to make room for new October brews
• In what German city is this yearly festival held? Munich (Munchen)
• How many days does the German Oktoberfest typically last? 16-18; ends on first Sunday of October
• What US city has the largest Oktoberfest? Cincinnati; 575,000 annually

It’s hard to believe October is almost here and we are only 2 days away from the Reunion Store closing. Besides this deadline, we have a few other important announcements to cover… hotel & registration deadlines, sponsorship, volunteers, sharing family pictures and event photographers. There’s a lot here, so please stay with me to the end – where a little fun awaits with a quiz to test your Oktoberfest knowledge!

• Online Store closes midnight, October 1
  • Click Roederer Reunion Store
  • Pick up ONLY at Reunion, no mailing option at this time
    • Cookbook Vol. 2 is SOLD OUT, but the waiting list is growing and if we get enough orders, we will run a second printing and have them available at the reunion. To reserve yours, email Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com

Breeder’s Cup fans will be pouring into Louisville the same weekend as our Reunion. Reserve your room ASAP.

• Hotel Room Block ends October 7
  • Click Lodging
  • Rooms $109/$129
• Registration closes October 11
  • NO WALK-INS or late registrants will be admitted; caterers require accurate head count
  • 3 options:  Fri/Sat… Sunday only… all 3-day events
  • Click Reunion Registration
  • Must be present to participate in Auction; check out Auction Preview

When we started planning this event over a year ago, a team of family members graciously offered to cater our Friday Meet & Greet. The original venue (Ramada Plaza) allowed outside food to be brought in; therefore, helping us keep our registration fees low. Our Friday event was essentially free of charge. This was the main selling point for initially choosing the Ramada.

Because we had to change host hotels to the Holiday Inn along with the Friday night venue, we now have an unexpected expense (~$2,500) for catering. It is Holiday Inn’s policy to NOT allow outside food and to use their catering service. So now we are looking for sponsors to help us reach our goal of $2,500. 

The chef has a delicious buffet planned for us and even asked if he could include one of his special German dishes that is not offered on their menu. Of course, I agreed! The team at Holiday Inn has been going that extra mile for us in so many ways. Our event is causing quite the buzz throughout the hotel staff and they are eager to help us kick off this fun-filled, family weekend.

You can send your donation to Rhonda Roederer, 6807 Louisville St., New Orleans, LA  70124. As a thank you for your generosity, we will show our appreciation in a couple of ways:

• For any donation of $100 or more, we will display your family name or company name proudly at the Friday Event, and
• Your family or company will have a permanent place in our advertising pages in the upcoming publication of “Remember When”, a collection of family remembrances.
• Please include your business card or company logo with your donation for us to use in the publication.

Any amount will be greatly appreciated in helping us offset this extra cost.

We are thrilled and honored that so many of you have graciously volunteered to help with this event. We have your names and will be reaching out to you soon to coordinate. We are hoping someone can help us with a couple of specific items:

• 2 computer monitors for the Genealogy Seminar (Saturday, Holiday Inn, Pegasus Room)
• Tour guide for a day for our German guests who are staying 2 weeks in Louisville (helpful if you can speak a little German). Contact me for more details of the exact days our special guests will be in town.

Gail Trout has offered to set up a photo sharing methodology/process which will be made available during the Reunion. We would love to have as many contributors as possible.Everyone loves looking at family pictures, especially those oldies like this treasure from 1887 of my immigrant gg-grandparents, Christian & Katharina Stuedle Roederer.

We realize people have pictures to share that are in a variety of formats (JPEG, TIFF, CD-ROM, flash drive, or hard copy). We want to have a plan in place to accept ALL files and be able to easily and efficiently convert them to a standard format and resolution. The best platform to share these pictures with everyone cannot be determined until we know what and how many files are being submitted. This is where you come in…

Please email Gail at troutgail@alumni.iu.edu (Subject: Roederer Reunion) and tell her your preference for photo submission. Several options have been discussed as to how to handle the various formats, which are best addressed on an individual basis with the submitter. This will be an ongoing project that launches NOW and will kick into high gear during the Reunion.

Have unidentified pictures? Share them, as well! With so many family members looking, we’re pretty confident the mystery will be solved for many of your nameless faces. More information to come on this exciting project… but first, get those family pictures together and then contact Gail ASAP for the next step.

We will have photographers, Anita and Gary Terry, documenting every moment of the weekend. For all 3 days, they will be taking candid pictures as well as “formal” pictures upon request. If you would like to have pictures of your family members, just grab one of them. They are here for YOU and will be happy to accommodate your requests. Great time to think about family photos for Christmas cards. The pictures taken will be available on a website within 2-3 weeks after the Reunion.

Several of you have asked about dress code. No particular attire necessary… be comfortable, but keep in mind pictures will be taken. On Sunday, Churchill Downs, requires “track casual”… jackets optional, vests, collared shirts, sweaters, dresses, pantsuits, dress jeans, slacks and capris are appropriate. Worn or torn garments, athletic wear, frayed or torn denim are considered inappropriate.

Whew! There is so much news to share as the excitement keeps building! We have about 170 attendees so far and that number grows daily.

• In what year did Oktoberfest originate?
• For what occasion did this celebration begin?
• Why does the majority of Oktoberfest happen in September?
• In what German city is this yearly festival held?
• How many days does the German Oktoberfest typically last?
• What US city has the largest Oktoberfest?

Now that there is a touch of fall in the air, it is time to start finalizing those plans for our big November event. We are gathering quite a large crowd and new-found cousins are coming out of the woodwork… you all have obviously been spreading the word! We have over 150 signed up so far and that number grows daily.

UPCOMING DEADLINES
There are many of you who have not had the privilege of the previous announcements over the past several months, so to summarize for you and to serve as a reminder for others…

• Online Store closes October 1. Order while supplies last!
  • Click Roederer Reunion Store
  • Pick up ONLY at Reunion
  • No mailing option at this time
  • Cookbook Vol. 2 is SOLD OUT. Add your name to the waiting list… if we get enough orders, we may have a second printing. Email Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
• Registration closes October 11
  • Click Reunion Registration
  • NO WALK-INS or late registrants will be admitted; caterers require accurate head count
  • 3 options:  Fri/Sat… Sunday only… all 3-day events
  • Must be present to participate in Auction; Click Auction Preview
• Hotel Room Block ends October 7
  • Click Lodging
  • Unbeatable discount rates of $109/$129
  • Rooms filling up fast due Breeder’s Cup
  • Availability NOT guaranteed… don’t delay!

One of the Reunion Store items that has been flying off the shelves is the Ancestral Cemetery Tour Guide. My favorite place to visit in Louisville is featured in this booklet… Cave Hill Cemetery. Not only do we have several of our immigrant ancestors buried in this beautiful memorial park, but hundreds of their descendants!

There is a special event at Cave Hill that many of you may be interested in attending. If I lived in Louisville, I would certainly be there! Mark you calendars for October 2nd 5:00-7:30 pm and sign up for the 6th annual “Cocktails on the Lawn”. Learn about the incredible history of this cemetery while soaking in the serenity and enjoying a libation. Click https://www.cavehillheritagefoundation.org/events/

For all other Reunion News, past and present, visit www.RoedererReunion.com.

Countdown… 52 days away!

Cousin Rhonda
Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370

In our previous newsletters, we have talked about all things reunion… schedule of events, registration, the store opening, cemetery tours, genealogy classes and numerous other exciting things taking place Nov 2-4.

So, today let’s talk about…THE AUCTION!!

The Silent Auction will take place on Saturday evening at the German American Club. Like items will be grouped together for easy viewing and bidding will begin promptly at 4:00 pm. Closing times will be staggered by group with the final group’s bid ending at 6:30. You or your proxy (if you can’t attend) must be present to win. Easy payment by cash, check or credit card. Winning bidders will take their items with them that evening. A list of auction items will be included in your registration packet along with detailed auction rules for last minute review.

The auction committee has been busy the last several months gathering a variety of interesting and rare items, with more to come. So far, we have:

• 6 items that are 100-150 years old
• unique, one-of-a-kind artwork
• Diersburg collectables
• Roederer memorabilia
• culinary delicacies
• and… what’s more Kentucky than a Bourbon Basket!

A gentle reminder of a couple of pesky deadlines that are coming up:

COOKBOOKS
The final proofing is finished and it is ready to send to the printers. Orders must be in by August 30^th. That’s only a week away! We are so excited about this item. We know you’ll love the format and extra features! Even you non-cookbook users will NOT want to miss out on the incredible family remembrances so many of you graciously shared. Here’s a glimpse of what is in store for you.
And just to whet your appetite, here is one of the delicious recipes that you will find inside.

Not only do many of the recipes have interesting notes with family quips, but the 32 personal family stories in the “Remember When” section will have you on an emotional roller coaster of laughter, personal reflection and tears. Want to find out how this story ends? Come on into the Reunion Store, browse around and get those cookbook orders placed before they’re no longer available! The doors are always open and all are welcome!

SELF-GUIDED ANCESTRAL CEMETERY TOUR BOOK
The current price for this detailed guidebook is only $8.00, until August 30^thwhen it goes to the regular price of $15. Order yours today and don’t miss that Early-Bird Special!

For any out-of-towners who have NOT made your hotel reservations yet… rooms are getting scarce with the Breeders’ Cup approaching. Book your room now!  Click here for Lodging

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!
Cousin Rhonda

Rhonda@RoedererReunion.com
504-452-4370