FAMILY MAILING nr. 3
NOVEMBER 1996

Dear member of the Somsen family,

IMPORTANT
This is a very important Newsletter for we are going to ask you to confirm your definite order for one or more FAMILY-BOOKS.

THANKS
But first, we would like to thank all those relatives who reflected on our list of wanted family members. Thanks to them, this list doesn't exist any longer! And also thanks to the relatives who returned their Family Sheets. Remember, the last possibility to return them is: February 1, 1997!

THE FAMILY-BOOK
As you already know, we are going to publish a family-book of great quality.
Specifications:

• the book will last for centuries

• limited edition

• very high quality (hardcover, paper, photo's and printing)

• 300 pages or more

• 150 illustrations or more (photo's, documents a.s.o.)

• language: both English and Dutch

• publishing date: June 1997 (so the book will be sent to you before the great reunion)

• price: $60 (post free)

HOW TO ORDER FAMILY-BOOKS
We have solved the problem mentioned in our extra Newsletter nr. 2.1 of August 1996 with the help of our US relative, Mre. Marieke Edwards-Jager Gerlings. She will be our financial center in the USA, together with her husband, Michael, who is a bank president.

To order one or more family-books, please make your check (or money order) payable in US-dollars to Somsen-Geneology and address it to:

Mrs. Marieke Edwards
920 East Bay Drive NE, Apt. 3D301
Olympia, WA 98506-1222
U.S.A.

Note 1:
We advise you to order more than one family-book: for your children, grandchildren, other relatives (as a present) and even great-grandchildren.
Note 2:
So, if you want to order e.g. 2 family=books, write a check (or money order) for $120.
Note 3:
If you have already ordered books and transferred money: Don't do anything.
Note 4:
If you order your book(s) after February 1, 1997, the price will be $75. each.

THE SOMSEN VIDEO
Ben Somsen (1931), a professional video-producer, is going to make the movie Somsen-Panorama. This movie shows a panorama of our family, its history, interviews and exclusive material. For this movie, Ben filmed in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and the USA. The movie is going to be presented at the great reunion for the first time. This movie will be available on VHS NTSC-system and VHS PAL-system. He is also planning to edit a limited English-undertitled version on NTSC-system, which is used in the US.

The price of this video will be:

• $20. each, if you take it with you at the great reunion or

• $27. each afterward (post free).

To order one or more videos, please make your check (or money order) stating PAL or NTSC-system payable in US dollars to Somsen-Geneology and address it to Mrs. Marieke Edwards (see above). Please order your video(s) before Fevruary 1, 1997.

THE SOMSEN FAMILY ON THE INTERNET
The interest in the Somsen Home Pages is growing. John is our family-host on this World Wide Web and we do appreciate his efforts highly! So take advantage of this opportunity. If you would like to look at this information, or if you want to add/change any information, please contact:

John Howard Somsen Jr.
35 Springdale Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040-3421
USA
phone: + (413) 538-7724 (Home)
phone: + (413) 536-9170 (Work)
e-mail: ness@crocker.com

Somsen Home Pages: http://www.crocker.com/~ness/somsen.html

NEXT NEWSLETTER
Our next Newsletter (nr. 4) will be published in January, 1997!

Warmest and good wishes, including a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Family Year, from

Theo and Derk Somsen

SOMSEN REUNION WORLD WIDE 1997

Secr. Maanstraat 19
7553 DT Hengelo
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 74 2506610

Dear member of the Somsen family,

You are now reading the first newsletter from the reunion committee, installed on June 22, 1996, consisting of 7 members of the family who accepted the order to organize the reunion of all Somsen's in August, 1997.

We received from Derk and Theo the questionnaires sent in by you containing about 500 preliminary registrations from Holland and "all over the world", to attend the reunion. Because of this large number, we have not been able to find a suitable place in Aalten, but we reserved one in the neighborhood: viz THE ERVE KOTS (the Kots farmyard) in Lievelde, where all the Somsens are welcome without any difficulty. It is situated on a wonderful, rural site in the Gelderse Achterhoek and it is known for its excellent hospitality.

REUNION-INFORMATION
Saturday August 9 1997: Warm 'Achterhoeks' welcome (coffee and currant loaf), official opening, possibly in the presence of a.o. the US Ambassador, members of local and county councils (are being invited). Presentation of the Somsen-Family-Book, premiere of the video "Somsen-Panorama", lunch, afternoon market compiled by Somsens showing old photographs, paintings, tools, peculiar hobbies, in short, all creative Somsen-input are welcome and deserve a place, free visit to antiquarian museum with authentic illustrations of life in the Achterhoek in the last century, nursery class and composition of a 'Somsen-orchestra' (so please bring your musical instruments), information-desk, where genealogical data, reunion-souvenirs, video(s) etc. are to be had, in the evening buffet for all and 'community-singing', but above all lots of opportunities to meet each other.

Sunday August 10 1997: Gathering in the Dutch Reformed Church (St. Helena) and commemorating that from this church the Somsens left for America in the last century. Planting a lime tree in IJzerlo, as a token of honour to our ancestors, near the farm where they lived and enjoy a cup of coffee together in a real Achterhoek-like tradition.

The host families have been informed by now about the various possibilities, after answering the questions we will make contacts between guests and host families. Those guests who have let us know that they would like to stay in a hotel will soon receive the necessary information about Aalten and its surroundings. For the Somsen-campers reservation on a Achterhoek camp site is possible. Join in!

SOMSEN-PANORAMA-VIDEO
Where did the first Somsens live? Is it still swampy in IJzerlo? Does the first Somsen-house still exist? What was Johan Somsen from Arnhem doing at the world fair in Chicago in 1934? Ben Somsen, our professional video producer has been travelling through the country for months to answer all these questions. He visited the places where our ancestors lived and worked; his efforts resulted in a unique video of about 40 minutes and provided with English subtitles. The edition is in short supply, no more copies will be made than those which have been ordered and payed for. Price: VHS-PAL-system $ 20,-- each; VHS-NTSC-system (a.o. US) $ 20.-- each. Order before February 1 1997 / Pay before March 1 1997.

A programme will be made in which all relevant information is taken down about the place of the reunion, parts of the programme on the days of the reunion and the activities in the following week, tourist information about the surroundings of Aalten, possibilities for participation in activities in the week following the reunion, cycling-tours in the neighbourhood, visits to border towns as Dinxperlo, Bocholt, the water castle of Anholt, etc.

COSTS OF THE REUNION
The costs to organise a reunion of such large proportions cannot be small, yet we think we have succeeded in finding an unique location with an excellent cook at the lowest price possible.

The costs are:
1. Participation A. on Saturday morning and afternoon, lunch included $ 31.--. each
Children 6-12 years $ 15.50 each. Children up to 5 free.
2. Participation B. on Saturday morning, afternoon and evening, lunch included and buffet $ 47.--. each.
Children 6-12 years $ 23.50 each. Children up to 5 free.
3. Drinks and so on are for one's own account.
4. Visit museum Erve Kots free for reunion participants.

Please return your enclosed registration form before February 1 1997.

Our next newsletter (nr. 2) will be send to you in February 1997.

SOMSEN REUNION WORLD WIDE 1997
REGISTRATION FORM (Page 1)

I hereby order __________ copy(ies) of the Videotape "Somsen-Panorama" VHS NTSC / PAL*-System at $ 20.--. and I'll make sure the check or money order will be transferred to Marieke Edwards stating Somsen-Reunion and the number of your form before March 1 1997.

* At the reunion I'll collect the videotape at the information desk.

* Unfortunately I'm unable to attend the reunion and therefore ask for sending me the videotape on payment of postal and package expenses, outside Holland: +$ 7.--.

(*) delete as necessary

I hereby register the persons overleaf to participate in the Somsen-reunion on August 9 and 10, 1997, and I'll make sure the correct amount of money $______________ will be transferred by money-order to Marieke Edwards before March 1, 1997, stating "Somsen-Reunion" and the number of this form.

Space for suggestions/remarks/questions:

Place:
Date:
Signature:

Please send to:

Secr. Somsen-Reunion-1997
Maanstraat 19
7553 DT Hengelo
The Netherlands

Before February 1, 1997!

SOMSEN REUNION WORLD WIDE 1997
REGISTRATION FORM (Page 2)

Participant afternoon market? (yes / no*) with
_______________________________________________ please state what you bring along or demonstrate.

I bring (yes / no*) a musical instrument, viz.
__________________________________________________________________ (kind of instrument)

(*)delete as necessary