ALDEN KINDRED of AMERICA 2020-2021 Annual Report
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ALDEN KINDRED OF AMERICA 2020-2021 Annual Report www.alden.org Alden Kindred of America 2020 - 2021 Annual Report 1 PHOTOS COURTESY HELEN M. CHURCHILL, HUTTON COLLIN, EMMA BISHOP, KRIS DELANO, JEFF MOBED, TRISH BIRK-SMITH, & JEANETTE MACKENZIE Table of Contents President’s Message .......................................................................... 2 Annual Meeting Agenda .................................................................... 3 The Alden Building Campaign............................................................ 4 Director’s Message ............................................................................ 5 Speak for Thyself ............................................................................... 6 Year in Pictures .................................................................................. 7 Staff.................................................................................................... 8 Approved Lineages............................................................................. 9 New Members ............................................................................10-11 In Memoriam .................................................................................... 11 Past Presidents................................................................................. 11 Nominating Committee ...............................................................13-14 Scholarship Report ........................................................................... 15 Duxbury 2020 ................................................................................... 16 Contributors.................................................................................17-20 Annual Meeting 2020 Minutes ...................................................21-22 Financial Report ..........................................................................23-24 Alden Kindred of America 2020 - 2021 Annual Report 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The past year began in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when pretty much all in-person programs were curtailed by government restrictions. It now ends with the slow resurgence of our lives as we get back to normal. How did we manage during this 2020 year when hopes were high for a super celebration of the 400th Commemoration of the voyage of The Mayflower to Plymouth? Our first reaction was disappointment not to be having the celebration we had worked on and planned for years. Then we turned to determination and held our first “Virtual” Annual Meeting through Zoom. It was not an easy task, but we pulled it together and hundreds attended online. Our Zoom webinar allowed only the presenters to speak, but our viewers could “chat” and we were able to get attendance by son or daughter of John and Priscilla Alden by asking them to type in the Alden child from whom they descend. They were also able to ask questions and vote on items requiring action. They could also hear and see our special lectures and programs. People liked it, so we will add a virtual component to all annual meetings from now on. I am pleased to report that our three part-time staff members were never laid off as we applied for and received the government grants to support operations during the pandemic. The office stayed open the entire year. We also never closed our doors and offered tours to small groups of people wearing masks and socially distancing. We were one of the few Pilgrim historical sites to stay open in the area. Haunted House, our traditional large Halloween event was touch ‘n go, but a determined group redesigned the event with safety in mind. We had groups of five or six instead of the usual long lines of adults and children. We limited attendance and held it two nights instead of one. We doubled the size of the maze so social distancing was possible, and we replaced children’s games with family scavenger hunts. The results were positive, as children had been cooped up too long! Our virtual programs increased significantly thanks to the hard work and talent of our Executive Director, Desiree Mobed. We made new and lasting friendships through these programs. We also expanded our Facebook presence through the Pages of both the Alden House and the Mayflower Descendants of Priscilla Mullins and John Alden, the latter so ably tended by its founder, Adryn Sumner, who also serves on our Board of Directors. One of the special relationships that developed was with Randal Charlton, the author of “The Wicked Pilgrim”, a story of his father’s destiny that spearheaded the 1957 building and launching of Mayflower II. Out of this first virtual lecture has come a series of lectures, the funding of some scholarships, and a budding relationship (Twinning) with Dorking, UK. Our membership remains solid and growing. Our endowment fund has doubled, and your Board of Directors has worked diligently to keep our National Historic Landmark in good shape. Most important, we launched our Alden Building Campaign to raise $2.3 million! This is by far the largest undertaking ever for the Alden Kindred. It was prefaced with strategic planning processes, visioning sessions, a great deal of help from board members and other friends who had knowledge of Building Development and Capital Campaigns. The ABC will do 3 things: 1). Expand the barn to create the Center for Living History at the Alden House. It will be fully accessible, tech- smart, and will tell the Pilgrim and Alden Story all over the world. 2). It will create a special fund restricted for the preservation of our historical assets at the Alden House and First Site properties. 3). It will increase our financial base to support year-round programming for the new center and erase our existing mortgages on the property annexed in 2015, which has two Alden buildings circa 1920s currently providing rental income. We are we on our way, having raised in gifts, grants, and pledges to date $700,000. With every Alden Kindred Member donating whatever they can, it is my hope that in next year’s Annual Report, I can say, “We did it!” Pauline Ryder Kezer, President, Alden Kindred of America. 2 Alden Kindred of America 2020 - 2021 Annual Report 2021 Annual Meeting | Agenda The Alden Kindred of America, Inc. 121st Annual Meeting Agenda | August 7, 2021 OPENING CEREMONY 10:30 AM Invocation/Blessing Rev. Dr. Peter J. Smith First Congregational Church, Hanson MA Pledge of Allegiance Alden children Call to Order/Bell Ringing Pauline R. Kezer, President Welcome Dorking, England ALDEN KINDRED ANNUAL REUNION BUSINESS MEETING Vote on 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes Evelyn Walker, Secretary Report of Treasurer J. Alden Keyser, Jr Report on the Scholarships Committee Linda Osborne John and Priscilla Alden Museum Scholarship Weston Moran Dr. Donnell B. Young Scholarships Molly Holbrook Charlton Foundation Awards Maya Stahl A Tribute to retiring Board Members Adryn Sumner and Jan Phillips Report of the Membership Committee Tom Delano Genealogy Report Christopher Lee, Kindred Genealogist Special Recognition Award from the President Pauline Kezer Nominations Report and Vote Christopher Lee Executive Director’s Report Desiree Mobed President’s Remarks Pauline R. Kezer Calling of the Roll Adryn Sumner, Alden Porter ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS/ADJOURNMENT Noon Alden Reunion Group Photo 12:30 pm Lunch - Bongi’s Turkey Roost 12-4 pm 17th century Re-enactment by New Plimmoth Gard, hearth cooking program, house tours, archaeology exhibit, activities for kids, gift shop, silent auction. 2 pm Featured presentation by James W. Baker – Made in America, The Pilgrim Story and How it Grew 3 pm Silent auction closes. Proceeds support Alden House Historic Site. Alden Kindred of America 2020 - 2021 Annual Report 3 THE ALDEN BUILDING CAMPAIGN PRESERVING THE PAST FROM TIMBER TO TECHNOLOGY “Now more than ever, we need to reaffirm the story of our heritage to ensure that future generations remember our history with appreciation for the brave hearts that created a promising life here.” – Pauline R. Kezer, AKA president his spring the Alden Kindred announced a $2.3 million Tcapital campaign to create a new visitor education center that will bring the rich history of the Aldens and their role in helping found this nation to worldwide audiences. To date the campaign has raised over $700,000 and has been boosted by a generous $500,000 match from AKA board member J. Alden Keyser. In brief the Alden Building Campaign aims to do three things: $2,300,000 A. Preserve our historic assets by creating a dedicated $2,000,000 endowed fund with $500,000 to be used only for preservation, restoration and protection of our National Historic Landmark. $1,500,000 B. Build a two-story addition to the Alden Barn to create the Center for Living History ($1 million). The proposed $1,000,000 2,400-square foot addition will provide a state-of-the-art, We have $724,000 year-round handicapped-accessible building that will raised offer exhibits, living history demonstrations, educational $724,000 $500,000 programs and gallery talks to share Duxbury’s colonial to date and Native American story with the world. The expansion will provide our visitors with a world-class experience supported by the necessary physical and technological infrastructures. C. Continue to expand our financial base to meet the capacity building for this next century by dedicating $500,000 to an endowment and $300,000 to retire the mortgage on the The Alden Kindred has accepted the charge of preserving the additional land acquired in 2015 that has made this project Pilgrim story and