AAFA ACTION The Official Publication of the Alford American Family Association Winter 1995 Vol. VII, No. 3 Some Changes Coming... By Gilbert K. Alford, AAFA Executive Director s I write this, it is still early in the new year. In addition to wishing all of you a prosperous New Year, I want to thank you for all you have done Afor AAFA and the “Alfords” thus far. As you know it is customary at this time of the year to look back on the past year and to make some resolutions or plans for the coming year. We don’t have any resolutions as such, but there are some significant plans in the mill for this year. At the Board of Directors meeting in Richmond, we “looked back” and agreed that we need to review all of our operations from top to bottom, making changes as dictated by our phenomenal growth over the last eight years. Those of you who were with us in the beginning know we really had no idea Contents where we were headed. I was instrumental in setting up an organization that has gotten us by but needs improvement. I imagined work and started signing folks up for jobs. Some of the jobs are still not defined—some folks are still waiting Some Changes Coming... 1 for us to help them figure out what to do or how to do it. In other cases I gave folks jobs, but the work just did not fit their abilities or resources. New Member Lineages 3 In our effort to review the entire operation we have started at the top, and each Obituaries 14 member of the board has been involved with an evaluation of the Board of Alford Authors 16 Directors as related to the operating officers—President, Vice President, Secre- tary, and Treasurer. Recommendations have come in that are still in review to Alfords in the News 18 combine, eliminate, reduce, streamline, etc. Coming from the Chairman of the Board of Directors, for example, is the recommendation that we do away with the Alfords in Burleson County, Texas 22 position of Chairman and let the President be the leader of both the officers and Charles Alford of Tennessee 27 the board. Those present at the meeting in Decatur will have an opportunity to vote on what the board concludes and recommends. Two John Alfords of VA/WV 30 Regarding other Association projects and committees, if you want to continue to Booklist Additions 33 work and have been doing a reasonable job, then you will likely continue with Alfords in The Virginia Genealogist 37 that work—though we might call it by another name. If you have a job that is not a good match for your abilities, interests, time, or other resources, then you will Alabama “Alford” Marriages 40 be given the opportunity to do resign from it very easily and gracefully. In fact, if you fit in that category, you can just serve notice in writing now that you would Part 3: Uncle Emmett, like to be relieved. The Alford Farm and I 46 At one time state chapters in states with large memberships seemed like a good From Gil Alford’s Mailbox 52 idea, but after trying that for about five years—we currently have two state chapters and 19 “state representatives”—we find that it just has not worked. We 1994 Meeting in Richmond, VA 53 are likely to discontinue the state chapters, but some of the workers in those Welcome New AAFA Members 61 states—like the genealogists—will continue with the same duties as before. Not that any of us ever really defined those duties. But some have figured out some Index 62 constructive things to do and made a significant contribution. Others are still (Continued on p. 2) Page 2 AAFA ACTION Winter 1995 (Some Changes..., cont. from p. 1) “Alfords” and their spouses. I have AAFA Officers come to love them as though they were wondering and waiting. We’ve my own siblings. I’m not going to call discovered that you can’t just create a Alford American Family Association names but they know who they are, job, apply it to every state, and expect P.O. Box 1586 and they are scattered from coast to that there will be volunteers who know Florissant, MO 63031-1586 coast. Thanks, “cousins”! what needs to be done and how to do BOARD OF DIRECTORS it. There are different sources and There is one other thing the Associa- Lodwick H. Alford, Chairman needs in each state. Each person is tion must have, in addition to this Benjamin F. Alford Max Ray Alford unique and each has a different set of D.L. Alford, Jr. Raymond Alford devotion and dedication, and that is abilities. In our future work with the Gilbert K. Alford, Jr. Nancy Alford Dietrich funds. I’m always reluctant to mention states we will be trying to find out H. Harold Alford Alicia Roundy Houston it but we must have resources if AAFA James P. Alford Pamela Alford Thompson specifically what tasks need to be done is to succeed and continue to have a Julius M. Alford Doris Alford Vetri in each state and what members we first class operation. I bet you’ve never have in that state who can help with seen a better organization or a better PRESIDENT one or more of the tasks. If we have BENJAMIN F. ALFORD, JR. family publication. Now, if you think tasks and no one with abilities to 911 Ivy Court, Wyomissing, PA 19610 that your initial fee and your annual match, we will just leave the job dues are enough to pay for all that, I VICE-PRESIDENT undone for the moment. If we have have a bridge here in St. Louis I’d like RAYMOND ALFORD members with abilities and no tasks, to sell you. It takes much more money P.O. Box 2061, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 we will try to find some work that will than that for AAFA to operate. We can fit their abilities. While we can afford SECRETARY all be grateful that we have a few to leave work undone, it would be MAX RAY ALFORD members who’ve made donations that 427 Wheatridge, Mesquite, TX 75150 terrible to have volunteers and not total thousands of dollars. Most of us have work for them. TREASURER can’t do that, but AAFA can use every DORIS ALFORD VETRI small donation it gets. Remember that 29 Circle Drive, Telford, PA 18969 Those of you who want to get involved unlike most other organizations, no and do some kind of work for AAFA one in AAFA gets any pay. I think it’s GENEALOGIST can get started without waiting for the ALICIA ROUNDY HOUSTON safe to say that every worker absorbs 213 McMasters Dr., Monroeville, PA 15146 form we will eventually send to some or all of the inevitable incidental everyone. If you have a particular expenses. Our vice president, who has LIBRARIAN talent or resource nearby, tell us about been most generous, told the group at NANCY ALFORD DIETRICH it. It has been years since we sent a P. O. Box 1838, Westport, WA 98595 one of our meetings that he had made questionnaire to all members asking AAFA his “charity” and that he PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR about how they could help. I suspect thought it was more important to PAMELA ALFORD THOMPSON we have never given over half of you channel money into it than to pass it on 1017 Marilyn Dr., Mountain View, CA 94040 an opportunity to get involved and that to his adult children. (Donations to is a shame—for which I take the PUBLICIST AAFA are not tax deductible.) AAFA blame. I think it’s safe to say that we ELIZABETH HAWES HAZLIP appreciates whatever you can do— 220 Monticello St., Hazlehurst, MS 39083 can find a job for just about anyone don’t wait for us to send a form! who is willing to work. You don’t need EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to travel, don’t have to have a com- Rather than leave on that note let me GILBERT K. ALFORD, JR. puter, don’t need to be near a library. 1403 Kingsford Dr., Florissant, MO 63031 say again how much I appreciate you, You don’t even need to be a “genealo- love you, and look forward to the first All contents Copyright ©1995 by the gist.” There is just one requirement. time we can meet or until we meet Alford American Family Association We only want folks who want to work again. I sat the other evening and unless copyrighted by individual and will produce. We no longer need watched the video tape of our first contributors. folks just to “fill a slot” on the chart or meeting in Atlanta. We didn’t have but The Alford American Family Association to show the flag in their area. about a dozen folks there, and two of is a Missouri corporation which has been the lovely ladies have gone on to their exempt from federal income tax by the Before I bring this to an end I want to reward. Who would ever have thought Internal Revenue Service as provided by say that there are a few workers who that from such a small beginning you Internal Revenue Code 501 (c7). The we have come to depend on so much would have accomplished so much? I Association has no paid staff or employees that they are now indispensable. I have really don’t have the words to thank and depends entirely on volunteer workers.