As the reunion approached, I started thinking, “why did I sign up for this”, “I’m not going to know anyone.” I started getting nervous that I would feel stupid standing in a corner. Nevertheless, Iwas committed and wasn’t going to back out. Especially after I guilted other family members into attending.

As you might imagine, it was great. I felt very welcome, learned a lot and made new friends. Most importantly I feel more connected to that part of the family.

I have a reason for bringing this up. I have attended several reunions that had many family members missing. Especially, younger members of the family. When we have a “Winkel” reunion  and young families do not attend; we all miss out. I think in some cases parents don’t see the need in their married children attending. Those 50 and older often think of a reunion as a party to see old friends. I believe reunions are much more than that. Perhaps the name should be changed. Instead of “Re-union” it should be “Union”. Perhaps the name adjustment would help younger generations see these gatherings in a different light. There is a greater purpose than seeing old friends. I believe that young families are the most important attendees.

We don’t have a reunion being planned at this point, but when we do our next one, I want to encourage everyone to attend. You will be glad you did.

Excerpt:

“According to professor De Boer, who has aided us in research, the name of “Winkel” is of German origin and means “corner where business is transacted.” The name of Winkel goes back from father to son until 1685, when Albert Koerts and his wife Margjen Arends had eight children with Koert Alberts as the oldest son, who was my fourth great grandfather. Albert Koerts whose father must be Koert Alberts, is not recorded with the name Winkel, but his oldest son is recorded with it. The reason for this was that during his lifetime the law required the adding of a surname. The Winkels were called Voorhees in part of the fifteenth and the whole of the sixteenth century. The records in Assen show that transaction of land and leasing took place at this particular period. Later, the Winkels became schippers and lived on the rivers, and when a child was born it was recorded wherever they happened to be at the time, making it very difficult to find complete records of families. Sometimes to distinguish one Winkel from another, the name Schipper was added.”