June 1 Letter to Cousins

 June 1, 2012
Dear Cousins and Siblings,

This letter is from four of us, all your cousins and siblings:  Barb Pasala, Gene Pogreba, Marge Nicolai and Mary Jane Konsela.  We will tell you how the idea of a “Cousins Gathering” originated.  We four had the opportunity to meet in Chicago last summer in August, 2011, and had lots of fun talking with each other about how our lives moved from one thing to another over the years.  As we talked I saw us look intently
into eyes as we tried to see in this adult person the little child cousin we last saw at grade school age.   Our visit was a once in a lifetime kind of meeting that even if we go again, it couldn’t be repeated.  That visit has led to us to the letter you are reading today.
 

One night after dinner at Gene’s house, after he showed us his boat in the garage, we started talking about “the family.”  Of course we got to talking about people who weren’t there—yes, you were talked about.  We concurred that we had some really nice cousins, and many, many, many of them.  Some of them we acknowledged we didn’t even know.  And what a loss it would be not to know some very nice people who are from the same stock as we are.  Barb suggested we have a “cousins get together”.  No wedding, funeral, wake or holiday, but simply a gathering for fun and play.  We all concurred and went home.  I didn’t think it would be brought up again.  But what I learned about Barb is that she gets things done.    So in January, 2012 we emerged as a self-appointed Planning Committee for a Konsela First Cousin Reunion which we later changed to “Konsela Cousin Gathering” and set the date for August 18, 2012.  

All of us cousins have the same grandparents, Olga (Obiglo) and Robert Konsela, who had 10 children:  Olga, Valentine, Romeo, Rose, Lillian, Leo, Joseph, Jennie, Mary and August who together, produced 65 grandchildren (to our best count).    We are the grandchildren and we are the First cousins which will comprise The 2012 Konsela Cousin Gathering on August 18, 2012.  

The Konsela Cousin Gathering will include only first cousins since along with the spouses, that is a large number.  As you read this letter there are already many cousins who are looking forward to this event.  Now is the time to reserve your place for yourself and your spouse or significant other, by sending in $12.00 per person.   The rate is really a deal because it pays for the food, the rent of the hall and incidentals such as dinner ware, etc. 

Get your money’s worth by planning to spend the entire day at this event.  We have rented the Museum (www.arcadiawihistory.org/web-content/MuseumBody.htm) for a couple hundred dollars for the whole day.   The museum is the former OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) Catholic Church in Arcadia, WI.   They have plenty of room there and we will have a local Arcadia caterer to provide tasty, home cooked food.   Remember to mark your calendars for the Konsela Cousin Gathering on August 18, 2012.   We set the date out far in advance so everyone would have ample time to make any necessary accommodations.  Give priority to your family of cousins this day.   Your generous sharing of yourself in play on this day will make the Konsela Cousins Gathering enjoyable, fun and memorable for all. 

Again, get your money’s worth.  We have planned a program which is sketched out here so you can see some of the activities and exhibits that are available. 

Begin at 12 noon with the “arrival, a meet and greet.”  The meal will be served shortly after. There will be a trivia sheet to fill out with the prize to be awarded later for whoever has the most correct answers.  There will be an exhibit place for each family with the wedding picture of the parents and a list of the kids (our cousins and siblings) in birth order.   Many families have already a “family tree.”  Dan Pogreba will bring the family tree he constructed 7 years ago.  Vivian and Bob Lisowski will bring interesting, rare and one of a kind documents and photos.  And there are many more… There will be very old documents that preceded and affected all of us.  There will be a chance to see the cousins in birth order--you can see where you fit in chronologically on paper and in reality.  Mid afternoon an MC will speak and move the crowd to tell stories and to acknowledge persons present, e.g. Uncle August who is our only living uncle along with Aunt Myrna are invited as honorary guests.  Finger foods, beverages and ice will be available.  Favorite music of cousins will be heard later.  

Watch for more information on this and other parts of the day in follow-up letters.  This program will be printed up for you on that day.  It will be a nice memento to take home and remember the day.  

We have put together some suggestions:
Remember to bring your camera for special or surprise moments.   Those who are hip can bring a video camera, smart phones or things for which I don’t even know the name, that take pictures that move.   Arrange for someone in your family to bring your parents’ wedding picture for display.   Please put your name anything you bring so you are sure to remember to take it home with you. 
Whoever might have Olga and Robert’s wedding picture, we invite you to bring it.    We already have their Marriage License which they got August 14, 1906 and their “Certificate of Marriage” August 28, 1906.

 Bring anything you might have to show from the old farm or farmhouse or from your parents early lives--an old apron of gramma's which you kept, old recipes, a vase, dish, statue, letters, doilies, tools, pictures, old telephone, early lighting devise, a lantern, etc.  You got the idea.   Use your imagination and search your attics.

Bring a family tree or family information put together by you or your children or anyone.
Bring pertinent, old videos, pictures, letters, maps or any other things you think would be interesting.

Whatever you bring will be nicely displayed.   Each family will have a tripod and a table to show things they bring so they can easily be enjoyed by all.   Put your name on everything to be sure to get it back.   Keep in mind that above all, the most important thing you will bring will be yourself. 

We will be mailing you from time to time about any new or firmed up developments.  We have put much work into this day already and there is much yet to be done. If you would like to help, tell us.  We could use it. 

We want to hear from you.  Give us your comments, questions or suggestions either through your contact person, or inform us directly at the addresses or phone numbers below.  Speaking of suggestions, there is one cousin you have who made 3 suggestions and all 3 have been taken and are now in place.  Guess who.  Again, please let us hear from you.

We on the planning team for the Konsela Cousin Gathering wish you a very good time with all our cousins.    Your generous sharing of yourself in play on this day will make the Konsela Cousins Gathering enjoyable, fun and memorable for all. 

Barb Pasala
C-1-630-529-0590    barbpasala@gmail.com
Gene Pogreba  
H-1-630-932-7432
C-1-630-564-4547    genepat@comcast.net
Marge Nicolai
C-1-715-797-6971    mnicolai55@gmail.com
Mary Jane Konsela
H-1-651-771-8768    mkonsela@myexcel.com