I'm already working on the location for the 2012 location for the next reunion. I promise that it will be interesting.

The Thayer Families Association held its 2010 reunion in Gettysburg PA this June. The reunion was well attended, and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun, as well as learning more about our friends, and ancestors. I certainly got a kick out of riding a Segway (one of those two-wheeled stand-up scooters) for an abbreviated tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Aside from the general business meeting, bus tour, and the banquet, one of the more significant happenings was an open informational meeting with Kate, and her kickoff of the Thayer DNA Project. Kate gave an overview of where the Project was headed, and how TFA could tie together both the Paper Genealogy of the Thayer Family in America, and the same family using DNA analysis.

The featured speaker was Charles Kirchner, affiliated with FamilyTreeDNA, located in Houston Texas, which is a non-profit organization researching Genetic Genealogy.

Mr. Kirchner gave an overview of what DNA testing is all about, and presented some information that members could use to have their DNA tested, and what all of this research would mean.

I would strongly urge any members of the Thayer Families Association who carry the "Thayer" surname to follow up on this project. The Thayer Families Association is in a position to help with the cost of DNA testing for those of you who can't afford it. Arrangements can be made.

As a footnote... This project is up on the Internet at FamilyTreeDNA.com. We already have several persons in the project, and more information is coming in all the time.

Feel free to contact me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to me for further information at: Al Morton, 115 Willow Pond Way, Penfield NY 14526-2621. Let's get this project going.

Albert Thayer Morton, President Thayer Families Association