1998 Gerking Reunion Minutes
MINUTES OF THE GERKING FAMILY MEETING
August 9, 1998
Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon, Marine Park

    Seventy-five(!) members of the Gerking Family signed the guest book at the 39th Annual Gerking Family Reunion held  at the beautiful Port of Cascade Locks Marine Park on the banks of the Columbia River. This more than doubled last year’s attendance, and it was wonderful to see so many families and children present. A special welcome was extended to Bob and Will Gerking, who had come from Iowa to visit with western family members and attend the reunion.
    A list of those who signed the Guest Register is below.
    The Bixby family minus Bob Bixby, who was home recovering from surgery,  led the group in singing grace  prior to the traditional potluck meal. As usual, there was wonderful  food for all. The Bixby family again furnished soft drinks for all and Beth Johnston furnished the coffee.

Business Meeting
    There being no President of the group, Secretary-Treasurer Beth Perry Johnston led the business meeting. Special thanks were given to to Lisa Perry, who made the Gerking reunion signs (penance for choosing to attend a Spice Girls concert rather than the reunon), and to Arnold Cox, who found a way to put up the signs so they showed the way to our part of the park, . Special thanks were given to our family historian Florence Bowe, who is always to willing to share her knowledge and answer questions during the reunions.
    Secretary Beth neglected to read the minutes of the previous year’s meeting, so no approval was called for.
    The Treasurer’s report showed income for the year from August 1, 1997 through July 31, 1998 of $251.63. and  expenditures of $556.65, leaving a July 3, 1998 balance in the Gerking savings account of $550.26.
    Beth said the largest expenditure during the year were newsletter expenses, which include copying and postage costs. Postage costs will rise again the beginning of the year, and new additions are continually being made to the mailing list as children grow up and new Gerkings are found. If the family wants to continue the newsletter, a way needs to be found to pay for costs before the newsletter “breaks the bank.”
    Consensus of the group was to present the problem to family members via the newsletter and ask for donations to help support the newsletter. Also suggested was that the newsletter carry a form which could be returned indicating whether each person currently on the mailing list wishes to continue receiving the newsletter. The newsletter also is posted on the Internet, and if some people choose to receive their newsletter only via that method, it will help reduce the costs somewhat.

Election of Officers
    Evaline Bixby moved that Susan Dreske McBurnett be nominated for the office of President. The motion was seconded. It was moved Susan be elected by acclamation and the motion passed. Florence Bowe was re-elected historian, and Beth Perry Johnston was re-elected secretary-treasurer.

1999 Reunion — Our 40th
    Next year’s reunion will be the 40th consecutive reunion for this group, and the group discussed ways to make it a special event. Kim Grayson volunteered the host next year’s reunion at Oxbow Park near Troutdale, and the group approved this idea. [Note: the reunion location was changed to Blue Lake Park near Fairview].
    Due to a great deal of noise from wind and passing trains, several people noted they had trouble hearing the speakers this year, and it was suggested a portable sound system or at least a microphone of some type be used at next year’s meeting. Other suggestions for next year’s meeting included having actual prizes for various categories, such as the oldest, young, traveled the farthest, etc.

Book / Index Update
    Beth reported 25 book orders have been received since last year’s announcement of a hoped-for reprint, which would be enough orders to keep the price per book in the $25-30 range. Ten people have orderd and been sent Indexes at a cost to them of $4.00 each.
    Florence said she is in the process of correcting known errors in the book and would like to have more time to finish that project before it is reprinted. No further action was taken on the book reprinting.

Historian’s Report
    Florence said she hopes the 40th reunion can feature lots of sharing among the family. She thanked everyone for the information they’ve given her and asked that people stay in touch with her about family events.

Recognitions
    The oldest person present was Mick Burnett, and the youngest was  Michael Grayson, 1½ years. No decision was made on who traveled the farthest, so Bob and Will Gerking from Iowa and Wally Cox from Hawaii shared the honors.

Program
    Bob Gilliland of Weston, OR, made a visual presentation about improvements and upgrades that have been made to Blue Mountain (formerly called Kees) Cemetery. The cemetery lies in the hills between Weston and Athena. Bob has been very active in the restoration of the cemetery and all were grateful for his attendance and presentation. He spent time following the meeting talking with various family members and even discovered a “cousin” of his was present at the meeting.

Conclusion
    The hat was passed to help defray family expenses  and Bob Gerking, being an impartial soul, was selected to count the money. He announced that the treasury was now $286.00 richer, and Beth thanked everyone for their generosity.
    At popular request the Bixbys sang again and received a rousing round of applause from the group.
    Many people had brought Gerking material for sharing, which was displayed or laid out on tables adjacent to the area. Everyone was urged to take time to look around and get acquainted.
    Beth said she is glad her stint as acting president is over and thanked Susan for accepting the position. The meeting was then adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Beth Perry Johnston, Secretary



  1. Joe L. Bixby    Tacoma, WA
  2. Frank H. Andrus (guest)    Fossil, OR
  3. Ceridwen Atwood    Bremerton, WA
  4. Chitlin Atwood    Bremerton, WA
  5. Colin Atwood    Bremerton, WA
  6. Jamie Atwood    Bremerton, WA
  7. Maria Barrera    Salem, OR
  8. Selena Barrera    Salem, OR
  9. Karrissa Barrera    Salem, OR
  10. Aleah Barrera    Salem, OR
  11. Jay Bixby    St. Helens, OR
  12. Evaline Bixby    St. Helens, OR
  13. Bob Bixby    St. Helens, OR
  14. Gabrielle Bixler    Portland, OR
  15. Jacob Bixler    Portland, OR
  16. Nicole Bixler    Portland, OR
  17. Florence Bowe    Troutdale, OR
  18. Larry Bowe    Troutdale, OR
  19. Mick Burnett    Stanfield, OR
  20. Kathy Burnett    Stanfield, OR
  21. Bill Burnett    Stanfield, OR
  22. Arnold Cox    Bridgeport, WA
  23. Celeste DeJong    Keizer, OR
  24. Cole DeJong    Keizer, OR
  25. Dowe DeJong    Keizer, OR
  26. Jacob DeJong    Keizer, OR
  27. Eddie Dreske    Portland, OR
  28. Ed R. Dreske    Portland, OR
  29. Jacquelyn Dreske    Portland, OR
  30. Gloria Dreske    Newberg, OR
  31. Mike Dreske    Newberg, OR
  32. Helen Gerking    Milton-Freewater, OR
  33. Laverne Gerking    Milton-Freewater, OR
  34. Wilfred Gerking    Sioux City, IA
  35. Leslie Gerking    Federal Way, WA
  36. Haley Gerking    Federal Way, WA
  37. Gina Gerking    Carnation, WA
  38. Ashley Williams Gerking    Federal Way, WA
  1. Bob Gerking     Lawton, IA
  2. Bob Gilliland (guest)    Weston, OR
  3. Michael Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  4. Michae Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  5. Meghan Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  6. Andrew Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  7. Allie Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  8. Kim Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  9. LaRae Grayson    Oregon City, OR
  10. Lucille Gerking Heinrich    Portland, OR
  11. Rosanne Holm    Portland, OR
  12. Janelle Jackson    Portland, OR
  13. Beth Perry Johnston    Newport, OR
  14. Daniel L. Kilkenny    Portland, OR
  15. Marcia Dreske Lackland    Rockville, MD
  16. Darrell Leabo    The Dalles, OR
  17. Kitty (Edith) Leabo    The Dalles, OR
  18. Margieann Leaming    Olympia, WA
  19. Paul A. Lewis    Eugene, OR
  20. Lara Burnett Looman    Bend, OR
  21. June Lundeen    Las Vegas, NV
  22. Susan Dreske McBurnett    Aloha, OR
  23. John A. McElhattan    Olympia, WA
  24. Dwayne Palumbo    Milton-Freewater, OR
  25. Janice Gerking Palumbo    Milton-Freewater, OR
  26. Rachel Perry     Hood River, OR
  27. Maddi Perry    Hood River, OR
  28. Charlotte Perry    Hood River, OR
  29. Bob Perry    Hood River, OR
  30. Virginia Pruett    The Dalles, OR
  31. Betty Gerking Roach    Fossil, OR
  32. Betty Rowlands    Olympia, WA
  33. Ralph Sikes    Friday Harbor, WA
  34. Janelle Stahlnecker    Newberg, OR
  35. Phyllis Burnett Whittington    Portland, OR
  36. Amanda Williams    Federal Way, WA
  37. Wally Young    Kauela, HI

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