Rocky Mountain Branch

Contact:
Dick TenEyck
dick10eyck@aol.com

The Holland Society of New York
Rocky Mountain Branch Meeting
April 30, 2008

April 30 was memorable for the Rocky Mountain Branch of the Holland Society as it held its annual spring dinner meeting - this year at the Il Fornaio Restaurant in Greenwood Village. John and Diane Van Derbeek traveled to Denver for the festivities. Also present were Branch Members and Friends, Jim and Rose Marie Voorhees; Don Davis; Peter Ten Eyck and Patsy Butterfield; Jon Ten Eyck; Bob Fricke; and Branch President Dick Ten Eyck and his wife Teen. Also present was Andre' de Muinck and his wife Jeanne, representing the Netherlands-American Society of the Rocky Mountains - there to provide a trip-planning link for his broad Dutch membership regarding the Hudson 2009 activities and events.

Don Davis won accolades from the group for making the one day trip from South Dakota - as did Bob Fricke who came up from Colorado Springs.

During the pre-dinner warm-up, guests gathered around a display of early New Netherlands and New Amsterdam maps, while discussing family ties back to those 17th century beginnings and plat locations.

Following a delicious repast, President Van Derbeek provided the group with an update on the recent Membership Survey; progress on the Hudson 400 Membership drive; pictures and reports on the move to the new Society offices; plans for the June Regatta and Brooklyn historic tour; and developments, participation and importance of the upcoming Hudson 400 celebration in 2009.

Then the focus was on Joyce Goodfriend (Society Fellow, History Professor, and prolific author and editor of several notable texts on early New York) as she masterfully presented her view of why the Dutch don't get more credit for their efforts in the founding of America. Her presentation was entitled, "Present at the Creation: Making the Case for the Dutch Founders of America." A lively Q & A session followed to cap off the evening.