Mid-West Branch

Contact:
Robert Schenck
rschenckmd@gmail.com

MIDWEST BRANCH OF THE HOLLAND SOCIETY RECEPTION ON THE EUROPA

Twenty members of the Midwest Branch of the Holland Society were guests of  Mr. Willem Schiff, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on August 25, 2010 on board the Dutch bark, the Europa. The ship participated in the Tall Ships Chicago Regatta and Sail, on its way eventually to Antartica. The Europa flies the Dutch flag, and though originally built 100 years ago, she was completely refurbished in 1995 as a training sailing vessel. Mr. Schiff departed the next day after the reception for his new post as Consul General of St. Martens Island in the Caribbean, and will guide the island from its status as a colony to that of a republic. Students of history will recall that it was in the Caribbean (St. Eustatius Island) that the Netherlands on November 16, 1776 was the first foreign government to salute the flag of the newly formed United States by saluting the American Flag aboard the brig Andrew Doria. Members of the Midwest Branch came from five states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas.
 

 
Midwest Branch Meets Dockside Prior to Reception on the Europa.

            Attendees, Front Row from left: Lynn and John van Etten, Marcia Whitney-Schenck, Bob Schenck (Midwest Branch President), Ann Rose Schenck, Claire and Jack Schermerhorn. Rear row: Stanley and Judy Gratt, Thomas Veeder, Stephan Donovan, David Barlow, Ann and Philip Onderdonk, Douglas van der Zee, Norma and Joe Hoaglund, and John Schellinger  Also attending: Annette and Julia Robertson.