The 2003 Educattional Conference of the Foote Family Association of America was held in the city of Oneonta New York. For those that did not know this city it is centrally located between the urban areas of Binghampton and Albany New York.
Situated on the Susquehanna River and nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, Oneonta is located along Interstate 88, the major east/west transportation route between Albany and Binghamton.
Oneonta is also serviced by New York State Routes 7, 23, and 28. In addition the vehicular transportation routes, the City of Oneonta is serviced by a municipal airport located on Upper East Street about three miles from town.
With a population of just under 14,000 people, one of the city’s finest attributes is its small town atmosphere.
Oneontas’ Main Street complements the small town Oneontas’ Main Street complements the small town ambiance. Red brick sidewalks and turn of the century style street lamps suggest the disarming feel of a simpler, more genteel era.
Oneonta calls itself the City of the Hills because a first-time visitor quickly becomes aware of the natural beauty which abounds. Hushed streams, green hills and quiet tree lined streets all compose and color this lovely corner of Upstate New York.
The city’s web site describes the city as a community which is rich in history, with a growing reputation as an educational, cultural, industrial, and professional center.
The City of Oneonta, N.Y. web site is: http://www.oneonta.ny.us/. It has lots of links to area attractions. The City of Oneonta is located in Otsego County, a region of New York State rich in cultural, historical and recreational amenities.
Otsego County offers world class opera performances to baseball games and soccer tournaments, from a living history museum to a modern Corvette experience, from hunting antiques and country crafts to paddling a canoe or sailing crystal blue lakes.
Otsego County offers scores of museums including; the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Farmers Museum and Fenimore House; Art Galleries;
Performing Arts troupes; opportunities to shop for antiques, memorabilia, and collectibles; and other things to see and do. Be sure to visit their web site: www.otsegocountvchamber.com and click on links to County Tourism and Chamber of Commerce.
Friday
Friday was bus trip to Cooperstown. Rhey left Oneonta at 9:15 a.m. to drive to the national Baseball Hall of Fame and the small shops in the area.
Lunch was in the Hawkeye Grill , at the Otesaga Hotel and was from the menu.
In the afternoon a visit to the Farmers Museum and the Fenimore House was offered.
Saturday
Saturday there were car pool trips and trips available to area attractions such as:
Howe Caverns.
Bear Pond Wines.
Coopertown Brewing Company.
Iroquois Indian Museum.
Carerns Grist Mill.
Handford Mills Museum.
Coopertown and Charlotte Valley Train Rides.
Northeast Classic Car Museum.
Gilbert Lake State Park.
Hyde Hall.
Lolly Pop Petting Zoo.
Fly Creek Cider Mill.
National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Glimmerglass Opera.
Saturday Evening
Saturday night our banquet was held at the Oneonta Country Club with cocktails at a cash bar and dinner which included salad, main course buffet style including roast beef, roast pork, and turkey with potatoes, vegetables, and dessert. The general meeting and entertainment followed.
Sue Jordan
Our genealogist, explained how to complete a family group sheet at various times throughout the Reunion in the Hospitality Room. We are hoping to have information on Pasco Foote as well as Nathaniel Foote in the Hospitality Room. The Foote Shoppe was open selling various Foote memorabilia as part of the Hospitality Room.
My memories of our 2003 Reunion
by Pat Kenney
My memories of our 2003 Reunion are mostly of meeting Foote cousins. Some I’ve enjoyed talking with at other Reunions and many were new to this Reunion. We had 76 adults and 7 children representing 12 states participating in the Reunion. It was fun being in the Hospitality Room and seeing everyone.
John and I arrived in Oneonta shortly after noon on Thursday and helped Neil and Marcia set up the Hospitality Room. Then members started arriving and we all started visiting.
Friday we joined the bus trip to Cooperstown where I took a nostalgic trip in time at the Baseball Hall of Fame to my Brooklyn Dodgers’ glory days. The lunch was delicious and then we wandered around the Farmers’ Museum (I never did make it across the street to the Fenimore House and Indian Museum), enjoying the old buildings and seeing the animals.
Friday evening was the get-together at the Oneonta Country Club. Saturday after a brief Board meeting we decided to stay at the Hospitality Room while our children and grandchildren went to Cooperstown to the Baseball Hall of Fame, to shop, to play mini-golf, and to ride the bumper boats.
Saturday night was the banquet – excellent – and general meeting. The Nominating Committee’s proposed slate for the Executive Board passed unanimously.
New Officers Elected:
Two-year terms which expire 12/31/05
President – Barbara Foote of Ellington, CT
First Vice President – Marilyn Foote Masi of Morris Plains, NJ
Second Vice President – Gary Foote of Syosset, NY
Treasurer – Ralph Foote of Middlebury, VT
Secretary – Pat Kenney of Meriden, CT
Genealogist – Sue Jordan of Lyons, NY
Historian – Sally Andrade of East Hampton, CT
Trustees:
Six-year terms which expire 12/31/2009
Dorothy Offensend of Wallingford, VT
B. Neil Foote of Morris, NY
John R. Foote of Windsor, CT.
Marjorie Lehman of Andover, NY
Sarah Jo Willey, Barbara Foote’s niece, who just completed her reign as Miss Vermont, delightfully entertained us with songs and a talk about becoming Miss Vermont and about a mentoring program.
We concluded our Reunion with the traditional singing of “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.” Another great Reunion – see you all in 2005!
Another reunion has gone by of the Foote Family Association. Old friends greeted each other; New family has been found. We all part with a goal to leave a meaningful impression and put our best “Foote” forward. – by Sue Jordan