Update: REUNION T-SHIRTS MUST BE ORDERED BY 7/19/05, BUT DO NOT NEED TO BE PAID FOR UNTIL THE REUNION ON 8/13/05. ALSO, THE $20 PER HOUSEHOLD IS NEEDED ASAP. YOU KNOW STUFF AIN'T FREE.
AGENDA:
8AM: Continental Breakfast
11:00 Registration
Noon: Food
(In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the park's activities such as fishing, archery, hiking, boat rentals, swimming, etc). We will also have card tables, outdoor games, and many activities for the kids.
3:30: Family Olympics
6:00 Awards Ceremony
**Bring family photos and obituaries of passed relatives to help complete our family tree. For more park info: log onto www.indyparks.com
MAHONE/ALEXANDER FAMILY
SATURDAY
LOCATION:
(WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, 8 PICNIC TABLES, ELECTRICITY)
TIME:
COST: $20.00 PER HOUSEHOLD; (Includes shelter fee & meat purchase, paper goods)
SEND TO: Rosemary (Mahone) Grant
Anthony Favors, afavors@sbcglobal.net
Kim Mahone, newdew22
2@yahoo.com
$6.50 - $9.00 EACH T-SHIRTS MUST BE ORDERED BY
CONTACT: Jolene Boyles
(317) 890-0893; jlboyle30@aol.com
BRING: $4.00 PER CAR – PARK ENTRANCE FEE (up to 6 people)
- SIDE DISHES & DRINKS TO BE SHARED BY ALL
- OUTDOOR GAMES FOR YOUNG AND OLD
- CHESS, CHECKERS, CARDS, BOARD GAMES,
- PICTURES/OBITS (NAME/DATE ON BACK, RETURNED AT END OF DAY)
- BUSINESS CARDS
- CHAIRS AND BLANKETS
ACTIVITIES: 1) FISHING – FREE WITH LICENSE
2) GUIDED NATURE HIKE (cost – see Web Site soon)
3)
4) SWIMMING $1.50/CHILD - $2.50/ADULT
(Beach portion of Eagle Creek is not within walking, must drive)
5) PANTOON BOAT RENTALS $
6)
7) CARD GAMES (WIST, SPADES ETC.)
MEMORABLE WALL/DVD - PICTURE SLIDE SHOWS
CONTACT: Dorothy (Mahone) Wharton
(317) 890-0893
9) 20-MINUTE DISCUSSION GROUPS
a. WHAT’S NEWS – RECOGNITION - NETWORKING
b. WILD ROSE CLUB – RESURRECTED
c. COUSIN’S
MORE DETAILED ITINERARY WILL BE PLACED ON THE WEB SITE SOON!
It's not often that a person is blessed with a member of the family that is thoughtful, sensitive, wise, strong, ambitious, caring, adventurous, and funny as Richard Pryor ("He could make a 'mf' laugh at a funeral on Sunday, Christmas Day"). I consider it a blessing to call her my cousin. Cuz, happy birthday! I hope you enjoy your 26th birthday. (wink, wink)
Tony Favors
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Biirrthdaaaaaaay!!! 
Uncle Charles Richard Alexander, you are a bright and shining light, showing God's love, generosity, compassion, hope, positivity, creativity, and awesome talent--in action. SHINE ON! My Brotha-Uncle-Love.
Keep Pressin' On to higher heights and deeper depths. And may everything that you give and express to others be returned to you blessed and multiplied. 
Much Love, Peace, Blessings, and Good Health!
Hey folks:
Got news. I have been trying to research the whole park situation and I believe I have narrowed the selection down to a few good choices. I'm trying to consider a central location, good amenities, cost, and size. Here are the best choices I believe:
*Broad Ripple Park (1610 Broad Ripple Ave) has a shelter that holds 80 people and costs $100 for the day (July 2nd. By the way, July 2nd does not conflict with Indiana Black Expo which is July 7 to 17. For those concerned). The park has a swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball diamond, fitness trail, and community center.
*Brookside park (3500 Brookside Pkwy South Drive) has a shelter that hold 100 people and costs $100 for the day. It has a BBQ grill nearby and is near a playground, basketball court, tennis and volleyball courts. The park also has an acquatic center, recreation center, football field, and horseshoe pits.
*Douglass park (2801 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave) has a shelter that holds 60 people and is $80 for the day. It is next to a BBQ pit and playground and is also near the park office. The manager boasted about the indoor air-conditioned party room that rents for $25/hour. She said some families rent the room for elderly relatives to enjoy on hot afternoons. The park also has a swimming pool, recreation center, tennis courts, softball diamond, and football field.
*Washington park (3030 E. 30th Street) is next to Oscar Charleston Park which has a shelter that holds 80-100 people and costs $80. Charleston Park has a baseball diamond and volleyball area. Washington, across the street has Basketball courts and a playarea.
*Eagle Creek Park (7840 W. 56th street) is a larger regional park and has shelters that hold 80 people for $90 for the day. They have restrooms, soccer fields, wildlife area, boat docks, and fishing areas.
So, those are the best choices in my opinion. You can find out more at Indyparks.com or call the numbers on that website. Like I said, I can foot the bill until we come up with some money collecting ideas.
Also, mom (Vera Alexander) is on the job of updating the address and phone list. Plus, the 'Family Chain Letter' is making its rounds! I love it when a good plan comes together. I sent the letter to Sieda (Roger's daughter) and she sent it to Victor. That's great. Keep it up. Anybody can feel free to circulate the letter at any time. That's all for now. Nuttin' but Love.
Hey Fam:
You should have received a copy of the chain letter that was started for the purpose of family members getting acquainted. If not, feel free to contact me for a copy. Cousin Kim had a great idea of possibly other family circulating the letter at the same time. I agree. The more letters circulating, the better. Included with the letter was the introduction from the sender along with an address list. Feel free to copy the letter and send it to the relative you know the least.
My brilliant cousin Kim also stated family could log onto the website and enter their email address or any other family member's email address that they are aware of. Great idea. Here is the list of the email addresses that are on the current family distribution list:
Charles Alexander aa4308@wayne.edu; Elmira Walton Imclassy1@aol.com; Ezra Bufford ebufford@sbcglobal.net; Jelani Alexander khali4ever@hotmail.com; Kenyette Shorter klshorter@tampabay.rr.com; Kim Purefoy kpurefoy@bellsouth.net; Tia Cavanaugh-Favors t.favors@sbcglobal.net; Tony Favors afavors@sbcglobal.net; anthony.favors@fssa.in.gov;
Feel free to submit any other email addresses you know. Till next time.
Tony.
Hey Fam:
Updated information about the location (hey, that rhymes). I've been looking into parks and I'm trying to find a central location for everybody. I've checked some of the parks nearest to downtown or near-eastside/westside locations. Right now, some of the better choices are: Broad Ripple Park and Douglass Park. Broad Ripple Park is available that weekend for shelter #2 ($100 fee). It holds 80 people and the park has swings and a playground, swimming pool, baseball diamond, and tennis courts. Check the link on this website for more info. Douglass Park is available for $80 for the shelter that holds 60 folks. Shelter #1 is near an air-conditioned room inside the park building/office that we can rent for $25/hour. The manager says families often rent that also for elderly members to sit inside. This room is only available until 6pm. The shelter also has a BBQ pit. For other info, check the Indy Parks link also. I'll check other centrally-located sights, but let me know what ya'll think. I can probably put up the up-front fees until we establish some money-collecting ideas.
Holla back.
Tony.
Hey Fam. God Bless. I was just thinking about all of the family that I don't know very well or never even met. My desire is that we get to know one another to some degree before the reunion. I have an idea that I think may help with that. What I would like to do is begin a 'chain letter' for the sole purpose of getting acquainted. Now, bear with me, I don't usually do chain letters but I think this is a good idea. How it would work is this: A form letter is sent from one family member to another. The form letter basically says the one relative has not met or is not familiar with the other relative. The receiving relative has to sign and date when they received it and they have 7 days to send it to another relative they do not know. The sender also includes a brief introduction letter about themselves. An address list is also included. Hopefully this will be passed around and family will start getting acquainted. The receiver is encouraged to contact the sender so they can get to know one another. Let me know what ya'll think about this idea. I'm gonna be starting this letter next week.
Holla back.
Tony.
"Celebrity Justice" has uncovered two new twists in the Bill Cosby investigation. Cosby has been accused of a sex crime by a woman who claims he drugged, and then fondled her at his home last year. Police recently interviewed Cosby.
We have confirmed that Cosby told police he had a sexual encounter with the woman accusing him, but that it was entirely consensual. We're told that Cosby, who has become a controversial figure lately due to his stern lectures on family values, characterized the sexual encounter as "not intercourse," and that it involved primarily touching.
Sources also inform us that, months after the encounter, the woman, who now lives in Canada, asked Cosby for tickets for her and her family to his performance at Casinorama, north of Toronto. We're told that Cosby obliged and the tickets were picked up at the Will Call window.
At the time of the incident in question, the woman worked for the Temple University women's basketball team. Her lawyers tell "CJ" that Cosby gave the woman what she believed to be "herbal" pills of some sort and that she was, "legally incapacitated" when she says Cosby fondled her. But we have learned that Cosby's reps flatly deny that the comedian gave her any herbal pill.
Michael Smerconish, a talk radio host on 1210 AM, Philadelphia's "The Big Talker," is also a lawyer in Philly where some people believe Cosby has been targeted by the cops. But Smerconish told he thinks that is unlikely.
"I'm hard-pressed to find that the Philadelphia police department would turn on one of its own, meaning a Philadelphian like Bill Cosby. The man is really an icon of sorts in this community," Smerconish insisted. "I think for Philadelphians, it's going to take a lot for them to turn their back on Bill Cosby."
There are also questions about the woman's story. "CJ" has obtained a confidential police report stating the she went to a Philadelphia civil lawyer before contacting police -- which raises the question, is the allegation about justice or money?
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."
"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. "In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"
And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
Life is short! Work hard, play hard and relax as if you don't have to be anywhere important anytime soon.
Hey Fam. God bless.
Just a note about reunion ideas. I really don't want to have aspirations way too high for our first reunion in ages, but these are some of the ideas I want to bounce around:
*I'm gonna have mom look into the locations as far as finding what parks are available and which ones have the best amenities (swimming, basketball, indoor facilities, children's playground, etc.). Then we have to figure out money issues when it comes to reserving a spot.
*We will eventually have to discuss food. It may be more feasible to just have a pitch-in and assigned who brings what. Voice your suggestions, please.
*Activities. We have discussed an outings for the small children, family photo, etc. I also wanted to suggest meeting at a family members home for a more intimate setting for one of those days. I will offer my home but it may not be big enough depending on how many family members attend.
*Misc: I would like to look into T-shirts for the occasion. And I have researched a 'family crest/coat of arms' but we either have to search to find if there is a pre-existing one for our family somewhere, or we can create our own. This would require a lot of input.
*Date: We still have to settle on a date. And I would also like to suggest, if out of town 'folks' are staying through Sunday, we should attend somebody's church. We have a lot of different options.
**For anyone who did not know, cousin Shawn bought a tombstone for Uncle Tommy and I wanted to bless him real quick for doing that. I would love to visit Tommy's or other family members' gravesites if possible.
**My wife's family is supposed to be creating a website for their family reunion. I'm working on a family tree for their family. This is turning out to be quite a task which prompted me to concentrate some energy toward my own family. I was like 'why am I working so hard on their family's stuff and not working on a reunion for my own family?' So, Uncle Charles, do you think it is possible to create a family reunion website? Maybe we can use it so that anybody can look up relevant information and know exactly what is going on with the reunion.
"What's my motivation?": I am tired of hearing about everybody's family reunion and not my own. I am ready to have the close-knit family we had when I was a child. So many things have happened to divide our family and cause distance whether it was just relocations, deaths, or disagreements, I can't let it continue to keep us apart. I have done my part to live my own life and distance myself from ya'll, but not anymore. The wake up call for me was when I didn't find out about Aunt Eula's death until after the funeral. I said "Hold up. I'm done with this" (in words that were not as nice) and I decided that 'we gon' be tight' like we used to be. I remember Uncle Roger living with us for a while when I was young. He used to hide candy in the apartment and I, (with my little bad self), used to find it and eat it. He usually wasn't too happy. I remember when he was in the Nation of Islam and how he used to teach me about eating the right foods. We were 'tight' then.
I remember when Uncle Gerald used to live with us. I remember he was so 'clean cut' and well-groomed. He would brush his teeth for like 20 minutes. I remember he used to be a manager at a grocery store. Forgot which one. We were 'tight' then.
I remember Uncle Tommy used to live with us. This had to be the 70's because I distinctly remember a girlfriend named "Anita or Bonita" and she had a huge 'Angela Davis' afro. Uncle Tommy was the closest thing I knew to a father. Nobody could say anything bad about my uncle Tommy. We would have to fight. He used to take me fishing. I hated fishing. But I enjoyed spending time with Uncle Tommy. We was 'tight' then.
I already mentioned how much I enjoyed going over Auntie Janet's house. We jumped the creek behind the house and went to Devington shopping plaza and other places. We were 'tight' then.
I used to get free haircuts from Uncle Ronald. Mom used to always offer to pay Uncle Ronald but I think she always knew he wouldn't accept it. I used to wonder, 'If I can get a free haircut from Uncle Ronald, why is she making me wear this 'fro'?" We were 'tight' then.
OK. I'm done.
I love ya'll
Wait. I don't wanna leave anybody out.
I used to go to Christ Temple and see my famous, world-renowned musician Uncle Ezra play organ for the Pentecostal Ambassadors. I was so proud. I used to sit in the balcony right above him and pretend to play right along with him. I felt like he was a rock star. We was 'tight' then.
Uncle Donald was a talented painter. People spoke of him like he was Picasso. I only remember seeing him a couple of times. Then he moved out to Arizona or California or something. I remember seeing some signs and paintings that he had done. They were great. We was 'tight' then.
Uncle Torrance was always around. I never remember knowing where he stayed or worked. But he was always 'around'. He always was staying 'somewhere' and was working 'somewhere'. I remember him as a survivor. I admired his resourcefulness when I was a kid. We were 'tight' then.
I remember Uncle Charles living in Detroit forever. I don't remember him living in 'Nap'. I remember 'Tony and Sharon' when I was a kid. Tony was like into martial arts and I had a crush on Sharon. I was thinking 'That's wrong. She's older and plus she's like my cousin'. Anyway, I can't believe I remember that stuff. I enjoyed visiting Detroit. We were 'tight' then.
Nothing can compare to a 'Tight Family'. I've seen marriages saved. I've seen the support and love from family help members be delivered from drugs and alcohol. I've seen children be saved from 'the system' whether it be the child welfare system or correctional. I've seen families support each other financially. Ain't nothing better. So if I sometimes come off over-zealous about this reunion stuff, please forgive me, I've been waiting so long. I don't want to wait until the next funeral to see ya'll.
Now I'm really done.
Love.
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