1998 Nov 5 - The inital planning meeting for Reunion '99 was held.

1999 May 6 - The second planning meeting for Reunion '99 was held.

Tentative Reunion Schedule (updated 7/1/99):

    We plan to offer you the opportunity to participate in several optional activities (or side trips) during your reunion weekend.  You will have "windows of opportunity" to take optional "side" trips all day Friday and from about 11 AM through 2 PM on Saturday.  The precise scheduling of these activities, both time and date, will be determined after you send back the questionnaire contained in this newsletter or submit through our web site.  We need your responses to get a good idea about what you are most interested in and what days work best for you.  Optional activities (side trips) that will be offered are:

Sept. 30 - Thursday:

4:30 PM:  Founders Day Convocation, Duke Chapel

The 1999 Founder's Day Convocation will be very special for the family.  Two family members---who's names shall remain anonymous for now---will be honored for their service to the University.  Also, Mary Semans, granddaughter of Ben Duke, will give the keynote address.  The program will also include recognition by President Nan Keohane of faculty scholars and award winners and graduate and undergraduate scholars including recipients of the prestigious A.B. Duke and B.N. Duke scholarships.

Oct. 1 - Friday:

AM-PM: Optional Activities (Side Trips) (see above)

6:30 PM:  A Gala at Greystone Mansion.   Wait 'til you see Greystone!  It's awesome!

About Greystone Mansion:  Greystone is the house built for James E. Stagg.  James E. Stagg was born in Durham, the son of Francis Asbury and Sarah Durham Stagg.  Sarah Durham Stagg was the sister of Dr. Bartlett Durham for whom the city was named.  Francis Asbury Stagg, secretary-treasurer of the North Carolina Railroad, was the nephew of Washington Duke.

Built in 1911, this magnificent eastate was the home of the Stagg family of Durham for many years, was converted to apartments in the early 1960's by the Nicholson family and has recently been restored by the new owner, Randy Brame, to its original elegance to be used for group events and as a bed and breakfast.

We plan to have a wonderful evening of socializing with a buffet dinner and music by the Duke Univeristy Jazz Ensemble.  We also plan to have members of the family host small group gatherings during the evening to have family members tell stories, ask/answer questions about the family and generally to let people get to know each other and find out more about your family roots.

If you are interested in being a group host or have ideas about this, please let us know.

Oct. 2 - Saturday:

9:00 AM: Breakfast with Duke Basketball

We will have breakfast with several members of the team and coaching staff of Duke's mens and womens basketball teams.  Both Duke hoop teams were in the NCAA championship games this year; an unprecedented achievement for the Univeristy.  Both teams are hoping to be back at the top of the national rankings next season.  The site for this activity has yet to be determined.

11 AM - 2 PM: Optional Activities (Side Trips) (see above)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Dedication of the Benjamin N. Duke statue, Duke University East campus

The family will attend a very special ceremony and unveiling of a statue of Benjamin N. Duke.  The ceremony will be to dedicate the statue of Benjamin N. Duke to the university from the Duke Endowment and to reaffirm the central role of the Duke family in the life of the University.  The statue, by sculptor Stephen Smith, will be placed in front of Baldwin Auditorium on the east campus of Duke University.  Ben Duke was an early strong supporter of Trinity College and was on the Board of Trustees of Trinity College, from 1889 until it became Duke University where he remained on the Board of T rustees until his death in 1929.  He served on the Trinity/Duke Board of Trustees longer than any other family member.

The east campus was formerly Trinity College which is why it has special significance for the placement of the statue.

4 PM - 7:30 PM: Pig Pickin' at Duke Homestead

The historic Duke Homestead, home of Wash, Ben and Buck Duke and the site of their first tobacco operation, will host the family for a genuine North Carolina Pig Pickin'.   Festivities will include a mock tobacco auction, making apple cider with a hand cranked apple press, a hayride and other activities for the children.  The Duke University student acapella singing group, The Pitchforks, will also perform.  The Duke Homestead has a museum of tobacco artifacts that traces the history of the tobacco industry in North Carolina and includes a short movie.  Bring a lawn chair and/or blankets to enjoy this opportunity to get in touch with our heritage and with each other.

Oct. 3 - Sunday:

9:00 AM: President's Reception

Duke University President Nan Keohane will host a reception for the family in beautiful Sarah P. Duke Gardens.  You will have a chance to meet and mingle with President Keohane and other Duke people, including Duke men's basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski.   The family will also pose for a group picture under the slendor of the spectacular fall foliage in the gardens.

10:45 AM: A time of Rememberance of University Founders, Memorial Chapel within Duke Chapel.

The familty will attend a brief service in the Memorial Chapel area of Duke Chapel.  This is a family only service although it will be amplified within the entire chapel.  This service will be held just prior to the general service at 11 AM which the family will also attend.

A special treat at the service will be an organ prelude played by Duke Family member Mac Pannill.

Accomodations

Rooms have been reserved at the Regal University Hotel.   The Duke Family rate is ...

Travel

The nearest airport is Raleigh/Durham International Airport.  Check out www.pricewatch.com for reduced fares.

Things to do in the Triangle area

Duke Primate Center

Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau

Local Tourist Attractions

North Carolina Museum of Art
North Carolina Museum of Life and Science
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences

West Point on the Eno

To get on the Reunion 1999 mailing list, please enter the password to access the mailing list page.  You will find the password in the upcoming newsletter, now called Dukes Mixture: