BAKER-BLUMIN FAMILY REUNION

Gainey Suites Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona

June 25-28, 2009

January 2009

Dear Relatives and Extended Family Members:

Please consider this as your official invitation to join together at the third Baker-Blumin Family Reunion to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona from Thursday to Sunday, June 25-28, 2009. A registration form is enclosed with this mailing. We ask that everyone please complete and return the form even if you are unable to attend the Reunion. Family members for whom we had e-mail addresses may have already received preliminary information while, for others, this may be your first communication. For those who are just learning about the Family Reunion, here’s a little background.

About six years ago, cousin Sylva Baker, our official Family Genealogist, was asked to compile a list of relatives to see whether there was interest in holding a family reunion. Working with a limited number of names and addresses, we organized a wonderful reunion in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in late June 2004 that was attended by more than 60 relatives from 11 states, Canada, France and The Netherlands. The amazing spirit and warm feelings that highlighted the Florida reunion led us to hold another in San Diego in June 2006. As our contact list of relatives continued to grow, nearly 100 family members from infants to “super seniors” enjoyed another wonderful gathering. Now, in a few short months, we can expect to again experience the special feeling and sentiment that only a family reunion can generate.

Our 2009 Reunion will use the Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale as our home base. The hotel is located at 7300 East Gainey Suites Drive, just east of Scottsdale Road, south of Shea Boulevard. The Gainey Suites is a top-rated all-suites hotel that is perfect for families of all sizes and ages as it offers a blend of luxury and quality with 162 oversized studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites. Our special reunion pricing is $79 to $179 per night, depending on the size and location of the suite. Each suite has a full kitchen and spacious living/work area with a pull-out sofa. Cribs and roll-away beds are complimentary. Included in this pricing will be an ample Breakfast Buffet (juices, cereals, breads, pastries, eggs, hot/cold beverages) and Evening Hors D’Oeuvre Reception (chips, salsa, hot/cold Hors D’s, tap beer, wine, soda). The hotel has a pool, spa, business center, exercise room and an Enterprise Rent-a-Car office. For additional information about the hotel please access www.gaineysuiteshotel.com

Gainey Suites Hotel - making reservations

I encourage you to please make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Already, 35 room reservations have been made by family members totaling more than 120 nights. Several reservations begin before and/or extend after the formal reunion dates. To avoid the need for any family member to be financially responsible for a “room block,” the hotel is offering these discounted rates to us based on first-come availability. Family members should make their individual reservations with the hotel’s reservation department at (480) 922-6969 or toll free (800) 970-4666. Ask for the “Baker-Blumin Family Reunion” rates and have the reservations agent explain the different suite sizes and pricing. It is recommended that you call between 8 am and 5 pm, Arizona time, Monday through Friday. Reservations need to be guaranteed with a credit card. Cancellations may be made up to 72 hours prior to arrival without penalty.

Please note that these special reunion rates will not be available for “on-line” bookings or through any website. You must call the hotel directly in order to get these special rates.

Travel Information

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is served by many full service and discount carriers. It is advisable to make your flight reservations as soon as possible. When doing so, please bear in mind that our reunion begins on Thursday, June 25. Be sure to arrive in time for our first “official” event - an opening reception and dinner beginning about 6 pm. On Sunday, June 28, beginning about 8:30 am we plan to have our traditional closing breakfast/brunch followed by a family meeting. We should conclude by 10:30 or 11 am. Ground transportation from PHX to the Gainey Suites Hotel is available by taxi, limo or shared-ride service. There should be no need to rent a car as transportation will be provided for our all-family Reunion events. The most popular shared-ride van service at PHX seems to be SuperShuttle which is available outside the baggage claim area at each terminal. This is a most economical choice of transportation, particularly when traveling alone or as a couple. More details can be obtained at http://www.supershuttle.com .

Our Reunion Plans

Our Reunion planning is still a “work in progress” but we expect to follow much of the same format we enjoyed at our prior reunions. Here’s a preview: We begin on Thursday afternoon with registration and hospitality sign-in to be followed by our opening reception, welcome dinner, and first family meeting. As for our two other fun dinner gatherings, Friday dinner will have a distinct Western theme and will be held away from the hotel. Transportation will be provided . . . Saturday’s dinner will be at the hotel as will Sunday morning’s closing breakfast and family meeting . . . As for daytime activities, on Friday morning we’ll have a family golf outing at the highly-rated Kierland Golf Course (which has air conditioned golf carts) . . . Families with youngsters of all ages and “young at heart” adults will enjoy going to nearby Crackerjax, Arizona’s largest family fun and sports park at 27 acres featuring bumper car and water rides, video and interactive games, batting cages, water balloons, and other sporting events where we’ll again host a friendly mini-golf competition . . . Meanwhile, those who join with the “schmooze at lunch bunch” will enjoy a relaxed luncheon visit to the Camelback Inn, one of the area’s legendary resorts . . . Afternoons should find us at the hotel where we can all enjoy family genealogy, special programs, poolside gatherings, swimming, and relaxing.

On Saturday morning, you will have the opportunity to participate in a very special event: water rafting in the desert sun! Through a vast inter-related complex of dams, canals, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, Arizona offers unique water-related recreational experiences. We think you will enjoy the arrangements we have made with Desert Voyagers, a federally licensed guided rafting tour company, who will lead us on a 2-hour “easy-does-it” float trip along a scenically beautiful stretch of the Salt River through the Salt River Indian Reservation, east of Phoenix. Using both 12-person rafts and 2-person “Funyaks,” we’ll enjoy a safe and educational adventure that is ideal for family members of all ages (minimum age to participate is 4 years.) No previous experience is necessary and every raft will have a licensed and experienced guide. We’ll also have plenty of water for hydration. Marsha Blumm, the owner of Desert Voyagers, has advised that it’s not unusual on family reunion rafting trips for water guns to suddenly appear as good-natured “family fights” have been known to erupt on the river. There will be an additional charge to participate in this program for which we need a minimum of 20 participants. Transportation to/from the river will be provided. Please see the additional information about the rafting trip which is enclosed . . . Also on Saturday, the land-loving “schmooze at lunch bunch” will be visiting Old Town Scottsdale, once the wildest cowboy town in the Old West, which is now a lovely dining and shopping area.

The Reunion Cost

While we hope everyone will participate in one way or another in these planned reunion events, we recognize family members may want to go off and do their own thing. That’s fine. We ask only that everyone please attend all the dinner meals and family meetings. We also are mindful of the need to keep the Reunion costs as reasonable as possible. The price of $250 per adult (less for children under ages 14 and 4) will include all evening meals, snacks and beverages, commemorative mementos, transportation to/from reunion events, etc. Luncheons, greens fees, the rafting trip and certain other costs are not included. Breakfasts and the pre-dinner receptions are included in your room rate. Please see the registration form for more details.

The Family Tree and Website

It seems as though each and every month we obtain more contact information about additional family members. That’s how our Family Tree keeps growing. Some family members about whom we had no information came forth and contacted us after they noticed the Baker-Blumin family website that was created prior to our first reunion by Chicago cousin Michael Baker, our official Family Webmaster. The website – www.bakerbluminfamilytree.com – serves as a focal point to check for updates, birth/death and other announcements as well as to view family pictures, learn of our family’s expanding connections and relive the happy moments of the prior reunions. Please visit the site and contribute to our tree by filling in missing information about your family members such as: complete names, maiden names, parents’ names, dates and locations of births, marriages and death, cause of death, children names, etc. We also would like to have more historic family pictures to display. Please contact Michael Baker via e-mail at webmaster@familytreeshtetl.com with any additional information or questions.

Follow-ups

At our closing family meeting following breakfast in San Diego, some family members suggested that we consider devoting time at a future reunion to discussing “family health history” since it is widely known that many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, can run in families. Despite all the high-tech tests, medicines and procedures available today, knowing one’s family history can perhaps save your life. Cousin Cindy Baker is seeking to put together a session at Scottsdale where we can discuss this very important issue which can be of benefit to everyone. Another suggestion made in San Diego was to compile oral/video histories of family members so we can record their stories and remembrances for future generations. I’m delighted that cousin Joel Baker and his two sons, Daniel and Benjie, have graciously volunteered to begin this effort in Scottsdale. In this regard, please note that the Baker-Blumin Family website already contains some very interesting stories, interviews and submissions by Dorothy, Harry, Fred, Joel and Paul Baker. Also, at some point during our Reunion we hope to be able to persuade cousin Rini Andres to share with us her incredible experience as a “trekker” on a 14-day climb up Mt. Everest. Rini was part of a cadre of musicians, cancer survivors and mountaineers who climbed the world’s highest mountain as part of a fund raising effort on behalf of the Love Hope Strength Foundation. Several family members helped Rini in her efforts.

How Are We Related?

At each Reunion so far, a good deal of conversation revolves around the question: “How are we related?” The family website is a good place to look for a visual overview as to how the Bakers and Blumins and other family names are related. Simply put, our common ancestor is Abraham Blumin who had 10 children with 2 wives who were sisters. Abraham’s first wife (Shane Freda Goldstein) died while giving birth to a daughter, Leah Esther. That daughter would later marry Jacob Baker from which the Baker, Moody and Gelman branches of the family began. Abraham’s second wife was his sister in law (Sylvia Goldstein) with whom he had 9 children. From daughter Raisel came the Robinov and Ehrensaal branches; from son Simon, the Blumin and Baker branches spread; from daughter Ida came the Passin, Harris, Halsinger, Press and Frankel branches; and, from son Harry, the Blumin, Selwyn, Dembner and Einziger branches developed. On the Family Tree you will note that we now are into the 8^th generation of family members!

I hope everyone will make a sincere effort to come together in Scottsdale in June. For those who have come to a prior reunion you already know the very special family feeling that is generated. For those yet to attend we hope you will come to meet and reacquaint with relatives some of whom you may not have seen in years or didn’t know existed. Perhaps you’ll come because you’re just curious to find out who your relatives are or what they are like or where you fit within the family tree. Whatever your reason, I know you’ll enjoy the Reunion and I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in June. Please make your hotel reservations, book your travel and return your completed registration form as soon as possible . . . and call or contact me with any questions whatsoever.

Sincerely,

Howard A. Baker, 12 Shelbourne Lane, Commack, NY 11725

Tel 631-499-6066 Fax 631-462-1050 Email – habaker@att.net