The 21st Annual 4L Reunion (2008)

The 21st Annual Reunion
of
The Lance-Lantz-Lentz-Lence People, Inc. ("4L")

Gateway to the Smokies

June 6-8, 2008 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Are you ready for a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains? The 2008 reunion is now planned to take place in scenic Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Reunion Details

Whether you are an "old-timer" who has attended many of our family reunions or you have never attended one before, we invite all to join us for a time of fun, food & fellowship this year in the Smokies!

We will be having various activities throughout the weekend: An informal "get-to-know-you" time on Friday evening, a historical forum with family genealogists on Saturday morning, a dinner banquet on Saturday evening, and a special devotional/memorial service on Sunday morning. All reunion activities will take place in the large meeting room at our hotel.

Here is a copy of our reunion announcement letter. It includes a form that you can send us if you will be attending!

REUNION ANNOUNCEMENT & SIGN-UP FORM (PDF)

Special Announcement!

We have a very special item that has been donated to this year's silent auction: A copy of Lentz Heritage by John Paul Lentz (1986)! This is a classic book on our family history that is highly sought by family genealogists. Also included with the book is a copy of Lentz Heritage Newsletter #1, which was published by John Paul Lentz as a 51-page update to his book in 1988. After Lentz Heritage was published, John Paul received a lot more family updates from different branches of the family and he included these in this newsletter.

We would like to thank Jim Lance of Manassas Virginia for this unique donation and for giving family historians an opportunity to own their very own copy of this book! Such an opportunity may never come again.

To win this item, you must attend the Saturday evening banquet and have the winning bid.

Reunion Accommodations

Hotel accommodations have been reserved at the Greystone Lodge at the Aquarium, which is in Gatlinburg itself directly across from (you guessed it) the Ripley's Aquarium. The hotel is very easy to find and has sufficient parking for hotel guests. The Gatlinburg trolley is also located across the street, which you can ride to the different areas of Gatlinburg... however, several attractions are an easy stroll from the hotel.

All reunion activities will take place in the hotel's main meeting room, and our reserved block of rooms are located close to this room.

Our reserved block of rooms are standard rooms with 2 double beds, and 1-4 people can stay in a room for the special group rate of $77 per night (+ 12.5% tax). Other room options are available for discounted group rates such as handicapped-access rooms & rooms with king beds, although these may be located a little further from the meeting room. Other room types not included in our reserved block are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Our reserved block of standard rooms will be held until May 23, 2008, and then released.

The hotel features a deluxe continental breakfast with biscuits & gravy, hot & cold cereals, bagels, fruit, and so on.

The reservation period has now started and you can call at any time to make your reservation. Click here for the hotel web site and its toll-free phone number. When calling, mention you are with the "Lance Family Reunion" to get the special group rates.

Motor homes: If you are traveling by motor home, the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area also have many campgrounds available. Trolley stops are available at many of the campgrounds to help you get to where you need to go during your stay!

What Do I Need to Bring To the Reunion?

Whenever you come to a 4L reunion, everyone likes to see any special "family heritage" materials you have from your branch of the family. These are things in which you think others would have an interest -- for example, newspaper clippings from those in your family who have done significant things, pictures of your family in unique or special places, unusual or entertaining stories, family handmade items like quilts, pillows, or other crafts, pictures & tales from your branch ancestors, and so on.

At the 4L reunion we have so many different family branches represented. We often don't know the tales, the experiences, the talents, and the accomplishments of other branches. A major draw for people at our reunions is a desire to learn more about your own personal history and the other branches.

The key thing to think about is: What could I bring that would help others to know our family branch better... to help others have a deeper love and appreciation of our overall family heritage?

If you are one of the family historians for your branch of the family (every tribe has one!), then I would also plan on bringing enough of your research so you can "connect" with other family researchers. We often have people attend that only have a basic knowledge of their ancestry, and they are looking for others in the same family branch to help them understand how they connect into the family tree.

Area Attractions

The Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge area is well-known for its dozens of attractions, its shopping experience, and beautiful setting in the heart of the Smokies. There is something here for everyone of all ages! While in the area for the reunion, be sure to take some extra time to enjoy all that this area has to offer.

Here are some links to information to help you plan your visit:

Main Gatlinburg Web Site

Great Smoky Mountains - NPS Information

Attractions in Nearby Pigeon Forge

Stay tuned... more reunion details will be updated here as we get closer to our date!