Message from First Colony Governor, Helen Rancan
Well, here we are at the end of Summer 2024, and in my household, the start of Football Season which includes the exciting Army-Navy Game in December and hopefully an interesting game on Superbowl Sunday in February. Earlier this summer, my husband and I met up with our daughter in Barcelona for a few days and I wish to share two impressions from that short, yet lovely visit.
One evening, we took a “walk and devour” tour during which we spent the most amazing few hours with other Americans who started out as strangers yet ended up as delightful dinner companions. The idea of the tour was to spend time walking to several quaint taverns to sample local food and drinks. We ate and drank for 20 minutes at one place, then traveled by foot to another place to repeat the tastings; along the way we stopped to absorb local history and architecture. We stopped at the Spanish Inquisition’s spot of quick judgements and even quicker executions, we stopped at the famous Christopher Columbus stairs where he was received by the Spanish King and Queen in 1492. That wonderful evening reminded me so much of the travels, the struggles, the victories and of course, the first Thanksgiving of our Mayflower ancestors. Then, like now, sharing a meal and sharing each other’s stories transforms strangers and acquaintances into friends and family.
The next day, we visited Barcelona’s Port Vell to explore this year’s America’s Cup Race Village and Fan Zone, as this year’s race is on the Mediterranean Sea. I have been a fan of this sailing competition ever since Skipper Dennis Conner’s vessel, Freedom, won the 1980 America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island, only to lose three years later at the same location, that time aboard the vessel Liberty. Skipper Conner became the first Cup Defender to be defeated in the then 132-year-old race. The American crew’s loss made international news. As I write this, teams from New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, France and America are in the preliminary rounds of this year’s competition and a race scheduled for October 5th, while we are gathered at our autumn luncheon. Comparing the American racing vessels from the 1980’s to the today’s NYYC American Magic, strikes me profoundly on how technically advanced sailing vessels have become in just four decades, but also, how profoundly courageous our ancestors were to have boarded a wooden ship to sail away from the safety of a familiar shoreline, westwardly to unfamiliar lands. At our October 5th luncheon, I challenge you to look at the Mayflower model, which will be on display, with a set of fresh eyes to perhaps better appreciate how courageous our ancestors were to have sailed on what was considered, in her day, a modern seaworthy vessel.
New to our October 5th luncheon is the First Colony’s initiative to give back to the community, so we will be collecting, on a purely voluntary basis, cans of soup which will be donated to a local food bank. We hope to continue with our charitable activities at upcoming gatherings and we appreciate any support you feel comfortable in giving.
Finally, please see the attached invitation to our October 5th luncheon, which will be held at the Tavistock Country Club, and which will include a presentation on the Old Barracks, located in Trenton. The Old Barracks was an important place during our War for Independence, including being a location for smallpox inoculations of our American Revolutionary heroes. I hope to see many of you on October 5th and until then, please join me in cheering on NYYC’s American Magic and her crew members to an American victory at sea in late October.
Helen Rancan
First Colony Governor
Fall 2024
One evening, we took a “walk and devour” tour during which we spent the most amazing few hours with other Americans who started out as strangers yet ended up as delightful dinner companions. The idea of the tour was to spend time walking to several quaint taverns to sample local food and drinks. We ate and drank for 20 minutes at one place, then traveled by foot to another place to repeat the tastings; along the way we stopped to absorb local history and architecture. We stopped at the Spanish Inquisition’s spot of quick judgements and even quicker executions, we stopped at the famous Christopher Columbus stairs where he was received by the Spanish King and Queen in 1492. That wonderful evening reminded me so much of the travels, the struggles, the victories and of course, the first Thanksgiving of our Mayflower ancestors. Then, like now, sharing a meal and sharing each other’s stories transforms strangers and acquaintances into friends and family.
The next day, we visited Barcelona’s Port Vell to explore this year’s America’s Cup Race Village and Fan Zone, as this year’s race is on the Mediterranean Sea. I have been a fan of this sailing competition ever since Skipper Dennis Conner’s vessel, Freedom, won the 1980 America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island, only to lose three years later at the same location, that time aboard the vessel Liberty. Skipper Conner became the first Cup Defender to be defeated in the then 132-year-old race. The American crew’s loss made international news. As I write this, teams from New Zealand, Great Britain, Italy, France and America are in the preliminary rounds of this year’s competition and a race scheduled for October 5th, while we are gathered at our autumn luncheon. Comparing the American racing vessels from the 1980’s to the today’s NYYC American Magic, strikes me profoundly on how technically advanced sailing vessels have become in just four decades, but also, how profoundly courageous our ancestors were to have boarded a wooden ship to sail away from the safety of a familiar shoreline, westwardly to unfamiliar lands. At our October 5th luncheon, I challenge you to look at the Mayflower model, which will be on display, with a set of fresh eyes to perhaps better appreciate how courageous our ancestors were to have sailed on what was considered, in her day, a modern seaworthy vessel.
New to our October 5th luncheon is the First Colony’s initiative to give back to the community, so we will be collecting, on a purely voluntary basis, cans of soup which will be donated to a local food bank. We hope to continue with our charitable activities at upcoming gatherings and we appreciate any support you feel comfortable in giving.
Finally, please see the attached invitation to our October 5th luncheon, which will be held at the Tavistock Country Club, and which will include a presentation on the Old Barracks, located in Trenton. The Old Barracks was an important place during our War for Independence, including being a location for smallpox inoculations of our American Revolutionary heroes. I hope to see many of you on October 5th and until then, please join me in cheering on NYYC’s American Magic and her crew members to an American victory at sea in late October.
Helen Rancan
First Colony Governor
Fall 2024
Meetings
While membership is open to all members of our Society, the First Colony generally serves the central portion of our state. The First Colony meets twice a year. Please see the Meetings & News page for upcoming dates.
First Colony 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
One side of this beautiful coin features the official seal of the NJ Mayflower Member Society and the other side the NJ state symbols of the Eastern Goldfinch sitting on a branch among violets and red oak leaves.
$10 for First Colony members plus $5 shipping per order.
$15 for all others plus $5 shipping per order.
Large quantities by arrangement.
For more information and ordering details, please contact Steve at [email protected].
$15 for all others plus $5 shipping per order.
Large quantities by arrangement.
For more information and ordering details, please contact Steve at [email protected].