Dear
Family and Friends,
We
hope you are ready to confirm your plans to join us for the Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association 9th
biennial reunion on June 5-7, 2015 in Alexandria, LA because we’ve been
working on the details and we’re ready to share them with you now. We think
you’ll agree that it’s going to be a fabulous reunion!
Headquarters
for the reunion will be the newly restored and renovated Hotel Bentley in historic downtown Alexandria. The guest speaker for the Saturday morning program
will be Dana L. Robert, Boston
University School of Theology. Dr.
Robert is the Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of
Mission and the Director of the Center for Global Christianity and
Mission. She is a native of Louisiana and
also a family member. Her presentation
will be “Rev. Joseph & Gen. Henry M. Robert – from Abolitionism to
Parliamentary Procedure.” You’ll notice on the schedule that we will also be electing new Association officers on
Saturday morning. PLEASE consider serving.
We’ve
been invited to Loyd Hall Plantation
for a tour and snacks on Saturday afternoon by owners, Michael and Jennifer Jenkins. Jennifer is a Robert descendent.
The
Saturday evening program and dinner will be held at the Diamond Grill. Speaker, Michael Jenkins, will provide us with
some historical information regarding Central Louisiana. Mr. Jenkins is the current owner of the Hotel
Bentley and the Diamond Grill and is responsible for several revitalization
efforts in downtown Alexandria. Once a downtown
jewelry store, the Diamond Grill is now a fine dining restaurant where we will
enjoy “superb cuisine and exceptional service in a visually rich historical
setting. The building features twenty-two foot ceilings, original chandeliers,
ornate plaster, dramatic staircase, true wine vault and an elegant Mezzanine
bar.” (from website)
We
hope the reunion hotel (for sleeping) will be the Hotel Bentley too, but there
is a chance that it will not be ready for overnight guests in June. So our back
up hotel (for sleeping) will be the Best
Western of Alexandria Inn &
Suites & Conference Center, 2720 N. MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA
71303. Please call the Best Western at (318)
445-5530 to make your room reservation. A block of rooms will be held until May
22 at the rate of $89 per room per night for our group. They only have rooms
with king beds available. You will be able to cancel your reservation at the
Best Western until noon the day before check-in without penalty. If I get
word that the Bentley is available, I’ll contact everyone who has registered
for the reunion and let them know so they can decide if they want to switch
hotels.
We
do hope you will be able to join us for the reunion. If you would like a full schedule of the
weekend’s events and a registration form, please contact me at marie_mcentire@hotmail.com.
Best wishes,
Marie Hiott McEntire
