TSS News
February 4, 2012
Notes from the Editor’s Desk
(TSS Issue #53)
Back in October of last year, the TSS launched the “Timen Stiddem Society Shop” on Cafe Press (CP), an online store where site visitors can browse and purchase items with TSS graphics on them (www.cafepress.com/timenstiddemsocietyshop). This arrangement with CP provides an incentive for the society in that a percentage of each sale comes back to us, which helps support our mission: To encourage and promote the accurate recording of family data, vital statistics and individual accomplishments of Dr. Timen Stiddem and his descendants. The TSS also has a presence on Facebook (FB), wherein anyone with an interest in Timen Stiddem, or the family association unabashedly proud of its namesake, can “Like” the TSS page and post messages there (www.facebook.com/pages/The-Timen-Stiddem-Society/59110284944).
On December 7, I posted an announcement on the FB page of a one-day sale on the society’s CP site that said, “Cafe Press is having a sale today on white and light T-shirts for just $15. To get the deal, be sure to use code: 15TEES. Here’s your chance to get a TSS logo shirt dirt cheap!” Then included a link to the sale page.
That elicited the following rebuke from a poster: “My [Stidham] grandmother would find this very embarrassing—that you are making money off of our ancestors’ names. I can understand books, but now its gotten a little out of control. I gave you a major missing piece of our heritage and I couldn’t even get a book sent to me. Please stop! We are not the Kardashians.”
I followed with the reply: “Thanks for your comments. Do you mind if I run this in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section in the next issue of the newsletter? There’s nothing like a little controversy to stir debate!”
 As of time of publication, there has not been a reply, otherwise, her post would have run in a “Letters” section. That being the case, I still wanted to bring this issue to the attention of TSS members in order to get your thoughts on the subject. Should the TSS be in business of trying to make money, even if the purpose is for a good cause (promoting the TSS)? Is it okay to try and raise money in order to fulfill our objectives?
Let’s follow the FB poster’s logic a bit further to see where it might lead.
The Hendrickson House on the grounds of Old Swedes Church in Wilmington sells merchandise about the early Swedish immigrants and their history, in addition to contemporary Swedish products. Are they trying to make monetary gain for themselves, or is something else at work, like spreading appreciation for Swedes and their culture?
The New Sweden Centre in Wilmington (on the grounds of the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard) has a store, which sells items pertaining to our Swedish ancestors. Are they trying to make a quick buck on our ancestors names and their history, or are they encouraging historical interest in them and their times?
The Swedish Colonial Society puts on a grand Forefathers Day Luncheon every year in honor of all our Swedish ancestors, yet charge a fee for the priviledge of attending this event. Is this just an excuse for them to throw a lavish gala and enrich themselves, or is something more noble being accomplished here?
Now comes the Timen Stiddem Society with an online store which sells items with TSS graphics on them. Is the society trying to pull a fast one on unsuspecting purchasers so that it can line it’s pockets, or is it trying to promote interest in a prominent citizen of New Sweden and pride among his descendants? You tell me.
Please send me a letter or email (see box on page 2 for both addresses) with your opinions. All responses will be published in the Letters to the Editor section of future issues, until everyone has had their say.
This should be an interesting debate!
Richard L. Steadham
Editor
March 24, 2011
The 10th National Stidham* Family Reunion
You are invited to the 10th National Stidham* Family Reunion to be held June 17-19, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. A registration form can be found by clicking the link below. The reunion is being hosted by Tina Steadham and our other cousins in the San Antonio area, as well as the Timen Stiddem Society. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit beautiful and historic San Antonio, to renew friendships, and to meet “new” cousins from all over the US. You don’t have to be a member of the Timen Stiddem Society to attend. All cousins (descendants of Dr. Timen Stiddem), spouses, family and friends are welcome, regardless of your surname.
Our reunion headquarters is the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown San Antonio. The La Quinta Inn & Suites is in the middle of all that San Antonio has to offer: the picturesque River Walk and historic Alamo, Market Square, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio Zoo and Botanical Gardens. You will find several eateries nearby and plenty of shopping at Rivercenter Mall, North Star Mall, and San Mar...see morecos Outlet stores.
On Friday evening, we will gather at the hotel for a meet and greet. I will have a chart showing how everybody is descended from Timen Stiddem, and how you are related to everybody else—should be fun to find your 8th cousin so many generation removed! Be sure to bring an item or two at that time for our traditional auction to be held Saturday night. Saturday morning, we will load up on an air-conditioned bus for a grand tour of San Antonio. I can’t wait to see the Alamo. Saturday night will be our banquet and annual meeting. Tina promises to arrange for a Mexican Fiesta buffet dinner for the banquet. After the banquet, we will hold our always fun auction to raise money for the Society.
If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to contact David Stidham, or call Tina Steadham at 281-824-4351 of 832-226-9400 (cell).
Reunion Registration Form
October 30, 2010
Sweden Tour 2011 Questionnaire
An insert was included in Issue #48 (Fall 2010) of the Timen Stiddem Society Newsletter to find out who might be interested in touring Sweden as a group next August. The following link is a digital version of the questionnaire, which can be printed from your computer, filled out and mailed back at your earliest convenience (the sooner the better). By completing and mailing the form, you are in no way committing to anything at this point. We just need to get an idea of the number of people who may be seriously thinking of going on such a trip.
sweden_tour_questionnaire.pdf
October 20, 2010
The Society Plans for Two National Stidham* Family Reunions in 2011: Sweden and Texas
I am happy to announce the Timen Stiddem Society will be sponsoring two national Stidham* family reunions in 2011. We will be going to Texas in the summer and Sweden in late August-early September (before winter!).
The Christine Kyrkas (Christine Church) in Gothenburg. Site of Luloff Stidden’s burial in 1639 and a must-see itinerary stop for any TSS sponsored trip to Sweden. Luloff, Timen’s father, is the earliest known patriarch of the Stidham* family. |
This may be the chance of a lifetime to visit Sweden, meet some of our Swedish cousins, and learn more about our roots in Sweden. We have been in touch with some cousins there who have offered to host our family, should we decide to venture across the water to our “homeland.” I am waiting to hear from them for an exact date and agenda. In the meantime, I have put together a committee stateside to begin planning the reunion. Aleasa Hogate (AM-518), who has made multiple trips to Sweden, has agreed to help in this effort. Lynn Shea (DM-470), who is excited about going to Sweden next year, is also on board to help with this planning effort. Sue Stidham McClain who went to Gothenburg this past July, has agreed to be a consultant. Sue told me we would have the time of our lives and would thoroughly enjoy our travels there.
Although the agenda is far from complete, we do plan to visit our cousins in Malung (not far from Stockholm and Gothenburg). They are descendants of Anna [16] Stedham who, in 1714, went from America to Sweden with Rev. Ericus Björk, the Swedish pastor of the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware. A descendant, Kerstin Sandgren of Malung, wrote to tell us that a historian there named Margaretha Hedblom had researched and written of Anna’s emigration, which was quite unique, since most Swedes at the time had not even heard of America. We may also get a chance to meet descendants of Timen Stiddem’s sister, Elizabeth, who still live in Sweden.
As Sue McClain mentioned, Sweden is absolutely beautiful, and the people are amazingly friendly. The Malung area is often used as a showplace of Sweden when promoting the country to people from around the world. Gothenburg, which was Timen Stiddem’s home, is known as the “Heart of Scandinavia.” While in Gothenburg, we will visit the Christine Church (cover photo) where the Stiddem family worshiped, and where Timen’s father, Luloff Stidden, is buried. Next door to the church is a museum, which holds memorabilia and artifacts from Luloff, who was the first “skult” (sheriff or bailiff) of Gothenburg. And, we will be sure not to miss seeing the port in Gothenburg from which the Kalmar Nyckle sailed in 1638 with our famous ancestor, Dr. Timen Stiddem, serving as barber-surgeon.
As far as a gathering stateside in 2011, we are planning to have another national family reunion in Texas next summer. Texas was a top choice for most who responded to the reunion questionnaire. The timing of a Texas reunion will be closely coordinated with the Sweden trip, so those who desire will be able to attend a reunion in Sweden or Texas or maybe both. Stay tuned. By the time of the next issue, we should be able to announce exact dates and agendas. In the meantime, put one or both of these trips on your calendar’s back burner. I hope to see you all in 2011 in the Heartland of America, or the Heartland of Scandinavia.
David Stidham
President, 2010-2011
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