Spain Mission Temple Dedication Reunion
https://members.tripod.com/~bbosen/spain.htm
The headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has announced the construction of the first temple in Spain! (Click here or on the picture above for a more detailed view of the architectural rendering.) Current indications are for completion sometime in March of 1999, and our reunion is scheduled for 19, 20 and 21 March. Click here for a view of the planned temple campus, including an interstake center and a missionary training center. Several members of the Spain Mission, including President R. Raymond Barnes, have indicated a desire to travel to Spain and to attend the temple dedication ceremony.
A reception is planned for Friday the 19th. It looks almost certain that the best dedication ceremony for us to attend will be on Sunday 21 March.
Accordingly, several of us have begun to make travel plans, and we are hoping to put together a group agenda that will persuade a lot of us to meet in Madrid for at least one day of joint activity. This is the World-Wide Web page for the Barnes Spain Missionaries, and it's here to help coordinate a reunion in Spain when the temple is dedicated. Here's the way things are shaping up at present:
Who's Going? John Muir says he has confirmation on 112 people that
have written to him about attending. The following families have told the
www administrator that they are going, or are very seriously considering
going:
Spain Mission Reunion Confirmed Attendance through: 20Feb99
Planning to Attend =============================================================== Family Name Adults Children Email? =============================================================== R. Raymond Bames & Chloris Bames 2 0 David & Leisa Bames 2 0 Steven D. & Shelly Bames 2 0 Barbara & Rick J. Graziano 2 0 Katherine & Cory E. Higbee 2 0 Diann & Michael K. Harries 2 0 John Pelayo and Diana Alba 2 0 x Tom and Michelle? Bankhead 2 0 Mario A. Blanc 1 0 Brian and Marie Blossil 2 0 Robert James and Susan Bosen 2 3 x N. Bryan and Joanne Elliot 2 0 x Milton R. and Cathy Burbidge 2 0 x Jeffery B. and Teri Bushman 2 0 x Charles B. Butterfield 2 0 x Don and Peggy? Campbell 2 0 Max Nelson and Cathy Coates 2 0 x Richard E. and Susan Evans 4 2 x Gerald and Judy Dastrup 2 0 x Wilford C. and Debbie Feller 2 0 x William V. and Debbie Forrest 2 4 x Jean-Loup Goddard 1 0 Robert G. Hardman 1 0 x Grant L. and Connie Hardy 2 2 Robert and Ann Hetherington 2 0 x Clark and Kathleen Hinckley 2 5 Jonathan & Sherry Hulme 2 0 France Jorge and Leone Caron 2 0 Ralph Knudsen 2 2 x Oscar and and Carol McConkie 2 0 Craig and Roberta McPhie 2 0 J. Randy and Suzanne McKnight 1 1 x John R. Muir & Jean L. Larson Muir 2 3 x Gary L. and Betty Murdock 2 0 x Edguardo Luis Oguey 2 3 x Paul R. and Kathy Olsen 2 0 x Wayne & Shelley Poulson 2 0 Doug and Fiona Phillips 2 2 David & Melissa Reoch 2 0 x Ross E. and Kari Sanford 4 0 x Roger J. Simpson 1 0 x Marjean Smart 4 0 x Doug and Vicki Turley 2 0 x R. Duff and Sharleen Thompson 2 0 Gary Clark Vaughn 2 1 x Craig Ward and Sister Ward 2 ========================================================== Total: 93 28
If you want to come, please send email or postal mail to Bob Bosen or John Muir (addresses at the end of this page) and we'll add you to this list. The more the merrier!
When?
The date has now been fixed for March 19th, 20th, and 21st 1999 in Madrid. (The "Open House" period runs from 20 Feb to 13 March, but our reunion committee has no plans for activities until March 19th, timed to coincide with dedication ceremonies.)
Temple Dedication Recommends
We've recently learned about a policy change that will require us all to obtain a special, extra recommend in order to attend a temple dedication ceremony. You'll need to write a letter to Salt Lake City, and you'll also need a letter from your bishop. The steps are detailed in John Muir's letter of January 1999, which is available for downloading from a link at the bottom of this page.
Duration?
Our reunion committee has plans for the evening of 19 March (with Spanish members), 20 March (for the missionaries), and 21 March (dedication ceremony). See John Muir's letters at the bottom of this page for more details. A lot of us are thinking about being in Spain for 7 to 14 days total duration. Some have expressed a desire to stay longer, but others have to get back home after only a short stay. Since everybody is going to want to see and do different things, we are not planning anything else other than to wish everybody a happy stay wherever they go beyond the gathering in Madrid.
Travel Arrangements?
When we discussed the possiblity of chartering flights, we felt it to be too big and too risky an undertaking, so we must expect everybody to make their own arrangements. However, we've discussed our plans with the following travel agency, and they have been very helpful:
Salt Lake Travel has many years of experience with this kind of thing, and have said that they are willing to work with us for whatever is needed. Several of our missionary companions have contacts in the travel industry, and if we hear of any great travel deals, we'll describe them here. I'll publish some of the travel schedules and prices here as soon as we get a few people locking down their tickets, so everybody can know how this shapes up. As of this writing in mid-January 1999, several airlines are advertising very good rates. It's time to get those tickets booked!
Activities in Spain?
We assume most everybody will want some time to themselves to follow their own agendas and see the places of particular and personal interest, so in general, our schedules will be unstructured. However, our reunion committee is trying to arrange activities on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of March at the familiar old chapel in Madrid and at the temple site. We may also have at least a partial day of touring (for the kids) in Madrid, probably on Saturday the 20th while missionaries are jawboning. It will be GREAT to see our companeros in Spain again, and to meet with some of the members! For those bringing children and other family members, some arrangement may be made for activities during the temple dedication ceremonies. President Barnes reports that several bishops and stake presidents have offered access to church buildings to house the reunion, and that a lot of members are very enthusiastic about meeting us. (Some of the young men we knew as deacons and teachers are now bishops and stake presidents!)
Accommodations in Spain?
Too early to tell. I am assuming it's every man for himself unless and until I hear something different. The committee is making some efforts through our contacts in Spain for good quality recommendations at reasonable prices. As we learn options, we'll describe them here. But don't wait for us! Everybody must care for their own reservations.
Cost?
This will depend on a number of factors, and it's still too early to predict. We are assuming that by booking well in advance we can get bargain airfare rates. People who've travelled to Europe several times during the past few years report that they've spent anywhere from $500.00 to $1500.00 per seat round-trip. Hotels and meals in Europe generally cost about 50% more than similar accommodations in the USA. Right now, as a VERY rough approximation, you might expect to spend between $1000 and $2000 per person for the week-long trip, with hotel rooms doubled or tripled up. If we hire a tour bus for the group's children during the temple dedication ceremony we'll need to collect some group funds to pay for that. Our contacts at Salt Lake Travel have given us a prelimary airfare estimate ranging from $600 to $750 roundtrip, depending on number of people who sign up through them, etc.
We do want to arrange a small group fund to cover postage and similar small miscellaneous expenses involved in coordinating the group. If you sign up for the trip, you should expect to contribute something to this fund. Figure $10.00 to $100 per person, depending on whether or not we fund one or more group activities or tours with it. Even if you can't go on the trip, your help with this fund would be greatly appreciated, and I promise to publish photos on this web page which you'll be able to view for FREE! We're seeking a group treasurer. Any volunteers? Once we open up a bank account I'll post instructions for making donations here.
Early reports from Salt Lake Travel Service indicate over 100 so far ; there are certainly others who are making separate plans. We are hoping for 150.
Missionary Reunion
On Friday night, March 19, we plan to meet in the Quatro Caminos building from 6 to 8 PM. We'll have a buffet dinner, some light entertainment, and lots of fun. Pick up your badges, maps and schedules.
Member Reunion
On Saturday night, March 20, from 7 to 9 PM we will have a reception with Spanish members from our era. We will be joined by missionaries from the Stevens group.
Temple Dedication Service
There is a series of dedicatory services starting on Friday March 19 and extending through Sunday March 21. You may make arrangements to attend any session you wish by contacting the missionary department. However, we hope you consider attending as a group on the second morning session on Sunday (we have been told this will be at 10 or 10:30)
Optional Tours
Friday afternoon March 19: We are checking for a "round the city tour" of Madrid for about 3 hours.
Saturday March 20: We are looking for a tour that would include Segovia, Avila and El Escorial. This would be great for first time visitors to Spain.
Airline Tickets
These are going fast. Check with Salt Lake Travel Service, your travel agent, and online to get the best tickets for you. For those of you who will be traveling around Spain, Iberia offers a ticket which entitles you to four flights within Spain for about $220.
Rooms
Still checking. You should check some alternatives in just in case.
Travelling By Train Within Spain?
You can make your train reservations and even order tickets by exploring the sophisticated www site we found at http://www.raileurope.com
Paul Olsen says that this www site is a good resource for learning about travel within and around the Madrid area:
http://www.madridman.com
Paul also says that the Spanish rail network has a good www site at:
http://www.renfe.es
Train tickets can be purchased by phone or fax through this U.S. agent:
IBEROJET/Vetours 7270 NW 12th Street, Suite 210 Miami, FL 33126 800-222-8383 FAX: 305-447-4220 (They will FAX a form to you for making reservations and obtaining tickets.)
Paul Olsen also says he stayed in the Palace Hotel in Madrid some years ago and "it is a great old hotel." Paul says he can get information about that hotel for interested parties.
http://www.business~usa.com/madridmish/alumni.html
http://www.business~usa.com/madridmish
Abrazos!
Bob Bosen 1400 Oakmont Place Pittsburg, California 94565 USA Voice Telephone: (510) 427-1615 email: PeabodyFD@aol.com www: https://members.tripod.com/~bbosen/spain.htm email for John Muir: jmuir@compuserve.com
Click HERE to download a copy of John Muir's Jan99 letter, which details the steps needed to obtain your Temple Dedication recommends. This document is in "rich text format" which is readable from Microsoft Windows Write or Microsoft Word.
Click Here to download a copy of John Muir's update of 11 Mar 1999, which was sent to everybody for whom we have email addresses, including those that have not told us they are coming. This is a good document to print out and bring with you, as it summarizes all of the relevant schedules, locations, and events.
Click Here to access the 2nd of 4 sets of photos from Friday 19 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 3rd of 4 sets of photos from Friday 19 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 4th of 4 sets of photos from Friday 19 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the first of 4 sets of photos from Saturday 20 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 2nd of 5 sets of photos from Saturday 20 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 3rd of 5 sets of photos from Saturday 20 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 4th of 5 sets of photos from Saturday 20 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the 5th of 5 sets of photos from Saturday 20 Mar 1999.
Click Here to access the set of photos from Sunday 21 Mar 1999, at the Madrid Temple grounds immediately after the dedication ceremony.