Ulster County Branch

Contact:
Branch President Ken Barricklo
barricklo@worldnet.att.net

Ulster and Dutchess County Branches Joint Meeting

The Joint Meeting of the Ulster and Dutchess County Branches of the Holland Society of New York was held at the historic Beekman Arms Inn in Rhinebeck, New York on Saturday, October 11, 2008.

Attendees were treated to brilliantly sunny fall weather which highlighted the fabulous colors in the Hudson Valley. We were welcomed to the meeting by Dutchess County Branch President and owner of the Beekman Arms Inn George Banta and his wife, Phebe, and Ulster County Branch President Kenneth Hewes Barricklo. National President John B. VanDerbeek IV and his wife, Diane were in attendance as were approximately 30 members and friends including Adrian Bogart who traveled from Long Island and Rett Zabriskie who came from Oakland, New Jersey to join the group. Other Holland Society members, friends and spouses included George and Danielle Banta, Jane Banta Fisher and her husband, Richard, Paul and Christine Lent, David Lent, Kevin Denton, John O. Delamater and his wife, Marja. John provided several comments about the Membership Drive and plans for the upcoming 2009 celebration. The day of the branch meeting, John and Diane were treated to an educational tour of historic Dutch sites in the area by Kenneth Hewes Barricklo including the nearly 400 year old Dutch home where Kenneth's architecture office is located, the Person house, and the Old Dutch Church in Kingston.

After cocktails provided courtesy of George and Phebe Banta, a wonderful dinner was served and all present enjoyed the opportunity to discuss their Dutch heritage and plans for the upcoming 2009 celebration.

The speaker was attorney and civic volunteer, Fred Schaeffer. Mr. Schaeffer provided a fabulous video presentation on the Walkway over the Hudson Project, which will turn an historic railroad bridge over the Hudson River into the longest pedestrian walkway park in the United States. The Walkway over the Hudson will officially open and be dedicated in early 2009 as part of the 400 th anniversary of the landing of Henry Hudson.