The Arizona Mayflower Society broke its previous attendance record with about 140 attendees at yesterday's annual Compact Day luncheon. A very good time was had by all. Brewster "cousin" Laurie & husband Lincoln (a GSMD member but not my "cousin") surprised us all with a very cool proclamation (see below.) It came from our state governor, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the signing of the original Mayflower Compact in 2020. I hope you can enlarge it enough to read what it says because it was very thoughtfully worded and she was able to get a Republican governor and a Democratic secretary of state (Lt. Gov.) both to sign it. They also had a proclamation from the city of Scottsdale, and had both handsomely framed. We heard an update on 2020 plans in AZ and MA, and got a very educational presentation by AZ Elder and Alden-Mullins "cousin" Tom, on another ancestor, John Robinson, leader of the Leiden congregation. (Pastor Robinson did not come to America but 2 of his children did later.) Robinson sent the Mayflower contingent off with a letter of instruction that turned out to contain instructions to be sure and formalize self-government along the principles that the Leiden congregation had developed during their sojourn in Holland. So the pilgrims did not actually make up the Mayflower Compact ad lib, on the spot. Your host on this website (i.e., me) was surprised to receive a GSMD-authorized award for service as AZ Historian Thank you all, I am very grateful and will try to live up to it.
Photo © Maura Mackowski, 2019
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