The Ruffner Family

 2007
Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

In Estes Park, Colorado

YMCA Of The Rockies

June 14-15-16-17, 2007

A Fabulous Family Fun Event

Reunion Review by Bob Sheets: Reunion Chair
Reprinted from the Ruffner Roots & Ramblings, Volume 10 Number 2, Summer 2007

More than 120 Ruffner Cousins gathered in Estes Park, Colorado, for the ninth reunion of the "modern era."  A deep blue sky was framed by the majestic Rocky Mountains that surround the YMCA Center , our home for June 14-17. Family and friends came from as far away as Florida and Massachusetts on the East Coast and Washington State and California in the West. The new reunion banner flew over the entrance to the Wind River Lodge as cousins entered the Ruffner Room to register and refresh, greeted by Shirley Sheets, Jane Webber and Alba Webber. We enjoyed treats and drinks from a free cafe and bar (hosted by Dick Armstrong and Sean Webber) at The Ruffner General Store, surrounded by exhibits on the history of the family and all past reunions.

Photographers captured each attendee and these will go into the Ruffner Archive. Copies of these pictures, as well as the group branch portraits, will soon be available on the Ruffner Web Site. Some watched films on Colorado history and a John Denver concert in the Ruffner Cinema section of the Ruffner Room, while others looked through items from the Ruffner Archive the Peter Ruffner German Bible and the William Henry Ruffner report on mining in Alabama .

We wore new permanent Ruffner Reunion lanyards for name badges and read our reunion schedule in a facsimile of a 1885 Ouray , Colorado, newspaper. In it we learned of the Ruffner connection to Estes Park History and the 100th Anniversary of the Y Camp.

Friday was full of hiking, recreation and drives over Trail Ridge Road, visits to Rocky Mountain National Park and good old fashioned visiting. Jack Boettcher and Eric Bradley were our guides to a feast of recreational activities and special tours on foot, by horse and by car.

The RFA held their Annual Board Meeting as did the Board of the Newman Family Society. With business out of the way, it was time to play. The day concluded with an outdoor barbecue where we met "Ol^' Ramrod" in the person of John Russell from the Colorado Historical Society. Dressed in his authentic mountain man attire he welcomed us to Colorado and told us some of the lives of those early adventurers in the West. The evening concluded with an old fashioned Hoedown and Square Dance. Our caller, Don Rouze, was most congenial and patient in getting us to the dance floor and organized into squares and happy dancers. A sing-a-long followed before we closed out the evening.

Saturday was another day of per­fect weather as we made our way to other mountain adventures. The Ruffner Auction was a big draw with many exciting and historical items sold by Melissa Ruffner and Sam McNeely - Frick & Frack of Bric-a-Brac. Thanks to all who participated and supported the Association with your purchases.

A Hayride took us into the woods around the camp and to a Chuck Wagon Supper. We returned to camp in time to wind up the day in the Little Theater where enjoyed a history lesson on the founding of the family. Stars of the show, in the person of Peter & Mary Steinman Ruffner, were Ethan Hunt and Rhia Henderson. They por­trayed various events from their life together. As a tribute to the Ruffners in the West, Calvin Standing Bear made a special appearance performing on the native flute. Emily Kaempf, appearing in her grandmother's World War II WAC uniform, gave one of the most emotional parts of the pageant, per­forming "In The Mood" on the saxo­phone, as a tribute to all the family members who have served in the na­tion's armed conflicts. Those assem­bled rose in applause when the spot light recognized her grandmother Dorothy Rinker. The pageant closed with a patriotic salute when the American Flag was held aloft above the Ruffner cabin of the original home­stead. A standing ovation showed our appreciation to the young people who honored our ancestors with the little pageant and a special thanks went to Ben Weidinger, our stage manager. Our last day in Estes Park began with a Memorial Service at the outdoor chapel. Reverend Beverly Duncan and Bob Sheets officiated. Sprigsof pine, one from each of the seventeen family homesteads from across America , were assembled at the altar and a shaft of Washington State wheat inserted for each of the family members who have passed away since the 2005 reunion. The service concluded with a healing ceremony performed by Calvin Standing Bear of the Lakota Nation, a resident of Colorado .

The reunion concluded with a farewell luncheon . Outgoing RFA president, Dan Ruffner thanked the family for the opportunity to serve the association and introduced our new president, Mark Flasch. Reverend Beverly Duncan led us in a moment of silence in honor of those who have served our nation in the military, with special notice to those currently in armed conflict around the world. Bob Sheets thanked the Colorado reunion committee for all their work in making the reunion a success and for those in attendance who made the reunion a truly family affair. A Lottery was held to see who would get a refund on their reunion costs. The lucky draw went to Bobby Axline, who announced that he and Betty Ann were returning the winnings to the association. The luncheon concluded with an invitation from Eric Hughes to attend the Booker T. Washington Reunion in 2008 in Riverside , California . President Flasch announced that the RFA Board of Directors will meet next June in Effingham , IL and the 2009 Ruffner Reunion will return to Luray , VA. He bid us all a safe passage home and to keep us safe and healthy until we meet again.

(Click on pictures to enlarge for better viewing - see descriptions below)

                   
A                              B                              C                              D                              E

                   
F                              G                              H                              I                              J

                   
K                              L                              M                              N                              O

P

Photo Descriptions:
A - Kate and Ann Ruffner outside the main entrance of the Wind River Lodge
B - Reunion Chair Bob Sheets and new RFA President Mark Flasch at the outdoor BBQ
C - Kate Ruffner and Dan Ruffner up in the "high country"
D - The Hayride/Chuckwagon supper - Nancy Lee Shifflet, Shirely Ann Sheets, and Sam McNeely
E - K - The Hayride/Chuckwagon supper
L - N - Inside the Wind River Lodge social room
O - Gathering for the Memorial Service at the Outdoor Chapel at Estes Park, YMCA
P - Healing ceremony conducted by Calvin Standing Bear of the Lakota Nation

Ruffner Family Events

Ruffner Family Reunion 2007 Itinerary of Activities and Events