84th Annual Meeting - September 13th & 14th, 2024  

The 83rd annual gathering of Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen will take place the weekend of September 13th & 14th at Hotel Lafayette in Marietta, OH. Friday evening's kick-off meet and greet session returns to the decks of the VALLEY GEM for her chartered 8:30 PM moonlite excursion departing the Ohio River boat landing adjacent the hotel. Reservations must be made by September 6th using the reservation form in the June 2024 Reflector issue. Lively conversation and renewal of friendships continue in the hotel lobby after the boat has returned to the landing.

Our annual business meeting begins at 9:30 AM Saturday morning in the Sternwheel Room where financial and membership reports, grants awarded from J. Mack Gamble Fund, updates about Ohio River Museum, and reports from affiliated chapters, river museums and libraries are all on the agenda. Nominations and election of officers and three positions on the Board of Governors are on the ballot. Contact Barbara Hameister or Ruth Guenther by September 6th if you have nominees.

Reservations for a noon cold cuts and salad luncheon at the Lafayette are available for $20.23 from the hotel. Although ORM and W.P. SNYDER, JR are not open for visitors at this time, during the afternoon S&D has been specially invited to board the LST-325 at the City Front, with a guided tour arranged for us by her captain, Bob Kubota, graduate of Marietta College and retiree from Ohio Barge line and Ingram Barge Co. You won't want to miss this unique opportunity!

Saturday night's banquet at the Lafayette begins at 6:00 PM and features entrees of prime rib ($50), lemon chicken ($29), salmon ($35), pasta primavera ($27) or chicken fingers & fries ($14). Room reservations as well as reservations for the noon luncheon and banquet dinner are available by contacting the Lafayette Hotel directly no later than Friday, September 6th at 800-331-9396 or 740-373-5522. Our after dinner speaker will be Jonathan Tschiggfrie, speaking on the tools and techniques of the modern amateur researcher of river history, including a demonstration of the forthcoming online steamboat database based on Way's Directories. Hope to see you there!