2009 Hinchman Heritage Society
Conference Summary
by Cheri Hinchman Widzowski
2009 HHS Group Photo
In late June, members of the extended Hinchman clan descended upon the heart of the Bluegrass State for the 2009 Hinchman Heritage Society annual meeting and some good ole southern hospitality. This year’s fabulous conference was hosted by Lexington resident Kevin Hinchman and assisted by his parents, Joe and Mary. Most of the forty HHS attendees arrived by Thursday and spent that day exploring local attractions on their own (places as varied as Shaker Village and Mammoth Cave National Park) or relaxing at the lovely Sheraton Four Points hotel before joining other Hinchmans for an informal group dinner. A fierce thunderstorm blew up just as the various Hinchman families converged at the Cheddar’s restaurant in Lexington’s Hamburg Place shopping and entertainment area. The hearty and delicious food enhanced the socializing and fellowship.
Keeneland Tour Group and Guide
On Friday, nearly 30 HHS members and their families toured Lexington and the famed bluegrass horse farms. Our knowledgeable and friendly guide from Blue Grass Tours gave an informative and amusing overview of the Lexington area as he led us through Lexington’s historic district, then through Kentucky’s famed horse country. We learned lots of facts regarding horses and horse farms (such as why stallions graze alone in their paddocks, why paddock fences are black or white and why they have rounded corners, and the details of the high-priced horse breeding industry). One stop of particular interest was at Keeneland Racetrack, a lovely and historic track most famous for its annual yearling sales (and also where Kevin Hinchman, our host, is employed). We toured one of the top horse farms in the region, Donamire, before traveling farther out into the countryside to visit a very unusual farm – the Old Friends Farm – where old thoroughbred stallions, rescued from death, are allowed to retire peacefully.
The annual business meeting, banquet, and silent auction were held Friday evening at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel.
The banquet, featuring delicious entrées of chicken fettuccine and roasted pork, was followed by a dessert of chocolate and vanilla birthday/anniversary cakes (Ron and Sharon Tebben’s 45th and Joe and Mary Hinchman’s 50th anniversaries were that weekend). The dinner was followed by Hinchman bingo and various prize drawings, and, of course, the famous Hinchman silent auction. Hinchman Heritage Society cookbooks were presented to those members who had previously attended at least ten conferences. The books with recipes and pictures were made by Paula Hinchman Willis using the www.bookemon.com website. Comic entertainment was provided by Kevin and Stephen Hinchman and their cousin Alan DeRossett as they recounted a gut-splittingly funny tale of a horseback-riding trip they had taken in the Colorado Rockies a few years back.
The HHS weekend was capped off by a surprise golden anniversary party for Joe and Mary hosted by their four children (Kevin and Stephen Hinchman, Paula Willis, and Cheri Widzowski). This reception, which had been in the planning for a year, was a challenge to keep secret as Mary was very involved in planning the 2009 conference. But somehow it was still a surprise when their children informed them the night before. Joe and Mary were amazed but a bigger surprise was yet to come – their granddaughter, Ele Willis who had been in Oregon for the past six months, made an unannounced arrival, bringing tears of joy to many eyes.
The elegant reception took place in the Masterson Station Clubhouse and featured a three-tier wedding cake as well as various hors d’oeurves and other light refreshments. Nearly 100 guests, including many of the HHS conference attendees, were present. The reception was followed by a cookout and barbeque (and cornhole) at Kevin Hinchman’s home where the party continued until late in the night. Thank you Kevin for your generous hospitality and hard work grilling lots of hot dogs and burgers!
We all look forward to next summer’s Hinchman Heritage Society in Berkeley Springs, WV, to be hosted by Ron and Sharon Tebben.