photo: Jack Cromie

riot of tulips
double dutch cacophony
tears through city street

I have been exchanging e-poems with Mr. Jack Cromie — we have been indulging in a little haiku. (As Jack reminded me, 5 7 5.) And I could not resist sharing a Jack Spring poem with you.

I have done so without permission and I run the risk of selecting one that is my favorite rather than that of the prolific author. He’ll have to send me his favorite. I recommend others pony up with their poetry perhaps even avec un photo for general consideration in the preceding contest. I am upping the ante. Zellie

Today we’re introducing a new website category : The Image of the Month

For May we have a red hot shot of Robert Patrick (no, not Pascal of The Red Balloon) Photo: Bob Dunn III

Send your photo entries (any subject) for next month’s contest to the Chamberlain@OurRumpus.com.

Finally, we have two special features coming up shortly: The Skinner Reunion and The Polk-Mahaffey Reunion. Both events were great successes, held at Moone Athy over the long Memorial Day Weekend. Attendees might consider forwarding any photos from these events to the Chamberlain at the above email address.

On this glorious May evening, Rob Judd and Elizabeth Judy were married at the Kalish residence in Parkview. They tied the knot in the company of family and friends beneath a white awning in a picture perfect setting. St Louis springtime was at its best and this, together with extraordinarily beautiful floral arrangements, made for an unforgettable evening. After toasts, the venue moved to the St Louis Artist’s Guild at Oak Knoll Park in Clayton. The bride and groom arrived, announced by sirens, in a red, white and blue firetruck.

Unfortunately, given the size of our Chambers family, it was not possible to include everyone in these festivities. For those unable to be there, here are some photos that you may enjoy.

Isabel, Musa, and Kate – The Ring Bearers

Bridesmaid Alicia, Elizabeth’s Sister

Rob and Elizabeth Tie the Knot	Anne Dollimore, the Bride’s Mother

Rob and Elizabeth – husband and wife!

Cousin Powell Kalish awaiting the start of the ceremony, sitting with Claiborne Pentland and behind David and Kimberly Pentland

Aunt Eleanor visits with Aunt Sarah Dunn, cousins Bobby and Mary Dunn, John and Zellie McClelland

The Extended Hollo Family

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Ed Fehlig watch with Aunt Sarah Dunn as Bride and Groom depart for the reception

Newlyweds depart for reception

And arrive at the St Louis Artist’s Guild with a siren blast

Reception Guests, from left: Eddie Fehlig, Sarah Fehlig, Jennie Quick, Ed Fehlig, Richard Quick, and Molly Wynn-Owen

An example of the exquisite floral arrangements for the event created by bride’s mother, Anne Dollimore

These photos don’t do justice to a most memorable and happy occasion – especially our photos (not shown) of Grandmother of the Bride Alicia Withers – dressed in a pale blue chemise with satin trim, and a pearl necklace.

If anyone has pictures of the event which they would like us to post, please email them to us (Chamberlain@OurRumpus.com) and we will gladly do so.

All the clan extend our best wishes to Elizabeth and Rob!

This may be out of bounds because he wasn’t a Chambers, but our remote in-law George Polk is honored on a recently issued commemorative stamp for WWII era reporters, along with Eric Severeid, Martha Gellhorn, and John Hersey, as well as somebody named Ruben Salazar.

George Polk (1913-1948), born in Ft. Worth, Texas, was a cousin on the Polk side. A Naval officer in World War II, he was decorated for bravery by Admiral John McCain, the grandfather of the present senator. At Guadalcanal, with a small force of sailors, he defended an airfield under Japanese land and air attack. After the War, as a talented young CBS radio correspondent, he became known for his thorough research and tenacity. He filed hard-hitting radio bulletins from Greece describing the brutal strife that erupted there after World War II. The Greek Communist partisans were then waging a violent struggle against the conservative government supported by Britain during the War and then the Truman Administration early in the Cold War. As we might expect, Uncle Polky made his acquaintance at some point during those years.

Polk was critical of both sides in that civil war. He persevered despite death threats. Polk was in Salonika, working on reports of corruption involving U.S. aid, when he disappeared. His body was found a week later, fished out of the harbor, hands and ankles bound and shot at point-blank range through the head. The exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery, and the conviction of two Greek Communists for his murder remains controversial. His fellow reporters helped to establish the George Polk Awards as a prize for the recognition of excellence in broadcast journalism in radio and television media, modeled after the Pulitzer Prize in print journalism. For more information on the Polk Awards, see the Long Island University-sponsored website:

http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/polk/history.html

Also you may find the following link interesting – scroll down to American Journalists at: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_084.htm

Thought you like to know about this illustrious relative.

Hugh Law

Extra! Extra!

The chief of operations for the Mumbai Pangea Day festivities (aka Gin Cromie) is headlined in the Hindustan Times. What a spectacular achievement for this Chambers clan member!

The Moone Athy Players’ Three Little Pigs, scheduled to open during the Skinner Reunion Memorial Day Weekend, will limp along without Gin this year – obviously she has other commitments. But next year we hope to have her back.

Congratulations Gin from all of us in the Chamber

The women in the family continue to set an impossibly high bar for the rest of us with their challenging endeavors. Here’s what Gin Cromie is up to:

“We arrived last night, exhausted and exhilarated by our wild taxi ride through Mumbai. It felt like I’d fallen right into a Rushdie novel. I can’t wait to learn more about this amazing city that is so completely new.

This morning we’re looking out onto the Arabian Sea talking with Katie, “Decibel” Dave, and Yashesh about spreading the word about Pangea Day over the next three days. We’re excited to reach out to local organizations and filmmakers to fill up the seats and make Mumbai ’08 a lively event.”

Gin is one of a very select group who have spread out over the globe to realize a project called Pangea Day, “a global event to bring the world together through film… Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.”

When asked to overcome her reticence and keep us posted about her work she adds:

“Honestly I am being forced to get over my shyness because part of my job description is to keep a blog of what’s going on. It’s to be updated regularly with images and text leading up to the big event, and I would be thrilled if the family was tuned in. The link is here.

Today we visited Dharavi, one of the largest slums in Asia. Hopefully there will be some of our footage and interviews up tomorrow. Mumbai is WONDERFUL, and even though we’ve been very busy making sure Pangea Day actually happens here- we only just managed to secure the permits an hour ago- I snuck out to visit the cave temples on Elephanta Island one morning.”

The website covering Pangea is absolutely stunning – a ‘must visit’ for the family. The time of the event is 1:00 PM CST tomorrow May 10th in the USA. Be sure to tune in then.

We look forward to hearing (and seeing) more from Gin in the next 24 hours.

Addendum: Thanks to Gin, Moone Athy is now the proud owner of a Red Radio Flyer wagon for the grandchildren…