NEW DIRECTION

	Reference is made to "Minutes of the June 2001 Bates Reunion," which was published by "Bates Booster Newsletter No. 173, dated August 2001. We've taken action to streamline our operations and have taken action to place more emphasis upon research. In brief, here's how we've streamlined operation and placed more emphasis upon Bates research:
	1. STREAMLINED OPERATIONS Membership Rolls, collection of dues, and publication of "The Bates Booster" will be the responsibility of our Editor, Mrs. Paul (Deborah) Harper, PO Box 2640, Glen Rose, TX 76043 (email debh@bfoov.org). Membership dues for year 2002 are raised to $20. per year, which is in line with other family publications of this type.
	2. FOCUS UPON RESEARCH. Greater emphasis, resources and talent, will be placed on Bates Research. Over the past 30 years, we've gleaned a huge amount of data. Now is the time to regroup, utilize our data bank, and tap new sources opening up through Internet. We need to tie-up-loose ends. We need to invite participation and engage our membership more in the task of finding parentage for our various Bates Branches. Invite ideas and suggestions from the membership. "JY" BRANCH - JOHN BATES (1598-1666) - FIRST RECORD 1624 IN VA Though we've engaged Genealogist in England on two occasions, we've not documented his parents. We need to engage a more specialized Genealogist in England. We know a good bit about his departure from England. We know the ship, the date of departure, and names of good many of his shipboard companions. "WW" BRANCH - JOSEPH BATES OF WYTHE CO. - CANDIDATE FROM MASS. "Bates Booster No. 171 & 173," dated February and August 2001 respectively, features articles covering "Origin of the WW Branch of the Bates Family." This is the type of "original" research needed in covering all Branches of the Bates Family. "RA" BRANCH - ROBERT BATES SR. (1745-1851) OF ALBEMARLE CO., VA In 1850 census of Williamson Co., TN, Robert BatesSr., over 100 years of age. Per the census, he was born in "E. G.," but nobody knows what that means. Per page 2 of "Bates Booster No. 3," dated April 1972, earliest "Recollection" indicate that Robert Bates Sr. was a "British Soldier." "WE" BRANCH - WILLIAM BATES (C1646-C1684) OF ESSEX CO., VA We have good coverage of immigrant William Bates and his wife Martha (Williard) Bates of Essex Co., VA, but no clue as to his antecedents. OTHER BRANCHES MAY WELL DESCEND FROM "JY" JOHN BATES (1598-1666) We have no information as to descendants of John Bates, son of immigrant John Bates (1598-1666), who either died in 1686 or 1700/1, per page 3 of "Bates Booster No.10," dated June 1973. Further, identification of the following Bates Branches hampered by "Burnt Counties." "JS" BRANCH - JAMES BATES (b ca 1700) OF STAFFORD CO., va "WM" BRANCH - WILLIAM BATES (d1794) OF MADISON/CULPEPER CO., VA "ER" BRANCH - EDWARD BATES (1737-1762) FIRST RECORD IN RICHMOND CO. "TA" BRANCH - THOMAS BATES (D1753) OF AMELIA CO., VA OTHER POCKETS OF BATES IN VIRGINIA NEVER IDENTIFIED Bates in Brunswick Co., VA Bates in Patrick, Henry, and Franklin Counties Virginia
	3. RESEARCH TOOLS. To facilitate Bates research, we're making available "Bates Booster" newsletters published over the past 30 years. We're binding 5 year increments (30 editions) into booklets, and making the booklets available to the membership. Preproduction cost of the booklets is set at $40.00 each to include mailing and handling. This equates to about a dollar per edition, since there will be 30 editions in each booklet. Each booklet contains about 300 pages.
	Wayne Witt Bates Corresponding Secretary & Director Bates Lending Library The Bates Family of Old Virginia Email WittBates@aol.com