What's next!

Just what is next you might be asking!

Right now I am concentrating on the festivities for the

300th Birthday of our city, San Antonio, Texas and the 

223th Birthday of a Texas patriot, Jose Antonio Navarro.

Myself with other Directors of the Friends of Casa Navarro 

are meeting to finalize our plans for Jose's B-day.  It will

be a glorious event.  Please plan on participating.  I will

be giving you details as to how you can be a part of this

event and have fun doing it.

It takes a lot of planning to make something this big happen.

We are always looking for people who want to join us in

what ever way they would like to contribute.  We all have

talents that can be lent to an event like this and especially to our organization that works diligently to make it a success.

You can contact me at anytime and I will be sure that you

are accepted into our fold.  If you are a descendant you are

encouraged to participate as you will learn about your ancestors this way and perpetuate the continued success of 

our organization the Friends of Casa Navarro.  So, please come

join in.

3rd Meeting held

Today is October 16th.  This past Thursday the 12th of October I held my 3rd and final meeting for this year at the Collins Garden Public Library.  I had a minimum turnout, but effective anyway.  Those present enjoyed my talk on how to find your Texas Roots.  The meeting was productive in the fact that we shared a lot of information with each other giving credence for why I put on these meetings.  If it encourages a person to participate in any way.  I feel I have accomplished my goal.  There is a lot to gain from belonging to and being in an organization.

Let me tell you about the Friends of Casa Navarro Organization and their mission.  Not only do they support the State of Texas by providing small needs for the Casa.  They send volunteers like myself to help the site, which is educating the future patrons that come to visit. They also award at least one or two scholarships every year to a worthy college applicant who writes an essay on Jose Antonio Navarro.

The Friends of Casa Navarro is leading the effort to educate people about Jose Antonio Navarro. It is the members support that helps bring the Casa Navarro State Historical Landmark site to the forefront for all to experience just one of San Antonio's prominent citizens home.  This highlights how he and his family lived in the early 1800's here in America.  At the house you will learn about his contributions to not only the state of Texas but also how his humanity plays into the future.   

I've come up with some words that I feel express what Jose Antonio Navarro was all about.

I am printing these words on a business card for me to use.  

They are:
Believer in self, county and humanity.

Birthday Celebration

Hello again.  Back in July I was already getting you excited about the Corsican delegates that are coming to honor Angel Navarro.
Next week myself and several volunteers from the organization
Friends of Casa Navarro will be meeting to plan the agenda for
Jose Antonio Navarro's 223th B-day celebration in 2018.  2018 is the 300th birthday of the city of San Antonio.  The city is planning a year long celebration and will be welcoming visitors from all over the world.  

Casa Navarro is a partner in the 300th Celebration and is planning a spectacular day for you to enjoy. We are encouraging people of all ages to come in period dress.  So, if you'd like to come dressed as any of the citizens of San Antonio from the time period 1826 - 1836,  please do.  It will be fun for the children even to dress up.  The Casa Navarro has wonderful facilities so you can change out of your costume whenever you'd like.  We will have refreshments, entertainment and speakers with the highlight being our guest from Corsica.  Please come and be part of these festivities.  

In prelude of the Corsican's coming next year I will be having my
third meeting of this year again at the Collins Garden Library Community Room on Thursday, October the 12th from 6:30 to 7:30. I will have more information on the Corsican visitors and we will learn family history of our ancestors from Europe.  What an
exciting time.  I hope you will join me as I present to you how the
Corsican's visitors will impact our celebration on the 24th of February 2018. 

Corsican Delegates Coming!

Here it is July 29, 2017 the year is flying by.  I want to tell you about what is happening for the Navarro, Ruiz families in the year of San Antonio's Tri-Centennial year.  On February 24th 2018
at 10 am in the morning festivities will start which will continue on until 4 pm.  All are welcomed and I invite you and your families to come and meet at last some honored guest from the Island of Corsica.  These delegates of 7 or 8 people will be here to honor Jose Antonio Navarro's father Angel Navarro who was born in Corsica. It promises to be an exciting day at his Landmark home on 228 S. Laredo St. San Antonio Texas.  We are encouraging anyone wishing to dress in time period (1717 - 1836) costumes to come and be part of this Tri-Centennial event.  The facilities at the Casa Navarro are such that you can change out of your costume, back into street clothes at anytime.  We will have music, Mariachi's, merriment, food, fellowship and just an all around good time.

Many of the people I have talked to already about this are so excited about the possibility for them to dress like their ancestors that they are looking at old photos and preparing to dress like them. I am so pleased that they are willing to come join me in this exciting day.

Last meeting at Collins Garden Public Library

Although the turn out was small again I believe we got a lot accomplished with those who attended.  Two people brought in information they were working on and we discussed and viewed a great photo of their ancestral great-great-great-grandmother.

My two guest speakers Socorro Morales and Linda Ramos spoke of their works so far and were especially interesting.  I wish you could have been there.  Please consider joining us next meeting which will be in October.  The subject will be the upcoming Feb. 24th, 2018 celebration of Jose Antonio Navarro's Birthday which is celebrated every year at his original home in downtown San Antonio, Texas. His actual Birthday is February 27, 1795.

It is remarkable that we are able to do this thanks to the help of the many institutions that continue to do this for us all.

Just why is Jose Antonio Navarro so important to history, not just Texas History you might ask?  Because what he did in his lifetime was so profound that we can only marvel at this one man's
abilities.  To me as a descendant I like to sum him up as a humanitarian.  He did so many things that history, especially Texas history notes are his accomplishment in Texas.  It is what he has
given the world that is propelling him into the spotlight of the present.  As some of you have previously read an earlier post.  My son-in-law pointed out to me that a quote by Jose Antonio Navarro is on the insert of world traveler's passports.

I do hope that you will be telling all of your friends and family to plan on attending the 2018 Tri-Centennial event.  I already have potential guest coming from California to stay with me.

Our organization, Friends of Casa Navarro, will have a pleasant surprise for all attending. Besides the ceremonies planned for the day there will be music, drinks, cake, food and a promise of fun for all.

Come meet our visitors from Corsica and have a good time.

Honoring a Texas Ranger

This weekend Linda Ramos and I went to a dedication by several organizations that were honoring a Texas Ranger of long ago, Antonio Coy (1799-1891) with a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross and other plaques that were placed at his grave site in San Fernando Cemetery No. 1 in San Antonio, Texas.

It was a lovely day for these prestige honors to be bestowed on Mr. Coy.  Many of his family descendants were present from as far away as Eastern Arkansas. The speaker at the ceremony
Mr. Rudi Rodriguez spoke elegantly of  Mr. Coy, as did the numerous other guest speakers from many fine San Antonio organizations.

Linda and I go to as many historical activities as we can attend.  It gives us a lot of pleasure to participate in these doing.  For those who don't know yet Linda Ramos descends from Francisco Ruiz's line of the Herrera family and I descend from the Texas patriot and nephew of Francisco, Jose Antonio Navarro, through the line of Celso Cornelio Navarro.  We have hooked up going to these events, actually it was at one such event that we met.  Our friendship grows
each day as we enjoy participating in Texas History events.  Anyone can attend these functions.  You just need to see when there will be one that would be of interest to you and go.  I hope you are getting encouraged to learn your family history.  If you have questions about anything just ask.

Until our next meeting here on my blog or at one of my meetings at Collins Garden Public Library.  Keep watching for my next May meeting. 

Want to know how you connect?

Learn how to find your ancestors.  It's not as hard as you might think and it is truly rewarding.

Just wanting to let everyone know the date and time of our next meeting on Navarro/ Ruiz and other family genealogies.  You'll find that many families who originated in San Antonio tie into these two families.  We will help you find your relatives.  Soon you will be able to discover things about your family you never knew.  Please plan on coming early so we can meet and greet you before we get the round table discussions going.  It should be a fun and informative night.  Children are welcome, after all they are the next generations and we want to pass on to them the passion of "Wanting to Know."

That's what captured me.

We will be seated in a square facing each other for all to participate.  Joining me that night will be Mrs. Linda Ramos.  She descends from the Herrera branch of the Ruiz family. Bring what ever information that you already have.  We'll help you to get started searching for your ancestors.

College students doing research on Texas Tejanos, these two Texans, or how family genealogy is a worth while endeavor.  Come join us.


Meeting at Collins Garden Library, Monday night May 18th at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  Let me know if you will be attending, by phone or my email.  There is no cost to get involved.

Carol Cieszinski 2104151912
e-mail carolcce@yahoo.com
Look forward to seeing you all.