Hello all you Alvarez Relatives,

 As we begin this January Newsletter we should ponder and thank God for our freedoms that we so much enjoy in this beautiful country of ours and thank our young men and women of the military serving our country by praying for them and supporting them in whatever manner we can. Think of our Family Values and our loved ones and remember all our deceased family members and instill  and educate our youth of the importance of our heritage and our ancestors especially our great ancestor Panchita Alvarez. We are asking for you to send the names and pictures if possible of all our cousins serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in order to form a committee responsible for sending care packages, news etc while they are away from home. This would be a worthwhile project for the younger Alvarez to get involved in. Our upcoming membership drive will be in full force at the April 3rd Reunion in Goliad. Needless to say our membership this first year was not too great. Twenty five dollars per family is not too high a price to keep our organization going. We need everyone to participate in this drive if we are to survive. The Angel of Goliad Alvarez Family Reunion will be held in Goliad, Texas on Sunday April 3rd 2005 at the Parish Hall in front of the Catholic Church. Letters were sent out so that we can have an idea of how many Alvarez are planning on attending. Please read the information on our website for further details. We must have your money for the luncheon plates as soon as possible. Over 200+ letters were sent out and thus far 60 have been returned with address unknown, 9 responses who have paid, 1 declined and that is it thus far. Not a good showing. If we do not get any more responses and soon , we will have to cancel our Reunion for this year. This would be a shame if we do not take this opportunity to have our children and grandchildren get to meet other cousins. So turn in your forms and money as soon as possible to Rebecca Shokrian 17635 Henderson Pass Apt. 717 San Antonio, Texas 78232. Checks for Plates are 10 dollars for adults and 6 dollars for children under 12. Membership dues are 25 dollars for a family. This money is going to defray costs to run our organization and pay the caterers and other expenses incurred running an organization. We have now attained the non-profit status and thus this money can be deducted from your income taxes.  We have a few bits of information: Rebecca Carillo and Elio Ramirez are the proud grandparents of a granddaughter Evelyn Isabella born to their daughter Rebecca. Elio Ramirez is the son of Bertha and Elio Ramirez, Sr. of Kingsville, daughter of Rodolfo and Amanda Alvarez. Congratulations are in order for Nicole Ramirez Smith, daughter of Rudy and Gloria Ramirez who has just completed her course along with Dexter her dog in Narcotic Detective Dog Training School for the Garrison ISD. We are very proud of her and Dexter, her training dog. On a sadder note we offer our prayers and condolences to Rebecca Alvarez McDaniel's family on her recent passing. May her soul rest in peace. We would like to also congratulate the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. David Diaz from Denver, Colorado who were married this summer. Aomi Alvarez Diaz is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Alvarez of Plano, Texas.    Our last bit of news is the surprise returning of one our cousins back to our great state of Texas. Edna Nora Alvarez Rothwell , we wish you joy, happiness and good health in your home in Round Rock, Texas. We love you!  In closing may we all thank our Good Lord for our families and relatives and for this great Nation UNDER GOD that we live in. 

 Respectfully submitted, Herlin Pineda and Rudy Garcia