If you were at the 2007 reunion in Little Rock, you probably had a few of the sugar cookies that were in the hospitality suite. Sallye Cowan made the cookies and after being asked by several people for the recipe, she finally coughed it up. So here goes:

Sallye’s Sugar Cookies

1 cup margarine (2 sticks)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
4 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Let all ingredients reach room temperature.
2. Cream margarine, oil, sugars, eggs & vanilla
3. Sift flour, salt & baking powder
4. Blend into creamed mixture
5. Chill dough 1 hour
6. Roll into balls & place on cookie sheet. Flatten with bottom of a class that has been rubbed with margarine & dipped in sugar.
7. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until cookie has started to brown around the edges.

I’ve posted photos from the 2007 reunion in Little Rock. You can find them in our albums for our trip to Little Rock:

Dingler Reunion 2007 Day 2

Dingler Reunion 2007 Day 3

Dingler Reunion 2007 Day 4

Another Dingler reunion went into the history books tonight. With approximately 50 people in attendance this year (about the same number as gathered in Huntsville last year), everyone agreed that Little Rock was a great place to host the reunion. The Clinton Library was the main destination for most people today with groups of Dingler descendants touring the facility at various times today. Folks also toured the Old State House as well as visited the shops and merchants in the River Walk district.

The banquet and annual meeting were held at the Central Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, located just a few blocks from our hotel. After a meal of fried chicken, ham, and several sides and salads (and some great desserts as well!), Terry Cowan kicked off the meeting. Everyone went around the room and introduced their families. Afterwards, Terry had a short presentation on the Dingler migration to Arkansas, highlighting the large number of families that made the move from locations such as Georgia and Alabama.

We also discussed locations for next year’s reunion, suggesting that it was Mississippi’s turn in the rotation. Both Vicksburg and Jackson have been put forward as sites. We’re doing some checking to ensure we won’t b e competing with other events for hotel rooms, and will post more once we make a selection. Even though we’re still working out the where, we already know the dates. Be sure to pencil in the third weekend in July, July 18-20, on your calendar for next year!

A big part of this year’s success can be attributed to the efforts of our hosts, Glenn and Jessie Dingler. They did a fantastic job, and we want to thank them for taking the time to make all the arrangements. Thanks for sharing your home, Little Rock, with us. Great job!

Stay tuned for reunion photos!

Just a quick post to let you know the reunion has started! We’re here in Little Rock and although attendance is expected to be on the lighter side, we still have a great group here this year. People have been stopping by the meeting room, and we’ve already spotted a few first-timers (whom, we hope to convert to regulars!).

Tomorrow a number of people are heading over to the Clinton Library and Museum and down to the River Market to do some shopping and enjoy the city. Of course, tomorrow evening we’ll all gather for dinner and the annual meeting.

If you aren’t here in Little Rock, here’s the greeting you would have received from the Downtown Little Rock La Quinta, the official Dingler Reunion hotel for 2007.

Reunion Central at the Downtown Little Rock La Quinta Hotel