Purpose
	Organization
	Activities
	Finances

PURPOSE

Mission Statement: The Alden Kindred of America, Inc.

The aim and purpose of the Kindred shall be the preservation of the spirit and tradition of those early Pilgrims from beyond the sea, whose sturdy strength and fearless integrity lie at the basis of our nation’s greatness; the especial honoring of that man and wife among them from whom we directly trace descent; the proper preservation of the Alden House in Duxbury and of the family heirlooms; the publication of its better achievements; the publication of an Alden Genealogy and such other histories and books as shall make suitable records for public archives; the establishment of some fitting memorials of its founders, John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden; and lastly the fostering among the Kindred descendants of the revered Pilgrims of a spirit of helpfulness and comradeship and an honorable pride in the source of their common generation. (Constitution of The Alden Kindred of America, Inc., Section 2)

Mission Statement: The Alden House Historic Site

It shall be the mission of the Alden House Historic Site, the ancestral home of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, to present to the public the John Alden House and thereby a portion of our great heritage that is exemplified by those generations of the Alden family who have owned, occupied and cherished this historic structure. This mission shall be accomplished by displaying and explaining the Alden House, its contents and its surroundings in an interesting and informative manner to all who visit it. Furthermore, the museum shall develop, promote and implement such activities, events and programs both on- and off-site that will increase awareness, knowledge and appreciation of these courageous pioneers and of the times and circumstances in which they lived.

ORGANIZATION

Membership in the Alden Kindred is open to all individuals, families and business organizations. There are two basic types of membership: Kindred & Museum.

Kindred members can trace and document their ancestry to John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden while their non-descendant spouses and adopted children can join as Associate Members. Click here for more information on joining The Alden Kindred 

Museum members are those individuals who cannot or have not traced and documented their ancestry to John and Priscilla but who still wish to help preserve a most important landmark, the Alden House Historic Site and the precious heritage it represents. Click here for more information on joining as a Museum Member.

The Alden Kindred was incorporated in 1906 and is qualified as a non-profit organization. There are approximately 1500 members scattered throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. There are no formally recognized local chapters; the organization is headquartered in Duxbury, MA. The organization operates within its charter comprised of a brief Constitution and more lengthy and detailed By-laws.

The organization is managed by several executive officers - President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, etc. together with interested individuals without specific titles (referred to as Members-at-Large) make up the Executive Board. For more specific information, refer to our Constitution and By-Laws.

Members of the Executive Board and other members who have special interests or talents, are appointed to various committees. Standing committees include Finance, Physical Properties, Membership, Operations, Communications and Education. An example of an ad-hoc committee is the Barn Committee which was organized to oversee the construction of a new barn on the Alden Homestead.

Several appointments are made each year such as the Genealogist and Auditor.

Most positions are volunteer in nature or receive only a token honorarium. In 1998 the organization employed a part-time Director and a part-time Curator. During the period the Alden Museum is open (May - October), several guides are also employed, generally high-school students assisted by adults. The Genealogist and Treasurer receive small honorariums.

ACTIVITIES

The organization carries out several types of activities. The major ones are:

Museum Operations. The ancestral home of John and Priscilla Alden built circa 1653 is operated as a museum. Guided tours are conducted for individuals, families and organized groups as well as special programs for the local school system. There is also a Museum Shop on the premises. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from about mid-May to Mid-October.

Meetings. The Executive Board meets normally three times a year to review activities and establish policies and programs and, of course, to resolve problems. Special meetings are sometimes required. Much more is accomplished among the various committees that meet on an "as needed" basis. In addition, there is one general meeting a year held, in accordance with By-laws, on the first Saturday of August each year. Other than the very first family meeting (1901), these Annual Meetings are held at the Alden Homestead, 105 Alden Street, Duxbury, MA.

Special Events. Each year a number of special events are held, typically at the Alden House Historic Site. In recent years these have included Autumn Festivals, an Antique Appraisal Day, a Revolutionary War Encampment, nature hikes, special tours in conjunction with other area museums and similar events. A number of seminars, primarily aimed at other non-profit organizations, have been sponsored by the Alden Kindred and the Alden House Historic Site. The years 1997 and 1998 featured activities associating with the construction on a new "barn" on the property which will function as a visitor’s center. This included a formal groundbreaking ceremony in October, 1997 and an old-fashioned timber frame barnraising using volunteers in April, 1998. The barn is now complete and in full use.

In the year 2000 we celebrated our 100th meeting of the Alden family organization.

Membership Services. In addition to sponsoring the Annual Meeting, the organization prepares publications for its members including Aldens’ Progress (a newsletter) and an annual report. Periodically a Register of Members is also published. Members are invited to all meetings and events. In 1998, special activities were set up for members in conjunction with the Annual Meeting including a grave sites tour of Alden family burial places and a reception the evening before the meeting.

Scholarship Program. The Alden Kindred of America offers each year a scholarship to a graduating high school senior. Historically, this amount has been $1,000. For more information, click here: Scholarship Program.

FINANCES

The operations of the organization are funded by membership dues, sales of merchandise in our gift shop and through mail orders via catalogs and our web site, Annual Fund contributions, bequests, rental income, museum admissions, and fundraising activities of all sorts. Other contributions are accepted to increase the Endowment Fund (Alden House and other buildings) and Scholarship Fund. Occasionally, we have a capital campaign as was the case with our recent barn raising project.