The summer months are fast approaching, and with them comes the desire to reconnect with family members. There's a good chance that you, like millions of other people, will do your reconnecting at a family reunion. "The summer months are the busiest time for reunions because school is out," notes Deanna Jagemann, a former reunion planner. If you've been put in charge of organizing this year's big event, try out a few of the ideas mentioned here.
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When, Where and How Long?
When should you plan to have your reunion? Where should you hold it? Should
it be one day? A weekend? A whole week? The answers to these questions
depend on how far your family members will be traveling, and their financial
limits.
"For families spread around the country, I recommend at least a 4-5 day
reunion," states Deanna Jagemann, owner/manager of Memorable Family Reunions
(memorablefamilyreunion.com). "If members are within a 4-6 hour driving
distance to the reunion then 3-4 days is recommended." Families that are
generally all located in the same area often opt for one-day gatherings.
Popular holidays to plan your reunion around would be Memorial Day, Fourth
of July, and Labor Day. Some families choose to have their reunions the same
time each year, such as the second Saturday in August, and at the same
place, such as a local park. You can contact the Park Department to reserve
a picnic area in advance.
If you're having a weekend reunion, consider reserving sites at a
campground. Variations on this idea would include renting houseboats on a
lake or cabins in a park.
If you're interested in having a weeklong reunion, look into locations that
offer more local activities, such as Dollywood, Disneyworld & Disneyland,
ski resorts, and even places like Milwaukee, WI, during Summerfest.
Whatever you decide, keep in mind the financial abilities of all family
members. You may want to have your reunion every other year, or even every
three years, to give members time to raise money for expenses. If you want
to have a set expense limit, consider holding a reunion cruise. "Cruises
are, in my opinion, a very good choice because you really can't go over
budget," notes Deanna. "Everything is included except for tips." There are
also activities scheduled for all age groups, from kids to seniors. Since
the ship's crew plans everything, all you have to do is enjoy yourself!
PREPARATIONS
Reunions take a little planning. Deanna recommends that people plan reunions at least one year in advance, if possible. This allows for families to receive the best group rates for resorts, cruises and hotels. While you are planning your reunion, consider some of these ideas to help your event be truly memorable:
Newsletter
Create a newsletter to be mailed twice a year: one month before the reunion and five months after. For the "Before the Reunion" mailing include the date and location of the upcoming event, information for those needing overnight accommodations, items that family members may need to bring, and a list of activities planned for the reunion. For the "After the Reunion" mailing include highlights from the reunion, updated information on family members (like new addresses, births & deaths, marriages, etc.) and any plans already made for the next event.
T-shirts
Have each family group wear matching, solid-color T-shirts. Personalize them with family group names printed on the back of each. Ajay's family made their T-shirts extra special. "The design was appropriate to our immigration history," says this pastor's wife, and mother of two from Minnesota, who writes and teaches. "Our parents all came from Norway to a small town in North Dakota. The design included the family name, national flags, and a background map with a bright arrow going from the town in Norway to the town in North Dakota."
Family Photos
Family members can bring pictures from the past year for a Reunion Photo Album. Designate someone to bring it to each event for updating, or create a new one each time to present to the oldest family member in attendance.
Covered Dish
Unless you are having the meal catered, each family will probably need to bring a covered dish to pass. A nice addition to any family meal is the exchange of recipes. Request that attendees bring a dish that is a family recipe. One person can then compile those recipes and pass out "cookbooks" at the next reunion!
FUNDRAISERS
Fundraisers can take on various forms and the money raised has many uses. A family fund has been created by the extended family of Teresa, a small country store owner and mother of three from North Carolina. The money they raise at their reunions is used to help a family member in need (one year a cousin's home burned down) or it is donated to a charity in memory of a family member who has passed away during the year. But, for most families, the funds raised are used to offset the costs of the reunion itself. Here are some creative ways to raise those funds:
About the Author: Kelly Huckaby is the
HOMEWriter. This Christian/Wife/Mother/Writer lives in WI with her
husband of 13 years and their five always-homeschooled children. She is
active in her local homeschooling support group, is the moderator for four
homeschooling and two writing e-mail lists, and has a web page that offers
support for families using The Weaver Curriculum. Her goal as a writer is to
be an encouragement to other mothers. You can visit Kelly at her Unofficial Weaver Pages.
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Popular holidays to plan your reunion around would be Memorial Day, Fourth
of July, and Labor Day. Some families choose to have their reunions the same
time each year, such as the second Saturday in August, and at the same
place, such as a local park. You can contact the Park Department to reserve
a picnic area in advance.
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