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Step 1
Call around and get people interested. Don't give up if your idea for a family reunion doesn't meet with enthusiastic applause right away, particularly if cross-country travel is involved. Assemble a team of people drawn from different branches of the family to spread out the work.
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Step 2
Determine what kind of reunion you'll hold. Opt for a weekend affair at a resort or campground, or a one-day barbecue at a local park. The party doesn't have to be lavish--it's all about re-establishing connections and making new memories.
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Step 3
Poll the relatives to narrow down optimal dates. Summer or holidays are usually best as kids are out of school. Choose a date as far in advance as possible so everyone has a chance of making it. If you're considering a resort, ask for off-peak and group rates.
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Step 4
Create a menu or decide how food will be handled. See 301 Plan Theme Menus and 321 Plan an Outdoor Party.
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Step 5
Discuss money issues and set a budget. Some family members who live far away might not be able to swing the airfare. Talk to other family members about chipping in--maybe you can make the ticket a birthday present.
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Step 6
Make sure everyone's accounted for and has a place to stay. Send out a save-the-date notice 6 months (or more) in advance for people needing to make travel, hotel and car arrangements, or if it's a major holiday weekend. Include a list of options, along with phone numbers for lodging and car rentals.
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Step 7
Trace your roots to create a family tree that you can pass out at the event. Software programs such as Reunion can help you do this, as well as Web sites (see Resources). See 283 Organize a Genealogical Search.
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Step 8
Ask relatives to send their life stories and a digital photo (or two) ahead of time, and compile a family history book to hand out at the reunion.
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Step 9
Take photos of each family member on reunion day, and create a family history book to give to the matriarch or patriarch. Consider various formats for reproduction, including copied and bound printouts, or a slide show saved to a DVD, CD or videotape.
Comments
hmvont said
on 3/19/2009 Our family went to Sebasco Harbor Resort (www.sebasco.com) in mid-coast Maine. We have small children and we loved the Camp Merrit they held for the kids. My sister-in-law organized the reunion and she said the resort helped her with all the logistics. We loved the taste of Maine - blueberry pancakes and a lobster bake!
brettnkass said
on 6/21/2008 Thank you for the tips. Go for a self-contained resort where all the activities are on-site. That is so much easier! We heard Northstar Resort is the BEST, with loads of free activities, shopping and dining in the new village, and awesome lodging discounts for groups. We are looking forward to our 2008 reunion and will post again to let you know how much fun we have!
Event-Planner said
on 9/13/2007 The above article spoke of getting all branches involved. The question is how to get them involved. I think the key to getting folks involved is threefold.
1. Sweet persuasion.
2. Sense of responsibility
3. Assign them a specific responsibility
1. Sweet persuasion
Take time to think of the contribution they make to the family. Consider their personality, skills, interests and relationships. Help them to appreciate that they are an important part of the family and the reunion just will not be the same without them. Mention the contribution they make to the union.
2. Sense of responsibility
Appeal the each family members sense of responsibility to the family as a whole and especially the younger generation.
3. Assign them a responsibility
Give them a chair on the reunion committee or a specific reunion related task
Resource: http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net