1. Appoint a coordinator for
the event.
a. Plan and organize well beforehand.
b. Rely on the needs and desires of your extended family.
c. Notify the extended family that "we're all going to get
together."
d. Track down the relatives.
2. Make a master list many months ahead.
a. Consult relatives for other distant relatives asking for
names and addresses.
b. Use older family members as sources of information.
c. Look through family albums, old letters, etc.
d. Use a personal ad in local papers telling of the reunion
and to track down lost relatives.
3. Create a family file for now and for future use.
Include:
a. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
b. Occupations.
c. Standing in the family, for example, second cousin, great
uncle, etc.
d. Special interest, for example hobbies, spare time
activities, etc.
4. Help
a. Involve relatives, thereby creating a greater interest.
b. Organize teams for the various tasks.
i. Finances.
ii. Food and lodging.
iii. Activities and entertainment.
iv. Collecting family memorabilia.
v. Creating a family tree and/or history.
vi. Miscellaneous details.
c. Appeal to people's interests and abilities.
d. Recruit a liaison for each branch of the family to:
i. Keep each branch up to date.
ii. Give head count of who will attend.
iii. Relay information from the main organizers to each of the
teams.
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5. Keep a
reunion notebook.
a. Add or delete pages as necessary
b. Assign a separate section to each team.
c. Decrease chance of snafus, misunderstandings, and
disappointments.
6. Planning the event.
a. Options are endless with only one rule: The affair should
suit your family's interest and needs.
b. When?
i. Allow relatives sufficient time to make arrangements.
ii. Emphasize special significance.
c. Family poll.
i. How long for the reunion?
ii. Cost of the reunion.
iii. Special interests.
e. Lodging
i.. Local motels?
ii. Nearby campgrounds?
f. Invitations should be exciting and imaginative.
g. Feeding the family.
7. Enjoy yourselves
a. Ice breakers to reacquaint and greet all relatives.
b. Variety is the spice.
c. Strengthen memories.
d. Family history.
e. Family tree. Your reunion is a good time to compile or
update the family tree.
8. Establish a tradition
a. Keep in touch with the relatives with whom you
reconnect at the reunion.
b. Start a family newsletter.
c. Plan a next reunion.
d. Do not let it stop here. |
