Organizing a Family Reunion
Somehow you managed to get volunteered to handle all of the arrangements for a family reunion. You don’t remember raising your hand or opening your mouth, it just happened. A matter of fact, come to think of it, you weren’t even at the family meeting! That will teach you not to go, that is the time that strange things like this happen.
So, now that you are the event planner of the family reunion what are you going to do about it? Chances are that you aren’t going to get a lot of help, so you will want to make it as easy as possible but at the same time, fun, exciting and get all of the raves from the family. Now that is a BIG project!
Let’s start with a plan and get organized; what is all involved?
Who is coming; the entire family, just cousins, are the children invited?
When will it be; time and date?
Where will it be town, park, hall or some ones home?
What will we eat; will it be catered, a cook out or pot luck?
When will we have planning sessions and where?
What will we do for fun and entertainment; games, vote in an historian, talent show, auction?
Will we award prizes for the games; buy them or everyone bring one-new or used?
What will the prizes be; something for the home, notebooks, for the car, what for the kids?
Do we give everyone name tags; will we recognize everyone?
What should everyone bring; things for the games, potluck, munchies?
How much will it cost?
Who will take pictures of the reunion?
Who will pay for the pictures; will everyone order there own?
How do we pay for it; divide the cost between who in the family?
How to inform the family of all of the arrangements; phone calls, letters, a website?
Are we going to have a theme reunion; western, 1950‘s, comedy?
Where will everyone stay; motels, campgrounds, homes?
Will you take care of making arrangements for accommodations for out of town people?
How many are coming; don‘t forget to include children?
What little extras can we do at the reunion to make it special; a family history album, a telephone and address book, a family picture album?
Who is going to help and with what areas; food, games, pictures, kids games?
What are we having for beverages?
Get a notebook that will be used ONLY for the reunion so that you keep all of the information and notes in one place.
Get a telephone book to keep names, addresses, telephone and cell phone numbers, city state and zip; also add the names of the children for each family. This can be done on a computer and later printed out as a ‘give away’ extra at the reunion so everyone can keep in touch all year long.
In this age of computers, this would be a nice time to start a family website so everyone can stay in contact and inform other members of the family of all of the plans.
You are on your way to making this reunion the best organized reunion ever. Start to plan your reunion about 18 months ahead of time so that you are sure that you have enough time, you can get a park, hall or area to have the reunion and so all of the family can arrange their work schedule accordingly.
Jan Hayner is the creator of Easy Home Organizing at http://www.organizingyourlifetheeasyway.com
Get her free pamphlets and lists at her website for Household Cleaning Tips and Shortcuts and Home Organizing Hints and Lists.
