Totally OT: Anyone plan a family reunion?

[wildfan1473]

So, DH's family is planning a family reunion at DH's parents home, literally just around the block from us. It started out as someone called DFIL and asked if the event could be held at their place. DFIL said sure. Well, now more and more stuff is getting put on my DFIL and DMIL, and they just don't want to deal with it. Apparently, no one is in charge of this thing. DH thinks, since I am unemployed and apparently a control freak , I should take over the planning.

I've never done anything like this before. Sure, I've done lots of volunteering and coordinating for lots of events, but actually being in charge, from start to finish? I'm actually looking forward to it, but does anyone have any suggestions for planning? Any good websites, books, experience about what does and doesn't work? They are guestimating about 150 people attending, roughly 50 or so from out of state. We were originally thinking just a 1 day event, but with so many people coming from out of town, people want a multi-day event, but the money involved....and that's another thing - an upfront cost will keep some people from attending. What are good options to handling that?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[stitchlover]

Ugh! I wouldn't even know where to tell you to begin. Good luck with it!

 

[daneenm]

My sister and I are in charge of our family reunion this year also. Ours is not as elaborate, as most people live within a couple of hours of us. Some things we have done in the past or that I know from others who have done this...

• Arrange with a nice but reasonably priced hotel a block of rooms at group rates. Individual families can then call the hotel and booked their own room (pay for themselves) but under the group rate.

• We have always had the family in charge handle to main dish and everyone else bring a category of side dish. For instance the last event was a barbecue. The organizing family got and prepared all of the meat and each branch of the family by sibling brought appetizers, salads, beans and garlic bread and dessert. We did pay a contribution by individual family toward the meat, as that was the most expensive part. In your case if it is all catered, you can simply divide the cost per person for each family to pay.

• We also sent out a couple of 'save the date' reminders throughout the year to keep it fresh in people's minds

• My sister and I are thinking of doing a big poster board family tree, since not everyone knows exactly how they are related or what generation they are in , etc.

• We also did name tags with not only our names, but which of the grand parent siblings' branch of the family we belonged to. This was a gathering of my maternal grandmother's family - she had 4 other siblings, so we used them as the 'starting point.'

Not sure if these were the kind of ideas you were looking for. Hope they help!

--Daneen

 

[GenieCat]

You didn't say how much time you have to plan this, but you might start here:
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/reunion

or with this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Affair-Reunion-National-Genealogical/dp/1401600204/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234996335&sr=1-4

Another idea: Take old family photos to your local quick copy for blown up color laser prints (often more reasonable $ than photo reprints). Label each, and make a wall or science fair type board to display them. Leave pen and paper handy or make room on the display for comments.

Is anyone working on the family genealogy? You could leave copies of blank ancestor charts and family group sheets on the tables for everyone to fill out and discuss what they remember.
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/get_started/charts/AncestralChart.pdf

http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/get_started/charts/FamilyGroupRecord.pdf

There is a genealogy thread on the Dis Community Board. They might have some other ideas:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1683407

Hope you have a great reunion!