FamilyMan's comments

Planning A Large Family Reunion - Blog Entry

20 Dec 2006 09:09 AM

I think family reunions events help young ones (teens) get to know facets of family character they might not otherwise experience and it gives them something exciting associated with family to look forward to. This often opens the door to sounding down princples of trust, honor, protection, pride and yes balanced love of family.

So if you can afford a Disneyland vacation why not book it. Others may prefer a family reunion cruise or a homestead hometown tour similar to what is enjoyed by tourists.

It's important to have some fun for the sake of todays kids whose expectations tend to be a bit high. At the same time take time to help them get to know family history and genealogy. The building of self-worth and belonging can go a long way.

http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

T-Shirt Party Theme - Blog Entry

20 Dec 2006 09:02 AM

Love your idea of the T-shirt party. Making t-shirts is not only fun but pratical. I think this particular approach to an artist or craft party does more for kids than most. Consider the following:

1. Teaches good social skills 2. Teaches team work 3. Teaches patience - waiting for stuff to dry 4. Teach self-expression. - Creating your own design 5. Teaches confidence building skills - Following step by step that leads to a completed product builds confidence that the participant can in fact make something beautiful and useful. 6. Teaches the lesson that in all of us lies the ability to orchestrate the combining of materials, skills and experience with the result of making producing something practical that everyone can use, a T-shirt. Building blocks leading to greater academic achievement.

These skills can go a long way as the child continues to try other more complex projects with confidence gained from a T-shirt party!

Mark http://party-planner.fimark.net

Family Reunion Committees - Blog Entry

20 Dec 2006 08:28 AM

The need to form a family reunion committee should not be underestimated. It is essential to the smooth functioning of the gathering and allows key planners to oversee the entire operation without distraction.

An important factor to keep in mind is that committee assignments tend to overlap. When holding your initial committee meetings be certain to pass on written instructions including the various assignments, tasks and materials needed.

Funding the reunion means having your treasurer and committee head approve all requests for funds from the subcommittees before issuing funds.

It's helpful to ask subcommittee heads to spend thriftily and avoid making needless purchases with a view to saving funds for the next reunion. This can often be best accomplished by having a standard shopping list for each subcommittee.

An even better approach is forming a supplies and materials department who provide all that is needed according to a pre-written supplies list that fits the budget.

Your setup department should include your decorating talent, those skillful in arts and crafts and individuals with carpentry skills as well as building props and setting up and using sound systems. These same individuals should be involved in dismantling.

Remember to assign your delicate hands to table decor and busting.

http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

Fun Family Reunion Activities - Blog Entry

04 Dec 2006 09:23 PM

Those are great ideas. I wouldl like to add some details that makes our reunions special.

Story Telling Tell stories thru poetry, music, recital and oral story telling and stand up comedy. Story telling is often the height of the reunion event that brings back so many deep seated fond and meaningful memories.

Family Reunion Photo Swap Members bring new and old photos including pictures with historic value and the great-greats at the old homestead and even previous reunions. Photos should be labeled with name of owner.

Family Reunion Olympics The family reunion Olympic games is a great opportunity to hold special events allowing teams members from each family to participate while drawing close to one another. Sports events allow different age groups to participate. Each team selects its name state/county and design their own banner. It's a lot of fun.

Jigsaw Puzzle Race Other young adult activities that challenge the intellect and reflex are the family portrait jig-saw puzzle challenge. Using previous years family reunion photos create two card table sized jigsaw puzzles from the photos. Select several family members for each team to assemble the puzzles on their table. The puzzle could have a well-known fact, slogan or metaphor unique to the family printed on it before cutting. The first team to assemble the puzzle enough to guess the phrase wins.

Reunion â€Å"Survivorâ€Â� Game This game draws from the Survivor TV show. It will capture the attention of everyone. The key is to survive (complete) a series of daring feats including a jump rope line, keeping up the hoola hoop for 2 minutes, Dodge ball with Velcro vest and Velcro ball (20 hits), Remember to keep it.

The "Amazing Race" The race borrows from the popular Television show and is sure to be a big hit. Select several families to complete a 3-mile race with several stops along the way providing destination clues. Cover the race with your live web cam wired to a big screen TV for spectator coverage. Make the race a one-hour event. The family that wins gets a gift certificate to a theme park or restaurant.

"American Idol" The Idol style game is basically a talent show featuring three categories of song, dance, and stand up comedy. Have a panel of three judges whose aim is to shower each contestant with praise and exaggerated compliments but votes on cards. Each card is placed in a box. The host adds up the vote tally to reveal the winner in each talent category.

For more ideas there's a family reunion activities idealist in the evaluation software provided by some of the sites below.

Outside the norm of bean bag racing and egg hunts lies a world gaming fun young adults are sure to enjoy and remember for a very long time.

Planning A Large Family Reunion - Blog Entry

20 Sep 2006 08:19 AM

In reponse to the statement:

"Invitations can get really expensive when you have to mail them to one hundred plus people. So one suggestion is to mail information to the head of each family (grandparent) and let them pass the information on to their children and grandchildren. If you want to have a yearly reunion, pick a date and hold it on the same date each year."

This is so true. To offset costs I designed a flyer and ran it thru an Acrobat Reader. Then I emailed the file to everyone as well as family heads to make sure no one missed it. All they have to do is view it or print it out. These days just about everyone has a computer and the acrobat reader. Those that don't get a printed copy from those who do.

As a graphic designer, software writer and publisher I enjoy designing tools for family reunion correspondence and committees. I encourage everyone reading the fine tips in the article above to make good use of your techno tools when corresponding with family. Since your children are masters of the pee wee cell phone device why not ask them to make up an aminated musical cell phone flyer to send to their cousins and keep all ages involved.

Have fun and save money!

FamilyMan http://famiily-reunion-planner.fimark.net