Need help.... family reunion

[SewCrafty]

My cousin and I spoke at my sister's funeral and we are both sick of only seeing everyone at these types of events. So we have decided to organize a family reunion the first Sunday in August.

I have lots of questions for you all, LOL

1~ How should we handle the food? I had thought about everyone bringing a dish to pass and then so much $$ per person for meat, rolls, throw away dishes, and possible rental fee? Don't have a clue how much $$ per person though, it will also depend on where we are going to do this.

My cousin said we can have it at my aunt's (her mom's) or even at thier church, problem with both of those places, is no grass for little ones to play. I am hoping to get the fireman's field in town, they also have a kitchen we can use. I have to call about that yet though.

2~ How about games to play?

My thoughts are baseball, volleyball and horseshoes. Maybe something for the little kids too with dollar store prizes. Need ideas here though, I don't have any little kids!

3~ I am slowly getting email addresses of family members. I have set up a website to keep everyone informed of the progress (i.e. make sure we don't get 10 salads and no drinks LOL) And they can email me questions and RSVP right from the site. This way I only have to send out the 1st emails and won't run up my phone bill calling people. Sound like a good idea?

4~ Back to food again, lol I know hotdogs for the kids but would you have chicken or hamburgers? We'll probably do sausage too with peppers and onions or clams (or something equally as icky, LOL) I think chicken is the same price around here as hamburger is, and not everyone likes red meat. Although I bet most of my family does. I'm not being mean here, but they are what you would call rednecks and hunt and fish a LOT! Okay, guess I have to include myself in that category. but I don't hunt and I don't fish!
Hamburgers would be easier I guess and not take as long to cook.

5~ What do you think of having a quilt raffle (yours truly will make it) or maybe a guys, gals and kids basket or 2 (little ones and teens) or all of the above? Just $$ store things, but maybe it would be fun? Or raffle off the quilt but just have a drawing for the baskets? I can pick up stuff here and there for those so it won't be too bad on the budget.

6~ Also thought about having everyone send me memories of grandma, grandpa and thier parents. Only 3 siblings of the family are still alive. I could put together a small book as a reunion keepsake type thing?

Help me out here ladies, I need any and all help I can get! So far all my cousin has said was she liked the idea of the website. LOL So looks like I am doing this alone more or less.

[SewCrafty]

Oh and one of my cousins and his wife have a karioke (sp) machine so maybe we could have fun with that too.

[Mommy2five]

At our family reunions, it was always a potluck. We have a VERY large family though so food was never an issue.

They had cards, volleyball, softball sometimes, and one year there was a magician. I think the karioke machine is a good idea. You need to chose to have it alcohol ok, or no alcohol! My BIL had problems at his with drunk people

What about an alternate place if the weather is bad that day? Where we are from the funeral home rents tents, but that would be more messy than having it somewhere where there is indoor and outside place for the children to play. I would definatley look into somewhere where little ones have a chance to run about. Do you have an armory or civic center? If there is a cost to rent a hall that is where I would bring the quilt raffle into it.

Do you or someone do family tree? You could hang a HUGE paper (think rolled postage paper) and draw a family tree, then have someone there with a polariod or preferably a digital and printer and take family pics as they come in. Hang it in their family area on the tree. At the end of the reunion, roll it up and bring back next year so everyone can see how much the children grew and what families were there. Repeat the following year

I would think that if you were going WAY out you could rent a moon bounce thing.

If you are concerned about the food, start stockpiling now the big cans of beans and such at walmart to make baked beans or whatever. Sounds like you have the right idea coordinating the food. I would go to (email) one person at a time and say... I am bringing X what would you like to make or bring. That way you don't get everyone wanting to bring the same thing and 4 people mad cause someone is already making that when they all respond at once.

If I think of anything else I will post them.

[Darlene]

http://www.family-reunion.com/
http://genealogy.about.com/od/family_reunions/
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980625c.cfm
http://www.chiff.com/entertain/reunions.htm

Would be nice to have t-shirts made up and a cookbook of family favorites as souviners.

[jlxian]

I've only organized one, and have attended two others in recent years. The one I organized was to be held 150 miles from my home, so it was a challenge. I won't do that again! I am the genealogy guru in our family, so this is a near to my heart topic!

1. For food definitely do pot luck. As for the meat, the last one I went to was very nice -- they had a box of fried chicken from a restaurant (not KFC), and hamburgers and hotdogs done on a grill. And those who were able put $$ into a pot to cover the meat.

2. Games -- haven't done those at any of our events. But I would think something easily portable would be good -- like badminton and frisbees. Giant bubble stuff for the kids would be fun. Also maybe an artsy craftsy table for kids if they want. How about bingo? The folks at our events are so intent on talking to one another they don't miss the games.

3. The website and emailing folks is a terrific way to keep in touch with the folks who have internet access. Some of the oldsters may not have internet, so you may want to use snail mail for them. Also a good map posted on the site and in your snail mail.

I think your quilt raffle is a great idea. Also I love the idea of the memory book.

Encourage everyone to go through their stash of old photos and bring their treasures for the others to look at. This may be your biggest hit. Even an old family bible will be of tremendous interest. Also other old family items are very interesting. One time, I took an old piece of clothing that had belonged to a great aunt. If you have a genealogy buff in the group, ask them to prepare a family tree to post on a wall. The folks will LOVE to look at it and find themselves on the tree.

And be sure to stock up on film and take pictures. If necessary assign someone to take pictures. Unfortunately the last reunion we had no one thought to take pictures until some of the attendees had left so we did not get a group photo.

Above all, don't stress the little stuff. And have fun!

[SewCrafty]

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions ladies!

Keep them coming!

[Mom23boys]

We have a yearly reunion each June. As for food, everyone brings a dish. There is usually BBQ, beans and bread with whatever else everyone brings. A potluck might be a great idea.

For games, we have dominos, softball, volleyball, horseshoes, and an egg toss (2 players toss an unboiled egg back and forth to each other, with each catch you have to take a step back until there is only one team left.). There are also bubbles, frisbees, jump ropes, and other little games for the children.

The website sounds like a great idea. Emailing invitations is cheaper than mailing invites. This is what we do too. Of course we mail to the ones who do not have email. At the front door their is a guest book. You put your name, address, and email address. The person in charge for next year will have all the info to contact you for the next one.

The quilt raffle is another great idea!! We are also asked to bring one crafted item (if you want) for an auction. We usually end up with lots of items to auction off. This pays for the food and building rental. This has become a tradition. We are also asked to bring old photos to share.

Another idea....at the door, where the guest book is, there is also a donation jar. This money and the leftover money from the craft auction is put into a reunion fund to fund future reunions. We also use $250 of this money for a scholarship to anyone in the family that is graduating from high school. It isn't alot, but every little bit helps. It is given in memory of a cousin who committed suicide.