Hatrack River Forum: Family Reunion Experiences?

This is topic Family Reunion Experiences? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Its time for payback.

I've spent enough time here when I should be working, its time for me to use Hatrack to help me work.

I work for an entertainment company. We do everything from Corporate Picnics to High School Post Prom Lockins.

One area that we have had some success is Family Reunions. I am preparing a $6,000 bid on the food and entertainment for one right now.

What I am looking for is any national or regional magazine/convention/organization that works with people to help them plan this big picnics.

I have found a few on the net, but its hard to determine their reliability.

So I ask you, have you ever been to or even better, run a big family reunion?

If so did you get ideas from any magazine?

Did you attend any gathering or such?

Thanks.

Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :

LOTS OF BEER

Posted by lcarus (Member # 4395) on :

I met my grandmother once.

:-p

(Americans. [Roll Eyes]

)

[ January 15, 2004, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: lcarus ]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

[Grumble]

I was expected a thread full of "you'll never believe what horrible/hysterical/unbelievable thing happened at my family reunion" stories.

What a gyp!

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

I'm waiting for it to fill with family reunion stories.

So far all we got is one grandpa and a bunch of beer.

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

My sister and I totally planned and hosted our first-in-20-years family reunion last year. What a job! I had no idea how much work it would be. We should have started WAY earlier!

But we didn't use an firm or organization -- we basically just typed into internet search "Tips to hosting a family reunion" and search other people's ideas of what worked and didn't. Probably because we were extremely low budget.

The hardest part is gathering all current address of all extended family.

Some people spend lots of money to have family reunions at resorts that offer all kinds of services (game rooms, pools, etc.) but we just had it in a city park building, next to the city pool, that had a volleyball court, etc. at the park.
However, it was August in Kansas -- no one wanted to go outside anyway.

Farmgirl

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

As long as I get a HEFTY cut of the profits feel free to use this for a marketing ploy:

"Make sure your family reunion does NOT end like this . . . "

When Grammy Ran Over Shan

Really - everyone else makes money off their misfortune. So should I . . . [Big Grin]

Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :

My family has reunions every 2-4 years. Usually 100-300 people attend. I suppose that is pretty small. They are usually in parks in the Chicago suburb area and we usually have some chicken catered in and have people bring desserts or drinks. My aunt ran the last two reunions but I don't think she had any magazines or anything. She might have gotten some help online. She uses this great family website at myfamily.com to keep the family members in contact and did most correspondence by email to keep costs down.

I haven't gone to many of the reunions, but the ones I have been to have been very nice. It's a neat way to meet some distant relatives and it brings the family closer together.

Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :

quote:
I was expected a thread full of "you'll never believe what horrible/hysterical/unbelievable thing happened at my family reunion" stories.

I was thinking exactly the same !