Decoration Day Games games games Family Reunion University

Transcription

Decoration Day
Games ... games ... games
Family Reunion University
VOL 19 NO 4
MAY/JUNE/JULY 2009
Display until July 31, 2009.
$3/USA
in this issue
DEPARTMENTS
May/June/July 2009
Volume 19 • Number 4
PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF
FRONT WORDS – 4
ALUM & I – 6
New Jersey class Southern reunion by Nancy Myers
College Reunion: Stage One by Jennifer Rogers
Edith Wagner
TRAVEL EDITOR
Jacky Runice
ART DIRECTOR
Jennifer Rueth
SCRAPBOOK – 8
SALES
Reunion School
Marion Liston Senior Account Manager
Adams Street friends from the 1940s by Georgia Burnette
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Memorial Day flag etiquette, sparkler safety, emergency resources kit,
Karla Lavin
Colorado Vacation Directory, a Great Place on a Great Lake, clown reunion
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
BRANCH OFFICE – 16
Decoration Day by Catherine P. Businelle
Andrew Russell Bordeaux
Nicole Dettmering Ksioszk
CONTRIBUTORS
MASTERPLAN – 18
Ten lessons learned in planning an out-of-town reunion by Valerie Porter
The Hassingers go to Family Reunion University by Lauri J. Hassinger
Hernandez family celebrates by Caroline Carrie Cordero
Reunion in the eye of tropical storm by Tiffany Hamm-Mobley
These Outlaws are law abiding by Cynthia Outlaw
100th birthday anniversaries cause for celebration by Marvin E. Ellis
Passing the baton … from Ethel to Sally by Sam Webber
Over 70 years and still going strong by Renea Winchester
Exotic good for reunions too
REUNION FEATURE – 30
GAMES
The board game, Family Reunion Game
Neal Family Trivia by Carole Neal
Lisa Alzo • Tisha Amerson
Deb Bowen • Gen Brechtel
Georgia Burnette • Catherine P. Businelle
Karin Cameron • Caroline Carrie Cordero
Sandra Davis • Marvin E. Ellis
Marilyn Creason-Gobble
Tiffany Hamm-Mobley • Mary Garavaglia
Lauri J. Hassinger • Francia Malone
Carllene Marek • Alice R. Marks
Lovine Moss • Nancy Myers
Carole Neal • Joyce Neal
Kaye Olson • Cynthia Outlaw
Martha Payne • Anne Petrous
Valerie Porter • Jennifer Rogers
Sharon Rogers • Melanie Thomas
Sam Webber • Renea Winchester
Judi Duncan Yantiss
Try a treasure hunt by Karin Cameron
Lots of games reunions play
HARD TIMES – 36
Reunions survive hard times
MILITARY REUNION NEWS – 38
Second generation secures military legacies by Kaye Olson
Show your support on Memorial Day, Sullivan Brothers Museum,
Airforce 29th Bomb Group
REUNION RESOURCES – 42
A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and products
ON THE COVER
Hassinger Family Reunion at the YMCA of the Rockies included (left to right)
Andy Link, Melissa Weatland, Brett and Mallory Retzloff. See page 18.
REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC. (ISSN #1046-5s235), is published 4 times per year. Send correspondence, queries,
submissions, subscriptions, advertising to REUNIONS MAGAZINE, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. Written
permission from the publisher is required for reproduction
of any part of this book except pages which encourage sharing.
Please explain your intended use when requesting permission to reprint. Email: [email protected] or fax 414263-6331. Tear sheets of reviews and reprints required.
REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC., will not be liable for information presented as facts contained in any of our advertising,
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© 2009 REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC.
M AY / J U N E / J U LY 20 0 9 O R E U N I O N S
3
FRONT WORDS
Be in touch!
Mail to
R EUNIONS MAGAZINE
uring a time of little to smile about,
STAY IN TOUCH
PO Box 11727
this gave us cause to not only smile
Now more than ever you’ll want to stay
Milwaukee WI 53211-0727
but to laugh! The CBF Family
in touch with us as you plan your reunion.
Reunion will be on the White House
For charge orders
One easy way is to sign up for our monthly,
Lawn … Glen and Gloria White’s house
call 800-373-7933 or
and sometimes oftener, eblasts of info.
visit www.reunionsmag.com
lawn, that is, in Charlotte Hall, Maryland.
From now through summer, each eblast will
But we truly are smiling about some
contain live links right to the info on our
or fax it to 414-263-6331.
things. Traffic is up on our web site. Many
web page that can help with your planning
Or best of all, e-mail
and organizing tasks. Examples are last
reunion hosts tell us their contacts are
[email protected].
minute ideas for games and ice breakers
also up, which supports the idea that
and samples of testimonials and tributes …
people stay close and connected during
the things you need as you panic remembering one last
tough times.
detail. reunionsmag.com has all the details covered and you
How are you surviving these times? How can we help?
are
urged to go there often as you countdown to your big
To start we’re sharing questions, answers and ideas from
reunion
days. Send your request to [email protected].
some reunions in Surviving Hard Times on page 38. Add
Another
way to get quick news is to become a fan of
your tales to ours, it can only help the cause of reunion
Reunions
magazine
on facebook.com. See you there!
survival, which, believe me, is a bright light at the end of
the tunnel. Help us convince others that reunions display a
WORKBOOK CHOICES
special survival strength during hard times.
Reunions Workbook is available in its venerable printed
And don’t forget we are eager to help wherever we can.
version but we also now offer the Workbook on a CD. The
Our freebie page online at reunionsmag.com gets richer
advantage to the CD is that if you are working with a
each day. Please share your discoveries with other
committee, you can print pages in anticipation of meetings
reunions. Send them to [email protected].
or work assignments or for checklists for committee
members. You can order online or call 800-373-7933, x4.
PLANNING WORKSHOPS ARE POPULAR
I’ve recently spoken at very well attended reunion
YOUR REUNION OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES
planning workshops in Fairfax, Virginia, and Lake County,
Add your reunion picture to Reunions Picture Gallery.
Illinois, and want to thank the respective convention and
Requirements at reunionsmag.com and it’s free. We look
visitors bureaus and our readers and others who attended. I
forward to seeing you soon.
really enjoy meeting all of you and talking about reunions.
I’ve been invited back to Fairfax for next year but you’ll
DON’T FORGET TO SEND YOUR REUNION
have to contact Dean Miller, 703-790-0643, for details.
ANNOUNCEMENT
And for information about lots more workshops, go to
Listings online are free and include reunion name, date,
reunionsmag.com. We add them as we learn about them.
place and contact info. Send to [email protected].
We’ll notify you when the listing is up.
D
A REUNION TO GIVE BACK
New Orleans Marriott’s Build & Bond package
(10 rooms or more) might interest your group.
Special rates while volunteering to help New
Orleans rebuild include is a coordinator resource
kit with information about the project and
discounts and freebies to aid your decision. Build
& Bond also lists volunteer organizations needing
help. The offer will extend through 2010. Call 504553-5526 or email [email protected].
Lake County, Illinois, Convention and Visitors Bureau 2009 reunion planning workshop attendees.
A good time was had by all.
4
R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com
As this reunion season begins, we wish you
successful 2009 reunions that will be remembered
long after the last hug and farewell. EW
5
ALUM & I
In front of the Forsyth House waiting for the trolley.
New Jersey class enjoys
“Southern” Reunion
L
ast year eight classmates from
Middletown Township (New Jersey)
High School (MTHS) Class of 1960 and
their spouses/guests met for the weekend
in St. Simons Island, Georgia, for a
“Southern” reunion. (Quite a few of us
live in the South.) We had such a great
time, we had a second annual “Southern”
reunion in Savannah, Georgia. We rented
the Forsyth House, with nine bedrooms.
Eleven classmates with their guests
joined us. Friday night we stayed at
“home” for dinner and relaxed in the
enclosed outdoor patio. Saturday we
enjoyed a continental breakfast, then a
trolley picked us up to start our two-day
off/on narrated trolley tour of Savannah.
Saturday night we had dinner at “home”
and then headed to the Savannah Theater
to see the musical Return to the 50s.
Sunday was one more day of sightseeing,
with lunch at Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons
restaurant. Sunday evening included a
trip to River Street for Irish music at
Kevin Barry’s.
Reported by Nancy Myers.
Lauderdale, Mississippi
On the Savannah trolley tour.
6
College Reunion: Stage One
S
ince graduating from the University of
Nevada-Reno twelve years ago, I keep
in regular touch with two people who
attended college with me. And I send
emails and Christmas cards to another
ten. I never considered I’d lose touch
once we moved away. So, as happens to
many people, time went by and I lost
contact with people I considered friends.
The idea of a reunion came when I
asked myself, “What happened to my old
college friends?” I intend to find out by
organizing a reunion.
As a reporter, you must find out who,
what, where, when, and why to get to the
heart of the story. Most perplexing is who
to invite. Organizing a reunion based on
graduation year would be easiest but that
narrows the scope. There are so many
people I associated with in college who
did not graduate in the same year. I could
also invite people I knew from my sorority,
Pi Beta Phi. But I wouldn’t want to narrow
it to just the four years I was a member.
I decided to create a reunion of people
who attended the University of NevadaReno during the 1990s and were members
of Pi Beta Phi. But I want to be inclusive, to
allow other members of the Greek system to
participate. The reunion I am planning
doesn’t have an easy definition like “Class
of 1996” or “Rogers Family Reunion.”
The reunion is called “UNR 90s in 09
Pi Phi’s and Friends” – a little clunky, but
I think it should be inclusive.
The reunion will be during Homecoming Football weekend in October.
Fond memories of tailgaters, cheering on
our team, and meeting at the Little Wal
after the game might inspire some to join
their old friends, which takes care of
where and when.
There are a few obstacles. I do not live
by Jennifer Rogers
where the reunion will take place. However,
a few others who live in Reno are interested
in planning with me. One of my initial goals
is to form a committee of four or five to work
on different aspects of the reunion.
Another obstacle is finding participants.
I asked the small group I keep in touch with
to get the word around to people they keep
in contact with. Next, I joined Facebook
and reconnected with people I wanted to
invite. I set up a website that was free to
open on Yahoo. I can send mass emails,
post pictures and the greatest feature is
polling. I can ask what members want to do
at the reunion. I asked if they would like to
tailgate before the game, have a family day,
have a night-time activity. This way I can
plan activities I know will be most popular.
The final obstacle is financial. Because
the economy has many people strapped, it
must be a low-cost reunion that relies on
the resources within the group. Using the
internet to contact and inform people is
my first low-cost strategy. We have
secured a restaurant where we can meet,
and a fee band. My plan is to keep the
cost low so it won’t be a burden on me or
anyone who helps plan it.
Finally, here is the why. I believe that
it is particularly important to keep in
touch with people now more than ever. In
tough economic times, an old friend can
provide an ear to lend, job contacts, or
even just someone to laugh with about
your old hairstyles. That is one of the
many reasons I decided to embark on this
adventure of organizing a reunion.
About the author
Jennifer Rogers is a stay-at-home mom
and writer who recently moved away from
her hometown of Reno, Nevada to
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
PO BOX 335428
NORTH LAS VEGAS NV 89033
800-654-2776 • reunions.com
[email protected]
Reunion timetable?
www.reunionsmag.com
Click on Getting started,
then on Choosing a date.
7
SCRAPBOOK
Class clowns
reunite
Adams Street friends from the 1940s
C
lown College was formed by Ringling
Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
Circus in 1968 and ran for 30 years (27
in Venice, Florida, and three in Baraboo,
Wisconsin). The tuition-free school
(“boot camp for clowns”) was created
when Ringling Brothers realized their
clowns were getting older and if
something wasn’t done, the art of circus
clowning would soon die. Competition
was stiff and graduating did not ensure a
clowning job with the show.
F
riends who lived between the
William and Howard blocks of
Adams Street in the 1940s met at the
home of Georgia Mackie Burnette in
Wheatfield, New York, to celebrate 67
years of friendship.
This was their second gathering; the
first in 1997 was held at Georgia’s home
in Amherst, New York. Since that time,
however, eleven of the group have died.
It was a smaller party, but sentiments
were high as these friends from years
Buddy (aka Forestine Rose) is a popular festival clown in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Classes ran for 10 weeks, six days a
week, from 8 AM to 10 PM. They learned
pie-throwing, pyrotechnics, stilt-walking,
and how to sew clown underwear. They
created their own makeup, sewed their
own costumes and prepared themselves
for “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
An alumni variety show was open to
the public as a fundraiser for the Circus
World Museum in Baraboo. Slaps, falls
and split takes abounded as emcee
Coney Island Chris kept the show rolling
with his sideshow skills done in clown
style. Getting a lip caught in a rat trap,
eating a light bulb and trying to hammer
a bolt up your nose all sound horrible,
but when done by a clown college
graduate they become hilarious.
From a personal reminiscence by
Kobie Show in the Dunn County News,
Menomonie, Wisconsin.
8
past met to celebrate their adolescent
years on Adams Street. They were
pleased to savor wonderful friendships
and replenish memories. However, all
agreed they missed their friends who
had passed, as well as the few who were
not able to join them. Photographs by
Princess Photography and caricatures
by Alex Thom will forever retain the
memories of this reunion.
Shared by Georgia Burnette,
Wheatfield, New York.
Colorado vacation directory
P
lanning a reunion in Colorado? Use coloradodirectory.com website, a one-stop shop for anyone
planning a Colorado reunion.
Click on the “Groups and Reunions” icon to find
hundreds of listings for group-friendly places to stay and
fun things to do throughout the state.
Reunion planners can check availability, contact
advertisers and, in some cases, book using the Colorado
Vacation Directory’s site. There’s also a reunion planning
guide and a reunions mailing list, which sends planners packets full
of brochures, coupons and special offers.
LIST YOUR REUNION FREE!
Email ([email protected]) Contact name, address, phone, reunion name,
date, and place. Check us out at www.reunionsmag.com
SCRAPBOOK
Seminar aimed at
planning family reunions
Most of these events are sponsored and presented by
convention and visitors bureaus and take place on
Saturdays unless noted. All prefer or require advance
reservation, are free or at nominal cost. For more
information visit reunionsmag.com.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
May 16, 2009
August 15, 2009
November 14, 2009
From Our Family to Yours
Contact Keri Willard, [email protected] or 502-560-1487.
DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA
May 16, 2009 • Hyatt Place Stonecrest, Lithonia
May 30, 2009 • Atlanta Marriott Century Ctr, Atlanta
June 13, 2009 • Doubletree Hotel N Druid Hills, Atlanta
June 27, 2009 • Wesley Chapel Library, Decatur
July 18, 2009 • Holiday Inn Atlanta Tucker, Atlanta
August 15, 2009 • Holiday Inn Atlanta Northeast, Doraville
September 19, 2009 • Hampton Inn Stone Mountain,
Stone Mountain
October 10, 2009 • Comfort Suites Northlake, Tucker
October 17, 2009 • Holiday Inn Express N Decatur
November 7, 2009 • Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta East
Stonecrest, Lithonia
November 21, 2009 • Holiday Inn Select Perimeter, Atlanta
Bring Your Family Home to DeKalb! Contact Carol Murray, 800999-6055 or 770-492-5000
GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA
Friday, July 10, 2009 • The Lodge at Simpsonwood, Norcross
Friday, October 9, 2009 • Jillian’s at Discover Mills,
Lawrenceville
ABCs of Planning a Family Reunion. Contact Linda Busby,
Gwinnett CVB Education Specialist, 888-494-6638; [email protected]
BRANSON, MISSOURI
August 17-20, 2009
Military Reunion Planners Conference
Contact Debbie Chesnokov, PO Box 1897, Branson MO 65616;
800-214-3661; [email protected];
ExploreBranson.com/MilitaryReunion.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
October 17, 2009
Contact Nikki Donald at 313-202-1972; [email protected].
Register online at visitdetroit.com or 313-202-1985.
KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA
Autumn 2009
CVB Reunion Familiarization Tour
Contact Sara Melendez-Davis at 800-831-1844, ext 42446;
[email protected].
10
D
etroiters Muhsin and Mary Muhammad I planned a
reunion of the Campbell family with planning and
logistics help from the Detroit Metro Convention &
Visitors Bureau. The CVB assists about 350 family
reunions annually with hotel, transportation, sightseeing
and other critical hosting details.
“They made it very easy for us,” says Muhammad. “One
of the things they gave us was a template and some
websites to put together a family tree. By the time
everyone got to Detroit, we had a directory so everyone
knew who was who.”
Muhammad recommends attending the free planning
seminar. “We gave bureau representatives an outline of
what we wanted and they put us in touch with a tour guide
and phone numbers for everything we needed,” he says.
The Campbell clan enjoyed entertainment that included
a comedian and African, ballroom and hip hop dancers,
and a demonstration by Muhammad’s friends on the US
Double Dutch Championship Jump Team. Children, from
toddlers to teens, participated in a youth track meet on the
hotel’s eighth-floor track.
The family toured the Motown Historical Museum,
Belle Isle, the Heidelberg art project and the Charles H.
Wright Museum of African American History.
From an article by Susan R. Pollack
on DetNews.com, Detroit, Michigan.
National Fireworks
Council urges caution
with sparklers
T
he National Council on Fireworks
Safety offers these safety steps for
sparklers, hoping that sparkler
injuries to young children can be
greatly reduced.
Sparklers should ALWAYS be used
under close adult supervision.
Always remain standing while using
sparklers.
Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.
Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.
Drop spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water
because wire and sticks remain hot long after the flame
goes out.
Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person.
Always stand at least six feet from another person while
using sparklers.
Never throw sparklers.
Show children how to hold sparklers away from their
bodies, at arm’s length.
Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden
stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.
Newport News
customizes meetings
T
he Newport News, Virginia, Tourism Development
Office (NNTDO) Convention Services Program offers
complimentary services to reunions visiting their city.
Services include welcome bags, name badges, promotional
materials and a coupon book with discounts and freebies
for city restaurants, services, attractions and amenities.
NNTDO may also offer a staffed welcome table during
registration with travel counselors who can offer
suggestions and advice about local attractions, amenities,
services and directions, or simply answer questions.
A personal welcome and greeting from city leaders and
tourism professionals and a Group Planner with
information about amenities, history, local maps, and
suggested itineraries are also available.
Contact Cheryl Morales, Newport News Tourism
Development Office, 700 Town Center Drive Suite 320,
Newport News, VA 23606; 888-493-7386 (toll free);
[email protected].
Memorial Day flag
etiquette
A
ccording to US Flag Code, on
Memorial Day the flag should be
hoisted to the top of a flagpole for an
instant, then lowered to half-staff
until noon, before being returned to
the top of the staff for the rest of
the day. Those without a vertical
flagpole may affix a black
mourning bow instead of lowering
the flag.
AmericanFlags.com
President/CEO Jeffrey Reynolds
said, “Memorial Day is a time for us to honor and give
thanks to the brave men and women of our armed forces
who continue to risk their lives to ensure the peace and
prosperity of their fellow Americans.”
Visit http://americanflags.com
Most of these events are sponsored and presented by
convention and visitors bureaus and take place on
Saturdays unless noted. All prefer or require advance
reservation, are free or at nominal cost. For more
information visit reunionsmag.com.
WINTER PARK, COLORADO
October 23-25, 2009
Family Reunion University • YMCA of the Rockies
Snow Mountain Ranch
Contact Conference Office at 800-777-9622
ESTES PARK, COLORADO
November 13-15, 2009
Family Reunion University • YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park Center
Contact Conference Office at 800-777-9622
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
February 20, 2010
Contact Dean Miller, VisitFairfax, 703-752-9509.
CALL FOR DATES
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
Meet Minneapolis. Contact Sheila Nickelson, 800-445-7412;
www.minneapolis.org/reunions. Space is limited.
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA
Contact Suzanne Manfredi, 629 Spring St, Shreveport LA 71101;
318-222-9391; [email protected].
ATLANTA’S COBB COUNTY
Reservations required. Contact Kathy Buske at 678-303-2624;
[email protected].
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Contact Nina House, Small Meetings, 233 Peachtree Street, NE,
Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30303; 404-521-6640; [email protected];
atlantareunions.com.
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA
Make an emergency
resources kit
T
here are many instances throughout your reunion when
you might wish you’d thought of some small item. To
avoid wishing, pack an emergency
resources kit. Include a stapler
and staples, tape, a pencil
sharpener, Post-it notes, scissors,
pens, rubber bands, poster
adhesive, a power strip, cough drops,
Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, laundry stain
remover, Listerine Breath Strips. And absolutely include a
first aid kit.
Military Reunion Planner Familiarization (FAM) Tour.
Complimentary accommodations. Contact Cheryl Morales at
888-493-7386; [email protected].
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Three-day workshop; educational sessions, exhibition from local
hotels and venues, tours and idea sharing. Contact Kimberly Ghys
800-Lake-Now; www.lakecountyreunions.com.
FLINT, MICHIGAN
Contact Renee Cobb, 316 Water St, Flint MI 48502; 888-2302586; [email protected].
ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA
Contact Carol Gryson, toll-free 877-202-5961,
[email protected].
11
12
SCRAPBOOK
MILWAUKEE:
a great place on a Great Lake
has exactly what your reunion
will need in Milwaukee. Your
site visit will be made easier if
you can already answer the
following questions.
R
obert L. Moore, Convention
Services Manager at
VISITMilwaukee, suggests
these steps for getting started
on your reunion in Wisconsin’s
largest city. It’s a good idea to
have answers to the following
questions in mind when you
initially contact Moore
• Will you need 10 or more guest rooms
for a minimum of one night in
Milwaukee?
• Are you interested in receiving rate
information from hotels?
• Do you have specific dates for the
event, or are your dates flexible?
• Will you require meeting space?
• Are you considering supplying your
own food and/or beverages at the hotel?
VISITMilwaukee can offer assistance
in getting bids from hotels that meet your
group’s criteria. Once the information
you’ve gathered leads you to consider a
reunion in Milwaukee, plan a visit to see
for yourself. A site visit (or inspection)
will help you determine whether a hotel
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• What are your housing
requirements?
• What are your room block
requirements?
What is the breakdown of single vs.
double occupancy needs?
How many suites will you need?
Do you require smoking or nonsmoking rooms?
Do you have planned meal functions?
How will you handle registration?
What is your reunion history?
Any other special service
requirements?
Contact Moore at 800-231-0903,
x4246; [email protected], to learn
about many fun and family-friendly ideas
to keep your group entertained and
active during the reunion. Or visit
VISITMilwaukee.org
McNair•Brazil•Scott Family Reunion at their Milwaukee reunion. Photo credit: Patrick Robinson.
13
14
BRANCH OFFICE
Decoration Day
by Catherine P. Businelle
responsibility to take care
ow many people at
your last family reunion
of those buried among family.
Dr. Kevin Klein, Chairman of the
were dead? In my mother’s family, a
reunion at the cemetery is a beautiful part of our
Department of History and Social Science at
heritage. Every second Sunday in August, those
Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, says this
still living of my grandfather’s seven brothers,
tradition is strong in the South because of a solid
five sisters, and their families gather for the
history of personal family involvement in the
Black Oak Cemetery Decoration.
rituals surrounding death.
It isn’t called the Skelton Family Reunion
“Southerners bury their dead (no cremation) in
because ours is one of several families who
marked graves and family plots. [They] resisted
gather to honor loved ones at the graveyard.
the ‘professionalization’ of burial rites…. The
Families have known each other since they
hands-on requirement of decoration day ties
attended school as barefoot youngsters and now
strongly to this sense of family obligation.”
have great-grandchildren in school together.
Decoration days were started to keep up the
Decoration starts early in the day with a
graveyard and memorialize loved ones. Most
special church service. Then the ladies fill
people with family buried at Black Oak
Arthur and Peggy Skelton
makeshift tables with casseroles, deviled eggs
Cemetery, for example, lived within walking
and homemade pies while the men talk crops and cattle.
distance, as did Grandpa Skelton’s family.
When the meal is finished and leftovers packed away,
As years, then decades, passed, many moved to the city.
generations of family trickle into the cemetery.
Black Oak Decoration
Church members sing hymns while Skeltons,
became an opportunity for
Bradleys, Dockerys, and other families place
family and friends to
flower arrangements on stones that bear their
catch up. Klein says
names.
“since many of these
Annual churchyard decoration days weren’t
backwoods or valley
invented at Black Oak, though. They take place
congregations were little
more than an extended
in many rural Southern communities. My
family (and the ‘church
Grandpa, Arthur Skelton, says the tradition goes
cemetery’ really just an
so far back no one is sure when it started.
extended family plot),
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
decoration day did take
Black Oak Cemetery, a site on the National
on something of a family
Register of Historic Places, dates back to 1843.
reunion quality with a
Weather and time have worn away inscriptions on
‘dinner on the grounds’ as
Family members during hymn singing.
some of the graves without record or memory of
a standard component.”
those buried beneath them.
VALUABLE LESSONS
Anonymous graves receive flowers each year, as testament
to how strong the custom is and how deeply felt the sense of
Over the years, decoration days became a great way to tell
family stories to a new generation. While
placing flower wreaths on well-tended
burial sites, Peggy Skelton, my Grandma,
tells familiar tales about “your Greatuncle Keith” or “your mom’s stillborn
brother, Arthur, Jr.”
The tradition is more than a history
lesson, though. In today’s mobile society,
many children live far from the graveyards
where relatives rest. These decoration days
give parents a chance to model care and
respect for departed loved ones.
One of the most valuable benefits of
the yearly custom is that familiarity
makes the idea of death less terrifying. It
transforms burial from a hiding in the
earth to the addition of one more story to
the family narrative.
H
Skelton family at Black Oak Cemetary.
16
Four of 12 Skelton siblings (left to right), Lawrence, Arthur, Pierson, and Quentin.
My sister, Anitra Van Prooyen, has
attended Black Oak Decoration many times
and says she wouldn’t want to be buried
anywhere else. “After so many years of
visiting Black Oak, the idea of a public
graveyard feels impersonal. I feel like I
would be anonymous there. In my mind,
being buried in a public graveyard would
be like having strangers at my funeral.”
New generations of grandparents are
making Black Oak
their final resting place
and their stories are
being shared with new
generations. My heart
is warmed by the idea
that my own daughter
might someday watch
over my grave there.
if she knows a story about Aunt Viola
that you hadn’t heard.
THE FLOWERS AND THE KIDS
Decorating the graves with flowers is
a good way to feel you’re doing
something for loved ones. The blooms
don’t have to be fancy or expensive;
they’re a way to show respect and love.
One idea is to ask relatives to bring a
flower for each story they
tell and let the
storyteller open his or
her tale by laying the
flower on the grave.
Also find ways to
entertain the kids. One
enjoyable activity is
making grave rubbings.
Provide large sheets of
HOW YOUR FAMILY
paper and a black or
CAN DO IT
dark-colored crayon.
If, while reading
Arthur Skelton and a niece Terri Bjork.
Placing the sheet over a
this, you wished your
tombstone’s inscription,
own family shared this rich tradition,
rub the crayon across it to make an
why not start your own? Planning a
impression of the words and dates.
cemetery reunion is relatively simple.
It’s important for rambunctious little
First decide whether to make your
ones to be respectful of others in the
time at the graveyard part of a larger
cemetery or even attending a burial.
reunion or to make decorating graves and Specify that children must be supervised
eating a meal the purpose of the day.
by an adult at all times. This will also
Ask relatives to write stories about
ensure safety.
family buried in the graveyard. Ask for
ideas ahead of time to avoid finding out
About the author
at the last minute that everyone thought
When not relaxing in graveyards or
others would bring something.
enjoying family reunions, Catherine P.
Don’t be surprised if one planned
Businelle works on her future book
anecdote results in a whole string of tales describing a variety of childbirth methods
or if five cousins have details to add and
and locations using both objective
end up telling the story together. That
information and first-person birth stories to
adds fun to the experience.
show how those approaches play out in
These family tales have a wonderful
real life. Learn more at
unifying effect. It won’t matter that
www.catherinebusinelle.com.
you’ve never met Cousin Mary’s daughter
17
MASTERPLAN
The Hassingers go to Family Reunion University
by Lauri J. Hassinger
he Anton and Gertrude Hassinger family has been
celebrating reunions for 50 years. I was asked to join the
50th anniversary planning committee, and it didn’t take long to
decide we needed to return to our first reunion place: Estes
Park, Colorado. But none of us lived there, so how could we
get this organized?
I had heard about the YMCA of the Rockies and decided it
was worth a look. A quick search on the internet brought me to
their Family Reunion University (FRU) offering. It was just
what we needed – an inexpensive trip to the YMCA to check it
out and learn about planning this very important reunion.
Family Reunion University (FRU) offers two days of meals
and workshops about planning a reunion and two nights of
Showing off their hula hoop expertise are Mike Hellman, Jo Anne Hudson.
accommodations. In 2008, the cost was $70 per person. I
suggested it to my east and west coast counterparts, and
When the reunion was finally upon us, we decided to come a
coerced my sister to join the committee as a fellow mid-states
day early to make sure we had everything ready. We were so
representative. Everyone was onboard with the idea.
organized it didn’t take long, but this way we were assured we
Although much of the program is geared toward their site,
were ready.
there is much to learn about planning a reunion in general. We
The YMCA offered a conference room that gave us a
spent Friday night with a class, getting caught up and
gathering place throughout the reunion. We set up information
adjusting to the altitude. Saturday brought us a full day of
tables and listed daily events on chalk boards. We had
reunion planning activities and
information. We met other reunion
Visit workshops page on a place to store snacks and beverages, and a place just
to talk. We were pleased with our 20-somethings
planners, played games, joined in activities
reunionsmag.com for
turnout, and they had a place to congregate in the
and listened to speakers share their ideas.
details about Family
evenings to play cards and games. Their bonding
Saturday evening we sat down together
Reunion University.
experience was one of the true take-aways from reunion.
and decided to use our newfound knowledge
They forged new friendships, and exchanged email, cell and
and began our first planning session. I took notes as we planned.
Facebook addresses.
We took an inventory of the family and guessed at who would
The great part about the YMCA is that just being there
attend. We brainstormed about activities and a draft itinerary.
offers so many things to do. There is someone to help
We divided what needed to be done.
determine appropriate hiking trails, a craft center, horseshoes,
mini-golf, swimming, and the list goes on.
The YMCA meal plan means no meal planning or cooking
for reunion-goers. As with most groups, we found a place in
the dining room and congregated in that same area for the
duration. The final night was a traditional YMCA barbecue.
The food was great.
At our traditional business meeting we determined who
would take on the family newsletter and host the 2010 reunion.
Two of the 20-somethings volunteered to host the next reunion,
which showed us that reunions will continue for a long time.
I learned a lot being part of the planning committee and had
great fun. I had a chance to spend time with my cousins, got a
mini-vacation while attending FRU, and was part of planning a
Proud Family Reunion University grads (l to r) Tim Beall, Lauri Hassinger, Carol Beall,
successful reunion. When I returned home and looked through
Mary Retzlaff, Jo Anne Hudson.
the original project plan we had developed at FRU, I was
amazed. We were so close on the attendees, the activities we
For our reunion, we planned for Activities that would include
outlined were right-on, and everyone took care of their chosen
all that Estes Park has to offer: a Thursday meet and greet, an
responsibilities. I feel our success can be attributed to FRU
evening fire-ring, bike riding, hiking, white water rafting,
and all of us being together to do that initial planning. Email
horseback riding, shopping and scenic drives, along with a
and phone calls just don’t have the same results. In my mind,
group picture to commemorate the event; we also needed to
that time together and the classes were the contributing factor
include a hoola hoop contest, because in 1958 hoola hoops had
to a successful reunion.
hit California and our west coast relatives had introduced the
rest of us to this exciting new fad. We decided to have a session
About the author
about genealogy, genealogy charts, memory boards of pictures, a
Lauri Hassinger lives and writes in Rochester, Minnesota.
reunion memories booklet, water bottles and reunion t-shirts.
T
18
19
Postcards that
make your
reunion point!
MASTERPLAN
Send
e
v
save
sa e
the
th e date
t
when you’ve set it!
da
Send
TIME IS
RUNNING
OUT
when it is!
Custom Printing
$45 p/hundred; 50¢ each,
Fill-in cards $15 p/hundred; 20¢ each;
plus s/h: 100-200 cards –
$5, over 200 – $10.
Send message, check and request to:
REUNION POSTCARDS
PO Box 11727 O Milwaukee WI 53211-0727
To charge, call 800-373-7933.
20
his is an “Ubuntu Circle” at the Duncan Yantiss Clan Gathering in Northern
Michigan. Ubuntu is a Zulu word, loosely translated as “humanity,” describing
the ubuntu philosophy: “A person is a person only through other people.”
Shared by Judi Duncan Yantiss, Royal Oak, Michigan.
T
Hernandez family celebrates
was a full-time student at
the time I got the bright
idea to plan a family
reunion. I have to say it was
no picnic. However,
Reunions magazine really
helped with a lot of the
planning and encouragement
not to worry about the small
things. My testimonial to
others would be: Don’t let
your family members bother
you. You CAN NOT please
everyone and you should not
have to. If you’re ever in
doubt, go with what you
want, not what others want.
And last, HAVE FUN!!!!
I
Anita Cordero and Pedro Hernandez,
daughter and father.
The Hernandez Family- Charlie, Amanda, Jacob, Sandra, & Armando.
shirt or shorts. We handed out leis to everyone, and had
coconut cups to drink out of. Some of our decorations were
recycled: palm clippings had been collected and dried for 3
months, then stapled to my porch for that extra island touch. I
bought inexpensive leis from
Oriental Trading. Adults
played musical chairs and had
a blast! Others were outside
roasting marshmallows around
a fire pit. Everyone had a good
time and danced the night
away.
I really enjoyed seeing
everyone’s faces and meeting
new family members.
The ironic thing about the
reunion is that most of my
family members had not seen
each other in years. Then one
The first day of my family
reunion I had to take a final
exam at 6 PM and the Meet-nGreet started at 7 PM. It was a
little crazy, but I managed to
get there on time and greet my
family, many of whom I knew
but some I’d never seen before.
It was great. One hundred
people attended!
For the following day I had
planned a luau, and it went
smoothly. It rained early in the
Bottom row Megan (3), Miles (4), Samara (4), Julissa (3). Back row Kylee (4), Alyssa (8),
day but by the time of the luau
Asia (9), Kenny (5).
the skies were clear. El Paso,
Texas, weather is not really reliable, so we were sweating it just
of our cousins passed away
a bit. The dress code was to come in luau attire – a Hawaiian
suddenly the December
following our reunion.
Everyone was in shock but
glad to have seen him at our
first-ever family reunion.
About the author
When she planned her
family’s reunion, Caroline
Carrie Cordero was a fullMother and daughter Anita and Carrie
time student at the University
Cordero (Reunion Planner).
of Texas @ El Paso. She was
a senior taking 15 hours. She graduated in 2008 and works at
the El Paso County Courthouse with family law judges dealing
with divorce and child support cases.
Ernie Aguirre, Ed Hernandez, Guy Hernandez, and Dora Aguirre.
21
MASTERPLAN
Ten lessons learned in planning
an out-of-town reunion
by Valerie Porter
M
y elderly mom wanted to
visit family members
scattered around the
country. Some she hadn’t seen
in 10 or 15 years. We live in
California, but our relatives are
in the Midwest and the East.
Mom’s physical abilities have
declined and we couldn’t travel
extensively.
Mom’s second wish was to
celebrate her upcoming 95th
birthday with a trip to Las
Vegas, as we’d done countless times before. That was just a
six-hour drive away.
The author, Valerie Porter, with her
mom, the honoree, Agnes Porter.
Why not ask the relatives to join us in Las Vegas? My thought
was to invite everyone – about 25 – and maybe three or four
would join us. But I quickly realized I was planning a family
reunion, because the response was almost unanimous. And I
can say proudly it was even better than I’d hoped. Along the
way, I learned ten lessons that, in my opinion, contributed to a
successful out-of-town family gathering.
01) I learned IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS.
The idea for our four-day reunion occurred five months
beforehand. I thought it was too early to contact family,
thinking they wouldn’t be able to commit to something so
far in advance. But it became apparent that for some, I’d
contacted them just in the nick of time. One couple had
almost decided on plans for a special wedding anniversary
when my invitation arrived; they leapt at the opportunity.
Two cousins who planned vacation time around the event
had to notify their employers in advance.
Plenty of lead time is also necessary because dealing with
hotels and restaurants can be very time-consuming. It took
until the week before the event to finalize arrangements for
Mom’s birthday dinner, the focal point of the get-together.
01) Also, even in the era of the internet, correspondence can
take a lot of time. I had email addresses for a couple
relatives, but for most I wrote letters, which slowed the
process. I included my phone number and email address,
so responses came back quickly. But 97-year-old Aunt
Mildred doesn’t have email and it was several weeks before
her shakily handwritten reply came through the mail that
she’d attend.
02) EARLY CONTACT WITH HOTELS GIVES YOU MORE LEVERAGE
IN NEGOTIATING PRICES. The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas
is a popular destination and is often booked in advance,
but they also receive many last-minute reservations.
02)
They knew I had months to make a decision, so I didn’t
22
appear desperate to commit to the first price offered. Since
I needed at least 10 rooms, I requested a group rate. They
have a policy of referring anyone with such a request to
group sales. But that department sent me a contract to sign
promising that I’d be personally responsible for paying for
all 10 rooms, whether they were used or not.
02) The group sales department normally caters to business
conventions and companies pay for a designated number of
rooms. Individuals are held equally accountable since the
contracts are standard forms. But I pled my case to the
sales department. “My mom’s turning 95. Suppose she’s
hospitalized and we have to cancel?” “These are my
relatives – they have good intentions of attending but it’s
not part of their job requirement, so it’s possible they may
have to cancel. We’re a family, not a corporation.” And
most important, “Our event is five months away. I haven’t
heard from everyone yet, so how can I promise to pay you
for rooms without knowing how many will attend?”
02) It worked. I received the same group rate I’d have
received with a contract, but was able to go through the
reservation desk – no contract required. And the rate was
less than I’d originally been quoted. Why? Because I
didn’t hesitate to ask, “Is that the best you can do?”
03) CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION WISELY. I’m convinced that our
choice of Las Vegas played a key role in enticing some
relatives to attend. Re-connecting with family is the first
goal of a reunion, but it doesn’t hurt to throw in an exciting
location. Some of my cousins admitted they’d always
wanted to visit Las Vegas but put it off for financial or
scheduling reasons. The reunion gave them the excuse
they needed to stop procrastinating and just go.
03)
For us, Las Vegas worked for another reason. Flights in
and out of the city are plentiful and easy for everyone to
arrange. It also has ample resources for shuttle transfers
and taxis, making arrival and departure easier.
04) WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CHOOSE A LOCATION YOU’RE FAMILIAR
WITH, not only the city but even the hotel itself. I know about
Las Vegas because I’ve visited frequently. My knowledge
of the hotel gave me confidence that I was inviting relatives
to a place they’d enjoy. I knew the rooms, where restaurants
are located, points of interest nearby. It was fun to play
travel agent, so prior to the event, I sent out a list of things
to do and see. They really appreciated it. Since our reunion
was spread over four days, there was plenty of time for them
to go off alone or in small groups to explore my suggestions.
05) GEAR IT AROUND A SPECIAL OCCASION. True, the
enjoyment of seeing everyone should be special enough,
but it didn’t hurt to center our reunion around Mom’s 95th
birthday. Who can say no to celebrating a birthday,
anniversary or graduation?
06) PLAN FOR THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST IN YOUR GROUP and
the rest will fall into place. Our reunion spanned three
generations, not terribly unusual for family get-togethers,
but ours was somewhat atypical in that no young children
were involved. Our ages ranged from early 30s to 90s.
Because of Mom’s and Aunt Mildred’s ages, it got me
thinking: Will the activities be calm enough to
accommodate the eldest members? I made sure Mom and
Aunt Mildred had time for naps between family time. They
didn’t miss out on anything and they felt rested when they
rejoined everyone.
07) HAVE A BACKUP PLAN IN PLACE. Because of Mom’s age, I
recognized the possibility that she might become ill – too
ill to make the trip. Any number of unforeseen problems
could keep a key person, including the guest of honor, from
attending. I panicked at first, feeling responsible for
relatives losing money on airfare or other expenses. Then I
reasoned that if bad came to worse, we keep the overall
plan in place, and just modify them if necessary. We would
still have the dinner, but I’d bring a photo of Mom and say
a few words to honor her. The reunion would still take
place – with plenty of opportunities to meet for breakfast,
lunch, dinner and sightseeing. I’d make a quick trip to Las
Bernadine Bierle (left), her daughter Liz and sister Carol Houser.
Vegas and welcome everyone – because, after all, I’d
brought them all together and couldn’t just abandon them
by not putting in an appearance.
07)
On a sad note, one of Mom’s sisters, whom we’d hoped
would attend, passed away suddenly midway through
preparations. Should we cancel the event? By then the
feeling was that it was all the
more important for everyone to
gather. The aunt who passed
had planned the last family
reunion years before, so I
decided to dedicate the event
to her and do my best to make
her proud.
08) COMPILE A CELL PHONE LIST.
As the reunion drew closer,
two relatives suggested that we
distribute a cell phone list by
email before the event. This
made communication faster
and simpler.
97-year-old Aunt Mildred High and 95-year-old birthday girl, Agnes Porter.
09) ARRANGE A MEET AND GREET the first night. This lesson is
from hindsight, as it’s one thing I didn’t do but wish I had.
It hadn’t occurred to me to do so, since we all know one
another. Soon enough, people started getting together in
small groups, depending on their interests. But I should
have gotten everyone together sooner by having a casual
group gathering right away.
10) FOLLOW UP was my motto when we returned home. Since
I’d started the whole project, I wanted to give it a happy
ending, as well. I sent a thank you email to everyone
within days of returning home. I thanked them not only for
Mom’s birthday presents but also for participating in the
reunion. I attached two or three photos I’d taken with each
email, as a souvenir. It took a little extra bit of time to do
this but I felt everyone deserved it. I also suggested we all
stay in touch now that we’d bonded again.
I received nothing but positive input and thanks in return. The
most encouraging responses were from those who began talking
about the next reunion. Odds are that I won’t be planning it.
But if I do, I’ve learned some valuable lessons that will make
the next time even better than this time.
About the author
Valerie Porter is a Southern California-based writer who
specializes in celebrity profiles, unusual travel and spiritual
topics..
A happy birthday reunion dinner group.
23
MASTERPLAN
100th birthday anniversaries
cause for celebration
or over a year, my siblings, some
cousins and I planned our Torres,
Planchat and Allied Family Reunion to
commemorate our late parents’
centennial natal anniversaries. I am
planning committee chairman. This has
been a marvelous experience for our
family, especially the delicious dinners
after each planning committee meeting.
Meetings and cooperative assignments
F
We are dedicated to serving your
next Reunion with the utmost
service you deserve!
brought us closer, kept us in touch and
established bonds among cousins. We
contacted and communicated with a
branch of cousins on my mother’s
paternal side for the very first time. They
lived in Tampa and were so elated we
found them. They all came to the reunion.
Our reunion theme was Spreading
Roots: from Cuba and the Bahamas to
Florida.
The following are excerpts from Marvin Ellis’s Family Reunion banquet welcome to
commemorate the 100th birthdays of Bruce Leroy Torres and Caridad Planchat Torres.
Finally, to honor the centennial anniversaries, Ellis presented $800 to the Church
of the Incarnation Parish Hall/Kitchen Fund in loving memory of Bruce Leroy Torres
and Caridad Planchat Torres.
Near the Belleville Lake with
entrance to lower Huron Metro
Park in the beautiful city of
Belleville, Michigan.
Conveniently located off I-94
Service Dr. and Belleville Rd.
46194 N. 1-94 Service Dr.
Belleville MI 48111
734-857-6200
Or visit us at
hiexpress.com/bellevillemi
to see all we have to offer!
24
This reunion is a very historic event in the history of our family. Love of family
and friends is the legacy that Daddy and Mama left us to continue after them so
that it would continue for the generations that follow after us.
Allow me to give a short history of the genesis of this weekend’s event. In 2005, we
had our first family reunion in Key West, Florida, dedicated to the memory of our
paternal grandmother, Beatrice Louise Tate. There were 100 family members who
attended this very successful event. The following November on Thanksgiving Day,
our maternal family sponsored the reunion of the Ruiz-Camacho-Ellis-Donathan
branches of our family. The question was asked, “Who will host the next reunion?”
The children of Bruce and Caridad Torres volunteered to sponsor the next reunion to
be dedicated to their memory in observance of their 100th birthdays, which would
have been in 2008.
We are certain that future generations of our family will continue this established
tradition of family reunions to foster our love, bonding, affirmation and uplifting of
our family.
Reported by Marvin E. Ellis, Miami, Florida.
Reunion in the eye of tropical storm, Fay
he first Webster Family Reunion was
set in Destin, Florida. As they say,
“Excitement was in the air,” but so was
tropical storm Fay; she had come to
south Florida and decided to hang out for
three days, soaking and flooding.
Only five of us live in Florida, so 80
other family members had to travel from
Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, Texas,
Maryland, New Jersey, and Missouri. We
started to get phone calls and emails:
“How’s the weather?” “Is the hurricane
coming your way?” We did our best to
reassure everyone that if we got anything
T
from Fay, it would be rain, and we
would not have them travel here to be
put in harm’s way.
Our reunion began on Thursday,
with beautiful sunny weather. As
family arrived, we registered them and
they gave them welcome packs
including a list of area activities.
About 40 people arrived the first day.
We set up a hospitality room where we
could meet, greet, relax, and enjoy food
and beverages while we waited for more
family. On Friday, our free day, 40 more
people arrived. This was the first visit to
Florida for many, while some had been to
Florida but not to this area. Nearly
everyone was eager to see the beautiful
white beaches of Destin. Others spent
Our welcome pack included flyers for a dolphin cruise, the track (bumper cars,
etc), Big Kahunas Water Park, beach safety and the Silver Sands outlet mall
directory, plus an area visitors’ map, postcard of the beach, and a SEE coupon book
and vacation guide from the Emerald Coast Visitors Bureau.
Websters at their Florida reunion.
their day shopping, sightseeing and
doing children’s activities. Saturday was
cloudy, but it only rained early in
morning so the day was free for more
activities.
We were still unsure what Fay was
going to do, but we were certain she
would not ruin our family time together.
Fay did bring some winds Saturday
evening, just in time for our banquet. We
had a beautiful banquet area set up. We
enjoyed food, memories shared by family,
accomplishments and acknowledgements,
and our family history. Everyone enjoyed
their time in Florida. Our theme of “One
Bond, One Love, One Family” was a
great way to celebrate and show
appreciation for one another. Our next
reunion will be in Baltimore, Maryland
in 2010. We can’t wait!!!
Reported by Tiffany Hamm-Mobley,
Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Your reunion quilt could appear
in a book … here’s how
ournalist and traditions expert
Meg Cox, author of The Book
of New Family Traditions and
The Quilter’s Catalog: A
Comprehensive Resource
Guide, is writing a book
about quilts made for and
with loved ones for special
occasions. Naturally, this
includes reunion quilts.
Meg is interested in learning about
how, when and why your reunion quilt
was made as well as seeing photos of
J
your quilt. She is looking for
how-tos like the techniques
and patterns you used, and
whether people signed or wrote
on the fabric. But she also wants
to learn what the quilt meant to
your tribe, and what happened to
the heirloom quilt after it was
completed: who gets to keep it?
Contact Meg through her
website, www.megcox.com, or write
to her at Meg Cox, 301 N. Harrison St,
#399, Princeton, NJ, 08540.
25
MASTERPLAN
Exotic good for reunions too
amaica Villas by Linda Smith offer
very exotic reunion locations that are
dream destinations for many families.
There are many locations and
accommodations to choose from, and
many families go back repeatedly. For
planning purposes, there is a budgeting
section on the jamaicavillas.com web
page, where you can make your plans for
a reunion in paradise!
Jeff Conroy wrote right after they
returned from another marvelous week at
Greatview. He expressed sincere
gratitude and appreciation for the way
the staff made their stay in Jamaica first
class. Conroys brought three generations
of family to Greatview for three years.
Even though each age group has its own
special needs, the staff has been more
than accommodating. A five-year-old son
could not get enough of O’Neill, the
gardener. The two of them spent so much
time together as they trekked out for
their daily fishing expeditions. Conroy’s
parents, approaching 70, had their own
needs that Aaron, Everton and Delores
always met. The “middle aged” folk,
J
Greatview is a well-appointed six bedrooms villa, complemented by inside and outside dining areas, a snug television den
and an air-conditioned gym complete with TV and fitness videos. A supplemental generator ensures that Greatview is never
without electricity and air conditioning.
Conroy wrote, could not be happier than
when they see grandparents and their
grandkids having such a great special
time. He said they think of the staff as
their Jamaican family.
While David Magrone of Scarsdale,
New York, wrote that their vacation at
Jamaica Villas Longview was a great time
for the entire family with amazing
memories and fun for three generations.
The Magrones enjoyed the Villa and
These Outlaws are law abiding
he Outlaw/Outler Family Reunion are descendants of
William (1844) and Julia Hicks Outlaw, and Mashack
(1849) and Amanda Fenn Outlaw from Wrightsville, Georgia.
Initially, the Outlaws and Outlers held separate reunions.
In 1991 the two sides came together for their first joint family
reunion. Through research, I learned that William Outlaw and
Mashack Outlaw were brothers who were born, grew up,
married and raised their families in Wrightsville, Johnson
County, Georgia. William (Bill) had 17 children and Mashack
T
hospitality of the entire staff. He
congratulated the organization as
amazing and that they appreciated great
service. The family was already looking
forward to returning next year for their
third year in a row. He particularly
appreciated the moon rising over
Montego Bay that he called “magical!!”
Contact Villas by Linda Smith, 301229-4300; [email protected];
www.jamaicavillas.com
by Cynthia Outlaw
(Shack) had 11 children. The families settled around
Johnson, Emanuel, Troup and Wilkerson counties in Georgia.
There are several stories of how the Shack family changed its
last name to Outler. Today, some family members use Outlaw
while others use Outler.
We have two chapters. Anderson Outler is president of the
GA, SC, FL, TN Chapter, and Robert Jenkins is president of
the NJ, NY, PA Chapter. The former is working hard to finalize
plans for another grand reunion in King of Prussia,
Pennsylvania. The weekend begins with a “Get Acquainted”
on Friday, with games and dinner. Saturday morning and early
afternoon are set aside for shopping and outings to amusement
parks. Saturday evening is our family and friends banquet.
Deceased family members are honored and special recognition
is given to others young and old. Scholarships are presented to
college-bound family members. On Sunday morning, we close
with a prayer breakfast and then final goodbyes.
The NJ, NY, PA Chapter hosts an annual free family picnic in
Woodbridge, New Jersey, on the Sunday before Labor Day, where
200 to 300 family and friends gather for a day of good food and
fun. The chapter also has several fundraisers during the year, one
of which is our holiday party.
About the author
The Outlaw/Outler reunion planning committee.
26
Cynthia Outlaw is the family historian. She says she’s truly
grateful to see how the family reunion has grown from a one-day
picnic in the park to a full-scale weekend of exciting events and
fellowship.
GAMES
Family Reunion (board) Game
very family has a history and every
family has its stories. If not passed on,
these tales may be forgotten or lost. Family
Reunion Game is ideal for reunions to
learn family stories and heritage. The
Family Reunion Game company collects
your family stories, anecdotes and photos
and makes a game for you to participate in
your family’s legacy.
E
Family Reunion Game customizes
questions to capture your history, stories
and experiences. It is engaging and
captivating, with stories of interest to
those playing. Questions posed are about
you, your family and your family’s history
and stories. Playing the game involves
family members sharing and telling
family heritage. Children listen to these
family stories, learn about their legacy
and participate in telling their own
stories and experiences.
You supply information in a
questionnaire that composes personalized
questions. The more family members who
provide information, the more
comprehensive and inclusive
the game. If you don’t have
specific historical family facts,
you supply more stories. If
you want your game filled with
silly, fun stories or more
history and genealogy, that
can be done. Once complete,
the Family Reunion Game
becomes a family
heirloom and
keepsake for
generations to
come!
Spaces on the
game board allow
for change every time the
game is played. As you create
more memories and/or add
new members, new
information or pictures can be
created into new “memory
cards” for your existing game.
Family Reunion Game can
be played with up to 10
players or 10 teams age eight
and above.
Each game comes with a custom 20 x
20'' game board featuring approximately
25-40 family photos (which you provide),
80 personalized “memory cards” (with
your history, stories, trivia facts and
family photos); 20 custom “Family
Heirloom” game cards (identified by you),
20 “Quick Wit” game cards and more.
The winner is the first person or team
to attend all three family (game)
reunions, collect 20 “memories,” acquire
two family heirlooms, return to “start”
and answer one last “Memory Card”
question correctly. “Memory Keeper”
pads are provided to keep track of
memory points, heirlooms and reunions
attended. The creators of Family
Reunion Game believe everybody wins
simply by reminiscing in, enjoying and
sharing stories!
For information and to order, visit
https://familyreuniongame.com.
27
MASTERPLAN
Passing the baton
…from Ethel to Sally
by Sam Webber
Ethel Lindauer and daughter Sally Webber.
hen Ethel Llewellyn Brasington
Lindauer began planning her
first family reunion in the late
1970s, there was no outline for her to
follow. So she did what she’d always
done her entire life: she created it from
scratch.
Her family meant the most to Ethel,
and being with them was her greatest
desire. She was not one for activities
with strangers, although she attended
nursing school reunions. She wanted an
event where her family – spread over the
entire US by marriage, jobs and school –
could get together once a year. This was
her goal and she set about doing it.
In today’s world, all you have to
do is get on the internet, and
through various emails or chat
rooms or even a Google/Yahoo
search, you can find just about
anyone you want. But this was
back in the 1970s, and none of
these things existed, which meant
Ethel had to do everything … by
hand.
Ethel, a prolific letter writer,
kept up with what was going on in
the lives of many of her family. Not
only did she keep in touch with
her own family and those of her
four sisters, even second, third
and fourth cousins were contacted
regularly by mail.
Her old address book was
bursting with information.
Addresses were scratched out and
new ones scribbled in some
unused corner. Some entries had
been inked out many times. New
pages were made up of whatever paper
she had at the time, spaces filled in with
new names or changed facts. That wellworn book was Ethel’s pulse on her
world. It was the core of how she stayed
in contact with everyone.
When it came time for the reunion,
Ethel sent a special letter to inform her
kin when and where it would be held.
The format was rather simple. Friday
night, everyone arrived. They set up
tents, got hotel rooms or stayed with
W
28
family members. Because participants
showed up at various times, they all met
at a central location and spent time
reminiscing.
After Saturday breakfast, the family
spent their time together and talked. The
mainstay of the reunion was just being
together. Activities culminated in the
annual family water fight. As the day
went on, everyone did their own thing
until dinner, prepared and served by a
host of relatives. The evening was
generally spent in family chatter.
Sunday morning started early with a
large breakfast, after which the camp or
were not really able to help, which
sometimes led to hard feelings, but the
reunion was a yearly occurrence and
something everyone could rely on. Ethel
was always in charge and that was just
how it was.
That was until 1997, Ethel’s last
reunion. In August, she passed away and
the annual event fell to her daughter,
Sally Webber. It was a new day for
passing the baton, and a new set of
procedures and participation would come
into play.
The computer was anathema to Ethel.
She really didn’t want to learn how to use
Ethel Lindauer’s pride and joy.
park area would be cleaned up and by
noon everyone was gone.
Ethel was not one to delegate. Since
she was the one who wrote the letters,
she was also the one who organized the
reunion. And since she was the one who
created how it would be run, she was
sometimes a little testy when she was
offered help.
Because she kept such tight control,
those who really wanted to assist would
be given simple tasks. They found they
a computer and could not see its value.
But Sally put records from her mother’s
overflowing address book into an active
database which could be updated without
much effort. The reunion letter, which
had always been handwritten, was now
an RSVP announcement showing the
time and location of the family reunion.
Another thing which changed was
participation by others. Whereas Ethel
kept everything to herself, her daughter
welcomed help. One person would be in
Over 70 years and still going strong
by Renea Winchester
charge of the invitation – designing it
and making sure that it was done
properly. Another took over activities,
while someone else was in charge of
making sure the area was cleaned up
on Sunday. This was all done under the
watchful eye of Sally, who made sure
that all parts were put together and ran
smoothly. It made the reunion more of
a “family” event, if only in the
participation of others to bring it
about.
Without the strong leadership of
Ethel, the Lindauer – Brasington
Family Reunion perhaps would have
failed in its infancy. But because of
her determination and desire to bring
her family together, the reunion she
started will celebrate its 30th
anniversary in July 2009 (in Utah
rather than in its original state of
California). This is a big change for the
entire family, because now they will be
meeting more near the center of the
country rather than on the west coast.
It was through Ethel’s sheer
determination and unwavering focus
that her family reunion was able to
grow to become the event it is. Now her
children are in charge and it is up to
them to continue what she started. In
time, the baton will once again be
passed on to her grandchildren and
those descendents who come after.
This was her gift to her loved ones: an
annual get-together to greet new
members, reminisce about old times
and enjoy just being part of their own
family. This is Ethel’s legacy.
About the author
Sam Webber is
the grandson of
Ethel and son of
Sally, and says he
has been involved
in creating a
database of all
family members
and planning some
of the events
throughout the years. “We have had
many challenges in getting the reunion
going, but it has been a success,
besides being long-lasting.”
Winchesters at annual Smoky Mountains decoration day.
ince 1935 families who have relatives
buried in the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park have joined for a different
kind of reunion – a remembrance, if you
will, of life as it used to be before
residents were forced to leave.
Families of the Styles, Wiggins, Laney
and Cline families, among others, gather
in the National Park and pay their
respects by decorating the graves of
family members most never had the
privilege of meeting. While the rest of
the country observes Memorial Day with
a family barbeque or lake trip, my family
observes “decoration day.”
All are welcome, related or not, as
long as they follow three simple rules: be
respectful of the earth, be on time, and
bring enough food to share.
At promptly 11:00 AM we pile into
pickup trucks and travel into the lush back
woods of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. This is a once a year
opportunity. Miss this particular Sunday
and you’ll have to wait until next year. Be
prepared to walk uphill, seemingly both
ways, before you reach your destination.
Comfortable shoes and bug spray are also
great ideas.
There are no nametags or matching tshirts for our reunion. Here you’ll find
baseball caps, Redman chewing tobacco,
and a lifelong tradition that is fiercely
honored.
Time is limited as we sprinkle live
flowers over the graves of relatives who
lived in this pristine part of the country.
As the children scatter petals, adults
who have been coming here since they
S
were toddlers swap stories and secretly
long to return to a time when peace and
quiet was the norm. In a blink it is time
to leave this place of beauty and return
to our hectic lives.
This year, I want to break with
tradition. After 73 years of decoration
days, technology will enter our sacred
gathering. I am encouraging everyone to
bring pictures of their family members to
share. This year – after we decorate the
graves, and before Pat’s famous coconut
cake is gone – I will scan pictures (old and
new), tattered newspaper articles and
pages from family bibles. Anything that
matters is worthy of being remembered.
This year I’ll do my best to identify those
nameless faces we know are somehow
related. I’ll try to weave us tighter
together, because with the passing of time
we lose our elders and with them precious
memories. By next year, I hope a picture
book will be available, maybe with stories.
I do this not for my sake, but for the
next generation. For those who might not
understand the sacrifice park families
made. So my children and their children
might continue our family tradition and
love the land and their heritage as much
as my grandparents, and their grandparents before, did.
About the author
Renea Winchester is a writer who splits
her time between Western North Carolina
and Atlanta, Georgia. Her work received
the Appalachian Writers Association
Award, and has appeared in Gardening
How-To, and A Cup of Comfort Series.
29
GAMES
Neal Family Trivia
Try a treasure hunt
by Karin Cameron
arole Neal wrote that she believes
there should be one or more griots in
each generation so that the family story
continues to live. You may recall having
heard the word griot (pronounced “greeoh”) used when Alex Haley told the story
of his family in the epic novel and TV
program, Roots. Historically, Africans and
those of African descent have relied more
on oral history than written history. That
makes the work of the griots all the more
important. We hope our Neal Family
history will continue to be passed down,
generation to generation. We do have a
story to tell – one that can be an
inspiration to the younger family members.
And the way Carole Neal shared her
family history was with a trivia game.
Honoring the theme of the Neal Family
Reunion – Honoring and Preserving the
Neal Family Legacy – Carole included a
family history trivia quiz in pre-reunion
newsletters. Only questions were
included in early newsletters, then
answers appeared in her newsletter just
before the reunion.
You can see the Neal Family Trivia
Quiz in the Family History and
Geneaology section on reunionsmag.com,
as an excellent example that you may
wish to copy.
M
aybe your relatives are thinking that
the upcoming reunion doesn’t have
much going for it. “Same old, same old,”
they say.
Think about creating a treasure hunt
as a way to add fun to your reunion. You
could have a treasure hunt for adults and
a separate one for children, or combine
them. You can set up an elaborate or
simple treasure hunt at home, in a park
or any place where the reunion is held.
First ask family members questions.
Then turn the responses into a way to
unveil the clues. How can you stump
your family?
adults may not like to do. How about
hiding a clue in a bowl of soggy bread?
Or blindfold a participant who has to
retrieve a clue – protected in a Ziploc
bag – from a bowl of Jello (add olives or
grapes for higher gross factor). Or set up
a 15- to 20-piece puzzle, with a clue
written on the back; participants must
piece together the upside-down puzzle in
order to read the clue before moving on
to the next.
Children and adults can learn
something new about a relative or make a
new favorite family member. A treasure
hunt is a learning opportunity to get
C
Many more examples of
reunion games and ice breakers
online at reunionsmag.com.
30
The author’s mother’s side of the family, the Eppinga Family Reunion, who enjoy her treasure hunts.
Or, if you want to keep the treasure
hunt a secret before the reunion, use
clues from a line of a movie or from
family history, or simply solve a riddle.
For younger children at the reunion it
can be as simple as clues found at one
toy directing them to the next toy.
Next you need a map. This is where
you must be creative. Think of all the
hiding places where the hunt will be.
You can go all-out making an elaborate
map, or keep it simple.
Set up teams as an opportunity to pair
kids with adults or relatives with new
members of the family. Adults will love
the thrill of something different at a
reunion and new bonds will be made.
Your treasure hunt may also include
challenges or tasks to complete, such as
ring toss or balancing a book on their
head. Think about all the ways you can
make the treasure hunt a challenge. It
can last one hour or one day, depending
on the difficulty of the clues.
When setting up the discoveries or
clues think of all the things kids or
everyone’s brains going and spark
conversation.
The main treasure doesn’t have to be
anything fancy or expensive. You can
even ask relatives to bring treasures or
send money to help cover costs. What
about family reunion t-shirts as the
treasure? You could have special
desserts, a photo album to store future
year’s reunion pictures in, or an updated
homemade family history book as
treasure gifts.
You’ll know you’ve been successful if
you’re asked for an encore in the future.
And, as always, remember to take lots of
pictures.
About the author
Karin Cameron has grown up with a
bundle of summer time family reunions,
all of which provided memories of
laughable distinction and heartfelt
smiles, not to mention a few horseshoe
competitions and too many adults acting
like children. She lives in Arizona with
her husband.
WEB PAGE: reunionsmag.com
CALL: 414.263.4567
FAX: 414.263.6331
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WRITE: PO Box 11727
Milwaukee, WI 53211-0727
32
33
GAMES
Lots of games reunions play
artha Payne, Owensboro, Kentucky, who is reunion
hostess with her brother Tim, wrote about the Meny
Family Reunion. Games include horseshoes, washers,
baseball, volleyball or any activity the host/ hostess decides.
We make our own piñatas and fill them with everything.
Our egg toss is with raw eggs.
In Bedsheet Volleyball, teams of about seven each hold a
side of a sheet and use it to send the ball back and forth. A
side scores a point when the other side loses the ball off the
sheet. The catch is that the ball is a water balloon and oh,
what fun you can have, says Martha.
Three-legged races require two people and one necktie.
Two people stand side by side and tie their inside legs
together, then race. Racing this way requires great
coordination.
For Reindeer Races, sleds are made of cardboard boxes
with rope attached. Adults are reindeer and pull sleds with
the young children in the box. This was hilarious, Payne
wrote. We always bring extra clothes, for we never know
what may happen.
M
This team activity for all ages makes everyone work together to get the tent balloon from flat on
the ground to full blown, then back down again.
Bed sheet volleyball is for two teams of 6 to 8 individuals each. Using water balloons adds to the fun. Limit this
game to adults because little kids can get knocked down accidentally.
arilyn Creason-Gobble wrote in the
Poulter Family Newsletter in
anticipation of one reunion: We do have the
traditional Egg Toss game planned for the
Family Reunion. We few, we happy few,
who may remember the reunion in the ’80s
at Aunt Marcene’s house when we played
this game, know it is a lot of fun.
We had planned outdoor games for the
last reunion but the weather did not
cooperate.
If the weather is nice, we plan croquet
and horseshoes.
Tim Poulter MCs a game called white
M
Allen Poulter Jr. being presented a letter from the
White House by Kathy Poulter Gobble.
34
For one activity, Meny family members make piñatas for three age
groups. Then, they take turns destroying their products.
elephant planned for indoors. Everyone
who wants to participate brings a white
elephant that will fit in a brown paper
grocery sack. What is a white elephant?
You may know this game as Chinese
Christmas. What you bring is something
from home you don’t want anymore. Or if
you want to keep everything you own, it is
something purchased for no more than
$5.00. Or if you are really desperate to
play and don’t want to run to the local
Piggly-Wiggly for a pack of potato chips,
you can put $5.00 in a bag. But it is lots
more fun if it is a genuine white elephant.
are prizes for ones coming farthest, the oldest of Irish decent, the
team stuffing the most inflated balloons into a pair of pantyhose
worn by a man. There are slipper kicking contests, piñatas, ball
throwing, foot races and, more recently, soccer or other sports.
One year they even had a yodeling contest.
Here’s a game you prepare one year ahead. It’s called
“Identify the picture.” Take torso shots of men to post at next
year’s reunion. Identification may not be easy since some will
lose or gain weight.
oyce Neal, Elkton, Maryland, says at the Thomas Family
Reunion they play a game where you must learn one
significant fact about each family member over the weekend.
The person with the most signatures and facts wins a prize.
he Sylvester Family Reunion has contests for decorating
alternatives to the traditional t-shirts. They have decorated
shorts, neck ties, hats, hotel room doors as well as the family tshirts. According to Deb Bowen, Burlington, Iowa, they are all
hilarious. Entries are judged and prizes awarded in age groups.
They have a trivia game played like Jeopardy with three
teams competing; each team includes someone from each
generation to make it as fair as possible.
They have a “hang-out” room with tables full of cards, small
games, snacks, etc., so people can just hang out with cousins
and play or talk together between scheduled events.
J
Brittany Bergquist (15) playing cards with her first cousin, Benjamin Leonard (20),
at the Sylvester Family Reunion.
T
lice R. Marks, Colorado Springs, Colorado, writes, “I set up
board games and a jig-saw puzzle in the party room.” She
and her husband, Murray, put their spare change and a few bills
into a glass jar and sealed it up. Everybody had fun guessing
the amount of money. The little kids guessed outrageous
amounts, which added to the fun. Then, on Sunday morning
they awarded the jar to their grandson Matthew, who had
guessed a number closest to the
actual total.
Decorating is a Sylvester family tradition. One year men decorated shorts and
They copied nearly 100 old and
another year everyone decorated neckties.
new pictures from albums and
taped them to large cardboard
sheets displayed on easels.
Everybody loved finding their own
pictures and identifying others.
After dinner, pictures were free for
the taking and there were none left.
en Brechtel, Huachuca City,
Arizona, has hosted McFarland
Family Reunions. At first, children
played on playgrounds and there
was horseshoe pitching for adults
and foot racing for children. There
A
G
riendly games, competition and
tournaments are common to all
reunions. During the years when there are
Summer Olympics, many reunions do a
F
series of competitions with medals, ribbons
and bragging rights as the payoff. Here the
Malone Family Reunion enjoys some
competitive volleyball.
ctivities that involve family
members of all ages are enjoyed
each year at the ALAFFFA (Abbott,
Lizanov, Alzo, Figlar, Figlar, Figlar,
Augenstein) reunion. This
“Cornhole” bean-bag toss game
board, designed by ALAFFFA-ite
Soon Pak, is a family favorite.
A
35
HARD TIMES
How some reunions are thriving and saving
W
e have been asking readers for ideas for reunions to survive hard economic times and how they save money and still have a fun
time. We identified reunions, which, responding to a survey, indicated they spend less than $1000 on their reunions, and
specifically asked them to share the ways they save and in some cases they also share how they raise money for their reunions.
Overall they are seeking value for your reunion buck. No need to sacrifice the “bang” to spare the budget. Creativity helps you
wow the crowd whether you spend a lot or a lot less.
T
isha Amerson of Gray, Georgia, says the Sullivan Family
orders barbecue and asks everyone to bring desserts.
There are no decorations because the reunion is outside.
Amerson has a pool where they cool off and kids create their
own games. She calls it just a laid back, relaxing day to spend
talking about old times and MEMORIES!
The Sullivans don’t set a fee but ask for contributions, so if
someone can’t afford to attend because of a fee, others donate
more. That way everyone attends. “We always come out even,”
she says. She buys plates/plasticware/napkins/cups in bulk to
have enough for two years or so.
Sullivan Family Reunion.
Sullivans have also done a spaghetti dinner where they
prepared the spaghetti themselves and ordered Olive Garden
salad with their dressing.
It was the best dinner yet, Amerson reported. It was cheap
and wonderful. Lots of compliments. Spaghetti goes a long way!
Lovine Moss of Rock Hill, South Carolina, says the Moss
Family Reunion keeps costs down by holding family yard sales
and auctions and creating a family cookbook that generated a
lot of money. Everyone brings well filled baskets of food which
are set out on two to three eight-foot tables and
another two tables loaded with desserts. “One thing
about our family,” says Moss, “we love to cook. One
cousin makes biscuits for the whole crowd. Her
husband is the official tea maker who makes at least
10 gallons of tea.”
They take up donations each year to offset the cost
of the building and paper products. They, too, buy
paper products in bulk. Last year they raffled a
handmade quilt. One year they took an old photo of
their grandparents and their seven boys, had it framed
and auctioned it. Everyone wanted that picture.
Members also bring goodie baskets for door prizes.
One cousin works at a candy packaging business
and they’ve gotten candy with their name and date of
the reunion on the wrapper. Another cousin owns a
screen printing shop where they’ve ordered t-shirts,
ball caps and tote bags to sell.
36
For the past several years people have donated stuffed
animals so each child gets a stuffed toy to take home. This
seems to go over big with the small kids.
Sharon Rogers of Eagle River, Wisconsin, says the
Hatton/Quinn Family Reunion has an auction every year.
Everyone makes a handmade item or purchases something neat
to auction off. Sharon bought items from an Irish store and
“made a killing on them.” Their reunions are every three years,
which gives them plenty of time to pick up bargains to use for
the next gathering. Then they all chip in and bring something
for the picnic; however, their kitty pays for meat they grill at
the park. The meat money comes out of an account
from the previous reunion. They are always looking
for deals on decorations, prizes, printing paper for
the invites, etc.
Anne Petrous of New Baltimore, Michigan,
describes her Harder Family Reunion as pretty
simple, but everyone has a good time. They must,
because they come back every year, Anne adds. One
family member is an AMVET, so they get a nice
discount on using AMVET hall – inside and out –
with a covered pavilion ($150 for the day). A huge
grill is used to barbeque chicken and cook burgers
and hot dogs. Everyone brings a side dish or dessert
to share. And, they collect recipes for a family
cookbook. They are working on their second
cookbook. Most of the supplies and prizes are
purchased at the Dollar Store.
During the “family meeting” they add up all the costs,
including postage, and everyone donates to cover the costs. It
averages out to $5 for “singles” and $15 for “families.”
One person is in charge of games, and last year, there were
also games for the adults. The hall has a small swing set for the
kids to play on, and a horse shoe pit.
The Harders display their family tree, drawn on the back of
a table cloth over 50 years ago. Anne says, “I also display our
Moss Family Reunion.
Kilpatrick Family Reunion.
linage, which has been traced back to the late 1500s.” No, she
was not the one who was able to trace the info back that far,
but, she has added to it. She has put the info online and others
are starting to add more. Last year, she started a Yahoo Group
for family to stay in touch.
Anne says that reunions don’t have to be expensive.
“Actually, if ours was, we would not be having them. We all
‘chip in’. Our family has had a yearly reunion for over 60 years!
It also helps to have the reunion on the same day
every year!”
Mary Garavaglia of Sterling Heights, Michigan,
reports that the Kilpatrick Family Reunion meets
every two years in North Carolina and last time used
an air-conditioned Boys and Girls Club dining hall
where the cost is very reasonable. There was a lake
for paddle boating and other things to do although
hot weather kept most inside visiting with family.
Finding different places gets harder and harder
each year since some places aren’t around anymore
and others have raised their prices so there’s a lot of
checking at least a year in advance. They start
hunting early to find a good place and a good price.
They pass the hat and take up a collection to pay
any bills and to have money set aside for the next
reunion. It’s nice to know there’s money in the till
and what we have to work with, says Garavaglia.
Their food is all homemade. Most everyone
brings a dish and others buy food, like roast chicken
or deli food. It’s also a good time to pass around
family recipes. There’s always one dish everyone ooohhhss and
aaahhhs over.
All printed matter was done by family members and the
reunion paid the cost of ink and paper.
Sandra Davis of Round Rock, Texas, says the EcholsHenderson Family Reunion is a small group but they have two
and a half days of fun. They are campers and stay at Texas
State Parks. Some have RVs, some tents and some rent
shelters. They max out the person-per-campsite and bring their
own food to cook. They play bingo each year to pay for next
years prizes and, in general, watch their pennies.
According to Melanie Thomas of Witchita, Kansas, the
Thomas Family Reunion goes to the same park in Liberal,
Missouri, where they all grew up and a lot of cousins still live.
Each year they barbeque and make food to bring. They share
stories and pictures. Most are elderly so do
few activities but are thinking of things to
entice and encourage younger members to
come. They hope for a bigger turn out each
year, which is why they keep it inexpensive.
Lisa Alzo of Ithaca, New York, hasn’t seen
any real negative effects on the ALAFFA
reunion. She says they’ve been pretty frugal
over the past few years and don’t have
unnecessary expenses. This year they are
changing things a bit to give the two main
organizers a break because they always handle the cooking and
preparation. The ALAFFAs plan to have one big catered meal
(two hot dishes, cold cuts and salads) in the middle of the
afternoon instead of lunch and dinner. Family members bring
cookies or snacks like fruit/veggies and dips, etc. Their
activities are low-cost because one cousin, who is a teacher, is
quite creative. The biggest expense is the venue, which they
reserve a year in advance and requires an alcohol permit to
serve beer.
Echols-Henderson Family Reunion.
Finally, we found some ways to save money in an issue of
Meetings and Conventions Magazine. They suggest serving
substantial hors d’oeuvres instead of a plated meal. Or you can
shrink portions – and the size of dishes, cups and glasses – to
limit consumption. Costs can also be cut by reducing an
event’s duration: shave half a day off a multi-day program,
eliminating the cost of a final dinner, another night in the hotel
and breakfast.
Keep an eye on destinations that offer good deals as visitor
numbers dwindle. Avoid downtown hotels. Book in suburbs or
cities near major airports
Be flexible with dates. Date flexibility is probably the best
leverage planners can have when negotiating with hotels; book
your event in “shoulder” or off-seasons, or less popular days of
the week. Best times vary by location.
37
MILITARY REUNION NEWS
Second generation secures military legacies
by Kaye Olson
O
ver the past decade, WWII veterans have struggled with
decisions about the viability of their associations. More
and more members are ill, debilitated and incapable of
participating in national or state events. For those still
mourning buddies left behind in the European and Pacific
Theaters, reality has hit that their current comrades are
quickly slipping away.
A domino effect exists. Decreasing memberships are
dissolving state chapters, and reunions face a shift in
attendees. Veteran numbers are down, widows have increased
and attendance by other family members is climbing.
Action was taken to ensure the Army’s 9th Infantry Division
WWII division could continue to be honored in history. The
veterans faced their mortality head on, placing the legacy of
their division above burying their heads in the sand. The tides
had turned.
Veterans of the 9th Infantry Division recognized drastic
changes were needed in their association. Illnesses, deaths,
lack of energy and diminishing membership plagued the group.
Timing was right to reach out. For years, veterans expressed
the need to have their children more involved. Likewise, sons,
daughters and other relatives observed the changing veterans
and their need for help.
A second generation group formed with love, respect and
admiration. The younger men and women took action to further
honor their long-standing heroes with assistance.
SEEK FORMAL RECOGNITION
For smooth functioning, it’s key for an auxiliary to receive
official recognition. Sons & Daughters Auxiliary of the 9th
Infantry Division Association received formal approval from
the association’s Board of Governors in 2005.
BUILD TRUST TO EASE TRANSITION
Trust is the result of good communication, timing and
rewarding relationships. Particularly with military groups,
following the veterans’ lead eases transitions. Keeping a
balance while transferring responsibilities and control is key.
Communication between the veterans and the auxiliary is
essential. Decades of assistance from family members to the
veterans of the 9th Infantry Division helped the transition go
smoothly.
BRAINSTORM AND ORGANIZE
Sympathy card created by the Sons &
Daughters of the 9th Infantry Division
Association which is sent to family members
upon a loss of a father, uncle or grandfather.
Following WWII, when the 9th Infantry Division
Association was formed, some veterans brought their children
to annual reunions. For over 64 years, these sons and
daughters formed an incredible bond. A formal organization of
the second generation seemed natural. Many helped their
parents get to reunions and assisted with reunion activities as
volunteers.
Forming a new group within a military association requires
cautious development. Criteria might include:
• Wait for an invitation.
• Seek formal recognition.
• Build trust to ease transition.
• Brainstorm and organize.
• Create new ideas.
• Plan for the future.
WAIT FOR AN INVITATION
The need triggers the request for help. Some veterans find
new energy and involvement of the younger generation
exciting, while others are reticent to relinquish control. Some
association members push quickly with new ideas, yet others
slow the process. Thus, a balance of caution, care and
communication yields results.
38
Brainstorming yields decisions about membership criteria,
fees, by-laws, officers, responsibilities and activities. Discuss
boundaries. For instance, how quickly to act? When to become
involved? How much to do? What are the lines of
communication? What activities to join in on and which to do
independently?
With the Sons & Daughters Auxiliary, any descendent of a
WWII 9th Infantry Division Association member can join the
organization. Children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren all
participate. Several whose father, uncle or grandfather was
killed in action or died since, also joined the group. The
auxiliary is diverse and inclusive.
By-laws were written, membership cards designed and three
co-officers were chosen (due to growth, another co-officer has
been added). Currently, the auxiliary has co-presidents, cosecretaries and co-treasurers, which works well. The second
generation group meets during national reunions. The
organization assists and supports veterans with many activities
and, in some cases, manages events independently.
CREATE NEW IDEAS
Even though the auxiliary answers to the veterans,
maintaining creativity is important and many exciting ideas
have evolved. Co-officers felt it important that members blend
business and fun at reunions. Younger members photograph
each veteran with his family as they arrived for the reunion.
Several designed and produced a sympathy card to express
support when a father, uncle or grandfather of a member
passed; the front of the card displayed an American flag and
an Octofoil, the insignia of the 9th
services and provide upkeep to the 9th
Infantry Division; the inside shared a
Infantry Division memorial.
touching verse.
Although children of the veterans
One member modernized
always helped with reunions, the
communications. The association’s
associates of the Sons & Daughters have
newsletter, The Octofoil, was digitized,
accelerated support, money and manpower.
saving production time and money. Now
Since the group’s inception, they assist
everyone can choose to receive their
with pre-reunion registration, schedule and
newsletter online, which cut costs further.
work the reception area, print name tags
In addition, the mailing list has been
and absorb the cost, set up display tables,
streamlined and quarterly issues are
arrange for wheelchairs and obtain donated
mailed via first class for faster delivery.
gifts for prizes. With enthusiasm, they also
These outcomes have saved the
set up and run raffles and conduct silent
association hundreds of dollars each year.
auctions, hand out contributed prizes and
The editor of The Octofoil created a
help with the final banquet.
quarterly newsletter for the Sons &
Other activities keep auxiliary members
Daughters Auxiliary appropriately named
busy. Fundraisers are key, such as selling
Author Kaye Olson studies her Uncle, S/Sgt. Louie Annear’s
the Ocotofoil Legacy. Most second
t-shirts and holding raffles or auctions.
Normandy Campaign.
generation participants receive the
They contribute annually to the
newsletter online to save costs. He also established a digital
association’s treasury. At national reunions, they eagerly listen
archive as a memorial to 9th Infantry Division veterans.
to WWII stories, walk through the 9th Infantry Division
Photos, documents and other historical items are now a
campaigns with veterans and record reminiscences of war
resource online for present and future generations of the
experiences.
veterans’ descendants and war historians. The eight WWII
Another member of the Sons and Daughters established the
campaigns courageously fought by these men are etched in
Octofoil.org website, dedicated to the WWII veterans of the 9th
history forever.
Infantry Division.
Since the end of WWII, 9th Infantry Division veterans
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
gathered in Worcester, Massachusetts, every October for a
Over time, second generation groups will face more
memorial service. For many decades, Rev. Edward T. Connors,
decisions.
After our WWII veterans are gone, how will our
who had accompanied the veterans throughout WWII,
goals
and
mission
be altered? What activities will we keep?
delivered the memorial service while hundreds of veterans
Which
involvements
will cease? Will there still be reunions?
participated. Even since Connors’ death, the memorial service
Does
technology
hold
the connections? Many answers await.
continues. In October 2008, only two veterans were able to
At recent reunions, the 9th Infantry Division veterans relax,
attend, but they were surrounded by members of the Sons &
enjoy and – most important – reconnect with comrades.
Daughters. The younger generation hopes to organize future
They’ve earned a rest. The veterans hold the deepest
gratitude for the Sons & Daughters’ efforts.
For WWII veterans, then the Korean and Vietnam
heroes, second generation groups will excel in keeping
alive the mission, objectives, campaigns and history.
Younger generation contributions are boundless. These
groups hold the key to providing support, assistance,
financial help and the ultimate tribute of maintaining
legacies for courageous warriors who gave their all to
keep our country free.
About the author
Kaye Olson, DeWitt, Michigan, is a National and
State member of the WWII 9th Infantry Division
Association. She is a charter member of the Sons &
Daughters Auxiliary and a proud niece of WWII S/Sgt.
Lewis (Louie) Annear, K.I.A. 7-11-44 in France. Kaye
has authored two books and writes for national
professional journals, newsletters and magazines.
Co-officers, William Sauers, Claire Irwin, Mary Cooper and John Sabato lead the Sons & Daughters’
Auxiliary of the Ninth Infantry Division Association.
39
MILITARY REUNION NEWS
Resting place for
air crew’s legacy
Sullivan Brothers
Iowa Veterans Museum
B
etween March and August of 1945, Joe
Chovelak and 10 other members of the
Nathan Crew in the 314th Wing of the US
Air Force’s 29th Bomb Group flew 35
night fire bombing missions over Japan.
These were experiences that the crew
wouldn’t recount together for 40 years.
The 29th Bomb Group didn’t hold its
first reunion until 1985, and that reunion
provided Chovelak with 23 years worth
of work to keep him busy. Veterans made
the rounds at that initial reunion and
realized that, while they remembered the
crew members’ names and even knew
what had become of some, they knew
very little of men who served elsewhere
in the group. Even worse, many knew
nothing about the 21 crews whose planes
were lost in action, Chovelak said.
Chovelak became the 29th Bomb
Group’s historian, a position he still
holds today.
At 83 years old, though, he has set out
to find permanent homes for his vast
collection of materials pertaining to the
29th Bomber Group.
At the Group’s reunion in Washington,
DC, last year, Chovelak and those who
have helped him over the years met with
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) at the Library
of Congress, and presented a copy of the
files of all 2,500 men who served in the
29th Bomb Group.
“Many of these people will never know
this,” he said. “Their families won’t
know, either, but all of their names are
there for posterity.” He hopes to donate
the rest of his collection to the US Air
Force Museum at the Wright-Patterson
Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
From a story by Tim Waldorf in the
Naperville Sun, Naperville, Illinois.
T
he Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans
Museum is a new addition to the Grout
Museum of History & Science that opened
recently in Waterloo, Iowa. Waterloo’s five
Sullivan brothers all perished when the
USS Juneau sank in battle during World
War II. Exhibits include a tank, a fighter
plane, the interior of a Vietnam-era Huey
helicopter, the front of a Korean war-era
jet fighter, and a WWII Pacific theater
exhibit, plus generations of memories
from the Civil War to the present.
Interactive exhibits include exploring the
Show your support on Memorial Day
V
With more and more
veterans dying daily, their
stories are being lost. Listen
to our podcast at
reunionsmag.com about how
to encourage your veterans
to tell their stories.
40
inside of a tank to donning military gear
of soldiers from various eras. A
reconstructed bow of the USS Juneau is
viewable. The museum is a research
archive of Iowans’ role in US wars since
the Civil War.
Group tour opportunities are available
and offer a unique insight into the lives
and legacies of veterans.
The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans
Museum, 503 South Street, Waterloo,
Iowa, 50701. 319-234-6357;
www.groutmuseumdistrict.org.
etFriends.com reunites and honors US military veterans, and is the most visited
site of its kind. Its services and features show support on Memorial Day and all
year long.
• Search for veterans, active military, family and friends through a database of over
768,000 members, with 10,000 to 15,000 new members joining per month.
• Families can submit photos and biographical information about their loved ones to
The Casualty Memorial. Visitors can pay their respects to fallen soldiers who have
made the ultimate sacrifice.
• View thousands of military photos (past and present) submitted in honor of the
many brave men and women who have served our nation.
• Search a Veterans Business Directory of veteran-owned/operated businesses across
the US.
• Obtain your own or a family member’s Military Records/Medals.
Visit vetfriends.com for more information.
CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES
Welcome to Reunion Resources!
How to use REUNION RESOURCES
Reunion resources is divided into sections. Reunion
friendly places include destinations (convention, visitor
and tourism bureaus) and locations (hotels, resorts,
ranches, condominiums, bed & breakfasts, inns,
dormitories, camps). They are listed alphabetically by state
and city. The sections which follow list books and
publishing, cruises, fundraising and mementos, invitations,
photography, preserving reunions, postcards, and other
products and services.
Many resources include e-mail and web page addresses.
Start on our web page www.reunions mag.com and in just
one click, go directly to other resource pages – a wonderful
way to visit, get more details and in some cases even
place orders.
We encourage you to tell the listings you contact that
you learned about them from REUNIONS MAGAZINE. And if
at any time you find any info that is inaccurate or e-mail or
web links do not work, notify us immediately at
[email protected]; PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI
53211-0727. And by all means, feel free to comment
and/or suggest changes and additions you’d like to see in
this section.
REUNIONS MAGAZINE will not be held liable for information
presented as facts in these ads. We reserve the right to
edit and/or refuse any material submitted for publication.
US DESTINATIONS
NATIONAL
FOREVER RESORTS offers vacations for a lifetime with 46
destinations to choose from and enjoy. From wilderness lodging
in Northern AZ to our smooth-water raft trip from the base of
Hoover Dam…from touring the famed Southfork Ranch to awe
inspiring views of the Rockies. Not to mention, 12 houseboat
marinas including Lake Powell. Come see why we are the ideal
spot for reunions. 480-998-7199 x 7114; fax 480-998-9965;
[email protected]; www.ForeverResorts.com.
ALABAMA
MOBILE BAY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 1
South Water Street, Mobile AL 36602. Rely on us to make
planning your reunion easy and affordable with these services:
Direct contact with hotels to obtain rates and banquet pricing, a
single proposal packet detailing military sites, attractions, dining
and transportation, follow-up to answer all your special needs,
sightseeing service to coordinate your leisure activities. Call
800-566-2453 ext 4 for a free Planning Guide. E-mail to [email protected]. Visit us at www.mobilebay.org.
ARIZONA
RADISSON SUITES HOTEL TUCSON AIRPORT 7051 S.
Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756. We are Reunion Specialists! Our
spacious suites with full amenities, lush courtyards with fountains,
pool and whirlpool spa will make your group feel right at home!
We have great on-site dining and beautiful banquet facilities for
groups large & small. A full American breakfast buffet, evening
reception & internet access are included in the rate! Call 520225-0800 for information or email: [email protected]. www.
radisson.com/tucsonaz
ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARKANSAS America's First
Resort. Planning a reunion in Hot Springs offers you one destination with a million possibilities. Enjoy art galleries, museums and
architecture, our relaxing spas, theme parks, rivers and lakes,
music and magic shows, thoroughbred racing, a botanical garden and more. Come indulge yourself in our hospitality.
800-922-6478. or www.hotsprings.org. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
SPRINGDALE ARKANSAS Centrally located Springdale offers
endless possibilities for great reunions. Surrounded by great
attractions, including the Jones Center for Families offering
endless activities. Minor league baseball, Northwest Arkansas
Naturals, museums, art galleries, and water sports and much, much
more. 800-972-7261; www.springdale.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
CALIFORNIA
BALBOA INN "The Resort" and Banquet facility is located on the
beach offering 45 rooms and ocean view suites with balconies
and state of the art amenities. Located at 105 Main Street,
Newport Beach CA 92661. 949-675-3412; Toll Free: 877BALBOA9; fax 949-673-4587; www.balboainn.com; [email protected]
Campgrounds that can accommodate your desires; each one will
email you directly with additional information. OR download our
free Colorado Vacation Directory to compare reunion locations,
which includes Places to Stay & Fun Things to Do. www.
TheCVD.com/OrderForm.html
COLORADO VACATION RENTALS
BUENA PARK CONVENTION & VISITORS OFFICE 6601
Beach Blvd. Suite 200, Buena Park CA 90621-2904. Come see
why we are the ideal spot for reunions and family vacations. We
are home to five major tourist attractions including Knott's Berry
Farm and only ten minutes away from Disneyland. Accommodations, restaurants and shopping are all within a mile! Beaches
and mountains close by. Call 800-541-3953 for a free Travel
Planner, or fax 714-562-3569. [email protected]; www.
visitbuenapark.com.
BRECKENRIDGE is the perfect destination for any reunion.
Vibrant history, natural beauty, and adventures for all ages make
for an ideal locale, especially with our mild summer mountain
weather. Our full-service reservation center also books: activities,
lift tickets, golf and transportation. Let our reunion expert help create
the Colorado getaway you've always imagined! Brecken-ridge
Hospitality P.O. Box 8329, 535 S. Park Avenue, Breckenridge CO
80424; 888-483-6142; fax 970-453-5165; brecklodging groups@
vailresorts.com; www.BreckenridgeHospitality.com.
YOSEMITE PINES RV RESORT & FAMILY LODGING
20450 Old Highway 120, Groveland, CA 95321 (209) 962-7690
We offer some of the best lodging near Yosemite National Park
with an assortment of cabins in a variety of sizes and price points.
Our Luxury Cabins offer plenty of space with a large double loft
and room for eight people, while our Premium Loft Cabins offer a
large single loft and room for six people. Spaces to accommodate all types of RVs and group tent sites. The whole family
will enjoy our pool area, our gold mine tour and our games area
complete with sand volleyball court, tetherball and horseshoes.
www.yosemitepinesrv.com.
DELAWARE
HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO BAYSIDE 4875 N Harbor Drive,
San Diego CA 92106; 619-224-3621; 800-650-6660; fax 619224-1787. Host your reunion at the beautiful Holiday Inn San
Diego Bayside across from San Diego Bay. Our experienced staff
will assist you in creating a very special event. Complimentary
hosp suite and special reunion rates. Beautiful guest rooms,
heated pool, spa, shuffleboard, ping-pong and billiards, exercise
room, family restaurant and cocktail lounge, free pkg, in-room
movies, coffee makers, refrigerators, hair dryers; dos@holinnbay
side.com; www.holinnbayside.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE™ RESORT offers a great place to
sleep, eat, play and relax in a beautiful mountain setting with a
wide variety of accommodations and activities such as golf,
swimming and tennis in the summer and snow sports activities
in the winter. It's no wonder Northstar was voted as a top 10
reunion destination by Family Travel Forum. A personal event
planner is provided to help plan your unforgettable reunion.
Highway 267 & Northstar Dr., Truckee, CA 96160, 800-926-5096,
[email protected], www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com.
VACAVILLE CONFERENCE & VISITORS BUREAU 1671 E.
Monte Vista Avenue, Suite 112, Vacaville CA 95688. Discover the
hidden the hidden gem of Vacaville, California. We’re only a
short drive from the Golden Gates of San Francisco, the Wine
Country in Napa and Sonoma, our historic Capitol in Sacramento
and the spectacular Sierra mountain range in Lake Tahoe. For
more information please contact us at [email protected] or
888-822-2132; visitvacaville.com.
COLORADO
GOLD POINT RESORT BRECKENRIDGE CO 80424; 866664-9793. Incredible views inspire incredible memories. Gold
Point Resort provides the perfect backdrop for bringing your
family together. Located above beautiful Breckenridge, Gold Point
offers scenery that is second to none and residences that are as
expansive as the vistas. Rafting, fishing, horseback riding, alpine
slide and numerous dining options are all close by. Call today to
learn how to save 40%, source code REUNN. www.goldpoint.com.
SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
ESTES PARK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU PO Box
1200, Estes Park CO 80517. Estes Park may be the perfect setting
for your reunion! Nestled in a valley surrounded by Rocky
Mountain National Park, fabulous scenery and recreation await
you. Enjoy shopping, trout fishing, horseback riding, river rafting,
golf, go karts, barbecues, hayrides, miniature golf, tram rides,
scenic drives and hiking. Let our group specialist help you find
lodging, meals and fun things for the whole family to enjoy! 80044-ESTES; fax 970-577-1677; [email protected]; www.
estesparkcvb.com/groups.cfm.
COLORADO TRAVEL DIRECTORY
COLORADO VACATION DIRECTORY Make your search for
the perfect family reunion destination easier! FREE FAMILY
REUNION DESTINATION LOCATION SERVICE: www.TheCVD.com/
groups and click on "EMAIL US your Request for Group
Accommodations." We will then send your requirements to
Cabins, Vacation Homes, Lodges, Motels, Condo's, B&B's, and
GREATER WILMINGTON CVB Nestled in the heart of the MidAtlantic, along the I-95 corridor, Delaware’s Greater Wilmington
and Brandywine Valley offers meeting/event planners and their
attendees’, unparalleled variety to experience…tax-free! Easily
accessible by I-95, Amtrak (80 trains daily) and Philadelphia
International (20 minutes), Greater Wilmington offers more than
6,000 guest rooms and the ability to accommodate 1,600 attendees.
To unlock all that this tax-free destination has to offer, the
Greater Wilmington, DE-CVB holds the key. Please explore us at
VisitWilmingtonDE.com or call 800-489-6664. SEE OUR DISPLAY
AD!
FLORIDA
EMERALD COAST CVB, INC. DESTIN-FT. WALTON BEACH
FL Emerald Coast CVB, Inc. Destin-Fort Walton Beach – Okaloosa
Island a reunion planner’s paradise with 24 miles of sugar white
beaches and emerald green waters, 16,000 first-rate accommodations, 400 events & festivals, water sports, superb coastal
cuisine, championship golfing, Air Force Armament Museum,
Big Kahuna’s Water Park, art galleries, nature trails and the
largest fishing fleet in Florida. Emerald Coast Conference Center
offers 35,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and gourmet
catering. Let us make your reunion planning easy! Contact Sherry
Rushing, CTIS, [email protected], 1-800-322-3319;
www.destin-fwb.com .
FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS…Stay In Hotels! There's
only one choice to host your family reunion and that's to stay in a
Florida Leisure Vacation Home. Hotels can be expensive
particularly when you need multiple rooms to house everyone.
Florida Leisure has an expansive range of 3 to 7 bedroom
vacation homes available and many of them are located close
together so housing large parties is no problem. Our homes all
have a full kitchen, living area, laundry, multiple TV's, private
swimming pool and best of all our homes are really close to Walt
Disney World and the other area attractions. Call 1-866-6786088 or email [email protected] or visit www.
FloridaLeisure.com
SEMINOLE COUNTY CVB Only 15-minutes yet worlds away
from Orlando, Seminole County offers great accommodations
and dining – nestled among charming historical villages,
surrounded by the beauty of natural Florida, peaceful rivers,
fishing, boating, hiking and more. Combining a convenient
location and lower average rates, Seminole County is ideal for
reunions. Visit www.AFreeNight.com or call 800-800-7832 or
407-665-2900. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
FLORIDAYS RESORT ORLANDO 12562 International Drive,
Orlando FL 32821. Located just two miles from SeaWorld and
Disney on International Drive, offers spacious two-and-three
bedroom Grand Suites, with room for everyone. The free shuttle
to the attractions and the I-Drive trolley makes it easy to get
around town. With two heated swimming pools, game room,
fitness center, and poolside bar and grille, you'll want to spend
quality family time right here at the resort. 321-329-4024; fax
321-329-4001; [email protected]; www.Floridays
ResortOrlando.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
THE ORLANDO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN is located in the
center of Orlando's business and entertainment district and
across from the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Amway Arena
and minutes from major attractions, shopping, entertainment and
restaurants. Choose from 290 gracious guestrooms including
eight parlor suites, 2 concierge and 2 executive levels providing
high-speed Internet access. The Orlando Marriott Downtown has
12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a high-tech
business center. We invite you to call us at 1-800-574-3160, fax
407-839-6109, www.orlandomarriott.com, SEE OUR DISPLAY
AD! Check out our “Reunion to remember” package.
M AY / J U N E / J U LY 20 0 9 O R E U N I O N S 41
THE POINT ORLANDO RESORT 7389 Universal Blvd,
Orlando FL 32819. Orlando’s newest, all-suite boutique hotel is
one block from International Dr., and one mile from Universal
Studios. Walk to Wet ‘n Wild or take the I-Ride Trolley to shops,
restaurants and amusements. We offer an outdoor heated pool,
banquet rooms and fitness center. Junior Suites sleep 4 and twobedroom suites sleep up to 8. 407-956-2056; www.thepointorlando.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
WET 'N WILD – ORLANDO 6200 International Dr. Orlando, FL
32819. 407-351-1800 Toll Free: 800-992-9453; www.wetnwild
orlando.com; [email protected]. Make your reunion a
splashing success! Come join us at Wet 'n Wild to celebrate your
unforgettable Family Reunion. We offer a variety of group
discounts for groups of 15 or more. Various food and beverage
options can be added for the complete package. With more multipassenger tube rides than any other waterpark in Orlando! Open
year-round with pools heated seasonally, Wet 'n Wild is the
perfect place for the entire family to relax, have fun, and soak up
the warm Florida sun!
COMFORT SUITES – WORLD GOLF VILLAGE 475
COMMERCE LAKE DR, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA 32095; 877940-9501; Adjacent to World Golf Village, visitors have
convenient access to area courses, the IMAX Theater, and the
World Golf Hall of Fame. All 162 luxurious suites come equipped
with desks, microwaves, refrigerators, coffee-makers, two
telephones, and high-speed Internet access. A heated indoor
pool, exercise facility, outdoor pool, whirlpool, and sundeck
round out the hotel's recreational facilities. Enjoy an upscale
continental breakfast and drinks at the popular Mulligan Pub in
the evening. Group discounts available. www.cswgv.com or
[email protected]. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
QUORUM HOTEL TAMPA 700 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa, FL
33609. Summer 09' Weekend Group rates starting from $69 with
breakfast! Perfect location for Busch Gardens and pristine
beaches. Restaurants and shopping within walking distance.
You'll love our free massage, and complimentary drink. Ask
about our reunion planning gift. Call Becca Zarcone 813-2883611 or [email protected]. Visit our website at
www.QuorumTampa.com.
PALM BEACH COUNTY offers a diverse collection of reunion
friendly hotels, boutique properties, legendary resorts and unique
offsite venues for meetings. Qualifying groups reserving space
now through September 30 may be eligible for a special master
account rebate. To find out more information, call the Palm Beach
County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.554.7256 or visit
palmbeachfl.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
GEORGIA
DOUBLETREE HOTEL ATLANTA NORTHWEST-MARIETTA
2055 South Park Place, Atlanta GA 30339. Located off I-75 north
of downtown Atlanta in Marietta, close to all area attractions,
shopping & restaurants. Our oversized rooms feature signature
Sweet Dream bedding and Chaise lounge, Coffee Makers, Full
Sized Ironing Boards and Irons, Flat Screen TV, Data Ports &
Wireless Access in Rooms. Indoor and Outdoor Pools. Hotel has
free parking, fitness center, restaurant & coffee bar on site. 770272-9441; fax 678-252-5907; [email protected];
www.atlantamarietta.doubletree.com.
DOLCE ATLANTA – PEACHTREE offers 40 beautifully
landscaped acres located only 25 miles South of Atlanta. With
233 guestrooms, tantalizing food and on site activities that
include swimming, volleyball, tennis, horseshoes, basketball,
biking and access to 90 miles of walking paths throughout the
city, there are endless options for enjoyment. Nearby shopping,
golf, summer concerts and easy access to downtown Atlanta
ensures something for everyone. 770-487-2666; www.dolceatlanta-peachtree-hotel.com.
GWINNETT CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (ATLANTA)
Minutes from Atlanta, the GCVB provides a FREE Reunion
Planner, group welcome bags with gift; and free lodging
assistance! Gwinnett has 97 group-friendly hotels with 33 of
Atlanta's best parks, and easy I-85 access to Six Flags, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Home, the new Aquarium and Stone Mountain
Park! Call Cricket Elliott toll-free at 1-888-494-6638, ext 6049;
direct at 770-814-6049 or by email at [email protected] to plan
your next Atlanta-based reunion today! www.gcvb.org. SEE OUR
DISPLAY AD!
JEKYLL OCEANFRONT RESORT 975 North Beachview Drive;
Jekyll Island GA 31527; 912-635-2531; fax 912-635-9072:
[email protected]; www.jekyllinn.com
42
SAVANNAH GETAWAYS 509 E. McDonough Street, Savannah
GA 31401; 866-690-2074; [email protected]; www.
savannahgetaways.net
IDAHO
BOISE offers the culture and entertainment of a large urban area
in a place that feels a little like everyone's hometown. Festivals,
whitewater rafting, golf, riverfront bike trails, snow skiing, unique
and historic attractions like the Warhawk Air Museum, a vibrant
downtown, shopping, fine dining and performing arts will ensure
a reunion jam-packed with memorable experiences.
BOISE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU PO Box 2106,
Boise ID 83701; Lisa Edens; 800-635-5240; 208-344-7777; fax
208-344-6236; [email protected]; www.boise.org.
ILLINOIS
ILLINOIS BUREAU OF TOURISM Come discover the “Soul of
Illinois,” where you can see, hear and touch the African-American
experience. Visit our many family-friendly water parks or trace
our state’s rich cultural legacy at one of our many heritage walks
and museums. Check into a luxury hotel in Chicago or a cozy
bed and breakfast in Galena. Host a family reunion in one our
scenic state parks. Visit SoulfulIllinois.com or call 1.800.2CONNECT
for your free Official African-American Travel Guide. SEE OUR
DISPLAY AD!
RECONNECT IN LAKE COUNTY halfway between Chicago
and Milwaukee. Lake County's natural spaces and fun places are
the perfect place for your next reunion. Our world-class
attractions and more than 60 lodging properties, including three
resorts, will make your next reunion a resounding success. For
free Reunion Planning Assistance call or email us with your
reunion planning questions to [email protected]; www.
lakecounty.org. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Discover the unexpected in Chicago Southland, the ideal location
for your next family reunion! The Chicago Southland offers an
array of family-friendly accommodations, attractions and outdoor
recreation venues. Parking is FREE. We offer FREE convention
services including bags, coupon books, maps and more! Visit
our website www.VisitChicagoSouthland.com or call 888-8953211. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
INDIANA
FORT WAYNE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1021
South Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802; 260-424-3700;
[email protected]; www.visitfortwayne.com. SEE
OUR DISPLAY AD!
MICHIGAN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES/BELLEVILLE
is located off of I-94 Service Dr. and Belleville Rd. in the beautiful
city of Belleville, Michigan near the Belleville Lake with entrance
to Lower Huron Metro Park. We are dedicated to serving your
next reunion with the utmost service you deserve. 46194 N. I-94
Service Dr., Belleville, MI. 48111, 734-857-6200. Check us out
at www.hiexpress.com/bellevillemi and see what all we have to
offer. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
GREEKTOWN CASINO – HOTEL is the best venue for your
group. The hotel offers theme buffets, 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting
space, rates based on double occupancy, and is located in the
heart of Detroit's Greektown entertainment district. More than 26
restaurants within walking distance, over 100,000 sq. ft. of
gaming space and great entertainment. There is also a people
mover stop located in Greektown Casino. 1200 Saint Antoine,
Detroit MI 48226; 877-GCH-5554; www.greektowncasino.com.
DETROIT METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Thinking of meeting in Detroit? We offer great services such as
tracing your family history, securing permits for area parks,
searching for hotel accommodations and much more. Detroit is
home to great family fun attractions including The Henry Ford,
America’s greatest history attraction, the Detroit Zoo, fine
museums and numerous festivals and events. 1-800-CALL-DTW
(225-5389), www.visitdetroit.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
MINNESOTA
WORRY-FREE REUNIONS AT CRAGUN’S RESORT 11000
Craguns Dr, Brainerd MN 56401: 800-CRAGUNS (272-4867).
Since 1940 Cragun’s has taken pride in creating memorable
reunions ... here’s why: 1) trained coordinator will help plan it all,
2) arrival “Welcome” and registration areas with planned activity
agendas, 3) activities including golf outings, lake cruises, picnics,
fishing contests, horse drawn trolley rides and more, 4) indoor
facilities to ensure you a “weather-proof” reunion, 5) private
gathering areas, 6) special celebration meals, 7) professional
group photos, 8) and best of all, enjoy a safe, secure friendly
environment. Come to Cragun’s for your reunion. Named “One of
MN’s ideal locations to hold a Reunion.” by AAA. Call for FREE
Reunion Planning Packet or visit: www.craguns.com/157.
MISSISSIPPI
TUPELO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Tour a
classic car museum filled with over 100 antique and classic cars,
go wild at an exotic animal park, experience Elvis Presley at his
birthplace and museum, shop at one of the state’s largest malls
and revel in our many exciting year-round events. Tupelo… the
Place to Go! 800.533.0611 or www.tupelo.net. SEE OUR DISPLAY
AD!
MISSOURI
THE BRANSON/LAKES AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS
BUREAU Located in America's heartland, Branson, Missouri is
the perfect destination for your next reunion because we offer so
many choices of entertainment, lodging, attractions, dining and
more. Remember, in Branson, our value is unrivaled, our scenery
breathtaking and our time-honored Ozarks hospitality inviting.
Call us toll free at 800-636-8573 or visit our website at
explorebranson.com and request a 2007 Reunion Planner Sales
kit. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
INDEPENDENCE, MO TOURISM DEPT. 111 E. Maple,
Independence, MO 64050; 866-657-MEET. Let Independence
welcome your reunion group, all at a great value and in a
convenient location. Enjoy nationally recognized heritage and
cultural attractions, one-of-a-kind restaurants, great shopping,
outdoor activities, a variety of accommodations and more. Add in
a trip to nearby Kansas City or an afternoon of professional
football or baseball. We provide itinerary planning, discounts and
other assistance. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! www.Independence
Meetings.com.
MONTANA
MONTANA'S FLATHEAD VALLEY is the gateway to Glacier
National Park and home to Flathead Lake and Big Mountain Ski
Resort with an abundance of recreation and cultural treasures.
Discover picturesque towns, championship golf, museums, galleries,
shopping, fine cuisine and true western hospitality. Flathead
CVB, 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901; 800-543-3105; fax
406-257-2500; [email protected]; www.montanasflatheadvalley.com.
NEVADA
MARDI GRAS HOTEL & CASINO 3500 Paradise Rd, Las
Vegas, NV. Conveniently located just off the Strip and a 3 minute
walk to the Monorail. Spacious oversized guestrooms each 400
sqft w/ mini-frig. Fun, affordable restaurant/bar open 24 hours.
Have your banquet in our 4000 sqft of flexible event space. Enjoy
all the fun and excitement of Las Vegas without the high price tag.
Create a lasting memory for all with the personal attention you
will receive from our friendly staff. Call today for great group
rates! 702-731-2020 x 743; www.mardigrasinn.com.
DESERT ROSE RESORT 5051 Duke Ellington Way, Las Vegas
NV, 89119; Phone 888-732-8099, Fax 702-597-3345; Spacious
renovated condo-style suites with full kitchen, separate living
room, dining room and relaxing balcony. Each room is modern
and beautifully decorated; Property features continental breakfast
each morning; location is just minutes from the famous Las
Vegas Strip, McCarran Airport. Resort consists of 284 suites in
addition to newly refurbished pool and Jacuzzi with BBQ facilities
and shaded seating; Banquet space available for special events.
This property makes for a perfect reunion of any kind. E-mail:
Sarah-Marie Vergara, Sales Manager svergara@shellvacations
llc.com;www.desertroseresort.com.
ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO 3800 S Virginia
Street, Reno, NV 89502. Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is the destination property for adventure with exciting gaming in an exotic
oasis, just minutes from Lake Tahoe. With 1,000 spacious and
beautifully appointed rooms, full-service European Spa & Salon
– guests truly experience paradise. Our premier chefs delight
your senses at any one of the eight exceptional restaurants. Complimentary airport shuttle, acres of free parking and valet available.
775-824-4400; fax 775-825-1170; www.atlantiscasino.com.
CIRCUS CIRCUS HOTEL & CASINO RENO 500 N. Sierra St.
Reno NV 89503 Whether business or pleasure brings you to us,
Circus Circus Reno offers over 1,500 rooms, six sensational
restaurants, a unique Midway of Fun, an expansive casino floor
with all the latest gaming action, and state-of-the-art convention
facilities. Free airport shuttle and parking available. Call 800894-3588 or visit circusreno.com for more information. SEE OUR
DISPLAY AD!
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NASHUA RADISSON 11 Tara Blvd, Nashua, NH 03062; 603888-9970. Have your reunion at the largest castle hotel in Boston’s
north neighbor-Nashua! Attractions include Canobie Lake Park,
indoor skydiving, skiing, Anheuser Busch Brewery, & tax free
shopping! Newly renovated, 326 guestrooms, indoor/outdoor
pool, restaurant, free parking & health club. www.radisson.com/
nashuanh. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
NORTH CAROLINA
LAKE LURE & THE BLUE RIDGE FOOTHILLS Family, girlfriends, military buddies, golfing, relaxing … whatever your reason
for getting together, you'll find the perfect setting here. Cruise on
beautiful Lake Lure, shop, go to a spa, dine, hike, bike … do it all
– or do nothing at all, and enjoy your gathering with family and
friends. Choose from sumptuous accommodations in an historic
hotel, cabin on the lake or other unique accommodations. We are
surrounded by major highways, have three major airports within
an hour, and are only thirty minutes from Asheville NC. Please
visit us at reunionsyourway.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
OHIO
BERTRAM HOTEL& CONFERENCE CENTER 600 North
Aurora Road, Aurora OH 44202. Located minutes from Wildwater
Kingdom in the historic Western Reserve. Offering 224 deluxe
guestrooms, suites & hospitality rooms, heated outdoor pool, two
fitness, two business centers & game room, banquet facilities,
casual & fine dining restaurants onsite. Area activities include
spa, golf, fly-fishing, shopping, museums, horseback riding,
canoeing & amusement parks. Local & airport shuttles. Virtual
tour at www.thebertraminn.com. For reunion packages contact
Liz Palchick at 330-995-7624.
LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS 4424 Milan Road, Suita A,
Sandusky OH 44870; 800-255-3743; fax 419-625-5009;
www.shoresandislands.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
OHIO ATTRACTIONS
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati OH 45202, is the nation's newest
monument to freedom, spotlighting courageous acts from the
Underground Railroad and beyond. Interactive and engaging, it
has 5 galleries, 1 theater, a dialogue area, and research and
education areas complete with a family search center to trace
your heritage. Group tours and facility rental available. 877-6484838 or www.freedomcenter.org. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
OREGON
LOON LAKE LODGE & RV RESORT 9011 Loon Lake Road,
Reedsport, OR 97467 (541)-599-2244 Reserve Cabins or the
Lakefront Home with fully furnished kitchens, satellite TV and free
Wi-Fi, for your next Family Reunion. Spaces to accommodate all
types of RVs and group tent sites. There is plenty of open water
for fishing, kayaking, WaveRunner riding, water skiing, or just
relaxing on a leisurely pontoon boat ride. Restaurant and general
store on property and catering available. Some of the smoothest
water skiing in Oregon is right here at Loon Lake! www.loonlake
rv.com.
PENNSYLVANIA
WOODLOCH RESORT & MEETING FACILITY Nestled in the
pristine forests of the Pocono Mountains Lake Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Woodloch Resort is the ideal destination
for family vacations, reunions, weddings and corporate retreats!
Featuring a private lake and miles of beautiful scenery, this 250
acre resort is located only two and a half hours from New York
City and is the perfect combination of old world charm, gracious
hospitality, and modern resort conveniences. We invite you to
visit our website at: www.woodloch.com or call 1800-572-6658
for further information and reservations.
VALLEY FORGE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
1000 First Avenue, Suite 101, King of Prussia PA 19406. DO
WHAT WASHINGTON DID. SET UP CAMP IN HISTORIC VALLEY
FORGE FOR YOUR NEXT REUNION! Quality hotels, unique offproperty meeting sites, world class shopping and fine dining.
Thirty minutes from Philadelphia. Surrounded by great regional
attractions. Get a free Valley Forge Meeting Planners Guide.
Contact Courtney Pozo: 610-834-7971,or [email protected]
or visit www.valleyforge.org.
SOUTH CAROLINA
OCEAN RESORTS – NORTH MYRTLE BEACH and MYRTLE
BEACH, SC. BEST DEALS FOR REUNIONS! For 25 years, Ocean
Resorts has been providing a variety of vacation properties
perfect for your reunion needs! Located in the Ocean Drive
section of North Myrtle Beach and Shore Drive area of Myrtle
Beach. Oceanfront and oceanview condos are available from 2 to
4 bedrooms with a variety of amenities. Call for the best group
rates: 800.334.5015. StayOceanResorts.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY
AD!
SEA MIST OCEANFRONT RESORT – MYRTLE BEACH SC
1200 South Ocean Blvd., 29577. REUNIONS MADE EASY!
Specializing in reunions from military to family at the most
affordable rates in Myrtle Beach. Sea Mist's premier oceanfront
location is near shopping, theaters and golf courses. Over 600 of
our 800 units have been completely remodeled, restaurants,
miniature golf, 10 pools, Jacuzzis, fitness room, 17,000-sq.ft. of
versatile meeting space and much more! 800-200-8687;
[email protected]; www.seamist.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY
AD!
SOUTH DAKOTA
RAPID CITY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Nestled
at the base of the legendary Black Hills, Rapid City lies at the
heart of the American experience, just minutes from the highest
concentration of public parks, monuments and memorials in the
world. Explore the South Dakota Air and Space Museum and
Ellsworth Air Force Base, then cap it all off with exciting tours and
fine dining before winding down in luxurious and affordable
accommodations. Visit www.visitrapidcity.com or call 800.487.
3223. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
TEXAS
KILLEEN CIVIC AND CONFERENCE CENTER AND
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 3601 South W.S.
Young Drive, Killeen TX 76542; Visit Killeen and Central Texas'
newest state-of-the-art Civic & Conference Center, and Regional
Airport. Over 2000 hotel rooms, unique attractions and tours, of
the world's largest military installation, Fort Hood. “Where
Freedom Grows!” 254-501-3888 or www.killeen-cvb.com.
LEWISVILLE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 606 W.
Main Street, Lewisville TX 75057; 800-657-9571; fax 972-2193719; [email protected]; www.visitlewisville.com Bring
your reunion to Lewisville TX, a small town within an urban
metropolis. Groups choose Lewisville because of our location,
hotel variety, mall shopping, restaurants, golf & Lewisville Lake.
Enjoy bass fishing, bird watching, catamaran sailing, water parks
& historic Old Town, all conveniently located 10 minutes from
DFW International Airport.
BLUEBONNET EVENT CENTER Adjacent to Lake Conroe
KOA. 35 fully furnished 1& 2 bedroom cottages. Great Family
Reunion Package – free hospitality room with kitchen if family
rents 10 or more cottages for 2 night minimum. Campfires,
indoor pool/hot tub, 6 acre fishing lake, playground, tennis court,
shuffleboard, horse shoes, paddle boats for rent – 1 1/2 miles
from Lake Conroe. 19785 Hwy. 105 West, Montgomery TX
77356; 936-582-5100; fax 936-582-1218; bluebonnetevents@
consolidated.net; www.bluebonneteventcenter.com.
UTAH
PARK CITY LODGING (formerly R&R Properties) is located in
the beautiful mountains of Park City, Utah. Enjoy properties
throughout Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons resort areas.
We can provide many ideal accommodations for reunions, retreats
and weddings. Call 800-348-6759; www.ParkCityLodging.com.
Let our knowledgeable staff assist you in creating a memorable
mountain experience.
VERMONT
SMUGGLERS' NOTCH RESORT At America's Reunion
Resort, you'll experience Mountain Resort Living, award-winning
children's programs (6wks. - 17yrs.), family activities and entertainment, swimming, skiing, hiking, dining, shopping & more.
Smugglers' Notch Resort – the only resort in North America to
guarantee Family Fun – Summer, Winter & Fall. For more information, call 1-800-521-0536. or visit www.smuggs.com/reunions.
SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
VIRGINIA
FREEDOM CENTER, LOUDON COUNTY 13951 Freedom
Center Lane, Leesburg VA 20176. We have 100 beautiful wooded
acres for your next reunion, birthday, anniversary or picnic.
Delicious catered meals; stocked 2 acre lake; sports and hiking
areas. Visit www.freedomcenter.us or call 703-777-3505 for a
tour. E-mail [email protected] or fax 703-777-5077.
VISIT FAIRFAX / FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA Enjoy
everything the National Capital Region has to offer. From the
monuments and memorials of Washington DC to the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. UdvarHazy Center to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Fairfax
County is an ideal location for your military or family reunion. Call
us at 703-790-0643 or visit our website today at www.fxva.com.
SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
WEB PAGE: reunionsmag.com
CALL: 414.263.4567
FAX: 414.263.6331
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WRITE: PO Box 11727
Milwaukee, WI 53211-0727
43
NEWPORT NEWS Close encounters with the ocean, ships,
history and the great outdoors in one central destination. All this,
plus Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Whether getting together
with old classmates, shipmates or "familymates", Newport News
provides the perfect location and services to make your reunion a
success! Outstanding services and support, the best value and
plenty to see and do, Newport News will make your next reunion
a memorable one. Call Cheryl Morales at 888-493-7386 or email
her at [email protected] to book your reunion. www.newportnews.org.
NORFOLK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 232 East
Main Street, Norfolk VA 23510. Norfolk's beautifully revitalized
waterfront, rich military heritage, walkable downtown and central
Mid Atlantic location make it the ideal destination for your next
reunion. Home to such attractions as the Battleship Wisconsin,
MacArthur Memorial, Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the
world's largest naval base. See why American Heritage named
Norfolk "A Great American Place." Offering over 2,000 committable
hotel rooms in various price ranges. Call 800-368-3097; dallen@
norfolkcvb.com; www.norfolkcvb.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
WEST VIRGINIA
MUSIC CD OR TAPE
REUNION PLANNERS
THE MALONE FAMILY CHOIR: A FAMILY REUNION is
an original gospel CD opening with a song you'll want to play
to say Welcome to Our Family Reunion! at your family
reunion. CD $15 or tape $10 + s/h.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REUNION MANAGERS
(NARM) PO Box 335428; North Las Vegas NV 89033
[email protected]; www.reunions.com.
POSTCARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notify your reunion members to SAVE THE DATE (bright red,
they'll not miss it!) and when you need reminders, send
postcards that say TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
Fill-in cards – $15 p/100 postcards or 20¢ each + s/h —
you fill in the date and reunion name; or
Custom printed cards - $45 p/100 postcards or 50¢ each.
Send info to be printed: for SAVE THE DATE! (name, date, &
place of reunion, contact info).
For TIME IS RUNNING OUT (name & date of reunion &
RSVP date) + fax number or email address to get your
approval before we print. Send to Reunions Magazine, Inc.,
PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727; credit card
charges call 1-800-373-7933, ext. 4 or order online;
www.reunionsmag.com/shopping.
THE WOODS RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER is located
in the Northern Shenandoah Valley & offers lodge rooms, cabins,
villas & private rentals. 36 holes of golf, 3 pools, basketball,
racquetball, tennis, softball, playground, exercise room, & the
Sleepy Creek Spa. Conference & dining facilities. 1694 The
Woods Rd., Hedgesville WV 25427; 800-248-2222; fax 304754-8146. [email protected]; www.TheWoods.com
All pre-paid parking reservations include complimentary shuttle
service, luggage assistance, and $100,000 of Automatic Flight
Insurance provided at no additional cost. Visit reunionsmag.com
and click on PARK RIDE FLY for discount airport parking at
more than 50 U.S. airports and start saving today!
WISCONSIN
BADGES AND BUTTONS
TUNDRA LODGE RESORT, WATERPARK & CONFERENCE
CENTER 865 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay WI 54304; Contact
Julie Tennessen at 920-496-2227; [email protected]
or contact Michelle Johnson at 920-491-5761; mjohnson@
tundralodge.com; www.tundralodge.com.
NAMETAG (PHOTO BUTTON) Using the alumni' photo we
create a custom button with your school name, colors, and
reunion year. Attachment options and accessories are available.
We offer personalized service and quick turnaround. Visit us at
www.TheButtonFactory.com/Reunions.htm
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
BOOKS & SOFTWARE
All of the following can be purchased at www.reunionsmag.com/
shopping or call 1-800-373-7933, ext. 4.
THE REUNION PLANNER 11661 San Vicente Blvd., Suite
306, Los Angeles CA 90049; 310-820-5554; fax 310-820-8341;
[email protected]; www.reunionplanner.com.
BOOKS
THE FAMILY REUNION SURVIVAL GUIDE: How to
Avoid Problems With Your Family Without Avoiding
Your Family by Laurence A. Basirico. (2003, Identity
Publishing, $11.95). A book about relationships at family
reunions and how to enjoy them. Based on original research.
2106 Coy St., Burlington, NC. (336) 584-1442.
Secrets of Successful Family Reunions, by Robert W.
Wolfe a.k.a. Uncle Bob A how-to-book for successful family
reunions. Whether simple or elaborate it helps those who wish
to pass their values to the next generation. 2008. $16.99 + s/h.
The Pick A Party book set, by Patty Sachs, party-planning expert.
Book #1: Pick a Party, The Big Book of Party Themes and
Occasions, 100 theme party plans for holidays, milestone
occasions and special events.
Book #2 Pick-A-Party Cookbook, Includes menus, recipes
and table decoration ideas for the 100 theme parties in Book
#1. Regularly $20 for the set, only $16.00 + $2 s/h) for
Reunions magazine readers.
Family Reunion, by Mary Quattlebaum, Illustrated by Andrea
Shine. Thoughtful and fun, this book gives glimpses of family
togetherness and tradition through various poetic forms,
including free verse, a sonnet, haiku, a ballad and more. $16 +
s/h.
The Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games & Activities,
by travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers. "May be the ultimate
solution for back seat squabbling" on the way to your reunion.
Keep kids entertained all the way there. $8.95 + s/h.
Treasure and Scavenger Hunts (3rd ed.) How to Plan,
Create, and Give Them, by Gordon Burgett Communications
Unlimited, 2007, 134 pp. $15.95 + s/h or $12.95 digital.
Your Living Family Tree: Keeping your family together
forever through print, photos, sound and video, by
Gordon Burgett Communications Unlimited, 2008, 174 pp.
$17.95 + s/h or $15.95 digital.
WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED
USING THIS MAGAZINE,
PLEASE RECYCLE IT.
44
AIRPORT PARKING
COOKBOOKS
The Cookbook People Family Reunion Cookbook Software
Write, organize and print a family reunion cookbook from your
own computer with Matilda's Fantastic Cookbook Software.
There are no extra charges or contracts. 27 templates give you a
variety of cookbook designs you can print with your home printer.
www.cookbookpeople.com.
GAMES
FAMILY REUNION GAME is a personalized family game that
takes your unique family history, stories and trivial facts and
preserves this information in a fun, interactive, custom-made
board game. In addition, each game comes with a game board
made exclusively for you with your individual family photos.
This game is ideal for reunions and get-togethers and for
preserving your family's heritage and unique stories. Document
your legacy at familyreuniongame.com. Contact Jenny Jordan at:
[email protected].
Seeking ideas to build enthusiasm before your reunion? Create an
online matching game of Then and Now photographs and challenge
everyone to pair them up. We help you digitize old photographs
inexpensively and invite everyone to contribute current pictures.
10% discount coupon: RM1. Can you recognize everyone at
www.YouHaveNotChangedOneBit.com?
NAMETAGS/ MEMENTOS
REUNION NAME TAGS Full color photo quality nametags for
your family, military or school reunion. Thermal imaged on credit
card size vinyl badges with lanyards or gator clips that stay on,
without damaging clothing. Affordable, durable, unique. Call or
e-mail for free samples. Reunion Name Tags. 775-686-0441;
[email protected] or www.reunionnametags.com.
MAKE A REUNION MEMORY BOOK We know how important
your upcoming reunion is and School Annual wants to help you
preserve these memories. Why not create your very own memory
book! Our unique online page creation allows a multiple user
interface. School Annual has the tools to make a fast, fun and
easy way for your group to celebrate and share their story. Start
building a new tradition; contact us for information and ideas to
create your personal Reunion Memory Book. School Annual
Publishing Company, 500 Science Park Road; Suite B, State
College, PA 16803; 800-436-6030; fax 800-436-6048; yearbook
@schoolannual.com; www.schoolannual.com.
IN CHARGE OF PLANNING YOUR CLASS BASH? AT
CLASSMATES.COM, you'll have access to time-saving toolsand the world's largest alumni database-to make your job easier.
Contact your entire graduating class with one message. Create
surveys to find out what your attendees want to eat, see, and do.
And when details (inevitably) change, post event updates on the
fly. Plan at www.classmates.com/reunion and reunite relaxed.
SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!
REUNION RIBBONS
REUNION ‘09? Colorful, embossed custom ribbons (in your
words) add a “touch of class” to your event & name badges. Ideal
bookmark-keepsake that says “you were there”. Created expressly
for class, family and military reunions. Class Ribbons available
in school colors. For sample ribbon and idea brochure:
REUNION MATE 800-208-6804 or www.ribbons4reunions.com
REUNION WEBISTE BUILDER &
REGISTRATION
MYEVENT.COM Create your own reunion website with no
skills. It's fast and easy to use. Your reunion website has great
features and planning tools. It will make planning much easier
and everyone will love it! Features: Online registration, rsvp,
ticket payment, message boards, family tree, guest book, quiz,
poll, stories, photo albums, no ads, travel information, more. 7 day
free trial. Only $9.95 / month. www.myevent.com. Any Questions
- 877-769-3836 or [email protected].
REUNION SOCIAL NETWORKING &
TRAVEL PLANNING
Groople, the leading online group travel planning and booking
site, is now a preferred supplier for Reunions magazine. The
partnership will provide several advantages for the Reunions
magazine customers including the ability to have their own
reunion web page on Groople's newest social networking site,
GroopVine. Other advantages include the ability to easily search
for hotels that are most appropriate for reunions, get rates
instantly for up 9 rooms and rates within 24 hours for more than
10 rooms, and book air and car for your reunion. Groople has
booked thousands of reunions and understands the challenges
and needs of the reunion organizers. Groople can accommodate
special needs of all ages and help the organizer find the right
travel solution. Find us at www.reunionsmag.com.
T-SHIRTS
**FAMILY REUNION T-SHIRTS by Cacprintwear.com**
Experience the advantage of buying manufacturer direct. Our
designs make the difference, our graphic art's staff will help you
customize a special design with all your reunion details free of
charge. Free banner or cookbook offer, free shipping and friendly
customer service. Don't buy until you get our price! Call toll free
1-866-661-4348
AMERICA’S #1 SOURCE FOR REUNION APPAREL AND
GIFTS T-shirts, Totes, Keepsakes & Gifts Easy-To-Order.
Fun-To-Wear. Fast-Turn-Around. Beautiful and colorful reunion
designs as featured on Good Morning America, personalized for
your event! Browse our huge selection of quality apparel and
exciting new products. Shop our Reunion Kits for great package
pricing and low minimums! REUNION GEAR 1-800-451-1611
www.reuniongear.com
CUSTOM SCREEN PRINTING AND EMBROIDERY. Customize
T-shirts and many other items for your event. Use one of our fully
customizable screen print templates or a stock embroidery
design and there is NO set-up charge! Quick, friendly service. A
portion of every sale goes to benefit children’s charities. Contact
us for a no obligation quote. www.CustomizationHQ.com; store@
customizationhq.com or 240-398-3526.
OURFAMILYREUNIONSTUFF.COM Your one-stop source for
Reunion Tees & More!2774 N Cobb Parkway, Suite 109-339,
Kennesaw GA 30152, 678-261-8870; fax: 678-306-0659;
[email protected]; www.OurFamilyReunionStuff
.com
CREATE YOUR OWN FAMILY REUNION T-SHIRT STORE
at Store4Reunions.com. Design and set prices for your own
family's products. Sell regular screen-printed t-shirts, special
photo tees, embroidered polos, coffee mugs, and buttons. Call
800-575-2595 for FREE planner or email [email protected]
for reunion planning spreadsheet templates.
45
P.O. Box 11727 O Milwaukee WI 53211-0727
www.reunionsmag.com
TM

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