On Reunions
❖ edith wagner
Where Are All the Reunions? ANY BUSINESS INTERESTED IN serving or selling to reunions wonders how to find them. And that was certainly our question 21 years ago when we started trying to find reunions to share our magazine (Reunions) with. As it turns out, however, it was a matter of how to make reunions find us. Because what we learned was reunions can be anywhere, organized by anyone, and there is nothing that distinguishes the people from anyone else. In other words, there was no one convenient place to find reunions.
reunion, are going to a reunion or know someone who is planning a reunion so that you can inform them of your services. That, of course, is about as slow a way as you can do it but probably the most accurate. Branching out, I’d suggest you include reunions on the list of kinds of groups you serve. It will give reunion organizers ideas. Use every church, school and club bulletin you can find to offer tour services to reunion groups. Share several itineraries that might interest reunion groups as examples. Plant the seeds.
To reach reunion organizers, include reunions on the list of kinds of groups you serve Reunion organizers typically are very devoted to their group, but there’s no way you can tell that without asking. Most reunion organizers do not simply blurt it out, nor do they wear T-shirts that say “I organize my family reunion.” Although on the subject of T-shirts, you can easily tell it’s a reunion group if they’re all wearing one of those kazillions of family reunion shirts that are ubiquitous in summer. You’ll have a pretty good clue that in that crowd there is a leader, a decision maker and someone you’d like to talk to. Okay, so we’ve established that the business of finding reunions is tricky because there’s no way to really identify a reunion organizer unless you ask. And how do you do that without walking up to everyone you encounter, and asking! To start your very own collection of reunions, start close to home. Ask anyone, where appropriate, if they have a 10 April 2011
WHERE DO YOUR OPPORTUNITIES LIE? Tours for many reunions are essential, but how those tours are constructed can take many different shapes. And, of course, come in many sizes. As do all reunions. Starting with the most parochial are tours of places that are of importance to the family or reunion group. These tours are usually facilitated based upon a list provided by the organizer or a representative of the reunion or sometimes by a local historical society. Often historians or genealogists act as step-on guides for the tour. Most reunions are interested in tours of the local attractions where they are meeting. They could choose an established tour or declare specific things they want to see or visit. Taking tours a little further afield is not unusual for some reunions. I wrote a story recently about reunions
in Norfolk, Virginia, where several military reunions added days to tour Williamsburg and Jamestown while they were in the area. Before the start of the recession, I was learning about more and more reunions hiring motorcoaches. One summer weekend I stayed in a suburban Detroit business park hotel filled with reunions. (Smart hotel: business travelers all week, reunions on the weekend.) There were at least half a dozen buses from all over the country. During the reunion the coaches took members to picnics and on local tours or ferried them to malls, casinos and the zoo. Indicative of a good reunion, most of the members were dragging their exhausted selves onto the bus Sunday morning hugging their pillows and clearly expecting to catch up on sleep on the trip home. Reunion organizers will find valuable ideas in the 11th edition of Reunions Workbook, a step by-step planning guide published by Premier Tourism Marketing. Subjects range from choosing a date and location to budgeting and setting up committees. Also covered are accommodations, meals, themes, activities and fundraising. To order Reunions Workbook ($9.95), log on to groupuniversity.com.
THERE IS A LIST AFTER ALL Reunions magazine’s website does have a list of upcoming reunions. There might well be a group listed that is waiting to hear from you! Edith Wagner is founder and editor of Reunions magazine. Visit reunionsmag.com for more info, request a free sample of the magazine and become a fan on Facebook.
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