Reunions Magazine Volume 24, Number 4. May/June/July 2014 (SOLD OUT) by Reunions Magazine

KidsStuff Icebreakers Games reunions play! Display until July 31, 2014.

Vo l 24 n o 4 m ay / j u n e / j u ly 2014 $ 3 / U SA

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Enter the “My Family wants to WIN a Reunion In Branson” 300 word Essay Contest by telling us why your family should win. One lucky family will get a FREE Family Reunion to Branson in 2015 for up to 20 members of your family. Request by email the official contest entry form which includes the rules and regulations. Some restrictions apply, no purchase required. Deadline to submit is Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

When you’re thinking of your next location, think Branson. Great outdoors. World-class shows. Unique hotels and resorts. The country’s friendliest hosts. With good, clean fun for miles, it’s all smiles. To learn more about group travel to Branson, contact Julie Peters at JPeters@BransonCVB.com.

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The GOLD COAST and SAM’S TOWN are all set to welcome your military, family or alumni reunion members. Here are some Impressive reasons to hold your reunion with one of us: • One complimentary room per 35 utilized room nights, upgraded to a one-bedroom Executive Suite • Five Free Room Upgrades • 5% off catered lunch or dinner • 15% off in-house a/v rental, excluding labor • Group welcome on our marque • Catering gratuity only 18%—lowest in Las Vegas • Shuttle to the Strip • Complimentary 24x24 dance floor for dinner and banquet • Complimentary podium, wired microphone and riser • For Military Reunions, a $2.00 per room night rebate to the War Memorial of your choice on behalf of reunion group and the Hotel For more information, please contact Group Sales at Gold Coast 800-331-5334 or 702-251-3560 e-mail: gcsales@boydgaming.com Sam’s Town Las Vegas 800-897-8696 or 702-454-8122 e-mail: stlvsales@boydgaming.com Offer based on minimum of 35 rooms and 50 attendees, for new Groups only. This offer is available through December 23, 2015 based on availability of seasonal room rates.

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L A K E

C O U N T Y,

I L L I N O I S

Let’s plan a

reunion to remember in Lake County, Illinois Hi, I’m Kimberly. I’m Lake County’s reunion specialist and I’m ready to help you create an unforgettable event. Let’s work together to customize an itinerary to maximize all the excitement of our central location. Just 30 minutes north of Chicago, take advantage of attractions like Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor. We also offer 60 hotels, three resorts, more than 75 lakes and beaches, and beautiful spaces perfect for picnics. Choose Lake County for family friendly fun. I’m ready to help. Email me at kimberly@lakecounty.org or visit LakeCountyReunions.com.

1-800-LAKE-NOW

4 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

in this issue Departments front Words – 4 ALUM & I – 6

May/June/July 2014 Volume 24 • Number 4

Boerne High School reunion by Margie Travis Charitable reunions

Publisher / Editor in Chief Edith Wagner

BRANCH OFFICE – 8

Travel Editor Jacky Runice

Time Capsule 2010 by Jennifer B. Worley Imagine this! a global family reunion! a conversation with A.J. Jacobs

Scrapbook – 10

Reunion School Hospitality Answerman by Dean Miller F&N retirees enjoy annual reunion by Jan Park Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion, Reunion Name Tags, Reunion by Bruce Simonian

Masterplan – 17

Celebrating a century by Mindy Jones How to keep ‘em coming back (to the family reunion) by Jeff Richmond MacDonough Country by Don MacDonough Celebrating Our Roots, In the Root of Our Nation by Aminah Bey Kelley/Miller Family Reunion by Veronica Louise Kelley Jones Bowens visit Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Foster-White family reunion cruise by Adrienne Berry Cottons camp Oregon by Janis Wilson Taylor, Cabbagestalk, Manigault and Nickens Family by Candy C. Tibbs-Brockett Leave nothing to chance by Niko Cook Burttschell Memorial by Arliss Treybig LeFlores meet in Chicago by Carol Bolden Noisette Family in France

REUNION VENUES & FEATURES – 27

KIDSSTUFF Summer Trip Pep Talk 101 by Eileen Wacker Family reunion Pen Pals Genealogy: a hobby kids can enjoy! Reunion games for teenagers Free puzzles from Activity Village BOOKS Tractor Mac Family Reunion by Billy Steers The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World® 2014 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa uKloo adds riddles to treasure hunt Get kids playing outdoors, kids keep visual memories, recipes for reunion fun ICEBREAKERS Icebreakers break the tension How some reunions break the ice Icebreaker questions and lot of ideas for your reunion … GAMES REUNIONS PLAY A tale of 1,001 stories A golf open and a golf tournament Peters Family Reunion Jeopardy by Oliver Peters, Jr. Half century celebration by Karen Nieuweerta Family reunion fun … lots of games

Military Reunion News – 36

USS Oklahoma City Reunion Cruise by John Baker Trace veteran ancestor, students attend D-Day reunion, July 4th reunion of military reunions!

Reunion Resources – 38 A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and products On the cover Noisette Family Reunion in Nantes, France, at an ancestral home. See page 26.

Art Director Jennifer Rueth Senior sales account manager Marion Liston Operations Manager Karla Lavin Web Wizard Josh Evert Special Projects Kirsten Holmes Casey O’Brien Administrative Staff Nicole Dettmering Ksioszk hospitality answer man Dean Miller Contributors John Baker • Adrienne Berry • Aminah Bey Carol Bolden • Vernon P. Bowen Peggy Noisette Merrell Clement Niko Cook • Marvin Elliott Ellis Sherry Harrison • Jeff Hull • A.J. Jacobs Mindy Jones • Veronica Louise Kelley Jones Don MacDonough • Karen Nieuweerta Jan Park • Oliver Peters, Jr. Jeff Richmond • Juliana Smith Candy C. Tibbs-Brockett • Margie Travis Arliss Treybig • Eileen Wacker Janis Wilson • Jennifer B. Worley R eunions magazine , I nc . (ISSN #1046-5 s 235), is published 4 times per year. Send correspondence, queries, submissions, subscriptions, advertising to Reunions m agazine, 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: editor@reunions mag. com or fax 414-263-6331. 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, byline stories or materials. We reserve the right to edit and/ or refuse any material submitted for publication. We solicit participation and take responsibility for submitted materials. Unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), submissions and photos will not be returned. All materials sent for purposes of publication become property of R eu n ions maga zi n e , I nc . Subscriptions: US and Canada $9.99/yr, $17.99/2 yrs. All other addresses, call for rates. Back issues available for $3 each plus postage. Payment must accompany requests for subscriptions, back issues or other items for sale. Advertising rate information available from Reunions magazine, Inc., PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727; 414-2634567; fax 414-263-6331 | e-mail editor@reunions mag.com | reunionsmag.com. © 2014 Reunions magazine, Inc. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 3

FRONT WORDS

Be in touch! Welcome to our Summer 2014 issue!

Mail to Reunions magazine PO Box 11727 Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 call 414-263-4567 visit www.reunionsmag.com fax 414-263-6331 e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com

or many of us, summer seemed a far-off illusion through the harsh winter months, but here we are – which means it’s reunion season again! For you, that probably means still some work ahead but followed by the magic of a successful reunion. For us, that means some requests for you to think about so when your reunion is finished, you can share the report with us and with other reunion planners. Appoint reunion members to “cover” your reunion as the media would. Choose a photographer, videographer, journalist/reporter to record the highlights, and a social network specialist (to post updates for those who can’t be there, and after-reunion details for everyone, whether they attended or not).

July 4th Military Reunion Planners reunion

Reunion Friendly Network, Reunions magazine and Visit Fairfax in Virginia have partnered to organize a unique reunion for Military Reunion Planners only, to be held July 2-6, 2014. Enjoy a Star Spangled Independence Day celebration, including the renowned July 4th fireworks on The National Mall! There is an optional program. Details at reunionfriendly.com, click on confams and events.

Do you follow us on Pinterest?

We’ve added a new board called Reunion Memorials. Many planners are looking for unique ways to commemorate members who have passed away. We find these to be unique, clever and well done for honoring deceased members.

Plan photos, please

T-shirt logos here!

If you plan to submit your reunion pictures to Reunions magazine, please note that photos for publication MUST be taken with a camera, not a phone. This may seem somewhat counter-intuitive since you probably take pictures with your cell phone all the time. However, those photos are not adequate for the magazine because their resolution is not high enough; pictures for publication must be at least 300 dpi. So get your digital camera ready in advance of your big event, and be sure it’s set at the highest possible resolution. We can use your cell phone photos on our web, facebook and Pinterest pages. But if you want to see your pictures in Reunions magazine, use a camera. Some reunions hire a professional photographer, but many have members who can produce pictures that rival those taken by professionals.

Our web wizard, Josh Evert, has designed logos that he can personalize for your reunion. See designs at Etsy.com/shop/ reunionsmagazine. Take the logo to your t-shirt/memento printer, or follow instructions to print your own t-shirts (ideal for small reunions). It’s pretty easy ... I’ve done it myself! Instructions and a list of supplies you’ll need are included.

Deposit deadline May 20, 2014! Act NOW!

You want to plan a cruise reunion, but don’t know where to start? Take a familiarization cruise, the perfect opportunity to learn how to plan a cruise reunion ... on a cruise! Group cruise expert Brian Forrester (480-998-1112 or Brian@hcttravel.com) has organized a familiarization cruise for family reunion planners, to be held August 28 through September 1, 2014, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aboard the Caribbean Princess to Grand Turk and Turks & Caicos. Includes accommodations, meals, entertainment, activities and reunion planning discussions. Limit 16 balcony cabins; one reunion per cabin. $100 deposit per cabin due May 20, 2014; final payment due June 29, 2014. 4 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

See you in Birmingham!

I will be at the Reunion Planner Workshop, June 21, 2014, in Birmingham, Alabama. I look forward to meeting you if you’re planning a reunion in Birmingham! For details about this and many more workshops, see details on pages 10 & 11. We need another ad salesperson!

We need someone to sell more ad space in this magazine and online. It must be someone who can tolerate being told “no!” and rejoice when told “yes!” The ideal candidate will have sold print advertising, will know reunions, and in the best of all possible worlds, have a portfolio of travel-friendly advertisers. Generous commission. Send background, hopes, desires and/or resume to editor@reunionsmag.com. This is the last number of our 24th volume, which means that the next issue starts our historic 25th volume. In the next issue we will start to look back over the past 24 years and continue during the next year, leading up to concluding our 25th year of Reunions! We wish you a very joyous and successful reunion season! EW

EAST POINT on PoInt For your FAmIly rEunIon

Just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport , the charming community of East Point provides the perfect setting to bring families together.

Plan your

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Find out more at

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Brought to you by Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

alum & I

Boerne High School reunion

long with a small committee of volunteer classmates, Margie Travis, San Antonio, Texas, plans reunions every five years for the Boerne (Texas) High School Class of ’84. Margie instigated the last reunion five years ago. It was so fun folks haven’t stopped asking when the next one will be. So she invited a few San Antonio area classmates to a meeting and they chose a date to get the ball rolling for their next reunion. They are considering including one class ahead and one behind them. The reunion has several traditions: finding more “old” photos, finding and inviting even more classmates, and making sure the song list for the big evening is perfect. Also, one month before the reunion, local classmates get together to decorate cars and ride in the town’s annual Father’s Day parade to “advertise” the class reunion. SO fun!

A classmate currently is creating a custom website to inform alumni and invite them to the reunion. Promotion is done on facebook, in local newspapers, via emails, on t-shirts and koozies, and in the parade! Individual ticket sales cover the cost of food, venue, DJ, etc. “About collecting money, our committee decided to have our treasurer create a PayPal account, so classmates have the option of sending checks to her or paying their registration fee thru PayPal. Those choosing to pay online are responsible for the small (2.9%) fee, which has not been even a slight issue,” said Travis. Reunion activities have included a PowerPoint presentation and casino night, dancing (1980s music), and the reunion invites former faculty. See boerne1984.com.

Class of 1984 advertises their reunion by riding in the Fathers Day parade in Boerne, Texas.

Short takes Are reunions a thing of the past?

Maybe going to my reunion would allow me to unplug from social networks and interact with people in the pictures on my facebook page. It also might allow a connection with someone I didn’t know well in school, maybe make a new “old” friend. And you know, nothing beats a good hug from an old friend you haven’t seen in years. Allison Salz from her “Grain of Salz” column in The Edmonton Sun, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ 6 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Stories, memorabilia sought for Catholic Central reunion

atholic Central Elementary (formerly St. Mary’s School) in Appleton, Wisconsin, will hold an all-school reunion on May 17, 2014 to commemorate its closing at the end of the 2013-14 school year and to celebrate 150 years of Catholic education at St. Mary’s Parish. The reunion will begin with a mass at St. Mary’s Parish, followed by a dinner and party at the school site. The reunion committee is searching for all former students and staff of St. Mary’s School and Catholic Central Elementary. Organizers also are looking for oral histories, photographs, uniforms or trophies that can be showcased during the reunion. The stories and memorabilia also may be used in a book commemorating the event. Contact catholiccentralreunion@gmail.com or 920-915-0967; www. allschoolreunion.wordpress.com. From an announcement in the Appleton Post Crescent, Appleton, Wisconsin

Charitable reunions Classes break reunion records Pinecrest classes donate to College of William and Mary’s 2013 Homecoming weekend school, charities Thereaped over $17.25 million in cash and pledged donations from class reunion gifts. Ten classes participated in the giving, from the Class of 1963 celebrating its 50th reunion to 2008 celebrating its fifth. All classes exceeded their monetary goals. Four records were set for total dollars raised: 2008 set the record for dollars raised at a 5th reunion, 2003 for a 10th, 1983 for a 30th and 1978 for a 35th. Individual classes set monetary goals, but the focus is participation, not monetary amounts. Older alumni are more inclined to give larger amounts, but gifts and participation from younger classes have grown in recent years. Planning for reunion class gifts starts a year before, when gift committee members begin contacting alumni about giving to the College. Class gift committees work separately from reunion planners. One member of the class of 2003 said his 10th reunion gift was his appreciation for how his time at school prepared him for his career. “[The College] offers so many things to students, like research funding and scholarships, it only seemed right to give a gift,” he said. From an article by Zach Hardy in The Flat Hat, the official student newspaper of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia

BMHS Class of ’63 pumps up scholarships

t its 50th reunion, the Beloit (Wisconsin) Memorial High School Class of 1963 raised $3,000 for the Purple Knights Scholarship Fund. It is the largest, single contribution to the fund. Alumni enjoyed a week’s worth of activities including fundraising, prizes and more. The class raises scholarship funds at each reunion every five years. The Purple Knight Scholarship fund has grown over the years to over $42,000. A formal statement from the class said: “On the occasion of the 50th reunion of the 1963 graduating class of Beloit Memorial High School, we dedicate our scholarship gift for a new generation of BMHS graduates to the Purple Knights of 1963 who can be with us only in memory.” The district has about $600,000 in scholarship monies invested and handled by the Stateline Community Foundation. The money is awarded in spring to students who meet criteria and are selected by scholarship selection committees. Awards are sent to the higher education institution of a student’s choice. It is hoped other classes will pick up the challenge, make their gathering special and keep the scholarship funds rolling in for future generations. From a story by Debra Jensen-DeHart in the Beloit Daily News, Beloit, Wisconsin

onations from Pinecrest (North Carolina) High School Classes of 1970 to 1975 have resulted in immediate benefits for at least one high school program. With all the cutbacks, donations have an immediate impact, allowing the school to do the extra things that encourage students to focus on their goals. Donations came from raffles at the reunion, leftover planning funds and donations by former classmates who were unable to attend. Of the $1,400 in total donations, $400 was earmarked for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills, and for the Special Olympics in memory of Stanley Klingenschmidt, Pinecrest High School Class of 1974. The $1,000 contribution to Pinecrest was distributed in five $200 allocations to the Patriot Promise program, the Pinecrest track and cross country program, the academic program, the athletic program, and the Pinecrest ROTC program. From an article by John Lentz in the Southern Pines Pilot, Southern Pines, North Carolina

Class of 1963 donates to Education Foundation

embers of the Class of 1963 Reunion Planning Committee, whose 50th class reunion drew more than 300, presented a check for $1,000 to the Pocatello (Idaho) High School Education Foundation. Following their past reunions, each class has donated funds to the foundation as a small token of appreciation and recognition to the dedicated teachers and to the educational opportunities they had while attending Pocatello High School. The donation will be used by the foundation to fund grants submitted by current staff members to help them meet student needs. At the presentation, the Class of 1963 extended a challenge to all other classes holding future reunions to support their respective school’s education foundation. From a notice in the Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, Idaho

PO Box 335428 • North Las Vegas NV 89033 800-654-2776 • reunions.com • narm@reunions.com MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 7

branch office

Imagine this! a global family reunion!

.J. Jacobs is an editor at large at Esquire magazine and author of The New York Times best selling The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, Guinea Pig Diaries and other books. But for this discussion, which is only just beginning, he is planning The Global Family Reunion! So we were eager to learn more … What is this about a Global Family Reunion?

You’re invited to a little get-together I’m planning: the mother of all family reunions. Next year, thousands of my relatives from first to 26th cousins – will, I hope, gather to eat barbecued chicken, play tug-o-war and meet each other. It’s my dream that when we realize we’re all related, we’ll treat one another with more civility.

Do others know about this reunion?

Over the last few weeks, I’ve started telling cousins I know, and cousins I don’t. I’ve sent hundreds of save-the-date notices to relatives I found through Geni,Wikitree, MyHeritage, 23andMe and other sites. Reactions have been mixed. One distant cousin asked, “Is this a scam?” But many were enthusiastic. “Par-teeee!!!” wrote one cousin from England. A bunch have asked if they can stay at my house. I have a New York apartment, so it might get a little tight after the first few hundred. Any reunion planner will tell you there are many details necessary to planning a reunion. What are your plans?

I’ve already booked the venue and date. The reunion will be Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, on the

ost your next meeting or reunion at the Ontario Convention Center, located in the heart of Southern California’s best. Convenient airport and freeway access make travel a breeze. Superior catering, professionalism and a breathtaking venue give your event the added edge to make it a spectacular experience. Worldclass shopping. Beautiful weather. Amazing recreational venues, and all that Southern California has to offer. All ready and waiting for you when the business day is done. Meet, explore and connect in Greater Ontario, California.

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grounds of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs. It could backfire spectacularly. It could prove that familiarity breeds contempt and end with a huge brawl on the museum’s lawn. It could be that no one shows up. I know you’ll be pleasantly surprised. People love family reunions and many will be eager to meet you! You’ll see! So who are all these cousins you’ve discovered?

My family tree sprawls far and wide. It’s not even a tree, really. More like an Amazonian forest. At last count, it was up to nearly 75 million family members. It’s not really my tree. It’s our tree. A lot of these folks have no clue who I am. But at least, according to this research, we are, in the broadest sense, family. Geni has the World Family Tree of about 75 million relatives in more than 160 countries and all seven continents, including Antarctica. You upload your family tree, which can merge your tree with another tree that has a cousin in common and merges and merges again. This creates vast webs with hundreds of thousands – or millions – of cousins by blood and marriage, provided you think the links are accurate. I realize many traditional genealogists have serious reservations. Crowd-sourced family trees bring up thorny issues about accuracy, privacy and data ownership. Critics point out that the shared trees are often poorly sourced and packed with errors that will take years to untangle. But, if eventually, we all are related anyway, won’t those errors be moot?

I’m in favor of a collaborative global family tree, despite its flaws. … I plan to throw the biggest family reunion in history. I need at least 4,514 relatives to beat the current Guinness record, held by the Porteau-Boileve family in France. I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got lots of smart relatives. Please come. For Global Family Reunion details, see ajjacobs.com/global-family-reunion

Stay in Touch 2 0 0 0 E. Co nventi o n Center Way I O nt ario Califo rn ia 91 764 9 0 9.937. 30 0 0 I 80 0.4 5 5 .575 5 I i nfo @ o nt ario cc.o rg 8 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

once a month

Time Capsule 2010

“

ou’re in charge of Gram’s family reunion next year,” we were told. The wheels turned in my mind. What would make the next reunion special and something to remember? Why not create a short family history in a keepsake book? The reunion budget wasn’t large, so using a print shop was out of the question. I pictured how it should turn out: a time capsule of information, including a family history, a family tree dating back five generations, favorite reunion moments, recipes, and photos. My husband’s family is proud of their Syrian Heritage. The book should spotlight his great-grandparents, who left everything they had known to come to the US 100

Jedu and Grandma, Elias Namie, Elizabeth Namie

by Jennifer B. Worley years earlier. They were introduced shortly after arriving in the US. The best source for such information would be Pap, my husband’s grandfather, a respected member of the family, as well as the family’s historian. Not only could he tell stories about his family, but he knew much about Gram’s family.I enjoyed our phone calls over the next months. He recounted fine details of family life, while I scribbled notes as quickly as possible, not wanting to miss anything. An exciting piece of family history Pap had preserved on CD was an audio recording, made more than 60 years earlier, of his wife’s mother singing the day Pap married his Syrian bride. Our book began with the history. For the next part, a

collection of favorite reunion memories, I mailed a questionnaire months in advance to all participating families, to collect memories, birthdates and names. Reunion Day! The book was finally finished, with a copy for each family. We set up our Camel Carnival, Namie Family Keepsake Book a kids’ corner in the pavilion, with I planned the size and dimensions of the book, then balloons and decorations, pretyped and printed pages. With planned games, crafts, piñata, and a help from my husband, ball tent to occupy the youngest children and other family family members. A last-minute trip members, we set up an to the party store for table coverings, assembly line for book production. Our children used and the festivities began. a bronze-colored paint to We played Grandma’s recording sponge a free form design on as a finale to the day’s events. the book covers. Brown paper camel cut-outs were added to Treasured memories flooded the pavilion for those who had had the each front cover with adhesive. We used lots of privilege to know her. And sweet permanent glue sticks, memories were made that day, as scrapbooking paper, and young and old listened to the double-sided tape along with beautiful voice belonging to the one ribbon and dowel rods to bind the books. Several whose life and heritage had first photos of the greatinspired our family reunions. grandparents and reunions Reported by Jennifer B. Worley, past were added along with Herminie, Pennsylvania traditional Syrian recipes.

MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 9

scrapbook Most of these events are sponsored and presented by convention and visitors bureaus. Most take place on Saturdays unless noted and, for the most part, are for people planning reunions in their area. All prefer or require advance reservations and are free or at nominal cost. For information about new events – added online, as soon as we learn about them – visit reunionsmag.com and click on workshops, conferences and seminars. Alliance of Military Reunions

Contact Skip Sander, 412-367-1376 | MilitaryReunions@aol.com AllMilitaryReunions.org Albany, Georgia

Contact J.D. Sumner at jdsumner@albanyga.com | 229 317-4760 Alpharetta, Georgia

Contact April Cochran, 678-297-2811 april@awesomealpharetta.com Athens, Georgia

Contact Athens CVB, 706-357-4430. Atlanta, Georgia

May 16, 2014 Contact Chantel Ross Francois, 404-521-6647 crossfrancois@atlanta.net | atlanta.net/reunionworkshop Baltimore, Georgia

Baltimore CVB, 410-244-8861 | 877-BALTIMORE Augusta, Georgia

Dekalb County, Georgia

May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, November 15, 2014 Contact Penny Moore, pennym@dcvb.com | 770-492-5018 visitatlantasdekalbcounty.com Detroit, Michigan

September 20, 2014 Contact DMCVB, 313-202-1985 | reunions@meetdetroit.com Douglasville, Georgia

Contact Randi Miles, 678-715-6069 | milesr@ci.douglasville.ga.us Dunwoody, Georgia

Contact Andy Williams, 678-244-9804 AndyW@CVBDunwoody.com Estes Park, Colorado, YMCA of the Rockies

Family Reunion University Contact Laura Field at 970-586-4444 x 6062 Fairfax County, Virginia

June 14, October 11, 2014 Cousin” Michelle, 1-800-726-0243, 706-823-6600 mbovian@augustaga.org

February 14, 2015 Speaker: Edith Wagner, Reunions magazine editor Contact Dean Miller, 703-752-9509 | dmiller@fxva.com www.fxva.com

Greater Birmingham, Alabama

Flint, Michigan

June 21, 2014 Speaker: Edith Wagner, Reunions magazine editor October 4, 2014 Contact Tara Walton, CTIS, 205-458-8000, ext 206 twalton@birminghamal.org Branson, Missouri

Contact Courtney Irish, 810-232-8902 | cirish@visitflint.org Fredericksburg, Virginia

Contact: Kimberly Herbert, 800-260-3646 ksherbert@fredericksburgva.gov

August 11-14, 2014, Monday-Thursday Contact Julie Peters, 417-334-4084 | jpeters@bransoncvb.com www.explorebranson.com/groups/reunions

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Contact Lindsay Burns, 864-953-2464 Lindsay.Burns@cityofgreenwoodsc.com

Contact Carrie Hendrickson, 704-456-7969 Carrie@visitcabarrus.com | visitcabarrus.com

Heidi Schmitt, 800-678-9859 ext 3557 | hschmitt@experiencegr.com Greenwood, South Carolina

Gwinnett County, Georgia

Chesapeake, Virginia

October 18, 2014 Contact C. Jeff Bunn, 888-889-5551 | jbunn@cityofchesapeake.net

October 17, 2014 Contact Cricket Elliott-Leeper, Gwinnett CVB, 770-814-6049 cricket@exploregwinnett.org

Chicago Southland, Illinois

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Contact Jane Bushong, 888-895-8233 jane@VisitChicagoSouthland.com Cobb County, Georgia

Contact Melissa Legaux, 800-451-3480 | mlegaux@travelcobb.org Columbus, Ohio

October 4, 2014 Roger Dudley, 614-222-6136, 800-354-2657 10 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Military Reunion Planners Contact Jennifer Williamson, 269-488-0057 jwilliimason@discoverkalamazoo.com or Lisa Kukulski, 269-488-0056 | lkukulski@discoverkalamazoo.com Kissimmee, Florida

September 20, 2014 Speaker: Edith Wagner, Reunions magazine editor Contact Jadeine Shives, 407-742-8255

Lake County, Illinois

Contact Kimberly Ghys, 800-Lake-Now | lakecountyreunions.com Lee County CVB, Florida

Contact Candice Cocco, 239-338-3500 | CCocco@leegov.com Louisville, Kentucky

May 17, August 9, November 8, 2014 Contact Darlene Starks, 502-379-6110 | dstarks@gotolouisville.com Macon-Bibb County, Georgia

August 16, 2014 Contact Robin North, 478-743-1074 ext. 114 | rnorth@maconga.org

PERFECT FOR FAMILIES & BUDGETS

OF ALL SIZES.

Newport News, Virginia

You have a big family. We have something for everyone and every budget. From fine dining to family casual, from easy-going hotels to uptown luxury, we’ve got your budget covered. And with a world of fun for all ages and interests, Fairfax County is tailor-made for your reunion.

Peachtree City, Georgia

Let us help you plan your family’s reunion. Visit FXVA.com or call 703-790-0643

Memphis, Tennessee

Contact Lisa Catron, 901-543-5337 | lisacatron@memphistravel.com Minneapolis, Minnesota

Contact Casey Kluver, 612-767-8106 | caseyk@meetminneapolis.com Contact James Dean, 888-493-7386 | jdean@nngov.com Contact 678-216-0282 | visitpeachtreecity.com Prince George’s County, Maryland

Prince George’s Community College, Largo Campus Contact Family Affairs | 301-322-0797 | www.pgcc.edu Reunion Friendly Network

Visit www.visityorkcounty.com/ Sandy Springs, Georgia

October 18, 2014 Contact Will Carlson, 770-206-1445 will.carlson@sandyspringsga.org Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana

Contact Kevin Flowers, 800-551-8682 | kflowers@sbctb.org Winter Park, Colorado, Snow Mountain Ranch

YMCA of the Rockies, Family Reunion University Contact Group Reservations, 800-777-9622

YMRC – Your Military Reunion Connection San Antonio, Texas | May 4-7, 2014 Colorado Springs, Colorado | May 9-12, 2014 Nashville, Tennessee | July 27-30, 2014 Virginia Beach, Virginia | November 2-5, 2014 Charleston, South Carolina | November 9-12, 2014 Royal Caribbean Bahama Cruise Port Canaveral, Florida | November 17-20, 2014

Contact Ymrcusa@gmail.com | yourmilitaryreunions.com MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 11

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Hospitality Answerman by Dean Miller

Q: A:

I was chatting with a friend who said she booked her family reunion into a beach resort in South Carolina in midAugust, and had gotten a really good rate for everyone. How did she do it? I would have thought a beach resort in August would be awfully expensive. Is there some trick we need to know to get a better deal on hotel rooms?

There’s no trick … it’s simply a matter of understanding when a particular destination is likely to be busy, and when they’re likely to be less busy, or decidedly “unbusy”. Almost every destination has times when they’re going to be busy and the hotels are unlikely to offer discounts. Likewise, during the non-busy times, lots of bargains abound. These are referred to as “peak” and “off-peak” seasons, respectively. Periods which fall somewhere in between the two are referred to as “shoulder” seasons. Some examples of “peak” seasons … n the fall months in New England n the winter months in Arizona n any ski resort in winter n February and March in Florida (baseball spring training season) n summer months at a beach town/resort. “Spring break” periods tend to be very busy at many beach towns, as well. n college and university towns over homecoming, graduation, orientation and football weekends Some examples of “off-peak” seasons … n the summer months in Arizona n September and October in Florida (hurricane season) n winter months in cities on the Great Lakes (Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Buffalo, etc.) So … to find out when the most advantageous hotel rates are available, call the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) at the destination you’re thinking of visiting. They’ll be happy to tell you when “peak” and “off-peak” times of year are. Likewise, they’ll gladly tell you if a large convention group or event will be taking place in town over the dates you’re considering, so you can consider other dates. A city may be “sold out” one weekend during a large convention or sports tournament, and very eager for your business the following weekend, so it definitely pays to ask! My sweet wife and I almost ended up sleeping in our car one weekend in August in Indianapolis, Indiana. There was a very

large church convention in town, and attendees had reserved virtually every hotel room in central Indiana that weekend. Had we come to town the following weekend, we could have had our pick of rooms. Another time, on a weekend trip to North Carolina, we had to stay miles away from where we wanted to be, because there were no hotel rooms available at any price … we were there the weekend of a furniture buyers’ convention. Who knew?? In the case of your friend noted above, I can tell you that South Carolina, public schools go back into session around the third week of August, and hotel occupancies drop off. So … even though it’s still summer, there are very attractive room rates to be had if your family is able to meet there between the August 20th and Labor Day. Here in Fairfax County, Virginia, we have great rates available for reunion groups most any weekend in July and August, including – believe it or not – over the 4th of July holiday! But not in 2015, when we will be hosting a large sporting event, the World Police and Fire Games, over the 4th. This is an excellent example of why you need to ask your CVB representative this question: “Are there any special events going on over (the dates we’re thinking of having our reunion) that we should know about?” And here’s a valuable tip for all those who like going to Walt Disney World in Florida, but hate the thought of braving the summer heat and standing in mile-long lines to go on the rides and see the shows: Go during the first two weeks of December. The weather is lovely and the crowds are the smallest of the year. If you hate the heat and the crowds, this is the time of the year to go!

About the Hospitality Answerman

Dean Miller, national sales director for VisitFairfax (fxva.com), the convention and visitors bureau in Fairfax County, Virginia, is a great friend of reunions. If you are planning a reunion in the Washington, DC, area, consider nearby, conveniently located Fairfax County and contact Dean at 703790-0643; dmiller@fxva.com.

Brighton Community Reunion

he first annual “community reunion” of the City of Brighton, Michigan, is planned from July 18 to 20, 2014. Organizer Beverley Barton says the idea came after she and a classmate organized an “all-class” reunion for Brighton High School. The event was advertised for only about a month, but 300 to 400 people turned out. The new event is aimed at everyone who ever called Brighton home. They are planning dances, historical city tours, baseball and football games, and encouraging classes and families to schedule reunions over that weekend. Barton says a similar event was held in the late 19th century. It was called a “homecoming,” and involved all former residents returning to celebrate their shared heritage. Visit facebook.com/BrightonCommunityReunion

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F&N retirees enjoy annual reunion by Jan Park

San Diego’s Reunion Specialists Host your special reunion at the Holiday Inn Bayside overlooking beautiful San Diego Bay. • Selected as “One of the Top 10 great places to hold a Reunion,” as seen in USA Today, June 2010 • Beautiful and spacious guest rooms • Tropical courtyard with heated pool, spa, shuffleboard, billiards • Family style restaurant and cocktail lounge • Non-smoking and disabled access rooms • 9-hole putting course, exercise room • Free parking and airport transfers • Kids eat and stay free program

Special Reunion Features • Complimentary one-night stay for reunion planner with site inspection • Complimentary hospitality suite • Complimentary Welcome Amenity • Senior discounts in our restaurant • Special reunion rates

4875 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 619.224.3621 • 800.650.6660 • Fax: 619.224.3629 Email: Jodie@holinnbayside.com • holinnbayside.com B a rt e l l H o t e l s …Sa n Di e g o ’s U n f o r g e t t a b l e L o c a ti o ns

Frederick & Nelson employees enjoy talking about everything from the “good old days” to retirement days. Greeting them are the welcoming committee, (L to R) Delaine Peterson, Pat Price, Diane DiFazio and Marjorie Shawhan, who headed the event. Photo by Jan Park

hey all know the date of their annual reunion luncheon: the third Wednesday in October. And they all know the place: the Old Country Buffet in Bellevue, Washington. They wouldn’t miss this “more-than-30-year” ritual for anything. It’s the opportunity to visit with former coworkers at the Frederick & Nelson Department Stores. It’s a tradition. The first upscale F&N store opened its doors in Seattle, Washington, in 1918 and was said to be “an instant success.” The premier, six-floor store later expanded, adding three more floors up and two down at its Fifth Avenue and Pine Street location. F&N founders Donald Frederick and Nels B. Nelson aimed for elegance and customer service, and advertised “shipping around the world.” Among its unique amenities were a kindergarten, lounge for mothers with infants, hosiery mending, and a children’s hair dressing salon. The store’s candy factory introduced Frango Mints, a popular chocolate truffle still on the market today. In 1949, Frederick & Nelson opened a branch store in the Bellevue Shopping Square, also touting “the best in fashion.” For many years, both stores were in their heyday, offering top quality merchandise and clothing that was stylish and in vogue. Several more branch stores opened later. In time, competition and other factors forced Frederick & Nelson out of business in 1992, marking the end of an era of elegance, and a sad occasion for its many faithful customers and employees.

About the author

As a retired corporate editor, Janet Park has returned to what she likes to do best– freelance writing. She has published more than 150 articles in regional and national publications, many illustrated by her photos.

RECONNECT, REUNITE AND RECREATE. Smugglers’ has hosted thousands of family gatherings since our beginning in 1956. We have the experience in helping families plan all the details to ensure a successful and fun reunion. We understand the level of detail that can go into planning a reunion. So Smugglers’ is ready to help with all your planning and travel needs. Just give us a call and we’ll do the rest!

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IT’S SO AMAZING THE INFLUENCE ONE LITTLE HOUSE OF MUSIC

HAS ON PEOPLE ALL

OVER THE WORLD. – ALLEN RAWLS

CEO, MOTOWN MUSEUM

The Motown Museum preserves the birthplace of a musical legacy and the story of a Detroit entrepreneur who — with a dream, an $800 family loan and homegrown talent — created “The Sound of Young America.” Detroit holds many more stories of influence, like the Rosa Parks bus at The Henry Ford, honoring the heritage of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History; and other cultural influences from the Arab American National Museum to Mexicantown, Greektown and beyond.

Be part of America’s great comeback city. View Allen’s whole story at meetdetroit.com/comeback-stories.

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Reunion, a novel

eunion by Bruce Simonian (2013, Tate Publishing. Paperback, 348 pages, $22.49) is indeed about a reunion, but you’ll have to wait until chapter 22. It is based on a true story but dates and names are changed. University scholarships await Shane, an aspiring baseball player. Shane’s future looks bright due to his his baseball prowess and good looks. He’s also smart, focused and from a supportive and loving family. Gina, Shane’s high school sweetheart, is nearly perfect, drop-dead

beautiful and an aspiring doctor. It seems Shane and Gina are fated to be together, but one mistake sends them in separate directions. One decision, one choice, one moment in time can make a dream come true or shatter it. Reunion emphasizes family ties and the importance of compassion and forgiveness. Visit tatepublishing.com. Reunion e-books available through Barnes & Noble and amazon.com. From a review by Gloria Sinibaldi in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Lake Tahoe, California

Reunion Name Tags

eunion Name Tags was created after Sherry Harrison attended two reunions and was disappointed at the name tags. One had a large pin on the back of the button which left an irreparable hole in her expensive formal dress. The other was a “Hello! My Name Is ...” sticky label, and it almost immediately dropped off onto the

Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion

t the Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion in Ontario, California, September 19-21, 2014, there will be hundreds of classic cars, contests, cruises and rocking revelry along historic Euclid Avenue. Last year’s reunion featured more than 800 classic cars and was attended by 139,000 people. This year’s reunion will bring in even more fantastic food, live music, contests and fun. People came from all over the country. Some even followed Route 66. Visit www.route66cruisinreunion.com.

buffet table. She thought there had to be a better way! So after much research, trial and error, she created Reunion Name Tags, where she strives for 100% accuracy on each order and provides excellent customer service. Contact Sherry Harrison, 928-369-6348; yournametags@wildblue.net; www.Reunion NameTags.com

High school reunion name tags require scanning, layout, handwriting removal and photo touch-up before badges can be printed and secured with the chosen attachments, all included in one price. Reunion Coordinators receive everything, ready to go! Quotes based on current pricing are good through the reunion date, so reunions can plan and budget without surprises a year later. Reunion Memorial Pages are a nice way to remember classmates who have passed on. They are 12”x12” photographs featuring a background of the school building, school colors, mascot, other related images or collage with names and photos of deceased classmates. The pages can be framed for display, inexpensively mounted on foam core or attached to a display board. Each page costs $14. You can see more of these name tags and countless more suggestions on our Pinterest “Who are you?” board.

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Celebrating a century by Mindy Jones

ecently my family’s farm in Harrisburg, Oregon, was granted Century Farm status by the state. My great-grandparents, Joseph and Theresa Cersovski, purchased the farm in 1913 and raised three children there. From my grandpa, great-uncle and great-aunt (who married into the Spink family) there are over 100 descendants. We had not gotten together in many years, so the best way to mark this major milestone was with a Cersovski/Spink Family Reunion. The aim of the reunion was to celebrate our family’s history. Family members were able to explore the inside of the original 1860s farm house. For my children, walking through the very house their great-great-grandparents had lived in was memorable, indeed. My dad and uncles repaired some of the old

tractors and lined them up in the field. The first in line was a 1936 crank-start Oliver 1828 tractor with attached three-bladed, iron-wheeled plow. Almost every decade was represented leading up to the behemoth, modern-day tractors. It created a visual representation of our family’s agricultural progress, as well. Family photos were collected and put into scrapbooks. Through a group effort, some previously unidentified photos were recognized and names recorded. My aunt had old black-and-white family movies converted to disk. With a digital projector, we played the movies on a huge outdoor

Cersovskis and Spinks in front of the 1860s farmhouse, showing off their ‘Getting it done for 100 years’ t-shirts.

On the big tractor: Ian Cersovski (6), Dillon Mills (9), Amber Mills (13), Anna Jones (13).

screen. Everyone had a front row seat! My daughter and I searched my great grandma’s old fruit room and found glass jars from the early 1900s. We filled the jars with wild flowers and wheat stalks and placed them on the tables, where they added an historical touch. Working on the farm growing up, I had taken its history for granted. Seeing the reaction of relatives, especially those who had never been to the farm, as they walked through the fields and explored the 95 acres, reminded me just how special our history is. Through the reunion, new contacts were made and old ones made stronger – but most important, the family history was properly celebrated, shared and passed on to the younger generation. It was a successful reunion. Reported by Mindy Jones, Silverdale, Washington

Back to the Farm Reunion

bsolete machines roar with new life. Steam engines teach about the country’s past. There was a time when the tractors were cutting-edge technology. “They make me appreciate how hard our forefathers worked to make this country great,” one fan said. Younger generations learned old ways of doing things at the Back to the Farm Reunion, a living history lesson in Boonville, Missouri. The event is “dedicated to preserving, restoring and demonstrating significant items in the history of agricultural mechanization.” Many come because they like tractors. One man is a tractor enthusiast, and his brand is Allis-Chalmers. He wore an orange Allis-Chalmers shirt and hat. From a story by Landon Woodroof in the Columbia Missourian, Columbia, Missouri MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 17

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How to keep ‘em coming back (to the family reunion) by Jeff Richmond

is captured during the event. Then we have ight years ago, my wife assumed the an album of previous years’ photos for responsibility for organizing her everyone to review. Bennett-Patterson Family Fall Fest. We set up photo stations around our two Prior to that, reunions had been acres: nice overstuffed chairs in the yard, an intermittent, hastily organized, and were antique tractor, bales of hay, and other really nothing more than a family picnic features. We made sure everyone had a photo for 25 or 30 people. taken at one or more of these settings. It is now Let’s face it: sitting around a park something people have come to expect, but we picnic table listening to Uncle John tell change the settings every year. One year we his Korean war stories for the tenth time were able to get an aerial view of the entire is not a big motivator. Potluck chili and One of our neighbors has this pair of miniature mules and the gathering to share with everyone. Walmart fried chicken are good, but not appropriately-sized wagon. With a little coaxing, he agreed to give Then we added a hayride. We knew it would good enough to drive 200 miles across the kids rides. We had a choice of this or two standard mules and draw kids, but it turns out that many adults the state for the day. Then in one year a full-sized wagon. This seemed a better choice for the kids. like it, too. It has become a regular event. we lost three of our most beloved elders. The next year, a local up-and-coming country and gospel Last year, we considered not having the reunion, thinking that group performed. They were happy to have an opportunity to sell every year might be too often. We sent out a note polling the CDs and, of course, were treated to a good meal. family. The response was so strongly in favor that we were Last year we had a covered wagon pulled by a team of mules to convinced that it was something everyone looked forward to. give rides. It cost only $75 and was well worth it. We let folks know We’re located in Middle Tennessee. Family members from what we are planning in our announcements, but sometimes we Texas, Florida, and Alabama plan trips around the reunion dates. get last-minute ideas, so people have learned to look for surprises. Reunion crowds have grown from about twenty when they were People tell us they look forward to the reunions. We get held in some “centralized” public park in town to more than 90 comments like, “We look forward to coming because we want to see what you’re going to do next,” or “It was good to see (insert a name). We have not seen them in years.” It takes only a little imagination to come up with new experiences each year. So, while we continue to get Walmart chicken and Old John continues to tell anyone who will listen about the Korean War, we continue to grow our attendance – to more than 85 folks last year. In 2007 my wife and I built a new log home on property that had been in the family for more than 150 years. This established The evening hayride is a recurring favorite. an excellent venue for the annual family reunion, because most of Cousin Ray provided the tractor and trailer; we added the bales of hay. the family can draw an ancestral line to members who lived on this property. this past year. We are fortunate to have a place to offer, and that We had a nice piece of property, and wanted to provide a few my wife has a mindset to organize and manage the event. With spots for family members who had campers. It was more popular just a little imagination, some of our strategies might be used by than we had anticipated. We place signs around the property others. It just takes a little imagination – and knowing what your welcoming the various branches of the family. crowd enjoys. Since we live in a rural area with lots of country roads (and not a lot of traffic), we are planning a 20-mile (or so) road rally for A sampling of enticements we provide to keep the this year. We have a good cohort of 20- and 30- and otherannual reunion interesting. somethings who will get a kick out a driving tour of their We needed to not only “keep ’em coming back,” but to expand ancestral area. the draw and include the growing younger branches of the family. Reported by Jeff Richmond, Pelham, Tennessee. As they are for many families, photographs are an important Photo credit Jeff Richmond element of our family history. At every reunion, as people arrive, albums and boxes of photos are opened and shared. The photos we have of our ancestors were posed in portraits or groups (e.g., brothers and sisters) in grainy black and white. Our reunions are designed to foster an interest in building and maintaining the record of our family. Recognizing this, we have made photo opportunities an integral part of our reunions, and have annually added new photo stations and activities that both attract natural family groupings and offer unique and memorable settings. We also make sure that several active (family) photographers are recording the event. We This past year, we pulled out my antique tractor project (it runs!) and set it up as a photo station encourage everyone to take snapshots, but we make sure everyone with, well, anything we could find. It was well used. 18 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

MacDonough Country

ince 2003 we have been having a MacDonough Family Reunion every two years. We recently enjoyed our sixth reunion in San Diego, California. Because our family is scattered around the country, each of our gatherings has been celebrated in a different city or area with a different host. We have enjoyed a variety of venues: Bellingham, Washington; Naples, Florida; Woodlands, Texas; Misquamicut, Rhode Island; Bandera, Texas; and San Diego, California. We do a number of things at these meetings that everyone enjoys. At the first reunion in Bellingham, we created a time capsule. Everyone dropped in items with the stipulation that it would not be opened for ten years. In San Diego, one of our teenage ladies, Sarah MacDonough, opened the capsule for us. She displayed and described all the items as best she could, bearing in mind that she had been only eight years old when the capsule was filled. A new capsule was filled with current-day items, to be opened at the reunion in 2023. At our second reunion in Naples, Florida, we held our first family golf tournament, and there’s been a golf tournament at every reunion since, now known as the “MacDonough Open.” After our Saturday night dinner, all members participated in a very helpful group meeting. Betty MacDonough honored those members whom we have lost. Various aspects of reunions, past, present and future were discussed. Guidelines for future events were established and, most important, the hosts for our next two reunions were determined, along with their locations in Portland, Oregon, and Las Vegas, Nevada. We had not held such a meeting before. The discussions were lively and it was gratifying to see our younger members showing keen interest. It was determined there should always be a “group” meeting at future reunions. After a day of free time to enjoy the San Diego area, Sunday dinner was our main event. Winners of the golf tournament events were announced and the MacDonough Open Cup was presented to the winner, Stephen Meyers. Blair and Sandra MacDonough were presented with a beautiful cake in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. Then our big event got underway – THE

AUCTION! – with Bruce and Blair Hill serving for the second time as auctioneers. A great variety of items brought by members and guests raised a total of $2,507, which was delivered as start-up money to the host of the next reunion. The final day of our gathering was, as usual, a brunch of good food, conversations and many fond farewells.

The auction is a highlight at the MacDonough Family Reunion; auctioneer Bruce Hill.

A new first at San Diego was a “money jar” chock-full of coins and golf balls. The closest guess for the amount of money was awarded a $100 bill. As expected, there were several winners for the number of golf balls in the jar. They all received prizes.

It became clear at this gathering that the MacDonough Family Reunions will continue on as the younger generations step forward. We did, indeed, start something big in 2003. The family had drifted apart. The members did not know each other very well at that time, but they have become better acquainted at each ensuing event. Although modern technology makes communication a lot easier, these reunions go much further than simply staying in touch. You can’t email a HUG! Reported by Don MacDonough, Bellingham, Washington

MacDonough Family Reunion

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Celebrating Our Roots, In the Root of Our Nation

ast Labor Day weekend, my husband, daughter, and I hosted the 39th annual Williams Family Reunion. Each year the descendants of Osborn Williams, Ada Hendrix and Pearl Overstreet take time out of their busy lives to visit and enjoy fellowship in various locations. We decided on Washington, DC, to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial and the White House. Unfortunately, sequestration prevented an indoor visit to the White House. On Friday, the planning and hosting committee registered family during our Welcome Reception. The family feasted on wonderful hors d’oeuvres and cake while engaging in fun family ice breakers. After our initial welcome reception, there were three breakout sessions for different generations. The “Living Legacy” is a term of endearment we use for the children and grandchildren of our celebrated ancestors. They attended the “Living Legacy Live at the Disco,” where they learned line dances to perform for the family at the Saturday night Fire and Ice Banquet. The fifth generation, the great-great grandchildren of our ancestors, are in either the “Fifth Element” (12 years and younger) or in the “Fierce Fifth” (13 years and older). The Fifth Element enjoyed a “Snack and Art,” where they created artworks to be displayed in “The Williams Art Gallery” at the Saturday night banquet. The hotel provided over 20 easels for the youngest Williamses. The “Fierce Fifth” generation got together and had milkshakes at the Shake Shake, where they rehearsed their roles for the “Ozzy” awards to be held at the Saturday night banquet.

by Aminah Bey

After breakfast, the family got together for the big photo before tour buses arrived to take us to the White House, lunch, and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial. Saturday night, the family had the first ever “Ozzy” Awards, named for our patriarch, Osborn Williams. “First to Register” and “Best Thanksgiving Photo” were among the categories for awards given to deserving family members. After the “Ozzy” Awards dinner, the great-grandchildren, also known as the Fabulous 4th Generation or Fab 4th, went back in time for their breakout session. They attended the “Grand Opening” of the Fabulous Four Deuces Speakeasy for their Roaring twenties party. After the Sunday Memorial service and a family business meeting, we said our goodbyes, looking forward to next year’s reunion in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Reported by Amirah Bey, New Castle, Delaware

Williams Family Planning and Host Committee

The Williams family managed to have a photo taken in front of the White House before the protest over the country’s possible involvement in the Syrian conflict.

Kelley/Miller Family Reunion

his will be my second time planning our reunion, after my sister organized five. Our reunion started in remembrance of our Grandfather Earl Kelley and his first wife (my Grandmother, after whom I was named) and his oldest grandchild. We use gmail, flyers and mailings, facebook, webshots, Twitter and LinkedIn to promote the reunion. Our reunion is to bring our families together and have a fun time, to reflect on accomplishments and on those who are no longer with us, and to give rewards. We support Susan G. Komen and Ronald McDonald House charities. We have reunion dues, car washes and fundraisers, and help pay out of pocket. Kids 20 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

assist with car washes and love it. The last reunion was in Lufkin, Texas, at a family member’s house that had a very large area. Kickoff Friday is a theme night (Cowboys/Cowgirls). Saturday is t-shirt day, plus activities, rewards, and Charity Acknowledgement. Sunday includes a church service, Sunday dinner, memorial, and clean-up. The President/Sr. Chair, Vice President/Jr. Chair, and Treasurer finance the reunion. We have senior and junior officers to pass on responsibilities. Reported by Veronica Louise Kelley Jones, Houston, Texas

he Bowen Family has held an annual reunion every year since 1939. My grandparents had 18 children (9 boys, 9 girls) who have birthed 110 grandchildren. The latest was in Washington, DC, where the family visited the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Reported by Vernon P. Bowen, Silver Spring, Maryland

The right place for your reunion. Chattanooga. Where else can you find family friendly hotels, world-class attractions and fun at every turn ... all within a few blocks and all within your budget? Time and time again, reunions find a perfect fit in our not-too-big, not-too-small city. And to top it off, our top-notch CVB services rival what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find in a bigger city with the personal touch of a small

town, and the can-do spirit to help you every step of the way. Find out for yourself: book your next reunion in the right-sized city with the right attitude. Contact Christina Petro at chrisp@chattanoogacvb.com or (423) 424-4417 or visit ChattanoogaMeetings.com MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 21

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Foster-White family reunion cruise

ur family has been celebrating reunions since 1978, when my uncle, my mom and a couple of my aunts decided to throw a birthday party for my grandmother in Buffalo, New York. We had so much fun, it turned into an every-other-year event. Our traditional reunion always was held from Thursday to Sunday and included greetings, dinner, a picnic/fun day, family auction to raise scholarship funds, a banquet and memorial service, and concluding with a family breakfast. Since most family lived in Alabama, Illinois, New York and Michigan, reunions rotated among those states, with local families playing host. In 2007, my cousin Davina decided to host the reunion in a new location, Washington, DC, during the 4th of July weekend. This was the beginning of the format change. Everyone seemed to enjoy the change and, because we were preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the reunions, we knew the next one had to be unforgettable. With my Uncle Otis’s blessings, the reunion was in the hands of the Alabama group. I mentioned to the group the possibility that a cruise would be a good idea. Everything would be done, we

would not have to do a lot of fundraising to cover activities, and we would get to go out of the country. A letter was sent to each family about the choice, and I started conducting research. We decided on the five-day Carnival cruise from Port Canaveral to Cozumel. Working with a group cruise planner, we were able to get all our rooms together on two floors, receiving an upgrade from the cruise line. Everyone received information for payment deadlines and we counted down to our July departure date. With help from the cruise line, I set up a website that provided information and registration so people could pay for their trips. We also made reservations at a local hotel the night before so everyone could get together before our departure. The hotel provided free shuttle to the docks. We were able to relax, participate in the daily activities at our leisure and spend quality time with one another. And every night we ate dinner together in the main dining room in our own section. Each family received goodie bags in their rooms, along with a complimentary bottle of wine from the cruise line. Reported by Adrienne Berry, Hoover, Alabama

Foster-White Family Reunion onboard their Carnival cruise ship.

Summary of the reunion cruise from the Foster-White newsletter

ith Alabama playing host, a group of 81 people sailed on our first-ever cruise, and it was very enjoyable. The ship set sail on Thursday from the Port of Tampa, headed to Cozumel, Mexico. On the first day, the family held a “Meet and Greet” once aboard to see who was attending and to get the daily itinerary. Each night, we met in the dining room and dined together. Our waiters were fun and there was a song and dance every night. And the food!!! WOW is all I can say! The food was phenomenal. Each day aboard the ship there were so many activities – literally something for everyone! Dina was the “big cheese” of the casino, Malinda and friends hit the various game shows, and the kids had a blast at

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the various stages of Camp Carnival! On Friday night, we assembled for the Captain’s Dinner and formal family portrait. Each family received a complimentary group portrait to capture the occasion. In Cozumel, everyone experienced the island with activities from scuba diving to swimming with the dolphins to shopping and sightseeing. Everyone enjoyed the excursions. On Sunday, we gathered for a memorial of family members who had passed since the previous

reunion. After the memorial, we held our first “Kudos,” in which we celebrated the many family members’ accomplishments. We talked about the importance of family and shared special memories from children of the original Foster-Whites. Upon our return to port Monday morning, everyone had breakfast and we departed the ship. In the end, everyone seemed to have really enjoyed the cruise and the reunion. We hope it will be the beginning of a new tradition.

If you are considering a reunion cruise, we recommend Brian Forrester, an expert in group reunion cruising. He can book any cruise line and can help with all your details and special arrangements. Contact Brian at 480-998-1112 or Brian@hcttravel.com. Be sure to tell him you learned about him in Reunions magazine.

Cottons camp Oregon

y mother and her baby sister used to plan the Cotton Family Reunions. It got a little less organized each year until my cousin and I stepped up. I really don’t mind doing it. I start as soon as the current one ends. Actually, I already have the theme and part of the game list prepared for the next one!

Sarah and Bob Everidge with our reunion logo.

I do most of the planning, which costs nothing. I build a brochure; an aunt prints it, and a cousin buys stamps and mails it out on June 1; it lets everyone know what’s in store and includes the t-shirt order form.

Our t-shirts are made by another cousin at cost. I purchase materials and supplies for games and split the cost of prizes with my cousin. Our reunion takes place at campgrounds on the Oregon coast for three days every year, always the weekend after Labor Day. We rotate between a mid-coast and a northcoast state campground. That way it’s easier for us southies one year and the northies the next. Camping spots are reserved nine months in advance (we stay in the same spots at each park every time). Credit card numbers are gathered and my cousin makes all the reservations at the same time. The budget is whatever we can afford. I email and facebook family members to get feedback about what they liked from the last reunion and what they want for the next one. Sometimes we will have a group Christmas celebration or a BBQ. For Friday fun night, we choose a game the whole family can play and gear it toward family, for example, a Jeopardy

Cousins Chane Johnsen, Jesse Holladay (family friend), Lars Hubred, Bob Everidge on Redneck Skis

game in which all the answers relate to family members. We have a potluck on Saturday, followed by “Family Olympics,” in which we play games based on a theme. Games are geared to all ages. We also run a tournament all weekend (usually Ladder Ball). Prizes are things anyone would like. Reported by Janis Wilson, Roseburg, Oregon

MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 23

masterplan

T.C.M.N. Family Reunion

he Taylor, Cabbagestalk, Manigault and Nickens Family originated in Sumter and Charleston, South Carolina. I have been conducting my family genealogy research for 19 years. I’ve traced the Taylor line back to my many times-great-grandparents, Abel and Dafney (Smalls) Taylor; the Cabbagestalk line to four times-greatgrandparents, William and Arenza (Brooks) Cabbagestalk; the Manigault line to three times-great-grandparents, Peter and Rhina Manigault; and the Nickens line to three times-great-grandparents, Lee and Nancy (Patterson) Nickens. Our 208 members – from South Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, DC, and Virginia – are descendants of these ancestors. Our first Reunion Day consisted of a Family Meet hosted at the hotel, where there was lots of food, folk tales and fun, followed Some happy T.C.M.N. kids at their reunion.

Brothers (l to r) Bernado Taylor, Richard White and Michael Taylor. This was the first time they were all together at their dad’s reunion.

by a Bowling Party. We reserved several lanes for all ages and had a pizza party. On our second Reunion Day, members were free to shop at the local malls, visit a nearby historic Amish flea market, and attend movies and a water park. We hosted an “all-white” banquet at the Elks Lodge in Waldorf, Maryland, with an official program followed by a dance party. Our Reunion Matriarch, Myrtle Lee Manago-Scott, at a tender age of 92, was able to deliver what would be her last family speech. She passed away three weeks after the reunion. On the Last Day of Reunion, we had a catered picnic at the Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Reported by Candy C. Tibbs-Brockett, Forest Heights, Maryland

Taylor, Cabbagestalk, Manigault and Nickens Family Reunion

24 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Leave nothing to chance Editor’s note

This is the “final” communication before the Saffore-Scyffore Family Reunion. We find it a very good example of “leaving nothing to chance,” making sure everyone’s on the same page. Thanks to planner Niko Cook. Reprinted with permission.

Subject: 35th Annual Family Reunion “A Season of New Beginnings”......Tulsa, Oklahoma Reply-To: Saffore-Scyffore Family Reunion Greetings Family, We will gather together later this week for family love and fellowship. It’s not something any of us should take lightly. God has really blessed us to have an opportunity to gather together again. We have much to be thankful. On Friday, June 21st, the doors of reunion family fellowship open, as we kick off the celebration of the 35th Annual SafforeScyffore Family Reunion, “The Season of New Beginnings.” This year’s reunion will commemorate the 35th Annual Family Reunion. The 35th Annual SafforeThis year’s reunion is hosted by the Oklahoma Family Chapter, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Scyffore Family Celebration reunion kick-off event is Friday, June 21st, at 6:00 p.m., at the Andy B’s Family Itinerary (program) can be Entertainment Center. seen on reunionsmag.com in Family – Activities. It starts Attached to this communication is the final reunion itinerary. Please print and review with an explosive opening! carefully. A few reminders: As you review the itinerary, please note that there are no additional costs associated with some events because it was included in the registration fee. However, there are other events that do require a specific cost, also known as “pay as you go” events. Please review the itinerary closely, and let’s govern ourselves accordingly. Please remember to bring the non-perishable items for the “Service-Giving” project. We are requesting each and every family member 18 years or older to bring one non-perishable item. The non-perishable items will be donated to a family in need. Please bring the items to the reunion kick-off event on Friday evening. In addition, we want to show our love, encouragement and support by presenting our new college students with a care package. We would like to receive toothpaste, toothbrushes, towel sets, school supplies, health and beauty aid products, snacks, laundry coins (money), postage and any other items that you believe our college students would enjoy. If there is anyone in your area, city or town that does not have access to e-mail, please print them off a copy of this e-mail and all attachments. Family reunion memories will last a lifetime. Thanks for taking the time and making the sacrifice to attend. Safe travels to Tulsa.

Your Own Private Compound! ●4

Separate Homes ● Huge Bunk-House ● Heated Pool ● Heated Water Slide ● Hot Tub ● Tennis Court ● Hiking Trails

…near Asheville, NC

● Sports

Field & Outdoor Basketball ● Game Room/Arcade ● Commercial Kitchen ● Fishing Pond ● Fire pits ● Indoor

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masterplan A couple who owned a horse allowed anyone interested in riding him to get on board!

LeFlores meet in Chicago

ur Leflore Family Reunion, in Chicago, Illinois, was a wonderful celebration of family members travelling from 11 states and Denmark. Activities included a Meet & Greet and picnic on Friday. Committee members left no stone unturned at the picnic: activities for all and the best BBQ in the world. Activities included a magician doing card games, a face painter for the kids, a basketball hoop, a large bouncer so the young ones could take off their shoes with their cousins and have fun, followed by an ice cream man serving cones for dessert! Saturday was free for fun in Chicago and surrounding areas, with a banquet in the evening. And on Sunday, Family Church Services with young praise dancers also featured a spiritual word from two sisters in the Chicago family. Reported by Carol Bolden, Shaker Heights, Ohio

oisette Family Reunions have been held in Charleston, South Carolina, and in France. Charleston reunions have about 150, and in France about 75 attended. The picture is in Nantes, France, in le Jardin des Plantes once the residence of their ancestor Antoine Noisette, who was the Director of le Jardin des Plantes in 1826. Visit www.noisetteancestors.com Submitted by Peggy Noisette Merrell Clement, Charleston, South Carolina 26 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

kidsstuff

Short takes ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶

he St. Roch Catholic Church in Mentz, Texas, held its 159th annual picnic in a new facility last fall. The land for the church and cemetery was part of the Frank Burttschell property, and the immigrant ancestors and six of their ten children are buried in the cemetery. We have had the two previous international reunions there, and our 2015 reunion will be held there, as well. We have mini-reunions/reunion planning meetings during the church picnic. At last year’s picnic, we discussed plans for a tour for the next reunion, and for getting a new stone for the immigrant ancestors. We worked on the stone project and raised money for a year and were able to dedicate the stone. So, the picnic was a parish reunion, a mini-Burttschell reunion of donors and other family members, and a planning meeting for the 2015 reunion. Shared by Arliss Treybig, El Campo, Texas, Texas Chair of the Burt(t)schell Family Reunion and involved with planning her father’s Nicolaus Treybig Family Reunion and grandparents’ W.H. and Lena Marx Family Reunion

At a reunion, my sister is a woman on a mission. She watches for the shy pre-teenager or the rebellious 15-yearold. She draws them into the fun and helps each feel like the irreplaceable, special cog in the huge machinery of our family that they are. If you plan a reunion, engage those age groups. They feel power in the stories of their ancestors – they could share them through drama or art. Or involve them in cooking, supervising games for younger children, or using a handheld scanner to scan priceless photos and documents so they can be shared with the entire family. From a story by Debbie Holm in the Idaho Press-Tribune, Nampa, Idaho ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ Make museum visits into treasure hunts

When you visit a museum, start at the gift shop. Each person buys a post card about an exhibit or reads about it in one of the museum books, then searches for it. When you find the exhibit, whoever has that post card gives a brief presentation. ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶

Torres, Planchat and Allied Family Reunion kids dancing to welcome family at Meet and Greet; (l to r) Curtisha Jackson, Nicholas Torres and Briana Woods at their reunion in Miami, Florida. Photo credit Marvin Elliott Ellis

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kidsstuff

Summer Trip Pep Talk 101 by Eileen Wacker 1 Don’t expect kids to be grateful for all the sacrifices it takes to go on a trip. Watch for moments of wonder or the “pure joy” smile to make the trip happy and memorable. 2 Leave a little give in the schedule. If your agenda is packed end-to-end with activities, kids will wish to just hang out. Down time is necessary to retain enthusiasm. 3 Let each person choose one event/ activity and one restaurant. If one child chooses swimming, plan swimming at a hotel pool or beach. Choosing food that’s a hit helps minimize complaints. Each knows his/her turn will come. 4 Set expectations. Have a plan for long waits. Don’t expect a perfect trip, but if everything goes well, that’s a bonus. 5 Everyone must bring a book. Give extra credit for journaling. 6 Pack light and smart. Don’t “overpack” and drag along things you won’t need. Everyone has to carry what they pack. 7 Set electronics ground rules. No one can check out and not participate.

About the author

Eileen Wacker, a Harvard Business School graduate, resides in Honolulu, Hawaii, with her husband and four children. She is the author of the new children’s book, Pink Hamster and the Birthday Surprise, the fourth installment of the award-winning Fujimini Adventure Series. Visit www.oncekids.com.

Family reunion Pen Pals

emember Pen Pals? Corresponding with them required paper, a pen or pencil, an envelope and a stamp. And often the stamp was for a letter to mail abroad. Pen Pals wrote and answered letters and they became fast friends, even if they never met. How about translating the Pen Pals of yore into a modern model, and encouraging Pen Pals right in your family group? Many young cousins do not see one another except at reunions. If they were Pen Pals and corresponded throughout the rest of the year, they would come to know one another well and have lots to talk about at the reunion. Okay, so they’d email or text or tweet or post on facebook but they still would be corresponding. Describe your childhood Pen Pals and how excited you were to see a letter in the mailbox. You might entice some kids to be Pen Pals “like in the olden days!” EW

Genealogy: a hobby kids can enjoy!

he best way to get kids interested in family history is to tell them about their ancestors’ lives. Tell them things your mother or father told you – what kind of school they attended, where their days were spent when they were not in school – facts that are interesting to kids. Get them interested in learning more about their family. Does your child know that your great-great-grandfather was an officer in the Civil War? Do you have family heirlooms children would be interested in seeing? The clothes relatives wore many years ago may be packed away in the attic. Many people have military uniforms that were worn by their relatives. Kids will be fascinated by these items and with stories

Kids at the Namie Family Reunion loved the whipped cream pie toss. Maybe not so Emma Worley (9) who got the pie in her eye!

28 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

about growing up before all the modern conveniences we have today. The process of tracing a family history can be interesting. The more you can get kids involved by making it something they want to learn more about, the better chance they will not find it boring. Instead of a lot of ancestors’ names, find pictures of them. Your child will enjoy something more tangible. Is the old family home still standing? Could they see it? Cemeteries are another source of interest. Kids find very old headstones interesting. They will find the names and dates fascinating. Arouse kids’ curiosity and they will enjoy learning where their family originated. Adapted from an ezine article by Sherri D. Smith in Genealogy Today

Namie kids enjoy smashing the piñata.

Reviews

ractor Mac Family Reunion by Billy Steers ($7.95, hard cover picture book; pre-school to 7; www.tractormac.com). The tenth storybook in the Tractor Mac series of children’s books is Tractor Mac Family Reunion. Iron Dave, a steam train, introduces Tractor Mac to other red tractors just like him. Mac is excited about meeting his new family, but his farm friends help him realize that his real family is right at home at Stony Meadow Farm. Billy Steers, author and illustrator of the series, combines his love for agricultural machinery, steam engines and farm life to bring to life a great story about family, friends and lots of red tractors. Note! A copy of Tractor Mac Family Reunion is included in the Summer Giveaway Kids’ Box! Enter at reunionsmag.com/resources/resources_contests. Deadline June 27, 2014.

he Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World® 2014 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa (2014, Keen Communications, Birmingham AL, softcover, 848 pages, $19.99) The Guide is overwhelming in its size and girth. It will not be mistaken as a pocket guide because there are no pockets large enough, and it weighs over two pounds! This is a research-rich volume that covers all aspects of a Disney World trip. Hotels, restaurants and attractions are rated by the authors and their readers. There are maps galore that take the mystery out of how to enjoy each section of the park. Attractions are rated and ranked by age group, which can be very helpful if you have very young children or grandparents along. What I found very useful is that after hundreds of pages of reviews, the last 25 or so pages of the book are intended to be clipped out and carried with you: maps, reviews, touring plans and good rest areas. A very useful book for anyone planning a Walt Disney World reunion. EW

uKloo adds riddles to treasure hunt

Reunion games for teenagers

ate Bradley, an eHow Contributor, suggests ideas for teens at reunions. Teens prefer to be active. Volleyball, basketball or games like Capture the Flag, or paintball. Teens love to swim, play miniature golf or roller skate. Split teens into teams and send them on a scavenger hunt. How about board games? Trivial Pursuit, Scene It? (“Twilight”-themed Scene It?), Pictionary or Cranium. Ask teens to bring their video game consoles, games and controllers. Put all your TVs in one room and have a video game tournament. Purchase a subscription to an online video game rental service. Ask teens in advance which games they would like to play. Create a jigsaw puzzle from a blown-up family photo and time teens to see who can get it back together fastest.

Scavenger hunt at the Seidemann Family Reunion.

he new uKloo Riddle Edition Treasure Hunt Game (MSRP $17.95 for two or more players ages 7 and up) is an engaging seek-and-find literacy game that combines thinking skills with physically active fun. It encourages kids to call upon their logic and reasoning abilities to solve riddles towards finding a surprise. Kids enjoy the thrill and personal satisfaction of problem-solving their way to success. Note! A copy of uKloo Riddle Edition Treasure Hunt Game is included in the Summer Giveaway Kids Box! Enter at reunionsmag.com/resources/resources_ contests.Deadline June 27, 2014.

Free puzzles from Activity Village

ctivity Village has a large collection of puzzles for kids that you can copy for free and have available for a slow moment or a rainy day. The types of puzzles offered are Sudoku for Kids, Mazes, Tangrams, Grid Copy Puzzles and Word Puzzles. And that’s only a small sample of the puzzles already available at Activity Village. Explore for more! Visit www.ActivityVillage.co.uk. See lots more ideas for your road trip with kids on Pinterest.com/reunionsmag on a board called “Are we there yet?”

Web page: reunionsmag.com Call: 414.263.4567 Fax: 414.263.6331 e-mail: editor@reunionsmag.com Write: PO Box 11727 Milwaukee, WI 53211-0727 MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 29

kidsstuff

Kids keep visual memories

ith digital cameras – even small, inexpensive ones – you can set up a photo booth area and take multiple photos without cost. Ask teenage boys to abandon their video games and teen girls their texting and give them the job of taking photos. Make sure there are at least three front shots of every person who attends. Delegate someone to make sure to get shots of the teens as well. This helps assure there’s at least one good photo of everyone. After the reunion, make a digital collage or album with a shot or two of everyone. Put pictures on a free photo-sharing site like Shutterfly or Flicker, allowing members to view them online, at their own leisure and under no pressure to purchase prints. From great-group-activities.com

Get kids playing outdoors

The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) “Be Out There” movement gives these ideas for integrating technology into outdoor play. • Go on a Geocaching treasure hunt. Learn more at Rangerricktrails.com.

Ephraim Holmes (7) photographing nature.

• Have kids take nature photos. Then share them on your reunion webpage, Pinterest and facebook. • Play Seek and Find at naturefind.org. Have kids research online to learn about parks, hiking trails and outdoor recreation spots near your reunion. Find great ideas for enjoying outdoor time at www.beoutthere.org/outdoorplay

Recipes for reunion fun These recipes are intended for reunion fun — NOT for eating! Homemade bubbles!

Mix 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of Dawn or Joy dishwashing liquid, and 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup or glycerin. Note: Bubbles last longer in more humidity. Homemade bubble wands

Make bubble wands from a paper clip, flyswatter, classic coat hanger or giant hula hoop. Dipping container can be a frisbee turned upside-down, or an upsidedown trash can lid or kiddie pool. Homemade modeling clay

Makes about two pounds; softer and lighter than Play-Doh. 2 cups baking soda (one 16-ounce box), 1 cup cornstarch, 1½ cups water, assorted food coloring. In a saucepan, stir baking soda, cornstarch and water over medium heat until smooth. Stir constantly until mixture is very thick and looks smooth again (about 4 minutes, start to finish). Remove from heat to a plate. Let dough sit until just cool enough to handle. Divide into equal parts. Add food coloring, a drop or two at a time. Knead in color 30 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

as if you were kneading bread dough. Color blends more quickly into warm dough. Do not store until it is fully cool. Then, keep in an airtight container in the fridge – in the butter compartment or somewhere on the door, where it isn’t as cold. The homemade clay is odorless. Kool-Aid finger paint mix

2 cups flour, 2 packs unsweetened flavored drink mix, 1/2 cup salt, 3 cups boiling water, 3 tablespoons oil. Mix wet into dry. Then finger paint away! Have you ever painted with ____? Cookie cutters, cotton balls, feathers, kitchen gadgets, lids, marbles, medicine droppers, milk caps, golf balls, dominoes, popsicle sticks, sponges, toothpicks, straws, string, yarn, toothbrushes. combs, plastic forks, combs, deodorant bottles with rollers, dishwashing pompoms, q-tips, toy cars Have you ever painted on ____? Foil, butcher paper, bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, clay flower pots, coffee filters, egg cartons, fabric, glass, paper bags, paper plates, paper towel rolls, paper towels, rocks, tissue paper, wall paper samples, wood scraps, wrapping paper, styrofoam trays, a cookie sheet, styrofoam cups These ideas from VickyandJen.com; http://vickyandjen.blogspot.com.

icebreakers

Icebreaker questions

cebreaker questions help to build reunion spirit and enthusiasm. Questions can be deep and thought provoking, or funny, witty, silly, creative or surprising. They should lighten the mood and help people get to know each other. These will help you to start a conversation with just about anyone. Treat the questions as guidelines. Avoid religion and politics and other topics that are too personal. For adults

How would you spend your life if you didn’t have to work? What is the hardest decision you’ve ever made in your life? What is the most precious thing in your life? Which historical figure inspired you most? Why? If you could be invisible for 24 hours, how would you spend the day? If you could have a dinner party with four people you admire most, who would you invite? What is the ultimate goal that you would like to accomplish? If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it? For kids

What is your favorite color? What is your favorite TV show? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Which is your favorite superhero character? What is your favorite food? If you could time travel, which era would you travel to? If you could be any animal for a day, what would you choose? If you could have any super power, what would you choose? Who is your favorite teacher and why? From a much more extensive article by Rimlee Bhuyan on Buzzle.com

M&M game

ach person grabs some M&Ms and shares facts about himself or herself based on the color of candy they have.

For example, Green-Name your favorite food, Yellow-What is your favorite book, and RedWhat is your favorite movie?

Sorts and Mingle

veryone is standing. Ask questions like: Who likes to fish? Who likes to sew? Who likes to read? With each

question the group moves to find others with shared preferences; then they’ll know others who share their interests.

Make a match

ach guest picks an envelope which contains a name of one in a pair (for example, Romeo and Juliet, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Hansel and Gretel, etc.). Seal the envelope, then talk to people

and give hints and ask questions to try to find your other half. This is a great way to get people talking and having a lot of fun trying to guess who you are. From Dollar Stretcher

I’ve done something you’ve not done

sk everyone to introduce themselves and name something that they have done that they doubt anyone else has – for example, flown in a hot air balloon. If

someone else can honestly say they have done that, too, then the first person has to keep trying until he finds something no one else has done.

Icebreakers break the tension

n icebreaker is a technique for introducing yourself to a new person or warming up to a group of people. People need to get to know each other. Icebreakers are necessary for easing into unfamiliar social circumstances. Using icebreakers is a great way to open new lines of communication and create a sense of comfort with those around you. Coupling breakfast or a meet-andgreet with icebreaking activities makes the group feel more social. Just a few snacks will make the interaction seem more friendly. From http://icebreakersforadults.net/

How some reunions break the ice

laude Talford writes that the Wilmington Family Reunion breaks the ice by having everyone introduce themselves and move to talk with a relative they don’t know. There is a prize for whoever remembers the most about their interview. Bertha (BJ) Anderson, DeSoto, Texas, reports that the Bratcher-Jones-Smith Family had an icebreaker contest to see how creative they could be in designing their “name badges.” They passed out color pencils and markers. It broke the ice because they had to share markers, so they were talking to each other as they made their badges. Then they got a chance to come up front and show off their badges. They were divided into adult, teen and kids categories, and winners in each category got prizes.

Snowball Fight

rite three things about yourself on a sheet of white paper. Do not write your name. Wad it up and have a “snowball” fight. At the end of one minute, everyone grabs the nearest snowball and tries to guess who wrote it. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 31

icebreakers

Icebreaker ideas for high school reunions Name that picture

Song and artist

Project pictures from the yearbook onto a screen. Ask classmates to identify the person(s) in the picture or the event being depicted. Also use pictures of movies, bands, or newsworthy events from your school years.

Print the titles of popular songs from your class year onto sheets of paper. Print the names of the artists who sang the songs on other sheets of paper. As members enter, tape one or the other to their shirts. The goal is for each participant wearing a song title on his shirt to find the participant wearing the name of the corresponding artist on theirs.

Jeopardy

Write 40 game show questions, five in each of eight categories. Base topics on people or events from your class year. Good categories to use include students, teachers, news events, music, movies or sports. Play with three volunteers, or divide everyone who wants to play into three groups. For a good depiction of Reunion Jeopardy, see Peters Family Reunion Jeopardy on reunionsmag.com; TV Show games.

In common

Have members at each table write all things that they have in common – for example, how many are married, have kids or pets? After about 20 minutes, find the table that has the longest list of things in common and give them a prize. From an article by David Roberts on eHow.com

I am none other than George Washington Carver, who worked with peanuts

rite the name of famous people on pieces of paper and tape one on each person’s back without letting the person know whose name is on their back. Everyone now has to guess the person whose name is

on their back by asking other people around the room yes or no questions about the person: “Did I chop down a cherry tree?” “No.” “Was I a good guy in history?” “Yes.” “Am I dead?” “Yes.”

Discover a place that’s been bringing people together since, well, forever.

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games

A tale of 1,001 stories

he Storymatic box of cards contains all the inspiration needed to spin extraordinary yarns. The Storymatic, created by Brian David Mooney, can spin a happy ending at your reunion as well. Creating a story with Storymatic is easy. It’s great for kickstarting story ideas. Draw two gold-colored cards that reveal characteristics of your tale’s new hero or heroine. Then, copper cards provide the situation or motivation that puts your tale into motion. Instructions, games and prompts help you explore the reaches of your imagination. The Storymatic Kids! requires no wires, no

screens, no batteries. Just pick a few cards to tell a story and then write it, draw it, act it, sing it! Kids’ cards are sillier than the adult version. Content appropriate for ages 5 and up. Here’s how Storymatic Kids works: There are two kinds of cards, yellow and blue. Draw two yellow cards for the character. They might be “mad scientist” and “loud snorer.” Then you draw a blue card (or two): “So many giraffes!” or “Last of three wishes.” Happy storytelling! From Brian Mooney and a review by Ethan Gilsdorf

Reunion golf tournaments

olf events are favorites of at least 20% of all reunions. It gives members an opportunity to interact and could even raise money for the reunion. Choose a golf site location. Whether public or private, golf courses and amenities differ. Confirm that the club has sufficient equipment, golf rentals, and carts. Make sure the golf site has dates and times that work for your reunion. Cover beverage cart expenses and make sure carts are fully stocked. Select the tournament format. The most

popular golf format is the Scramble, which allows each player to tee off, then play continues from the best tee shot. This continues until the ball is holed. Another is Best Ball, which allows all players to play their own ball, but only the best score in a foursome is recorded. Include special event contests, such as longest drive, shortest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt. Add contests and prizes. Golfers love competing for prizes. Make a budget. Costs will include green

fees per person, food and beverage, and tournament gifts and prizes. Request club rentals, if needed, left- or right-handed. Request handicap information, if available. Determine the pairings. Pairings in a Scramble should consider player handicaps. Depending on the course, 18 holes of golf will take about 5 hours. From a post by Rob Hard, formerly at About.com Guide

Our five miles are packed with more ways to bring your loved ones closer together. More live shows. More roller coasters. More down-home cooking. More craft exhibitions. More horses and lumberjacks. And more mountain views. Which means more spine tingles, goose bumps and unforgettable moments for anyone at any age. Welcome to the place that turns family ties into unbreakable knots.

PigeonForgeReunion.com • 1-800-285-7557

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games

Peters Family Reunion Jeopardy

liver Peters, Jr., and his wife, Linda, were looking for a participation game and came up with Peters Jeopardy. They work out categories and questions for each year’s game. “Double” Jeopardy, “Final” Jeopardy, and “Anniversary Edition” Jeopardy were added to distinguish one year from another. One category is always last year’s reunion, with questions related to the previous year’s gathering. Of the total 50 questions, 10 to 15 are about last year’s reunion and the remainder are “random” questions. Then they work on category names to plug questions into. The “final” jeopardy question is usually a toughie, something obscure and hard to remember.

reate your own Bingo cards with pictures of ancestors and other relatives. This is a great way for the young kids to learn the names of their great-grandparents. Shared by Jeff Hull, McKiney, Texas

The Peters Family Reunion Jeopardy board.

Answers to all the questions can be found either in one of four reunion scrapbooks or in online postings. If there is ever a challenge about an answer, Oliver can point to a particular source. Actually, he says, no one challenges anymore because they know he knows! Many of the questions come out of their yearly “Reunion Summary,” a one- to two-page “synopsis” of each year’s reunion. To promote the upcoming reunion, Oliver makes teaser “commercials.” Teasers show the Jeopardy board, categories, and “prizes” for winners and losers. Teasers are on the Peters’ website: sdrv.ms/11MtGki. Videos of lively Jeopardy games are at reunionsmag.com/familyreunions/family_games_tv.html For their 40th reunion, they had the backs of t-shirts adorned with several Jeopardy “sayings.” Reported by Oliver Peters, Jr., Leesburg, Virginia

Half century celebration

his game was a big hit at the 40-year class reunion at Clara City (Minnesota) High School. We had classmates complete this sentence on a piece of paper: “I bet my classmates didn’t know that I ___________.” After collecting the answers, the MC read them and everyone guessed who did whatever it was. Answers were funny; for example, “I started meds for ADD at the age of 50;” and “I got my first tattoo at 50.” Shared by Karen Nieuweerta, Montevedeo, Minnesota 34 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Look for these reunion resources online! Games on the web

ur webpage games section (reunionsmag.com/familyreunions/ family_games.html) has grown exponentially and is added to constantly. As we learn new ideas we post them quickly so they’ll be there for you to grab! Reunions magazine is your source for all things reunion. Games on Pinterest

Our Pinterest page (Pinterest.com/ reunionsmag) is all about enhancing your planning and your reunion. For reunion day activities we have boards that address reunion activities, things for kids to do at reunions and, of course, games reunions play. If you’re not a Pinterest follower, you can still see our boards and what we’ve pinned. Pictures of ideas may help a lot. Summer giveaway boxes

Giveaway boxes are back this reunion season. There are three boxes this year: a kids’ box, a reading box, and a games box. The first deadline is June 13th, the last July 11th. One entry per reunion, please! Go to the Giveaways and Contests page on reunionsmag.com to enter.

Family reunion run … lots of games

ave a candy counting contest. Fill various-sized jars with candy and other items, counting every piece as you go (that’s the hardest part). Number each jar and place on a table, along with a piece of paper for each jar, on which people can write their names and guesses about how many pieces are in each jar. The person whose guess is closest for any particular jar wins that jar or a prize. We had our own Olympics with a plastic boomerang throw, an egg toss, a bubble gum blowing contest, a water balloon toss, and driving a garden tractor pulling a garden trailer through a maze – blindfolded! The people in the trailer gave verbal directions to the driver. Linette in Idaho, on Stretcher.com One year we had our own Wheel of Fortune. It was complete with the host and hostess dressed way out. Puzzles pertained to our family, of course. We even had a couple of commercials. Kathy M. on Stretcher.com

families may prefer croquet, beach volleyball or another type of competition. This is a time for sharing projects that can be done together, including crafts, playing music, making up a family trivia game, or other activities that build your family history together. Gail on Stretcher.com Playing games your ancestors might have played at family reunions

Learn to play games your ancestors enjoyed. These are games that are fun and easily engage family members during reunions.

Seidemann Family Reunion

Tug of war

You’ll need strong, thick rope (not nylon). Divide into two teams that are even according to total “size” (not necessarily with the same number of players). Each team tries to pull the other across a line. Variations: one branch of the family against the other, males against females, etc. Red light, green light Seidemann Family Reunion

Last year we rented a church youth camp for the weekend. We had a wiener roast the first night and kid’s “Olympic style” games such as sack race, apple bobbing, hula hoop contest, 3-legged races, bubble blowing, Mello Yello chug-a-lug contest, and water balloon bust. Everyone received red-white-blue ribbons bearing homemade medallions printed with the family name. In the evening, we had “adult” games. Two relay teams walked with half-dollars between their knees and deposited them in a coffee can before tagging the next contestant. Prizes (suckers, candy bars) were awarded to all winners. Older members played bingo. We award door prizes at random by marking a certain chair, and also award prizes to the oldest, youngest, etc. Judy G. on stretcher.com If every family brings a favorite game or large jigsaw puzzle, there is usually plenty to do. We traditionally have a canasta tournament over five days, which means someone has to figure out a schedule of partners and, in the end, calculate who is the high scorer and wins the trophy, which is passed on at each reunion. Younger members may participate in the Uno tournament, or might play canasta (with an older mentor to privately answer questions on strategy during the game). Other

One person is the stoplight. Everyone else is a car. The stoplight stands at the finish line with his/her back toward the starting line. Everyone else lines up. The stoplight calls, “Green light!” Everyone races toward the stoplight, who shouts “Red light” and then turns around quickly to see if s/he can catch anyone still moving. If the stoplight catches someone moving, that person must go back to the starting line. Whoever reaches and tags the stoplight first is the stoplight for the next round. Red Rover

Divide into two large groups. Each group lines up, joining hands and facing the other group. One group shouts in unison, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send (Johnny) right over.” Whoever’s name is called runs toward the group and tries to break through the line between two people. If he is successful, he can take one of the other team’s players back to his group. If he fails, he must join the other team. Hide and seek

You’ll need a place where people can hide. Someone is “it,” and everybody hides. “It” goes to find them. From an article by Barry J. Ewell in Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 35

e military reunion news

USS Oklahoma City Reunion Cruise

ruises have become very popular with military reunion groups who have found the cost to be very reasonable compared to that of a land reunion and in some cases even better. I shared this with my own military reunion group, the USS Oklahoma City Association, and they took to it very favorably. We have since gone on a Western Caribbean Cruise and an Alaskan Cruise. Both were well attended, with nearly 100 folks on each. Now many want to go on a cruise to the Maritimes. Our two cruises were on different cruise lines and were similar, but were different from one another in some ways. For instance, one cruise had assigned seating for dinner, the other had open seating. Both offered the same class of cabins so it was a matter of picking the one that best fit the group and what they wanted to pay. That was about all the decision-making that had to be done. What made my job easy was that the reunion cruises already were planned, so there was really nothing for me to do except

USS Oklahoma City

get the word out. And another nice thing: there were no contracts to sign. One thing we discovered was that cruises bring people out of the woodwork. Folks who have never been seen at a reunion before – relatives, children, and grandchildren – came along to enjoy our cruises. Cruises

are a good recruitment tool, with the added bonus of inspiring people to begin attending our “land” reunions. I had never been on a cruise before and there was no way I could have arranged this on my own, being responsible for nearly 100 other people. It made for an easy decision to use the services of a professional travel agency and agent who specializes in group travel and especially military reunions. If a reunion cruise is something you haven’t done, consider trying it. And if you do, you must use the services of a trained and experienced cruise specialist. We worked with and recommend Brian Forrester and his agency, Holiday Cruises and Tours. Contact Brian at 480-998-1112 or Brian@ hcttravel.com. He will help make things go so much better for a memorable trip. Reported by John Baker, Winfield, Kansas, President, USS Oklahoma City Association

USS Oklahoma City Reunion Cruise

How to trace your veteran ancestors

n a guest blog post on Genealogy Tips from GenealogyBank, Gena Philibert-Ortega offers these tips for researching a soldier who served during WWI. First, search familiar genealogy websites, or order military and pension records, which are important places to start. Also search old newspapers. Hometown newspapers provide information about young men and women who have gone off to war, adding to the official military records to tell your ancestor’s story. Smaller city newspapers mention military members from their local and surrounding community, with details about his/her family, as well. Older newspapers were the facebook of their time. 36 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Students to attend D-Day reunion

even high school students from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, will escort World War II veterans to France to the last formal D-Day reunion. Most of the students have grandparents who served in the military, and all studied French for more than four years. The high school juniors, all of whom have been to France before, will be ushers at the 70th anniversary ceremony in Normandy, for the American Battle Monuments Commission. The students are committed to being “Envoys of Honor” to listen to veterans’ firsthand stories of courage and sacrifice; they will share the stories with other students, veterans and the general community. During an earlier class trip, the students visited Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium, the Normandy American Cemetery, Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France. The group collaborated with the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to organize local veterans to go overseas. From a story by Kelsey Weekman in The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Stillwater-area WWII vets to gather for annual reunion

he ranks of the A&D Last Man’s Club, World War II veterans from the Stillwater, Minnesota, continue to dwindle. Only three members remain of the 180 young men who joined the Minnesota National Guard’s 135th Infantry in

February 1941 – nine months before Pearl Harbor. They have combined their annual reunion with a group of Stillwater-area men who served in Korea. From a note by Mary Divine in the Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota

Military Reunion Planners Reunion July 3-6, 2014!

eunion Friendly Network, Reunions Magazine, and Visit Fairfax have partnered to host a unique reunion for Military Reunion Planners. It’s a Star Spangled Independence Day celebration, including the renowned July 4th fireworks on The National Mall! There is an optional program. Connect with other planners! And it’s a really good deal! Details at reunionfreindly.com, click on Confams and Events.

Remembering flights of the Intruder

rom 1965 to 1991, the Grumman A-6 Intruder saw combat in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, Grenada, Lebanon, Libya and Iraq. Dismissed by some fighter pilots as a “Flying Pig,” and branded as slow because of its subsonic top speed, no combat aircraft inspires more loyalty among those who have flown it than the Grumman A-6 Intruder. And while Pensacola hosts many military reunions, from the long-ago officer candidate school classes to the alumni of numerous ships, few gatherings draw 750 retirees and spouses, as does the Intruder

Association gathering. The theme of the Intruder reunion is “Preserving the Legend.” Throughout its 32 years of service, it earned and maintained a reputation as the workhorse of naval aviation. Further, the A-6’s unusual capacity to carry every type of conventional weapon, from guided missiles to the heaviest bombs and nuclear weapons, made it so lethal that none was ever sold to a foreign country, even US allies. From a story by Rob Johnson in the Pensacola New Journal, Pensacola, Florida

Battleship Texas is 100!

he battleship USS Texas celebrated its 100th anniversary with a reunion of its final crew at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Site. A private Centennial Ceremony honoring World War II crew members was held on the decks of the battleship. The event honored the Battleship Texas and her history, and paid tribute to the surviving crew members who served during World War II. Commissioned on March 12, 1914, the Battleship Texas served in both world wars and is the last remaining dreadnought, or big-gun battleship. It was part of many firsts, including being the first US battleship to launch an airplane and to house antiaircraft guns. The battleship was awarded five Battle Stars during World War II. Visit battleshiptexas.org. From a story on KHOU, Houston, Texas.

Comprehensive 30th Division Roster

here has never been a comprehensive, all-inclusive roster of 30th Division personnel who served in WWII because their combat records were destroyed in a 1973 fire. For nearly four years, Frank W. Towers has been collaborating with Jim West, a non-30th guy, to try to put together such a roster. Data about 30th Division personnel exists in the Archives at the Camp Blanding Museum in Starke, Florida. Jim entered data by name and unit, rank and ASN. Many veterans had saved their squad, platoon or Company rosters and sent them for reference. The Roster is available for download at www.30thinfantry.org; it currently lists over 34,000 veterans of the 30th Infantry Division who served at some time during WWII. Corrections and changes should be sent to Frank W. Towers, towersfw@windstream.net.

Vietnam Veterans gather for reunion

ietnam veterans from the 1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, gathered for their reunion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. They were given the rare chance to see today’s Army’s artillery. One base commander said he likes comparing stories. “It’s amazing how similar … even though we have all of this technology, a deployment to Vietnam is not that much different from deploying to Afghanistan.” Technology may have changed, but according to these proud veterans, soldiers today are the same as the soldiers of the past. The veterans were honored with a special room dedication at Fort Sill in Snow Hall. From a report on KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma, and Wichita Falls, Texas.

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES

Welcome to Reunion Resources! 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 editor@reunionsmag.com; 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.

CALIFORNIA GREATER ONTARIO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764 (800) 455-5755. Greater Ontario sits in the heart of Southern California, and just a short drive to world-class destinations. Close by are 6,000 rooms, more than half of which are within walking distance of the Convention Center and less than a mile from L.A./ Ontario International Airport (ONT). Meet, explore and connect in greater Ontario, California. For more information on your next vacation adventure, visit www.discoverontariocalifornia.org.

HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO BAYSIDE

4875 N Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92106 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. 619-224-3621 | 800-650-6660 | fax 619-224-1787 dos@holinnbayside.com | www.holinnbayside.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

COLORADO COLORADO VACATION DIRECTORY:

Make your search for the perfect family reunion destination easier! FREE FAMILY REUNION DESTINATION LOCATION SERVICE: www.TheCVD. com/groupsreunions/GRSearch.html and click on “EMAIL US your Request for Group Vacations in Colorado.” We will then send your requirements to Cabins, Vacation Homes, Lodges, Motels, Condos, B&Bs, and 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

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THE NATIONAL THEATRE OF WASHINGTON

1321 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC Contact Lisa Harris, lharris@thenationaldc.com 202-628-6161, ext. 227 | www.thenationaldc.com

FLORIDA EMERALD COAST CVB - DESTIN - FORT WALTON BEACH FL - OKALOOSA ISLAND

1540 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach FL 32548 Get a little sand in your soul. Have your next reunion in Destin, Ft. Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, the Heart of Florida’s Emerald Coast. These legendary beach communities on the Gulf of Mexico are a reunion planner’s dream year-round. Your group will enjoy 24-miles of sugar-white sand beaches and emerald-green water, there’s something for everyone on your guest list here. Find out what our expert team can do for you at EmeraldCoastFL.com

38 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

CROWNE PLAZA HOLLYWOOD BEACH

4000 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood FL 33019 954-454-4334 | sales@cphollywodbeach.com www.cphollywoodbeach.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

STAR ISLAND RESORT

5000 Avenue of the Stars, Kissimmee FL 34746 Located just 4 miles to Walt Disney Theme Parks. Our gated all suite resort & spa offers spacious mini suites, 1 & 3 bedroom Villas with full kitchens and kitchenette’s that can accommodate up to 8 guests. Enjoy tennis, basketball, pools, putting green, mini golf, paddle boats, putting green, pool bars, beach volleyball, game room, fitness center, children’s activities, BBQ grills and much more! Indoor & outdoor function space available to rent. Free reunion tee shirts through our partners at Experience Kissimmee. Group rates for 8 or more units. For group quote call 800-789-0715 | or email jmoquin@star-island.com. Visit our web site at www.star-island.com. We look forward to hosting your reunion!

QUALITY SUITES LAKE BUENA VISTA

All-suite, 2013 Gold Award Winner, 100% smoke free hotel offering free deluxe breakfast buffet, located 2 miles from downtown Disney, minutes from shops and restaurants. All suites sleep up to six, feature two queen beds, fully equipped kitchenettes, sleeper sofa, two flat screen TV’s, free Wi-Fi. Some popular amenities include an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, business center, board room, meeting rooms, fitness center, jogging trail and guest services. 8200 Palm Parkway, Orlando FL 32836 | Group reservations 800-3709894 ext 501 | www.qualitysuiteslbv.com | sales@ qualitysuiteslbv.com

PANAMA CITY BEACH CVB

Soft, white sand and the beautiful Gulf of Mexico form the perfect backdrop for your reunion in Panama City Beach. We’re easy to get to, with many shopping, golfing, boating and dining opportunities, and plenty of family friendly entertainment. Bring your reunion to America’s Real. Fun. Beach! For planning help, call us at 1 800 PCBEACH or visit us online at www. VisitPanamaCityBeach.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

GEORGIA

ATLANTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

233 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1400, Atlanta GA 30303. East Point is On Point for Your Family Reunion! Convenience, accessibility & affordability make East Point, GA the ideal place to host your family reunion! The ACVB provides useful tools to help you plan your reunion. Find venues, vendors and more at www. atlanta.net/rfp. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ATLANTA AIRPORT MARRIOTT

4711 Best Road Atlanta GA 30337 You enjoy the family. We’ll do the rest. Getting together for your next family reunion is more convenient than ever at Atlanta Airport Marriott®. Take advantage of our Stay and Play package, it’s everything you need to plan an unforgettable reunion and it’s all included in one perfect destination. 404-209-6818 | fax 404-209-6838 | e-mail aaryn. willis@marriott.com | http://atlantaairportmarriott.com

ATLANTA PERIMETER HOTEL & SUITES

111 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta GA 30346 Find sanctuary in 121 deluxe guest rooms and 154 fantastic suites complete with the W Signature Bed, Bliss&trade; Sinkside Six amenities and balconies in all rooms. Suites feature a full kitchen. Free shuttle service within a 3-mile radius, which includes Perimeter Mall and MARTA stations. Banquet spaces with full catering available. For reservations, call 770-396-6800 fax 770-394-4805 | GMWAtlantaPerimeter@whotels.com www.whotels.com/atlantaperimeter SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ATLANTA MARRIOTT PERIMETER CENTER

246 Perimeter Center Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30346 The Hotel is located adjacent to Perimeter Mall and the Dunwoody MARTA station offering easy access to all city attractions. Amenities include onsite restaurant and lounge, room service, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, meeting and banquet space for up to 350 people and complimentary hotel shuttle within a 2-mile radius. Ask about our special reunions packages. Call 770 394-6500 or visit www.atlantamarriottperimeter. com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER at RAVINIA

4355 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30346 Located in Central Perimeter area nestled on a 45 acre park, with waterfalls, terraced gardens, facilities for gatherings of 10 to 1,000. 495 guestrooms, 33 spacious suites. Featuring a three-story greenhouse atrium lobby, fitness center, indoor pool with sundeck. Across from the Perimeter Mall. Free shuttle to area restaurants, parks and MARTA station for downtown attractions. Visit www.cpravinia.com | call 770-3957700. Mention this listing for 10 % off reunion banquet pricing. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

EMBASSY SUITES ATLANTA PERIMETER CENTER

1030 Crown Pointe Pkwy, Atlanta GA 30338 770-394-5454. All suite, upscale, renovated hotel located in beautiful Dunwoody, just steps away from Perimeter Mall, Perimeter Shoppes and more than 30 area restaurants/dining facilities. Hotel features complimentary amenities such as: cooked-to-order breakfast, Manager’s Reception, area shuttle, parking deck, indoor pool/sun deck, Precor fitness center and business center. Hotel offers an onsite restaurant with Starbucks cafe, meeting space and wireless internet throughout. Flat screen TV’s in all suites. Easy access to downtown via MARTA. Hilton Family Hotels. Book us at www.atlantaperimetercenter.embassysuites.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PERIMETER CENTER EAST

4601 Ridgeview Road, Atlanta - Dunwoody GA 30338 Staybridge Suites is an All-Suite Hotel and offers a premier location in the Dunwoody – Perimeter Area within walking distance to some of the best Restaurants and Shops Atlanta has to offer. Minutes away from attractions like Stone Mountain, Six Flags, Zoo Atlanta, Hartsfield Airport and the Georgia Dome. Fantastic amenities like Free Full Breakfast, Free Shuttle within a 3-Mile Radius, Free Internet, Free On-Site Fitness Center and Guest Laundry! 678-320-0111 Fax: 678-320-0250 | Reservations: dos.atlpr@wm. staybridge.com | www.staybridge.com/atlanta-pr SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

DOUGLASVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 6694 E. Broad St. Douglasville, GA 30134. With a great location near Atlanta and over 1,800 hotel rooms, Douglasville, Georgia is a great location for your next reunion! For details on complimentary services, including welcome bags and name badges, contact the Douglasville CVB today and let us help plan your next reunion. For more information call us at 1-800-661-0013 or email us at info@ visitdouglasville.com. www.visitdouglasville.com

CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OF DUNWOODY, GA

Just 10 minutes outside Atlanta in DeKalb County, Dunwoody is the best location for your next reunion. Minutes away from Stone Mountain Park, Georgia Aquarium, the MLK Center and more! Home to five excellent hotels with tons of meeting space and all within walking distance to Perimeter Mall and shuttle services to MARTA! Call today to plan your reunion: 678-244-9800 | visit www.cvbdunwoody.com/ SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

SANDY SPRINGS HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

5920 Roswell Rd., Suite A-118, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 866-511-7742 | hospitality@sandyspringsga.org www.visitsandysprings.org Sandy Springs, conveniently located minutes from Atlanta, boasts more than 50,000 feet of meeting space and offers 20 upscale hotels. For your reunion, choose us!

ILLINOIS

Plan an unforgettable reunion in Lake County, Illinois – We’ll work together to help you plan an

event that lets you explore all the excitement of Lake County. From entertaining attractions like Six Flags to our convenient, centralized location close to Chicago, there are so many reasons to choose Lake County for family friendly fun. For free Reunion Planning Assistance call or email us with your reunion planning questions. 800-LAKE-NOW | tourism@lakecounty.org www.lakecounty.org SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES LOUISIANA HYATT REGENCY NEW ORLEANS

601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113 Contemporary guestrooms, flexible meeting space, eight unique dining options, along with easy access to the interstate and a prime location on the Loyola Streetcar Line makes Hyatt Regency New Orleans the perfect destination for families and groups of all sizes. Enjoy incredible amenities like Self Check-In, Bywater Pool, StayFit 24-hour gym and Le Jardin in-room spa services. Walking distance to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Champions Square, Smoothie King Center and the Arts & Warehouse Districts. Within one mile of some of the city’s most famed attractions including the historic French Quarter, Mississippi Riverfront, WWII Museum, Aquarium of the Americas and much more. Tel: 504-613-3900 | Fax: 678-320-0250 Reservations: hrno.sales@hyatt.com neworleans.hyatt.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

MARYLAND The BEST WESTERN PLUS HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER

5625 O’Donnell St, Baltimore MD 21224 We are the perfect location for your next Reunion. We offer free parking, a free scheduled shuttle, indoor pool and free hot breakfast. Our room amenities include a microwave/refrigerator, hairdryer, and coffeemaker. Two ballrooms able to accommodate 50-400 guests. Get a complimentary hospitality suite when your book your Banquet with us. Call 410-633-9500 | email Janet@bwhotelbaltimore.com www.bwhotelbaltimore.com

INNS OF DISTINCTION Perfect Reunions. Perfect Locations – Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Whether you’re planning a Family, Military or Class Reunion, gather your friends and come stay with us! Our collection of Historic Hotels, inns and unique properties are perfect for your next Reunion. And, many include free breakfast & WIFI, complimentary hospitality suites and a host of items you will appreciate! Plus, you will love our prime locations; they’re easy to get to, priced right and offer plenty of fun attractions nearby. Maryland Reunions: innsofdistinction.com/reunions Pennsylvania Reunions: innsofdistinction.com/reunions Or if you prefer, call Randy at 610-357-2221

MASSACHUSETTS GRAFTON INN FALMOUTH CAPE COD – OCEANFRONT 10 bedroom house

261 Grand Ave, Falmouth MA 02540 This unique, fully equipped oceanfront Victorian 10 BR/11 BA in Falmouth Heights, Cape Cod comfortably sleeps 20+ (private full BA in each BR). Magnificent direct views of Vineyard Sound, a popular beach 30 feet away, and many amenities make it a perfect vacation spot. For more information, please contact Felicia Schecter-Emrich at 917-533-1821 graftoninnfalmouth@yahoo.com http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p118390

MICHIGAN DETROIT METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Bring your family reunion to Detroit, America’s great comeback city. We’ll help create itineraries, find accommodations and more. Detroit has lots of fun family attractions like The Henry Ford, Detroit Zoo, museums, festivals and outdoor spaces. Learn more at our free Family Reunion Planning Seminar this fall. For more information, contact the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau at reunions@meetdetroit.com 313-202-1985 | meetdetroit.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 visit: www.craguns.com/family-reunions/

MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL

is the perfect location for your next reunion. Meet Minneapolis represents the entire MSP metro area with over 17,000 hotel rooms. Use our FREE service and hotels will compete against each other for your business. We also provide your group with FREE guides, maps, and coupons along with tour ideas, group friendly restaurants, and sample itineraries. Let us help you plan your next reunion to Minneapolis Saint Paul. 612-767-8106 | caseyk@minneapolis.org www.minneapolis.org

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 live music shows and family entertainment, lodging, attractions, dining and more. Remember, in Branson, our value is unrivaled, our scenery breathtaking and our authentic Ozarks hospitality inviting. Call us toll-free at 800-214-3661 417-243-2117 | visit our website at ExploreBranson. com and request a Reunion Planner Sales kit. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NEVADA GOLD COAST HOTEL & CASINO

is located just minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip, directly across from The Rio and The Palms. This friendly resort personifies all that is best about Las Vegas and features 712 rooms and suites, 30,000 square feet of conference space, full-service casino, Bingo Parlor, six restaurants, showroom/lounge, 70-lane bowling center, race/sports book, a poolside fitness center, and shuttle service to the heart of The Strip. 4000 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103 702-251-3560 | 800-331-5334 x 400 www.goldcoastcasino.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

SAM’S TOWN HOTEL & GAMBLING HALL

5111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas NV 89122 Sam’s Town boasts 646 elegantly appointed rooms and suites which surround the Mystic Fall Indoor Park. This popular hotel and casino has over 2,700 slot and video poker machines as well as 40 table games. In addition, Sam’s Town has 30,000 square feet of meeting space, multiple restaurants, food court, 18 movie theatres, RV Park, Bowling Center and much more!!! Sam’s Town offers a courtesy shuttle to the Strip and Downtown. 702-454-8120 www.samstownlv.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO

3800 S Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502 Atlantis is Reno’s Newest Hot Spot for Reunions! Atlantis boasts 50,000 SF of flexible meeting space. Stay in Reno’s newest resort rooms, featuring pillow-top mattresses and 42” HDTV’s. Dine in eight distinct award-winning restaurants. The Atlantis Steakhouse proudly serves Allen Brothers USDA Prime steaks. Network at the ten captivating bars and lounges. Escape to Spa Atlantis winner of Spa Finder “Readers’ Choice” award! Sales Department 800.994.5900 | sales@AtlantisCasino.com AtlantisCasino.com

NORTH CAROLINA THE CAMP

2420 Middlefork Rd, Hendersonville Nc 28792 828-772-5454 | info@TheCampNC.com www.TheCampNC.com The Camp is the ultimate destination for family reunions and multi-family getaways. Private and gated estate on a 150-acre property near Asheville, North Carolina. Four separate homes sleep up to 62. Rustic Bunk- House sleeps an additional 60. Plasma TVs and wifi. Heated Pool, Heated Water Slide, Hot Tub. Social Hall, Dining Hall Commercial kitchen. Game Room and Arcade. Indoor/Outdoor Basketball, Exercise Room, Tennis court, Athletic Field, Fishing Pond, and multiple Fire Pits. Pet-friendly, open year-round.

MOUNTAIN LODGE & CONFERENCE CENTER OF FLAT ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and convenient to Asheville, Historic Hendersonville and I26. The perfect place for your family to enjoy time together and the montage of local activities and attractions including; Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, Chimney Rock State Park, Dupont & Pisgah National Forests, NC Arboretum, Flat Rock Playhouse, Apple Valley and the world famous downtowns of Hendersonville and Asheville! Western NC’s only ALL-SUITE Lodge with award winning in house chef, indoor pool, nature trail, s’mores bonfire, waterfall courtyard, fitness & business center, basketball & more! Visit www.mountainlodgeflatrock.com or call 828- 693-9910.

WILMINGTON N.C. and three island beaches offer extraordinary experiences from the river to the sea. From the historic river district anchored by a scenic Riverwalk and 200+ shops, cafes and vibrant nightlife to a new Ocean Front Park and beachside boardwalks. Get together in NC’s most accessible coastal destination. For group itineraries & events: NCCoastalMeetingsReunions.com 800-650-9064, ext. 113

OHIO EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

800-354-2657 www.ExperienceColumbus.com/reunions Columbus is ranked one of the top value destinations in the country. With four downtown entertainment districts, annual festivals, the #1 rated Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, and an array of outdoor parks to choose from, you won’t want to have your family reunion anywhere else. Planning a reunion in Columbus is easy. And we’re here to help. Plus, all of our services are free. We will assist you with finding hotels, local attractions and more. And when the time comes, we’ll provide you with Visitors Guides, Visitor Maps, plastic bags and pens. Contact Kari Kauffman 614-222-6136 | KKauffman@ExperienceColumbus.com

PENNSYLVANIA INNS OF DISTINCTION Perfect Reunions. Perfect Locations – Pennsylvania and Maryland.

SOUTH CAROLINA 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 | groupsales@seamist.com www.seamist.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

TENNESSEE CHATTANOOGA AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

We are ready to host your next family or military reunion. Our Staff works closely with the hotels, attractions, tour companies and you to provide exactly what you need to have a great reunion. Contact Christina Petro at 800-964-8600 ext. 3017 | email at chrisp@chattanoogacvb.com to begin planning your next reunion! www.ChattanoogaMeetings.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 39

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES 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 VISIT FAIRFAX / FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Enjoy everything that Northern Virginia has to offer. From the monuments and memorials of nearby Washington, DC to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, Fairfax County is an ideal location for your military or family reunion. Call us at 703-790-0643 visit our website today at www.fxva.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NEWPORT NEWS – Get closer to ships, history and

TEXAS PEARLAND CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

11200 Broadway, Suite 1390, Pearland TX 77584. Pearland - A Perfect Pick to stay and meet in the Gulf Coast of Texas. Pearland, ten miles from downtown Houston and Hobby Airport, offers eleven hotels with 859 rooms and 15,000+ square feet of meeting space. Perfect for a family, military or class reunion, or group meeting. We offer planning assistance, referral services, itineraries and hotel contracting. 713-436-5595 fax 713-436-5017 | visitpearland.com Contact Kim Sinistore ksinistore@ci.pearland.tx.us

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

the great outdoors with one central destination: Newport News. Get all this, plus Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, too! Whether getting together with old classmates, shipmates or relatives, Newport News provides the perfect location and services to make your reunion a success. We offer the best value and plenty to see and do! Let Newport News make your next reunion a memorable one. Call Barb Kleiss at 888-493-7386 | or email her at bkleiss@nngov.com to book your reunion. www.newport-news.org

VisitNorfolk

232 East Main Street, Norfolk VA 23510 Norfolk’s beautifully revitalized waterfront, rich military heritage, walkable downtown and Coastal Virginia 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 5,000 committable hotel rooms in various price ranges. Call 800-368-3097 dallen@visitnorfolktoday.com www.visitnorfolktoday.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

DYNAMIC CITY. DIVERSE ATTRACTIONS.

From cultural attractions and shopping to historic tours and delicious coastal cuisine caught fresh from the Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk is a dazzling destination for your next reunion. Plan your perfect escape today! visitnorfolktoday.com/reunions | 1-800-368-3097

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KINGSMILL RESORT, Williamsburg, VA

A relaxing riverside setting, where everyone finds freedom to have fun! Choose spacious guestrooms or suites with fireplace, full kitchen and washer/dryer. Celebrate indoors or out and enjoy 3 golf courses, pool with lazy river, Kids Kamp, spa, sports club, watersports, shuttle to Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg. Call 800.832.5665 for a reunion they’ll rave about!

WEST VIRGINIA CAPON SPRINGS & FARMS

PO Box 0, Capon Springs, WV 26823 Come home to Capon, where good food, good friends and good fun meet! For three generations, our family has been welcoming guests to our award-winning all-inclusive mountain retreat. Relax and enjoy organized activities for all ages within a restored historic resort. Featuring: golf, spa w/mineral baths, hiking, spring-fed pool, tennis and more on 4,700 forested acres. Open May 1-Nov. 1 with 100 rooms in a variety of lodging. Two hours from DC. Call or email year round, reunion planner: Jonathan Bellingham: 304-874-3695 | caponsf@mountain.net www.caponsprings.net

ENTERTAINMENT THE NATIONAL THEATRE OF WASHINGTON

1321 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington DC Contact Lisa Harris, lharris@thenationaldc.com 202-628-6161, ext. 227 | www.thenationaldc.com

T-SHIRTS CUSTOMINK

Create amazing reunion shirts online in our fun & easy Design Lab! Choose from name-brand apparel and 40,000+ images, or upload your own art. No hidden charges or set-up fees. Guaranteed delivery dates. FREE shipping and FREE design help 7 days/ week. Call us toll-free at 877-803-5887. We love to talk tees! Or visit us online at customink.com/reunion. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES PRODUCTS & SERVICES All of these products can be purchased through Reunions magazine. Please call 414-263-4567.

BOOKS

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. 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. The Pick A Party book set, by Patty Sachs, party-planning expert. Book #1: Pick a Party, The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasion, 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. 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. 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.

FOOD PREPARATION

How Many?! How Much!?, A Step-by-Step guide to cooking for a large group, by Jennifer Cole. This book will help you with menu planning, recipe costing, recruiting helpers, budgeting. Spiral bound, 73 pp.$19.95 plus $4.95 s/h.

MAGAZINE

Subscribe to Reunions magazine Ensure a full year of reunion planning advice plus workbook. Subscribe now. Send $9.99/yr or $17.99/2 yrs to Reunions Magazine, Inc., PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. To charge to credit card call 414-263-4567.

MUSIC

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.

Postcards that make your reunion point!

Send

save the date

when you’ve set it!

Send

TIME IS RUNNING OuT when it is!

Custom Printing – $45 p/hundred; 50¢ each Fill-in cards $15 p/hundred; 20¢ each plus shipping & handling Send message, check & request to: Reunion postcards PO Box 11727 v Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 To charge, call 414.263.4567

MAY/JUNE/JULY 2014 v Reunions 41

P.O. Box 11727 v Milwaukee WI 53211-0727

www.reunionsmag.com TM

Let our family take care of yours