Reunions Magazine Volume 22, Number 4. May/June/July 2012 (SOLD OUT) by Reunions Magazine

Reunion lingo Icebreakers Kids Stuff Display until July 31, 2012.

Vo l 22 n o 4 M AY / J u n e / j u ly 2012 $ 3 / U SA

in this issue Departments front Words – 4 ALUM & I – 6 Coming home to where the heart remains by Karen Setlowe Fifth Avenue High School by Emily Davis Brandywine alerts by Kevin Donahue SchoolFeed

BRANCH OFFICE – 8 Genealogy for kids Treasure hunting through attic trash? Genealogy and social networking, Finding Your Father’s War, hidden treasures, Orphan Train riders, World Acadian Congress

Scrapbook – 14 Reunion School, workshops conferences & seminars Tips for pre-presentation preparation by Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE Little Brown Church in the Vale Marriage Reunion Weather: the fickle reunion guest Hospitality answerman defines reunion lingo by Dean Miller Emergency reunion supplies, social media, Bacardi Family Reunion (yes, that Bacardi family!), hotel reverse auction site, reunion web sites

Masterplan – 21 Camping suits the Howard Flanary reunion by Teresa Flanary McNeil One reunion planner’s dilemma Wilson family holds health fair by Pamela B. Williams Families: Endo, Ford, Boyle, Mayo and Harvey-Spann-Moore-White Icebreakers and fun ways to get to know you Families: Gillyard-Johnson-Mahoney, Smith, Johnson Hubboard, Lockett, Petty, Fulton/Brock, Miriam Cousins Kidsstuff Hull kids eager to come by Jeff Hull Ground rules for reunion behavior Kids activities at lots of reunions! Money talk just for kids Go outside! Just Cuz!

features – 34 Live Music Capital of the World … and SO much more! by Edith Wagner Saving $$$ Having a good time without a dime by Tracy Harrington Atkinson

Military Reunion News – 37 USS Charles S. Sperry DD-697 reunion by Gary Chesser Devil’s Brigade, Iwo Jima reunions, YMRC, VMRP

Reunion Resources – 38 A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and products

On the cover Summer reunions at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota.

May/June/July 2012 Volume 22 • Number 4 Publisher / Editor in Chief Edith Wagner Travel Editor Jacky Runice Art Director Jennifer Rueth Sales Marion Liston Senior Account Manager Operations Manager Karla Lavin Administrative Staff Josh Evert Nicole Dettmering Ksioszk hospitality answer man Dean Miller student internS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Justin Daniel Beaton Jillian Schmus Contributors Tracy Harrington Atkinson • Trudy Barch Tina Burton • Gary Chesser Emily Davis • Kevin Donahue Mildred Dudley • Dorothy Edwards Pamela and Jamark Gilbert • Ben Gomez Bettie Gillyard Griggs • Lenora Harper Brenda Higgs • Jeff Hull Donna Lowenthal • Mary Mahood Vicky Mann • Carolyn McCoy Teresa Flanary McNeil • Marianne Mersereau Shantwuan Mines • Thelma Moore-Steward Karen Setlowe • Sarah Smith Gail Taylor • Pamela B. Williams Reunions magazine, Inc. (ISSN #1046-5s235), is published 4 times per year. Send correspondence, queries, submissions, subscriptions, advertising to Reunions magazine, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. Written permission from the publisher is required for reproduction of any part of this book except pages which encourage sharing. Please explain your intended use when requesting permission to reprint. Email: editor@reunionsmag.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 Reunions magazine, Inc. Subscriptions: US and Canada $9.99/yr, $17.99/2 yrs. Foreign orders add $36 for subscriptions. All foreign payment in US funds or drawn on a US bank. 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; 414-263-4567; fax 414-263-6331; e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com; reunionsmag.com. © 2012 Reunions magazine, Inc. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 3

FRONT WORDS

Be in touch! It’s reunion season!

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

hile this issue is at the printer, I will be enjoying a family reunion in Olching, Germany, a suburb of Munich. It’ll be a little longer than most reunions because the cost of getting there has gone way up, and travelers must stay longer to get the most out of their airfare dollars. I’ll be visiting cousins and enjoying some relaxing time away from the office – although, as seems true everywhere these days, I’ll be connected all the time. You are looking forward to your summer reunions, too, and likely have lots left to do. We hope this issue and our website will be resources you turn to regularly as you count down to Reunion Day. We’ve made lots of changes to our website, which we hope will draw you back time and time again. To start, we concentrated on answering the one question that comes up all summer long: what games can we play at our reunion? We have collected an extensive selection for you to choose from, and are always on the lookout for more. Send your suggestions! We’ve made Free Stuff easier to navigate and added lots to that page. And, if for no other reason, you MUST check our website regularly for contests and sweepstakes offering reunions as prizes. Often sweepstakes come up and are over faster than we put out a magazine, so that limits them to the website.

Want to learn more about reunion planning?

Workshops – offered primarily by convention and visitors bureaus – are scheduled for many places every month. We urge you to register early. Most are free and well worth the hours you spend learning about reunion planning and resources available to help you. Reunions magazine editor Edith Wagner will be speaker at the Columbus, Ohio, workshop, October 6, 2012. See contact info in Reunion School, page 14. Also check out reunion planning podcasts online.

Support our supporters

We cannot say it enough: without our advertisers you would not be holding this magazine right now. We urge you to contact them to give them a chance to tell you what they can do to help make this your best reunion ever. They’re eager to help. Your reunion: an internet sensation!?

We want to add more reunion videos or links to reunion videos to our web and facebook pages. Videos add a whole new dimension and give viewers a better idea of what goes on at reunions. We know that videos of reunion members, young and not so young, dancing the Electric Slide is a very popular theme and we promise that rather than choosing one, we will add all the Electric Slide videos at reunions as we can! Won’t you add yours?

In this issue

Student interns

With games a focus on the website, we’ve included new reunion day icebreakers and kids activities in this issue but check the website for lots more. Learn about the Wilson Family Reunion Health Fair, which can be replicated by any reunion. And what better place to discuss family health history than at a reunion. Dean Miller, our Hospitality Answerman, demystifies some of the language of the hospitality industry.

Each semester we have interns from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who work on various assignments during their tenure. This semester our two interns produced fine reports from families who completed our questionnaire to qualify for a free subscription to Reunions magazine. I am really proud of the work of our students this semester.

Where’s your reunion?

If you’re on facebook, please join us and be a fan of Reunions magazine. We post news, sweepstakes deadlines, heads-up alerts about new posts on our website, and new stuff we think you’d be interested in. We’re currently exploring Pinterest, and one of the things we’ll be doing is visiting reunion websites and pinning interesting items we discover and pictures we think reunion planners would like to see. We wish you a very successful 2012 reunion season. EW

If ever you say to yourself, “My reunion belongs there,” or “My reunion picture would illustrate that very point,” do something about it! Send your story, questions, suggestions or pictures. Remember to add captions to the pictures, including the reunion name. We’d really like to add more newsletters and invitations links and family reunion videos to the website. Share yours, please!

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We’re branching out again!

alum & I Fifth Avenue High School

Classes of 1960 and 1961 Reunion

he combined classes of 1960 and 1961, from the nowclosed Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, held their 50th and 51st reunions in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. Alfred Clark, class of 61, was the Master of Ceremony, and Rev. Frank Gardner, class of 60, and Henry Harper, class of 61, provided class reflections. Every classmate received a gold-embossed 50th or 51st Anniversary Diploma and a mug bearing the school name and graduation year. Former teachers William Fisher and Robert Mungin received framed gold-embossed plaques honoring them as outstanding teachers and mentors. A memorial table displayed pictures of deceased class members. Fifth Avenue High School Class of 1960.

Saturday the class met for a boat ride and picnic on the Gateway Majestic Cruise Ship. The reunion culminated with everyone receiving a copy of his/her class’s group picture. From a report by Emily Davis, Homewood, Pennsylvania, who says “We had a great time!” Editors note: Pictures of the class memorial tables can be seen at reunionsmag.com, click on class reunion memorials.

Fifth Avenue High School Class of 1961.

Brandywine Class of 1967

SchoolFeed highlights high school reunions

S W

ilmington, Delaware’s Brandywine High School Class of ’67 classmates, Kevin Donahue, reunion chair, and Jeff Cooper, desktop publisher/artist, eblast new reunion reminders regularly. Then the reminders are posted on facebook and their website (www.kevin67.com). Kevin said, “We collaborate on ideas, usually something time-specific to our group’s era (movie, album, TV show), then have fun with the dialogue. The first reminder is posted about 12 months before the reunion date, and all are used to keep awareness high.”

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choolFeed is a sort of facebook-like social gaming version of classmates.com. Users can learn what happened to their freshman crush, but SchoolFeed also helps plan reunions, scan yearbooks and play games together. Its first in-app game is Bingo. It rewards users with virtual coins and gifts, urging them to add and share with friends. Instead of mining school directories, the company reverse-engineers high school class lists by getting users to contribute facebook data. According to a post by Liz Gannes, the app seems to automatically include all your facebook friends, regardless of what high school they say they went to. Unlike classmates.com, which charges users, SchoolFeed is free. SchoolFeed hopes to attract a relatively older audience. That’s in part because facebook already serves as a sort of living yearbook for younger people. Editors note: Have you joined SchoolFeed? If so, your comments, please; editor@ reunionsmag.com.

Coming home to where the heart remains

by Karen Setlowe

homas Wolfe wrote that you “can’t go home again.” Structures, people and landscapes change; memory is selective and can shift in nature. High school reunions, in particular, bring back a myriad of reflections and emotions. They vary widely, depending on individual perceptions of connections to the past. One person’s fond remembrance is another’s tortuous experience. My Lawrence High School Class of 1961 50th reunion was at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club in October. I was part of the committee who had the task of finding classmates. Some had stayed in the same place for decades; but some had moved, and it was a challenge to find them. Most, when found, were glad to be found whether or not they were able to attend; and there were those who preferred to forget their high school experience. I knew better not to call those who I knew wanted to be left alone or “lost.” All the people I spoke with had interesting stories to share regardless of their personal high school experience. The difficult part of the search was when I discovered that a fondly remembered classmate had died. The fun part was finding the longtime “lost” who were grateful to be “found.” The most rewarding part was when I was able to connect friends who had lost touch with each other and wanted to reconnect. Life has a way of getting in the way of staying in touch with valued friends.

at check-in due to hellos, hugs and surprise at encountering classmates not seen for a long time. Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, dinner and story-sharing followed. We had the usual mix of classmates who come to every reunion and those who have come to one or two. The surprises were those who were there for the first time; one guy had never been to any reunion and was surprised he was having such a good time. He wished he had attended all the others. I had reconnected him with five of his friends after 50 years, but they couldn’t attend. The highlight of the evening was when almost everyone was on the dance floor moving as a group in unison and letting it all “hang out.” Time and space shifted, years dissolved, and the room was transformed to a time not forgotten, not lost. The energy in the room was unforgettable; it belonged to a group of people who meant a great deal to each other – the good and the bad. Each of us was a piece of a huge mosaic, and it was approaching wholeness once again. I’m particularly proud of the fact that one of our classmates offered to assist with expenses for anyone who would be financially challenged by attending the reunion. This offering is a prime example of the heart of our class. It helps to counterbalance the fact that after our Senior Skit (which was hilarious but somewhat controversial for its time) the LHS administration discontinued the tradition of senior skits. In a way, I’m also proud of that; it was who we were. We were an interesting mosaic of people who went on to live sometimes controversial but nevertheless important lives. We even have a few who are quite well known; I will let their reputations speak for themselves. Our 50th reunion was Photo courtesy of Larry Hacken, Absolute Elegance. made possible by someone Author Karen Setlowe, center in yellow vest, with her Lawrence High School, Class of 1961 50th reunion on Long Island, New York. we affectionately refer to with a variety of titles, including “Reunion Guru.” For decades The unforgettable occurred when I found a classmate who had she has spearheaded our reunions and assembled a committee to lost and needed personal information I had gathered during my help produce great reunions. For our 50th, she moved beyond effort to find her. personal tragedy in order to once again bring us together to keep Before the reunion, I visited many places that held the most special memories alive and to create new ones. She acts as a role precious memories of my youth. When I passed through the front model for the rest of us as we continue our journey in life. door of Lawrence High, a security guard informed me I couldn’t The reunion will be etched in our memories forever. There is go any further. At that moment, the bell rang and the hallway already talk of a 55th; we think it might be a bit risky to wait for a filled with students and the noise of chatter. I tried to embrace the 60th. Many heard what a great time we had, and they want to scene around me, but it was as if I had been transported to some make sure they’ll be able to come to the next one. We remember alternate society to which I didn’t belong. I reminded myself that those who’ve died; they’re with us in spirit. things and people change; LHS is no exception. Yes, structures, landscapes and people change; but special LHS may be different, but the students will find their own friendships and memories are never destroyed. Most of the LHS unique way of keeping it important in their lives just as my class of ’61 no longer lives in the Five Towns, our parents are classmates and I did decades before. long gone, and we don’t go back to the neighborhood for the The reunion itself was like a costume ball. If we had held up holidays; yet, there will always be that one precious moment really well and looked good, we came looking like our parents did when we can go home again, because home is where the heart is. when we were in high school. If the ravages of time hadn’t been kind, we resembled our grandparents as they looked when we About the author were teens. Either way, we gave it our best shot and bravely faced Karen Setlowe’s work in the performing arts has taken her our fellow classmates, who had come from as far away as Sweden throughout the US and overseas. She has been a contributing and as close as the Five Towns. feature writer for a variety of US publications. The reunion got its predictable start with the usual traffic jam MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 7

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Genealogy for kids

hat strategies will best engage children to pursue genealogy? asks Mary HarrellSesniak in the Rootsweb Review newsletter. Bring history alive by displaying family artifacts. Allow children to handle special treasures. Take field trips. Start with upbeat destinations: ancestral homes and historical parks. Then introduce cemeteries and museums. Share expertise with teachers. Help develop classroom projects or a genealogy club. Create coats of arms or demonstrate how pedigree charts, sailing ships, looms or the Underground Railroad worked. Work with organizations that explore genealogy through merit badges, essay contests or memberships. Many do not have age requirements, and some have specific chapters for youth.

Scan and compare family photographs. Ask kids to determine common features shared with ancestors. To illustrate a traditional life, grow heritage vegetables or cook historic recipes. Create a family history area in your home. Include a family tree, maps and other special items. For more ideas on instilling the love of genealogy in children, visit the following online resources: Growing Up in Slavery, Heraldry 4 Kids, Kids.gov (a safe place where kids can create, share and learn), US Census Bureau for Kids, World Almanac for Kids and WorldGenWeb for Kids.

Finding Your Father’s War

inding Your Father’s War: A Practical Guide to Researching and Understanding Service in the World War II US Army, by Jonathan Gawne (Philadelphia: Casemate, 2006). Finding Your Father’s War, written by a military historian, focuses on Army records exclusively. Chapters include an Introduction to Army Units, Individual Records, Organizational Records, and Finding Records. Appendices provide information about World War II that can be useful as you research. The focus is on researching the individual and his/her social history. This book can help you write a family history narrative. From a review by Gena Philibert-Ortega in Genealogy Book Reviews 8 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Chrisman family has Civil War ties

amily reunions have always been important occasions among Southerners. But for the Chrisman family of Rutherford County, Tennessee, their annual get-together in Christiana is a time to reflect and pass along the story of their Civil War veteran ancestor to new generations of his proud progeny. The gathering began in 1906 as a celebration of William Daniel Chrisman’s August birthday and a reunion for his fellow Confederate veterans. William Daniel, the last surviving Williamson County Civil War veteran, died in 1939, at 92. His annual birthday gathering survives to this day. William’s descendants grew and prospered in Rutherford County. The family has had much to celebrate during 105 annual reunions and by every indication, this Civil War veteran’s tradition will continue for another century. From a story by Jonathan Fagan in The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

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Discover hidden treasures

he Mormon Church or LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) operates 4500 Family History Centers, which are branches of the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. And genealogists can conduct research for free at any of them. After just a few minutes of instruction, a wide world of genealogical resources opens to you. Staff members won’t do research for you, but they’ll gladly answer research questions. They’ll also order microfilms and microfiche from the Family History Library. Many centers offer genealogical research classes. FamilySearch.org is an introductory website by the Family History Library. The more information you have about your ancestor, the better your chances for finding more at the center. The Family Registry is a microfiche list of those researching a particular family. Their name in the registry indicates these individuals are willing to share their information. A Surname Catalog may provide shortcuts to family histories and census information, as well as a cross reference to the Family Registry. Standard microfiche records provide information about many hard-to-find sources, including data on Native Americans, slave and minority records. There is also a fiche collection containing material and vital records from every country on Earth and written in every language imaginable. From an article by Bob Brooke in Genealogy Today

Orphan train riders, offspring seek answers

rom the 1850s the Children’s Aid Society and New York Foundling Hospital in New York and other East Coast cities put orphaned or abandoned children on trains headed west. Enactment of social service programs and child protective laws ended the practice in 1929. Lukas Weinstein, archive coordinator for the Children’s Aid Society, says about 200,000 children rode the trains. Some were adopted by loving families; others were treated as servants when there were no child labor laws. Many ended up in the midwest. A growing number of their descendants want to know more about orphan train riders. “I’ve seen a steady increase (in interest) in the past year,” Weinstein says. He gets up to 20 requests a week for information. “Interest is growing,” says Muriel Anderson, curator of the National Orphan Train Complex, a research center and museum in Concordia, Kansas. “We’re getting a lot more requests from grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” Renee Wendinger, who wrote Extra! Extra! The Orphan Trains and Newsboys of New York, helps organize orphan train reunions. She says many riders, including her mother, became strong adults. “I have not met one orphan train rider who ever had a ‘poor me’ attitude,” she says. From a story by Judy Keen in USA TODAY

Treasure hunting through attic trash?

eality TV capitalizes on our fascination with discovering treasure in household junk. Historian Michael Mendoza’s patient culling through boxes of old papers was rewarded when he found a Civil War veteran’s personal account of his experiences. The 17-page letter was so rich in detail, Mendoza (www.dentedcanenterprises.com) used it as the basis of his first novel, Glorious Reality of War. “Many things are valuable on their own, like first editions of classic books,” Mendoza says. “But don’t forget family records. Even if you’re not into genealogy, you should save those, because once you throw them away, they’re lost to the next generation.”

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Mendoza offers these tips for dealing with old paperwork. v Don’t throw it away simply because it’s damaged. v Put together items about the same topic to improve chances of selling to collectors. Collectors like to buy in lots, Mendoza notes. They’d rather have a whole bunch of things than just one. v Store papers in an open zipper bag in a dry place. If the paper is very valuable, invest in bags designed for that purpose. v Digitize everything. Scanning your documents and photographs allows you to study them without Michael Mendoza damaging them.

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2014 World Acadian Congress looking for more family reunions

he 2014 World Acadian Congress hopes to host 120 family reunions in Maine in the US, northwestern New Brunswick and part of Quebec in Canada. The first round of 62 approved reunions and their locations is on Reunions magazine list of future reunions (reunionsmag.com). Each reunion received $500 seed money to start planning. Applications for the second round of families interested in hosting a reunion in conjunction the World Acadian Congress – Acadia of the Lands and Forests – is underway now (cma2014.org). From an article by Roxanne Moore Saucier, in the Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine

So much free for your reunion online!

think we just take it for granted and don’t remember often enough to remind you that we have so much free on our web site. Pages and pages of freebies from Reunions magazine and from many other sources as well. It’s information overload if you tried to read from front to back, so the web page is organized to hit the major questions and dilemmas we know come up as you plan your reunion. Or if you’ve been planning a reunion forever and you’re looking for some fresh ideas, they’re there too.

Rediscovering family roots

he Buffalo Genealogical Society of the African Diaspora was founded in 1996 to help members research genealogy and family history. One of the society’s initiatives is Our Funeral Program Collection, which has two complete volumes. A third is being microfilmed, then they will start a fourth.

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The first three volumes contain 5,000 programs, categorized A through Z, not by any particular year. The Society believes that the practice of documenting a person’s life through funeral programs was a way to preserve black history when few other media were available. Microfilmed versions and the originals

are maintained in the Buffalo Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library in the AfricanAmerican Resource Room. For more information, look up Buffalo Genealogy Society of the African Diaspora on facebook or email BGSAD@verizon.net. From an article by Deidre Williams in the Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York

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scrapbook Editor’s note: At reunions, people who are unaccustomed to public speaking often find themselves in front of a crowd. Read this to prepare.

Tips for pre-presentation preparation

ny speech or presentation can be intimidating. Keep focused on the positive impact of your presentation. Prepare and pay attention to details to help you deliver the best speech possible. However, some overlooked final details could derail your impact and confidence. To guarantee your success, check these final details before facing your audience. 1 Check in early. Arrive early to check logistics of the room where you’ll be speaking. Is there a platform? Where will you stand when you’re introduced? How many steps to reach the lectern or center stage? Is your audience close enough to build intimacy? 2 Make friends with the stage. While the room is still empty, walk on stage to plan where you’re going to stand and when you’re going to move. Do not distract from your

by Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE

message with unnecessary movement. Go through the outline of your talk. Imagine an enthusiastic response. The more time you spend feeling comfortable on stage, the more you can relax and focus on your audience. 3 Take a clock. Make sure you can see a clock. Very few people know how long they’ve been speaking. 4 Microphone. What is your preferred microphone: hand-held, lavaliere, or lectern? Practice talking into it. Proper placement is chin level for a handheld. Ask someone to walk around to make sure you can be heard from all parts of the room. Make friends with the audio technicians. 5 Audio-visual. If you’re using a PowerPoint presentation, make sure the equipment is working well. Are your PowerPoint slides in the right sequence? If you have a remote control, make sure it’s working.

Most of these events are sponsored and presented by convention and visitors bureaus. They 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

Cobb County, Georgia

Contact Skip Sander, 412-367-1376; MilitaryReunions@aol.com; AllMilitaryReunions.org

September 8, 2012 Contact Melissa Legaux, 800-451-3480; mlegaux@travelcobb.org

Alpharetta, Georgia

Columbus, Ohio

Contact Sandra Johnson, 678-297-0102; sandraj@awesomealpharetta.com

October 6, 2012 Reunions magazine editor, Edith Wagner speaker Contact Brian Cheek, 800-354-2657; bcheek@ experiencecolumbus.com; www.experiencecolumbus.com

Athens, Georgia

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

Contact Tara Spann, 404-521-6638; Atlanta.net/reunion/reunions.aspx Greater Birmingham, Alabama

DeKalb County, Georgia

July 14, August 18, September 15, November 10, 2012 Contact Carol Murray, DeKalb County CVB, 800-999-6055 Detroit, Michigan

Contact Reunion Planner Workshop, 800-458-8085

Contact Detroit Metro CVB, 313-202-1985; reunions@visitdetroit.com.

Branson, Missouri

Dunwoody, Georgia

August 20-23, 2012 Military Reunion Planners Conference Contact Kimberly Carr, 800-214-3661, KCarr@BransonCVB. com; explorebranson.com/groups/reunions.php

October 2012 Contact Andy Williams, 678-244-9804; AndyW@CVBDunwoody.com.

Northern California

Contact Randi Miles, 678-715-6069; milesr@ci.douglasville.ga.us

Contact Treasure, National Reunion Services, 925-240-1361; www.nationalreunions.com/ Chicago Southland, Illinois

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Douglasville, Georgia

Durham, North Carolina

Contact Chelsey Jean Morrison, chelsey@durham-cvb.com

Speaking engagements or presentations can be intimidating. Remember, your goal is to present your audience the most valuable information possible. Delivering a dynamic presentation is not rocket science. However, it is a lot more complex than most folks realize.

6 Connect with the organizer or emcee. Know who will introduce you and where you will be during their comments. Will you walk on from the wings or up from the floor? 7 Pre-written introduction. Send an introduction in advance to the person delivering it. Carry two copies with you. It’s easier to read from a bulleted list prepared in 18-point font. Be sure your introducer knows how to pronounce your name. 8 Be your own warm-up act. Connect with as many audience members as you can before you speak. Extending yourself will encourage them to return the favor of their attention. But it only lasts a few minutes, so be sure to grab their attention with a great opening. 9 Learn from the experience. Follow your presentation with an evaluation. Ask yourself what you did well and what could be improved.

About the author

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, is the author of Get What You Want! and Make It, So You Don’t Have to Fake It! She is Past-President of the National Speakers Association. Visit www.Fripp.com.

Estes Park, Colorado

Minneapolis, Minnesota

YMCA of the Rockies, Family Reunion University November 2-4, 2012, February 8-10, 2013 Contact Conference Office at 800-777-9622

Contact Casey Kluber, 612-767-8106; caseyk@meetminneapolis.com

Fairfax County, Virginia

Contact James Dean, 888-493-7386; jdean@nngov.com

February 16, 2013, 5th annual reunion workshop Reunions magazine editor, Edith Wagner speaker Contact Dean Miller, 703-752-9509; dmiller@fxva.com, www.fxva.com

Newport News, Virginia Peachtree City, Georgia

Contact Kim Trawick, 678-216-0282, ext. 6964; ktrawick@ visitpeachtreecity.com

Flint, Michigan

Prince George’s County, Maryland

Contact Courtney Irish, 810-232-8902; cirish@visitflint.org

June 13, 2012 Prince George’s Community College, Largo Campus Contact Family Affair, 301-322-0797; www.pgcc.edu

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Contact: Kimberly Herbert, 800-260-3646; ksherbert@fredericksburgva.gov Greenwood, South Carolina

Contact Lindsay Burns, 864-953-2464; Lindsay.burns@cityofgreenwoodsc.com Gwinnett County, Georgia

July 13, October 20, 2012 Contact Cricket Elliott-Leeper, 770-814-6049; celeeper@gcvb.org Kissimmee, Florida

Contact Sara Melendez-Davis, 800-831-1844, ext 28254; smelendez@floridakiss.com Lake County, Illinois

Contact Kimberly Ghys, 800-Lake-Now; lakecountyreunions.com Louisville, Kentucky

May 19, 2012 Contact Saundra Robertson, 502-379-6110; srobertson@gotolouisville.com

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 Conference Office, 800-777-9622 YMRC – Your Military Reunion Connection

July 23-26, 2012, Savannah, Georgia September 24-27, 2012, Buffalo, New York November 7-10, 2012, Jacksonville, Florida November 12-15, 2012, Charleston, South Carolina 2013 Herndon, Virginia (DC area); Portland, Oregon; Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact ymrcusa@gmail.com; yourmilitaryreunions.com Ypsilanti, Michigan

Contact Mary Zucchero, Ypsilanti CVB, 734-483-4444; mzucchero@ypsilanti.org

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Social media for reunions

ocial media enable reunions to connect in new ways. Use facebook and twitter to create reunion buzz and announce each new development. Offer incentives for spreading the word. Conduct polls for reunion ideas, plans, decisions. Have online contests before or after your reunion to continue the engagement. Before the reunion, you could host a contest to design the t-shirt, post an event, or have a Best Photo Contest. Set up a photo-sharing page, encourage participants to upload photos to build a photo record of your reunion. Use QR codes to share your program. Print an image of the code and anyone with a This is an example of smartphone can scan it QR code. It is ours, and and go straight to your it links to the Reunions program. Or use/connect magazine website. QR codes are free from QR codes to create a high tech scavenger hunt. several sources.

Presidents Passport

harlottesville Albemarle (Virginia) Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB), Monticello and Montpelier offer the “Presidents Passport” to encourage visitors to explore the extensive history and “the intersection of rural lifestyle and urban sophistication” in Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding areas. Register online for the passport to receive insider travel tips, special offers and discounts for lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment. And new at Montpelier are specialized Kids Only! tours and hands-on experiences all their own, leaving parents to explore Montpelier and meet their children for lunch. Visit prespassport.monticello.org/ sign-up/.

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Little Brown Church Marriage Reunion

he 60th annual Marriage Reunion at The Little Brown Church in the Vale will begin August 4, 2012, at the pastor’s reception, hosted by the Rev. Jim and Vicky Mann. There is a talent competition, which must be a musical number or poetry and must include a rendition of the hymn “The Church in the Wildwood.” Sunday’s activities August 5th start with an old-time hymn sing at 10:15 AM. Those married 40 years or more will sit in the sanctuary, overflow will be under a tent outside. Former brides and grooms will recite the renewal of wedding vows at the 10:30 AM worship service, and a picnic lunch will be served at 11:30 AM. The cost is $7 per person. Prizes will be awarded for the couple married longest, the bride and groom most recently married, and the family coming the farthest. Renewal of wedding vows will be repeated at the end of the afternoon’s activities. Vicky Mann, the Pastor’s wife, says “Please come and join us. It’s not just limited to people who married at The Little Brown Church. We are celebrating Marriage.” The church is at 2730 Cheyenne Ave, Nashua IA 50658; 641-435-2027; info@ littlebrownchurch.org; littlebrownchurch.org. The church is two miles east of Nashua, Iowa, on State Highway 346. From a story in part in the Fort Dodge Messenger, Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Homestead Act 150th Anniversary

ou cannot talk about westward expansion without the Homestead Act of 1862 being at the forefront of your discussion. 160 acres of free land was granted to claimants and it gave anyone, no matter who you were, an equal opportunity. There are an estimated 93,000,000 descendants of homesteaders in the world today. Are you one of them? Southeast Nebraska’s Homestead National Monument of America and the US National Park Service’s website are commemorating the 150th anniversary (May 20, 2012) of this special, revolutionary event in Beatrice, Nebraska. Events will include viewing of the original document, films, speakers and mini-educational presentations. Admission to everything is free. Visit nps. gov/home/planyourvisit/150th-anniversary-of-the-homestead-act.htm.

Why a reunion website?

ttendance, more than any other aspect, is necessary for a successful reunion. The more people who come, the better your reunion will be. And the best way to increase attendance is to create interest. A website can be your communications hub and marketing tool. You can also save time and money with a reunion website. Online registration, payments and fundraising are just some of the features built-in in a myevent. com website. Myevent.com is powered with ecommerce tools that allow you to accept payment by credit card without a merchant account at the very low rate of 3.75%. You’ll never have to worry about manually collecting payments or about checks getting lost in the mail. Myevent.com handles all transactions for you. You can also do some awesome fundraising and accept donations online. Instead of phoning each family member every time there’s an update, simply send broadcast emails and direct members to your reunion website to take whatever action you require: RSVP, make a payment, respond to a survey, upload photos, register for an activity and much more. Complete details and maps are accessible 24/7. Members always have a central place to find answers to their questions. Use your website to persuade people to attend the reunion by creating nostalgic sentiment with pictures, music and videos of past reunions, or previous generations. Your website can include stories, a quiz and a family tree. Provide lots of information about events you are planning or just things to do at the reunion destination. Members can send private messages to each other through the Send Message feature. Members can interact on Message Boards and Blogs and find out who’s coming on the Who’s Coming page. Promote your reunion using social media with built-in links to share easily on facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or by email. A reunion website will make your reunion committee look professional. The reunion website is a way for people to stay in touch even if they cannot attend the reunion. Learn more at myevent.com and see a movie that shows how.

African American history and heritage highlighted

he Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism (DCEO/IOT) added an African American History & Heritage feature on its website. The site highlights the culturally rich history of Illinois through its diverse travel destinations, historical sites and activities. Attractions include everything from Chicago’s storied Bronzeville neighborhood, Peoria’s African-American Hall of Fame Museum, and the Owen Lovejoy Homestead property located on the eastern edge of Princeton, one of the most important stations on the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Visit enjoyillinois.com.

Include members who cannot attend your reunion!

an you skype from the reunion? Or better yet, use facebook or a dedicated YouTube channel to stream events live?

Weather: the fickle reunion guest

re you planning a picnic? cookout? pool party? Want to know what the weather will be? For any reunion that includes outdoor activities, weather is the fickle guest: you want it to shine down on your event, but you know there’s always a chance you’ll not be so lucky. Here are some ways to add to your weather intelligence. When you’re planning your dates and activities, see what past history does to predict future weather on wunderground.com. Hover over “Local Weather” and select the menu item “History Data.” You’ll see what the weather was like on your reunion dates for many years back. Is there a pattern in what you see? Too much rain? Or none at all? Then make your decision and, as always with weather, take your chances! Closer to your reunion, AccuWeather (accuweather.com) can now stretch its long forecast out to 25 days. This forecast predicts weather patterns and warm, cold, wet and dry spells. Click on forecast, then on month. Of course, you can’t get details that far out but it can help you plan. Finally, on the day/weekend of your reunion, you might want weather alerts if you’re facing the possibility of changing plans. RainedOut! is a free service that enables you to send instant alerts to your entire reunion; use it to cancel events, give directions, recruit volunteers, send reminders, and more. Messages can arrive at a net-connected PC or a standard cell phone. RainedOut instantly and simultaneously broadcasts alerts to mobile phones (via SMS text message), email accounts, web pages, RainedOut Page, facebook and Twitter. Visit RainedOut.com.

Emergency reunion supplies

diehard reunion planner packs an amazing emergency kit and has it handy at the reunion at all times. Designate someone to be in charge of emergencies. These household items can come in very handy at a reunion. Chances are, you already have most of them at your fingertips. Just open your junk drawer. vT wist ties and rubber bands come in handy in unexpected ways. vP ack lots of little things in plastic containers; paper clips, pencils, pens, scissors, bandages, sewing supplies. vA ssemble a well stocked First Aid Kit. vC orral phone, digital camera and other cords in toilet-paper or paper-towel tubes. v Secure papers, schedules, maps and handouts to keep them from slipping or blowing away. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 17

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Let hotels bid for your reunion

eunionsmag.Hotelplanner.com says it’s important to reserve a block of rooms at special rates at one or two select hotels long before your reunion. At most hotels, the minimum number of guest rooms required to make a block is 10 rooms per night. If you are looking for over 30 rooms per night, consider splitting the group blocks among two hotels. This way your members will have choices. Advance preparation is key in generating interest and excitement in the reunion. Start by selecting the perfect location. Hotelplanner’s technology allows you to search multiple reunion venues at the same time. Do not reserve blocks at the first rates the hotel quotes. Get detailed descriptions of all amenities before you make any decisions. First see what rates are on the internet. You can easily compare hotel internet rates using Reunionsmag.HotelPlanner.com. Best of all, it’s free and very easy to use. All you do is enter your reunion location options and dates, and Reunionsmag.HotelPlanner. com will search for hotels according to your specifications. You control information sorting by location, price or hotel brand names. You will be assigned an account representative who will help make sure your hotel deals are the best, and help with the reservation process as well. The reservation process is very important because, even if the room rate is low, the deal may include a very strict cancellation policy, a high cash deposit, or mandatory resort fees or other hidden costs. The Reunionsmag.HotelPlanner.com account representative can help through these and other issues. After choosing your hotel, they will set up a special online booking website just for your reunion, free of charge, so you can keep track of members as they confirm with your hotel. Visit Reunionsmag.HotelPlanner.com today.

Rewrite Your Day

at Charrett-Dykes of Holtsville, Long Island, New York, participated in a Rewrite Your Day family reunion re-creation. Cat earned the chance to work with celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss to re-create a special moment lost to chronic migraine, a neurological condition that leaves people in pain for at least half the month. Cat wished more than anything that she could remain migraine-free for this special occasion, but the week of the reunion brought a horrendous migraine and Cat had to rest in the hotel room with the lights dimmed, while her entire family – husband, children, mother, siblings, nieces and nephews – participated in Mindy Weiss and Cat Charrett-Dykes. activities without her. What makes this even more special is that Cat had the opportunity to work with Il Mulino’s executive chef, Michele Mazza, to help prepare the dinner for her family, to thank them for being so supportive during all of her debilitating migraines that have interrupted their lives. In order to raise awareness of the disabling symptoms and burden of Chronic Migraine, the National Headache Foundation, HealthyWomen and Allergan, Inc., partnered on the Rewrite Your Day campaign.

Also check with CVBs

Convention and Visitors Bureau can also help with hotel contacts. Many CVBs help you develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) which they’ll share with their member hotels. You can combine their findings with those from Reunionsmag.HotelPlanner.com for a wider picture of your choices. Take advantage of all the resources you possibly can. And these are both free. But the CVB has many more services you’ll also want to explore. Just ask!

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Cat and Michele Mazza.

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Hospitality Answerman

by Dean Miller

The hotel we’re planning to use for our reunion next summer sent me a sample contract to review. It’s so full of jargon and phrases that I’ve never heard of, it’s hard for me to tell what they’re asking us to commit to. Can someone decipher this for me?

Hoteliers and other providers in the hospitality industry do seem to have a language all their own. Below are some common hotel and catering terms you’re likely to see mentioned in standard proposals and contracts, and what they really mean. (Don’t worry … when the hotel refers to your “pick-up,” they’re not talking about someone you met in the hotel bar!)

ACT OF GOD Something totally unforeseen and beyond either your or the hotel’s control, which would make it impossible for your group or the hotel to fulfill the commitments you made to each other in your contract. If a hurricane destroys the hotel a week prior to your reunion, they would not be obligated to compensate you for their failure to accommodate your group, as this would be an “act of God.” Just because something is beyond your control does not make it an “act of God,” though; an airline strike that prevents your attendees from coming to the reunion is not an “act of God.” ADJOINING ROOMS Two rooms that are next to each other. Not to be confused with connecting rooms, which are next to each other and have a doorway that allows passage between the rooms without going out into the hallway. A LA CARTE Menu items or services that are each priced individually, as opposed to those packaged, bundled or included for a set price. ATTRITION A clause in your contract with the hotel which outlines the penalties you will be obligated to pay if you do not utilize as many guest rooms as you’ve agreed you would. BEO or EO Banquet Event Order (or Event Order, for short). This is the piece of paper that outlines in great detail all the components of a meeting or meal in a hotel: the specific menu, the pricing for the meal, the way the room is to be set up, etc. You must review this very closely before signing it. CONCESSION Anything the hotel offers you as an inducement to encourage you to hold your reunion with them. This could include complimentary or upgraded rooms or suites, or items for which there would normally be a charge (e.g., parking, health club usage, etc.). COVERS No, not the blankets on your bed. This refers to the number of people to be served at a banquet or other catered function. Eighty covers means that eighty people will be attending. CUT-OFF DATE No, not a chopped up piece of fruit. It’s the date on which any rooms which have not been reserved from your group’s room block will be released for general sale by the hotel. You’ll always want to encourage your members to make their reservations prior to your cut-off date. CVB Short for Convention and Visitors Bureau. Almost every city or destination has one, and their services are almost always free. Their mission is to help you plan your reunion or other event in their location. They should always be your first call when you begin planning a reunion. Many CVBs now refer to themselves as Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs). DOUBLE / DOUBLE A hotel room with two beds rather than one. FLAG The hotel’s “brand.” When a hotel converts from a Comfort Inn to a Holiday Inn (or vice-versa), it is said to have “changed flags.” You may wish to request a clause in your contract, allowing you to cancel your event without penalty if the hotel changes flags between the time you sign your contract and your reunion date. GROUP HISTORY Information about previous reunions or events your group has held. Many hotels will base certain decisions on a 20 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

group’s history e.g., whether to extend credit to a group, provide a more advantageous rate, or give complimentary items. Be prepared to give this information to hotels you are considering. Having a good, well-documented “history” will increase your negotiating leverage. MASTER BILL Any charges your group incurs in a hotel that are not charged to an individual guest room (for example, charges for your banquet). In order to set up a master bill account, you will likely need to complete a credit application with the hotel or provide a deposit in advance. MINIMUM GUARANTEE Two to three days prior to your event, you’ll need to provide the hotel or caterer with the minimum number of people who will be attending/eating at each meal. You’ll want to be conservative with this number and allow for possible last minute cancellations and no-shows. You can always increase your guarantee once you provide it; you cannot lower it. OUTLET A restaurant, lounge, snack bar or other establishment in a hotel that serves food and/or beverages. RACK RATE The full, non-discounted price for a hotel room (equivalent to the sticker price on a new car). If you’re paying “rack rate” for the rooms, you didn’t negotiate hard enough with the hotel. PAX Yes, it’s the Latin word for peace. But it’s also the abbreviation for passengers traveling together: “40 pax” means 40 passengers traveling together on a chartered motorcoach. PEAK SEASON The months when the hotel or destination are likely to be busiest, e.g., a beach resort in summer, a ski resort in winter. The months when a hotel or destination are least likely to be busy are referred to as “off season;” (e.g., Florida in hurricane season); “shoulder season” falls somewhere in between. Scheduling your reunion during shoulder or off seasons can result in significant savings. Your CVB can tell you when these periods occur. PICK-UP The percentage of your contracted room block that you actually use. If you contract for 100 rooms and use 80, your “pick-up” is 80%. RUN-OF-HOUSE This is the hotel’s way of saying that yes, you have a room reserved, but that they can’t guarantee or specify whether it will have one bed or two, whether it’s a smoking or a non-smoking room, or any other details. SLEEPER SOFA A sofa in a hotel guest room that can be converted to a bed at night. Not all sofas are sleeper sofas, so you should always inquire about this, especially if multiple guests will be sharing a room. WALKING Relocating guests to another hotel because the hotel is overbooked and has run out of rooms. Guests seldom actually walk to the other hotel; typically, a shuttle, van or taxicab ride is provided. You may want to request a “no walk” clause for your attendees in your contract.

About the Hospitality Answerman Dean Miller is the national sales director for Visit Fairfax in Virginia.

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The Mayo Connection

he Mayo Connection was borne out of a desire to connect Traditionally, reunions are held in August. They begin Friday and re-connect family members. Get-togethers began more evening and go through Sunday morning. The first day includes than 40 years ago as an afternoon picnic every summer, then registration, hospitality (family members mingle, renew old gradually grew into a three-day event held every two years. acquaintances and make new ones), ice breaker games, and For many years the Mayo families held picnics in their culminates with a banquet dinner and dance. The second day includes respective hometowns. History states that the first of these breakfast, tours and other outings, then an afternoon picnic with gatherings was held in Moneta, games and activities that interest all age groups and genders. Virginia, in the 1950s. After years of Activities include volleyball, board and card games, and bingo. At Mayo descendents having family one reunion there was a cartoon artist drawing pictures of family picnics, a number of years went by members. Other evening events include bowling, karaoke, hotel without a family gathering. In the late pool party and shopping. 1970s the Mayo families in the The final day includes breakfast and a worship service. We also Washington, DC, area began having have a Passing the Torch Ceremony (closing ceremony). This is annual picnics again in Fort when we pass the responsibility of hosting the next reunion to Azareah Sim‘El holding Washington National Park in Fort another chapter. her daughter, Nakirah Washington, Maryland. During this The master of ceremonies Gray’Bey. time they decided to have a formal (MC) of the hosting chapter talks family reunion, which would include all Mayo Family about our history, the importance members and those connected to the family – thus the of faith and family, and the name “Mayo Connection.” significance of Mayo Family The first Mayo Connection was held in 1982 in Silver Reunions. The MC also talks Spring, Maryland. There, according to Tina Burton, about how each generation is Charlottesville, Virginia. they decided to reclaim their given the responsibility to pass rich heritage and to continue this family gathering every our history and traditions on to Sisters Bernice Garland, Hazel Scretching, Elizabeth Smith two years. Tina continued, “Each reunion has connected the next generation. and Josephine Morrison. family members from far and near to our family tree. This connection has enabled the Mayo family to have wonderful reunions in Virginia, Massachusetts, and the Washington, DC /Maryland areas. Family members come from every region of the country to reunions.” The Mayo Connection is organized in four chapters. They are (1) Moneta/Roanoke, Virginia; (2) Charlottesville, Virginia; (3) Washington, DC/Maryland; and (4) Boston, Massachusetts/ New York. Each chapter The Mayo Connection. has approximately 10 to Tina concluded, “We want our family members to know that our 15 members which includes a president and vice-president. family reunions are our road maps from the past and our guides for the One chapter plans for the reunion for two years. The planning chapter does fundraising activities to help offset reunion costs, future. As we look back over the past years we are blessed to be able to continue the Mayo Connection Legacy. For over 40 years our and the other chapters contribute as needed. The planning reunions have been going strong. We have lost some along the way, but chapter does monthly meetings and divides its members into we have also given birth to many. We hope this legacy will continue committees: finance, accommodations, games and activities, with our children and our children’s children for many years to come. fundraising, food, setup and cleanup. Committees were We thank God for His blessings upon the Mayo Family.” established so no one person or committee is overwhelmed. Chapter members work hard to ensure the reunion accomplishes its goal of a spiritual renewal of faith, family and About the authors Written by Tina Burton for the Mayo Connection and Jillian fun. This is really a joyous event, one that family members Schmus, a student intern from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. have waited two years to attend. The celebration is saturated with food, music and camaraderie. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 21

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One reunion Bacardi celebrates its 150th Birthday is celebrating its growth planner’s dilemma Bacardi from a small distillery founded by

Ben Gomez, Devine, Texas, wrote: “Our 49th Galvan Family Reunion is coming up in July. The location has always been in Bastrop, Texas, where my great-grandmother lived and started the reunion. The huge September wildfire destroyed a good portion of Bastrop State Park, which is where we have our reunion and will again in July. Five of our family members who live in the area were burned out of their homes and I want to honor or help them at the reunion but do not want to offend them. We are thankful they survived the fire, but their homes did not. So what can we do for them? Any suggestions? (Letter received just before Christmas.)

Ben: First, my condolences to your family for their losses and my wish that they will soon recover. I’d not worry about offending family members with help. They already know that help from others is how they will recover. It’s probably how they’re enduring their recovery right now. It seems the biggest honor you could give your family is to organize a working reunion where everyone helps the families recover. Surely they’ll still have housing issues, or need help with landscaping or work inside their houses. I’d make no secret of it so their real needs can be known well in advance. Start now! Ask family members to remember the others at Christmas and ask for wish lists so everyone can contribute. Are there things family members can do between now and the reunion? Make quilts to replace the lost ones? Make things for their houses, or collect furnishings to replace some of what they lost? Your concern is wonderful. Use it to energize all your family to be involved in an important family happening. Turn lemons into lemonade! Please let us know what you decide to do and send pictures of work activities at your reunion. Best, EW 22 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Don Facundo Bacardi Masso in Santiago de Cuba in 1862 to what is now the world’s largest privately-owned spirits company. The Bacardi family marked this historic milestone with its largest reunion ever. Nearly 600 members of the Bacardi family from around the world gathered in Puerto Rico to celebrate the 150th anniversary. BACARDI rums are mellowed in American white oak barrels in the Activities included a commemorative tropics where they age two-and-a-half times faster celebration featuring a family photo of all eight generations of the Bacardi family. coco” that stood at the entrance of the first In addition, a bust of Bacardi founder Don Bacardi distillery in Cuba and has long Facundo Bacardi Masso by sculptor and symbolized the Bacardi family’s family member, Helena Bacardi, was perseverance over adversity. unveiled and has taken up permanent At the family reunion, Puerto Rico residence on the Bacardi campus in Puerto Governor Luis G. Fortuno presented Rico. Facundo L. Bacardi – Bacardi Bacardi with a proclamation declaring Limited Chairman and great-great “Bacardi Day” in acknowledgement of the grandson of the company founder – led company’s key role in the island’s family members in planting a coconut economy. To learn more, visit palm to commemorate the original “el BacardiLimited.com/150.

Nearly 600 Bacardí family members from around the world gather in Puerto Rico to celebrate the 150th birthday of BACARDI rum and the Company that was founded Feb. 4, 1862.

Postcards that make your reunion point!

Send

save TIME IS the date RUNNING OuT when you’ve set it! 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 v PO Box 11727 v Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 414.263.4567

Camping suits the Howard Flanary reunion

he Howard Flanary 78 grandkids + 12 Family Reunions started grandspouses + 20 greatin 1989. Last year’s was held grandkids = 138 people. at Cascade Lake 4-H Camp in Reunions have become a Donnelly, Idaho. They started time of great excitement and meeting because the family memories. Last year was was getting bigger and spread exciting because we had out to other cities. The converted some very old 8mm number of grandchildren family films from the early multiplied like rabbits and we years of the family to DVD. needed a place where gaps We also brought some favorite could be bridged, and cousins games played in the early could bond and play. We met years of our reunion: off and on with extended pantyhose golf ball swing and family, but we needed time balloon launcher. Everybody just for our immediate family. looks forward to visiting, and So from then on, my parents cousins enjoy hanging out Preston Flanary and his daughter, MacKenzie (8) sing karaoke. and their descendants have and playing games together. met almost yearly. We usually spend a little less I am at the tail end of 14 children. than a week at our reunions. It is fun, Some of my siblings have 10 children, connecting and memorable. some have step-children. The current total Reported by Teresa Flanary McNeil, is 2 parents + 14 children + 12 spouses + Ogden, Utah

Assembling the Howard Flanary family!

Ideas to get you thinking

ite-sized Prayers: Non-Denominational Morsels to Feed Your Soul, by Norma-Jean Strickland (Balboa Press, 2011, 96 pages, soft cover), combines photographs with poems to simplify human emotions. One-word prayers break down the complexities found in long verses and prayers. Strickland created Bite-Sized Prayers to take the mystery out of prayer that doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective; it just has to come from the heart. It seems to us to be a perfect jumping off point for writing a tribute or speech for your reunion. Bite-sized ideas are easier to deal with!

Editor’s note: Each summer we get requests for toasts and speeches appropriate for reunions. We’ve placed many suggestions online at reunionsmag.com, in a section called “Toasts, speeches, dedications, benedictions … words for reunions.”

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Ford Family Reunion

t is hard to fathom a tradition that has stayed strong and constant for 46 years, but look no further than the Ben and Mable Ford Family Reunion for just such an example. Ever since Lenora Harper, Landover, Maryland, (the overseer of these reunions) can remember, her family has held a cook-out reunion in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for one or two days every couple of years, and it has been that way “since my grandparents started it years ago,” she says. Little changes have been made over the years, of course. For example, it’s now a catered affair rather than its former potluck celebration, but the tradition is just as special. Their 2013 reunion will be a special event celebrating their grandparents’ 100th anniversary. It will be a wedding-style reunion. Facebook updates, emails and letters are beginning to buzz again in anticipation of the big event. It’s no surprise that the reunion has been a success for such a long time, “It has remained the same because we have something for everyone: games, music, arts and crafts, history, and guess-who boards,” Lenora said. To be more specific, some of the activities include a PowerPoint review of past reunions, a children’s store where children can buy items with reunion money, a family bingo game for children and adults, and even a special activity in which teens are given disposable cameras which they turn in at the end of the day. They hold a memorial candle lighting at each reunion. With an itinerary as diverse and versatile as this, it’s easy to see how the Ford Family Reunion has been going strong for almost 50 years.

Lenora says they keep busy with reunion-related things throughout the year, attending to issues like financing. She explains in detail the various ways fundraising is handled: “We have a silent auction at our bi-monthly meeting. On the day of the reunion we also have a silent auction.” She goes on to say that each branch of the family prepares a theme basket for their basket auction. They also charge a fee for an outdoor movie with snacks. They hold major fundraisers during off-years, sell ad pages for the reunion book, hold an annual Easter egg hunt with a silent auction, require a fee to attend the reunion, and even sell a reunion DVD. All of these activities garner finances for the bi-annual reunion event. And Lenora doesn’t do it all herself. “We have reunion officers who approve and maintain our budget. We have two treasurers who handle the finances,” she says. Even the kids are involved in the process. “They are at the table planning and giving input,” says Lenora. The Ford Family Reunion really does put the emphasis on the word “family” and it’s definitely safe to say that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work to help ensure a successful event every two years.

About the author

Written by Jenora Harper for the Ford family and Justin Daniel Beaton, a student intern at Reunions magazine from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Photo credit Alicia Harrison.

Social networking the old fashioned way

he Endo Family Reunion began in 1989 with the simple goal of keeping an ever-growing family connected and renewing increasingly distant ties. Over 22 years that goal has become a treasured and activity-filled tradition. Every two years during an extended July 4th weekend, 200+ relatives assemble to reacquaint and recreate in Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Reno-Tahoe region is an ideal setting that accommodates all the family’s activities. Days are filled with a bowling tournament, fishing derby, lakeside picnic (with all the classic picnic games), golf tournament, Tai Chi lessons, Texas Hold ’Em, slot tournament, and a semi-formal banquet that doubles as a talent show and award ceremony for competitions. It’s easy to spot family members wearing “Endo Apparel.” Planning begins a year in advance with multiple formal and informal meetings. The best meetings take place at Sets Endo’s 24 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

home over lunch or dinner. Sets is both host and chairperson of the committee. The dialogue is lively. Brainstorming new ideas and improving on old ones is what the committee does. The committee’s efforts are a labor of love. The Endo Family Reunion actually involves five interrelated families. They are the Endo, Hirano, Iwamoto, Sugiyama, and Tachiki families from Kanagawa, Japan, many of whose children intermarried. Many family members enjoy getting together so much that they can’t wait two years, and are organizing off-year mini-reunions in Las Vegas, where about 60 family members get together for a buffet and fun-filled Las Vegas weekend. From a story by Paul Yamamoto and Kim Tachiki in Nikkei West, Northern California’s oldest Japanese-American newspaper

Wilson family holds health fair by Pamela B. Williams

he descendants of Henry and Lucy Marrow Wilson of Granville County, North Carolina, celebrated their 78th Wilson Family Reunion with a health fair. The reunion was held in Durham and Oxford, North Carolina, with over 560 family members and friends in attendance all three days. The theme for the reunion was “Making Health a Family Reunion Affair,” with a focus on kidney disease. All three days were dedicated to kidney disease awareness and informing family how to better care for their health. Family members were also encouraged to get weighed in for the “Wilson Family Biggest Loser” competition, to motivate and encourage family members to exercise and stay fit. At the Friday night Meet & Greet, family member and health advocate Rosalind Wilson Griffin, delivered a 15-minute presentation about high blood pressure, diabetes, and both conditions’ connection to kidney disease. Family members asked questions and participated in a discussion. Each family member received free kidney disease educational

Pamela Williams at the microphone at the American Kidney Fund health fair.

Another highlight of the Meet & Greet was the “Wilson Family History Jeopardy Game” created by Dawn Mills. The game consisted of questions and answers about Wilson family history and the history of Granville County. Each of three teams consisted of five family members. At the end of the game, each team member received a red, white, or blue ribbon for their team’s first, second or third place win. The family enjoyed the game so much that some family members wanted to play again the following night. The family also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cake provided by Danny Williams. Note: The 2012 Wilson Jeopardy Game can be seen at reunionsmag.com, in the “Reunion Games TV Shows” section. On Saturday, there was a cookout and talent show at the Granville Athletic Park in Oxford. Minister Brenda Williamson of Oxford opened the program. According to Rev. Wilson, it was close to 100 years from the birth of the patriarch, Henry Wilson, to the birth of the Wilson Family Reunion in

American Kidney Fund at the 78th Wilson Family Reunion Health Fair on Sunday, July 11, 2010.

materials from the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP). Rev. Willie F. Wilson of Washington, DC, got the family reacquainted by having each person introduce themselves to a family member they did not know. After doing so, each family member had to tell what they learned about the person they just met. This generated lots of laughter since some family members couldn’t remember all of what they’d been told.

1932. Wilson said it represents, “a resurrection, renewal, remembrance, recollection, revitalization, and a return to our foundation … the beginning.” Rev. Wilson performed a libation, read the Wilson Family Covenant, and told the family about DNA results which traced the family back to Africa. He also acknowledged the Speed family for traveling the farthest from Tokyo, Japan, to attend the reunion. Rev. Dr. Carl Bentley of Woodbridge, Virginia, delivered the blessing of the food before the family relished in lots of good eating. After the cookout and a few remarks by family members, it was time for the talent show, “Wilsons Got Talent.” All participants received music and praise dance trophies. On Sunday, the family hosted the American Kidney Fund of Atlanta, Georgia, with a health fair at J. F. Webb High School. Eighty family members and friends participated in the free kidney disease health screenings and free American Kidney Fund eco-friendly bags filled with kidney disease educational materials, and received a blood pressure test and a blood test to check for kidney, liver, and heart function. Services provided by the American Kidney Fund and Any Lab Test of Durham were valued at over $200 per person, but were offered free for the health fair. There were special recognitions for high school and college graduates, new births, and birthdays. All the new parents were asked to bring their babies to the front for pictures. Certificates of recognition were given to all of the school-aged children. The entire weekend was filled with prayer, games, praise dancing, gospel music, inspirational messages and plenty of good eating. An election was held for officers and chairpersons for the next two-year term. Taken from an article by Pamela Williams which originally appeared in Oxford Public Ledger in Oxford, North Carolina

Make the Kidney Connection at your Next Family Reunion Contact

National Kidney Disease Education Program – Family Reunion Initiative www.nkdep.nih.gov/get-involved/kidney-connection/family-reunion.shtml MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 25

masterplan Gr eat M igrations:

The Harvey-Spann-Moore-White Family Reunion

ur 2012 reunion theme, Great Migrations, celebrates the fact that our reunion location, Indianapolis, Indiana, is where our family came when they migrated out of the oppressive south, according to Thelma Moore-Steward. It also recognizes that our extended family is now in numerous states. During the reunion we will take time to identify the many migrations of the extended family which is now widely dispersed. Fifty-three years ago, my father, Ezekiel Moore, gathered all 13 of his children and their families together in Cleveland, Ohio, for a family photo. This marked our first unofficial reunion. Back then we did not have any formal agenda or professional photos and gatherings were sporadic. However, in 1983, my mother, Bessie Moore, called for an official reunion in Los Angeles County, California. All 13 children and their families attended. The next reunions happened every three or four years until 2000 when we began holding reunions every two years. We began to travel outside of California, created a Family Fund with quarterly fees to support some of the activities, assessed members for participation, elected Reunion Chairs, voted on locations and dates for next reunions, designed t-shirts and created committees to plan. We convened in Cleveland, the birthplace of half of the Moore siblings, and the place where our father founded a church that is still the home church of the Ohio family. It is pastored by the husband of one of the Moore offspring. In the next decade we held reunions every two years, in California, in Baltimore (home of our only remaining uncle), and in Mississippi, the home state of our ancestors. Over the years our reunions have grown in size and developed to include new activities and traditions. One of the traditions is gender breakfasts. These occur on Saturday morning and allow us to communicate with and educate each other. The women’s breakfasts have featured such topics as health issues facing women, emotional issues, empowerment, developing effective ways of communicating, living full, value-based lives, and even

one that addressed the idea that we are each created by God for His unique purposes. The men’s breakfast topics have dealt with money management, mentoring young males, and discussing the need for fathers to be responsible. After the gender events, we have a picnic at a local park. And this year, our banquet will be on Saturday evening at the host hotel. Sometimes the banquet has been held at outside venues. As our reunions have developed over the years, we have involved children as much as possible. Most of our activities are child-friendly, such as the talent show, introductory activities, scavenger hunt, and trips to the zoo or amusement park. We

encourage our youth to interview and befriend the adults at the reunion. Also, some children serve on committees. They are encouraged to serve and send in ideas and are recognized during the banquet Saturday evening. We have some activities in which the children are involved with the adults, such as the sports activities, the talent show, and introductory activities. Generally, there is a children’s activities chair and committee. They plan a scavenger hunt, which encourages and requires the youth to interview and befriend adults throughout the reunion, acquire artifacts and information; they also plan trips to the zoo and/or amusement park. A children’s session is sometimes planned at the same time as the gender sessions. At the park, they have age-appropriate competitions. Another of our traditions is touring our reunion location. We try to select locations that have value to our family history and

The Harvey-Spann-Moore-White Family Reunion

26 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Boyle Family Reunion

legacy, and we work with local planners to organize charter tours of places of historic interest. Indianapolis, for example, had a segregated, all-Black school that all our relatives were required to attend. It now has a museum on site. My mother was Valedictorian of the Class of 1930 and her picture is hanging on the Academic Wall of Fame. Uncles who were outstanding athletes were photographed and their pictures are on the Athletic Wall of Fame. An uncle who was a Tuskegee Airman is pictured in the Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit. This is a wonderful way for our family to connect and teach the younger generations. We will also visit the Madame C.J. Walker Museum, which celebrates the first Black female millionaire, who made her fortune developing hair care products for Blacks. It is important for us to truly see our history and heritage during reunions. We have a blast at our reunions! We have t-shirts and other souvenirs such as tote bags, books, badges, etc. Photography is now handled by individuals and we share the photos on facebook and on the family website. We are a musical family, so we always have a talent show in which vocal and instrumental music, dance, praise dance, and poetry/spoken word predominate. Sometimes we have a fine arts exhibit. We will again have a souvenir book that will feature poems/memoirs, bios, family narratives and likely an updated family tree. A session about genealogy is generally included also. A pajama party for the women was once an activity. The Xers and Millennials have a “cousins” outing one night. They go to movies or local clubs together – but this is not an official activity. At the banquet on Saturday evening, we recognize achievements of our youth in their academic, athletic and service endeavors. We recognize graduations from pre-school, elementary, middle and high schools; college graduates; promotions; community/civic achievements; retirements, etc. We give bonds to new babies. We memorialize our deceased members, and we sing and have other entertainment. On Sunday, we worship together, with one of our members providing the sermon and the family providing the music. This year, we will worship at a church that was founded in 1921; our grandparents – paternal and maternal – were charter members, and my parents were married there in 1933! We will have a business meeting afterward, at which time we will vote on the location of the next reunion, elect a chair and hear a financial report. We are looking forward to our reunion this year in July in Indianapolis. We will be choosing our next reunion meeting place before we leave this year’s event. In addition to an elected finance committee, we will choose a new reunion organizer for the next event, as well.

About the authors

Written by Thelma Moore-Steward for the family reunion and Jillian Schmus, a student intern from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

onna Lowenthal has been busy over the last few years planning reunions for her family. Donna lives in California and has organized family reunions for both her mother’s and her father’s sides of the family. She has masterminded celebrations in Pennsylvania, Ireland and Australia, and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Lowenthal says that it all began when she planned a family reunion a few years ago because her maternal grandmother was the last of her generation. She said that most of the family was living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so that’s where she decided to plan a grand-scale family picnic for their firstever reunion. She now works with her father’s side of the family to organize the Boyle Family Reunions. Donna is really excited about them, too. “If I get this reunion organized well, my plan is to have one every five years or so.” Donna has really gotten the hang of the whole process after overseeing a few reunions already. She keeps everyone in the loop via facebook and email, and is creating a website. Reunions include all types of entertainment and games, in addition to tours and socializing, all centered around one big dinner. Festivities are documented on video to ensure long-lasting memories. Donna has implemented a variety of “ice-breakers” to get everyone initially involved. One such example is at the last reunion; she had everyone send in baby pictures ahead of time, then at the reunion everyone tried to guess who was who. Sounds like fun! When asked how she handled reunion financing, Donna said, “My first reunion was billed to each person attending. I footed the bill for initial deposits, estimated additional costs, and billed a per-person cost to cover all expenses.” She hopes to organize committees of family members to oversee these matters in the future. And as far as how things will shake out in the future, Donna has it more than covered. She outlined her plan of action:

v My plan initially will be to get our committees organized and then ask family members to submit email addresses (and snail mail for those without email) for everyone to get it started. I will keep the website updated and send out quarterly email updates for the first three quarters, then monthly, then weekly as it gets closer.

v It is safe to say that Donna Lowenthal has learned a lot about the ins and outs of “reunioning,” but even she concedes there are things she would yet love to learn about. The next Boyle Family Reunion will occur in 2013. If Donna’s meticulous planning and consideration for past reunions is any indication, this upcoming installment of the Boyle reunion series will be the best one yet!

About the authors

Written by Donna Lowenthal for the Boyle family and Justin Daniel Beaton is a student intern from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 27

icebreakers

Icebreakers and fun ways to get to know you

s the planner, you sometimes forget that everyone at your reunion may not know one another as well as you do. If you are a very small three-generation reunion – parents, kids and grandkids – you may skip this step,

but if there are any newcomers or members who have not seen one another for a while, these are suggestions to begin the integration and mixing of your group on their way to a memorable reunion.

How other reunions are breaking the ice!

ettie Gillyard Griggs, Compton, California, writes that the GillyardJohnson-Mahoney Family Reunion selects games they know everyone loves: Dominoes, Family Bingo, Hula Hoop and the Twist. “We offer exciting gift cards for participants and/or winners. We display a collection of memorabilia, such as old clothing catalogs, small replicas of kitchen appliances and cars, and that is sure to spark that you-remember-when conversation.” For their reunion this year, they will add a day of community service and other acts of kindness in the memory of their ancestors and to pay it forward. “We believe it is a small price for us to pay as the beneficiaries of the labor and generosity of those who walked before us,” Griggs says. Sarah Smith, Rochester, New York, starts their Smith Family Reunions by asking each family member to tell how they are related. At the Johnson Hubboard Descendants Reunion, instead of name tags, each person was given a card with the name of another person to interview. This was the Meet & Greet highlight, as everyone got to know a family member they did not previously know. Mildred Dudley, Flint, Michigan, reports that at the Lockett Family Reunion a representative from each family introduces their family members, the state and city where they live and who they are kin to. Shantwuan Mines, Atlanta, Georgia, writes about the Petty Family Reunion. For ice breakers they have Guess the Baby pictures and they assign seating at some events so people are interacting with those they do not know. Mary Mahood, Carson, Mississippi, wrote about an egg hunt her family loves at the Fulton/Brock Family Reunion. “Throughout the year we gather gift items and plastic Easter eggs on clearance after Easter.” Before the reunion they write 28 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

trivia questions on strips of paper and insert them in the eggs. They also use family, baby or teen pictures in a contest to name who the person is, in order to get a prize. They include a golden egg with a big prize like a gift card. Someone hides eggs before the family arrives. They do this at the beginning of each family reunion. “Pretty much like an Easter egg hunt. We put dollar bills in about five eggs. We buy $5 to $10 prizes and put a strip of paper in those eggs that reads, ‘You won a prize!’ We also hide five big eggs with the grand prize in it. But the catch is that the person has to answer a question on the paper to get the prizes. “I put a baby picture of my sister in one egg. My grandson found the egg and he was looking at everybody trying to figure out who she was. It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t when other family members are helping. We wait until everyone arrives, then have everyone stand and count to three.” Ask family members to help by donating items. As you receive the prize items, create paper strips that read “Winner;” also create strips that read “No Winner” to put in some of the eggs.

others. These cover ALL ages. Examples: bought a new car, moved to a new city, lost a tooth, love to play softball/tennis/golf, has same job, promoted to a new grade, traveled out of the country, graduated, married, retired, etc. These questions cross generations, too: Packer fan (boo Bears!), sings in the choir, and so on. For the kids: like whoever-the-current-hero-is. v Arrange members by birth month. Once in that group, find out how many share birthdays. v Pin names of fictional characters or famous people on everyone’s backs. Everyone must walk around asking others questions to identify who they are. “Am I male or female? Am I dead or alive? If alive, how old? American or not?” v Create trivia questions about family members, then, guess who it is. Who graduated from Mount Mary University? Who is a Vietnam veteran? Who just became a Cub Scout? Who is learning to swim?

Start the party

These suggestions will have members talking and often laughing in no time. v Always start by having everyone state their names and how they are related to the family. Or have name tags that read, for example, “Hello! my name is Ephraim. I am Kirsten’s son and Trudy’s grandson.” v Make a list of all kinds of things that happen to people. Slowly read the list, ask everyone to whom a statement applies to stand and look around. When you finish, everyone in the room will know others who have had the same experience, have the same interest or share something with

Improv-Ability is a way to warm up your group. Divide attendees into groups of four and hand out ImprovAbility cards. Each suggests a scene and four characters. Members act out the scene on the fly. The deck of 50 cards costs $9.95; 907-440-4252; outcastproductions.com. A Spanish edition also available and a match card game for pre schoolers.

kidsstuff

What are you doing?

layers get in a circle. First player mimes an action – for example, vacuuming. Second player asks first player, “What are you doing?” First player responds with any answer that is NOT “vacuuming;’ for example, “Dyeing my hair.” Then second player mimes dying her hair. Third player asks “What are you doing?” Second player responds with any answer that is NOT related to the action she is actually miming, and so on around the circle.

Rules

1) Players may NOT choose to answer the question “What are you doing?” with an answer that is close to the action they are miming. For example, if you are miming vacuuming, you may not verbally answer the “What are you doing?” question with “Mowing the lawn,” because that is too much like vacuuming. If they do, play begins over. 2) Players may not take too long to think about their answer. If they do, play begins over again.

Who am I?

rudy Barch, Homewood, Illinois, reports about her Miriam Cousins Club Reunion. Trudy suggests a game called “Who am I?” Questions are general enough so other cousins will recognize the person and be able to guess who it is. Questions are adjusted for males/ females and older/younger relatives. Say the descriptive facts from each of the following categories until the person is identified:

q Gender q City born q City raised q Number of siblings q How long married q Number of children q Number of grandchildren (and great-grandchildren, if any) q Oldest family member you know or remember q Were you in the military? What branch? q School grade (for young people) q Who AM I? (If no guesses, continue… grandparents’ names, parents’ names, spouse’s name. Do you know who this person is?)

Hull kids eager to come

ull Descendants Family Reunion is in Guthrie, Oklahoma, every year. According to Jeff Hull, McKinney, Texas, they have a special kids table with color pages and word games geared to learning family history. As one generation passed the mantle to younger family members to organize our annual family reunion, we realized the gathering had become more adult oriented and many children did not enjoy attending. One way we overcame this was to create a “Kid’s Table” which has become a regular fixture at our reunions and is anticipated by all. The secret is to keep it simple. Our “Kid’s Table” begins by covering an 8 foot folding table with white butcher paper. This allows kids to write, color or draw, right on the table. Next there is an ample supply of word find games using family names or important family geographic locations worked into the puzzle. There are free online sites that will take your word list and convert them into word search games. A generous supply of pencils and crayons are spread over the table for these activities. Color pages are made from scanned black and white photos that can be colored. We add captions to generate discussions about the people or place in the pictures. We have also used regular color pages that illustrate points of historical interest and add our own caption to explain what the picture means to our family. Adult family members are encouraged to stop by the table and comment on the pictures, give memories of the people in the pictures, and of course, start kid friendly conversations beginning with “Did you know…? or “I remember when…” To encourage young cousins to bond and get to know each other better we also include fun, simple games like checkers and card games, such as, Go Fish and Old Maid. As events of the day unfold kids always seem to drift back to their special table, sometimes to find an adult or two already sitting there. Future ideas include adding a simple craft or art project. An annual auction raises funds to pay for reunion expenses and includes things kids can bid on as well. This special table just for our youngest generation combined with a beautiful park setting now has children asking “When do we get to go to another reunion?”

Ground rules for reunion behavior

araphrasing from Gouri Dange in the ABCs of Parenting, you could prepare for kids for your reunion by telling them a little about what to look forward to, and that some of the usual rules will be relaxed during the reunion, for them as well as for you. Mention what you will not insist on – say, bedtime, or meals at a certain time. Convey to your kids that you need them to be a little less boisterous at times, not for the impression they make on people, but because it’s just more enjoyable for everyone when kids are having fun but not being pests. You can’t really paint the “ringleader” kind of kid as “bad” but perhaps tell your kids not to slavishly follow him or her. Don’t forget that the ringleader is a fascinating figure, and your kids can go ga-ga over him. If the ringleader’s parents aren’t going to be prickly about it, perhaps you could tell him your children really look up to him and love him, so he needs to lead them into fun, not crazy behavior. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 29

kidsstuff

Kids activities at lots of reunions!

ail Taylor, St. Louis, Missouri, writes about her Holmes Family Reunion. They had a “why I love my family” essay contest for children up to high school and awarded trophies to everyone. They tested a website but didn’t really have any experts going to engage the younger generation to help with the web. Marianne Mersereau, writing about the National Association of the Van Valkenburg Family Reunion, said a special evening outing was planned for the children. The Junior Choir rehearsed during the day and performed a song during the Saturday evening banquet. One of the teenagers even volunteered to be the Junior Member Activity Coordinator for the next reunion! Carolyn McCoy, Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, reports about her Robinson Family Reunion. “We have started incorporating the younger family members in the planning. Which has gone well.” Mildred Dudley, Flint, Michigan, wrote that the Lockett Family Reunion encourages the young generation by putting them on committees such as activities, choir and public relations. They elect them to committee offices so they can understand the importance of carrying on the reunion, get their input and incorporate their ideas so that they feel they have a voice. Kids are asked to talk about the reunion to their cousins when they are on social media and they’re encouraged to plan activities that they would like to do and help design t-shirts. “The children are our future and their input today will make a lasting

reunion tomorrow,” adds Dudley. The Gilbert Family Reunion and the Little-Rice Family Reunion are the responsibility of Pamela and Jamark Gilbert, Deltona, Florida. They keep their kids very busy with many choices; swimming, coloring, horseshoes, ball toss, water balloons, pool, plus sports competitions such as kickball, baseball, volleyball and basketball. Their “all time favorite” is an obstacle course. The Gilbert children offer ideas about what they enjoy doing. They also help scan pictures and assemble souvenir booklets. The Petty Family Reunion features a family competition in team sports at a local community center. Their youth are responsible for serving the Elders at the banquet ... meaning youth will make sure Elders have enough food and drink, ensure they have all they need at each event. Youth are personal assistants to their Elders, according to Shantwuan Mines, Atlanta, Georgia.

Money talk just for kids

esearch shows that a daily Green Hour™ improves one’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. This is especially important for children who typically spend too many hours a day in front of electronic media. Families and communities connected to nature raise healthier kids and inspire a lifelong appreciation for conservation. The National Wildlife Federation (www. nwf.org) offers resources to make spending time outdoors more fun. Start a new family tradition that will result in healthier kids with a strong interest in becoming good conservation stewards. The National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. 30 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

ome reunions include workshops in their programs. Money management and investing are popular topics. Why not take the occasion of a family reunion to have a money workshop just for kids? Perhaps a small reward for attending might be money! A workshop can help kids develop an appreciation for the value of money. Dr. Robert L. Lawson says building financial literacy begins with respect for self and money. A workshop would be a good opportunity for kids to learn good money management skills because a child is never too young to learn. It’s very important for kids to develop the saving habit at an early age. Until kids realize money is more difficult to make than to spend, they will think it grows on trees. They need to learn to understand the difference between want and need. How badly does the child want something? It’s important to explain. Help your child develop a savings habit. It gives the child a sense of empowerment knowing he accomplished this on his own. Teaching kids to give helps them understand it’s not all just what they can get out of life but about what they can give.

Go outside!

eunions are times for kids to spend outdoors. They can expend lots of steam and energy. And there are countless things to do outside. v Take a few leaves from different trees when kids aren’t looking. Give them the leaves and ask them to find which trees they came from. Have a tree identification book at hand to help kids learn about trees. v Bring crayons and paper to make leaf or bark rubbings. v Go rock hunting. Get the rocks wet. Do you see fossils? v Find 10 things you will only see in summer. v Take a survey or sample of as many different colors in nature as possible. v Find a grassy area to lie down on and watch the clouds. What do they look like? v Make up challenges for kids to do outside like the Survivor TV show. This is a guaranteed kid pleaser, especially if there’s a reward. v Make some Solar S’mores! Line an old pizza box with foil and make it into an “oven” to melt your marshmallows and chocolate onto the graham crackers. v Give kids a place to display nature treasures they find and want to keep. v After dark, have a star party. Plan a picnic under the stars with star-shaped snacks and “wondering” about the universe. Ideas sourced from “Leave No Child Inside, Grow Outside: A Guide to Outdoor Play – Greater Cincinnati.” Then, stay outside for more fun. The source of these simple reunion activities are a small sample from “Fifteen Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids” by Rebecca Cohen.

Rosebeary kids

renda Higgs shared pictures of kids activities at the Rosebeary Family Reunion. Rosebeary kids enjoy water balloon sheet toss and making mummies with toilet paper.

Create ice cube art

The night before, drop food coloring in each ice cube mold to make sidewalk ice cube art! Shadow dance

On a sunny day, start making funny moves and watch your shadows dance. Draw the lanes

Use chalk on the driveway or sidewalk to make a track for bicycles or scooters. Work in stop signs and stop lights. Leaf Tic-Tac-Toe

Sisters Halley (10) and Victoria (8) Boese with candy decorated donuts.

Make a tic-tac-toe grid from sticks or draw it in the dirt. Ask each player to pick five of the same leaf for playing pieces. Use two different types of leaves instead of x’s and o’s. Do the same at the beach with shells, drawing the grid in the sand.

A limbo contest is one of many reunion activity choices at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Halley and Victoria Boese make their brother Arryck (12) a toilet paper mummy.

MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 31

kidsstuff Editors Note:

J ust Cuz! is a repeat appearance. A year ago we first presented this program as a genealogy program which, of course, it is. But it’s specifically for kids so we present it here for kids!

Just Cuz! Learn more about living family members

“

ad, do I have to go to the family reunion? I want to hang out with my friends.” “The last family reunion was boring! There was nothing to do!” “I don’t know who they are and I don’t care who they are!” Have your teenagers ever made comments like these? If you drag your kids to a family reunion and there is no way they can figure out who those people are, then it’s likely you will hear similar comments. Descendancy research may be the answer. Mormons are noted for concentrating on ancestral research – learning all about the dead – and too many families neglect to research the living. The St. Anthony (Idaho) Family History Center introduces youth to descendancy research using a PowerPoint presentation called “Just Cuz!” The purpose of the program is to identify and become acquainted with as many living relatives as they can find. Most will be cousins with common grandparents or great-grandparents. Many websites with active links are listed. It will strengthen the family. “Just Cuz!” has step-by-step instructions about how to enter data, add notes and pictures and other multi-media such as audio and video. “Map ’Em” pinpoints families who are scattered over several states or even countries. “Just Cuz!” provides a link to Google Maps

with a tutorial about how to get started. Teenagers can learn new things and show off their computer skills. At your next family reunion, you and your teenagers can gather information about living aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and adding this data to your PAF file. Find out what they are interested in, where they go to school, what their hobbies and occupations are. Add digital pictures as well as mailing and email addresses and phone numbers. Add stories to the Notes section – which could turnout to be the most interesting part! Ways to share the information

Write a family history. Create a family website or newsletter. Help plan a family reunion (you have contact information!). Make a digital family picture book. Make a family board game. Give support (emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.) to a family member who is struggling. Print a descendancy chart on one large sheet – up to 3 ½ by 6 feet! Display it at the reunion where everyone can easily see how he or she is related. PAF can be set to show the relationships between individuals. See Onepagegenealogy.com. For a free copy of the “Just Cuz!” email res@ida.net. It includes a link for a free PowerPoint viewer, in case your computer is not set up to view PowerPoints. From a column by and permission from Robert Strange, director of the Family History Center in St. Anthony, Idaho, in the exburg Standard Journal, Rexsburg, Idaho.

Try camping

f your family enjoys camping, pitching tents or parking RVs at affordable campgrounds near natural attractions, it keeps accommodation and entertainment costs low. Shenandoah National Park, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia just west of Washington, DC, offers hiking, fishing and bird-watching, as well as campground rates as low as $15 per night. Check out all the national parks info at www.nps.gov. If some of your members do not sleep on the ground, many campgrounds now have platform tents with beds or cottages for rent. And most campgrounds are not far from a hotel or motel for those members who insist.

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MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 33

features

Live Music Capital of the World … and SO much more!

by Edith Wagner

n reunion land we tend to think of Branson, Missouri, as a military reunion place, which it certainly is. However, I visited specifically to learn whether it is also a family reunion destination and can report with a resounding “yes, it is!” In fact, Branson is a reunion place extraordinaire. Located nearly at the center of the US, Branson is less than a day’s drive for one-third of Americans. It is nestled in the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains and is an affordable, wholesome family entertainment capital that emphasizes fun, comfort and the feeling of being right at home. The community embodies essential American values such as patriotism, faith, courage and generosity of spirit in a warm, inviting atmosphere that is truly genuine and heartfelt. Branson’s whole purpose is to welcome tourists, so it’s an easy place to be drawn into … quickly. I am fascinated by how an area got a little water and still maintains an oasis. Their ability to draw both entertainment and an audience is world-class. Someone, somewhere, decided Branson was going to have a ton of shows and attractions to draw visitors to their city. They call themselves the Live Music Capital of the World, which cannot be disputed, with more than 50 theatres and over 100 shows that you can enjoy morning, afternoon and evening. If shows are your thing, and you want to see many of them, you may never see sunlight! One of the advantages of Branson shows is that many appeal to the young adults who might need an extra incentive to attend a family reunion. But first, let’s look at all the things for families to do. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a 2,200-acre preserve in the heart of the Ozarks, on the Missouri-Arkansas border just south of Branson. There is hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Payne Stewart Golf Club is a tribute to a Missouri native and favorite son. Or try the Shepherd of the Hills Vigilante ZipRider that travels a half mile at speeds reaching 50 mph.

Boarding a Branson Duck.

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See Rose O’Neill’s Kewpie dolls at Bonniebrook.

The Branson area is full of unexpected surprises. An example of one of the best is Bonniebrook (roseoneill.org), in nearby Walnut Shade, Missouri, the home and studio of Rose O’Neill, famous illustrator and creator of Kewpie dolls, who are 100 this year. O’Neill was a women’s rights activist, wealthy entrepreneur and reputably one of the five most beautiful women in the world at her time. Her home and studio are lovingly restored, and staff and docents (especially Susan Scott) are passionate about O’Neill and her history. Add it to your program and expect to be enchanted! The College of the Ozarks (cofo.edu), aka Hard Work U, in nearby Point Lookout, Missouri, is great place to visit, especially if your family includes young people thinking about college. Request a student guide who will show you the working mill, greenhouses, beautiful Williams Chapel, the working dairy and ice cream shop, all staffed by students working their way through school. No loans for these students, though tips for guides are always welcome. In fact, The College of the Ozarks has accommodations for reunions and for banquets! The Branson Auto Museum (bransonmuseum.com) features more than 100 cool cars, from a 1924 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery to a 2010 Camaro SS, and at least one car for most of the years in between. The Hollywood Wax Museum (hollywoodwaxmuseum. com/branson) is the only wax museum devoted entirely to celebrity figures so faithfully recreated that you’d swear they are alive. The Titanic (titanicbranson.com) lives on in an exhibit of that fateful voyage. Feel the spirit of the passengers in galleries of over 400 personal and private artifacts. The Veterans Memorial Museum (veteransmemorialmuseum.org) is a national tribute to the brave men and women who defended our liberties during the 20th century and is one of my favorite military museums. Riding the Ducks (branson. ridetheducks.com) is an essential Branson activity. Amphibious vehicles offer an exciting land and water adventure, with a splashdown in the lake.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City theme park evolved around the entrance to Marvel Cave, 300 feet (600 stairs) below the surface, one of nature’s great wonders. Silver Dollar City entertains families with events throughout the year. Step back in time to an 1880s craft village filled with the best craftspersons and artisans at work, thrill rides, family attractions and festivals. musical performances, street performers and Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School. Silver Dollar City also is known for delectable home style meals at restaurants throughout the park.

Candy making

Sweet samples

Live shows and artisans keep everyone’s attention: chip carver, potter, broom maker, candy maker, glass blowers, furniture maker, blacksmith, candle maker. All their crafts are for sale. Visit silverdollarcity. com. Group rates are available.

The Hiltons of Branson www.hiltonsofbranson.com Hilton Branson Convention Center 200 East Main Street • Branson, MO 65616 • 417/336-5400 (phone) The Hilton of Branson adjoins the new Branson Convention Center, and is in the heart of Historic Downtown on Lake Taneycomo, just minutes from theatres, outlet malls, golf courses, Table Rock Lake, Silver Dollar City and numerous attractions.

Eating is good in Branson

he Hilton of Branson’s Level 2 Steakhouse is exceptional, with specialties of aged corn-fed midwest beef, heritage Missouri pork, locally grown produce and signature desserts. Andy Williams’ Moon River Grill includes many recipes from Andy’s mother’s own cookbook. The chicken pot pie is a special feature (yum). Plan a meal at The Keeter Center at The College of The Ozarks. The culinary staff of students at Dobyns Dining Room offer something for every taste. The Showboat Branson Belle plies the crystal clear waters of Table Rock Lake during a two-hour early evening dinner cruise, which includes an excellent dinner and the best in Branson shows.

Shows BY families FOR families

See families like the Presleys, the Hughes Brothers, the Lennon Sisters (yes, the same ones who were a staple of the Lawrence Welk Show), the Brett Family, the Haygoods (seven brothers, one sister) and SIX (six Knudsen brothers, no instruments!), and the Mabe family Baldknobbers, who have been entertaining for over 50 years. In fact, the Baldknobbers original costumes and instruments were accepted into the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History’s permanent collection.

But those are just the performing families; what about the other shows? Many are must-sees for the whole family, and at top of that list is Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction. But, be forewarned, a delicious four-course dinner extravaganza is all eaten with your fingers; no forks! Sight & Sound Theatres offers original productions of Bible stories. The Beijing Circus and The Legend of Kung Fu wows audiences with traditional martial arts skills, aerial ballet, dance and music. Its cast of 65 performers makes it is one of the largest theatrical productions in Branson. Shoji Tabuchi, Jim Stafford, Andy Williams, Chubby Checker still doing “The Twist” and Legends in Concert at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater just scratch the surface of show choices in Branson. What more could you want? Visit Branson for your reunion!

About the author

Edith Wagner is editor of Reunions magazine.

Your starting point for all things Branson! Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB Branson, Missouri, may be America’s most veteran-friendly town. Branson salutes veterans and active-duty armed forces year-round. If you’re lucky enough to be there on Veterans Day, you’ll also enjoy a spectacular parade of honor.

Visit www.ExploreBranson.com

or call 800-296-0463.

MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 35

saving $$$

Having a good time without a dime

by Tracy Harrington Atkinson

he family reunion was postponed indefinitely. Ford’s production line idea Graduate school. Pregnancy. New jobs. New worked best, with each plate babies. Distance. However, the underlying reason created equal. Children were resonated throughout each reason: Finances. Emails, encouraged to trade off what phone calls and text messages expressed the they didn’t want to eat. Paper sadness of not seeing each other. For some, it had plates started with a name been years since we’d been able written on it followed by to see our siblings. We simply progression down the line of mourned the situation but food. An older child had the couldn’t see an alternative … coveted role of waiter and until an unexpected solution carried filled plates to the presented itself. outside picnic table. (left to right) Coleson Harrington, Colin Reichdan, Kathryn Reichdan, Hunter Harrington “What? Tossing some clothes and a Entertaining a flock of Schuyler Jensen, David Reichdan, Jared Harrington “lining up to use Did I get a little smudge cooler into the back of my children proved to be the the nail gun.” on myself?” Yukon, I decided to drive the greatest challenge. We used the seventeen hours with the kids to tried-and-true park trips, walks spend a few weeks with my parents. As and traditional summer activities soon as I was on the road, I called to tell like water balloon and water gun them my plans. Since I was already fights. Grandpa always won when traveling, my father wouldn’t be able to he pulled out the hose. The Eliza Jensen “I’m so excited! talk me out of making the drive as the grandchildren squealed in delight I get to build a club house only driver. when he went out to “teach them with Uncle Jared!” My brothers greeted us as we pulled a lesson.” into my parents’ driveway. Each lived Uncle Jared devised the best project, making a within an hour of our parents and clubhouse. A contractor by profession, he arrived in decided to join us. his pickup, pulling his work trailer. Inside the kids News of the festivities spread. A found wood, nails, paint, paint brushes and plenty of sister assembled her children and power tools. They lined up to carry everything to the belongings into her van, arriving a backyard, excited to be part of a big building project. (left to right) Liam Reichdan, Eliza Jensen, Emma Jensen, They learned the basics of construction as they couple of days later. Another sibling Rhaine Reichdan (in the blue shirt) Jared Harrington joined us, which left only one sister not sawed, measured and hammered away. They even (above) and Konrad Harrington “Let the painting begin!” there. We gathered around the computer, tried using the nail gun, with supervision, squealing searching for a cheap airline ticket and begged our sister to come excitedly each time it shot a nail. Before they put a nail in the at the last moment. wood, Uncle Jared let them practice shooting a nail into the soil. Having the original family of eight plus spouses and seventeen Before the roof was added, each child stripped down to diapers grandchildren (15 of whom were seven years old and younger) or underwear and got his or her own paintbrush. Paint was in proved to be a challenge in a 1300 square foot home. With no several containers around the clubhouse perimeter. The children, formal plans, we brainstormed ideas to make our time enjoyable, however, didn’t care about color; they enjoyed painting their new allowing for plenty of activities for the children while providing abode as well as each other! adults with time to visit and catch up. Cleanup was a breeze. All green diapers and underwear were Grandpa solved the house problem by moving his fifth wheel to thrown away. Before getting a bath from grandma in a large basin the side of the house. With the tip outs extended, he nearly in the backyard, each child stood at attention to be hosed off. doubled the living space of the house! Tents were pitched in the After the paint on the clubhouse dried, it was moved to its backyard for the older children who loved camping out in permanent position, and every grandchild placed a paint grandpa’s backyard. handprint on the side with a label stating his/her name and age. Food became a major obstacle. Grandma solved the lunch Over the years, our family has enjoyed wonderful reunion dilemma by creating a lunch bucket. A large Rubbermaid trips: Rocky Mountain National Park, beach houses and camping container slid in and out of the refrigerator at lunchtime. It was excursions. We are planning the next one in Nauvoo, Illinois. filled with cold cuts, cheese, condiments – everything for a Despite the thrill of expensive reunions, we all remember with supreme sandwich. Another bucket contained cut-up fruits and great fondness the cheapest reunion of all. Through our vegetables. Still another contained food for breakfast, although we impromptu event, when we struggled to entertain children and got quickly learned the kids preferred baggies filled with cereal so under each other’s feet in limited space, we developed and they could run around. renewed relationships. We visited, laughed and played together. Dinner rotated. Each evening we’d discuss the menu for the That’s what family is all about. Time together. following day’s dinner. Lasagna. Hamburgers on the grill. We About the author even shared some of our favorite easy recipes. Shopping was done This is Tracy Harrington Atkinson’s second reunion in this first thing each morning, since there was only one refrigerator. magazine! She lives and writes in Littleton, Colorado. The execution of each meal was its own challenge. Henry

36 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

military reunion news e

USS Charles S. Sperry DD-697 reunion

he USS Charles S. Sperry DD-697 reunion was in Annapolis, Maryland, and enjoyed touring the area. Members visited the Vietnam Memorial, The Marine Corps War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, The Capitol Building, and the gravesites of John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Audie Murphy, as well as other national and historic sites. During a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, USS Sperry members participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. This solemn event takes place before a huge crowd of visitors who visit this historic site each day, to pay tribute to those brave individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. To choose reunion sites, members are given three options, prepared according to the best location with the best deal. Then popular vote settles the place for the coming year. They use many sources to promote their reunion. Their website (usscharlessperrydd697.com), facebook pages and a newsletter. They list on military sites, email and word of mouth. The reunion is financed by donations, dues, fees and proceeds from a silent auction. Five first-time attendees were at the reunion. Members who have never attended or who have not attended in a long time are encouraged to make plans now for the 2012 reunion in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

During the visit to Arlington National Cemetery, USS Sperry members Gary Chesser, Jess Mayberry, and Bob and Barbara Jennings were privileged to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What is your experience?

USS Sperry organizer Gary Chesser makes a point that other military reunions are concerned about: hotel contracts are becoming less advantageous and less friendly to smaller military groups. What is your experience? Reported by Gary Chesser, Deer Park, Texas.

More military reunion planning help Your Military Reunion Connection (YMRC) is a networking and support organization of military groups and the businesses who serve them. YMRC offers seminars and familiarization (FAM) tours to places that are popular with military reunions; these events cover four days and include learning sessions and tours of the host area. Upcoming destinations include Savannah, Georgia; Buffalo, New York; Jacksonville, Florida; and Charleston, South Carolina. Details about upcoming events are listed in Reunion School on page 15. Information at yourmilitaryreunions.com.

US and Japanese vets mark 67th anniversary of Iwo Jima

merican and Japanese veterans gathered on Iwo Jima to mark the 67th anniversary of one of World War IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bloodiest and most symbolic battles. Guests from both nations saluted their flags near the foot of Mount Suribachi, scene of the iconic 1945 flag-raising.

Virtually all defending Japanese soldiers were killed; 6,821 American and 21,570 Japanese lives were lost. Iwo Jima island is now uninhabited except for a small Japanese military outpost. The annual memorial is called the Reunion of Honor. American veterans have returned to the island each year since 1985. Dozens of remains are recovered every year, but about 12,000 Japanese and 218 Americans are still classified as missing in action and presumed killed on the island. From a report in the Associated Press 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 2012 v Reunions 37

e military reunion news

Military reunion planner forum

ave you joined VMRP? If you have, you know it’s a source of planning information and discussions by and for military reunion planners. It’s the web forum for Volunteer Military Reunion Planners and vendors who meet their planning needs. Membership is voluntary,

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.

ALABAMA GREATER BIRMINGHAM CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 2200 Ninth Avenue North, Birmingham AL 35203 Birmingham is becoming one of the most celebrated reunion cities in the southeast. There are lots of details to see to – good planning is hard work. The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to help. For more information regarding reunion services, please contact the Convention Bureau at 205-458-8000 or 800-458-8085; fax 205-458-8086 | twalton@birminghamal.org | www.birminghamal.org MOBILE BAY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 1 South Water Street, Mobile AL 36602; 251-2082018; fax 251-208-2060; ron-mcconnell@mobile.org | www.mobilebay.org

ARKANSAS

free and available to all who are interested in sharing experiences from past reunions and ideas for improving future reunions. Founders, webmasters and moderators of VMRP are Dave Blake, Reunion Planner (Coordinator) for the 461st Bombardment Group (H); Don Kelby, Executive Director for the National 4th Infantry (IVY) Division Association; and Lowell (Woody) Woodworth, Webmaster and Reunion Planner for USAF Radar Station Veterans Worldwide. The VMRP website is maintained by these volunteers. They have declared that many years of reunion planning experience are represented within the membership. Thus, a new military reunion planner has access to a wealth of experience, simply by asking questions on the VMRP message board. It’s invaluable. To join, open http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/VMRP/, click on “JOIN THIS GROUP.” When you turn your reunion over to a new “younger” person, VMRP is a place where he or she can ask questions and learn reunion planning ideas. To post a message, click http://groups. yahoo.com/group/VMRP/post. Join today! 38 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

MOUNTAIN HARBOR RESORT AND SPA ON LAKE OUACHITA, ARKANSAS Relax and enjoy in our wooded, lakeside surroundings at this full-service resort destination. With several group facilities to choose from - all with a lakeview, we also offer our Lodge Restaurant, a variety of lodging floor plans, our award-winning marina featuring a variety of boating and water toy rentals, a luxurious spa and salon at Turtle Cove, hiking and biking trails, and a host of familyfriendly amenities and activities all infused with the natural serenity of the Ouachita National Forest. Don’t just host a reunion – throw a reunion lakestyle. Call us at (870) 867-2191 or (800) 832-2276 or visit www.mountainharborresort.com

CALIFORNIA BALBOA INN “The Resort” Located On The Sand 105 Main Street, Newport Beach CA 92661 Imagine having an intimate reunion, with the Pacific Ocean right at your doorstep. Dream no longer! The Balboa Inn offers unsurpassed excellence for creating a unique destination, and a fabulous location for all reunions. With 45 guestrooms, including 20 ocean view suites we offer a range of accommodations perfectly suited for your lodging needs. 877-BALBOA-9; 949-675-3412; fax 949-673-4587; www.balboainnevents.com; events@ balboainn.com PALM SPRINGS VISITOR CENTER 2901 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262 Palm Springs, California guarantees blue skies and sunshine for your reunion. A collection of new hotels, boutique inns, and vacation home and condo rentals are available to host large and small groups. Visitors the world over are lured to Palm Springs for its storied Hollywood legacy, Native American heritage and stellar collection of mid-century modern architecture. Palm Springs is less than 2 hours from Los Angeles or San Diego. The Palm Springs International Airport offers direct flights from major cities all across the U.S. and Canada. Palm Springs. Like no place else. 800-347-7446 | www.VisitPalmSprings.com

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 hospitality 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 YMCA OF THE ROCKIES has two Colorado resort destinations-Estes Park and Winter Park-where your family can reconnect, relax and enjoy group activities. A variety of affordable lodging is available, from individual lodge rooms to a 16-bedroom cabin. Activities include zip line, horseback riding and guided hikes. 800-777-9622 or www.ymcarockies.org BEAVER VILLAGE CONDOMINIUMS Our condos are clustered in a campus style layout making it easy for us to group your rooms close together. The condos have 1,2,3, & 4 bedrooms, so couples, families & extended families can find the right fit. We have a meeting room (100 pp max), catering kitchen & an outside deck with grill. Our team works closely with the group leader to honor special requests. In town location close to hiking, biking, rafting & more. 800-824-8438. Visit: www.beavercondos.com | www.beavercondos.com/ family-reunions-winter-park-colorado-coloradofamily-reunions COLORADO VACATION DIRECTORY Make your search for the perfect family reunion destination easier! FREE FAMILY REUNION DESTINATION LOCATION SERVICE: www. TheCVD.com/groupsreunions and click on “EMAIL US your Request for Group Accommodations.” We will then send your requirements to Cabins, Vacation Homes, Lodges, Motels, Condo’s, B&B’s, and 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 BEACON HOTEL Located in downtown Washington DC and near the Dupont & Farragut North Metro. 199 guestrooms with a choice of two double beds or king bed; some with queen sleeper sofas. Complimentary onsite 24HR Fitness Center & Business Center. Our BEACON BAR & GRILL offers a 15% dining discount in the restaurant. Address: 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW – Washington, DC 20036 P:(202) 296-2100 Toll Free:(800) 821-4367 F:(202) 331-0227 | sales@beaconhotelwdc.com | www.beaconhotelwdc.com

FLORIDA STAR ISLAND RESORT & CLUB 5000 Avenue of the Stars, Kissimmee FL 34746 Located just 4 miles to Walt Disney Theme Parks, our Mediterranean styled Resort & Spa offers spacious mini suites, 1 & 3 bedroom Villas with kitchenette, full kitchens with all the comforts of home. Enjoy tennis, basketball, pools & putting green, Jet Ski & paddleboat rentals, children’s activities, BBQ grills, indoor & outdoor function space available to rent. Group rates for 5 or more units. For group reservations call 800-789-0715 and mention Reunions magazine when calling. We look forward to hosting your reunion! www. star-island.com

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES ROYAL PLAZA in the Walt Disney World® Resort 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista FL 32830 A 394-room resort hotel with 18,500 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate up to 1000 people, which includes two ballrooms and a 5,000 square foot outside courtyard. Our versatile event venues and full-service Award Winning Convention Services Department will help you plan your event right down to the last detail and make your event a resounding success! Contact Allan Bester 407-827-3155 or abester@royalplaza.com | www.royalplaza.com

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 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! 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 or call 770-395-7700. 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! 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!

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 | Website: www.staybridge.com/atlanta-pr SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! DOUGLASVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU With a great location near Atlanta and over 1,800 hotel rooms why not choose Douglasville, Georgia! 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 milesr@ci. douglasville.ga.us | 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 or visit www.cvbdunwoody. com/ SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ILLINOIS Lake County, 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!

IOWA WATERLOO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 500 Jefferson Street, Waterloo, IA 50701 Visit Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Historic Veterans Memorial, and Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. Meeting facilities up to 2,000 people. Family attractions – Lost Island Water Park, Phelps Youth Pavilion, and Bluedorn Science Imaginarium. Info: 800-728-8431 | Lonnie@TravelWaterloo.com | www.TravelWaterloo.com

MARYLAND UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center 52 King George Street, Annapolis MD 21402 Designed specifically for those who participated in military operations while in US service. Tour focuses on role of Naval Academy in supplying officers and midshipmen in various conflicts. Tour includes audio-visual presentation and walking tour. Tour time: 2 hours 30 minutes. Tour price: $9.00. Call for tour package and dining information: 410-293-8687 | fax 410-293-3365 | tourinfo@usna.edu | www.navyonline.com. HILTON GARDEN INN WASHINGTON DC/BETHESDA offers all the comforts and amenities for a relaxing, fun and stress-free reunion. We are only one block away from Bethesda Row with many shops and

dining options for the whole family. Also one block away is the Bethesda Metro station (red line) which is only a 10 minute ride to Washington; 7301 Waverly St. Bethesda, MD 20814. For more information please call: Jason Montalvo, Sales Manager at 301-654-8111 | jason.montalvo@hilton.com | www.Bethesda.hgi.com. We are the #1 ranked hotel in Bethesda according to Trip Advisor!

MICHIGAN THE BENZIE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU “The Most Beautiful Place In America” Located along Michigan’s northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula, the gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and serenely positioned on Lake Michigan. Benzie County is an optimal location for your reunion, wedding, meeting or event. Facilities to fit nearly every need from world class resorts to private homes and cottages on our pristine lakes, rivers, and woods www.visitbenzie.com or call 800-882-5801. EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS Cool City. Way-Cool Reunions. From a walkable downtown rich with culture and entertainment to a pristine outdoors rich with recreation, Grand Rapids offers the widest possible appeal for every member of your group. One of America’s top-ranked destinations for art, farm-to-fork dining, beaches, fishing, family friendliness, and more. Don’t miss Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a “top 30 must-see museum.” Ideal for reunions of all types and sizes. ExperienceGR.com

MINNESOTA WORRY-FREE REUNIONS AT CRAGUN’S RESORT 11000 Craguns Dr, Brainerd MN 56401: 800-CRAGUNS (272-4867). Since 1940 Cragun’s has taken pride in creating memorable reunions … here’s why: 1) trained coordinator will help plan it all, 2) arrival “Welcome” and registration areas with planned activity agendas, 3) activities including golf outings, lake cruises, picnics, fishing contests, horse drawn trolley rides and more, 4) indoor facilities to ensure you a “weather-proof” reunion, 5) private gathering areas, 6) special celebration meals, 7) professional group photos, 8) and best of all, enjoy a safe, secure friendly environment. Come to Cragun’s for your reunion. Named “One of MN’s ideal locations to hold a Reunion.” by AAA. Call for FREE Reunion Planning Packet or visit www.craguns.com/157

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 or visit our website at ExploreBranson.com and request a Reunion Planner Sales kit. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NEVADA ALEXIS PARK ALL SUITE RESORT Enjoy an oasis of 16 lushly landscaped acres, 3 sparkling pools, 4 unique suites to suit your style and a rooftop Terrance (with views of The Strip) for parties. With 495 suites and 50,000 square feet of conference space our friendly staff can take care of a reunion of any size! Alexis Park is located across the street from the world famous Hard Rock Hotel, one mile from The Strip and McCarran International Airport. 375 E Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 39

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES Contact Chris Chapman, 702-796-3395 or 800-582-2228; http://www.alexispark.com/ THE ORLEANS HOTEL AND CASINO blends the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas with the festive flavor of New Orleans. The 88-acre full-service resort has 1,886 rooms and suites, 40,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, 12 exceptional restaurants and an oasis-like swimming pool. Attractions also include a spa and fitness center, a 70-lane bowling center, an 18-screen movie complex, a 900-seat showroom and 9,000-seat arena. 4500 W Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103; 702-365-7050; 888-365-7111 x7050; www.orleanscasino.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL OFFICE Located just 90 miles south of Las Vegas, Laughlin is an amazing spot to host family gatherings, reunions and getaways no matter what the size. Laughlin offers casual to fine dining as well as concerts, shows, activities and events for every age. And the Colorado River provides a great backdrop for your group photos. To contact the Laughlin sales staff call 1-877-685-2845 or go to www.VisitLaughlin.com ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO 3800 S Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502 Atlantis is Reno’s Newest Hot Spot for Reunions! Atlantis boast 50,000 SF of flexible meeting space. Stay in Reno’s newest resort rooms, featuring pillowtop 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 GRAND SIERRA RESORT AND CASINO is just five short minutes from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport and just 45 minutes from majestic Lake Tahoe. With 2,000 rooms and suites, a full service casino, 10 distinct restaurants, an 1,800-seat theater with headlining entertainment, branded retail shops, a cinema, a 50-lane championship bowling center, outdoor thrill rides, aqua golf driving range, and Fun Quest Family Fun Center, you’ll never run out of fun and exciting things to do. 2500 E. Second St., Reno NV 89595, 866.473.6672; www.grandsierraresort.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON, NC HISTORIC RIVER DISTRICT & ISLAND BEACHES From our historic riverfront city to the pristine shores of beautiful island beaches, you’ll find us to be an extraordinary destination. You can let us know what kind of adventure you have in mind, or we can suggest some themes that’ll please the most particular travelers. We’ll even create a customized itinerary matched to your exact specifications so that your guests will gladly follow you anywhere. Call 800-650-9064 or visit www.NCCoastalMeetingsReunions.com

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. 40 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

And when the time comes, we’ll provide you with Visitors Guides, Visitor Maps, plastic bags and pens. Contact Brian Cheek at 614-222-6136 or BCheek@ExperienceColumbus.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

PENNSYLVANIA VALLEY FORGE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1000 First Avenue, Suite 101, King of Prussia PA 19406. Still the best place to meet - Valley Forge. Washington’s famous encampment site is just 18 miles from Philadelphia and offers more than 60 hotels, 11 conference centers and reunion-friendly hotels with complimentary hospitality rooms and free parking. Destination features world-class shopping at the nation’s largest shopping mall, King of Prussia, as well as premium dining and entertainment on its many quaint Main Streets. Contact Courtney Pozo, Convention Sales Manager: 610-834-7971 or 800-441-3549; Fax: 610-834-0202; pozo@valleyforge.org or visit www.valleyforge.org DOUBLETREE SUITES 640 Fountain Road, Plymouth Meeting PA 19462 Located in Plymouth Meeting, a beautiful suburb of Philadelphia, the DoubleTree Suites is an all-suite property that specializes in military, family, and class reunions alike! 8,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space for you to relax and reminisce with family and friends. Also offering an in-house restaurant, lounge, indoor pool, and fitness center! 610-8794147; fax 610-879-4242; alison.hacker@hilton.com, www.doubletree.com/plymouthmeeting

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! 800-2008687 | groupsales@seamist.com | www.seamist.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! SPRINGMAID BEACH RESORT 3200 South Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach SC 29577 This popular, oceanfront resort is close to the airport and Myrtle Beach’s popular attractions! With nearly 500 flexible oceanview rooms & suites, pools, lazy rivers, 2 onsite restaurants and catering, plenty of indoor & outdoor event spaces, 18 hole mini-golf course, game arcade, fitness center, free wi-fi and a 1068 ft fishing pier, there’s so much to do! Contact Sharon Kemerer; skemerer@springmaidbeach.com; 843-315-7173 or 800-770-7198 | www.springmaidbeach.com

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 or by e-mail at chrisp@chattanoogacvb.com for free help planning your next reunion! www.chattanoogafun.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE We’re a gold mine for reunions. Need attractions? Try Dollywood, Titanic Pigeon Forge, Zorb and the action-packed Parkway. Want nature? Great Smoky Mountains National Park is next-door. Want entertainment? More than a dozen theaters await you. Hungry? We’ll feed you well. Details: 1-800-285-7557 or visit pigeonforgereunion.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

UTAH PARK CITY LODGING, INC. represents over 150 vacation rentals throughout Park City’s three world-class resort areas: Park City, Deer Valley and Canyons. Choose from a large variety of accommodations, ideally suited for your reunion, wedding or special event. Our knowledgeable staff is here to assist you in creating a memorable family experience in the mountains of Park City , Utah. Call 855-263-7793 | destinationspecialist@parkcitylodging.com | www.ParkCityLodging.com Let our knowledgeable staff assist you in creating a memorable mountain experience.

VERMONT SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT At America’s Reunion Resort, you’ll experience Mountain Resort Living, award-winning children’s programs (6wks.-17yrs.), family activities and entertainment, swimming, skiing, hiking, dining, shopping & more. Smugglers’ Notch Resort – the only resort in North America to guarantee Family Fun – Summer, Winter & Fall. For more information, call 1-800-521-0536. or visit www.smuggs.com/ reunions SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

VIRGINIA CHESAPEAKE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 860 Greenbrier Circle, Suite 101 Chesapeake VA 23320 Can you hear it? That voice inside, beckoning you to get together. Reconnect with friends, families and memories. The refuge, the waterways, the beach – so close you can enjoy them all. For more information on planning a family or military reunion in Chesapeake, VA, call 888.889.5551 or go to www.visitchesapeake.com. NEWPORT NEWS Get closer to ships, history and the great outdoors with one central destination in Newport News. All this, plus Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Whether getting together with old classmates, ship mates or “familymates”, Newport News provides the perfect location and services to make your reunion a success! With outstanding services and support, the best value and plenty to see and do, Newport News will 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!

WEST VIRGINIA CANAAN VALLEY RESORT Davis, West Virginia. Four season resort state park featuring 150 comfortable lodge rooms, 23 secluded cabins/ cottages and 34 campground sites. Seasonal activities include indoor/outdoor pools, golf, skiing, scenic chairlift rides, hiking/biking trails, and more. Meeting rooms and banquet services available for your reunion needs. Karen Rhodes 304-866-4121 x 2681 or rhodesk@canaanresort.com | www.cannaanresort.com

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES PRODUCTS & SERVICES T-SHIRTS ChampionDirect.org T-SHIRTS, HATS AND MORE! Let our team of decorating experts help you find the best product and design for your family reunion apparel. We’re here to help for your complete satisfaction. No salesperson will ever call you. Use our template or download your own image.

MAKE THE BEST REUNION T-SHIRTS! Design reunion shirts online – it’s fun and easy! Create your own design or have us create a design for you. From infant sizes to adult 6XL, you’ll find the perfect shirts for your reunion. FREE shipping, AFFORDABLE shirts, FREE expert-design help, and GUARANTEED delivery dates! Visit www.customink.com/reunionwbk or call 1-877-8035885 today! Use voucher code RW210 to save $10 on your order of 6 or more shirts. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

REUNION RIBBONS

TOUR OPERATOR SUNSATIONAL TOURS 2813 S. Hiawassee Road #204, Orlando FL 32835 Contact: Brad Lattin, Director of Sales, brad@ mysunsationalgroup.com | 888-452-1122; Fax: 407-296-6928 | www.sunsationaltours.net Sunsational Tours is the premiere booking agent for all Reunions in Central Florida. We provide “better than direct” pricing for hotel accommodations, theme park tickets, dining options, transportation, and much more. If you are planning your upcoming reunion in the state of Florida, we would love the opportunity to take the workload off of your shoulders!

BEST QUALITY FOR UNBEATABLE PRICES!

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800-654-2776 • www.reunions.com CREATE A WEBSITE at MYEVENT.COM Create your own reunion website with no skills. It’s fast and easy to use. No credit card required for the free trial! Enter coupon code ReunionsMagazine20 for a 20% discount when you purchase. See page 17 for more details.

Please recycle this magazine when you’re finished!

Reunions magazine Display Advertiser Index ST HOTELS & RESORTS

CA Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside 23 NV Grand Sierra Resort & Casino 1 NV Orleans Hotel (The) & Casino 5 SC Sea Mist Resort OBC VT Smugglers’ Notch Resort 18 T-SHIRTS

Please patronize our advertisers.

ChampionDirect.org 11 customink.com 13

ST TOURISM & VISITORS BUREAUS

GA Atlanta CVB 2 GA Dunwoody CVB 9 IL Lake County CVB IL 19 MO Branson Lakes Area CVB IFC OH Experience Columbus OH 33 TN Chattanooga Area CVB 32 TN Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism 13 VA Norfolk CVB 12

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 or visit reunionsmag.com. 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. POSTCARD ANNOUNCEMENTS Notify your reunion members to SAVE THE DATE (bright red, they’ll not miss it!) and when you need reminders, send postcards that say TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Fill-in cards – $15 p/100 postcards or 20¢ each + s/h – you fill in the date and reunion name; or Custom printed cards – $45 p/100 postcards or 50¢ each + s/h. Send info to be printed: for Save the date! (name, date, & place of reunion, contact info). For Time is running out (name & date of reunion & RSVP date) + fax number or email address to get your approval before we print. Send to Reunions magazine, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727; credit card charges call 414-263-4567. MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 v Reunions 41

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