Reunions Magazine Volume 23, Number 1. August/September/October 2012 (SOLD OUT)

Reunion when? and where?

Hospitality Answerman Submarine races

Display until October 31, 2012.

Vo l 23 n o 1 a u g u st / s e p t e m b e r / o c to b e r 2012 $ 3 / USA

in this issue Departments front Words – 4 ALUM & I – 6 Is facebook putting reunions out of business by Karla Sullivan Grills, games and good time by Bob Price Batch of 1995 reunion by Neelayam Sorte Charitable reunions: Bonner-Prendie alumni, Detroit Cathedral High School Ten school reunion movies at the top of their class

BRANCH OFFICE – 10

August/September/October 2012 Volume 23 • Number 1 Publisher / Editor in Chief Edith Wagner Travel Editor Jacky Runice Art Director Jennifer Rueth

Spaulding descendants meet by Lisa Smith Rockwells meeting since 1847 by Robert Biddle Rockwell New tool for reunions, school records, kids genealogy books, National Archives resources, African American research, Cutty Sark reunion

Sales Marion Liston Senior Account Manager

Scrapbook – 14

Administrative Staff Josh Evert Nicole Dettmering Ksioszk

Reunion School Atlanta Planning Workshop Hospitality Answerman, Dean Miller Are room blocks still necessary?

Tipping tips Reunions: hotel staff reunion, Farmway Village, Playboy Bunnies, Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1976

Masterplan – 20 Williams family together again in Milwaukee by Sheri Williams Pannell Smiths meet regularly by Sarah Smith Coleman, Doyle, Grasty Family Reunion program by Kimberly Dews Bringing families together by David Pyle Bennett-Cheeks meet by Daisy Simon Stolz cousins meet in Galveston by Margaret Lynette Alexander Moore McCauley Family Reunion by Thelma Newman Hudson-Cobb Family Reunion by R. Darlene Hudson Reunion on the high seas by Gwen Kettles

reunion venues & features – 30 When and where?

A reunion is a good idea – but when?

Where?

Finding a new paradise by Jaynie Schultz Random site ideas Are you having a picnic?

Old forts in Washington State How other reunions decide where to go Not all reunions are in America!

Family owned and operated Tips for booking a vacation home rental

Military Reunion News – 38 USS Nitro Association 15th anniversary reunion by Jim Timmons Real submarine races! by Al and Terry Hahn 63rd Troop Carrier Wing (H) Reunion by Brian Forrester Women Marines Association

Reunion Resources – 41 A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and product On the cover Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1976, see page 19.

Operations Manager Karla Lavin

hospitality answer man Dean Miller Contributors Debbie Beck • Mamie Burton Endrick Crenshaw • Kimberly Dews Peter Eckhoff • Brian Forrester • Al and Terry Hahn Brenda Higgs • R. Darlene Hudson • Gwen Kettles Diane Lockard • Leland and Patty Meitzler Gwen (Poore) Miller • Shantwuan Mines Margaret Lynette Alexander Moore Phyllis Naumann • Thelma Newman Sheri Williams Pannell • Bob Price David Pyle • Robert Biddle Rockwell Jaynie Schultz • Gina Sherrod Daisy Simon • Lisa Smith • Sarah Smith Neelayam Sorte • Pamela Stahly Karla Sullivan • Claude Talford Gail Taylor • Jim Timmons • Arliss Treybig 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 414-2636331; e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com; reunionsmag.com. © 2012 Reunions magazine, Inc. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 3

FRONT WORDS

Be in touch!

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t’s autumn! Time to start planning 2013 reunions!

Where did the 2012 reunion season go? And how did your reunions go? We’d like to hear about your reunion and see pictures including videos on our facebook page! Share your reunions with us and our thousands of readers.

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

In this issue

To kick off the 2013 reunion planning season we are posing and answering two of the MOST important questions you must ask, When? and Where? Both are so basic that without their answers you can’t really move forward. On the other hand, once you have those answers, it’s full speed ahead to countless more details, which are really the fun part of reunion planning.

Web pages growing

We’ve spent much of the summer adding material to our web pages and we’re not through yet. We’re building the web site with the ideas, inspiration and resources you need as you construct your next reunion or to plan your very first reunion. Like the magazine, the web site is reader driven where we use your ideas to share with and inspire other reunion planners. We urge you to use the web pages along with this magazine as your primary sources of reunion planning information.

One really special addition is the last six years of archived back issues. You’ll find them in “view back issues” on the home page.

Summer save!

While most summer reunions happened right where they were planned, the Mason Family Reunion in July was chased by wild fires in Colorado. A carefully planned reunion at Red Feathers Lakes Resort near Fort Collins, Colorado, had to be abandoned, but the reunion was not. Fast action successfully moved to one sister’s acreage northeast of Denver from where everyone prayed for rain and the kids were transported to area attractions to swim and recreate.

They were happy to all be celebrating again. And we hope you weren’t faced with any such emergencies.

Hail success!

We hope all reunion planners receive these effusive responses!

4 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

For months before the Neal Family Reunion in July there were daily emails that could not have escaped the attention of their members; birthdays, countdowns, reminders, announcements. It was, obviously, very successful based upon countless comments following the reunion. I chose the comments of Natasha Caston, DeRidder, Louisiana, to share. “Neal Family it has been an amazing, spectacular, wonderfully blessed weekend!! Just to see everyone again is a blessing!! Even though we are leaving this destination our hearts shall remain connected to each other!!! Thank you, Neal committee for doing an outstanding job!! Look forward to the next reunion!!

Love you all! God Bless!!!”

Don’t forget

v I f you’ve not qualified for a free subscription to Reunions magazine, do it now. If you’ve not posted your upcoming reunion, do it now. Connect with both on Free Stuff on the web page. v At the moment there are some pretty attractive contests and sweepstakes for your consideration, enter now. v If you want to see your reunion (story and/or pictures) in the magazine, send ‘em now. v If you’re not a facebook fan, become one now and follow us on Pinterest. v Oh, yes, and if you’re planning a reunion in the Columbus, Ohio, area, I’ll be at their October 6th workshop. See details on page 16. Join me.

Apologia

We are very sorry that in the last issue, we misspelled the name of the Ben & Mable Ford Family Reunion planner, Lenora Harper. We try to catch those things but sometimes they just slip by, for which we apologize.

In the next issue

We’ll be highlighting fundraising activities, which is always a fun issue to do. For example, the Seidemann Family Reunions’s kuchen (cake) contest picks winners then, members bid for the tasty treats. This year they raised $1,175 including $350 for the first prize cake. If you have some successful fundraising ideas and pictures to illustrate them, share them right away because we work months ahead. EW

alum & I

Is facebook putting reunions out of business?

by Karla Sullivan

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e had 174 promising young adults in our eighth grade graduating Class of 1969 from Joseph Warren Grade School in Chicago, Illinois. Our class included students from two elementary schools that went up to only the 5th grade.

We began to locate classmates with classmates.com, then in 2008 sent emails encouraging others to join facebook. One classmate suggested that we plan a small reunion (he was able to reserve tables at a restaurant where he worked); there we could collaborate to build a bigger and better future event.

Twenty people gathered for the first reunion, and facebook made it easy to arrange dates and times. Though some who could not attend may have been intimidated by recent pictures of those who had improved with age, old school friends were still willing to find out if the special connection existed. Everyone was curious to see if eyes still sparkled, if laughter reminded them of childhood pranks and if memories of teachers were held in the same regard. They were pleasantly surprised and names were exchanged to research the as-yet-uncontacted. Old autograph albums were brought, with many names that included sisters and brothers as well as friends from other grades.

Individuals were assigned to their schools to check old records, class photos, and autograph books.

One year later, a second reunion took place, with over 80 graduates found primarily on facebook. Two teachers were also located. A dinner was planned and a 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

Subscribe! Call 1-800-373-7933

800-654-2776 • www.reunions.com 6 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Joseph Warren Grade School 8th Grade Class of 1969.

weekend of events scheduled, drawing in more classmates from out of state.

We met at the school and caravanned through our old neighborhoods. As I pulled up to my old house, it was smaller than I remembered but in great condition, surrounded by the same evergreens and flowers in the box off the front porch. I decided to be bold and knocked on the front door. An elderly woman answered and just stared until I broke the silence, explaining I had lived here over 40+ years ago. Though I had not revealed my name, she did! She repeated my last name, smiled and remembered me – the young girl who lost her father at age 12 and her mother had to move from the neighborhood because she could no longer maintain the home. The woman purchased the house from my family and had lived there ever since. Though she did not feel comfortable inviting me in, she did tell me nothing had changed and my father’s artistic decoration with glass and mirrors were still part of the décor. She opened the front door wide enough for me to see the back wall where my father had installed a large (nearly floor-to-ceiling) mirror he had made – a treasured memory I never would have believed possible!

Some people feel facebook has replaced reunion event planners, but that is not

necessarily true. Those who arranged our reunion admit that searching for friends and asking others to check their friends list is a tedious and time-consuming process. Setting up alumni pages with pictures to draw connections is on-going.

Is facebook’s ability to share life and love a better choice than meeting face to face? Many were asked if they were satisfied with exclusively communicating with friends from the past on facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and the popular response was “No.” The sparkle, that unforgettable laugh, childish hugs, sometimes tears and voices filled with emotion about our shared days long ago could never be replaced, even by the vast resources of internet social networking.

I never would have seen my reflection in Dad’s mirror if facebook was all I had.

About the author

Karla Sullivan writes about health, family, relationships, education and being a Baby Boomer. She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Grand Magazine, Sacred Journey, The Phoenix Focus and AARP. You can read her column about career development at .examiner.com/x43799-Chicago-Career-Coach-Examiner.

She also writes for Western International University.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 7

Charitable reunions

alum & I Returning the favor:

Cathedral alums hold fundraiser reunion

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etroit Cathedral High School opened in 1956 and operated until 1970, when the school was forced to close because of declining enrollment and the city’s dwindling population.

“The brothers were all about getting us prepared for life,” said Alan Arnett, 60, a 1970 graduate. “It’s because of them and the education we received that we were able to go on to raise families and enjoy successful careers. Cathedral made us who we are.”

Forty-two years after the high school closed, 200 alumni returned with open wallets and a chance to reminisce. The gathering of alumni from the all-boys high school was a fundraiser for the Brothers of Christian Instruction, the order that taught at the school and which runs a mission in Haiti that was damaged severely during a major earthquake in 2010. They expected the event to raise as much as $30,000.

For more than a century, members of the Brothers of Christian Instruction have operated a mission in Haiti with schools and administrative facilities. During the earthquake, two brothers died, along with 30 others. The schools and the order’s seminary also were destroyed.

Contact Norm Brault at cathedral.reunion@ yahoo.com.

From an article by Joe Rossiter in the Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan

Give everyone a chance to be true to their school

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n a United Feature Syndicate, Judith Martin – “Miss Manners” – was asked whether it’s proper to invite former classmates who did not graduate with the class. Some transferred to another school before graduating and others dropped out.

She also was asked whether all classmates should receive an invitation, or just those who received diplomas.

Miss Manners replied that the reunion is where you see people with whom you went to school. She exhorted them to “please include everyone.”

We agree!

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Locomotion 2012

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ocomotion 2012 was the reunion of five Lubbock, Texas, high school graduating classes – from Coronado, Dunbar, Estacado, Lubbock and Monterey High Schools – from 1960 to 1975.

After the wave began rolling, it seemed a good idea.

They were not selective about the year. They went back to 1960, although there were some from the 1950s and some from the 1980s.

One former student who owns a quilt business made a quilt to be raffled at the reunion for the Leroy Heron Scholarship Fund. The quilt featured the logos of the five high schools.

They had a projector going, showing pictures of Lubbock in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s – the old Levine’s, the old Triple S downtown, and when they were building the Great Plains Life building, Green Stamps, Howdy Doody and Hopalong Cassidy. And in the background, music of the 1960s and 1970s played while an era of Lubbock’s past was lived again through memories.

From a story by Ray Westbrook from the Avalanche-Journal on LubbockOnline.com, Lubbock, Texas

Bonner-Prendie alumni raise money for school

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n all-class reunion rallied a record number of Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School alums to raise money to save their school in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia proposed closing the school, but an overwhelming push by alumni and the community to keep the school open appealed the decision.

Support was tremendous: they received donations online and through the mail totaling $1.23 million.

Supporters felt the archdiocese has to respect and take notice of their efforts and the strength of the community behind Bonner and Prendie.

From a story by Linda Reilly in the Delaware County Daily Times, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

A short history of Princeton reunions

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rinceton class reunions became popular after the Civil War. Classes often gave the University a gift – an endowment, building, or a fellowship program. These were small, individual reunions.

Princeton’s sesquicentennial (150 years) anniversary brought back more alumni than ever before. There was housing for 2,000, and classes distinguished themselves with unique hats, blazers and banners. By the 1950s, the University had taken logistical control of alumni accommodations around the time of Commencement. Reunions today bring about 24,000 Princetonians back to campus.

Today, every fifth class has a tent where members of surrounding years convene to celebrate. The 25th reunion is regarded as a landmark, as is the 50th. After the 65th reunion, alumni enter the “Old Guard.” The oldest alumnus in attendance earns the Class of 1923 Cane. Malcolm Warnock (Class of 1925) received the cane in 2008 for his 83rd reunion, and held the honor at all three reunions since. Other awards include the Class of 1901 Silver Cup, which goes to the class with the highest percentage of alumni in attendance.

From The Daily Princetonian blog by Andy Martens

Group from PHS Class of 1959 holds special reunion annually

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group of classmates from Pascagoula (Mississippi) High School Class of 1959 attend their class reunions, but also gather for a reunion of their own every April.

They call themselves the “Old Friends Reunion.” They attended school together since grade school and some have known each other since kindergarten.

Throughout the years, the “Old Friends Reunion” has been held in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. One couple travels annually from California to visit with family and meet with the group.

The Old Friends Reunion Reunions run from Thursday through Sunday each year. At each gathering, they plan the next one so everyone can get it on their calendars.

During the three days together, the guys play golf and the ladies do something together – like shopping. In the evenings, they spend time together to catch up. They relive their youth, talk about school days and tell jokes, all over good food and drinks. They mostly reminisce about what went on when they were young.

After graduating from high school, the friends went off to separate colleges. Separate careers of fishing, shipbuilding, forestry and petroleum took some of them around the world but allowed a few to remain in Jackson County, Mississippi.

After their children were grown, the friends decided to start getting together. Most have been married 50 years, are in their 70s, and are retired.

“We just like being able to stay connected and make sure we get to see everybody,” one classmate said. “We decided we enjoyed it enough to do it every year.”

From a story by Beverly Tuskan in the Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, Mississippi

Ten school reunion movies at the top of their class

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he popularity of class reunion movies has endured, according to Leah Collins and Miranda Furtado in the Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We’ll bet most of these are in library collections everywhere!

J National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982) J Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) J Something Wild (1986) J Beautiful Girls (1996) J Grosse Point Blank (1997) J Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) J Since You’ve Been Gone (1998) J The Tao of Steve (2000) J Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) J Zack and Miri Make A Porno (2008)

Dramapalooza: grills, games and good times

by Bob Price

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eunion planning can be simplified by starting early and delegating responsibilities. When my former drama students began to organize a reunion, each volunteer had an assignment based on his or her interests, talents and available time. To save money, we chose an outdoor location; this could be a large backyard or a centrally located park. With an outdoor location, you have the option of more activities. You may consider games such as volleyball or softball.

Inexpensive yard games for various age groups are available in stores.

The only issue may be the weather. We have our yearly event under a tent which provides shade as well as protection from rain.

Select your date early and reserve your location. If you choose a park, be sure to check the facilities. A permit and registration may be required. Many parks have covered pavilions, which should be your first choice. Make sure restroom facilities, picnic tables and grills are nearby. If small children are participating, a playground is important. Some activities require a power source. Our group uses a DJ and karaoke equipment. This provides us with all-day entertainment and contributes to the great success of our reunion.

A name for the function gives it a more personal touch. We named our activity Dramapalooza, as all attendees are former members of Airport High School’s drama program. This is an annual event, so we adjust the year in the name accordingly – e.g.

Dramapalooza 2012. We’ve consistently selected Memorial Day weekend so folks can plan one year in advance. A three-day weekend helps with travel plans.

Posting photos from your event on social media websites, like facebook, helps to generate excitement for next year’s event.

Economy is very important. We ask everyone to bring a dish to pass. You will find most guests prepare the dish they are most comfortable making. It’s not a requisite, but assigning someone to oversee and assist the food aspect of the reunion may be helpful and promote organization.

At this year’s reunion, we sold t-shirts with the name and year of the activity. T-shirt sales help with the expenses, and most guests are interested in purchasing one. Hiring a videographer to record the event and sell DVDs is also a fun possibility. Again, finances, of course, factor into all decisions. If you simplify the occasion, organizing a reunion can be fun.

Remember, the purpose of the event is to reunite with old friends, and that alone will make for a successful day.

About the author

Bob Price, Westland, Michigan, is a retired teacher from Airport High School in Carleton, Michigan, whose drama students organize a reunion each year.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 9

branch office

Spaulding descendants meet

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“

continue a great legacy of elebrating our 30th year reunion achievement and contributions for and counting in Philadelphia, PA” the family and the world at large.

For almost two centuries, the Congressman George Henry descendants of Benjamin and Edith White served as the only AfricanSpaulding sustained themselves American member of Congress for through entrepreneurship, sought out the 55th and 56th Congressional education, and invested strongly in sessions, 1897 to 1901. In 1907 he the family, with good result. founded People’s Savings Bank in From humble origins in rural Philadelphia, the first full-service North Carolina over 200 years ago, African American-owned and the Benjamin and Edith Spaulding -operated bank. family has grown into a dynamic In the 1940s and 1950s, heritage of over 5,000 descendants. countless Spaulding descendants Benjamin Spaulding (1773-1862) 2012 Spaulding Family Reunion planning committee. migrated north from North Carolina was a freed slave of mixed race and for greater opportunities.

Edith Spaulding (1786-1871) was of Several hundred family members were expected to gather in Native American heritage. Thus, the family has roots in three Philadelphia for the 2012 Benjamin and Edith Spaulding cultural origins. Untypically, they managed to own land and Descendents Family Reunion. Among other activities, their businesses, and built a community school for their children reunion will feature an Entrepreneur Expo (www.besdaexpo.com). during the harsh years before the Civil War, despite increasing Visit www.spauldingfamily.com. restrictions on free persons of color. The values Benjamin and Reported by Lisa Smith, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania Edith taught their children have inspired their descendants to

2011 MidAtlantic Region Spaulding family picnic.

Tips to start a genealogy search

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arlene Bransom, author of two books that trace African-American genealogy in Western Pennsylvania, and Susan Melnick, archivist at the Rauh Jewish Archives, offered these tips to trace family genealogy.

1. Don’t forget things close at hand. “You probably have a trunk somewhere with family items,” Bransom says. “Don’t leave your house until you have exhausted all the resources there.” Family Bibles are good sources for dates and names.

2. Your family has more information than any other source. Talk to the oldest members.

3. Ask for help. History Centers all over the country have archivists available to assist researchers.

4. Set aside time. A family tree doesn’t spring from a few mouse clicks. Be prepared to do some footwork Visit libraries, courthouses or other places where records are kept.

5. Attend conferences devoted to genealogical research.

From an article by Rege Behe in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Have you searched school records?

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chool records are diverse records from grade school through college, and from Colonial times to the present. Much of school life predates marriage, so school records are great for researching female ancestors. One of the keys is understanding the status of education in the place and time period of interest: who provided education and who was permitted to attend or teach? Education says much about a community, and local histories are excellent resources for research. In addition to official school records, look at yearbooks, histories, programs, pamphlets, memorabilia, even old school autograph books and other publications.

From an article by Elizabeth Lindsay in Family History Wiki

branch office

Cutty Sark’s history traced for reunion

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ver 140 years ago, the tea clipper Cutty Sark was the fastest vessel of its time, capable of outrunning more advanced steam ships.

A reunion of 400 descendants of the original crew members, captains and shipwrights marked the completion of a five-year restoration of the ship.

“It is incredibly exciting. The Cutty Sark has always been important in our family, and as I grew up I started to understand why there were so many pictures of clipper ships on our walls,” said one guest.

In many cases, those attending had been completely unaware of their link to one of the most famous vessels in British maritime history, while others have proudly celebrated their family ties to the 143-yearold ship.

Work to track down descendants was commissioned by HSBC Bank, who sponsored the reopening of the famous vessel to the public at its dry dock in Greenwich, southeast London, following a $78 million dollar restoration project.

“The Cutty Sark was cutting edge technology at the time. The people who built it and served on it were the equivalent of those who put a man on the moon,” said one descendant.

The Cutty Sark originally was designed to carry tea from China. At the time of her launch in 1869 she was the most advanced vessel in existence, and a sleek racing yacht hull shape allowed her to become one of the fastest vessels under sail.

From an article by Richard Gray on the Telegraph.co.uk.

National Archives resources for genealogists

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hen did you last visit the National Archives website? Did you know they have an entire section, Resources for Genealogists, dedicated to genealogical research? The section provides links to pages throughout the website with articles, finding aids and information to help you prepare for your genealogical research at the National Archives.

The site offers information in four main areas: key research

information, research topics of genealogical interest, events all over the country, and additional tools. Primary resources include over 30 specific topics such as Census Records, Immigration, Maritime, and Land Records.

Visit archives.gov/research/genealogy to learn more and to find a local office near you.

From Leland & Patty Meitzler’s Genealogy Blog

African Americans learn to research family trees

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arriet Spradley, Largo, Florida, was inspired to search for her Thompkins’ past at her grandfather’s funeral in 1981, where there were cousins she didn’t know. Thompkins has traced her family to her great-great-grandfather on her mother’s side and her great-great-great-grandfather on her father’s side. Both were slaves.

The next year Spradley and a cousin planned a family reunion in Jacksonville. More than 400 people came.

Spradley said slavery presents the biggest hurdle. Most slaves were not able to read, write or own property, so there are not many

records available. In addition, slaves usually didn’t have last names. It wasn’t until 1870 that blacks in America were counted in the US Census. Before that, blacks were considered property and often not included in census data. In addition to internet searches, good places to search for historical family information include history books, death indices, public libraries and the National Archives.

From a story by Demorris A. Lee on Tampabay.com, Tampa, Florida

Family reunion centuries in the making

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ver 265 Schwarzes marked the reunion of family that can trace its roots to Bavaria in the late 1600s. Everyone was linked to a generation of 12 siblings, the children of Mendel Schwarz and Bella Adler of Floss, in what is now Germany. Seven came to the US in the mid- to late-1800s. One went to Palestine and four stayed in Germany.

Participants came to the reunion from 11 states. Name tags included Roman numerals indicating which siblings they are 12 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

descended from. More than a few could trace their ancestry to two or more of the siblings. One couple are fourth cousins but didn’t realize it until invitations went out for the first reunion 20 years ago. At the reunion, people asked, What are you doing here? I’m a cousin. People had been doing business with each other for 30 or 40 years and did not know they were related until they walked in!

From a story by Johanna Ginberg in the New Jersey Jewish News, Middlesex County, New Jersey

Rockwells started meeting in 1847

Whose is the oldest reunion in the land?

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he descendants of Samuel and Hannah Rockwell have held a family reunion annually since 1847 near the Samuel Rockwell farm outside Canton, Pennsylvania.

The reunion is the first Saturday in August. They start late in the morning with a meeting, and talk about a historic topic. Past topics have included women’s role in the early 1899s in Bradford County (with a spinning demonstration), and life as a Civil War Soldier (with a Civil War re-enactor). This year they’ll talk about barn-building, with a visit to a barn built by Jacob Grantier Rockwell in 1883 near the original Samuel Rockwell homestead.

Afterward the talk there’s a potluck lunch followed by a business meeting.

Reported by Robert Biddle Rockwell, Lake George, New York

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r should the question be: what is the longest-running annual reunion in the country?

Every year there are stories about families who’ve met annually for a very long time, but we don’t think anyone really knows for sure and there’s nothing recorded to sustain a fact. We were amused recently at a newspaper article referring to a reunion started in 1957 being among the oldest in the country. I suppose if you’ve been responsible for planning a reunion since 1957 it might seem like a long time, but it pales in comparison to some that can be documented. Obviously, the Rockwell reunion in the preceding story, meeting since 1847, qualifies as plenty long, as does the Hubbard Family Reunion – which has been meeting since 1856 in Winchester, Connecticut.

We’d like to hear from you if your reunion has been meeting longer than these reunions. Send to editor@reunionsmag.com.

New tool for reunions

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he Flip-Pal mobile scanner is a great tool to use at your reunion to scan photos and documents. If you have a flatbed scanner, that’s still best for scanning 8.5x11'' documents, but the Flip-Pal is a wizard for scanning anything under 4x6'' or over 8.5x11'' in size.

A big advantage is that you can scan photos faster using the Flip-Pal. Large photos and documents can be scanned in several shots, and then stitched together using software provided with every Flip-Pal. This works equally well with a PC or a Mac. (Note: If using a Mac, be sure to shut off the auto-upload to iPhoto.)

Scanning albums is nearly as easy as scanning individual pictures. When Leland Meitzler, Bountiful, Utah, scanned an album of photos his mother had glued in place, he took the lid off the scanner, turned it over, laid the scanner on the pictures on the album page – looked right through the scanner to line up the pictures – and pressed the scan button. The scanner has a little window where you can see if the scan came out – just like your digital camera. Scans can be made in both 300 dpi and 600 dpi.

The Flip-Pal is batteryoperated, for full portability. A deluxe case is now available – complete with pockets for supplies.

Another innovation is Flip-Pal Sketch.

You lay Sketch on a photo you wish to make notes on (like adding people’s names), and scan the picture through the marked-up Sketch – thus identifying folks in the picture. It works great and makes identifying photos while you’re visiting relatives easier than ever.

Two other innovations are software collections on DVD for the Flip-Pal. Creative Suite 2 includes PagePlus Essentials, PhotoPlus Essentials, WebPlus Essentials, Digital Scrapbook Artist 2, SlideShow Expressions, and Family Tree Heritage Platinum 8 genealogy software.

This software only runs on PCs. Flip-Pal with Creativity Suite 3 on DVD runs on PCs and Macs, and includes Adobe Photoshop Elements 10! Automated

options allow you to crop, fine-tune, repair and retouch photos; tag and share photos; and organize, find, view and manage all your photos and video clips.

Also included is Corel’s Paint It and Logo Design Studio Pro software.

The Flip-Pal has been approved for use in the Library of Congress and the National Archives. It’s gentle on documents, because it’s very light and you don’t move it across documents. Very little light is used in the scanning process, thus protecting precious old documents. Items that cannot be photocopied can be scanned with the Flip-Pal. The Flip-Pal unit sells for under $150; with Creativity Suite 2 it sells for under $200, and with Creativity Suite 3 for $209.99.

This review is from a much more technical article by Leland Meitzler in Genealogy Newsline #101.

New kids’ genealogy textbooks

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rofessional Genealogist Jennifer Holik of Generations has six new how-to genealogy textbooks for elementary through high school-aged students. Branching Out is a new series for teaching genealogical research skills to children and teens. Students learn

the foundations of genealogy and how to begin research on a level they can understand and enjoy. Each lesson contains goals, vocabulary, reading assignments, lessons and homework assignments. Visit generationsbiz.com.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 13

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Tipping tips

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stablish a tipping plan 1 Include gratuities in your travel budget. Decide who, when and how much to tip. 2 Tip the right people. Some service providers in the US rely on tips for the majority of their income, so leaving less can really hurt. You’ll want to thank the hotel housekeeper. And because different people may be cleaning each day, you should show your appreciation daily.

Leave $2 to $5 with a thank-you note or in an envelope labeled “housekeeping,” so it’s clear the cash is meant for them. Other people you might tip are the skycap, shuttle driver, concierge and hotel valet. 3 Stock up on small bills. If you’re prepared, you won’t over-tip out of pressure. Fatten your wallet with ones and fives. 4 Avoid unnecessary services and accompanying tips. Skip some services. Handle your own luggage, put the “do not disturb” sign on the door and then leave a tip on check-out day. 5 Read the fine print. Some hotels include gratuities for certain amenities, such as room service. Cruise lines might tack tips onto your bill. Carnival and Celebrity cruise lines automatically add $11.50 per passenger per day to your onboard account; onboard bars include a 15% tip.

There are actually some places where tipping is forbidden. Many all-inclusive resorts factor gratuities into package prices and discourage guests from giving additional cash. You might even get employees in trouble if you insist on slipping them a tip. Instead, you can do something special like write a note to the management on behalf of the employee – and it’s free for you. 6 If you’re traveling outside the US, study the host culture’s tipping rules. In much of Europe, tip taxi drivers the same way you would here, about 15% of the fare. But at restaurants across the Atlantic, just leave the change from their bill or up to 5%. In Japan, tipping can be insulting. Express appreciation with your words or by bowing.

From an article in Kiplinger by Stacy Rapacon

Gettysburg’s 150th Anniversary

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isitors from around the world are expected to converge on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 2013 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War’s most famous battle. The anniversary observance will be from June 28 through July 7, 2013.

The Battle of Gettysburg is the only major battle of the American Civil War that took place in the north. The battle, a Union victory, resulted in 51,000 casualties over three days. Nearly five months later, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a short speech that forever changed history.

Gettysburg National Military Park will hold a special commemorative ceremony, “Gettysburg: A New Birth of Freedom,” including “Voices of History,” a dramatic reading of eyewitness accounts written by soldiers and citizens swept into the events of the battle and its tragic aftermath. The ceremony will end with a procession to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where luminaries will be lit, marking each of the more than 3,500 graves of soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. National Park Service Rangers will provide guided walks on the battlefield. A four-day reenactment will recreate the 1860s through battles, encampments and demonstrations.

Contact the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, www.gettysburgcivilwar150.com.

14 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Hospitality Answerman by Dean Miller

Q?

Even though our family’s reunion isn’t until next summer, I’m already worried not enough people will attend to meet our commitment to the hotel. I was very cautious when I gave the hotel our estimated numbers, but I don’t want to have to pay for empty rooms.

What can we do to make sure everyone comes to our reunion?

A:

There are really many things you can do to help build attendance and the best time to start doing them is NOW … not two weeks before the reunion.

Start with your invitation list. Do you have everyone’s name, address and email? Do you have any “distant” relatives you haven’t talked with in years who might be interested in coming?

Add them to the list. Facebook and the internet are great tools for tracking down “lost” members of the flock.

Different people absorb information in different ways. You’ll want to send out at least one “save the date” mailing (do this right away!) and at least one formal invitation/ announcement, both should be sent via US Mail. Your reunion committee members can help prepare the invitations and get them to the Post Office. Older family members, in particular, like to receive “formal” invitations in the mail.

Then, as your reunion date draws closer, you’ll want to send a steady stream of updates via a variety of media … email, personal phone calls, facebook updates, etc.

A good rule of thumb is that the communications from the reunion committee throughout the year should unfold just as a good story unfolds. First, you get folks to “save the date” on their calendars. Then, you provide basic details they’ll need in the invitation (when, where, what, how much, etc.). Then, in ongoing updates, you fill in the details. One update might talk about a special activity you’re planning. Another might be a call for talent show participation. Another might be a “Just for the kids!” update.

Then … (and this is very important) … set a date by which folks must send in a deposit to be included in the festivities. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount … even $20 or $25 a person is enough to get people to “commit” to attending. It’s easy for folks to say they’re going to come, but it’s far more meaningful if they have to take out their checkbooks and write a check. People are far less likely to cancel at the last minute or to find excuses for not coming if they have pre-paid a deposit to attend.

Offer incentives for early registration (or registration by the deadline). This could include discounted registration for those registering early; $100 per person if you register by January 1st; $125 if you register after. Or offer some incentive like reunion

t-shirts at half price if you register by the deadline.

In addition to helping ensure that folks will attend, collecting deposits from your attendees will also provide you with the cash you’ll need to make advance deposits that are typically required by catering companies, motorcoach operators, picnic pavilions, etc.

If your family meets regularly, offer a “special incentive” to folks who haven’t attended the last few reunions … or ever! This could be anything at all … a seat at the head table at your dinner, or an upgraded room at the hotel. Use your imagination here!

In your ongoing communications, include a list of who has already committed to attend. This will make those who haven’t yet “made up their minds” see that they’re missing out on the fun, and encourage them to register.

Point out unique elements of your reunion that folks will miss, if they don’t attend. Having a picnic in the park isn’t unique, but taking a tour of The White House or some other “one of a kind” attraction is.

No doubt, there are going to be folks who won’t respond to any of your mailings, emails, or other communications. These folks will need to be personally called and encouraged to attend. This may take several phone calls, from several family members, but this can be a very effective technique. There are those who need to know their presence at the reunion is desired. And there are those who simply won’t commit to anything unless they’ve been asked to participate personally, and asked more than once!

In short, you’ll want to communicate with all of your potential attendees early and often, via multiple avenues, with special “follow-up” attention directed toward those who you haven’t heard from. If you do all of these things, you should be able to look forward to a very well-attended reunion!

About the Hospitality Answerman

Dean Miller is national sales director for Visit Fairfax and a great friend of reunions.

He will host a reunion planning workshop February 16, 2013. He can be reached at 703-752-9509 or dmiller@fxva.com.

Are room blocks still necessary?

T

he traditional concept of hotel room blocks is being challenged, and that could affect how planners do business.

Room blocks are the number of sleeping rooms anticipated by one event. They guarantee that attendees will have rooms at a specific rate for the duration of an event.

Blocks are considered when hotels evaluate how much meeting space they’re willing to allot a group on particular dates,

and discounts or perks they might be willing to extend. Blocks secure inventory (rooms) for the planner, and the hotel knows that X number of its rooms will be sold. According to a recent M&C Research poll, planners say the number of attendees booking outside the block has risen. The main reason is price. Attendees find cheaper rooms on the internet, sometimes in the designated hotel itself. Some

planners are reluctant to book blocks for all potential attendees only to expose their organization to attrition fees for rooms that weren’t filled. One planner suggests that groups use room blocks to obtain comp rooms. If room blocks go away, so do comp room savings and other considerations.

From an article by Lisa A. Grimaldi in Meetings and Convention AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 15

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ACVB bridges family reunion gap

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Planners and vendors had ample chance to make connections.

ore than 125 family reunion planners, professionals and representatives from Atlanta attractions and businesses gathered for Your Family Reunion workshop. The workshop connected planners with elements needed to make their reunions a success. Attendees met caterers, representatives from parks and recreational facilities, attractions, hotels and event services companies. A panel of Atlanta meeting professionals focused on the ins-and-outs of planning a reunion and the nuances of working with vendors and facility representatives. Content focused on the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau as an essential tool for a family reunion planner.

The next workshop will be in fall. For info contact Tara Spann, 404-521-6638. Also see a video from this workshop on reunionsmag.com; click on workshops and go to ACVB listing.

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

Chicago Southland, Illinois

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

September 27, 2012 Contact Kristy Stevens, 708-895-8200; kristy@visitchicagosouthland.com

Alpharetta, Georgia

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

Cobb County, Georgia

Athens, Georgia

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

Contact Athens CVB, 706-357-4430.

Columbus, Ohio

November 2012 Contact Chantal R. Francois, 404-521-6638; rossfrancois@atlanta.net; Atlanta.net/reunion/reunions.aspx See video of earlier workshop at reunionsmag.com.

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

Greater Birmingham, Alabama

DeKalb County, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Contact Reunion Planner Workshop, 800-458-8085 Branson, Missouri

August 18, September 15, November 10, 2012 Contact Carol Murray, 800-999-6055

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

Detroit, Michigan

Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Dunwoody, Georgia

Contact Vicki Baptista, 800-848-3740; Vicki@visitcabarrus.com Northern California

Contact National Reunion Services, 888-425-8664 16 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

September 15, 2012 Contact Jennifer Ollinger, 888-225-5389; jollinger@meetdetroit.com October 13, 2012 Contact Andy Williams, 678-244-9804; AndyW@CVBDunwoody.com

Postcards that make your reunion point!

Playboy Bunnies relive history

Send

A

bout 100 former Playboy Bunnies took over New Orleans earlier this year.

Playboy Bunnies first hopped onto the scene in Chicago in 1960.

Members and guests of the Playboy Club were served by women called Bunnies, dressed in revealing corsets, bunny ears, collars, cuffs, and topped (or bottomed!) off with fluffy tails. Actually, for the most part, Bunnies weren’t Playmates, but they were part of the Playboy family.

There was a two week training. There were classes about how to do the Bunny stance, the Bunny dip and the Bunny perch. They were not allowed to sit down while working, but if they were not busy for a moment, they could literally perch on the arm of a chair.

“We had to know everything the bartender did so we could serve faster,” said a Bunny who worked in both Chicago and Los Angeles in the 1960s.

“We really did change history. It was just before women’s lib in the 60s. A lot of people thought Bunnies were being demeaned and demoralized, but really our costume empowered us,” recalled one woman. “During those years women were not liberated.

There were a lot of jobs women were not allowed to have. Women were not respected in the workforce as they are today. Back then being a Bunny was a wonderful thing because it opened doors that otherwise would have never been opened.”

Being a Playboy Bunny was a stepping stone, launching the careers of these women, and one that may even have paved a new path for all.

From a report on WGNO-TV, New Orleans, Louisiana, by Vanessa Bolano

save the date

when you’ve set it!

Send

TIME IS RUNNING OuT when it is!

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

Douglasville, Georgia

Lake County, Illinois

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

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

Durham, North Carolina

Louisville, Kentucky

Contact Chelsey Jean Morrison, chelsey@durham-cvb.com Estes Park, Colorado, YMCA of the Rockies Family Reunion University

November 2-4, 2012, February 8-10, 2013 Contact Group Reservations at 800-777-9622 Fairfax County, Virginia

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

Contact Saundra Robertson, 502-379-6110; srobertson@gotolouisville.com Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

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

Contact 678-216-0282, visitpeachtreecity.com

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

Prince George’s County, Maryland Prince George’s Community College, Largo Campus

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Contact Family Affair, 301-322-0797; www.pgcc.edu

Flint, Michigan

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

Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana

Greenwood, South Carolina

Winter Park, Colorado, Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA of the Rockies, Family Reunion University

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

October 19, 2012 Contact Cricket Elliott-Leeper, Gwinnett CVB, 770-814-6049 orceleeper@gcvb.org

Contact Kevin Flowers, 800-551-8682; kflowers@sbctb.org

Contact Group Reservations, 800-777-9622 YMRC- Your Military Reunion Connection

Contact Lisa Kukulski, 269-488-0056; lkukulski@discoverkalamazoo.com

September 24-27, 2012, Buffalo, New York November 7-10, 2012, Jacksonville, Florida November 12-15, 2012, Charleston, South Carolina 2013 H erndon, Virginia (DC area), Portland, Oregon, Virginia Beach, Virginia Contact YMRCusa@fmail.com; yourmilitaryreunions.com

Kissimmee, Florida

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Contact Sara Melendez-Davis, 800-831-1844, ext 28254; smelendez@visitkissimmee.com

Contact Mary Zurcchero, Ypsilanti CVB, 734-483-4444; mzucchero@ypsilanti.org AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 17

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Hotel staff plan reunion

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ormer Castle Harbour Hotel co-workers held a 50-year reunion at the resort in Bermuda. Thirty people from England, Germany, Austria, Canada and South Africa met for a four-day visit at the former hotel property, now known as Rosewood Tucker’s Point. Most of them had worked in food service at the hotel. They had a reunion in Ottawa, Canada, in 2007 but Bermuda is where most of them started their careers in the hotel industry. “As a group we still feel and know we had the best time of our life in Bermuda,” said one man. “Looking at the pictures, we were young, we were skinny, we looked good; now we are old.” They have maintained good contact all these years. Many members have returned to Bermuda over the years but there is still much they want to see and do when they return, like visit restaurants and beaches, and shop in Hamilton. Most of those at the reunion are in their 70s and enjoying retirement.

From a story by Lawrence Trott in The Royal Gazette, Hamilton, Bermuda

Celebrate Freedom Festival

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olumbia, South Carolina’s Celebrate Freedom Festival in April kicks off with the Heroes of Freedom dinner, an elegant, informative event. According to the Celebrate Freedom Foundation, Saturday is a family-friendly event at Finlay Park in the heart of Columbia. Saturday admission is free, and highlights include living history focused on the Vietnam War, helicopters and military vehicles, kids’ activities, food vendors and a full day of entertainment.

The Foundation will gladly help you plan your reunion in Columbia. Contact Morgan Fields, 803-708-4752; celebratefreedom@earthlink.net.

Farmway Village reunion

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ince it opened in 1940, thousands of people have lived at the Farmway Village in Caldwell, Texas, public housing for migratory laborers. A weekend reunion called “Growing Up in El Campo de Caldwell” gave people a chance to reminisce about the complex’s earlier days.

Former residents came from California, Texas, Colorado, and Arizona to attend.

“We want to get them together so they can share stories of what the labor camp was in the past and what it is now,” reunion organizer, Frank Mendez said.

The reunion included a Saturday dance, labor camp oral history recordings, video presentation of labor camp photos and tours of the complex. Long-time residents were honored.

From an article in the Idaho Press-Tribune, Nawpa, Idaho

US 10th Cavalry Regiment Buffalo Soldiers in a Pass and Review during the Opening Ceremony at the Celebrate Freedom Festival.

Follow reunionsmag on

P i nte r e st!

18 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Festival attendees enjoying Vietnam Era helicopters at the Celebrate Freedom Festival in Columbia, South Carolina.

Cover reunion

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embers of the Alexandria (Virginia) Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1976, gathered for their 35-year reunion. One of the oldest nursing schools in the US, the school – founded in 1896 – trained health care professionals for more than 90 years before closing in 1987.

More than half of the Class of 1976 members (19 of 35 graduates) attended from as far away as New York, Texas, Washington state, and even Panama. Twelve of the 19 are still working in nursing or related fields. The attendees (above and on the cover) hold an enlarged class photo from their 1976 commencement ceremony.

Reunion organizers spent three months tracking down classmates, and found facebook to be particularly helpful in locating those who no longer live in the local area.

“The years just melted away …” said one attendee. “It was like we hadn’t seen each other for a month or two!”

Reported by Gwen (Poore) Miller (seated right), at whose house the reunion was held.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 19

masterplan

Williams family together again in Milwaukee

by Sheri Williams Pannell

O

ver 200 descendants of Enoch (1872-1955) and Mary Jane Simmons Williams (1874-1955) of Magnolia, Mississippi, held their 22nd Biennial Family Reunion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The theme was “Back Together Again,” and family members traveled from 10 states and both coasts to attend.

The capable leadership of reunion chair Michael Williams, Sr., helped guarantee success. Williams challenged planning committee members to attend monthly meetings, participate in fundraisers and complete assignments.

The weekend was packed with activities. Friday evening we enjoyed a semi-formal banquet in the ballroom of the Sheraton Four Points. The evening began with a procession of elders featuring family matriarch, Aunt Thelma Williams Longs of Hartford, Connecticut. Aunt Thelma, 97, is the baby daughter and sole survivor of the 19 children of

Grandma Mary Jane and Grandpa Enoch.

With Aunt Thelma’s blessing, the program proceeded, with a devotion, selections from the Williams Family Choir and a family history reading. A highlight was the unveiling of the Williams Family Crest, which was printed on the reunion t-shirt. Also featured were a presentation of a family t-shirt quilt created by cousin Carrie Williams, dancing the “Williams Shuffle,” Enoch (1872-1955) and Mary Jane Simmons Williams (1874-1955) and taking of formal of Magnolia, Mississippi. portraits by greatgrandson Andra Williams. That evening, family members voted to have the 2013 reunion in Connecticut.

Saturday’s events included a picnic, games, excursions to an air show and African World Festival on Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan shore. On Sunday, family members attended a worship service and a “chew ’n‘ chat” soul food lunch on the spacious lawn of Bob and Rosie Williams.

As they returned home, family members took with them not only mementos, but the memory of another wonderful reunion.

About the author The Williams Family Reunion crest was created by great-grandson Ken Williams.

Ken used the colors gold, purple and silver (generosity, peace, truth) while incorporating symbols to represent faith (cross), wisdom (fox), swiftness & protection (wings) and the magnolia (homestead).

Sheri Williams Pannell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a granddaughter of Enoch and Mary Jane Williams, and is active in theatre as an actor, singer and director. She wishes to thank her cousin Andra Williams and husband Don Pannell for the use of their photos.

Williams Family Reunion

20 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Bennett-Cheeks meet

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e are the Bennett-Cheek Family and we love coming together for our family reunions. Our ancestors instilled in us that God is love, that he is our support, and that we must love one another.

Our reunions are held in various locations suggested by family members and voted upon during the meeting. We are a beach-oriented family so we choose places where there is a beach. We meet every two years, usually Thursday through Sunday. Recent reunions were in Wilmington, North Carolina, and San Diego, California.

Our traditions consist of a dress theme, contest for the best dressed and a crab feast where possible. We buy live crab and steam them ourselves and, oh, what fun to have the family all gathered at the table cracking open crabs and enjoying one another as we laugh and talk. Then there is the beach fun, which we enjoy at every reunion.

The reunion organizer volunteers and usually hosts for two years and updates everyone on a quarterly basis. Most of the family keeps in touch by facebook or email. Mostly members volunteer to assume stewardship roles, though some are appointed during the meetings. The organizer assigns things to do for the program and keeps others on task for their responsibility whether it be media contact, or zone representative responsibilities. (Zone representatives oversee family members in the location nearest them and make sure everyone is aware of what is going on).

Here Bennett-Cheek members are enjoying an icebreaker where everyone gets a small brown paper bag and tries to collect signatures with the opposite hand writing. The one with the most signatures is the winner. Daisy Simon says members are very competitive!

During the family meeting the chair establishes the amount we should pay and a vote is taken. Reunion activities and events are based on the amount of money collected from fees. The treasurer maintains the budget and finances.

The children are so willing to share their talents at the reunions. They get involved and help with whatever they are needed to do.

Reported by Daisy Simon, San Diego, California

Smiths meet regularly

S

arah Smith, Rochester, New York, has assisted in organizing most of the 15 Smith Family Reunions. One family member is chosen as chairperson, and family members are delegated duties in various areas of expertise.

Recent reunions have been in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dothan, Alabama. Family members make suggestions and vote on where they’d like to go. However, they decided that every other year they’d hold the reunion in their home state, Alabama.

Reunions usually last four days and begin with each family member telling how they are related. Fridays feature a meet-andgreet, and Sundays include family worship service and family dinner.

Coleman, Doyle, Grasty Family Reunion

Coleman, Doyle, Grasty Family Reunion Program Friday Meet & Greet from 2-9 pm Check in, pick up goodie bag/

Editor’s note:

We love this straightforward reunion schedule from Ellis and Kim Dews, Kennesaw, Georgia, for the Coleman, Doyle, Grasty Family Reunion in Atlanta, Georgia.

Family members pay reunion fees according to age. An annual event is an auction. The first year they auctioned two pieces of jewelry, which was a success. They also raffled off money raised from the auction.

The Smiths promote their reunion in the community section of the local newspaper and have family webpages on myfamily.com and myHeritage.com.

Kids have a voice in planning the reunion. Their ideas are taken into consideration and things are planned around their interests. The Smiths also encourage younger members to host the reunion in their hometowns, which has proved to be successful.

Kimberly Dews in her Coleman, Doyle, Grasty reunion t-shirt.

t-shirts/name tag/view family tree/mingle/ free alcohol & hors d’oeuvre during Manager’s Reception/swim on rooftop overlooking the city/Atlanta Station/Take a walk at Centennial Park Saturday Eat Cook to Order Breakfast at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse/ Tour Bus to Martin Luther King Jr. Center/Free Time/ Dinner Banquet/Door Prizes/Slideshow/Photographer/ Talent Show/Dance with live DJ Sunday Eat Cook to Order Breakfast at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse/ Sunday Service/Business Meeting/ Hugs & Kisses/ Farewell Prayer AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 21

masterplan

Bringing families together

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“

hy don’t we ever have a family reunion?”

It all started during a casual gettogether, when Harlan Biven asked his sister, Margaret Biven-Morgan, why they never had a family reunion. Margaret called her eldest daughter, Marie Morgan-Lynch, who liked the idea of getting together with family members, many of whom she had met only once in her life. So she organized the first Morgan/Biven Family Reunion.

“Mom called me because I’m an organizer.

Everything in my life is organized. It comes naturally to me,” said Marie. She got her mom’s address book and asked one of her brothers to secure a place for the reunion.

Her brother’s first thought was a nice park in Haubstadt, Indiana, in a secluded forest area with a basketball complex and buildings where they could set up food.

The last weekend of July was chosen because it seemed most convenient for many of the families. Marie’s main hope was that the weather would cooperate.

Marie culled names and addresses from her mother’s address book of Biven (Marie’s mother’s family name) and Morgan (her father’s family name). Bringing them together was a little tricky, but she thrives on challenge.

From the people she contacted, Marie collected information about other family members. She wrote lots of letters and provided her phone number, email address, and selfaddressed, stamped envelopes to make replying convenient.

She sent the first letters in January and the second in early June. Marie received many positive replies to her invitations. “I enjoyed hearing from a third cousin whom I had never talked to before.” She was excited.

For some, the gathering really started the night before the reunion, when family members began arriving to stay with relatives.

Fortunately, the day of the reunion was very nice with sunshine and pleasant weather.

“So many people were there. There were 118 in attendance. It was pleasant to walk around and hear the chattering,” Marie said.

The kids played basketball and volleyball, while parents talked and reminisced. Many pictures were taken, as people who hadn’t seen each other in years were reunited.

For some it was the last opportunity to reconnect because, sadly, two relatives passed away soon after the reunion. The reunion’s success encouraged Marie to plan one for the same date and place every two years.

Reported by David Pyle, Paducah, Kentucky.

24 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Stolz cousins meet in Galveston

by Margaret Lynette Alexander Moore

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s storms blew over the island, so too did the Stolz cousins for a second time to honor our heritage. My great grandparents, Carl Edward and Ida Marie Warstat Stolz, landed at the Port of Galveston on December 31, 1891. They had left the oppression of Grabsten, Ostpreussen, Preussen with five children. Illness during their voyage resulted in the deaths of three children: Louise (5), Gustave (4), and Bertha (newborn). With this history, the Stolz clan regards Galveston Island a core point for the past, present and future. The Island is the closest we can get to our American beginnings.

The young family migrated to Brenham, Texas, to farm. From 1891 to 1903, six more children were born.

Unfortunately, in 1903, Carl suffered an accident and died; he was buried in a homemade casket.

Florine Stolz Tucker Mitchell established our family history and Stolz cousins. gathered the cousins together years ago. She researched by visiting courthouses, gathering letters and walking cemeteries long before online information was available.

Stolz cousins now number over 330 and range in age from newborn to 92.

Although scattered, we take pride in our roots and honor traditions passed down through the years. So we meet, bringing boxes of photos, documents and even videos.

Memories are shared of growing up in a much more innocent time, when we spent summers playing dodgeball, and devoted hours to playing board games, learning to read, and learning to crochet with our grandmothers. There is a story of two little girls who “stopped up a toilet with potatoes,” but my sister and I plead ignorance.

There are tales of leaving the safety of home to rescue flood victims and almost drowning in the process.

The older cousins recall the German dialect that was spoken between our Great-Grandmother Ida and her children, and I realize that all the work and preparation to make this reunion happen is done for these moments. The stories make me feel like there is so much left to learn about these loved ones who preceded us in our walk. The people my grandfather loved so much, the same love my Mom had for her cousins.

Most of our time is spent hovering over old photos and sharing memories. Uncle Charlie was the family photographer. As I watch the interaction, the pure joy of spending time with these great people, joy floods over me. Recently, someone commented, “You are your family’s treasure.” I thought about it for a moment before replying, “It is my family that is the treasure. I’m just trying to capture it for future generations.”

Plans are already in the making for next year’s event, when the Stolz cousins will once again invade the Island. Until then, my prayer is that God will keep us all in the palm of His hand.

Note: Margaret invites anyone who believes they are part of this lineage to visit their facebook page at The-Stoltz-Warstat-Café-Galveston-2011.

About the author

Margaret Lynette Alexander Moore has been researching and documenting her Stolz family since 1982. She says, “It’s a pleasure to be part of this loving and blessed heritage ... to make a continuing effort to unite family, not only on paper, but in organizing our annual Galveston Reunion.” She has been married for 44 years and has three grown sons and one granddaughter. Her first story in Reunions magazine was about organizing her husband’s 50th Burges High School reunion in El Paso, Texas.

masterplan

McCauley Family Reunion

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or 25 years, descendants of William and Jenny White McCauley have celebrated the importance of “family get-togethers,” focusing on family values, ethics, sharing ancestral history, fun, fellowship, good food and entertainment for a joyous occasion. William and Jenny were blessed with seven boys and seven girls born during the late 1800s. The family came from Ireland, some of them settling in West Virginia and others in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Many of the latter remained in Virginia, but many others moved all over the US. Reunions have all been in Virginia.

The first reunion was a one-day picnic in a park. Family members brought picnic baskets for sharing and about 50 attended.

They collected names and addresses for many who lived out-of-state, and now the reunion has grown to over 200 members and friends.

The McCauleys have met for one-, two- and three-day reunions at parks, hotels, union halls and garden centers.

Fridays are set aside for registration and getting acquainted using themed events (Hawaiian luaus, Southern fish fries) and cards and table games. Food is catered whenever the reunion is not held at a hotel.

Flowers or balloons decorate dinner tables.

The Committee selects menus and mails letters three months in advance with dates, times, venue, costs, and other pertinent information. The reunion is always the third weekend in July, so vacations can be planned around the same date each year.

Saturday is the most attended and a very special day. They begin around 11 AM for late registrations, meeting and greeting, games, and collecting oral family history. Over the years they’ve included talent and fashion shows, stand-up comedy, sharing family history, confirming The Family Creed, and a family prayer. A Candlelight Memorial Service remembers the deceased and a special recognition program is dedicated to the oldest family member.

The McCauleys have many multitalented members who are always willing to perform great Gospel music and singing dedicated to the oldest member being honored. Some come in motorcoaches to the Saturday affair. We have had many Saturday night dances with live bands or a DJ, but as the members have grown older, dances are not as popular as in earlier

years. For Sunday morning worship service, we alternate between churches local family members attend.

Free souvenir journals are published annually containing a Schedule of Events for the weekend, bios and pictures of persons being honored, obituaries with pictures of members who passed away since the last reunion, pictures of previous reunions, family history, achievements, anniversaries, graduations, births, and employment promotions.

The Family Crest is displayed on a poster, as are several collages of original obituaries, pictures of all except two of William & Jenny’s children, and many other pictures of children to the 7th or 8th generation. They make a contest out of a “Guess Who” game where members must identify pictures and prizes are awarded.

Recognition awards are given to the farthest traveled, the youngest child, the

oldest person, the unit with the most family members present, the most grandchildren (all must be named), the person who has attended all reunions, and the first person or family to register.

Funds are generated from the sale of t-shirts, ballpoint pens, and lapel buttons with the family name and crest. They also hold several raffles on Saturday. They have used Ancestry.com to meet many other McCauley relatives and posted many pictures of the McCauley Family under the Family Tree. New this year is a family pictorial calendar and a Family Tree historical book.

Then it’s goodbye, with tears, laughter and many fond memories until the next year. Our next reunion will begin a new era, celebrating every two years, even years only.

Reported by Thelma Newman, Staunton, Virginia

McCauleys at Montgomery Hall Park in Staunton, Virginia.

Reunions are powerful grounding experiences

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alifornia writer Sarah Cooke wrote on Care2.com about something that feels like a universal experience.

“Reuniting with loved ones allows us to appreciate the continuity of our lives.

Often, when we look back to our past, it can feel as if it was a life lived by a different person. Reconnecting with those we haven’t seen in years reminds us that the past is not separate and that it informs the present. Understanding the path of our own growth, how the decisions we made in the past led us to where we are today, is important if we are going to continue to grow and live authentically.”

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 27

masterplan

Hudson-Cobb Family Reunion

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arbara Galbert and her daughter, Corliss Johnson-Patton, conceived the idea of a family reunion because they wanted to host a family picnic to bring the family together. Their rationale was simple: They believed that as a family they should not wait until someone dies to come together to see each other. They didn’t know much about their family history, but just thought it would be a good idea to bring the families together.

For the first time, Hudsons connected from California, Texas, Georgia, Florida and Pine Bluff, Eldorado and Fordyce, Arkansas. The theme was “The Ties that Bind Us Together.” They enjoyed three days of fun activities, food and fellowship.

At Saturday morning’s big breakfast, family members spent time getting to know each other. They celebrated the coming together in a “big ol’” family picnic, and the family “showed out.” Good Southern foods were prepared by each family.

Cousin Donna and her mother, Laura, brought desserts; cousins Cameron and Freddy grilled foods; another whipped up some potato salad and baked a pound cake; Ruby cooked up some sweet potato pies. They had a great time.

Over 75 family members attended. The immediate family thought, WOW we never knew there were so many of us. Darlene Hudson had thought for years that the family included only her and her seven cousins, plus all of their parents.

The first family reunion was a great event. On Sunday they traveled to Caledonia, Arkansas, to visit the family

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Hudson Cobb Family Reunion

cemetery. They learned a lot about the family that year and shared stories of laughter and tragedy together.

The official Hudson-Cobb 132 years of family history was accepted and adopted during the meet & greet in Fordyce, Arkansas.

The second reunion theme in Little Rock, Arkansas, was “All Roads Lead Home.” A family reunion booklet incorporated family history, poems and writings from family with lots of pictures.

They advertised in local newspapers, seeking descendants of Annie Cobbs, the wife of Walter Hudson, their greatgrandfather. The ad ran for almost six months before Willie Cobbs responded.

Cobbs were invited to attend the reunion and they did. After a vetting process and exchange of information the families agreed there was a family linage that needed to be linked, and the family reunion expanded to the Hudson-Cobb Family Reunion the following year.

The next reunion was in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where they toured the Clinton Presidential Library and the children enjoyed a trip to a local water park. The family picnic was a fish fry held by the Arkansas River at the Murray Lock and Dam Park. They attended the family’s home church – Mt. Tabor Baptist Church – in Fordyce, Arkansas, where their grandfather, Purcell Hudson, Sr., served as a trustee for years.

Then they took the reunion to Arlington, Texas, where the theme was “Saddle Up- We’re Coming 2 Texas.” The Saturday picnic was held at the Elzie Odom Recreational Center, where the family enjoyed bowling, skating, rock climbing, and good Texas barbeque. On Sunday there was a brunch in the home of cousins and a family devotion. They fellowshipped with songs and testimonies, and enjoyed good food.

The Cobbs planned and hosted the next family reunion in Eldorado, Arkansas. As part of that reunion they attended Family Day at the historic Caledonia Baptist Church. They met people who had known their great-grandfather, Walter Hudson.

They visited the family cemetery located on the church grounds. Gravesites were marked with tombstones that dated back to 1840. The family lineage is colorful, eventful and filled with great stories and some tragedies.

This year’s theme, “Remembering Our Past, Embracing Our Future,” falls right in line with what they want to do as a family.

They will continue to search and reveal the history of their people.

“What makes our story of interesting and unique,” says R. Darlene Hudson, Atlanta, Georgia, “is that we thought we were the only Hudsons living. We thought we were a small family. However, we have learned that we are a fairly large family and growing.”

Whiting tradition

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ore than 1,000 members of the Whiting family gather in a remote area of Arizona and camp for three days.

Edwin Marion Whiting and Anna Maria Isaacson and Edwin’s older brothers were called by Mormon Church President Brigham Young in 1878 to live in the United Order Settlement of Brigham City, Arizona.

When the settlement failed due to water issues, Edwin and Maria established a homestead, still owned today by the family, in the White Mountains near Springerville, Arizona. The Whitings had five sons and four daughters. They established a sawmill and Whiting Brothers Service Stations and Motels throughout the southwest.

At Edwin’s funeral in 1934, Mormon President George Albert Smith gave this advice: “As long as she (Maria) lives, meet together once a year, if you can. … And if you do this, petty things will not come between you, but you will love one another and the joy that has filled your lives heretofore … will come to you and be with you always.”

The first official homestead reunion was in 1948. The family has met at the homestead ever since.

They recreate a “Whiting Village” with hands-on activities.

Attractions include a barber shop, beauty parlor, cash store, chair factory, chicken coop, hat shop, ice cream parlor, jail, laundry, movie theatre, museum, photo studio, post office and school.

Many represent a family occupation or business. Activities include beekeeping, bullwhip competition, calf roping, cow milking, family dramatics, log cabin construction, quilting, rope making and storytelling.

Everyone has a “Passport to the Past” containing details about the attractions and activities. Each attraction has a number, and as people visit, their passports are checked off. Prizes are awarded for numbers checked off. Children attempt to get as many items checked off as possible.

In addition to the village, there are many traditional activities for all ages, including a 3K run, flipper (slingshot) contest, horseshoe contest, evening plays and productions, children’s talent show and family dancing. The family outgrew a recreation hall years ago, so a large outdoor stage was built.

Feeding more than 1,000 campers isn’t simple. They hire caterers, who arrive with a huge refrigerated truck and cooking equipment. Meals are served outdoors. For one recent reunion they spent more than $30,000 to feed nine meals each.

There are eight cabins at the homestead. Most people sleep in tents, campers, trailers or motor homes. There are two “shower houses” with three showers and four flush toilets, plus a dozen porta-potties.

The cost to attend the reunion for three days, including the nine meals, is $60 for those over 18, $50 for teens and $30 for children. Parents are asked to pay only for their four oldest children. Babies and toddlers are free. The catering bill for nine meals is $45 for all ages. Extra children and those unable to pay are subsidized.

Modern technology helps the Whiting reunion. They have a website and send notices via email, and members can register and pay online.

At the reunion, to keep everyone informed, they set up a temporary FM radio station, the Whiting Radio Network. They broadcast announcements interspersed with old-time music.

The reunion ends Sunday morning after a church service featuring a family choir, prayers and speakers, and then adjourn for two years.

To see this massive undertsking,visit whitinghomestead.com/ 2008/photos.php From a story by Roger Rice in the Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah

Reunion on the high seas

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Walker-Singleton Family & Friends Reunion

he Walker-Singleton Family & Friends Reunion set sail from the Port of Miami, Florida. We boarded the Carnival Cruise ship Destiny, where we enjoyed five fun-filled days.

We enjoyed shore stops at Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and The Grand Cayman Islands. Seven of eight sisters were accompanied by their families. For many it was the first time flying, first cruise, and first international travel. One sister had three generations aboard the Destiny.

We had t-shirts, pens and key rings as souvenirs. Winners of the ship’s activities and events won additional t-shirts. Planning this reunion was a lot of hard work, but the smiles on everyone’s face made it all worthwhile.

Alvin and Helena Singleton will host the next family reunion in Burke County, Georgia, near where the Walker-Singleton Family was formed.

The reunion after that will be in the Midwest.

Reported by Gwen Kettles, Fort Washington, Maryland.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 29

when and where?

A reunion is a good idea – but when?

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he date of your reunion will be your first and most important decision.

Your reunion date might coincide with an important family event or milestone, or you can choose an arbitrary date. Or, if you offer choices, make a commitment to abide by the consensus of the group. Avoid a blanket request for dates. If you ask 50 people to suggest dates, you’ll get 50 dates and still no consensus. If, on the other hand, you suggest a choice of say, Thanksgiving or Fourth of July weekend, a majority can be determined right away.

In a large family it will be impossible to accommodate everyone’s schedule, but the ranking allows you to see which date works for the most people.

Most family reunions are in summer, but you don’t have to follow the crowds. You may find it less expensive and less exasperating to book everything from a picnic in the park to resort rooms during less popular times. Take advantage of “off season” packages – usually April-May, October-November, and December-February (except at tropical beach resorts and ski areas). Airline rates also may be lower.

Reunions are tough to plan less than three months before the event because desirable locations fill up. If you need a large

Ideas for dates &

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venue such as a resort, events center or guest ranch, you’ll need to book it nine to 18 months ahead.

When you choose a date, stick to it.

The key to choosing a reunion date is to stick to your final decision. Changing the date will only create havoc for others. If you plan to meet again, ask family members at the reunion to set the next date. Ask if they want to gather yearly, every other year or maybe every five years.

Almost half the families Reunions Magazine surveyed have annual reunions, about a quarter choose biennial reunions, and one in 10 have them every five years.

More ideas online

How other reunions choose dates

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he Beck Family Reunion meets at Debbie Beck’s home on the farm in Robin, Manitoba, Canada, usually over an extended long weekend about every five years.

Brenda Higgs, Fayetteville, Arkansas, reports the Rosebeary Family Reunion date is Fathers Day weekend every year, so no one can say they forgot. It’s also at the same place every year, at Lake Tenkiller State Park in Vian, Oklahoma.

Peter Eckhoff, Plainview, New York, schedules the Eckhoff Family Reunion at least a year in advance so the maximum number of people can attend. Henry Graham says the Hicks-Odom Family Reunion moves from place to place each year but the date is always the third weekend in July. Pamela Stahly, South Bend, Indiana, says keeping the same date year to year ensures out of state family will come to the Thompson Family Reunion.

& &

If you’re a Seidemann, you just know that the third Sunday of July you will be in Newburg, Wisconsin, for your annual reunion. This is the 79th year of this family habit.

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Where?

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here? It’s every planner’s second major question (following closely after “When?).

Your choice will depend upon reunion size, time of year, accessibility, and what type of

reunion you’d like to have (small picnic, cruise, rustic camping trip, etc.).

The location can be an amusement park, camp, church, college dorm,

condo, conference center, cruise ship, historic site, home(s), hotel, houseboat, motel, nature preserve, park, ranch or farm, resort, villa, zoo or your own backyard.

Finding a new paradise

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or 24 years the Schultz Family Reunion was held at Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center, owned by the Schultz family, in Paradise, Texas. When my mom and I opened the ranch, our first event was a family reunion. From 85 to 125 people joined us over July 4th weekends to reminisce, gossip and create new memories. We celebrated births and mourned losses, welcomed new spouses and commiserated over divorces, laughed and cried and played together for three nights every year, rain or shine.

Then we closed Garrett Creek Ranch as a conference center.

We had never had to search for a reunion location before. Where would we find our new paradise? And how would we find it? What do you do when your favorite location that has meant so much to your family is not available? As it happened, I became a client at my own new business, Retreat Central, which helps groups find affordable places to retreat.

Michele Willis, who had worked at Garrett Creek and joined the Retreat Central team, guided us through the challenge. She patiently took us through the selection, negotiation and contracting process. She began by understanding what we loved about our former location and the reunion. She scouted for places that were as passionate as we are about family and memory-making. She weeded out any that hinted at an owner’s lack of interest in our reunion.

Tips for booking a vacation home rental

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Schultz Family Reunion

These were our criteria for a new place. m Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces with plenty of chairs and tables m Great food with flexible dining hours m Dining space big enough to hold all of us m Babysitting so parents would have time to relax m Staff that wanted us to have a wonderful experience and were sensitive to our situation m Location no farther than one hour from a major airport.

We decided to stay in Texas for the first “new reunion,” and Michele hit the mark with Mill Creek Ranch Resort in Canton, Texas. The true test was getting to the property and feeling the same excitement for the weekend, seeing the whole family together. We were delighted by the facility. Everyone wants to go back again. In the end, we learned that reunions are more than just the location; it’s about being with loved ones in a place that values our unique family that make reunions so special.

Reported by Jaynie Schultz, Dallas, Texas.

acation homes offer multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, full kitchens, spacious floor plans, concierge and guest services, pools, spas, recreation rooms and more.

Verify that the vacation rental services and facilities are reliable. Look for third-party endorsements on websites and membership in industry associations: AAA, Better Business Bureau, Vacation Rental Managers Association, local conventions and visitors bureaus or other tourism and vacation rental management groups. Read guest reviews, comments, testimonials and listings on guest review websites.

Choose a vacation home managed by a professional management company. Professional management companies ensure quality and a variety of hospitality,

cleaning and concierge services. Look for the “About Us” section on the website for established company history.

Complete and check rental agreement. Review the terms and conditions of the rental agreement carefully.

Question specific items prior to reserving a home.

Make reservations over a secure website or a phone system that has the ability to accept major credit cards.

Expect to make a security or reservation deposit.

Consider and inquire about travel insurance to cover unexpected or last-minute emergencies that cause a change in travel plans.

Ask for a guest service contact. The vacation rental company should provide an emergency contact number that can be called at any time for maintenance issues, questions and guest services.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 31

when and where?

Random site ideas u The perfect location generates interest and excitement

for the reunion. Imagine searching multiple reunion venues at the same time. Reunionsmag.Hotelplanner’s technology allows you to do just that. You can compare hotel rates and learn what amenities are available, and it’s free and very easy to use. Enter your reunion destination, dates and desired price range. Or if you’re just starting out and haven’t decided upon your destination, enter several to compare. Reunionsmag.

HotelPlanner.com will search hotels according to your specifications. You will be assigned an account representative who makes sure your hotel deals are the best, and helps with reservations.

u Remember that the convention and visitors bureaus

wherever you’re going are a rich source of information and can be a great help deciding at which hotel to hold your reunion. Most will help you develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) and will distribute it to their members for response. Take advantage of these and other generous services. u Take advantage of the economy. Country clubs can be an affordable alternative for banquets and events. In the current economy, even the most exclusive private clubs open their facilities to outside groups. Savings will vary by season, but you may be surprised how willing nontraditional venues are to negotiate. u Country Inns & Suites provide “virtual concierge” resources on their website (countryinns.com) to help you select a destination and plan your events. The site profiles area attractions, restaurants, events, shopping, and maps for many top destinations. u The Ohio State Park Lodges “Family Tree” program is a great way to commemorate your reunion.

Families who plan a minimum two-night reunion with at least 15 rooms or cabins qualify for the program. You receive a free tree to plant in the park during your stay.

Then you can chart the tree’s growth over the coming years. You will also receive a family bonfire with complimentary S’mores (May-October) or a family movie-and-popcorn night (November-April). www.ohiostateparklodges.com u The Rocky Mountain Reunions Rewards Program in Keystone, Colorado, gives 5% percent cash back to reunion organizers, plus a 10% discount for every reservation. In addition, the organizer receives a $200 credit with SummitCove to visit Keystone again. Each group receives a custom-built landing page for booking online. Contact Alyssa Hubbard, 877-567-1197.

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Old forts in Washington State

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ecommissioned forts from the 20th century’s two world wars line Washington State’s waterways coming from the Pacific. They are now museums and playgrounds for families.

Once known as the Triangle of Fire, the forts once bristled with armaments. Today, they are in state or county parks offering activities related to arts, science and culture.

Fort Worden (parks.wa.gov/fortworden), adjacent to Port Townsend, is a weekend and summer recreation center. Incoming boats and ships make a 70-degree right turn into Admiralty Inlet.

Reunions may book lodging at former officers’ homes lining the fort’s parade grounds.

Fort Worden –

Fort Flagler – Fort Flagler State Park (parks.wa.gov/ parks/?selectedpark=Fort%20Flagler) has old military homes for overnight stays and a parade ground. It is an ideal place to watch large ships headed to Seattle or Tacoma. From May to September, there are visitor tours of a 1905 hospital, and gun-emplacements explain history and armaments.

Camp Hayden (clallam.net/countyparks/html/parks_ saltcreek.htm) is on Striped Peak, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Joyce, west of Port Angeles. During World War II, a rotating crew of soldiers lived there, ready to open fire if enemy ships entered the Strait. The adjoining Salt Creek Recreation Area offers RV and tent camping, with beaches known for tide pools rich in sea life.

Camp Hayden –

Fort Casey (parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Fort %20Casey) is a fortress that marks a major defense point guarding the entrance to Puget Sound. Today barracks and officers’ houses are managed by Seattle Pacific University. Free tours of the historic gun batteries are offered on weekends, and tours of the adjacent Admiralty Head Lighthouse are offered daily upon request.

Fort Casey –

From a story by JoAnn Roe in The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington

Are you having a picnic?

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hese are considerations if you’re going to be using a public park.

The following should meet most of your needs.

4 Is there enough space for everyone to sit and eat comfortably?

4 Is there enough room for kids to play?

4 Is there a shelter or pavilion to protect you from heat or rain?

4 Do you need reservations? Or a permit?

4 Is the site accessible by car or bus? Is there parking? Is it wheelchair-accessible?

4 How close are restrooms, or do you need to rent a portable toilet?

4 Is there water for drinking and/or washing?

4 Are grills permitted?

4 What amenities are there (baseball, tennis, a playground, beach or lake, boating)?

4 What are the rules regarding alcohol?

4 Is electricity available, or do you need to bring a generator for microphones, musical instruments, etc.?

4 Does the park provide security?

How other reunions decide where to go g Brad Tuttle, Ask Trip Coach, wonders how do we decide where to go? The goal is to find a place that will make 15 or 50 very different people happy.

First step: Include everyone. Throw out 10 possibilities in a group email, rank the responses, and see what rises to the top.

That’s your winner.

Second step: This is a reunion, and the best destinations have broad appeal. A range of activities and distractions (golf, spas, hiking) is essential. The best options must be budget-sensitive. The most expensive part of any trip tends to be lodging, so consider destinations that allow you to tackle it creatively – sharing rooms, splitting up among hotels of varying star levels, renting one big house. Whatever you decide, establish a central place where folks can gather casually. g According to Gina Sherrod, West Sacramento, California, the Fairless Family Reunion meets in Sayre, Oklahoma, “Grandma’s hometown.”

Bergan Family Reunion

g Diane Lockard, West Jordan, Utah, describes the decision-making process for the Bergan Family Reunion. The easiest way for our family is to rent a condo, hotel rooms, or have a central gathering spot.

Annette, my sister-in-law, usually accepts the responsibility, and we divide the costs between families. One family doesn’t have to do everything. The cost of lodging at Flathead Lake was a gift from our mother. g The Washington-Nichols Family Reunion meets every other year but, according to Endrick Crenshaw, Houston, Texas, they’ve created an annual off-year event because they felt that two years was too long to wait to see family. Their next off-year event is in Chicago, Illinois, where they’ve reserved a four-bedroom apartment. g Atlanta, Georgia, is the Petty Family Reunion location because it is where most of the family Elders live. This location makes it convenient for the Elders to attend and not have to worry about hotel and travel expenses. The location of activities varies, according to Shantwuan Mines. A family team sport competition is held at a local community center, the banquet is at a historic Atlanta restaurant, and the Meet & Greet is in the hospitality room of the hotel where out-of-town members stay. g Mamie Burton reports about her Scott/ Houser Family Reunion. They rotate their three-day reunions between Detroit, Michigan, Birmingham, Alabama and Buffalo, New York, where heads of the families live. The hosts pay dues and fees to cover costs. Each city handles finances the year they host, and since the reunion is an annual event, each city pays every three years. On milestone years, every five years, they vote for a popular family-oriented tourist location.

Wilmington Family Reunion

g Claude Talford reports that the three to four day Wilmington Family Reunions meet in Granada, Mississippi, the family birthplace. The reunion will remain there as long as 102 year old Kermit Wilmington and 98 year old Minnie Mae WilmingtonGiles are still alive. This is the first year their brothers 96 year old Tommie and 97 year old Quentin did not come from Chicago for the reunion. g Gail Taylor, St. Louis, Missouri, says that Holmes Family Reunion members are spread out all over. They voted one year to go to Las Vegas, but had a very low response to the new location. g In an article in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Susan Glaser wrote that most reunions take place near the primary reunion planner. But traveling reunions are increasingly popular, especially for smaller groups. Consider state park resorts, vacation homes on the beach, cruises, and cabins in the woods. A reunion place can be held any place a family can go on vacation.

Scott/Houser Family Reunion

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 33

when and where?

Not all reunions are in America!

While the vast majority of reunions we include are in the US and Canada, not all are, and these may give you some ideas for your own exotic adventures. My own family reunions are in Germany because, coincidentally, that’s where the family lives!

Or take the Burtschell Family Reunion that rotates between Texas, France and Germany, where their members live.

If you have a foreign connection or just want a completely different experience, we hope you can someday experience a foreign location.

Editor’s note:

The Burtschell Family Reunion in France.

Note the Rue Pierre Burtschell street sign upper left!

Batch of 1995 reunion Editor’s note: This is another example of

the international appeal of class reunions, called Batch reunions in many other places.

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au Laxmibai English Medium School’s (LEMS) Batch of 1995 held a glorious reunion after a long gap of 17 years. This reunion was held at K Star Resort, Karnala, India. It was a perfect setting for the Batch – not just to relive, cherish and treasure nostalgic school days, but also to reconnect with school buddies.

The core Reunion Organizing Team of five took it upon themselves to plan this gala event to perfection.

The Reunion Team had a lot of surprises in store for their Batch mates, which included t-shirts with a logo on the front and the names of all the Batch mates on the back, group photo shoot, tour of the old school campus, audio visual (AV) presentation covering the years gone by, several group activities, and – last but not least – a parting gift of a fantastically designed photo frame with the group photo taken in the morning. One of the unique

aspects of this reunion was that it enabled the participation of Batch mates who were out of country, addressing the attendees through videos and messages.

Commenting on the occasion, Reunion Team’s Neelayam Sorte said, “This is indeed a wonderful achievement for the group. Our efforts and toiling day in and day out seem to have paid rich dividends, culminating in this fantastic event. I look forward to being part of similar events in future.”

Adding to Sorte’s comments, his reunion team colleague Sonali Vaidya said, “I just can’t believe that we were able to carry out such a massive task and help our Batch mates reconnect after all these years. Seeing our Batch mates cherishing those school days once again gives us peace of mind and vindicates our efforts having indeed paid off.”

One of the participations said, “We had a really good outing and all thanks to the Reunion Team. It was indeed a

commendable effort – right from preamble, the invites, Radio One advertising, t-shirts, old school tour and the day at the venue – and the photo frame was the perfect icing on the cake.”

The reunion was graced by Mr. Prasad Kulkarni (LEMS Principal), and teachers. Mr. Kulkarni’s support and encouragement for this reunion was pivotal.

The deliberations during the reunion also threw up interesting suggestions, such as organizing school activities like career counseling, instituting award for outstanding students and even philanthropic work such as blood donation camps. The Batch will meet shortly to take these suggestions forward.

The Reunion Team was comprised of Gaurav Joshi, an architect; Neelayam Sorte, Marketing professional; Kaustubh Ghotikar, a Public Relations professional; and Sonali Vaidya and Sonali Mulye, Branch Managers at Aptech.

Sau Laxmibai English Medium School Batch (class) of 1995 in Karnala, India.

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Feldmann descendants travel to Germany

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he Feldmanns learned of German relatives when Walburga Feldmann Nehrke, a cousin, contacted them and subsequently visited. Walburga had been looking for relatives since 1999 and located them through a letter to a church in Bowling Green, Missouri. Her grandfather was a brother of Herman Feldmann, who immigrated to Missouri in 1882. She and her husband were welcomed at a family reunion and tours of the area. After two visits, she insisted the family travel to Germany so she could return the favor.

The American descendants were welcomed at a family reunion of 90 relatives. “Wally” explained the family lineage and

connected German relatives to the American visitors. Before a welcoming dinner, the family attended mass at the home parish of Herman Feldmann. The priest offered a special welcome in both English and German.

While in the area, the group toured the Feldmann dairy farm operated by Walburga’s brother, on land owned by the family since the 1600s. The Americans learned that the 80-head dairy is operated exclusively with solar power. Mr. Feldmann also raises beef cattle, and grows corn and other grains for feed.

From a report by April M. Fronick in the People’s Tribune, Bowling Green, Missouri

Memorable family reunion in Buenos Aires

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y family of five arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the day after Christmas to meet with my extended family for our annual reunion. The summer sunshine in South America was a welcome relief from the bitter Arctic-like weather in Michigan.

Buenos Aires is the “Paris of South America,” with great architecture and grand boulevards that resemble those in the French capital.

The influx of Europeans during the colonial periods and the turn of the 20th century greatly influenced the cultural composition of the city’s 48 barrios (districts). The Italian and Spanish influence is most evident; however, add Africans, Russians, Japanese, and you have a potpourri of lifestyles and customs unlike any other place in the region.

My mom’s Recoleta apartment cannot accommodate our entire globetrotting family. So my sister (from Hong Kong) and I searched the internet for the perfect home for our two-week retreat. We settled on a two-building conversion villa rental.

It had a family room fit for entertaining and a swimming pool.

Our brother came from New York City and an aunt joined us from Los Angeles.

As in most Latin countries, dinner is usually experienced well past the average American’s bedtime. Early seating is before 10 PM. This is a city on a constant buzz.

A quick visit to the La Boca district is a must for every tourist. This port area, with its colorful caminitos (alleyways) and

buildings, is the birthplace of tango.

Dancers lure visitors for a quick lesson, and pretty soon, passersby will form an audience eager to be entertained by the performance.

From a story by George Aquino, general manager of the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on MLive

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 35

when and where?

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ot so long ago, many family reunions met at family-owned and -operated resorts in areas known as family destinations. We have come to use hotels in or near urban areas, but many unique places still welcome family groups and should be considered. In fact if you are looking to go “up north” in our part of the country, one lavish resource that features only familyowned places is Resorts of Minnesota: Exploring the Heritage and History of Minnesota’s Family Resorts

by Neil E. Johnson with Adam Swenson (NLJ Books, Hibbing MN, hard cover, 240 pages, $34.95). These are the resorts your family elders remember from their childhood, and should introduce to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. In fact, the family who owned and operated the resort many decades ago may still be welcoming guests – just a younger generation.

Pehrson Lodge, Cook, Minnesota

Pehrson Lodge, founded in 1902 in Cook, Minnesota, is among the oldest Minnesota resorts, and offers a full array of amenities, including Camp Twain children’s program. On Lake Vermilion, the resort offers a new reunion chalet/ retreat center – The Grand Vermilion Chalet – consisting of four adjoining townhouses which, when rented in their entirety, can accommodate more than 30 people with 12 bedrooms and 10 baths.

The meeting space where families can enjoy their time together will accommodate 70 people with a catering kitchen, restrooms and outdoor patio. The upper levels feature full kitchens, fireplaces and a large deck which overlooks the lake and features a built-in fireplace. Contact Eric Hanson, 800-543-9937; pehrsonlodge.com Since 1869, six generations of Scotts have operated Scott’s Oquaga Lake House in the mountains on the picturesque 36 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

Oquaga Lake in Deposit, New York.

The Scott family keeps up the tradition of providing great vacations for folks. Some guests started making Scott’s their summer home 85 years ago. Visit www. scottsfamilyresort.com.

Reunion groups return over and over to Smugglers Notch, in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, as they have for well over 50 years. The draw is lodging choices from studio to one-to-five bedroom, fully-equipped condominiums and countless family activities. Warm weather activities include mini golf, swimming, waterslides, playgrounds, nature center, driving range, tennis, and two teen centers for the family members often hardest to satisfy. Kids can enroll in all-day camps and babies are welcome in a spacious nursery. And while the kids are away, the parents can play or enjoy a massage, yoga, wine and chocolate tastings, or plan a day trip for shopping or sightseeing. Winter activities include downhill and crosscountry skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing and lessons for all.

Smugglers Notch’s professional staff can help coordinate activities, entertainment, lodging, meal plans, banquet, transportation, and a photographer. The resort offers ReunionLeader Site Inspections, a complimentary vacation if your group is 40 or more, 15% savings and a customized t-shirt if your group is 20 or more and posters, videos and stickers to help you promote your reunion. Contact 800-521-0536; reunions@smuggs.com or www.smuggs. com/reunions.

Just about an hour from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the picturesque glacial hills of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Elkhart Lake’s pristine waters have enchanted visitors for centuries. Several resorts welcome reunions. Siebkens (siebkens. com) landmark turn-of-the-century resort has been in the Siebkens family for four generations. They recently added the Lakeview condominium hotel suites,

Photo credit: Smuggler’s Notch

Family-owned and operated

architecturally duplicating the original Victorian building and providing homelike settings with kitchens. Victorian Village Resort (vicvill.com) is a grand, 11-acre resort, originally known as Lakeview House. Built in 1872, it has undergone a recent extensive restoration and expansion. The Osthoff Resort (osthoff.com) was constructed in 1885 and completely rebuilt in 1995, in the spirit of days-gone-by, but with modern conveniences. The Osthoff specializes in customized group programming, including scavenger hunts, group Olympics, wine tastings and cardboard boat regattas.

Jeanne Pena has managed family reunions for years at Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York, a historic Victorian castle resort owned and operated for more than 140 years by the Smiley family.

Writing in the Poughkeepsie Journal, Poughkeepsie, New York, Pena offers tips to help you plan your own successful reunion. v A well-done family reunion requires a commitment and can be a challenge. Aim to book a destination one year in advance.

The earlier you book, the more room choices are available. Settle on a date that works for everyone! v Do your homework and research all destinations of interest. Schedule a site visit so you can see first-hand where you’ll stay and what you’ll be doing. v Surround the family with a wealth of recreational activities appealing to all ages and ability levels. At Mohonk, for example, favorite activities include hiking, boating, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing and meditation at the spa.

Arrange for a favorite family pastime, as well as something new.

e military reunion news

USS Nitro Association 15th anniversary reunion

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e enjoyed our 15th anniversary reunion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our headquarters hotel was not in downtown Milwaukee, and while it was not the least expensive I looked at, it offered the most in terms of accommodations, great staff to work with, catering packages, pricing, proximity to restaurants (having one on each side of the hotel) and shopping.

On the return trip from Great Lakes, we stopped at Jelly Belly’s Wisconsin warehouse for jellybeans!

Preparing to lay a commemorative wreath at Great Lake Naval Cemetery. Left, Allen Fleming (AE-23, 1961-64), Loma Linda CA and Dominick Berardi (AE-2, WWII), Willow Street PA.

We wanted to do something special for our 50 early arrivals.

The hotel let us bring all the equipment and food necessary to have a surprise “Wisconsin Tailgate Party” at no extra charge – into the beautiful hotel courtyard, complete with a gazebo.

Everything was Made in Wisconsin: beer from 16 microbreweries, brats, hot dogs, German and American potato salads, cheeses, sauerkraut, pickles and all the fixings, topped off with the best locally made frozen custard (better than ice cream) for dessert!

We schedule two days for tours during our reunions. On Friday we visited Great Lakes Naval Training Center for recruit graduation, our Wreath-Laying Ceremony (held main side, Naval Station Great Lakes), lunch at the Port ’O Call Club, tour of the Naval Station and a visit to the Navy Exchange. On the way back, we stopped at Jelly Belly’s in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.Back at the hotel that evening we had our annual dinner and raffle/auction, For ten years, we have donated half of the raffle/auction proceeds to a local military, nongovernment-funded organization or fund. This year’s recipient was the USO of Illinois. It is the Nitro Association’s way of giving back to help military personnel.

On Saturday, we toured Milwaukee, with stops at the Harley Davidson Museum, Miller Park (home of the National League Milwaukee Brewers), and a brief bus tour of Milwaukee sites before ending our day at the Milwaukee Art Museum on the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.

From a report by Jim Timmons, Waukesha, Wisconsin, in a VMRP yahoo group post.

Editor’s note: USS Nitro reunion planner Jim Timmons concluded that Milwaukee is an excellent place for a military reunion – with which we, based in Milwaukee, heartily concur! I also would like to thank Timmons and president Bob Eberlein for welcoming me to their tailgate party!

Women Marines Association

W For more information or to register visit www.yourmilitaryreunions.com Questions?

Email us at ymrcusa@gmail.com or call 417-593-4234 38 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

omen Marines Association’s 27th Biennial Convention and Professional Development Conference is scheduled for August 31 to September 4, 2012, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and dedicated to those Marines who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the perfect time for Marines of all ages to reconnect with their roots, “Where it All Began.”

Since 1918, American women have answered their country’s call to serve, and have served proudly with distinction and honor. The Women Marines Association is the only veterans association for and about women Marines.

Attendance is open to Marines serving on active duty or reserve status and all former Marines. See womenmarines.org/biennal_conference.aspx or convention@ womenmarines.org.

Real submarine races!

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SS IREX SS-482 held a three-day reunion in May in New London, Connecticut. One of the events was a “Submarine Challenge Race.” “Submarine-shaped” bodies – along with wheels, axel, sand paper, glue, paint, brush and instructions – were sent to USS IREX shipmates who were registered for the reunion. They were instructed to “make it their own”: sand, glue and paint it, and bring it to the reunion for a race. Seventeen submarines were raced. A “spotter” sat on both sides of the track, watching as the cars raced down. If a winner was disputed or not determined, another race was held. The race generated lively discussion and lots of laughter. Ribbons were awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the race, as well as for best design.

Participants voted for best design by putting numbers from 1 to 3 in a cup next to the submarine.

Race winners (and years on the vessel) were: 1st Arthur Macdonald (1957-1959), 2nd Patrick Brown (1959-1969), and 3rd Riley Logan (1962-1964). Design winners were 1st Royal Sheeley (1966-1969), 2nd Don Simpson (1955-1956), and 3rd Jim Garry (1964-1966). The guys thoroughly enjoyed the race and judged it lots of fun!

The brains behind the races and the reunion are Al (19571960) and Terry Hahn, Granby, Connecticut.

USS IREX SS-482 Reunion.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 39

e military reunion news

63rd Troop Carrier Wing (H) Reunion

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embers of the 63rd Troop Carrier Wing (H) Reunion enjoyed the ultimate Air Force Reunion celebration in Dayton, Ohio at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum. The highlights of the reunion were the commemorative bench dedication coupled with the banquet titled “Dinner Under the Wing” which was held in the Museum right next to a C-124 and other aircraft.

The podium had mast flags and giant screens on each side of the stage displaying first the bench and then the 63rd patch. The

The “Dinner Under the Wings” banquet at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum was in the shadow of a giant C-124.

Commemorative bench donated to Wright Patterson Air Force Base was placed just outside the Museum entrance.

40 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

ceremony included the Wright-Patteron Honor Guard, music from the Air Force band, Systems Go, and ended with a superb speech by Lt Gen (Ret) Chuck Cunningham. From the comments received afterwards, “we definitely made the right choice in choosing Wright Patterson Air Force Base for this reunion and for dedicating a bench to represent the 63rd.”

From a report by Brian Forrester, Event Planner, Scottsdale, Arizona.

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 | 800-458-8085 fax: 205-458-8086 | twalton@birminghamal.org www.birminghamal.org SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

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 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.

Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs CA 92262 760-778-8415 | 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 hosp suite and special reunion rates. Beautiful guest rooms, heated pool, spa, shuffleboard, ping-pong and billiards, exercise room, family restaurant and cocktail lounge, free pkg, in-room movies, coffee makers, refrigerators, hair dryers.

619-224-3621 | 800-650-6660 fax 619-224-1787 | dos@holinnbayside.com www.holinnbayside.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

COLORADO 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 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 www.beavercondos.com www.beavercondos.com/family-reunions-winterpark-colorado-colorado-family-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

FLORIDA THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL 2201 Second St., Suite 600 Fort Myers, FL 33901 Share a tradition of timeless beauty and endless opportunity for togetherness. Whether on the pristine sands of beautiful beaches, on the glistening waters of the Gulf of Mexico, or in

countless charming towns, your family comes together when you get away here. To begin planning your reunion, visit FortMyers-Sanibel.com for more information.

TELEPHONE: 239-338-3500 | U.S. & Canada: 800-237-6444 | www.fortmyers-sanibel.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

KISSIMMEE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1925 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee FL 34744 Kissimmee, Florida, next to Orlando and close to everything, is the perfect location for your next reunion. We offer planning assistance to reunions of all sizes and budgets. Let us help you make planning your next reunion easy. Plus … we’ll provide your reunion T-shirts free! For details see ReunionsInKissimmee.com or call our reunions specialist at 407-742-8255 or email JShives@MeetInKissimmee.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

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

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 abester@royalplaza.com www.royalplaza.com

FLORIDAYS RESORT ORLANDO 12562 International Drive Orlando FL 32821 Located just two miles from SeaWorld and Disney on International Drive, offers spacious two-andthree bedroom Grand Suites, with room for everyone. The free shuttle to the attractions and the I- Drive trolley makes it easy to get around town. With two heated swimming pools, game room, fitness center, and poolside bar and grille, you’ll want to spend quality family time right here at the resort. 321-329-4026 | fax 321- 329-4001 jcooper@floridaysorlando.com www.FloridaysResortOrlando.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 41

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES GEORGIA

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PERIMETER CENTER EAST

INDIANA

ATLANTA PERIMETER HOTEL & SUITES

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!

BEARCREEK FARMS

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™ 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 770-3944805 | 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!

DOUGLASVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

EMBASSY SUITES ATLANTA PERIMETER CENTER

Just 10 minutes outside Atlanta in DeKalb County, Dunwoody is the best location for your next reunion. Minutes away from Stone Mountain Park, Georgia Aquarium, the MLK Center and more!

Home to five excellent hotels with tons of meeting space and all within walking distance to Perimeter Mall and shuttle services to MARTA! Call today to plan your reunion: 678-244-9800 visit www.cvbdunwoody.com/ SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

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.

770 394-6500 | www.atlantamarriottperimeter.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD! 42 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

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

IDAHO Aspen Hills Retreat/Reunion Center 2080 Swan Valley Hwy PO Box 340, Ririe, ID 83443 208-538-7140 | www.swanvalleyretreat.com aspenhills@swanvalleyretreat.com

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!

Please patronize our advertisers.

Located in rural Indiana along the Ohio border, the perfect destination for your next reunion or company outing, we offer entertainment, shopping, camping, lodging and a restaurant. A Perfect setting to meet up with family and friends, reminisce under a shade tree or in one of our air-conditioned meeting rooms. Contact us: 260-997-6822 or visit our website at www.bearcreekfarms.com

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

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.

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

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

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES MISSOURI

OHIO

THE BRANSON/LAKES AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

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 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 SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO 3800 S Virginia Street Reno, NV 89502 Atlantis is Reno’s Newest Hot Spot for Reunions!

Atlantis boasts 50,000 SF of flexible meeting space. Stay in Reno’s newest resort rooms, featuring pillow-top mattresses and 42'' HDTV’s.

Dine in eight distinct award-winning restaurants.

The Atlantis Steakhouse proudly serves Allen Brothers USDA Prime steaks. Network at the ten captivating bars and lounges. Escape to Spa Atlantis winner of Spa Finder “Readers’ Choice” award! Sales Department 800.994.5900 sales@AtlantisCasino.com AtlantisCasino.com.

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 1,995 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!

800-354-2657 www.ExperienceColumbus.com/reunions Columbus is ranked one of the top value destinations in the country. With four downtown entertainment districts, annual festivals, the #1 rated Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, and an array of outdoor parks to choose from, you won’t want to have your family reunion anywhere else. Planning a reunion in Columbus is easy. And we’re here to help. Plus, all of our services are free. We will assist you with finding hotels, local attractions and more. And when the time comes, we’ll provide you with Visitors Guides, Visitor Maps, plastic bags and pens. Contact Brian Cheek at 614-222-6136 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 | 800-441-3549 Fax: 610-834-0202 | pozo@valleyforge.org 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!

610-879-4147; fax 610-879-4242 alison.hacker@hilton.com www.doubletree.com/plymouthmeeting

SOUTH CAROLINA SANDS RESORTS 201-74th Ave. N. Myrtle Beach SC 29572 Everything you need for a Great Reunion is at Sands Resorts. With accommodations ranging from Oceanfront Rooms to 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom Suites and flexible meeting space, Sands is well-equipped to handle groups of all sizes.

Regardless of which Sands’ location you select, reunions can depend on great service and fabulous amenities at our collection of oceanfront resorts. 800-840-2601 groupsales@sandsresorts.com www.sandsresorts.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

SEA MIST OCEANFRONT RESORT – MYRTLE BEACH SC 1200 South Ocean Blvd., 29577 REUNIONS MADE EASY! Specializing in reunions from military to family at the most affordable rates in Myrtle Beach. Sea Mist’s premier oceanfront location is near shopping, theaters and golf courses. Over 600 of our 800 units have been completely remodeled, restaurants, miniature golf, 10 pools, Jacuzzis, fitness room, 17,000-sq.ft. of versatile meeting space and much more!

800-200-8687 | 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 | 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! chattanoogameetings.com/ SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

TEXAS PLANO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Located just minutes from Dallas, Plano is the perfect place to stay. You will find unique and entertaining attractions, a multitude of restaurants for every taste and style, and all the shopping you could ever want, as well as a variety of hotel and lodging offerings. Let Kay at the Plano Convention and Visitors Bureau assist you in all your travel planning needs. kays@plano.gov | 800-81-PLANO planocvb.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 43

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES UTAH

NEWPORT NEWS

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.

Get closer to ships, history and the great outdoors with one central destination: Newport News. Get all this, plus Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, too!

Whether getting together with old classmates, shipmates or relatives, Newport News provides the perfect location and services to make your reunion a success. We offer the best value and plenty to see and do! Let Newport News make your next reunion a memorable one. Call Barb Kleiss at (757) 926-1442 or email her at: bkleiss@nngov.com to book your reunion. www.newport-news.org

VERMONT

WEST VIRGINIA

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

CANAAN VALLEY 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!

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 | rhodesk@canaanresort.com www.canaanresort.com

VIRGINIA CHESAPEAKE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

PRODUCTS & SERVICES CRUISES

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

Royal Reunions SM CRUISE CLUB INTERNATIONAL & ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL®

VISIT FAIRFAX / FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Display Advertiser Index

Enjoy everything that Northern Virginia has to offer.

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

Reasons to book your reunion on Royal Caribbean International® with Cruise Club International. All inclusive value, amazing ships & destinations, spectacular dining, kids & teens programs, entertainment, fun ship & shore activities, deaf/ special needs access. Personal ACC Planner, expertise, Hassle free planning, online presence.

Service exceeding your expectations. Contact Cruise Club International: 630-893-4022 cruiseclubbloomingdale@msn.com www.cruiseclubinternational.com

REUNION PLANNERS

800-654-2776 • www.reunions.com

CREATE A WEBSITE MYEVENT.COM Create your own reunion website with no skills. It’s fast and easy to use. Your reunion website has great features and planning tools. It will make planning much easier and everyone will love it!

Features: Online registration, rsvp, ticket payment, message boards, family tree, guest book, quiz, poll, stories, photo albums, no ads, travel information, more. 7 day free trial. No credit card required for the free trial! If you choose to purchase services, enter coupon code ReunionsMagazine20 for a 20% discount.

Any Questions - 877-769-3836 info@myevent.com

T-SHIRTS 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 1-877-803-5885 today! Use voucher code RW210 to save $10 on your order of 6 or more shirts. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ST

HOTELS & RESORTS

PG

ST TOURISM & VISITORS BUREAUS

PG

CA

Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside

19

AL

Birmingham (Greater) CVB

25

IBC

FL

Kissimmee CVB

5

FL

Lee County VCB/ Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

40

GA

Dunwoody CVB

IL

Lake County CVB IL

MO

Branson Lakes Area Chamber/ CVB

NV

Las Vegas CVA/ Laughlin

11

OH

Columbus/ Experience Columbus OH

26 35

FL

Floridays Orlando Resort

NV

Grand Sierra Resort & Casino

SC

Sands Resorts

SC VT

Sea Mist Resort Smugglers’ Notch Resort

OBC 19

CUSTOM REUNION RIBBONS

PG

www.ribbons4reunions.com

44

TN

Chattanooga Area CVB

T-SHIRTS PG

TX

Plano CVB

customink.com

VA

Fairfax County CVB

44 Reunions v reunionsmag.com

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37 22 & 23 1 2 IFC

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

BOOKS Family Reunion, by Mary Quattlebaum, Illustrated by Andrea Shine.

Thoughtful and fun, this book gives glimpses of family togetherness and tradition through various poetic forms, including free verse, a sonnet, haiku, a ballad and more. $16 + s/h.

The Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games & Activities, by travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers. May be the ultimate solution for back seat squabbling” on the way to your reunion. Keep kids entertained all the way there. $8.95 + s/h.

THE FAMILY REUNION SURVIVAL GUIDE: How to Avoid Problems With Your Family Without Avoiding Your Family by Laurence A. Basirico. (2003, Identity Publishing, $11.95). A book about relationships at family reunions and how to enjoy them. Based on original research. 2106 Coy St., Burlington, NC. (336) 584-1442.

The Pick A Party book set, by Patty Sachs, party-planning expert.

Book #1: Pick a Party, The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasion, 100 theme party plans for holidays, milestone occasions and special events.

Book #2 Pick-A-Party Cookbook, Includes menus, recipes and table decoration ideas for the 100 theme parties in Book #1. Regularly $20 for the set, only $16.00 + $2 s/h) for Reunions magazine readers.

Secrets of Successful Family Reunions, by Robert W. Wolfe a.k.a. Uncle Bob A how-to-book for successful family reunions. Whether simple or elaborate it helps those who wish to pass their values to the next generation.

2008. $16.99 + s/h.

Treasure and Scavenger Hunts (3rd ed.) How to Plan, Create, and Give Them, by Gordon Burgett Communications Unlimited, 2007, 134 pp. $15.95 + s/h or $12.95 digital.

Your Living Family Tree: Keeping your family together forever through print, photos, sound and video, by Gordon Burgett Communications Unlimited, 2008, 174 pp. $17.95 + s/h or $15.95 digital.

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

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

MUSIC The Malone Family Choir: A Family Reunion is an original gospel CD opening with a song you’ll want to play to say Welcome to Our Family Reunion! at your family reunion. CD $15 or tape $10 + s/h.

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.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 v Reunions 45

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

www.reunionsmag.com TM