Family Reunion Institute

June is the month for dads, grads, and lots of Spring into Summer-fun activities, including family reunions. The month of June is significant not only because of Father’s Day, but for Juneteenth, Loving Day, World Refugee Day, Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Soul Food Month, and so much more.

June is also the month for the Army’s Birthday, National Safety Month, Let It Go Day, Say Something Nice Day, Sauntering Day (meaning slow down and take it easy), Nature Photography Day, Making Life Beautiful Day, Men’s Health Week, Forgiveness Week, National Nursing Assistants Week, Community Health Improvement Week, National Garden Week, National Play Catch Week, Men's Health Week, Black Music Appreciation Month, Beautiful in Your Skin Month, Great Outdoors Month, and more. Check out FAMILY TIME for our list of 70+ June observances and celebrations; the REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH for "I Love You" tips for Dad; words WORTH REPEATING for dads and grads; along with more poetry and support for the grads and dads.

Dads are an important part of our family structure—all year long. And while they often get shortchanged on gifts and cards, let’s do our best not to take them for granted this year. Let’s embrace, encourage, enjoy, and show them much love. And if your own dad is not around to be the recipient of your expressions of love, search out another dad, particularly family elders, who may greatly appreciate the attention.

Here’s hoping you and your family are able to spend great outdoor time together this June. We hope dads get what they want on Father’s Day. We wish 2025 grads successful new beginnings. And we’re hopeful this year’s reunions will be beneficial, plentiful and memorable. Enjoy what’s left of Spring and the start of Summer. Be safe. Stay well. Take care of your family and reunion.

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NEW NOW:

- Reunion Tip of the Month

- Practical Family Reunion Planning

- Family Time

- Poem for Dads

- Poem for Grads

COME BACK LATER FOR:

- Sticky Reunion Situation

- Celebrating Juneteenth

- Support for Dads

- Becoming a Better Dad

- Worth Repeating for Dads

- Worth Repeating for Grads

REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH

I love you. Three beautiful and powerful words. So why can’t more dad’s say them? Several male friends have talked about how close they were to their dads, but said their dads never told them “I love you”. They in turn never said it to their sons. Some said it wasn’t a macho or manly thing to do. We want our sons and male family members to grow up to be strong, supportive and loving. But how can they emulate what they don’t see, hear or experience?

A National Center for Fathering blog agrees that fathers saying I love you is important. “A lot of people who didn’t have that benefit still grow up and do fine. But our research and experience at the National Center tells us that those three words, spoken with sincerity and backed up by behavior, can demonstrate support, encouragement, tenderness, and caring as much as anything else we do as fathers. Our words—or sometimes our lack of words—can either bless or discourage our children for their entire lives. And we’ve heard all the excuses: “They know how much I love them.” “I don’t want my son to get a big head.” “It just isn’t what we do in our family.” But those are just excuses. If we know how much it benefits our children, there’s really no reason we shouldn’t say it.”

So what’s a family to do? Start an “I Love You” campaign during the reunion, challenging family males (fathers, grand-dads, uncles, brothers, cousins, sons) to spread those three little words to other male relatives during the reunion, at planning meetings, reunion related events and activities, etc. until it becomes a natural part of their daily lives, vocabulary, and conversations with their sons, daughters, and the rest of the family as well.

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING...

Family Reunion Planning isn’t just about the date, venue, activities and food. It should also include getting to know the family better. It’s interesting that we find out so much about relatives while reading their obituaries, and that our repasses are full of conversations about what we didn’t know, and what we would have done, or said, or asked had we known. One thing we can do during reunions (and during reunion planning) is find out more about our family members while they are here to answer questions. Their responses can be encouraging to others, especially family youth.

How many family members have served in the military? How many are teachers, principals, counselors, tutors? How many work for the government—and in what capacity? How many handymen, gardeners, farmers, poets, nurses, doctors, lawyers, tutors, mentors, cooks, bakers, entrepreneurs, gamers? How many went to college, what school and college did they attend? Did they pledge? Do they travel? What do they do for fun? Make your family reunion more than just a picnic with mere chit-chat and gossip. Find out who you all are—and what you have in common. Every family member has a story to tell. All we have to do is ask.

FAMILY TIME...

June is known for Summer fun, Father’s Day, Black Music Appreciation Month, National Garden Week, Beautiful in Your Skin Month, Community Health Improvement Week, Men's Health Week, Making Life Beautiful Day, Say Something Nice Day, Smile Power Day, and Great Outdoors Month (where most folks are clamoring to be in June) for gardening, barbecuing with dads, celebrating with grads, and enjoying great family reunions. Make time for family time this month with the 70+ days we’ve listed for observances and celebrations.

click here for June observances

A POEM FOR GRADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

Keep on learning, though your graduation's done,
Your whole life's an education,

that has only just begun.
Your diploma is the first big step,

knowledge is the special key,
to winning what you want in life,

and being who you want to be.
If you'll always be a student,

you'll find the secrets to success,
and travel on the golden road,

to peace and happiness.
- Joanna Fuchs

A POEM FOR DADS...

I am glad you're my father, you're really the best,
As a dad, you're a fine one, I'm so very blessed.
You're smart, and you're strong, j

ust a perfect dad blend,
You're my father, my counselor,

and a really good friend.
- Joanna Fuchs

NFRI Motto

"family reunions are more than just a picnic"

We believe reunions have the power to nourish and strengthen families of all races and ethnicities. Reunions can encourage healthy extended family relationships, provide a sense of belonging, restore family pride, nurture and respect all generations, and impart wisdom, knowledge and a shared purpose. Our goal is to strengthen, inspire and support family reunion planning; share useful information and resources; and advocate for the teaching of family and reunion history, values and experiences. - Dr. Ione Vargus

FAMILY REUNION PLANNING TIPS

Planning a family reunion? Click below for tips on:

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ALSO check out our FAMILY FEATURES, interviews of families discussing their journey towards a successful reunion. Click the links below to meet the families and read their stories.

- https://nationalfamilyreunioninstitute.net/meet-the-hancock-family

- https://nationalfamilyreunioninstitute.net/meet-the-mitchell-family

- https://nationalfamilyreunioninstitute.net/meet-the-edwards-family

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NEED HELP with a Sticky Reunion Situation?

- Check the SRS Archives (CLICK HERE) -OR-

- Contact us (CLICK HERE).

visit our founder page by clicking here

visit our founder page by clicking here

visit our founder page by clicking here

visit our founder page by clicking here

visit our founder page by clicking here

visit our founder page by clicking here

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

genealogy quick start:::Live streaming every other Tuesday:::Click for info

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JUNE 2026

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REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING...

FAMILY TIME...

A POEM FOR GRADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

A POEM FOR DADS...

NFRI Motto

"family reunions are more than just a picnic"

STICKY REUNION SITUATION

REUNITING THE REUNION

FAMILY REUNION PLANNING TIPS

STICKY REUNION SITUATION

TAKING FULL CONTROL OF THE PLANNING

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.

Click here to make a donation to the National Family Reunion Institute.