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MEET THE MITCHELL FAMILY
PATIENCE PAYS...
Tondra Talley, Vice-President of the Mitchell Family reunion, was worried. A whole lot of planning had gone into the reunion, but not many reservations were being made. “I’m thinking OMG, nobody’s going to show up,” Talley remembers.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
The National Family Reunion Institute's QUESTION OF THE MONTH is our way of finding out first-hand what family reunion planners are doing, thinking, planning, experiencing and accomplishing with their reunions and reunion planning. In return for sharing your responses with us, we'll share the results with you, you'll get to see how your reunion planning compares with other families, and hopefully you'll get insight and inspiration for your own planning. We thank you in advance for submitting your response.
This month's question is about the goal for your next reunion.
STICKY REUNION SITUATION
The Situation: OUR REUNION FAILED
Help! We just had our first reunion in years, and it didn't turn out as planned. Many people didn't show up including a couple of the planners. Information for the reunion went out five months prior identifying the location (which was close to several amusement/entertainment spots); name and price for a place to sleep; plus, the cost of two family main events (for Friday and Saturday that family members were cooking for).
Two months before the reunion folks were complaining about the sleeping arrangements, saying the cost was too expensive. They couldn't understand why the planners didn't work out discounted tickets for the amusements, and they felt the cost for the main events was too expensive. They were told there were several hotels and motels in the area that they could look into, and that the food costs were non-negotiable.
In hindsight I'm not surprised people didn't show up, but what do we do now? I'm not ready to give up on reinstating our family reunions. Yes, the planners could have done a better job and should have looked at the overall cost, realized it was too expensive, and made some negotiations. And yes the communications were lacking on both sides of the planning. Do you think we can fix things for a possible reunion in the next year or two?
PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING
As this year’s reunions draw to a close it’s time to evaluate what worked and what needs improvement.
- Take note of all the things that worked. Consider if and what can be replicated for a future reunion.
- Identify those things that didn’t work or could have been better. Were family members not interested? Was more planning needed? Did the weather spoil the fun? Pin down the reason(s) and either regroup and try again or try something else.
- Talk with the no shows. Sometimes unexpected things happen. Give them a call to find out why and if there’s something the planning team can do to make the no show a for sure at the next reunion.
STICKY REUNION SITUATION
The Situation: HOW ARE FAMILY REUNIONS MORE THAN A PICNIC?
Our planning committee likes the suggestions and tips we get from NFRI, however we're debating what exactly does "family reunions, more than a picnic" mean and how do we incorporate it into our reunion? It sounds simple but our committee is at odds about it.
Workshop Sponsored by...:
MOTHER's DAY POEM...
What is a Mother?
by Katherine Nelson Davis
A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
to love us, whatever we do.
With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
and wonderful gentleness, too.
How often a mother means swift reassurance,
in soothing our small, childish fears,
How tenderly mothers watch over their children,
and treasure them all through the years.
The hearth of a mother is full of forgiveness,
for any mistake, big or small,
And generous always in helping her family,
whose needs she has placed above all.
A mother can utter a word of compassion,
and make all our cares fall away,
She can brighten a home with her laughter,
and make life delightful and gay.
A mother possesses incredible wisdom,
and wonderful insight and skill,
In each human heart is that one special corner,
which only a mother can fill!
STICKY REUNION SITUATION
TAKING FULL CONTROL OF THE PLANNING
Yay…our young people want to get involved in planning the family reunion! However, they’re asking for full control even though they’ve NEVER done any planning before. We don’t want to say okay which seems like we’d be setting them up to fail. We also don’t want to say no. What’s the middle ground so that everybody’s happy.
STICKY REUNION SITUATION
REUNITING THE REUNION
We haven’t been able to get our family reunion back in place since covid and the passing of several family elders who were pivotal in establishing the reunion. Do you have any suggestions on how we can regain momentum?
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