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Our 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
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
August is What Will Be Your Legacy Month. Tracing your family roots, building your family tree, and documenting your family history are all part of building your family legacy. It’s interesting how eloquently families record the richness of family members lives—what they’ve accomplished and the impact they’ve had on others—in an obituary, but rarely tell the story out loud in a family setting where folks can communicate, learn from and encourage one another.
It is good to be remembered and known for any contributions you have made individually or as a family to make your reunion, hometown or community a better place. Having family members write out their individual accomplishments is a good way to begin identifying your family’s legacy for future generations. Use this month to make note of your ancestors’ legacy as well as your own. And don’t forget to document and communicate information or evidence that serves as a record of the history and/or research that family members have conducted.
If we communicate with family members more, and work to encourage, support, inspire and reassure every generation and talent family members possess, who knows how many more generations our reunions will last or, what our legacy will end up being.
FAMILY TIME...
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
August shows up and leaves us scrambling to make the most of what’s left of summer. And there are plenty of creative ways to celebrate as August is host to Family Fun Month, American Adventures Month, Happiness Happens Month, Be Kind to Humankind Week, Simplify Your Life Week, Be An Angel Day, Kiss and Make Up Day, Women’s Equality Day, Just Because Day, National Relaxation Day, Sister’s Day, Son and Daughter Day, Middle Child Day, National Senior Citizen’s Day, and so much more including those end of summer reunions, your family member’s birthdays, anniversaries and other special familial celebrations.
Want to turn FAMILY TIME observances into great time with the family? On days that celebrate foods, incorporate them into your meals and show the kids how it’s made. On dates with activities, incorporate them into your daily routine. On all other days have a discussion, do some research, discover something new about the day. Make a game of it, get the whole family involved, and most of all, have some fun.
Following is our list of 65+ observances and celebrations happening this August, followed by a list of 54 Family Fun Month Activities to help you plan great time this August with your family. Relax, have fun, enjoy!!!
WORTH REPEATING for...
WORTH REPEATING for...
WORTH REPEATING for...
...HAPPINESS HAPPENS MONTH
They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. - Tom Bodett
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi
Happiness is an inside job. - William Arthur Ward
Happiness is a state of mind. - Walt Disney
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
– Denis Waitley
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. – Oscar Wilde
Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.
– Mary Lou Retton
The purpose of our lives is to be happy. - Mahatma Gandhi
ICYMI...
WORTH REPEATING for...
WORTH REPEATING for...
(In Case You Missed It)
When speaking about the origin of family reunions Dr. Vargus has said, “Slavery in this country disrupted the family structure... As soon as slavery ended, women and men went about trying to put the family back together. The resulting reunions were the first Black family reunion, and the stories of the formerly enslaved trying to locate their families is inspiring, to say the least. Many of these stories are told at the reunions, along with stories of hopeful descendants who struggle to identify their family lineage.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture brings light to the plight through LICK HEREICK The Historical Legacy of Black Family Reunions, a reflection on the search for family members hoping to reunite with lost loved ones. CLICK HERE to find out more.
FAMILY REUNION PLANNING TIPS
Planning a family reunion? Click below for tips on:
- PLANNING A FAMILY REUNION on GENEALOGY QUICK START TV (video)
- ASSEMBLING A PLANNING TEAM (worksheet)
- WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW
- GET ORGANIZED
- COUNTDOWN / TIMELINE
- REUNION ACTIVITIES
- SUZANNE & DOUG'S FIX FOR 1ST TIME PLANNERS
- SWEET TIPS FOR FAMILY REUNION PLANNERS
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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).
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...
It may sound a little far-fetched, however Including something educational during the reunion is one way to get school-aged family members interested in attending the reunion and striving to do their best during the school year. There are many ways to pique younger family members interest while encouraging them to do better, including the following list. The goal is to get students enthusiastic about doing their best during the school year, so they can come to the reunion to brag and get rewarded for their good work. Doing so also helps set them up for future learning and success.
- Scholarships – provide scholarships for high school graduates who are going to college, trade school, etc.
- Educational Rewards – provide students rewards for good grades, attendance, etc.
- Promotion Event – hold a “Move-Up/Promotion” event to celebrate students accomplishments
- Book fair – ask family members to provide new or gently used books for all ages and offer them free to students.
- Book Club – create a book club. Have students sign-up at the reunion and identify books they’d like to read together.
- Spelling Bee Competition – hold a Spelling Bee, Math Bee, Family History Bee. Ask family teachers to help.
- School Supplies – provide students pencils, pens, rulers, drawstring bags, etc. with the family name
MEET THE EDWARDS FAMILY
SUCCESS IS RELATIVE
The Edwards family’s last reunion was relatively successful, but they’d like to see even more relatives show up this year. And they’ve got some unique and creative ideas that should help accomplish that goal.
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