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filler@godaddy.com
Suzanne Vargus Holloman, Co-Director of the Family Reunion Institute has announced the organization’s name change. “I’m excited to announce our name change to the National Family Reunion Institute (NFRI). We have always been national in scope and the name change reflects that. Our commitment to family reunions and family reunion planners remains our highest priority. As part of this name change, NFRI has adopted a new logo that emphasizes our dedication to family reunions. Our tax status has changed as well. We are now a tax exempt non-profit, and all donations are tax deductible. Donations represent an opportunity to do more for family reunions. Individuals and organizations desiring to support the Institute’s programs that build on the strengths of families, using reunions as the tool, are able to make a donations on the website."
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.
Planning a family reunion? Click below for tips on:
NEED HELP with a Sticky Reunion Situation?
- Check the SRS Archives (CLICK HERE) -OR-
- Contact us (CLICK HERE).
June is the month for dads, grads, and lots of summery 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, and Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
June is also the month for the Army’s Birthday, National SAFE Day, 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 so much more. Check out FAMILY TIME for our list of 75+ June observances and celebrations, the this month’s REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH, WORTH REPEATING, poetry, and more for good stuff for dads and grads.
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 family dad, particularly elders, who may greatly appreciate the extra 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 2023 grads successful new beginnings. And we’re hopeful this year’s reunions are plentiful, beneficial and treasured
Enjoy what’s left of Spring and the beginning of Summer. Be safe. Stay well. Take care of your family and reunion.
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NEW NOW:
· Reunion Tip of the Month
· Family Time
· Poem for Dads
· Poem for Grads
· Worth Repeating for Dads
· Worth Repeating for Grads
· Becoming a Better Dad
· Support for Dad
COME BACK LATER THIS MONTH FOR:
· Juneteenth
· Sticky Reunion Situation
· Practical Family Reunion Planning
Do you know what you have in common with your dad? Do you know what the dads in your family have in common with each other? Use this month to ask questions and get answers. Get dad (or his parents) to show you pictures of him growing up. Ask questions about his favorite time of year, color, food, book; childhood memories and family traditions; favorite school activities, subject and hang-out spot growing up; best and worst job; what they’re most proud of; their biggest fear; if they could get a “life do-over” what would they change, etc.
Ask family members to interview their dads and send responses to a designated family member who can put all the information together for sharing with the whole family. And don’t forget to take new pics of dads with their kids (and their dads if possible).
For the month of June we like emphasizing this exercise to encourage building relationships with dads and their children. We’re hopeful that it will draw attention to the opportunity fathers have to be the role models It’s been said that if a child has a healthy relationship with their father, they’re more likely to have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. For that reason alone it’s important for dads to spend quality time with their child(ren)—taking time to really get to know them.
June is known for Summer fun, Father’s Day, Black Music Appreciation Month, Beautiful in Your Skin Month, Community Health Improvement Week, Making Life Beautiful Day, Men's Health Week, Say Something Nice Day, Smile Power Day, National Garden Week and Great Outdoors Month, where most folks are clamoring to be in June, especially for gardening, barbecuing with dads, celebrating with grads, family…and family reunions. So take a look at all the different days that can be observed and celebrated this month and make a plan to spend quality family time with dad—and the rest of the folks.
You can turn these observances into great Family Time by having a discussion, doing some research, making a game of it, creating a meal around it, inventing an activity around it, getting the whole family involved, and making it fun.
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,
Just a perfect dad blend,
You're my father, my counselor,
And a really good friend.
- Joanna Fuchs
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 key,
To winning what you want in life&being who you want to be.
If you'll always be a student,
You'll find the secret to success,
And travel on the golden road,
To peace and happiness.
- Joanna Fuchs
“What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — it’s the courage to raise one.” - Barack Obama
“Every father bears a fundamental obligation to do right by their children.” - Barack Obama
“Above all, children need our unconditional love — whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough.” - Barack Obama
“One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Howard W. Hunter
“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” –Charles Kettering
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” –Frederick Douglass
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” - B.B. King
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” - Steve Jobs
“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” - Leonardo da Vinci
“To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too may one day be president of the United States.”
- George W. Bush
There's a list called 100 Ways to be a Better Father, from which we picked our favorite "10" to share with you below. We challenge all dads to check out the complete list for themselves and select their favorites.
1. Be present with your children.
2. Say I love you. A lot.
3. Heap lavish amounts of praise on your kids.
4. Focus on the positive when speaking to your children.
5. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions.
6. Listen to your kids with all of your attention.
7. Hold your kids accountable for their actions and words.
8. Spend some one-on-one time with your child.
9. Forgive your dad for any grudges you hold against him.
10. Make amends when you’re wrong or grumpy or harsh with your kids.
Get the full list—100 Ways to be a Better Father: https://naturalpapa.com/fatherhood/100-ways-to-be-a-better-father/
Dads are often thought of as one or more of these types: absentee, affectionate, compassionate, cool, geek, handyman, involved, loveable, nurturing, overbearing, playful, proud, provider, responsible, superman/hero, teacher, thoughtful, workaholic, etc. Some people even think of dads in military terms: MIA (missing in action), AWOL (absent without leave), Reserved Duty (slow to interact or reveal emotion), Active Duty (all in, all the time). As children we want our dads to show up and be present. To help and not hurt. To teach and not impair. To embrace and not wound. To love and not fail.
But what do you do if you’re a male, on the cusp of being a father, with no role model or anyone to help you navigate one of the most important undertakings of your life? After all they say you can’t teach what you don’t know.
You get help. Do some research to find resource(es) that can help you become the best father you can be. Here are two websites to help jumpstart your journey:
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT: THE HANCOCK FAMILY
We all like to think we are unique, but the Hancock Family has an approach to reunions that is different from almost all others.
CLICK HERE FOR THE HANCOCK FAMILY STORY
THE SITUATION:
My cousin brought her dog to the reunion last year, saying he's like her child and he was too sad for her to leave at home. It was one of those little terrier dogs that she carried in her purse for about the first 15 minutes they were there, and then she let him out and he became a terror, chasing and barking at the younger children, getting into the food and drinks, licking everything in sight. I thought it was disgusting, and this year we stated on reunion materials that no pets were allowed. My cousin now says if her "child" can't come she's not coming. The family is divided, half didn't mind the dog but the rest did. We've been having reunions for over 20 years now without pets and we don't want to turn it into an animal reunion. If she gets to bring her dog again this year, you can bet other family members will follow suit. How can we resolve this so that everybody’s happy?
Part of practical family reunion planning is knowing who our family members are. It's Memorial Day weekend. Time to honor those who lost their lives while defending our country. Do you know who from your family are among those we honor? If not, do some research. Ask your oldest living family members. Gather information including which branch of service, rank, length of service, pictures, etc., and share with the rest of the family. If you start researching now, you may find much more to celebrate and honor in November on Veteran’s Day,
-Be in the know regarding family reunion planning and genealogy
-Join our community of family reunion planners
-Get info, tips and other good stuff.