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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
if you know someone who needs help...
National Preparedness
2025 Theme: “Preparedness Starts at Home”
CLICK HERE for info and resources.
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial 988 - Available 24/7
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code
that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH...
As family children head back to school, think of ways to encourage them to do and be their best—including incentives that can be enjoyed during the next reunion.
Consider implementing rewards like elevated school supplies, gift cards, student spotlights on your website or in your family newsletter, an end of year promotion party at your next reunion. Help promote a positive attitude towards learning by praising students efforts in addition to their grades. Creating a strong support system for academic success can encourage students and hopefully piques their interest in your family reunion planning.
FAMILY TIME...
September is when we try to stretch-out the last days of summer, focus on back-to-school learning, begin thinking about (or continue planning) our next reunion, and searching for more ways to have fun with the family. This September we’ve listed 70 observances, events and holidays that you can turn into great family time including Wife Appreciation Day, Grandparent’s Day, Stepfamily Day, Baby Safety Month, Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day, Childrens’ Good Manners Month, Intergeneration Month, Ancestor Appreciation Day, National Love People Day, and Suicide Prevention Month.
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.
PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING
INTERGENERATION MONTH...
ANCESTOR APPRECIATION DAY...
ANCESTOR APPRECIATION DAY...
September is Intergeneration Month, time to recognize and celebrate connections that span different generations. Use the month to intentionally focus on connecting family generations to better communicate age-related gratitude and needs, build relationships that close the generation gap, and cultivate intentional interaction with each other. Take some time this month to bring your family together to inspire ideas and activities that can make your reunion more intergenerational and insightful.
ANCESTOR APPRECIATION DAY...
ANCESTOR APPRECIATION DAY...
ANCESTOR APPRECIATION DAY...
Ancestor Appreciation Day is observed on September 27th, giving us a chance to appreciate our ancestors, reflect on family lineage, and learn about ancestors we may have never known or heard about. Take some time this month to interview family elders and conduct research to discover more about our families. Then be sure to share what you've uncovered with family members before, during and after the next reunion.
WORTH REPEATING QUOTES...
...on Learning & Being Prepared
...on Learning & Being Prepared
...on Learning & Being Prepared
“Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new.” – Former President Barack Obama
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” – Zig Ziglar
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”
– Marian Wright Edelman
"No time is ever wasted if you have a book along as a companion." – Marian Wright Edelman
“Let us resolve to be ready for any crisis and work to inspire a new generation of Americans, vested with the knowledge and experience to protect themselves, their families, and their communities in the face of any challenge.”
- Former President Barack Obama
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
- Benjamin Franklin
...All About Fall
...on Learning & Being Prepared
...on Learning & Being Prepared
“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall” – Oscar Wilde
“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” – Unknown
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree”
– Emily Bronte
“Autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature”
– Friedrich Nietzsche
“Autumn is the season to find contentment at home by paying attention to what we already have.” – Unknown
“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop
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).
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.
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.
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: 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?
LIVE VILTuesday September 2, 2025 8pm ET
Signature & Game Night
James M. Beidler and Michael John Neill will demonstrate four keys for learing about one family branch. Using Conrad Beidler as an example, they will show you how you could be Running Down the Boundaries of your ancestor's life to learn more. Plus, they will answer, can a signature change?
Then the reigning champions, Dr Debbie Abbott and J. Mark Lowe, FUGA, return for Game Night: Genealogy Feud. This will be a fun way to learn about the joys and perils of family history research. Other competitors include Drew Smith, LaJoy Mosby, and Patricia Stamm, CG.
CLICK HERE to watch on YouTube
CLICK HERE to watch on Facebook
GENEALOGY QUICK START—a 60-minute TV program that provides the steps needed to begin (or continue) researching your family ancestry. It's the best place to go when you need help understanding and/or researching genealogy.
Website : genealogyquickstart.com
Facebook : facebook.com/GenealogyQuickStartTV
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@GenealogyQuickStart/streams
join our mailing list to...
-Be in the know regarding family reunion planning and genealogy
-Join our community of family reunion planners
-Get info, tips and other good stuff.