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

November is full of oohs and aahs. In our neck of the woods, November is greeting us with an extra hour of sleep, above average temperatures, lower than average rainfall, one of most picturesque autumn foliages ever, and an excess of election commercials.

November means it's time to adjust to cooler temps, warm and fragrant smells from the kitchen, oven-baked comfort foods and savory desserts. Time to evaluate where we are with our family reunions, consider what we’ve accomplished so far (or not), and begin populating our to-do lists with actions needed to bring about success. And while the official reunion may be months away, November is here to usher in plenty of opportunity for unofficial “reunion” time with family and friends including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and a plethora of holiday dinners, parties, gift exchanges and festive celebrations.

November also means it's time to get out and vote (and the eventual end to those dreaded commercials). Voting is a privilege, duty and responsibility. It's important. So no excuses. Let's Just Do It.

Speaking of just doing it, this month's FAMILY TIME is a mix of November things to do, holidays, observances and celebrations including Election Day (don't forget to Vote), Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Military Family Appreciation Month, the Marine Corp Birthday, National Adoption Month, National Gratitude Month, National Inspirational Role Models Month, World Kindness Day, World Hello Day, , American Made Matters Day, the Great American Smokeout Day, Chicken Soup for the Soul Day, National Nachos Day, National French Toast Day and National Stuffing Day. This month’s REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH is a list of takeaways from our Oct 26th Virtual Family Reunion Planning Workshop. And WORTH REPEATING is about Thanksgiving and gratitude.

This Thanksgiving Day as we sit around our dinner tables being grateful for those around us, let’s consider spreading more love, joy, encouragement and support. Let’s try to live each day being more helpful, hopeful, peaceful and positive. Let’s treat others as we’d like to be treated. Let's be well, eat well, and do well. And let's continue to grow stronger families—and reunions—together.

Have a great November. Stay safe and keep planning.

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NEW NOW...

- Family Time

- Worth Repeating Quotes

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

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NEED HELP with a Sticky Reunion Situation?

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

- Contact us (CLICK HERE).

FAMILY TIME

WORTH REPEATING...

November is full of lots to do, celebrate, eat, enjoy and make good family time out of. Family Days to celebrate this month include: Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Month, Family Stories Month, National Family Caregivers Appreciation Month, National Family Literacy Month, National Family Week, National Housewives Day, National Men Make Dinner Day, National Parents as Teachers Day, Inspirational Role Models Month, Gratitude Month, Kindness Day, Veteran’s Day and so much more including your family members birthdays, anniversaries, special celebrations and occasions. Check out the full list of 70 November observances by clicking below.

click for full list of November family time observances

WORTH REPEATING...

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” - John F. Kennedy

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” – Meister Eckhart

“Make it a habit to tell people, ‘thank you.’ To express your appreciation sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return.” - Ralph Marston

STICKY REUNION SITUATION

The one reunion issue that came up over and over again this summer was getting young people involved in the planning. In this month's Sticky Reunion Situation we revisit this issue with words of wisdom from Dr. Vargus.

The Situation: WHO WILL LEAD OUR FUTURE REUNIONS

We'd love to see our family reunion continue well into the future. Our problem is not being able to get younger family members interested in the planning. They like coming to the reunion, but when it comes to taking any kind of lead with the planning, they're nowhere to be found. What can we do to turn this around?

click here for Dr. Vargus' Advice

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

REUNION FEEDBACK

Have you ever planned events and activities for your family reunion that did not turn out as well as you thought they would, and the planning team is having a hard time understanding why? The best way to find out what happened is to ask your family members. You can provide a survey that can be completed online (and anonymously if needed). Or you can call and speak with family members directly. Whichever way you go, ask straightforward questions in a caring way so that you get the direct answers you need to make the next event or activity successful.

If reunion attendance was low ask those who did not attend if the absence was due to any of the following: Day, Date or Time; Location; Cost of Reunion; Number of Days; Activities Planned; Travel Expenses; Family Emergency or Illness; or something else.

If an event was not well attended ask those who did not attend what about the event did not appeal to them. Ask if there is an alternative event that they would like to see the family have.

Don’t be afraid to approach family members about reunion-related events and activities. Doing so is the only way to plan something good, great and wonderful that most (if not all) of the family will enjoy.

Our Motto

"family reunions are more than just a picnic"

NOVEMBER 2024

FAMILY REUNION PLANNING TIPS

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.

FAMILY TIME

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

STICKY REUNION SITUATION

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING