Whether you are thinking of having a big or small family reunion, a little planning will prevent a lot of family feuds.  Here are some key steps to making a plan for your clan:

·         Select a leader or leaders to put it all together. I know one family that rotates this job from sibling to sibling each year, so no one carries the burden alone.

·         Use email and the phone to survey everyone you want to attend. Find out what works in their schedule so that the most people can get together. Offer a few dates and see which is best. Some web sites offer free anonymous surveys (like zoomerang.com) or just make up your own.

·         Use the survey to find out what kind of reunion to have. Indoor vs. outdoors? Summer or winter? Beach vs. Mountains or in the host’s hometown.

·         Survey how much money people want to spend for food, lodging and activities so you can make a budget that fits everyone’s pocketbook.

·         Plan to give yourself a few months to pull it all together.

·         Keep all the information you gather in one binder.

·         Reserve a location to sleep, places to eat (or cook yourself), and to hold activities.

·         Mail invitations if needed for a large group.

·         Assign duties to family members: planning activities, getting decorations, menu planning, hiring a photographer, etc.

·         Make a schedule of planned activities and free time.

·         Organize family collections before the reunion and give as a favor for attendees such as a family recipe book, history book, picture album, favorite song list, birthday/anniversary list, complete address list, etc.

·         Plan activities for all ages: 

        home movie night 

        embarrassing story telling

       karaoke or sing-along party

        shoot a wacky home movie that has nothing to do with the reunion

        record interviews with older family members and very young family members

        have a talent show

        have a tacky gift exchange

·         Make nametags and have icebreakers for large groups where everyone may not know one another yet.

·         After the event, make a family reunion scrapbook to bring year to year or post photos on a web site for everyone to see!

Resources:

http://www.temple.edu/fri/familyreunion/organize.html

http://www.family-reunion.com

http://www.familyreunion.com

Allison Carter is a Professional Organizer in Marietta, Georgia.  Allison worked for more than a dozen years at CNN as a producer and assignment editor where she refined her skills in time management and efficiency.