Incoming 2012

1. Incoming 2012
2. Making Plans - Making Memories
3. Reunion Preparation Reminders
4. Raising Funds

Here is a shout out to family reunion planners in Canada, Australia, Trinidad
and Tobago from the U.S of A. - Welcome aboard.

1. Incoming 2012
Can you believe that 2011 has come and gone? It was back in 2008 that we
lamented how we quickly moved thru January 2007. "Before you know it we'll be
sipping a frosty glass of lemonade to the beat of "Family Reunion" on a warm
Sunny day while the young'ns laugh and play." Well 2007 thru 2011 has come and
gone. But we do have our memories don't we? And that's what it's all about. Yes
the cup of 2012 will soon be half full and the rest about to be swallowed.

That said don't gulp down your refreshing cup of life to quickly.
Learn how to savor every moment. Enjoy the family and remember the good times.
All we really have are our memories, the present time, and those we can only
hope to make tomorrow. As you go, instead of living someone-else's life or
trying to recapture the past in our present time, focus on creating memories
from the here and now. Only then can you look back fondly and enjoy that memory
rather than have regrets over a botched moment or missed details.

Much of your success in creating a memory has to do with good planning and
keeping things simple enough to enjoy the present. Give yourself permission to
enter that moment, that day and hour and make the most of it with the ones you
love rather than fussing over endless details.

What are your New Years resolutions? How close are you to meeting your goal?
Here's a popular one or two.

1. Spend more time with family even if it means writing letters, making phone
calls or video conferencing.

2. Don't just talk about what you want to do. Make it happen with good planning.
Begin by putting an event planning date on your calendar.


2. Making Plans - Making Memories
Brenda and I put on a family night show last month for family and friends. My
purpose in doing this was six-fold

1. Bring our family back together purely to celebrate family values that would
leave us all feeling good about ourselves and our roles.

2. Teach friends the importance of putting family first.

3. Teach our youth solid relationship skills while building character and
unbreakable bonds.

4. Provide a positive pro-active outlet to direct all of our creative energy and
inspire our youth to think about what they want to do with their life.

5. Fill the need for paternal affection and heal aching hearts needing to
confront family loss.

6. Celebrate new life.

We spent three months planning, rehearsing and crafting the props. It was a
truly multi-culteral/international event with cast and guests from Tobago,
Trinidad, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It was the best time I had in
years, if ever. Why? Because despite several setback we pulled it off and
succeeded in addressing all six parts of our mission. Hearts were penetrated.
Now a ripple effect has begun, a cascading of healing, mending and bonding is
taking place.

I have to admit I am detail oriented when it comes to these things. Just as we
were getting close to the day of the event several unforeseen occurrances
crossed our path. As a result we lost a whole day of prep time and hours were
cut of the event program due to delays.

Needless to say much of what I personally planned and created had to be put
aside and discarded. In addition there were many needless distractions with
details unrelated to our purpose. But the essence of what we put into the show
was well preserved in a single soundtrack, the props and the talent of the cast.
That said "the show went on" and our Family Night event was the most wonderful
and beautiful moment that I and most of the attendees had ever experienced.

My most gratifying memory is that the whole thing was conceived by Brenda and I
on our family summer vacation.

3. Family Reunion Preparation Reminders
Planning a family reunion is a great reason to come together. Be it to quilt,
knit, exchange ideas, photos or reminisce. When you think about it the time
spent in preparation for a family reunion is much like the days leading to
graduation. It's a time to reach back and savor memories, accomplishments and
pay our respects to those who've come and gone in our lives. When the reunion
days have passed you realize just how much the event was needed for all
involved.

Now is the time to check where you are on the "Family Reunion Timeline
Checklist". Wrap up collecting photos, stories, genealogy research and
start making definite plans to put together your photo and genealogy
presentations. Plan to have it all completed by the end of February or
early March.

If you're booking a reception hall follow up on this now. Order
supplies early or when materials are least expensive. By now everyone
should know how much family reunion dues are and most of the funds
should be collected by months end. Commence ordering T-shirts now if
you have not done so. You'll need time to examine a sample, approve
it and have them start printing. When the shirts arrive you'll need
to check each one and return a few for replacements. Plan to have your
t-shirts on hand by April. Touch base with all committee members to
make sure they are making progress on assigned task.


4. Raising Funds
By now you should have a good idea of how much funding is needed to
pull of the reunion event. First look for ways to cut down on
expenses without compromising quality. Is there a need to have more
funds on hand? Consider having an auction to raise money. Start
planning now. A great time for an indoor Auction is during the cold
season. Outdoor auctions are good for the warmer dryer season.

What will you sell? If you have crafty family members ask them to donate items.
Check out some flea markets for collector's items you know certain family
members will have to have. Put up some items you own that some of your family
members have shown an interest in. Create
gift baskets. Order bulk greeting cards and sell them in packs. Have
someone bake a few pies. Others can sell family coupons for home
cooked Sunday meals. Make it clear how much your looking to get with
the sale of each item. Your aim is to meet or beat that goal.

TIP 1: Have a family member erect a goal score board and write out the
goal and how close you are getting to the goal each time an item is
sold. This will focus attendees interest on meeting the goal and
encourage participation.

TIP 2:Have you inspected and appraised the family heirlooms? Perhaps a
few family members are willing to pay a few bucks for the honor of
temporary ownership. Most of all enjoy the moment of planning. Before
you know it, it will all have passed and you will have made many sweet
memories to savor.

Get your copy of the award winning Family Reuion Planner at
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net and start creating memories, drinking
up life and living in the moment.

Happy Reunion Planning Everyone!

Got money to burn? Neither do I. That said, if you could plan your entire family reunion for free I would be the first in line to tell you how. But in order to please the masses of family and friend attending you can at least spare yourself needless costs by taking the time to shop around in stores and online expecially when free shipping is available. So how can we Family reunion planners do our absolute best at saving money while planning your family reunion? In a word. Window browse first. Well that's three words, but you get the idea.

1. Compare prices
2. Buy bulk
3. Take advantage of free shipping

And here's one you may not have expected. Good planning. That's right, good planning saves time and money. Last minute running around wastes time gas and prevents you from taking advantage of all the best off-season deals offers available right now.

So where to start? Three steps.

1. Get you hands on a good family reunion planning book. I suggest Fimark's Family Reunion Planning Guide and Keepsake. http://astore.amazon.com/family-reunion-20/detail/1461124239.

2. If you like web apps for your desk-laptop I recommend you download Fimark's Family Reunion Planner. It includes a great weekly timeline planning application with very practical money saving alerts and tips to use as you go about planning your reunion event. http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net.

3. Start comparing prices and hunting down those off-season party supply, picnic, summer gear, BBQ equipment and Cookout accessory deals online.

Happy reunion planning!

Family Reunion Booklet

Have you started your family tree yet? This is a good day to begin.
Before family dinner put together the family tree according to the
information you already have.

Next invite family members at the table to fill in the missing pieces. Showing
the kids the family tree and the stories behind the history can be fascinating,
eye opening and even improve self-esteem. Seeing how their family history
connects to secular history learned in school can shed a whole new light on
school work. Add the family tree to your Family Reunion Keepsake Booklet

Family Reunion Keepsake Booklet.
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_booklet.html

Family Tree Photos
Why not start with photos. Gather all your photos together and start naming all
family members on the back of them. Now create a hand written or typed lineage
chart. Crop and add the photos to the chart.

You can even print it out and insert it in the Family Reunion
Keepsake Booklet.
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_booklet.html

Present your family tree project and family reunion booklet at your family
dinner and the completed version at your next family reunion.

A great place to start building your family tree is at MyEvent.com. Currently
they offer a free Family Reunion Website that includes access to a family tree
application. Check it out at http://www.celebrate.myevent.com/?affID=31409


Happy family reunion planning!

Mark & Brenda

Free Family Reunion Planner
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/step1.html

Write Your Family Reunion Newsletter

If your family reunion event has recently passed or you're planning a 2012 or 2013 family reunion it's time to start writing your reunion newsletter. The question is, where to start? Why not start with your event preparation notes, ideas or recent reunion dinner program and Itinerary?

If your event is future, build anticipation and throw out some ideas and suggestions from family members. Add plenty of commendation about past gatherings. To get everyone involved get thoughts from the younger generation. If the family plans on getting together in the month of November, this would be a fine time to distribute the newsletter and consider some of the event location, dinner program and itinerary ideas.

Writing the Newsletter
Include short paragraphs under the following subheadings:
1. Making Memories (Add snippets of highlights of past reunion the events)
2. How It All Began (Discuss how the theme and slogan came about)
3. Acknowledgement (Say thank you to those who helped out)
4. Recent Family News (Weddings, Graduations, Births, In Memoriam)
5. Include poems and meaningful quotations

Clearly identify family members you're telling about. For example, write, "Jane Smith, daughter of Gordon C.   Smith and Joy Hazel Smith, graduated from the University of Maryland in May."

Family photos are wonderful additions to family reunion newsletters. Kids pictures are most endearing and spark conversation.  Be sure to add captions with descriptions of the subjects in the photos including names, location and the date the photo was taken.

Content and Filler
Need more content? Add one line family trivia in empty spaces. For example, you could write, "Who let the dogs out? In 1959 John Smith owned a kennel."  Add mystery guest photos and humorous comments or situations associated with the reunion. Add a recipe box complete with the history behind the recipe.
Add some heart to your newsletter with excerpts from poems. A great place to find family reunion poems it at  
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_poems.html

Did You Know? The author of  the poem "Finding Our Way Back Home" is also the author of  Fimark's Family Reunion Planning Guide and Keepsake book.

Family Recipes
Want to start compiling family reunion recipes complete with history, background, originator and instructions? Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planning Guide and Keepsake book. Makes a great gift for family reunion planners, award recipients and genealogy buffs. http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

Thinking about a family reunion cruise? Get ideas at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/reunion-travel-vacation.html

Happy Family Reunion Planning!
Mark & Brenda

Frugal Shopping This Season

Hey family reunion planners. Happy November! It's time to economize and avoid  creating credit card money pits when gift shopping this season.

Here are some helpful tips.  1. Don't use a credit card this season. Use your debit card only. 2. Get gift cards and save mileage and gas. 3. Shop online Black Friday Week or Cyber Monday Week and save up to 30%. 4. Look for deep discount inventory liquidation sales online and compare prices.

The astore is very helpful shopping tool for reunion planners who want to be more frugal this shopping season. http://astore.amazon.com/fimarkhome-party-20

Fun Family Reunion Ideas

Did you know? November is family reunion planning month. With Family Reunion Planning Month just days away it's time to start thinking about fun family reunion ideas for 2011 - 2013. 


Take advantage of the season to kindle interest and enjoy planning activities that bind. It's a great time of year for baking and cooking. Why not start collecting family recipes and find out which recipes your household likes.  Start a tradition of your own. You'll find a family recipe collector/organizer in Fimark's 132 page Family Reunion Planning Guide Keepsake Book. 


Other Fun Planning Activities:


1. Make a Quilt
2. Design Your Own Family Reunion Logo
3. Print T-shirts
4. Design Your Own Family Reunion Flyer
5. Collect and Try Out Traditional Recipes


To help you get your planning off to a great start here is a list of popular family reunion event activities.


1. A Family History Drama
2. An Video or Live Interview With Young Adults
3. A Water Balloon Toss Contest
4. A Slide Show Of Babies (Guess Who)
5. A Photo Display Table of Kids Growing Up


Looking for more fantastic ideas? Find 7 more here...
http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-reunion-idea.html


Did you know that Mark Askew, the author of the Poem "We Rise To Tell The Story" is also the author of "Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Guide Workbook and Keepsake"? This book is now available at Amazon.com as well as Barnes and Noble.

Get the complete Family Reunion Package with Mark's reunion planning guide book, software on CD and Instant Download of 5 poems, flyers, invitations, banners and the award winning reunion planning application at the summertime discount price of $69 (normally $99) at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net.

Happy Family Reunion Planning!
 
Mark 

If you have any questions regarding the event contact me at fimarkhome@gmail.com

FamilyReunion.com® | Fimark Home Online - www.fimark.net

Did You Know? FamilyReunion.com features Fimark Home Online and Fimark's Family Reunion Planner at FamilyReunion.com® Fimark Home Online - www.fimark.net.