The Family Reunion Planner Social Has Launched

The Family Reunion Planner Social web app officially launched today, May 27th 2013. Choose from five reunion themes and associated printables and custom designed t-shirts.

The social enabled family reunion planner includes several apps on one interface for updating your facebook contacts and activity surveys. Surveys are automatically tallied when users like preferred themes and activities.

Connect Plan and Invite

Connect to the planning committee via chat, video conference or skype while sharing and editing the web apps reunion planning and department worksheets in real time.

Send invitations instantly. Keep track of RSVP statuses.

The web app syncs with your facebook account and imports profile data into a spreadsheet-like sortable searchable data table so you can perform the following family reunion planning tasks:

• View most popular interests
• Sort based on demographic categories and interests
• Determine talents
• Determine skill sets of volunteers using provided work history and education data
• Create a music lists using provided music interests data
• Select poetry recital candidates using provided book interest data..

Download the complete family reunion planner spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is a stand alone family reunion planner. Import guestlist data into the spreadsheet and save time on data entry.

Read up on cost saving planning tips and activity ideas using the family reunion planner ebook in PDF or Flipbook format

Find the ideal location and venue for your event.

Plan your itinerary and Luncheon/Dinner program. Plan and organize the layout of your reception hall using the Reception Hall Floor Planner. Choose from over 300 recipes ideal for your potluck reunion picnic or banquet dinner.

The skies the limit with the new Family Reunion Planner Social web app.

Planning a family reunion? Don't have Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app yet? Get it at this summers discount special. List Price $49. Now $39 for a limited time. You save $10 dollars. No coupon code needed. For more information about the family reunion planning app click on the link found on this blog page or go to profiles.

Here Come The Brides, Grads, Reunion eBook and App

Duck! We're heading for three big family reunion celebration months. During this season there will be many special events whipping by. Watch out for low flying objects and falling graduation caps. Here comes all those ceremonies and parties from pre-k to college to weddings.  Who knows, you may even be in a wedding or two.  What's That? A mob of women heading this way. Smack! What now? A bouquet just landed on my head? Quick, throw it back and run.

Print Flyers For Graduation Day Parties and Bridal Showers

Looks like many of you will be celebrating Father's Day.  And speaking of fathers, are there any sports fanatics in your  family? Heads up... it's coming in fast. Moving like a missile at twelve o'clock... Slam! Ouch! That's gotta hurt. Awe! That's gonna leave a mark. Is there no mercy for the family reunion planner during the finale weeks of sports season. Answer. None, Nada, Zip, Zero Zilch! That said it's time to wrap up your family reunion planning and get ahead of the game. Ball game that is.

Less Is More

Have you put  off reunion tasks for later? That's understandable considering all that you have to do. But guess what? Now is later. Did you at least get your t-shirts ordered? Remember LESS is MORE. The LESS you did then, the MORE you'll have to do now.  If your t-shirts have not been ordered and your reunion is late June or early July, don't delay another day. Order your t-shirts now. That's right. Go to the t-shirt design website and preview and order coloful predesigned family reunion tees so you don't have to waste precious time trying to figure out how to draw a stick man and a tree. Here's a quick link to one of the top t-shirt design apps online. http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet. Once you choose your design just add "Year", "Surname" and "Reunion" and you're done.  Now let's move on.

Finding A Trusted Guide

Planning a family reunion is much like planning a voyage to a remote destination full of wonder, surprise and rewarding treasures.  Yes I am getting to something here... Before you embark on your journey you have to get directions, then chart your course and finally, follow a trusted guide.  Finding a trusted guide is what Fimark's Family Reunion Planner has been all about these past 10 years. Have you heard about the new Family Reunion Planner Social? I know you were looking for it's release in the Fall. Then came the Spring.

Well, it's Spring now and the new family reunion social web application preview is out! Here's what I can tell you about it. It's designed to work with your laptop or desktop and is optimized for  Chrome and Firefox browsers.  The web app has over 15 distinct features not found on previous versions of the reunion event planning center.  As a matter of fact it seems you can plan many different social events using this one web application. Once one event has passed just move on to planning the next event.

Previewing The New Event Planner

Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner eBook in ePub format and get a preview of the new reunion planner web application soon to be released end of May 2013.  Read the features, specifications and just imagine the possibilities when planning your next family reunion event. The eBook shows you how the web app syncs with your facebook page and dumps profile data into one spreadsheet-like sortable searchable data table so you can communicate with your family and friends from one data table while viewing their interests and demographics in categorized tables.  Also view vital RSVP stats when planning the event. But that's just two of it's many features.  Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner ebook for details on this amazing fully social enabled reunion event planning web app. The ebook in epub format is available at Amazon.com's Kindle bookstore.

New Reunion Planner eBook

Fimark's Family Reunion Planner ebook in epub format is an upgrade from the 132 page paper back book. Using the ebook you can review the Family Reunion Timeline Planner Checklist on your tablet or phone to make sure you're on track with event organization and management tasks. Take a look at the worksheets to make sure all departments are up and running smoothly.  Add notes as needed to keep up with tasks. Link to web based event planning tools from your phone. Best of all the ePub eBook contains a preview of the new Family Reunion Planner Social app with new event planning techniques, tools and planning logic that can save you hordes of time, hundreds of dollars and lots of footwork planning your next reunion event.

The Family Reunion Planner eBook is Out!

The Family Reunion Planner is now Mobile!  

At long last, Fimark's Family Reunion Planner is now in ebook format. Plan your family reunion using Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, Android, LG  and most other tablets and mobile devices configured for ePub readers. That means you can plan your entire family reunion using nothing but your mobile device.





But There's More. 
This eBook features a wonderful extensive family reunion crafts and t-shirt making section. Enjoy the step by step guides and create all sorts of memorable reunion gifts, favors and heirlooms like the t-shirt quilt..  In addition, a new section dedicated to reunion games now included bubbles games and water balloon games for kids and kids-at-heart who love cooling off while playing exciting and exhilarating water sports. Provides a lot of laughter and entertainment for everyone.

The Biggest and The Best

But that's not even the biggest news. Even though the Family Reunion Planner ebook is designed to serve as a stand alone event planner with everything you need to plan your family reunion it includes a sneak peak and guide to the new family reunion planner web application, the Family Reunion Planner Social, to be released end of May 2013.  Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner eBook now.

Family Reunion Planning Tools

What keeps kids fixated for hours in one spot (within a 10 ft radius) at outdoor parties and picnics? What keeps them from running off into the distant horizon never to be seen again. Bubbles. Kids are fascinated by them and the adults love the festive atmosphere it creates. There is an art to bubble blowing and festive, decorative bubble arrangement. The-art-of-blowing-bubbles And what's better then blowing bubbles by hand? Bubble blowers. Yep. The kind you see used at weddings. I own several bubble blowing machines I plan to put on display at the next picnic. Each bubble blower is powered by a small battery compartment held in place by a removable lid secured by one or two very small screws.

Depending on the duration of the event I might find myself changing the batteries periodically as needed. I remember once getting quite frustrated with myself over forgetting to bring my set of screwdrivers and almost gave up on setting up the display when suddenly I remembered that I always carry my trusty pocket tool complete with phillips and flat head mini screwdrivers. But would it do the job?

I Popped the battery compartments open, changed the batteries and the bubble blowers were up and running in no time. Back in business.  The laughter and excitement from every kids voice was worth the effort. Now we're cooking with oil! When it comes to event planning there's nothing like having just the right tools at hand. Super-fun-bubble-blowers.

And speaking of having the right tools, I'm proud to present all our family reunion planners with the best family reunion planning tools available online. Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Guide Book and Keepsake or Fimark's "Event Planning and Download Center", a personal web-based application that gives you access to all the tools you'll need to plan your reunion.

The following list of event planning reminders includes the use of the "Event Planning and Download Center" part of Fimark's award winning Family Reunion Planning Package.

1. Using the "Timeline Planner" Panel find out what tasks need to be completed this month. Simply move the calendar to January and click on the dates with links. Plan to have this months tasks completed by months end and move on to February tasks as soon as possible.

2. If you're booking a reception hall or picnic area follow up on this now. Use the "Lookup" Panel of Fimark's Family Reunion Planner to find the ideal locations for your event.

3. Order supplies as soon as possible, taking advantage of off-season discounts. Use the "Family Reunion Store" Panel to compare prices from over 20 popular stores online and in your area.

4. By now everyone should know how much family reunion dues are and most of the funds should be collected by months end.

5. Using the "T-shirt Designer" Panel in Fimark's Family Reunion Planner commence designing the reunion t-shirt and taking in orders now if you have not done so. Use the Budgeting Panel to calculate all event related costs with the help of the adjacent supplies and services checklist.

6. Record t-shirt orders using the "Attendee Registration - T-shirt Roster" Panel. You'll need time to examine a sample t-shirt, 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 in June.

7. Touch base with all committee members to make sure they are making progress on assigned task. Committee and departmental worksheets can be found in the "Workbooks" Panel. Simply download the MS Word Workbook "Family Reunion Planner" (it contains over 20 worksheets) at the "Workbooks" Panel.

Now you're cooking with oil!

Get your copy of Fimark's award winning Family Reunion Planner complete with the "Event Planning and Download Center" at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net and get started planning now.

Happy Reunion Planning Everyone!

Having Fun with Family History

Life is full of surprises. One sunny day you're enjoying the golden daffodils and the brilliant display of colorful tulips while listening to the breeze ruffle the leaves of swaying trees. As chirping birds dash and swoop from limb to limb suddenly the clouds roll in and rain begins to fall. 

First a sprinkle and a shower,  then it pours.  A nice surprise for the trees and grass but the rest of us gather our things together and head for shelter. Why do we run from the very thing necessary to keep us alive? 

Whenever there is a severe drought nobody runs from the rain. On the contrary, they call everyone they know, they stand looking up at the sky as the rain falls on their relieved and happy faces. they soak it all up, wading in it, walking in it and laughing in it. Today? Today we run from it!


While watching it rain from the inside looking out I often think of how lush and brilliant the foliage will grow thanks to this good watering and then I think about the personal growth I strive for, a goal that has shaped my families life for three generations now. 

Personal and Family Growth

When I think of the growth made it can only be defined by the results. I'm proud of my hard working wife Brenda who woke up today singing  a song as she scurried out the door on her way to serve a community of college bound youth. I'm proud of my mother and father who also have devoted themselves to providing wisdom, hope and practical assistance to the residents of our city. 


I am equally proud of my son Jonathan and his wife who both do volunteer work at a local congregation helping the younger generation manage a life of turbulence. These are some of the notable things I put down in our family history logs preserved for the next generation to come. But that's not all that made the history books. There were sunny days and cloudy days, droughts and surprise showers, stooping lower to dig deeper and reach higher with many lessons learned along the way. Best of all a lot of laughter and spontaneous fun. These times deserve to be recorded as well.

Having Fun With Family History

And speaking of family history logs It's always best to keep a log, journal or blog of your family life including genealogy, community contributions, life growing up. But family history does not always have to be cut-and-dry. 

Add some life to it by including some funny photos of baby in a bath full of soap suds or the toddler frantically chasing bubbles in the park. Include silly pranks like dumping water on dads head while sleeping on the porch or baby's first attempt to feed himself while making a complete mess of what was a perfectly prepared spaghetti dinner. 

Add some light anecdotal stories from family interviews and include some excerpts from humorous text messages to and from family members. Step back in time to yesteryear and take a stroll on the funny side of life. Collect bridesmaids dresses and tux worn over the years. Remember the dances or the days the kids decided to take over the kitchen and make dinner? Record the secret shower serenades. There's nothing like viewing photo stories and video of failed attempts at inventions, recipes and art compared to the look of glee when after many attempts they finally succeed.

Presenting Your History At Family Reunions

While family reunions often feature traditional activities such as recipe swaps, a family music list, familiar stories and outside games, many times families intend on digging deep into history and sharing it in an organized meaningful and exciting way. But good intentions are often met with distractions and a project long left undone. What's needed is a goal, some organizing and inspiration.

Helpful Tools To Record and Present Family History

To help families get their research work off the ground and into the family reunion events program is the Genealogy and Homestead Tour Family Reunion Themed Planner found in Fimark's Family Reunion Planner.

The Family Reunion Planner guides you through the process of throwing a successful and enriching genealogy themed family reunion. With online tools that help you do your genealogy research you'll have your family reunion event planned, organized and ready to manage in just a few hours using Fimark's Family Reunion Planner web app and ebook. 

Our company, Fimark has been developing family reunion planners since 2004 and each release just keeps getting better. Get the Genealogy and Homestead Tour Family Reunion Themed Planner - Includes themes, logos, slogans, matching invitations, theme banner, matching t-shirt, cap and apron ready to edit and order online. 

Other themes in the planner package include:
Family Reunion Cruise Theme
Family Reunion Family Fest Theme
Traditional Family Reunion Theme
Living Legends Ball Theme

Planning a family reunion? Don't have Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app yet? Get it at this summers discount special. List Price $49. Now $39 for a limited time. You save $10 dollars. No coupon code needed. For more information about the family reunion planning app click on the link found on this blog page or go to profiles.

Happy Family Reunion Planning!
Mark and Brenda

Making Your Family Reunion Keepsake Booklet

In our last newsletter under Reunion Preparation Reminders we discussed where you want to be on the "Family Reunion Timeline Checklist". You should have collected photos, stories, genealogy research and have started on your photo and genealogy presentations. These will go in your family reunion keepsake booklet.

Photos

You will want to do one of two things with your photos.
1. Scan them into your computer
2. Take a picture of the photo using your digital camera, camera phone or cell phone and transfer them to your computer.

Now that your photos are on your computer use your photo editing tools to crop (cut-around) the images into a perfect square.

Family History

Next, from your family history files put together two paragraphs of information about your ancestors from the earliest records available. Include full first names, middle and surnames of both father and mother, marriage dates, education, trades and employment, residents, migration and births leading up to the eldest living family member. http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_booklet.html

Attendee Registration Roster/Database

Add a list of all attendees to your keepsake booklet. The Family Reunion Planner includes the Attendee Registration Roster which is a database for keeping attendee information such as contact information, returned survey data and t-shirt orders by person and household. 

Now the Planner provides an attendee application that gives multiple family members open access to the same attendee roster. The online attendee database allows family members or committee members to update the database in real-time. Allowing others access to the database helps improve the accuracy and expedite updates in a more timely manner not unlike a wiki-project.

Family Business

Add a family business page to your keepsake booklet. As you put together your attendee registration database include information regarding the various businesses owned by family members including those who sell Avon products and such. Family members may wish to purchase a space or whole page in the booklet to provide more details regarding the business. Proceeds go to the event or committee treasury. Use the blank page found in the booklet template for adding additional business pages.

In Memoriam

The In Memoriam section can include information from the obituary of recently deceased elders and other family members. Some like to add excerpts from a bio as well as a poem or two in this section. http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_poems.html

Putting together your family reunion keepsake booklet can be one of the most rewarding projects associated with the event, so remember to get the family involved.

Fimark's Family Reunion Booklet

Includes: A Beautiful Booklet Cover, Page to place a copy of the Welcome Letter
from Town Officials, Our Family History Page, In Memoriam Page,
Dinner Banquet Program, Family Business Cards Display, Address/Phone Directory,
Acknowledgements, Blank Templates for adding other features including reunion events,
other photos and more.

Booklet Cover Chairperson Welcome Official Welcome History Page In Memoriam Reunion Activites
Dinner Program Family Businesses Address/Phone Directory Acknowledgements Blank Template

Happy Family Reunion Planning!

Don't have the latest version of Fimark's Family Reunion Planner? Get your copy of the award winning Family Reunion Planner  at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

Gotta Love It!

Here is a shout out to family reunion planners in
South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia!

1. Gotta Love It!

"I love this application!" That's what users are saying about Fimark's Family Reunion Planner. Remember that the planner also comes with a family reunion planning book that ships out as soon as you get the immediate download. And don't forget to check out the spectacular family reunion themes included!

2. Great Themes For Your Reunion

In case some of you did not know we made major changes to how you plan your family reunion event. Now our online family reunion planning interface begins with selecting your theme. That feature was introduced back in 2010 with Fimark's Family Reunion Planner upgrade. Think that was exciting? Now the spectacular family reunion theme planning package is better than ever!

After we partnered with zazzle.com we put together a themed based package that allows reunion planners to select event wear and correspondence by theme. The  beauty of this is now you don't have to stress over how to conceptualize a theme idea, related activities and dinner program that is inspiring, motivating and above all mutually understood by all in the event group. It's all there for the taking. Just review, edit and your done!

Five Beautiful and Inspiring Reunion Themes

In the Family Reunion Planner there is an application along with worksheets for each family reunion theme.
A total of five themes are featured. These themes include:
The Traditional Family Reunion
The Family Reunion Cruise
The Family Fest Reunion Theme
The Living Legends Ball Family Reunion
The Genealogy & Homestead Tour Family Reunion

Now each theme comes with it's own official theme logo. Included in the package is a correspondence package consisting of matching flyers, greeting cards and invitations. But that's not all! There is now an ensemble of matching three piece reunion event wear including T-shirt, cap and apron. Best of all each attendee can order their own reunion event wear once they have received an invitation and url or link to the order web page.

Preview the ensemble of reunion event wear at
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/spectacular-events-planner.html

3. Reunion Preparation Reminders

Now is the time to check where you are on the "Family Reunion
Timeline Checklist". You should have collected photos, stories, genealogy research and have started on your photo and genealogy presentations. These will go in family reunion keepsake booklet.
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family_reunion_booklet.html

Your T-shirts order should be submitted and in process. If not, order them today! No more time to delay. When the shirts arrive you'll need to check each one and return a few for replacement. Plan to have your t-shirts on hand by the end of April or early May. Haven't settled on a vendor yet? Get bulk discounts on t-shirts at http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet* and save up to 57%.

Committee members should have their department assignments and task worksheets found in Fimark's Family Reunion Planner (Workbooks sections). Make sure they are making progress on assigned tasks.

4. Reunion Planner Tips

Some attendees will simply not get the t-shirt fee payments in on time. Once you have ordered the t-shirts and received the bulk discounts others may still want to order more. Just email them with the reunion event theme and this link(unaltered) http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet* No more worries.

April is crunch time! Don't put off in an hour what you can do this minute. That's right if it's on your mind and you have a few minutes to spare first write down your task, then have at it.

5.  Money Saving Time

It's also money saving time. Lot's of event planners are making pit stops at Dollars Stores. Yes Dollar Stores to find materials and creative ideas for decor, games and party favors. But if you really want to save shop at Online Stores like Amazon.com  Brenda and I bought our next generation phones from Verizon. We were excited when they were delivered early in the week. 

We went to the local Verizon store for setup service. While there we looked over the accessories but found the prices rather steep so we went online to my favorite shopping place Amazon.com. We found the same accessories for half the list price and were able to get other items with the money we saved. In addition if you buy over $25 in qualified merchandise you get free shipping. Needless to say is was a great money-saving shopping day.

Mobile devices can help you save hours carrying out event planning, organizing and management tasks. Invest in a next generation mobile device such as an ipad, android tablet or one of the larger phones.
For more information go to http://www.amazon.com

Planning a family reunion? Don't have Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app yet? Get it at this summers discount special. List Price $49. Now $39 for a limited time. You save $10 dollars. No coupon code needed. For more information about the family reunion planning app click on the link found on this blog page or go to profiles.

Happy Reunion Planning Everyone!

Mark and Brenda