Getting To Know Us

Most of you know that Brenda and I are the authors and co-authors of the "Fimark's Family Reunion Planner" and Fimark's My Keepsake Wedding  Planner, both works inspired by me and Brenda's 30 year love of event planning. These books were written to encourage family commitment,  support and unity in your household and community. 

Family Reunion Poem "We Rise To Tell Ehe Story"
by Mark Askew

Did You Know?
Many of our current readers may not know that this blogger is also the author of the poems "Finding Our Way Back Home" and "We Rise To Tell the Story", two popular family reunion poems about generations that have come and gone leaving significant contributions toward building a strong house. Brenda and I are also founder and director of the Family Reunion Planning Group which promotes November as Annual Family Reunion Planning Month.

Fun Poetic Craft Ideas
Thinking about offering a gift to family reunion attendees. Here are five fun crafts poetic art ideas you can do yourself with a color printer.

1. Download one of the poems mentioned above and printing it on a large or extra large t-shirt.

2. Print the poem on transparent paper and press between two glass panels. Insert bottom edge of panels into a grooved stand or use a transparent plastic counter top brochure display holder. Makes a great center piece on your photo table.

3. Print it on paper and iron it on 11x14 size canvas and frame it.

4. Print it on a plaque.

5. Print it on transfer paper and iron it on fabric and create a wall hanging.

Webinar and Speaking Engagements
Brenda and I are involed in webinars and giving  personal counseling to newly engaged couples, newly weds, wedding officiation and we speak before groups of 100 to 10,000 about the principles that lead to happy family life. While we are booked in these areas months in advance we will always take time to answer your event planning questions online via email.

Most of all we love to take the celebratory approach to buiding strong families by encouraging family gatherings filled with nothing but fun, inspiring and meaningful activities all the family will enjoy. Your success is our greatest reward.

Summer Savings News:
Did you know that Fimark's Family Reunion Planner keepsake guidebook was marked down from $29 to $17.99. Even better, now it's only $16.19 just in time for summer savings. This books makes a great keepsake gift for reunion attendees and planners. Buy two or more and get free shipping! Go to http://goo.gl/gVsY6.

Announcing a special Family Reunion Planning Package offer to all reunion  planners this summer only. Today you can get the Complete Family Reunion Planner Guide and Keepsake package including the 132 page ebook, the reunion planner  web app along with instant download of all printables poems and worksheets.  Follow the link on this page or access it from my profile.

Happy Family Reunion Planning!

Mark & Brenda

June Planning Reminders

Event planners the family reunion season is upon us. In one week many of you
will be enjoying your family reunion event and many will be going back home with
lasting memories, more support and assurance thanks to your efforts. We commend
you for your hard work.

We would like to remind you of a few follow up tasks necessary to making your
event flow smoothly:

1. Make certain all members have their t-shirt orders. (See the timeline
checklist in the Family Reunion Planner) Point them to the website if they have
not ordered. http://family-reunion-t-shirts.fimark.net or order ready made theme based  t-shirts at http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet*/

2. Follow up with department heads and make sure everyone has what they need
including materials and supplies. (See the materials and supplies checklist in
the Family Reunion Planner)

3. Remind them of their responsibilities. (See the department worksheets in the
Family Reunion Planner)

4. Some family members may have recently run into a snag attending. Render
support where needed.

5. Follow up with vendors and facility managers to make sure you will recieve
the timely quality services you expect. (See the timeline checklist in the Family
Reunion Planner)

6. Make certain family members know how to reach their destination. A few
families tend to get lost traveling to every event. Send them directions via
email or post mail. Have them follow a capable traveler.

7. Get help wrapping up your final tasks. No need to do it all yourself. Invite
a couple of extra hands over and put in a long night completing tasks.

8. give yourself a day of rest before the big event.

9. Don't have the Fimark's Complete Family Reunion Planner application yet?
For more ideas for your summer reunion look inside Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app. Follow the link on this page or access it from my profile.

Happy Family Reunion Planning!

Mark & Brenda

How To Increase Event Funds

Your family reunion is just around the corner and you need to increase event funds fast? Fund raisers can be costly. Who wants to end up investing more than what was made.

To make your fun raiser a festive, colorful and interest event for all get as many involved in donating used items and craft items.  The more creative the better. Keep in mind that having a fund drive is a craft in and of itself. Setting up attractive displays takes some forethought.

Make items eye catching, inviting and laughable with punchy, witty price tags and colorful persuasive labels.

The key is to sell items that cost close to nothing but are valuable to the buyer. Here are some great DIY Fund Drive ideas courtesy of Fimark Home Online.

DIY Fund Drive Ideas provided by www.fimark.net
Visit us at www.pinterest.com/fimarkhome 

Like three or more of the listed ideas? Why not combine them all. The more variety the more support your fund drive will receive. Detail exactly what will be featured at the fund drive event and send out at least three reminders up to the day of the event.

Online Payment Systems

Many reunion planners have lamented about getting reunion dues in on time. If you are asking attendees to mail you money or drop off cash you're in for a long wait. Why? Some folks don't write checks or handle cash daily anymore. They pay bills online. That said,  setup your Paypal, Google Wallet or other online payment system asap or get a website that takes payments like the one reviewed here...http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/familyreunionwebsite.html

Send online payment ready emails to each family member to make the payment process easier. 

Inspiring Incentive

Sometimes attendees need incentive to get those fees paid. Here are some dues payment incentives. Offer rewards for the first 10 0r 20 payees. Offer special seating at the reception for those who send payments early. Offer a special party favor to early payees. Offer mention in the family reunion keepsake booklet. 

Hand out certificates, a baked item or award them with a favorite keepsake heirloom like the family reunion planning keepsake book featured at Createspace... https://www.createspace.com/3601499.  This 132 page Family Reunion Planner keepsake book can be given to timely payees. The event planning book contains a family reunion planner, family tree, pedigree, family recipes section, journal and reunion themes and games. Makes a great fund drive offering, gift, reward and family heirloom. It also contains detailed cost saving fund drive ideas to raise money for your event.

Visit us at www.pinterest.com/fimarkhome

Planning For The Unexpected

Throwing a family reunion event can be very the catalyst to creating sweet memories that will last for many generations to come. Suffice it to say, celebrating life, family bonds and the principles that maintain them is the ultimate gift all attendees will receive. That said, no matter what happens or does not happen good times will be had.



Time And Unforeseen Occurrence
An ancient book once said, "Enjoy the fruitage of your labor." Still as with any event there will be those unexpected and unforeseen situations that bear the mark of disrupting the most well planned reunion event. That same ancient book reads, "Time and unforeseen occurrence befalls us all." That said, the question is; how do you navigate through the unexpected and unforeseen?


Brace For Impact - Soften The Bow
I am reminded of a certain family member who after donning a particularly nice dress, tripped,  broke a heel and landed on her bottom. She laughed, got up and was thankful for having a soft cushioned backside that broke the impact of the fall. She is the one and only person I know who can brace for impact and control her fall always landing on her bottom. The lesson? When planning your event anticipate the unexpected, brace for impact and prepare in such a way that you cushion the blow.


Often the unexpected comes in the form of an unexpected expense or an unforeseen need. The situation may  require the cushion of extra funds while the unforeseen need may require additional time, manpower or other resources. Having on hand additional volunteers, extra place settings, chairs, tables and t-shirts will quickly resolve many problems.


A Little More Is Better Than Not Enough
Consider having plenty of food and drink instead of just enough. Just enough can easily translate into not enough when unexpected guests arrive or there is a spill. Have an extra room available for an unexpected arrival and above all schedule as much advanced preparation time as possible. Do you have a family member with a medical background? Make sure they are visible and ready to respond to any health related emergency that may come up.  If you're traveling to an out-of-town event remember  pack an emergency kit.


It is best to have everything associated with the banquet reception completed 2 hours or more before the event so there will be plenty of time to respond to the unexpected. While you cannot foresee every possible scenario, the principle of being well prepared for the unexpected can help cushion the blow when the unforeseen occurs allowing the reunion event to proceed as planned.

Remembering To Give Back

Nature survives based on the principle of procreation, duplication and restoration. We survive based on the principle of giving back. That said, what ever we glean we replace or restore so that when taking, all is not used up, lost or discarded.

Harvest season leads to a season of restoration and a season of planting in order to Harvest once again. As we pick, prune, weed and replenish top soil we are rewarded for our hard work.

 Family members have long held to the tradition of giving back to fathers and mothers so that they are able to see good for all their hard work. We give back by handling them delicately in their golden years and instilling confidence, honor and love as they age.

The Giver is The Receiver

We are both the giver and the receiver. The taker and restorer. The user and replenisher. As such I certainly am in good company. Most of my readers have in some way given back to me and Brenda for our efforts to inspire, entertain and provide practical guides and tools to families the world over. It is gratifying to see thousands of users spending precious time making use of our event planning tools and tips. But most gratifying of all is when you the reader take those 3 seconds to say "I like this" and leave a comment or two that lifts our spirits so much that we fairly bust with more creativity ideas, tips and tools. In other words you're giving back makes us give you even more. Giving back is usually an easy touch and go process. 3 second opportunities to give back are available anytime and anywhere.

Giving Back Opportunities
This concept of giving back reminds me of my recent visit to my Pinterest page at http://pinterest.com/fimarkhome/pins. You'll notice today that the most prominent pin is our book Fmark's Family Reunion Planner. Why so high in the page of pins? Because Pinterest users took the time to give back. Over 22 users liked the book in just three weeks. 77 user repinned the book to their own Pinterest page. Brenda and I can honestly say we see good for all our hard work.

Giving Back On Amazon.com
Still there is a dilemma when it comes to how users give back by way of recommendations, comments. likes and support of our resource. For example, over the years Google Wallet users have rewarded Fimark Home Online resources and books with a good star rating, we still enjoy the #2 ranking spot for keyword "Family reunion planner" on Google search engines. So what's the dilemma?  On Amazon.com our most esteemed users seem to hesitate rating and reviewing the reunion planning book. This has baffled us of late considering the fact the we get so many positive reviews elsewhere. That said we invite you to visit our Amazon.com page at goo.gl/gVsY6 and take 3 seconds to rate our Book Fimark's Family Reunion Planner. Thanks for giving back.

Family Reunion Planning Reminders

Weekend Reminders

Family reunion planners, we are heading into May. Nothing is more important at this time then following-up and wrapping up all event planning loose ends. See your Complete Family Reunion Planner personal event planning interface timeline to keep up-to-date with tasks.

Answer these questions:
1. T-shirt orders out? (see T-shirt panel on the event planner interface)
2. Keepsake Reunion Booklet complete? (see booklet icon)
3. Camera media and batteries purchased? (see Store panel)
4. Complete itinerary sent out? (see theme selector panel/itinerary icon)
5. All outdoor and indoor event supplies acquired? (see Budget and Store panels)
6. Are all department volunteers and committee members on the same page regarding tasks, deadlines, times and places to meet for setup?
(Access all department worksheets on the Workbooks panel)

Money Saving Tips
Need to save money? Here are three money saving tips and one new money saving feature in your complete Family Reunion Planner 3.0 intereface.

1. Ask attendees to donate supplies to the event such as grills, decorations, lawn furniture, canopies, coolers, music equipment, etc.

2. Have attendees purchase there own last minute t-shirts online. (See T-shirt Designer panel)

3. Ask family members to donate services toward the event in exchange for advertising in the Family Reunion Keepsake booklet. Such services may include photography, Keepsake CDrom, DJ, Catering, discounted travel packages, limo services, etc.

4. Get free printables - Patrons of the Complete Famiiy Reunion Planner 3.0 can download all 5 reunion theme printable packages at no additional cost. Each package includes theme based Reunion themed poems, reunion cards, flyers, invitations, banners, honorary award certificates, t-shirts, caps and aprons. Use the link on the family reunion planner dashboard called "Get Theme Printables Here."

You can download theme based printables and print them yourself or edit and order prints online. Bulk discounts apply to select print orders. Free shipping available on seasonal/select products at
http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet*/ or go to http://www.customink.com/cink/r.jsp?img=16&kbid=1914 

Access the Print Shop from your Complete Family Reunion Planner Interface. If you purchased the Family Reunion Planner at any time between 2005 and 2010 you are entitled to the online access link to the Family Reunion Planner 3.0. Simply send your purchase number to fimarkhome@gmail.com

Those using the evaluation version of the family planner are directed to the public theme printables page at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/spectacular-events-planner.html where theme based printables can be purchased and downloaded.

Don't have Fimark's Family Reunion Planner yet? Enjoy season discounts on the complete family reunion planner and save up to $35. Regular price $99. Discounted as low as $65 at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

Happy Family Reunion Planning!

An International Celebration

What wonderful family reunions this family must have. Herbert and Zelma have been married for 86 years. Both over were over 100 years of age when this picture was taken. They received a signed commendation from President Obama with a promise of an official invitation to the White House to meet him.  

Does this handsome couple hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple?

Down in the Guinness Book of World Records they're long lasting marriage was pinned. http://www.aarp.org/relationships/love-sex/info-08-2009/couple-maintains-world-record-for-longest-marriage.html

The couple actually have a twitter page. When asked what is their secret to staying together so long. Zelma says “There isn’t any secret. It was only God that kept us together.” 

Herbert and Zelma live in the home he built in 1942. They enjoy the visits of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. A testimony to the endurance of true love as written in a best-selling 1900 year old ancient guidebook: "love endures all things... love never fails" Congratulations Herbert and Zelma and Happy 86th Wedding Anniversary!

For more tips on developing an enduring marriage read the closing 10 pages of our book "Fimark's My Keepsake Wedding Planner" an excellent gift for those recently engaged.