Family Reunion Activities and Observances

Here's a shout out to family reunion planners in Detroit, Michigan, Chicago, Baltimore, MD and Washington DC.

Have you payed homage to the African American contribution to society yet? If so, congratulations. I hope you were inspired by the courage, insight, wisdom and humanitarian interest reflected in each story. It's not too late to schedule a weekend tour of Blacks 'n Wax in Baltimore MD, The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum in Baltimore MD or checkout special tours and presentations at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.  

Family Activities Inspired by Black History Month:

• Join or form a Family History Society
• Donate to your favorite cultural charity
• Visit a cultural museum or community art gallery
• Write about your families contribution to history and your community.
• Read a grade level book regarding notable achievements to your children.
• Volunteer in some way to give back to the community.
• Visit sites that focus on contributions from people of other cultures. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/bhm/index.html
  http://black-history.fimark.net

Other Monthly Observances

• May 12 to June 16 - "Family Reunion Month"
• July - National Family Reunion Month
• November - Named November as "Family Reunion Planning Month
• November 21-24 as "Family Reunion Planning Week.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_reunion

Family Reunion Activities
Want to make your family reunion more a historic appeal. Add one or
more of the following activities to your family reunion program:

Historic Skits Reenactments
Highlight pivotal points in a family's history. Participants are
introduced to the art of developing a timeline as well as period
research with a focus on costume design, customs, dialogue and
social, economic and technological developments.

Story Telling
A fascinating art that brings to life tales of ancestors and their
accomplishments. Along with stories of legends of the past, life
lessons are taught. The meaning behind family traditions are shared
while relaying important family history factoids and the ties that
bind.

Genealogy Tours
Take the family on an exciting tour of important genealogical hot
spots including the family homestead, the towns in which the family
settled, the jobs they held, machines they worked, markets they
traded and streets they walked as well as social activities they
immersed themselves into.

Genealogy Presentations
A Presentation of historic documents and vintage artifacts that
identify timelines, economic status, historic events and locations
of ancestors.

Family Reunion Keepsake Booklets
Get more details about these activities using Fimark's Family Reunion Planner at
http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

7 Tips To Plan Your Family Reunion

I hope to take Brenda on a much needed cruise and visit Hawaii's reunion planners while photoing some of the most fascinating exotic islands along the way and then I'll upload them all on my Pinterest Board. http://pinterest.com/fimarkhome

2. Planning A Family Reunion Cruise
Did you know that hundreds of our readers and web application users have successfully completed their family reunion planning early? The question is how did they do it? 

If you're anxious to get your family reunion event planing off the ground consider travel packages. Family reunion cruises are gaining popularity. Best of all you only need to handle group booking and can enjoy all the savings and special amenities group plans include. Now's the time to look for great deals on summer and fall cruises for 2013 - 2014.  For more info go to http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/reunion-travel-vacation.html 




7 Tips To Plan Your Family Reunion

1. Delegate ASAP
Form a reunion committee comprised of at least one additional member per 20 attendees. Get a checklist of event planning tasks. Recruit and delegate tasks immediately. Follow up on progress made and keep everyone from getting in each others way.

2. Get The Word Out
You've heard it said "if you build it they will come?" That may be true when it comes to planning a special event. But if no one knows you built it you won't get much company. That said, it's important to get the word out as early as possible.

3. Advance Communication
Often good communication well in advance is all that's needed to rally
support. Give them a heads up on when the event will take place, what the activities are and how they can help. Now they can schedule time off or adjust their vacation plans to include the reunion. That said, I recommended that the event be planned at least 7 months ahead of time. 12 or more months advance notice would be ideal.

4. Mark Good Use Of Worksheets
To keep reunion meetings from getting bogged down with too much information and little time to follow up with delegated tasks make use of reunion committee worksheets, review action item and follow-up promptly.

For example, if there is a need to schedule a tour of a resort, order catering and have a professional on location photo shoot you'll need to know when to make those calls, who to contact and when to follow up with that person. To avoid forgetting important tasks all that's needed is a timeline checklist and worksheet. By the way, if you're considering a family reunion cruise it's all in the package. Like that Lionel Richie song, all you need to do is "Go, Go, Go..."

5. Great Reunion Planning Tools
We recommend making good use of reunion planning tools that include a timeline checklist with preparation reminders, attendee database, scheduling worksheets, committees assignment sheets, reunion needs lists, meal planner checklists, a  music checklist, supplies list, invitations, flyers, itinerary template, dinner program template, announcement submitter, budget and cost estimator as well as other essentials for time and cost effective family reunion planning.

6. Reunion Planning Web Applications
One such planner is called Fimark's Family Reunion Planner 3.0. Check out the free evaluation version at...http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/step1.html. Fimark's Family Reunion Planner web application includes a family reunion Cruise Planner complete with activities and itinerary.

7. Event Planning Books 
Prefer an event planning book? Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Keepsake Guide Book http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007VFVM4K. The Family Reunion Planner book includes a family reunion Cruise Planner complete with event planning checklist, packing checklist, activities and  itinerary.

Now's the time to look for great deals on summer and fall cruises for 2013 - 2014. For more info go to http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/reunion-travel-vacation.html

200 Pinterest Family Recipes

Whether you're snowed in or just want to fill the house with the warm and cozy scent of sweet baked grains, kids love whipping up and eating cake, cookie or cupcake batter. 

Baking cakes, pies and cookies is just the sort of thing to do this time of year. The sweet anticipation of eating it up makes getting snowed a lot less tiresome and a lot more fun. 

Brenda loved watching a television game show centered around healthy eating. The entire family was involved. They searched for healthy alternative cake recipes online. After finding two recipes they bought the ingredients and went to work (or play) whipping up the cake batter.  Imagine baking a delicious cake that has 80% less calories than store bought cakes and makes you feel better too! 

After baking the two cakes they voted on the appearance, texture and taste. Giving each category a score from 1 to 10. It was fun to watch, but it's even more fun to do in your own kitchen with your own kids.

200 Pinterest Family Recipes

To help snowbound families with a knack for cooking and baking Brenda and I have put together a Family Recipe Box of 200 Pinterest Family Recipes featuring all sorts of fun and tasty recipes some good and healthy and just plain good tasting. The Family Recipe Box will be a permanent feature of  the Family Reunion Planner Social web app soon to be released. 

Take a look at more than 100 recipes posted by fellow reunion planners and enjoy your own family bake-a-thon. 

10 Snowbound Activities To Beat Boredom

It came out of no where. Only a few days advance notice. Brenda and I watched the news as half the east coast was pummeled by several inches of snow. In some areas snow drifts were several feet high. We were grateful we did not get a single snow flake here in Maryland but we drew up a list of things we intend to do when the big one hits. 

Trapped in the house and no way to get out? Being snowed in is fine for one day but two or more days can drive you out of your mind. So what else can you do when you're snowbound and have nothing but time on your hands? 

10 Snowbound Activities To Beat Boredom

1. Catch up on your reading. 
2. Clean and organize.  
3. Take time to write to friends and relative using printed greeting cards. 
4. Look at home movies. 
5. Update memory book. 
6. Add an item to a memory chest. 
7. Try out some new and old recipes. 
8. Plan for a spring or summer gathering. 
9. Build your music database
10. Call friends and family
11. 
    

In addition to these activities think about what you like to do and plan ahead by having everything on hand. Like to knit. Get some knitting yarn and access to online knitting tutorials.
the art of knitting crochet and sewing

Like to cook and bake. Look over some recipes now and put together a shopping list including the ingredients of several recipes. family recipes

Like to paint or draw? Gather your materials today and put them aside for use when snowbound. 

Like printing and writing greeting cards? Print some cards today and write to family on snow day.
fun printable greeting cards

Like crafts like quilting? Create a quilting bag complete with all the items you'll need to tackle that winter project. family reunion crafts

7 Fun Snow Games You Just Gotta Try

Brenda called her family who live in New York. They were pummeled with several inches of snow. We are happy to report all is well. Our prayers are on behalf of all you east coasters. Keep warm. Stay dry. And to all the kids and young at heart out there... Put on your coats, hats and mittens cause it's snow playing time! 

So what to do with all that snow? Most winter Olympic activities require lot's of snow. Here are 7 great Olympic snow games for hours and hours of fun.  Want to make the most of it. Capture the day on Video and play it that evening or the next snowbound evening. You'll probably laugh so hard you'll side will hurt.

7 Fun Snow Games You Just Gotta Try

1. Make sleds from household items like stuffed heavy duty leaf and lawn bags, cardboard boxes, storage container lids  and have a snow sled race.
2. Make 30 snow balls and have a snow ball toss contest. Form two teams. Each team tries to toss the snow ball in the teams designated container. The team with the most snow balls in their container wins.
3. Build a course of hurdles and have a relay and hurdle jump contest.
4. Have two teams each trying to build the bigger snowball.
5. Build a snow man. Form two teams each with it's own hat. take turns trying to toss the hat on top of the snowman.
6. Using one snowball, play snow ball tag. Toss the ball to a team player to tag the other team member. Try to intercept the tossed snow ball and tag the opposing team player.
7. Snow sculpt a work of art.

These games are not just for kids but for kids at heart. Join your kids in all that snow and make it a day they will never forget. Next stop, some hot cocoa, fudge brownies or hot baked pie. Yummm! Get even more great home recipe ideas for the snowbound at http://pinterest.com/fimarkhome/family-recipes.

February - Black History Month

Black History Month
A Celebration for All

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in the month of February, while in the UK it is held in the month of October.

Black History Month was established in 1976 by African-Americans for the Study of African-American Life and History. The month-long celebration was an expansion of Negro History Week, which was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, director of what was then known as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

At first it was celebrated almost exclusively by African Americans, taking place outside of the view of the wider society. Increasingly, however, mayors and governors, especially in the North, began endorsing Negro History Week and promoting interracial harmony. Now Black History Month is a national observance. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the effort to promote recognition of a rich heritage, culture and resilient people of African decent including African Americans, European Africans, Brazil, the Caribbean Islands and Jamaica to name a few.

1. Black History Month Activities:
2. Join or form a Family History Society
3. Donate to your favorite black charity
4. Visit a black museum or art gallery
5. Write about your families contribution to black history
6. Read a grade level book regarding notable black achievements to your children
7. Volunteer in some way to give back to the community
8. Learn more about Black History Month at http://black-history.fimark.net

In celebration of Black History Month Fimark Home presents the Family Reunion Theme "Family Fest." A family reunion festival planner featuring cultural exploration in food, culture, stories, poetry, music and colorful decor and costumes. You'll find this and more in Fimark's Family Reunion Planner at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net

Incoming 2013 - Family Night Highlights

INCOMING 2013
The Fall has passed and winter is upon us. Before you know it, it will be spring again. Can you believe that 2012 has come and gone? It was back in 2008 that we wrote... "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 youngn's laugh and play." Well 2008 thru 2012 has passed but we do have our memories don't we? And that's what it's all about. Even now we are halfway thru the month of January and the rest is about to be gulped down.

NO REGRETS
Don't drink your refreshing cup of life to quickly. Learn how to truly savor the moment. Enjoying the moment is not as easy as it sounds. But when you consider the fact that all we really have are our memories, the present time, and the happiness we hope to enjoy in the near future making memories free of needless regrets has much to do with knowing how to enjoy the moment. 

1. Don't drown out past regrets in bottles of brew and addicting substances. This will only conjure up foolish talk and actions we end up regretting later. 

2. Don't attempt to mimic a pretense of happiness. Why pretend when you can experience the real thing? Give yourself permission to be truly happy. Love, loyalty and commitment make it happen.

3. Don't try to live someone-else's life. Help them live their own life and always live your own.
Learn from mentors example and be an example yourself.

4. Trying to relive the good old days in our present time won't work. Focus on living in the here and now. Only then can you look back fondly and enjoy a memory with substance, meaning and purpose.

5. 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 the moment, the present day and hour and make the most of it with the ones you love rather than fussing over endless details.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
What are your New Years resolutions? How close are you to meeting your goal? Here's are some tips that help make your resolutions a reality.

1. Spend more time with family even if it means writing letters, making phone calls or video conferencing. Not a phone person? Don't worry about it. Set a date to get together and pass it on.

2. Don't just talk about what you want to do. Make it happen with good planning. 

3. Planning an event? Begin by considering the purpose of the event and what you want to accomplish and express. Create a theme. 

4. Put an event planning date on your calendar and think about the features of the event until the planning date arrives.


2ND ANNUAL FAMILY NIGHT

Brenda and I put on a successful 2nd Annual Family Night last month for family and friends. We enjoyed professionally  composed music by close friends of the family. We enjoyed slideshows of our young from birth to present. We even composed our own background music for a family musical movie. Our purpose in doing this was six-fold.

1. Bring our family back together purely to celebrate family values and take pride in our roles as parents and siblings.

2. Teach the importance of putting family first over and above secular interests.

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

6. Heal aching hearts needing to confront family loss and provide closure.

7. Learn how to celebrate new life.

This time around their were fewer delays and disappointments. More time for hugs, taking photos and shaking hands. Our 2nd Annual  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 2 years ago the whole thing was conceived by Brenda and I on our family summer vacation.



WATCH THEM GROW

Planning a family reunion is a great reason to come together. Be it to quilt, knit, exchange ideas, photos and recipes or just reminisce. When you think about it the time spent in preparation for a family reunion is as meaningful as the event itself. It's a time to enjoy the moment.

A proverb ways, "Wisdom is the prime thing. Highly esteem it, and it will exalt you. It will glorify you because you embrace it. To your head it will give a wreath of charm a crown of beauty it will bestow upon you. Another says, 
even the ant is “instinctively wise.” — Proverbs 4:7-9, 30:24, 25.

We are all growing and entering new stages of life we once only hoped to enter. Graduation, marriage, business, parenting, grand parenting and great grand parenting. It's a time to take on a new identity and carry the torch. To sit among comrades who share your joy and experience.  To learn how to make the most of it. To gather wisdom, give wisdom and appreciate the good results of applied wisdom.  

Events and ceremonies help us put it all into perspective. When planning any event including weddings, graduation and reunions take the time to use that time to contemplate and plan the future and appreciate the accomplishments leading to entering the next stages of life and most of all to gather the wisdom needed to carry on. When the events have passed you realize just how much it  was needed for all involved.

SHOUT OUT!
Here's a shout out to our new family reunion planners in Main, Georgia and The East Coast. - Welcome aboard.

WE WROTE THE BOOK
Brenda and I wrote the book on family reunion planning. Makes a great keepsake to pass on to the next generation. Get your copy of the The Family Reunion Planner Guide and Keepsake at  http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net and start creating memories, drinking up life and living in the moment.

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Happy Reunion Planning Everyone!