Every type of family get-together, from the casual backyard barbecue to a weekend camping trip to a week-long deluxe cruise, can become a “family reunion.” The keys to a successful event, however, are to plan and organize a structure for it, get the family together, and provide opportunities for a variety of memorable activities. Some people are intimidated by the prospect of organizing a full-scale family reunion. This book is a guide for organizing a successful and exciting family reunion. It includes chapters about getting started with the organization process, determining how to finance the event and work with vendors, deciding where and when to hold the reunion, creating a simple and effective record-keeping system, figuring out how to locate and invite family members, planning opportunities for family members of all ages to get to know each other, setting up the actual reunion site, managing the reunion onsite, and conducting a post-reunion review so that the next one will be even better. Because the Internet has changed forever the way we obtain information, this book also includes a wealth of Web-based reunion sites that are filled with great information. In addition, because Web sites change and because there is so much information on the Internet, a short guide to using Internet search engines, directories, and other tools to locate information is included. By studying the techniques there and referring to the tutorials at the Search Engine Watch Web site, you can quickly become adept at structuring effective searches for information all over the Internet. Finally, you’ll find sample charts and forms that will help you track your planning and make sure you’ve covered all your bases. Regardless if this is your first family reunion or your tenth, it is important to do whatever it takes to make your event a success—one that your relatives will remember and talk about for the rest of their lives.
