Reunions Magazine Volume 22, Number 1. August/September/October 2011 (SOLD OUT)

Why? When?

Where?

Hospitality Answerman Just Cuz! for teens VOL 22 NO 1 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 Display until October 31, 2011.

$3/USA

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 1

in this issue DEPARTMENTS FRONT WORDS – 4

August/September/October 2011 Volume 22 • Number 1 PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF

ALUM & I – 6

Edith Wagner

Q&A: finding classmates on facebook

TRAVEL EDITOR

Melfort 1980 class turns 30 by Charlotte Reed

Jacky Runice

‘Harvard Reunions’ App, Class reunion by the numbers,

ART DIRECTOR

more numbers: 50, 50, 50 and 70,

Jennifer Rueth

Class reunions in the theatre

SALES

SCRAPBOOK – 10

Marion Liston Senior Account Manager

Reunion School

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Hospitality Answerman: Alcohol = liability by Dean Miller

Karla Lavin

HICCUP your way past competitors on facebook by Genae Girard

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

QR Codes, Social Photo Album Creator for facebook,

Andrew Russell Bordeaux Lauren Bordeaux Nicole Dettmering Ksioszk

Reunions of Maugansville, Acadians, Alabama Wagon Train and Chattanooga adventures

HOSPITALITY ANSWER MAN

BRANCH OFFICE – 16 Just Cuz! Learn more about living family members by Robert Strange Q&A What is the name of this reunion?

Searching, free websites, ancestry.com app, Historic women in Midland, Michigan, cemetery tours

MASTERPLAN – 18 Family reunion attitudes Promises delivered by Buddy and Charlotte Glover Wimbush cook-out and catch-up by Ronnie Wimbush Parshall Super Family Fun Day by Bruce Parshall

REUNION VENUES & FEATURES – 24 Saving reunion $$ Why? When? Where?

These are the first and primary questions all reunion organizers face.

Experience Columbus by Edith Wagner

MILITARY REUNION NEWS – 36 USS Boston enjoys Fairfax by Dean Miller and Art Hebert The 99th Division: A Fightin’ Tradition by Justin Daniel Beaton National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, Vietnam vets, survivors and rescuers, War of 1812 Bicentennial, upcoming workshops

REUNION RESOURCES – 40 A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and products ON THE COVER

Dean Miller CONTRIBUTORS

Larry Basirico, PhD • Justin Daniel Beaton Jamarl Clark • Robert Garcia Genae Girard Buddy and Charlotte Glover Art Hebert • Bruce Parshall Charlotte Reed • Robert Strange Ronnie Wimbush REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC. (ISSN #1046-5s235), is pub lished 4 times per year. Send correspondence, queries, submissions, subscriptions, advertising to REUNIONS MAGAZINE, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. Written permission from the publisher is required for reproduction of any part of this book except pages which encourage sharing.

Please explain your intended use when requesting permission to reprint. Email: editor@reunionsmag.com or fax 414263-6331. Tear sheets of reviews and reprints required.

REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC., will not be liable for information presented as facts contained in any of our advertising, byline stories or materials. We reserve the right to edit and/or refuse any material submitted for publication. We solicit participation and take responsibility for submitted materials.

Unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), submissions and photos will not be returned. All materials sent for purposes of publication become property of REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC. Subscriptions: US and Canada $9.99/yr, $17.99/2 yrs. Foreign orders add $36 for subscriptions. All foreign payment in US funds or drawn on a US bank. Back issues available for $3 each plus postage.

Payment must accompany requests for subscriptions, back issues or other items for sale. Advertising rate information available from REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC., PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727; 414-263-4567; fax 414-2636331; e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com; reunionsmag.com. © 2011 REUNIONS MAGAZINE, INC.

Potluck at the Seideman Family Reunion in Newburg, Wisconsin.

Photo by Miffie Seideman.

See page 24.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 3

FRONT WORDS

Be in touch! utumn is when planning new and next year’s reunions start in earnest.

Toward that end, and especially for new reunions, we feature answers to the reunion questions: Why? When?

Where?

A WHY?

Mail to R EUNIONS MAGAZINE PO Box 11727 Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 For charge orders call 800-373-7933 or visit www.reunionsmag.com or fax it to 414-263-6331.

Or best of all, e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com.

The reasons why to have a reunion will come as no surprise to those of you who have enjoyed reunions for a long time. To those of you just starting, they’ll give you some reasons to share as you propose the idea for having a reunion.

WHEN?

Selecting a date is not as easy as it sounds. And other than reunions established to celebrate a milestone (i.e.: 50th anniversary, 80th birthday), the whole calendar is your clean slate from which to select a date. Of course, your goal is to attract as many members are possible so you’ll want to take lots of things into consideration when selecting the date.

And one of the few cardinal reunion rules is that once you select the date, stick to it!

WHERE?

Location, location, location holds as true for reunions as it does for real estate. You’ll want something convenient, affordable accommodations and amenities with plenty to attract your members. In fact, other than those reunions that return to “the old home place,” all reunions must have an address and that ranges from a park to a cruise ship!

To answer why? when? and where? we have cited many reunions and know there are many, many more ways to answer those questions. We encourage you to add your two cents worth to our collection. Why do you have reunions and how do you choose when and where?

REUNIONS BY THE NUMBERS

We have done our own research and worked with others to do reunion research and we’re always excited to learn about reunions. Two recent studies gave us great hope for reunions.

CustomInk’s Family Reunion Outlook survey of more than 1,000 Americans answered a resounding yes to the question “Does the traditional summer family reunion still attract members the way it once did?” See page 18 for more.

4 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

About one-third of class members will attend their reunion this year, according to a survey of 1,500 adults conducted by United Online, Inc., parent company of Classmates.com and MemoryLane.com.

Attendance levels grow once reunions hit 20 years, when classmates are established in their lives and curious about others. See page 7 for more.

AND THEN THERE’S THAT NEW LITTLE NUMBER

It’s called a QR Code and you can scan it on your smart phone or tablet and go directly to reunionsmag.com, our companion web site.

SO WHAT’S ON THE WEB SITE?

Hundreds of pages of reunion planning information that’s updated all the time. It is a web site that deserves your bookmark and regular visits to see what’s new. Lots of resources, tips, ideas, contests and sweepstakes, upcoming reunion planning workshops, freebies for all aspects of your reunion planning and program, and hundreds and hundreds of pages of content from and about reunions.

And don’t forget add your reunion to our Reunions Picture Gallery online.

HOW YOU CAN APPEAR IN THESE PAGES

I’m asked all the time how reunions can “get in the magazine.” Easy! Send your story, describe your pictures and we look forward to considering it. We prefer the story to be emailed to editor@reunionsmag.com. If you mail it, we will still ask for it to be emailed! Tell us what’s unique about your reunion. Include what special things you do that other reunions can learn from. If it’s easier for you to answer questions than write a story, go to reunionsmag.com and click on “help us write the magazine,” and answer the questions we’ve posed.

Answers can be used as a story or as examples in other articles. We’ll ask for pictures when we need them.

2012 REUNIONS START NOW!

Use Reunions magazine, reunionsmag.com, our monthly enewsletter and our facebook page to stay in touch and to find announcements of new developments of interest to reunion planners. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, just ask! EW

ALUM & I

Model High School class celebrates 50th reunion

T

he celebration began with many classmates dressed as they did 50 years ago at a sock hop. The party was decorated in Model’s school colors – blue and white – and Coca-Cola antiques surrounded an antique Coke box.

The following day, more than 70 classmates gathered for a buffet dinner and evening of fun. The class president welcomed everyone and recognized a special place of honor given to five teachers who attended. Deceased classmates were remembered.

Awards were given for most changed, male with the most hair, person who traveled farthest, married longest, most grandchildren, and most great-grandchildren.

From RN-T.com, Rome, Georgia

‘Harvard Reunions’ App

T

he Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) and Harvard Office of Public Affairs and Communications released an app for web-enabled smartphones to help Class of 1961 alumni navigate reunion events.

The free tool allows users to browse the reunion schedule, check-in at events on campus, network with classmates, share reunion photos, view the campus map and receive real-time announcements from the HAA. The application is integrated with Twitter and facebook. The app is built on an open source framework, allowing others to develop similar modules.

From an article by Saieed Hasnoo in The Harvard Crimson, Cambridge, Massachusetts

PO BOX 335428 NORTH LAS VEGAS NV 89033 800-654-2776 • reunions.com narm@reunions.com 6 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

FINDING CLASSMATES

Straight from facebook Lindback, Conway, New Hampshire, asked on facebook, “What are the Q?Joseph best ways to find lost classmates. I haven’t had much luck at all.”

Robert Garcia, Las Vegas, Nevada, answered: Earlier you were able to search by A! school and year but facebook removed that feature from their main friend finder/people search (although we couldn’t tell you why!). The feature remains active via a direct link: http://www.facebook.com/srch.php?classmate. You must know classmates’ names to find them on facebook. HAPPY HUNTING! MORE SEARCHING TIPS FROM ROBERT GARCIA

1. Contact your Registrar’s Office to inform them you are a planning a class reunion.

Request the official registrar’s list for your class. Most will provide a full list with “then” addresses and phone numbers.

2. Use the Classmate Search on facebook, accessible by the direct link (http://www.facebook.com/srch.php?classmate) to add to your “found” list. Then, you can focus on the remainder of the registrar’s official list, though contact info will be outdated and should be used only as a last resort.

3. The easiest way to find lost classmates is to let them find you! Create a facebook group.

Add classmates as you find them; THEY are able to add their friends from school (classmates) in an open group so this becomes a self-sustaining and organic effort.

4. Along the same lines, list your reunion on every site possible. There are tons of reunion listings online so, if classmates want to attend and search for their class reunion, make sure you are there! How do you do this? Do a quick google search as if you were a classmate, i.e. google “La Joya High School Reunion” or other terms your classmates may use. Then look at the results. How do you get your announcement listed on as many of those pages as possible? It’s easier than it sounds; just give it a try!

LA JOYA HIGH SCHOOL COYOTE REUNION WEB AND SOCIAL NETWORKING PRESENCE CLASSES OF 1995, 1996, 1997

Webpage: www.lajoyareunion.com Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/lajoya Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Joya-HighSchool-Reunion/171111176258986 Twitter: http://twitter.com/lajoyareunion Reunion Customer Service Email: lajoyareunion@gmail.com NEWARK ALUMNI USE FACEBOOK

The largest Newark (Ohio) High School reunion ever was organized on the facebook group “Newark High, Classes of the 1950s, 1960s & 1970s.”

The group gets new posts several times a day as new members join and reflect on who lived where and when, what businesses used to be in which buildings and what was done there.

Organizers agreed the reunion wouldn’t be possible without the geographical and technological reach of social networking.

The reunion was casual. The theme song was Joe Cocker’s Woodstock rendition of “A Little Help From My Friends.” Extra money from admission not needed to cover event costs was given away in $20 increments as door prizes. And, yes, there was a Twist contest (as in the Chubby Checker version).

From a story by Abbey Roy in the Advocate, Newark, Ohio.

LIST YOUR REUNION FREE Send your reunion information for Reunions magazine’s list of upcoming reunions online to editor@reunionsmag.com. Include reunion name, date, place and contact info.

Class reunion by the numbers

A

bout one-third of the members of a graduating class plan to attend their reunion this year, according to a survey of 1,500 adults conducted by United Online, Inc., parent company of Classmates.com and MemoryLane.com. Almost 60% say they are there to catch up with old friends; 33% say they are there for validation and comparison purposes. Attendance levels grow once reunions hit 20 years, when classmates are curious about others and are established in their lives.

In a comment to this post online, “anon” wrote: The first (5- and 10-year) reunions were “growth opportunities.” At 5, not enough distance in the rearview mirror. At 10, social structures were starting to break down. People had started career trajectories that were higher or lower than their old “station.” At 20 years, people were more relaxed and felt free to be themselves, so it was really fascinating to get to know everyone again – for the very first time.

Found in The Wall Street Journal.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 7

ALUM & I CLASS REUNIONS IN THEATRE

The Marvelous Wonderettes, a class reunion

T

he Marvelous Wonderettes, a girl-band of four classmates, were asked to perform at the 1958 Senior Prom at Springfield High School when one of the boys from the Crooning Crabcakes got in trouble and they couldn’t perform. The audience “attends” the prom and is reminded to “keep [your] feet on the floor at all times and turn off anything else that rings or buzzes.” There is even a ballot to vote for prom queen.

The second act in 1968 is the 10-year class reunion and a reunion of the Marvelous Wonderettes, who are asked to entertain again. The story unfolds through lyrics of hits of the

50s and 60s. What a difference between the innocence of the 1950s (“Mr. Sandman,” “Dream Lover,” “Lollipop,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream”) and the rebellious 60s (“Respect,” “You Don’t Own Me,” “Leader of the Pack,” “Wedding Bell Blues”). A member of the audience is singled out as choir director and brought on stage to be serenaded, then brought back again during the class reunion for a surprising development.

From a review by Jean Gable in the Twin Cities Planet, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Pavilion

H

igh school sweethearts Peter and Kari were the Cutest Senior Couple of Pine City High School’s Class of ’82.

They were ripped asunder when she became pregnant and he skipped town.

Two decades later, Peter returns for their 20th high school reunion with dreams of winning Kari back. They have a longoverdue conversation in Craig Wright’s melancholy comedy The Pavilion.

The significance of the title is that it’s where Peter and Kari meet for bittersweet memories and regrets. It’s about what we want and hope for and how time changes us and about a place where things are possible – and maybe a little impossible. Like the relationship, the dance hall isn’t in good shape: it’s to be demolished after the dance.

From Cincinnati.com

Theater alumni make memorable gathering

T

amra Coldren, co-chair of the Edwardsville (Illinois) High School Class of 1974 reunion, was also an alumna of the Edwardsville High School Drama Club and the Edwardsville Junior Theatre. So it was her theater friends from many classes whom she wanted to see at a reunion.

The weekend’s activities included tickets for the Edwardsville High School Drama Club’s performance of “Hairspray” and tours of both old and new high schools.

The reunion was held at the Wildey, an historic theater undergoing renovation that had its grand opening three days after the reunion.

One classmate said, “nothing is quite so nostalgic for us as growing up here and our memories that infuse this theater. We saw movies, went on our first dates, attended prom and have the fondest memories of this place.”

“The arts are important,” another organizer said. “Although most of us did not stay in theater, the experience forged us, taught us how to work together and get things done.”

70 years in 70 minutes

T

he highlight of Duluth Central High School’s all-class reunion will be a multimedia show spanning 70 years in 70 minutes. Organizers expect nearly 8,000 grads to attend, making it probably the largest high school reunion ever held in the US. From the Duluth News Tribune

8 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

The reunion committee initiated a fund drive to coincide with reunion activities “to give back to the community and programs that nurtured and launched us in our lives.” Before the reunion, organizers had already received pledges for more than half of the goal of $25,000 to be donated to the high school drama program and the Wildey renovation.

The catered reunion event included a red carpet introduction of arriving guests under the Wildey’s exterior canopy. The Wildey’s new grand piano was pressed into service and songs from their many musicals filled the hall. There was also a video retrospective of plays they produced, a memorial segment for friends who have passed away, a fun video of all the wacky things they used to do, and a video address from their most famous acting alumni, Laurie Metcalf, who was starring in a play in New York.

One organizer said, “This is our last cast party – the one that, in our haste to move on with our lives, we forgot to have.”

From The Telegraph.com, Alton, Illinois

Class donates message monitor

T

he Millburn (New Jersey) High School 50th Reunion Class of 1960 wanted to give back to the school as thanks for the great education they received that put them on the road to success. They presented a television messaging monitor for the high school cafeteria. It was purchased with donations made during their 50th reunion.

In recent years many reunion classes have looked for a way to give back to Millburn High School. Last year the class of 1978 donated a much-needed defibrillator for the new wing of the building.

From TheAlternativePress.com, New Providence, New Jersey

Lenape’s Class of 1961 celebrates 50th reunion

I

n Shamong, New Jersey, Lenape Regional High School Class of 1961 was the first to graduate from the district’s first high school. They entered as sophomores from different communities where they’d spent freshman year.

The gym, the auditorium and the cafeteria were not ready.

They had some classes in yellow school buses, brown-bagged their lunches and ate in the library. There were books! The newbies got to design the school’s class ring and choose the colors – scarlet and gray – as well as a mascot. By senior year, the school’s football team was named South Central Jersey champion and the field hockey team captured the Delaware Valley League championship.

It was also the first year on the job for many teachers. They were young and energetic. The biology teacher became vice principal, then district superintendent for 30 years.

The reunion included a Friday dinner at a country club, Saturday morning tour of the school led by current students, and Sunday events at a steakhouse.

Students from the district’s television program interviewed class members to create a video about the class. Classmates declared technology mind-boggling. “When we were here, if the room had a phone, an intercom and a clock, that was something.”

From a story by Barbara S. Rothschild in the Cherry Hill Courier Post, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Reunion celebrates all 50 graduating classes

T

he Joel Barlow Alumni Committee in Easton, Connecticut, organized an alumni picnic to commemorate 50 graduating classes. Classes gathered at designated areas and were encouraged to decorate to show school spirit.

There were tours of the school.

A priority was to make the event affordable. Ten dollars went to the new Joel Barlow Alumni Fund.

Alumni were encouraged to pack a lunch, bring lawn chairs, umbrellas and cameras. (Lunch also was available for purchase for about $5.)

To support the alumni fund and picnic, a Commemorative Program was created and supported with advertising. It included a history of Joel Barlow High School, vintage photos, all 50 yearbook covers, the official proclamation of Joel Barlow Day and a timeline of events through five decades.

From the Easton Courier, Easton, Connecticut

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 9

SCRAPBOOK

What’s this?

Maugansville residents reminisce

T

M

his is Reunions magazine’s QR Code.

Use it to instantly access our website!

QR Codes are bar codes that have begun appearing on advertisements. Now you can market your reunion using a QR Code. Any of your members with a smartphone (and a QR Code reader app) can scan the code to be directly linked to your reunion website. Codes also can be put on signage and they work well on business cards. Check FREE STUFF pages on reunionsmag.com for sites that offer free QR Codes and readers.

augansville, Maryland, is one of those towns people talk about with a down-home feeling. At a town reunion, people reminisced about when Front Street and Back Street were only the two streets in town. Decades ago, Maugansville was a tight community because residents were not distracted

by TV. About 100 people turned out for a party dubbed “Maugansville, Kids of the ’40s and ’50s.” The idea for the reunion came from Ken “Red” Ebersole, who grew up in Maugansville.

About five years ago, Ebersole decided to find old friends, and in 2006 the first

town reunion was held. Guests were asked to bring a covered dish and people stood or sat at long tables, exchanging favorite stories.

Ebersole talked about landmarks and pointed out where the old Maugansville Elementary School was before it was torn down. Guests talked about the challenges of no longer being able to recognize old friends because they had not seen them in so long. But they remembered after talking for a while.

From a story by Dave McMillion in The Herald-Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland

Most of these events are sponsored and presented by convention and visitors bureaus. They take place on Saturdays unless noted and, for the most part, are for people planning reunions in their area. All prefer or require advance reservations and are free or at nominal cost. For information about new events – added online, as soon as we learn about them - visit reunionsmag.com and click on workshops, conferences and seminars.

ALLIANCE OF MILITARY REUNIONS

COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA

Contact Skip Sander, 412-367-1376; MilitaryReunions@aol.com AllMilitaryReunions.org.

Contact Kathy Buske, Cobb County CVB, 678-303-2624; kbuske@cobbcvb.com

ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA

DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA

Contact Alpharetta CVB toll-free 877-202-5961; April Cochran, april@awesomealpharettea.com

August 27, September 10, October 8 & 22, November 12, 2011 Contact Carol Murray, DeKalb County CVB, 800-999-6055

ATHENS, GEORGIA

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Contact Athens CVB, 706-357-4430

Contact Nikki Donald, 313-202-1972; ndonald@visitdetroit.com; visitdetroit.com

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

See Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Family Reunion Bootcamp. Contact Randi Miles, 678-7156069; milesr@ci.douglasville.ga.us

Thursday, September 15, 2011 Contact Tara Spann, Sales Manager, Atlanta CVB, 404-5216638; Atlanta.net/reunion/reunions.aspx

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

Contact Durham CVB, 800-446-8604.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

ESTES PARK, COLORADO

Reunion Planner Workshop, 800-458-8085

November 4-6, 2011 + February 24-26, 2012 Family Reunion University YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center. $100 per participant. Contact 800-777-9622.

BRANSON, MISSOURI

August 15-18, 2011 Military Reunion Planners Conference Contact Branson/Lakes Area CVB, 800-214-3661; djones@bransonCVB.com; ExploreBranson.com/MilitaryReunion NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Contact Treasure, National Reunion Services, 925-240-1482; www.reunionsondemand.com/Workshop/ CHICAGO SOUTHLAND, ILLINOIS

Contact Elizabeth Baun; 888-895-8233; Elizabeth@visitchicagosouthland.com; visitchicagosouthland.com 10 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

February 18, 2012 4th annual reunion workshop sponsored by Visit Fairfax and Reunions magazine!

Contact Dean Miller at Visit Fairfax: 703-752-9509; dmiller@fxva.com FLINT, MICHIGAN

Contact Courtney Irish, 810-232-8902; cirish@visitflint.org

“Acadia of the Lands and Forests”

T

he World Acadian Congress is held every five years in different regions populated by Acadians. The next gathering, the first to span two countries, will be staged in northern Maine, northwestern New Brunswick, Canada, and the Temiscouata region of Quebec August 8-24, 2014.

The Congress typically features more than 300 events, including family reunions, regional celebrations, and sporting and cultural events. More than 100 family reunions are expected to be held throughout Acadia of the Lands and Forests in August 2014. In the past, the event has attracted more than 50,000 visitors for two weeks to regions including Louisiana and the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick.

From an article by Jen Lynds in the Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine

Alabama Wagon Train still rolling

M

ost folks will tell you it's a family reunion. People come from all over the country, everyone brings a dish, and they spend the final evening swapping stories. The Alabama Wagon Train riders have made their annual trek from Sand Mountain to the rodeo in Montgomery, their final destination. The ride that “warms your heart and tests your britches” started 31 years ago and has grown every year. Founders say if you can ride in the saddle all day, you can claim the title of a real cowboy or cowgirl.

From a story by Lindsey Holland in the Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA

PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA

October 22, 2011 Edith Wagner, Reunions magazine editor, will be speaking.

Contact Kimberly Herbert, 866-405-3046 (toll free)

Contact Kim Trawick, 678-216-0282, ext. 6964; ktrawick@visitpeachtreecity.com; visitpeachtreecity.com/

GREENWOOD, SOUTH CAROLINA

Contact Lindsay Burns, 864-953-2464; Lindsay.burns@cityofgreenwoodsc.com GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA

Friday, October 14, 2011 – George Pierce Park Recreation Center, Suwanee ABCs of Planning a Family Reunion. Complimentary lunch, Family Reunion Planning Guide. Drawing for a digital camera.

Reservations only, no walk-ins. Contact Linda Murphy, GCTS, Gwinnett CVB Education Specialist, 888-494-6638; 770-8146056; lmurphy@gcvb.org KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA

Contact Sara Melendez-Davis at 800-831-1844, ext 28254; smelendez@floridakiss.com LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Contact Kimberly Ghys, Lake County CVB, 800-Lake-Now; lakecountyreunions.com; lakecounty.org LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

August 13, November 12, 2011 Contact Saundra Robertson, Louisville CVB, 502-379-6110; srobertson@gotolouisville.com MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Contact Casey Kluber, Reunion Coordinator, Meet Minneapolis, 612-767-8106; caseyk@meetminneapolis.com; minneapolis.org

PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE, IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

October 1, 2011 – Holiday Inn Chamblee-Dunwoody Road Meet with Pigeon Forge businesses to help set your itinerary.

Drawings for prizes including trip to Pigeon Forge. Contact Jeff Mills, 678-442-7281; jeff-mmg@bellsouth.net PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MARYLAND

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 Prince George’s Community College, Largo Campus Family Affair (family reunion planning) Contact 301-322-0797; www.pgcc.edu.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA

Contact Kevin Flowers, 800-551-8682; kflowers@sbctb.org WINTER PARK, COLORADO

Friday, October 21-23, 2011 Family Reunion University, YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch. $100 per participant. Contact 800-777-9622.

YMRC- YOUR MILITARY REUNION CONNECTION

November 3-6, 2011- San Diego, California January 2012 – Cocoa Beach, Florida May 2012 – Branson, Missouri August 2012 – Charleston, South Carolina Military Reunion Planner Seminars & FAM Tour Contact info@YMRC.net; yourmilitaryreunions.com YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN

Contact Mary Zurcchero, Ypsilanti CVB, 734-483-4444; mzucchero@ypsilanti.org

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA

Contact Cheryl Morales, 888-493-7386; cmorales@nngov.com A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 11

SCRAPBOOK

Social Photo Album Creator for facebook

N

ow, if you want to share photos from your family reunion, you and your cousins can collaboratively create a group album. Kodak’s new app allows facebook users to assemble and print from photo albums. You no longer have to look through dozens of facebook friends’ albums.

At Social Photo Album Creator you are led through an easy process to collaborate with your facebook friends. Connect and print from your facebook account right at the Kiosk at a participating retailer, such as Target, from http://apps.facebook .com/kodak-social/. Once the album is created, everyone can visit a Kodak Picture Kiosk to access albums and create Photo Books and prints.

Click on this button on reunionsmag.com and receive 50 prints free.

WEB PAGE: reunionsmag.com CALL: 414.263.4567 FAX: 414.263.6331 E-MAIL: editor@reunionsmag.com WRITE: PO Box 11727 Milwaukee, WI 53211-0727

Subscribe! Call 1-800-373-7933 WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED USING THIS MAGAZINE, PLEASE RECYCLE IT. 12 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

Alcohol = liability I volunteered to plan my ship’s reunion next year (we’re Navy veterans), and the one thing that worries me is the potential liability if someone gets hurt after having had “one too many” in our hospitality suite. What can I do to make sure that everything works out all right?

Q?

Serving alcoholic beverages at reunions is always a tricky question, regardless of whether it’s a military reunion, a family reunion, or a high school reunion. For many groups, this is their greatest area of potential liability and risk.

By contrast, if your group fails to meet its obligation to the hotel to use a certain number of guest rooms, the problem can easily be resolved by writing the hotel a check for the unused rooms. But if someone is involved in an auto accident driving home from your reunion, there very well could be severe criminal and civil penalties involved, for both your group and all of your officers. You’re absolutely right to be concerned!

Let’s start with the basics. There are a number of things you as a planner can do to help prevent someone from drinking “too much” to begin with. For example, many groups choose not to serve any “hard liquor” but only beer and wine. Whenever alcohol is served, you’ll want to have food available. Drinking on an empty stomach will cause people to become intoxicated more quickly.

As planner, you can limit the length of time the bar is open. People tend to drink less if you have a “cash bar” rather than an “open bar” where the drinks are unlimited. If they have to pay out-of-pocket for each drink, they will slow down.

Whenever possible, those drinking at the reunion should be encouraged to stay overnight at the hotel rather than attempting to drive home after an evening of drinking. Alternatively, you should plan to have “designated drivers” and/or taxicabs readily available for those not staying overnight. Many hotels and restaurants provide complimentary soft drinks to attendees who volunteer to be the “designated driver.”

Your bartenders and servers should all have had alcoholic beverage service training and be able to “cut off” anyone who has had too much to drink. Check with the hotel, restaurant, or venue to confirm this.

A!

In an attempt to save money, some groups arrange to purchase their own alcohol at a retail store and serve it in their hospitality suite. I would strongly discourage any group from trying to do this. Purchasing alcoholic beverages from the hotel covers you under the hotel’s liability insurance.

Purchasing drinks on your own does not. The potential savings in the cost of a couple cases of beer is completely insignificant compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential legal liability you and your group could face in the event of a serious accident.

My recommended alternative is to negotiate mutually-agreeable pricing for your drinks.

Just like the price of your rooms and your catered meals, drink prices can be negotiated.

Regardless of where your group is meeting, you’ll want to become familiar with state and local liquor laws. These laws vary greatly from state to state and city to city.

Your hotel’s catering manager and your Convention and Visitors Bureau representative are both excellent sources of information about this subject. Likewise, the liquor laws for most states can be researched online. You don’t want to break the law, even unintentionally! For example, putting out a “donation” jar at a reception or in a hospitality suite, and asking your attendees to contribute money to cover the cost of their drinks has been ruled to constitute selling liquor without a license, and is illegal in virtually every state.

Finally, I strongly encourage groups to consider purchasing “event insurance” for their reunions, which protects you and your group against mishaps (due to alcohol or other causes) that may arise. These policies are typically very reasonably priced for a two- or three-day reunion, and the cost of the policy to the group can be divided by the number of attendees and built into everyone’s registration fee. Check with a local insurance agent or on the Internet for “event insurance” for details, items covered, and potential costs.

About the Hospitality Answerman Dean Miller is the national sales director for Visit Fairfax in Virginia.

He is not an attorney, and nothing in the above article should be construed as legal advice. You should always consult with a practicing attorney for legal advice.

Chattanooga adventures

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Photo by Edith Wagner.

ark your car and explore Chattanooga, Tennessee, aboard the free electric shuttle that connects you to downtown hotels, attractions, boating options, restaurants, riverfront scattered with parks, festivals, the five-month Nightfall Concert Series, Riverfront Nights Music Series and more. Explore the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo, the Trail of Tears passage at Ross’s Landing, the Chickamauga green spaces, a minor league baseball stadium, coffee shops, and shopping venues.

Discover the Tennessee River on an eco-cruise aboard the Tennessee Aquarium’s River Gorge Explorer or the Blue Moon, a sightseeing, lunch or dinner cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat or a scenic ride aboard the amphibious Chattanooga Ducks. Come face-to-face with sharks, stingrays, penguins and thousands of other creatures at the downtown Tennessee Aquarium; or venture near wildlife at the Chattanooga Zoo. Don’t miss Chattanooga National Military Park, Bessie Smith Cultural Center or the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

Nearby Lookout Mountain, Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls and the world’s steepest passenger railway, the Incline Railway, are all must-sees. Visit www.summer.chattanoogafun.com. Ask for money-saving coupons.

Riding the Tennessee Valley Railraod!

w w w. r e u n i o n s m a g . c o m

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HICCUP your way past competitors on facebook

by Genae Girard

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eunions are using facebook to stay connected. Content is key to staying in touch with members and keeping them informed. The content must be a rich mix of information, education, humor and fun. Use this HICCUP approach to make your facebook page more successful.

HUMOR

CURRENT EVENTS

Humor allows your members to come away with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a friendly attachment to your message.

When something interesting pops up, pass it along. If something occurs that impacts your reunion, for example, share it.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Mention specials, promotions, and news.

Get creative, run a coupon or contest.

If you follow this model for promoting your reunion on facebook, members will stick around to see what you post next.

Ask open-ended questions. The purpose is to begin a conversation.

People posting answers will create a buzz. Letting responses unfold naturally gives you an advantage.

You can track concerns and create future messages around the concerns.

CONTENT

Provide a myriad of interesting topics and information or your members will simply go away.

Clicking “Unlike” on facebook is just as easy as clicking “Like.” Smart, clever and challenging content will keep your members waiting for more.

PROMOS AND SPECIALS

About the author Genae Girard is a speaker, author and entrepreneur. She is founder of BeyondtheBoobieTrap.com, an online social media tribe of over 20,200 breast cancer survivors, and regularly speaks about women’s topics. She is also the author of “Off the Rack: Chronicles of a ThirtySomething, Single, Breast Cancer Survivor.”

Postcards that make your reunion point! save the date

Send Send save TIME IS the date RUNNING OUT when you’ve set it! when it is!

Custom Printing – $45 p/hundred; 50¢ each Fill-in cards $15 p/hundred; 20¢ each plus s/h: 100-200 cards – $5, over 200 – $10 Send message, check & request to: REUNION POSTCARDS O PO Box 11727 O Milwaukee WI 53211-0727.

To charge, call 800-373-7933.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 15

BRANCH OFFICE

More people searching for lost loved ones

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ore people are reuniting with lost family, thanks to social networking resources such as facebook and myspace that make searching easier.

People are motivated by many factors, including a death or birth in the family, the desire to know more about their ancestry, or genetic curiosity and medical background.

Experts caution that family searches don’t always end well.

Sometimes a person refuses to meet or, even worse, provokes emotional trauma. Searchers should be prepared for any possible outcome.

“You have to get yourself to a place where you accept the answers,” says Cindi O’Neal, San Lorenzo, California. After looking in vain for her dad for years, she finally hit pay dirt, only to discover he had died three weeks earlier. Still, her efforts yielded new relatives who welcomed her with open arms.

Genealogist Pamela Slaton makes these search suggestions.

Getting Started 1. Gather any documents you have.

2. Keep a log of your search.

3. Be persistent 4. Join online reunion registries. Start with the International Soundex Reunion Registry.

5. Ask your family for help.

Be emotionally prepared. Be ready for any outcome.

Be respectful.

Educate yourself.

From a story by Chuck Barney in the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, California

Free web sites

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ribalPages.com is a free family tree-hosting website that offers many features: GEDCOM import, photo features, chart display and printout, family tree mapping and reports.

Members can create and send custom newsletters. You can also create poster-size charts, which are excellent visuals to take to your family reunion. (Source: Weekly Buzz)

Ancestry.com app

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n updated free app, for smart phones or iPad®, allows you to take your Ancestry.com family tree with you. Log in from anywhere to access your tree, edit information, upload photos, add a note – even add a family member.

Have you just discovered a treasure trove of family heirlooms at a relative’s house? Take pictures and upload them to your tree with stories about each. Have you found a forgotten family member’s headstone in an 18th century cemetery? Add this new person and upload an image of the gravesite. Creating a tree is free on ancestry.com.

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Just Cuz! LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS “

ad, do I have to go to the family reunion? I want to hang D“The out with my friends.” last family reunion was boring! There was nothing to do!”

“I don’t know who they are and I don’t care who they are!”

Have your teenagers ever made comments like these? If you drag your kids to a family reunion and there is no way they can figure out who those people are, then it’s likely you will hear similar comments.

Descendancy research may be the answer. Mormons are noted for concentrating on ancestral research – learning all about the dead – and too many families neglect to research the living.

The St. Anthony (Idaho) Family History Center introduces youth to descendancy research using a PowerPoint presentation called “Just Cuz!” The purpose of the program is to identify and become acquainted with as many living relatives as they can find. Most will be cousins with common grandparents or great-grandparents. Many websites with active links are listed. It will strengthen the family.

“Just Cuz!” has several links with step-by-step instructions about how to enter data, add notes and even add pictures and other multi-media such as audio and video.

“Map ’Em” is a fun activity that pinpoints families who are scattered over several states or even countries. “Just Cuz!” provides a link to Google Maps with a tutorial about how to get started. Teenagers can learn new things and show off their computer skills.

So at the next family reunion, you and your teenagers could be gathering information about living aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and adding this data to your PAF file.

Find out what they are interested in, where they go to school, what their hobbies and occupations are. Add digital pictures as well as mailing and email addresses and phone numbers. Add stories to the Notes section – which could turnout to be the most interesting part!

WAYS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION

Write a family history. Create a family website or newsletter.

Help plan a family reunion (you have contact information!).

Make a digital family picture book. Make a family board game.

Give support (emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.) to a family member who is struggling.

Print a descendancy chart on one large sheet – up to 3 ½ by 6 feet! Display it at a reunion where everyone can easily see how he or she is related. PAF can be set to show the relationships between individuals. The cost is about $25 including shipping. See Onepagegenealogy.com.

For a free copy of the “Just Cuz!” program, email res@ida.net and ask for “Just Cuz!” It includes a link for a free PowerPoint viewer, in case your computer is not set up to view PowerPoints.

From a column by and permission from Robert Strange, director of the Family History Center in St. Anthony, Idaho, in the Rexburg Standard Journal, Rexsburg, Idaho

Photo by Annette Hunt.

Cemetery tours

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ours of historic Cedar Grove Cemetery in New Bern, North Carolina, every Saturday through November are a collaborative effort of the Earl of Craven Chapter of Questers International and the New Bern Historical Society. Audiences love encounters with some of the cemetery’s most colorful residents, brought to life by character interpreters.

Here Nelson McDaniel is portraying Judge William Gaston. Fact-based tours offer glimpses of more than two centuries of the lives of New Bernians.

The local chapter of Questers raises funds to underwrite preservation and restoration in Cedar Grove Cemetery. All proceeds from tickets ($10 each) are used for cemetery preservation.

Historic women in Midland, Michigan

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n the 1950s and ’60s, women of Midland, Michigan, decided to do something about sprucing up their town.

Betty Jones’s research of African-American families in Midland established their arrival. “Voices: Extraordinary Women of Midland County” is a three-year project assembled by Tina S. Van Dam and a legion of volunteers in 11 months. These were women who saw a need and drew on whatever resources they had to make things happen.

The women’s stories will never be lost again. The work of countless researchers, scanning everything from census records to family Bibles, will go into archives for anyone who wants to learn more.

But when researchers dug a little deeper, they came up with real surprises.

While her husband was away during World War II, one woman was a code-breaker. It was so secret that she never told her husband, who died never knowing. But she felt she could make it public now, 50 years later.

Another woman, who was an orphan, bought a hotel and when she heard a lumberman was mistreating his wife, she helped the victim escape to the hotel.

She also brought orphans in from the poor farm. It was Midland’s first shelter.

Some researchers have become so engrossed in women’s lives, they now step into costume to tell the women’s stories.

From The Saginaw News Staff in The Ann Arbor News – MLive.co, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Q? What is the name of this reunion?

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amarl Clark, Washington, DC, planned a family reunion on his grandfather’s side. It was successful and Jamarl gained insight into his family history.

Then he agreed to help plan a reunion for his grandmother’s side (Fleming) and has encountered obstacles. There is a dispute over what to name the family reunion and how it should acknowledge the family’s history. Some family members feel the focus should be on Marie Waters Fuller Fleming (Jamarl’s greatgrandmother) and children she conceived before her last union. Marie Waters was first married to Conway Fuller. They had five children. Then Marie had a child with an unknown father before she married Wash Fleming, who had six children from a previous marriage. Wash and Marie had four children. Some family members feel the reunion should be Fleming-Fuller.

Jamarl wrote, “I would think it would be just ‘Fleming’ because it brought together two families.

My concern is leaving out Marie Fleming’s stepchildren, since she married their father Wash Fleming. The family tree will include ex-husbands and ex-wives, but should their names be represented as our family reunion name? Aren’t we all connected to the ‘Fleming?’ If we use ‘Fuller’ then wouldn’t we need to include the last name of Wash Fleming’s ex-wife as well? Please help me and my family understand these questions in regard to genealogy.”

A!

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hile yours is a very interesting dilemma, there are no rules for naming family reunions. The only connection to genealogy would be that you are studying your family history and are becoming confused by these relationships.

Since you cite Marie Waters Fuller Fleming as the person to whom everyone is connected, it does seem appropriate to use her name. Since she was married twice and you are including children from both marriages, I agree that both Fleming and Fuller should be considered. But, and I don’t think this is what you are looking for, the choice is still yours.

Jamarl says Marie’s step children are Flemings, but they feel they should not attend since the reunion only deals with Marie. To which we respond, that’s their choice. But we feel you should make a case for them coming and let them decide.

Again, no hard and fast rules to govern any aspect of reunions except to have fun.

Editor’s note. Another suggestion is “Descendants of Marie WATERS and her husbands Conway FULLER and Wash FLEMING.” A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 17

MASTERPLAN

Family reunion attitudes

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oes the traditional summer family reunion still attract members the way it once did? According to a national survey of more than 1,000 Americans by CustomInk, the answer is a resounding yes!

CustomInk’s Family Reunion Outlook reported that 93 percent of respondents said they would attend a family reunion to connect with relatives. When looking at social media, one in three surveyed said they never use facebook to communicate with extended family. People still look forward to family reunions, with nearly 40 percent reporting they’d attended one in the past five years. Another 20 percent said that while their families don’t hold reunions, they would attend, if one was planned.

“Each summer, we see a surge in orders for family reunion tshirts,” says Marc Katz, president and co-founder of CustomInk, an online retailer of custom t-shirts and accessories. “To me, it shows that even with the tough economy, people still make it a priority to connect with family, create lasting memories, and remind themselves they’re part of something bigger and meaningful. They create custom t-shirts to help make their reunion special and celebrate their family identity.”

CustomInk delivers more than 100,000 family reunion t-

shirts per year.

According to the survey, Oprah is the celebrity respondents think would most fit in at their next family reunion. Charlie Sheen ranks second – a fact not surprising considering that most respondents said the t-shirt slogan best describing their family is, ‘Families are like Brownies – Mostly Sweet with a Few Nuts.’ President Barack Obama tied for third place with Justin Bieber.

Whether it’s hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs or steaks, meat dishes are the odds-on favorites for family reunion foods. Almost 50 percent of respondents say meat is a “must-have.” Desserts were a distant second, capturing only 16 percent of the vote.

Time to hit the beach! Approximately 66 percent of respondents say warm-weather locations, including beaches, tropical resorts or cruise ships, are the favorite “fantasy destinations” to hold a family reunion.

While 86 percent of respondents attend reunions to connect with relatives, for many the thrill of competition is a draw, too.

Almost 60 percent say they also attend to participate in activities such as potato sack races, horseshoes and corn hole.

Promises delivered

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he 52nd consecutive annual Ransom-Sease Family Reunion convened in Syracuse, New York. Several members arrived in Syracuse early to assist the committee and visit the area as part of an extended vacation.

Embassy Suites was an ideal location. A nightly manager’s reception and the daily buffet breakfast were additional ways for family to get together at no extra cost.

The reunion theme, “Together We Rise,” was so appropriate. We feel strongly about our religious background and on praying together and for one another so we can continue to RISE. The Syracuse Committee delivered on two promises: great food and great weather.

Put those together with a great family and you have a recipe for a successful reunion.

The hospitality room doors opened on a warm family reception, food and more food.

Another reunion promise was an interactive reunion.

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Social interaction and networking were enjoyed by everyone from the 3-month youngest to the 90-year eldest.

Activities included ice breakers, volleyball, football, swimming, card games, children’s games, dancing, bingo, eating, eating, and family love. A few members took a side trip to the Turning Stone Casino. Others visited Syracuse University, with an opportunity to actually stand on the football field – a real thrill for high-school students who have college aspirations.

At the Sunday morning religious service, the family sang its theme song, “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” and listened to a powerful message from Rev. Alphonsa Williams, retired Pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Syracuse, New York. The church service was followed by the annual Family Business Meeting.

Reported by Buddy and Charlotte Glover, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Spotlight on the Livseys

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ivsey Family Reunion members are descendants of slaves and slave owners. The Livseys have come a long way from 200 years ago, when people didn’t choose their families. Now, they have.

Annette Merritt-Livsey, a family history researcher, recalled that back in the 1960s, her Uncle Charlie Doss was very interested in connecting with the black side of the family.

Her research led her to newspaper pieces that featured the black side of the family, including Thomas Livsey. One day, Thomas called to ask if he and his son could come by and talk about genealogy. He was surprised she knew who he was and had his picture from a newspaper clipping in her scrapbook. Merritt-Livsey explained that her family was eager to establish a relationship.

Another white cousin said he had known Thomas Livsey for a very long time. “We always called each other cousin, but never knew we were really kin-folk!”

In 2006, both sides of Livseys attended a family reunion.

Thomas Livsey, Jr., said, “No one owed anyone an explanation or excuse for the past, no animosity, no guilt. We must question our past in order to determine our future. We all left with a whole new family tree.”

The black and white Livseys see each other often and have a close, comfortable relationship. On average, about 100 family members attend reunions.

From a story on patch.com by Crystal Huskey, with historical information from the Snellville Historical Society, the Gwinnett Historical Society and Livsey family members.

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uth Kornacki, Lake Orion, Michigan, enjoying the Kornacki July 4th Family Reunion at Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure, North Carolina, with five generations from seven states. The Kornackis entered a resort golf cart parade all dressed up as patriotic characters during this reunion.

Founding family celebrates legacy

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he de Leon family gathered in Victoria, Texas, for a reunion celebrating the family’s legacy and honoring Martin de Leon, Placido Benavides, and other historical de Leon family members.

Victoria is one of the oldest cities in Texas. Victoria County is the only county where all six flags have flown. After the Mexican Revolution in 1821, 26 applications were submitted for colonization grants. Only half were approved. Of those, only de Leon and Stephen F. Austin fulfilled the terms of their contracts.

Martin de Leon laid out Victoria according to century-old Spanish colonization law and brought families to Texas to settle the new colony.

This year, the 175th anniversary of Texas independence, the reunion celebrates the family’s significance in Texas history, including a monument dedication in Victoria’s Market Square commemorating Placido Benavides’ influence.

The de Leon family reunion brings together descendants from all over the US to share fellowship and the family legacy.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 19

MASTERPLAN

Parshall Super Family Fun Day

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ruce Parshall plans Easter weekend reunions called Parshall Super Family Fun Day in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he lives and where most of his kids were born. Technically, the reunion lasts one day. But if you add gathering time for those who live out of town, it’s a full three-day weekend.

We roughly estimate how much it will cost for tshirts, food and related expenses, then announce it to the family. We ask them to contribute as much toward the budget as possible. We set up an account at our credit union and assign one of our daughters to be the treasurer for the year. She makes people aware of the budget, balance and expenses. We use spreadsheets to track expenses. My daughters have

We go to the cemetery to decorate our son’s grave and have a brief memorial there. Part of that is to release helium balloons and watch them rise.

We have a mystery lunch, which starts with a trip to a grocery store. Family is divided into teams, each armed with $5 to $10 to buy something we can share. Since nobody knows what anyone else is getting, the combinations have been pretty wild. You won't find them on any reputable restaurant’s menu.

developed some checklists that we use to make sure we don’t forget anything.

My wife and I have the final “vote” and therefore veto power, but we bounce ideas around via email and other communications to get everyone’s opinions and input.

We’ve had a newsletter in the past, but now everyone blogs so we keep up that way. The reunion is promoted by email and phone calls.

We have 12 children and 11 (soon to be 12) grandchildren. The grandkids are still a bit too young to help with planning, but they are all assigned specific tasks. Their input is vital and their participation is key to making it a fun activity.

This year we assigned different parts of the reunion to various branches of the family. Each family is responsible for their stewardship to make it all come about.

We haven’t relinquished the whole reunion yet, but we are moving in that 20 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

direction. We are not going to live forever and we would like to think that the family will keep it going after we are gone.

We started way back with a trip to the local chocolate factory for a free tour and sample. We take a group picture at the chocolate factory and as we are eating the ice cream cone. Then we went to other factories for their tours and samples. We had a fruit juice plant and a marshmallow factory and others, but only the chocolate factory is still in town with tours and samples. We start there and we always have to add things to keep it lively.

After all the other things we do during the day, we end it with a trip to a drugstore and an ice cream cone.

Parshall Super Family Fun Day

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 21

MASTERPLAN

Wimbush cook-out and catch-up younger children to the playground to climb he Via Wimbush Family Reunion is the monkey bars and play on the swings, a joyous event held the second seesaws and merry-go-round. Teenagers and Saturday in July at Dehart Park in some adults take advantage of the swimming Stuart, Virginia. We gather to worship, pool, which is refreshing when temperatures greet, share fellowship, cook-out and are very high in July. As evening cools catch-up. We start our program as a down, some go heads-up in a friendly game traditional service with prayer, song of basketball or test their skills in a game of and a speech by an invited guest. horseshoes.

We have a program to honor and Our 2010 Reunion was sparked by a remember members who have been in surprise game of Family Feud. The game the military and to salute soldiers was a huge success and it had the currently serving. We pay tribute by contestants jumping and dancing just like playing the Star Spangled Banner on on TV. I highly recommend the game for the public address system. I personally family reunions. You will need someone to think this is one of the most important Aunt Dora Bowman shares a moment with her control the remote and someone to act as aspects of the reunion. Without their great great nephew, Zion Johnson (3) and great neice, Keelo Phillips. scorekeeper and referee to make sure the game sacrifices, none of this could happen. It is goes smoothly. Remember, it is Family Feud: another form of celebrating freedom. We remind contestants that it is just a game of fun. We gave away also honor our elders and pay tribute and respect to those who games and videos whose subject and content focused on family. are no longer with us.

It was a lot of fun.

After the speaker we start the cook-out and sit, talk and After the service, cook-out, games, fellowship, swimming, listen to the soundtrack provided by Ronnie Wimbush. We basketball, horseshoes and entertainment, we discuss plans for enjoy various music genres: gospel, jazz, country, and rhythm next year’s reunion. After the meeting we clean up and pack our and blues. supplies. Some linger to chat while others say their goodbyes.

Guests are encouraged to play table games: Scrabble, Bingo, Story submitted by Ronnie Wimbush, checkers, dominoes, crossword puzzles, picture puzzles and Martinsville, Virginia chess. After dinner, games continue and some adults accompany

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A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 23

SAVINGS

Saving reunion $$$ Make decisions early. Negotiate for more than just group rates. Trade something you don’t need for something you do need. For example, if you don’t need turn-down service, it will save labor costs so you can ask for a special rate on a speaker’s room instead.

decorations from past meetings. Ask for access to the prop closet to come up with a free theme try to negotiate using what you need for free. You might find décor pieces, props and server uniforms for a beach party, baseball, luau, Wild West and patriotic (red, white, and blue) themes.

vvv

vvv

Be flexible with dates. Date flexibility is the best leverage planners have when negotiating with hotels. Book your reunion in “shoulder-” or off- seasons, or less popular days of the week. Best times vary by location. When hotels offer “hot dates” (bargain rates during low-demand periods), make a note of it, even if you can't book that deal. In the future, when booking a meeting at the same time of year, bring up the old “hot dates” and ask for that price, as it's probably still a slow period for the hotel. If you start with the offer, the hotel might "negotiate up" from that low point, with results that still work in your favor.

One of the first things that comes to mind for saving money is potluck, which can be simple or elegant. Find a hall space with kitchen (church, school, community center, park building) and ask local members to bring their very best dishes. Perhaps pay for and provide meat or have some parts of the meal catered while the rest is potluck. This reduces your costs for the space and whatever else you decide to include. Potluck also eliminates the cost of gratuities and taxes.

vvv

vvv Keep an eye on destinations that offer good deals.

Avoid downtown hotels during the week. Book in suburbs or where parking is more likely to be free.

vvv We found this suggestion for saving to go to a reunion in the Caldwell Family Reunion newsletter. Dalvery and Aldous Blackwell suggest that you forego family outings that can weigh on the wallet, opt for family nights. Cut carry-out and sit-down restaurants that can weigh on the waistline!

vvv If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. And ask early. Ask grandparents to arrive early and spend a couple days going to parks and other activities with the grandchildren, enabling parents/hosts to spend time getting ready for the reunion.

vvv Hyatt Hotels throughout North America offer a 3 percent discount to groups who take steps to reduce energy consumption and waste. Their suggestions are to place handouts in a central location so attendees can take only as needed. Print locally, to avoid shipping crates of programs and other papers. Ask housekeeping to keep room temperature around 70 degrees.

vvv If you want entertainment and your budget doesn't permit professionals, reach out to the local community. Contact conservatories, colleges and even high schools to find students looking for gigs.

vvv If you plan to go to the movies, go before 6 PM or go to a discount theater where tickets are $2. Don’t buy snacks.

vvv These are two suggestions from Dean Miller, sales manager at Visit Fairfax (fxva.com), to Jonathan Vatner in The Frugal Planner’s Tip of the Week.

If attendees need to be shuttled from the hotel to a dinner venue, chartering a motor coach or taxis can weigh down the budget. Instead, negotiate with the hotel to use its airport shuttles. It will cost less than other options.

Ask about the hotel prop closet, a repository for themed 24 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

The Seideman Family kick off their reunion with an ample potluck in Newburg, Wisconsin. Picture by Miffie Seideman.

Do potluck for your picnic. Make a big deal about food that's contributed. Salute grandma's peach cobbler and make a big deal about Uncle Andrew’s barbecue. Ask for favorites.

Then, when you're promoting the reunion, you can also promote the fact that Aunt Kirsten's Death by Chocolate cake will be there for the first person who registers (and, seriously, be sure to reserve slices for the first to register). Chocolate can entice anyone.

vvv IF YOU MUST EAT OUT

Rather than a standard banquet facility, find buffet restaurants that have meeting space. Everyone pays for their own meal OR you charge a flat rate for a meal. Of course, you'll want to tip the servers who hover and help, but it’s not the gratuity of a banquet, and you will still have your meeting space and privacy.

vvv FINAL FOOD THOUGHTS

Serve substantial hors d’oeuvres instead of a plated meal.

Or shrink portions – AND the size of dishes, cups and glasses – to limit consumption.

WHY? WHEN? WHERE?

Family reunions by the numbers

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ore than one-third of US adults – nearly 72 million Americans – traveled to a family reunion in the past three years, according to a survey by the Travel Industry Association.

Despite the trend toward exotic locales, the most popular reunion location is still a centrally located hometown of one or more family members.

A report on MSNBC.com a couple years ago said that spending time with family has risen to the top of the list of things Americans want to do on vacation.

Just two years ago, 22% of US adults said they took a trip to attend a family reunion in the preceding year. And family reunions occur at least once a year for half of family reunion travelers.

While statistics show most family reunions occur close to home, more and more extended families are venturing farther a field. And every facet of the travel industry is taking notice.

Why have a reunion?

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study by Larry Basirico, PhD, of Elon University, Elon, North Carolina, found that the purpose for having reunions varies. Fifty-seven percent (57%) said reunions help them keep in Larry Basirico, PhD touch, while over 28% wanted children to learn about family heritage. Other goals include getting everyone together before a family elder dies or to mark a special birthday, anniversary or holiday.

IN THE BEGINNING

Every reunion begins somewhere, somehow, sometime. Amy Barlow, Highland, Kansas, reported that her Mellenbruch Family Reunion started when her great-great-great grandfather, H. F. Mellenbruch, left a letter expressing a wish that his descendants meet regularly. They have celebrated well over 110 reunions.

Some people don’t remember, or say they never knew, how their reunion started. They remember attending reunions as children.

Your reunion is not unusual if the idea started as an innocent comment at a funeral that you should start meeting under happier circumstances. Reunions are often compared to weddings and funerals except for one important fact – those events focus on the celebration or remembrance of just one or two people. Reunions celebrate everyone and the whole family.

Why reunions matter

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eunions maintain connections between the people who make up their membership. Reunions strengthen or renew bonds and reestablish commitment to the family/group/class. All reunions foster a sense of nostalgia.

There can be many motivations for family reunions. Families separated by distance use reunions to renew ties, to just be together, often annually. Once children start marrying, they can’t always be home for holidays, so they make the reunion a special day to gather.

Reunions honor everyone in the family, from the eldest to the newest members, and all the achievements and accomplishments in between.

Reunions strengthen families significantly.

When?

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electing a date and place is essential. Some dates are dictated by a milestone. Often reunions are started when grandparents celebrate their 50th anniversary or a grandparent turns 80, for example. In that case, date is automatic and the place is often where the honorees live. For all other reunions, selecting both date and place can be the biggest decisions they make.

Dr. Basirico’s study showed that the majority (85%) of all family reunions occur in June, July and August. Fourth of July weekend or the weekends surrounding a midweek holiday constitute the height of the season.

Set your first reunion date to draw as many people as possible. If reunion is a new idea, distant members need to save both time and money for the trip.

Not all times of the year are the same. Seasons matter. Do you have skiers?

Campers? Sun-seekers? School children? Plan accordingly.

Right after Thanksgiving is a perfect time for many, when people are home for the holiday. In summer, people are away on vacations or doing things with immediate family.

Many family and military reunions travel every year. Planners are always looking for what’s new, what will interest their members, is affordable and convenient for everyone. Any facility that can accommodate a family vacation can accommodate a reunion, except for size and capacity.

Those who turn to Reunions magazine and Reunions Workbook quickly learn that convention and visitors bureaus are essential in helping make contacts with hotels, services and vendors to help reunion planners.

Planners are responsible for buying decisions for an average of 50 people.

Once they’ve committed to an accommodation, they develop a program which can include any activities that families do, but with a much larger group.

The reunion planner does everything a professional meeting planner does, but without the level of expertise. Reunions magazine tries to provide details and information that will help our readers with some of the tricks professionals use.

Who is in a reunion group?

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or class and military reunions, the members of the reunion will be those who were members of the class or military group. In fairness, everyone who was ever in the class or group is automatically a member.

Families, on the other hand, must decide exactly who comprises the family. Is it everyone descended from a couple who settled in Newburg, Wisconsin, in 1848, like the Seidemann Family Reunion that sends out 3,000 invitations annually and draws 400 to 600 each year? Or is it grandparents like George and Rosie Davis of Mena, Arkansas, who take their far-flung children and grandchildren on reunions including one to Pearl Harbor to show the kids and grandkids where George lived?

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 25

WHY? WHEN? WHERE?

WHICH DATE WORKS?

Http://whichdateworks.com is a very simple way to help select dates for your reunion! You list who should get the email and a calendar marked with dates you’re considering. Ask others to respond and you’ve begun the work of selecting a date for your reunion! Everyone gets a chance to fill in dates that are good, bad and so-so, and the winner is picked democratically. It’s free and no registration is required.

Why it’s important to plan ahead

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n the best of all possible worlds, reunion planners do not work alone.

They should gather others to help make decisions and assist with implementation.

Planning ahead allows you a greater selection of site options for your reunion and increases your ability to negotiate with venues and vendors.

Planning ahead ensures you cover every detail, dot every “i” and cross every “t.”

Most important for better attendance, planning ahead allows you time to properly notify potential attendees about their reunion.

But beware, there are times when planning too far in advance makes no sense. For example, it’s best to wait until you have a firm date set. It’s better to wait until you feel confident about your date before signing any contracts.

Frequency of reunions EVERY FIVE YEARS

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rances Koehler, Richmond, Virginia, reported that the Frank and Emma Koehler Descendants Family Reunion is held every five years. They move around the country so everyone has an opportunity to attend. By having it only every five years people have time to plan and save for the expense of a trip. Many take the opportunity to extend their stay to see the sights and participate in the activities offered in the area.

EVERY OTHER YEAR

Nancy Everly’s Best Family Reunion meets every two years.

“This,” Nancy says, “is the one trip that nothing could stop us.

We live in mid-Ohio and our reunion is in New York State, with cousins coming from Florida and South Carolina.

“Family is everything and any price is worth going to see them!”

From all accounts the Vega family feels that every five years is too long to wait for a get-together; members want to catch up with each other, and swap family history and other tidbits of information of interest to family members so they meet every two years.

Meyer Family Reunion ladies

EVERY YEAR

Cindy Jacoby, Thomasville, Pennsylvania, says there is no stopping the Meyer Family Reunion. Relatives come from Massachusetts and Ohio to Pennsylvania.

We all have very busy lives and this is the one day each year we all get together to catch up on what’s happening with each family, and to enjoy games and excellent Pennsylvania Dutch cooking.

Danny Gruber, in a story in the Lexington, Nebraska, Clipper Herald, wrote that the Brummet Family Reunion is held the last Saturday every September, a strategy they recommend highly. The date is after planting season and before harvest season and the consistency of the day it’s held eliminates confusion each year by persons outside of the planning loop.

Meyer Family Reunion kids

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WHY? WHEN? WHERE?

Taylors – oldest family reunion

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outhern Living magazine featured the descendants of the Rev. Howell Taylor, who have gathered since 1826 at the Tabernacle Methodist Church campground near Brownsville, Tennessee, to worship, swap tales and feast.

More than 500 were spread out among 35 camp kitchens and cabins. One must be a descendant of Reverend Taylor to own a house on the family campgrounds.

The aroma of sizzling bacon and perking coffee drifts through the open windows every morning, and the scents of

baking apples, corn pudding, roast beef and chicken pies arrive by afternoon.

The central focus continues as a revival held in the Tabernacle Methodist Church on the campgrounds. New spouses are introduced, new babies welcomed with a christening ceremony, and departed loved ones remembered in a memorial service.

They make an annual heritage walk to the church cemetery, where many family are buried, including founding father Reverend Taylor. Children learn genealogy firsthand.

Are Taylors the oldest family reunion? Or did yours start before 1826? Email editor@reunionsmag.com.

Date setting ideas from facebook

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e asked on facebook how reunions choose their dates.

Descendants of Tom and Harriet Vernon say they don’t know the story behind their reunion date, but it has been the last weekend of July for 63 years.

Patti Gornick McLaughlin says their reunion is homecoming weekend.

The Saffore- Scyffore FamilyReunion is a standing weekend in June, which was arrived at by family vote.

Sharon Wisniewski’s family chose Labor Day weekend so they’d have three days to travel and play.

28 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

Diana Russell lives in California and the reunion is in Bentonville, Arkansas, so a lot of the planning is done by email and phone. She emails the hotel staff to see what dates are good in October. They tell her if there are events like home football games or craft fairs that affect availability, which is a huge help.

How about reunions that change dates each time? How do you choose your dates?

Stephanie Irby-Suell’s reunion is the last weekend in July; it has worked well for several years. She changed dates for several reunions, but tried to make it just before

school for family members in the south.

“However,” she says, “I have learned that no date is GOOD FOR EVERYONE so I choose something close to the end of summer. Often I get great rates at hotels and cabins then. The peak of summer is normally way too high for family members to afford room rates.” Their reunions are every two years and in between they’ve offered a family cruise. Their reunions “usually last about four to five days, and there are about 300 to 400 of us, so we are definitely exhausted after all the laughter and fun. We need a year in between to recuperate.”

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 29

WHY? WHEN? WHERE?

Where?

Deciding on location

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

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eunions magazine did surveys about how and when you make arrangements for your reunion accommodations.

Not surprisingly, we found that most reunions have locked in their accommodation arrangements by March of the year of the reunion.

Convenient location to get to (19%) is the most prominent factor for how reunion destinations are chosen, followed closely by reasonable lodging cost (18%), reasonable travel cost (16%) and available recreation activities (14%).

Other responses included: same place every year, variety of accommodations and activities, shopping and destinations that match a theme.

Destinations range from a convenient central location to places with special family significance or a vacation hot spot. All families try to find special places ranging from their own backyard to historical family homesteads or even a dream locale. Many reunions are the family vacation or at least its highlight, so the “when” matters.

Some reunions number hundreds of members. They meet more comfortably in hotels and resorts and even on cruise ships. The possibilities are infinite.

Smaller groups may be more comfortable at inns, ranches, condos, villas, or camp- grounds for tents and RVs or any mix.

An afternoon in a local park has morphed into multi-day event or even week-long reunions.

With the average reunion attended by 50 relatives, a destination reunion can be a huge undertaking and quite expensive, if you don’t plan ahead. Ask anyone who’s done it. It’s a real labor of love.

Some hotels and destinations offer reunion-planning assistance and group discounts.

When choosing a destination, consider the time of year and potential conflicts. For instance, spring break means big crowds, increased rates, and long lead times to make reservations.

When choosing a hotel, look for one that has family-friendly amenities such as a pool and fitness area to ensure that everyone is entertained when the day’s official activities are over.

From the Kane County Chronicle, Geneva, Illinois 30 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

rad Tuttle, on BudgetTravel.com, answers the question, “How in the world do we decide where to go?”

As with all things family, the key is compromise. Your goal is to find a place that will make 15 or 50 very different people happy. First, include everyone.

Throw out 10 possibilities in a group

email, then rank them to see what rises to the top. That’s your winner. The best destinations have broad appeal, offer a range of activities, and are budget sensitive. View lodging creatively; share rooms, offer hotels of varying prices, rent one big house. Establish a central gathering place.

Murphy Family Reunion

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enise Murphy, Antioch, Tennessee, sends an email and letters about 20 months before the reunion to ask everyone to vote on a couple locations.

They were given a deadline date so there would be no complaining that they didn’t have a say in picking the location. It worked very nicely, but you need to send reminders every week until the deadline.

We choose locations from areas that have host families and an airport within 20 to 30 minutes of the hotel. Our

families like one day at a water park or equivalent place and then to have a lot of family time at someone’s home. The reunions are usually four days long, with free time to explore the host city.

Denise says, “I find giving family members a say in the decision wise. It keeps everyone involved and excited.”

She booked the hotel by March and family members had until May to secure their rooms at the quoted prices.

Everything was great! The family is still talking about it.

West Virginia welcomes reunions in a big way! “

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ome Home for the Reunion and Stay for a Lifetime” Reunion Kit campaign is by the West Virginia Department of Commerce to promote West Virginia tourism, State Parks and business. Each kit contains logo bags, guides, maps, postcards, hats and much more.

Kits are free for reunions held within West Virginia. For the reunion kit application: http://www.wvcommerce.org/people/genuinewv/reunions/reunionapplication/default.aspx You can pick up kits at the Department of Commerce, a designated CVB or shipment which requires a charge for shipping. Also, planners who write and submit stories about their reunion receive a Genuine WV patch.

Ideas for reunion places

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ll-inclusives (cruises and resorts) are great for groups who want a convenient, no-fuss reunion. They are no-brainers for family reunions since almost everything is included (meals, some drinks, and entertainment). Many cruise lines specialize in bringing big groups together with activities for all ages. Meet at dinnertime to swap stories.

Cruise planners help coordinate all the details, as well as provide some perks, like one free berth for every 15 bookings or special onboard amenities such as champagne and chocolates, stateroom upgrades, private cocktail receptions.

Independent villa, condo and apartment rentals offer comfortable, intimate space with patios, pools and lots of space to gather and bond.

Some villas are resort-based, but most are freestanding in thousands of locations around the world.

Renting a villa, condo or apartments is good for families with little ones who want privacy with lots of destination options and shared expenses.

Most villas don’t accommodate more than 15 people, which may require big groups to consider renting several villas or a compound.

Ancestral travel is a great idea for families who want to make a sentimental journey to an ancestor’s homeland to explore their heritage. Do your research. Create a family tree, then confer with a genealogical tour operator for help in locating your ancestral home. Once you identify the village or town, take a scouting trip to meet a relative or close contact before bringing the whole family over.

Reunion roundup

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ay Reter, Cockeysville, Maryland, wrote that their first family reunion in 1997 was in an American Legion hall near where most of the relatives live. It worked well because the hall was on a single level with plenty of parking and no steps for mobility-impaired relatives to be concerned about.

“Our next three family reunions were held in the social hall across the street from a little country church where several ancestors are buried. While a little farther for some relatives, it is only a few miles from a major interstate highway offramp. Our reunions are held on Saturday afternoons. The church is open for visits, viewing and quiet meditation. This has helped add a very personal touch to the reunion. The church hall is also on a single level, with plenty of parking and no steps to be concerned about.

The day before the reunion, I set out elevated US flags (small 12" x 18" mounted on 5' dowels, purchased at the local hardware store) at all of the family cemetery plots to make it easy for attendees to visit their ancestors final resting places,” Ray Reter says.

The Kevil Family reserved 27 standard rooms and three handicapaccess rooms for three nights at the main lodge at Lake Barkley State Resort Park, west of Cadiz, Kentucky. After much negotiating with park officials, room rates were $85.95 for a double on Thursday night plus $10 extra on both Friday and Saturday nights. All rooms were required to be reserved by credit card two weeks in advance of the reunion.

In a story by Maren Schober in The Resident, Pawtucket, Connecticut, we learn The Denison Homestead Museum of

Reter Family Reunion

Mystic, Connecticut, is the center of reunion activity for Denisons from all over the country. The Homestead was constructed in 1717 on land granted to Captain George Denison in 1654 and is believed to be one of the few homes in the country continuously owned by the same family. Inside, five main rooms represent different periods of American history and feature Denisons who lived in the house at that period. In the Federal Parlor (1838) one finds re-enactors playing Oliver and Nancy Denison with two of their children, Emma and Marcia Denison. Visit http://denisonhomestead.org.

Bambi Boykin reported that the Brasman Sanders Family Reunion chooses reunion places by vote so those who want to host can invite the family to their hometown or schedule a cruise, or those who want to go a specific place can nominate a host city. The host absorbs

costs that he/she chooses. Family members pay registration fees for events, which may include some limited transportation between sites and everyone pays their own travel and lodging costs.

Finally, some reunions are lucky enough to have a special place where they return year after year. The Seidemann Family Reunion is one such group that has met for 78 years at the family farm in the lush bright green rolling hills near Newburg, Wisconsin. It’s no wonder hundreds stream there once a year to pay homage to a strong family tradition. In fact, the oldest generation remember coming as kids for fun, games, food, laughter and cousins from all over. In the intervening years, permanent buildings and facilities have been constructed but through it all, the enormously popular merry-go-round draws generations of kids back each third Sunday in July.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 31

WHY? WHEN? WHERE?

The power of convention and visitors bureaus information to all vendors for responses that are f you're considering some place you've not Check Reunion easier to compare. been before, contact the convention and Resources, a directory Answers to your questions should measure visitors bureau for up-to-date local information. of reunion-friendly their ability to do the job.

Contact the CVB in any case, even if it’s your places in this magazine Give vendors enough time to respond. Two own town. They have help for everyone. and online. And weeks should be adequate.

Convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and patronize the advertisers A spreadsheet is the easiest and most accurate chambers of commerce are nonprofit organizations in this magazine and method to compare apples to apples. that represent cities or regions for all kinds of online. They are eager to Reply to and thank all companies who submit meetings. Most CVBs offer their services free of serve reunions. proposals. Let them know you appreciate the charge. One of the most important services they effort, time and money they put into it. offer is to circulate your request for proposal (RFP) to their hotel members to bid for your reunion.

BEYOND PRICE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: They can also help arrange site inspections and other Food and beverage service. What is the tax and gratuity? services based on your needs. They are good sources for maps, Is the gratuity taxed? brochures and information about sight-seeing trips.

Meeting space. What equipment/setup is included in the cost?

If you want to receive decent proposals, send quality Transportation. Is there shuttle service? Airport? Shopping? requests for proposals (RFP). A good proposal contains Area attractions? accurate and comprehensive information. Provide the same

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Questions to ask when booking a vacation rental

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acation rentals, condos and villas offer space, amenities, services and privacy.

They are customizable and include bath toiletries, fresh linens, personal concierges, options for childcare, free bicycles, private pools, in-home movie theatres with DVD rentals, or access to a fitness center with an indoor water park.

When planning a vacation rental for your reunion, consider these.

• Is there a rental agreement? Review terms and conditions. If in doubt, check with state and/or local municipality to confirm the manager/owner has a business license and is paying lodging taxes.

• Look for established companies who offer a 24/7 emergency guest services contact.

• To ensure reliable services and facilities, look for third-party endorsements, membership in industry associations, and past guest reviews, comments and references.

• Make your reservation on a standardized, secure phone and/or internet reservations systems. Expect to pay a security deposit.

• Choose a professionally managed vacation rental to ensure consistent hospitality services and quality assurance standards.

From Discover Vacation Homes

Want to see your reunion on these pages?

The answer is simple. Send a report, add terrific, well-focused pictures and we'll consider it.

what's We have Include out your no d b e a adlines, w l ia c t spe a h w nd read it w e he reunion aire other we get it. n will insp ions. reun

For more details and ideas, read these pages and learn more from Media Alerts and Writers Guidelines at reunionsmag.com.

Pictures MUST be at least 300 dpi.

Send with your report to reunionsmag@gmail.com; subject line: name of the reunion.

We have LOTS of submissions so make yours stand out!

32 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

ESS E N T I A L R E U N I O N P L A N N I N G ST E P :

Contact the CVB (convention and visitors bureau)

by Edith Wagner

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f you’re accustomed to taking advantage of the best reunion planning resources, you’re already familiar with conventions and visitors bureaus (CVB). You’ve also come to expect their generosity of service, concern about you, and desire to help make your reunion in their neighborhood all the better!!

Standard fare includes help connecting you to hotels and venues for events, and referrals for service to their members (caterers, rentals, motor coach companies, attractions, recreation and even local entertainers). CVBs will direct you to almost any resource to meet your planning needs. They can help generate proclamations and visits from dignitaries in most places. And, in spite of the economy, most still provide souvenirs – advertising their destination of course. Many CVBs also offer reunion planning workshops; see Reunion School in this issue.

On top of that, along the way you might have met and worked with some of the best reunion hosts CVBs have to offer, like Dean Miller at Visit Fairfax (Virginia) or Kimberly Ghys at Lake County (Illinois) CVB or Cheryl Morales at Newport News (Virginia) CVB or Debbie Jones at Branson (Missouri) CVB. But wait until you meet Brian Cheek, Mr. Reunion, at Columbus (Ohio) CVB! He can connect you with experiences unlike anything you’ve thought possible for your reunion.

EXPERIENCE REUNIONS IN COLUMBUS

COSI is a place filled with the delightful squeals of children of all ages.

34 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

“Experience Columbus” is their name and experience is what they’re promoting to entertain and enchant your reunion members. Experience Columbus has partnered with an amazing variety of resources who will demonstrate or invite your members to participate, leaving a lasting impression that there is no end of possibilities in Columbus, Ohio, and environs. They call it an immersion strategy for Experiential Tourism to take groups behind the scenes of attractions, performances, and special access to experiences you won’t find anyplace else.

First, these are not activities you can just walk in on unannounced. Many have minimum and maximum attendance requirements. You must make advance arrangements so that there will be enough space and sometimes materials to accommodate everyone in your group. Some experiences are free, but most charge for materials.

What, you ask, could these experiences possibly be?

For baseball fans, you’ll want to bone up on the history of The Columbus Clippers baseball team (AAA Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) and its amazing historian, Joe Santry (jsantry@clipperbaseball.com), whose enthusiasm can hold the attention of even someone who has little interest in the sport. Add a tour of the Major League-approved Phoenix Bat Company (Phoenixbats.com) for your inveterate baseball fans, and they’ll wonder how on earth you pulled it off.

Mixing special scents for custom candles at The Candle Lab. (left to right) Ben DeVries, Brian Cheek, Herb Sparrow and Melanie Hughey.

Your secret is working with the CVB for access to their special Columbus experiences.

A VERY NICE PLACE TO STAY IN COLUMBUS While baseball takes care of some boys in the group, the Hampton Inn Downtown girls have plenty to enjoy, as well. How about an introduction www.HamptonInn.Hilton.com/Columbus to herbs and tea at the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna (Gahanna.gov)? Or pour candles at The Candle Lab (thecandlelab.com) and imprint stationary at Igloo Letterpress participants go where no one has gone before. Hide out in an (IglooLetterpress.com), with a wine tasting in between at House underground railroad safe house. Get a wine lesson at Camelot Wine (HouseWine.biz) in Worthington. How about a behindCellars (camelotcellars.com). COSI, the science museum the-scenes visit with Nordstrom’s Personal Shopper before the (COSI.org) and the Columbus Art Museum (columbusmuseum.org) store even opens to the rest of the world (shopnordstrom.com)? are full of experiences for the whole family.

Back stage, behind the scenes, places others can’t go.

COLUMBUS: IDEAL REUNION LOCATION That’s Experience Columbus.

Tamarlin Barner reported that her Rogers & Bobo For the whole family, the Family Reunion in Columbus was a great success. It world class Columbus Zoo took two years of planning and a lot of hard work. I (ColsZoo.org) is not to be selected Columbus because it is centrally located in missed. See the new polar bear Ohio. Every two years, the reunion is in a different exhibit just added to their city. I’m from Akron, Ohio, where there are not a lot collection. And believe this! You of hotels to adequately compete on price. Columbus may even score a special is the capital, and going there made sense. celebrity sighting and meeting.

I contacted hotelplanner.com to obtain assistance Really. Jack Hanna, yes, THE with hotel price range and then researched family Jack Hanna from TV, with his reunion information online. I contacted Experience Columbus Zoo animals. Jack Columbus, who provided me with all kinds of Hanna walks around the zoo and information about the city. They provided goodies loves to talk to zoo guests. for my gift bags and information about the area.

Really! Keep your eyes and ears Jack Hanna and Edith Wagner, editor of Reunions magazine.

We stayed open because you can’t miss that at the Airport hat and inviting smile! He loves the zoo and you will, too.

Marriott. Only Columbus is called one of the first and most aggressive cities to 100 people embrace and pioneer experiential tourism. Columbus continues to attended break ground, constantly offering new, one-of-a-kind tours that let because of the bad economy, but the WHERE TO START TO EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS! reunion still was a success Brian Cheek, Tourism Sales Manager because, 800-354-2657 despite the www.ExperienceColumbus.com slump, family Ask for their list of experiences, plus cost, members who maximum and minimum group size, and direct contact Three generations from Dallas, Texas, brothers Adrian and Anton Gates and Anton's little son and their father, Noy Gates, at the could attend to coordinate visits. Visit http://experiencecolumbus.com/ Rogers & Bobo Family Reunion in Columbus, Ohio. did, and talked tour-planners-experiential-tours.cfm about how important family is and that we must keep up the tradition so our children will know their heritage. Our children will only know family if reunions are held.

The weekend started with a Friday night get-acquainted meet and greet. Saturday we went to a picnic at a local park where I had rented a shelter. I also rented vans to shuttle us to the park. After the picnic, we went shopping and then to a blues festival in downtown Columbus.

On Sunday we all went to church together, then toured the city and had a banquet at the hotel. It was a fun-filled weekend. I had a childcare service to watch the children and we had several hospitality rooms to mix and mingle at night.

THESE AREA CVBS ALSO HOST WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES. Our reunions started in 1983 when one of the family elders Dublin CVB – Contact Allison Potter, said we need a reunion so the children will grow up and know apotter@IrishisanAttitude.com; 800-245-8387; each other. Reunions have been held every two years since. The www.IrishisanAttitude locations are voted on at each reunion and a state president is Gahanna CVB – visitgahanna.com appointed.

We start from scratch with no money and must make Worthington CVB – visitworthingtonohio.com it work. It’s always a challenge but that’s the fun part.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 35

MILITARY REUNION NEWS

War of 1812 Bicentennial

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here will be a 12-port public/private partnership for the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Continuing through 2015, the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard – the US maritime services along with Operation Sail will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Week-long events, parades of warships and sailing vessels, public visitation, air shows, international athletic competitions, and community relations activities will mark the occasions in New Orleans, New York City, Norfolk, Baltimore/Annapolis, Boston, New London, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Buffalo. The Navy’s four annual events on the West Coast Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego will include special shipboard exhibits.

The Chief of Naval Operations has invited 120 countries to send combat ships as well as their national academy sail training tall ships to America.

OpSail, the Congressionally chartered non-profit producer of tall ship events, has partnered with the Navy for previous American milestones such as the 1976 bicentennial of American independence, the 1986 State of Liberty centennial, and Millennium in 2000. Visit www.opsail.org.

USS Boston enjoys Fairfax

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ore than 475 USS Boston shipmates and guests gathered at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport hotel in Herndon, Virginia, for their 25th annual reunion. The hotel in Fairfax County, Virginia, just across the Potomac from Washington, DC, put the group close to the National Capital areas “must see” attractions.

Attendees enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Potomac, visited the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, laid a memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, and saw one of the country’s leading collections of historic aircraft at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. UdvarHazy Center, in nearby Chantilly, Virginia. They had earlier dedicated a special tree at Arlington to their departed shipmates.

Seven ships have borne the name USS Boston since the Revolutionary War. The first USS Boston was a single-mast gundalow that sailed the waters of Lake Champlain in 1776. The seventh and most recent hull (eighth configuration) USS Boston was a nuclear attack submarine that was decommissioned in 1999.

The former the executive officer on board the nuclear attack submarine USS Boston, Rear Admiral (Select) Dietrich H. Kuhlmann, III, was a featured speaker.

Nesse Godin, a holocaust survivor and volunteer at the Holocaust Museum, spoke at the group’s closing banquet. At the banquet, colors were presented by the US Navy District Washington Drill Team and attendees were delighted by a spellbinding demonstration by the US Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team, tossing chrome bayonetaffixed rifles reflecting the crystal chandeliers of the ballroom.

Reported by Dean Miller, National Sales Manager, Visit Fairfax and Art Hebert, Amherst, New Hampshire, of the USS Boston Association.

Special for Military Reunions $2.00 per room night rebate donated to the War Memorial of your choice, on behalf of your reunion group and the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino.

A highlight of the reunion was “sailing” a scale model replica of the sixth USS Boston, the US Navy’s first guided missile cruiser. The actual ship was 673 feet long. The replica is constructed by Shipmate Jerry Kirk, is a full ten-and-a-half feet long. It was “put to sea” in the hotel’s swimming pool, where it navigated from one end of the pool to the other under remote control.

Upcoming military reunion planning workshops

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ranson/Lakes Area CVB, in Branson, Missouri, will host a Military Reunion Planners Conference August 15-18, 2011. Contact Djones@BransonCVB.com; www.ExploreBranson.com/MilitaryReunion.

Your Military Reunion Connection has three events scheduled for which you can register now: November 3-6, 2011 in San Diego, California, March 2012, Charleston, South Carolina and April 2012 in Branson, Missouri. To learn more, visit www.yourmilitaryreunions.com. Contact Info@YMRC.net.

36 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

THE 99TH DIVISION:

A Fightin’ Tradition

by Justin Daniel Beaton

H

ow many of us can say we had a hand in thwarting a plan of the most evil dictator ever to live? The answer is: not many. However, the US Army’s historic 99th Division is among the few who can, and it happened at the North Shoulder of the Battle at Elsenborn Ridge in Elsenborn, Belgium, during WWII. For over 60 years the 99th Division’s reunions have extended that legacy far beyond those fateful days. Originally held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the unit was activated, the reunion’s first three-day event included meetings, luncheons, and a banquet and dance. It cost $14 dollars per adult.

About 700 veterans attended.

Over the years, reunions have been held in many places, with frequent returns to their roots in Pittsburgh. Although most have occurred in the eastern part of the country, some were as far west as Denver and San Francisco.

Donna Bernhardt, Marion, Kansas, has served as the reunion’s chairman since 2001. “The chairman’s duties include organizing a committee, scouting hotels, choosing tours and arranging speakers and entertainment.” Even soliciting ads for the program and gathering items for “goodie bags” are responsibilities of the chairman and her committee. Bernhardt enjoys her duties and the reunions. Unfortunately, that great legacy is coming to a close.

This is the 62nd year and final annual reunion for the 99th Division.

Earlier, a decision was made that when attendance got down to 50, reunions would discontinue. Last year’s reunion in Louisville, Kentucky, recorded an attendance of 78. In light of dwindling attendance, Bernhardt said, the board of directors who oversee the reunions decided to go out on what she called a “high note” and unanimously voted to end reunions after this year’s event.

Asked whether any meetings might take place beyond this year, she said, “At present, there are no plans for friends and family of 99th veterans to continue meeting.”

The legacy of these men has been celebrated annually at simple reunions, an honored and storied tradition for more than 60 years. Even now that it’s coming to a close, it will always live in the hearts of friends and family. Hoorah!

About the author

National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center

S

toried legacies and tales of bravery, valor, and honor touch the soul of visitors to the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, outside the gates to Fort Benning, Georgia.

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is a tribute to Infantrymen and traces the amazing history of the US Infantry. The experience is an interactive journey through every war fought by the US Infantry over the last two centuries. The museum pays homage to the brave men and their sacrifices and to those still making them.

There is a Rifle Range, where visitors can shoot retrofitted M-4s and M-16s in the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 2000), the same rifle simulator used at Fort Benning to train troops. A WWII Company Street replicates the surge of men joining the army during World War II. The Vietnam Experience demonstrates what it’s like to be on a jungle search-and-destroy mission. Life in the Trenches immerses visitors in the conditions of simulated trench warfare. And The Family Gallery honors soldier’s family members. Uniforms are available to children for “dress-up.” Kids can also go on a virtual humanitarian mission to Iraq! Most Thursdays and Fridays, the museum’s new parade field, hosts Fort Benning’s Infantry School graduations.

Guided group tours require prior arrangements.

Admission is free. However, a $5 per person donation is encouraged. Facilities are available for event rentals. Visit nationalinfantryfoundation.org.

JDB

Justin Daniel Beaton, a student at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, was an intern for Reunions magazine.

Survivors plan rescuers reunion

S

urvivors of USS Frank E. Evans ship- wreck during the Vietnam War invited their rescuers to their reunion in Iowa.

The Frank E. Evans was commissioned in 1945 and served at the Battle of Okinawa during World War II and in the Korean War. It saw combat in Vietnam. The Frank E. Evans was cut in half by the HMAS Melbourne, an Australian aircraft carrier, while on maneuvers in the South China Sea on June 3, 1969. Seventy-four sailors died; 199 were rescued.

The HMAS Melbourne, USS Everett F. Larson, the USS James E. Kyes, the USS Alfred A. Cunningham and the USS Walker helped rescue survivors.

The invitation is in recognition of “the heroic things they did saving our guys.”

They chose Waterloo, Iowa, for the reunion because of the similarity with the five Sullivan brothers, Waterloo natives who all died when the ship they were on, the USS Juneau, sunk during World War II. As with the Sullivans ship, family members were lost aboard the Evans. The reunion included a tour of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo.

From the AP on DesMoinesRegister.com, Des Moines, Iowa.

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 37

MILITARY REUNION NEWS

Vietnam Veterans to host reunion, golf tournament

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he Mount Airy (North Carolina) chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) plans to make their reunion a yearly event. Last year 7,500 people attended the weekend gathering. The reunion will likely move to different places each year.

The VVA sponsored its first JROTC Scholarship Golf Tournament. Thirty-two three-person teams played in the captain’s choice tournament. Registration ($60) per player went toward a yearly $1,500 scholarship for a JROTC student attending Surry Community College. Students apply for the scholarship by writing a 1,500 word essay about the Vietnam War era. Other funds raised will go toward helping veterans.

A miniature golf tournament was open to all ages and also had prizes.

The reunion began with a parade from town to the campground. The reunion campground included helicopter displays from the North Carolina Helicopter Pilot Association.

From a story by Meghann Evans in Mount Airy News, Mount Airy, North Carolina.

38 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES

Welcome to Reunion Resources!

We encourage you to tell the listings you contact that you learned about them from REUNIONS MAGAZINE. And if at any time you find any info that is inaccurate or e-mail or web links do not work, notify us immediately at editor@reunionsmag.com; PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. And by all means, feel free to comment and/or suggest changes and additions you’d like to see in this section.

REUNIONS MAGAZINE will not be held liable for information presented as facts in these ads. We reserve the right to edit and/or refuse any material submitted for publication.

NATIONAL GREAT WOLF LODGE Indoor Waterpark Resorts, featuring an 84-degree indoor waterpark, spacious, cabin-themed family suites, fullservice spa, restaurants, meeting space, gift shop, fitness center and children’s activities. Amenities vary by property. For more information, visit greatwolf.com or call 1-800-905-WOLF(9653). For group bookings, contact groupsales@greatwolf.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD on Page 2!

ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 2200 Ninth Avenue North, Birmingham AL 35203 Birmingham is becoming one of the most celebrated reunion cities in the southeast. There are lots of details to see to – good planning is hard work. The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to help.

For more information regarding reunion services, please contact the Convention Bureau at 205-458-8000 or 800458-8085; fax 205-458-8086; twalton@birminghamal.org; www.birminghamal.org. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CALIFORNIA ANAHEIM PORTOFINO INN & SUITES 1831 South Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802 Looking for a seamless reunion packed full of laughter and memories at an affordable rate? Let the knowledgeable experts at Anaheim Portofino Inn & Suites, located across from Disneyland, create a magical reunion package for you including discount Disneyland tickets and spacious, comfortable accommodations. 866547-2913, www.portofinoinnanaheim.com DAYS INN (formerly PALM COURT INN) 1983 North Palm Court Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262 Convenient location with 108 newly renovated rooms, free continental breakfast, free parking, free WiFi and expansive banquet and hospitality rooms spread throughout four acres of lush gardens, make Days Inn Palm Springs a great spot for your reunion! Call now for great packages. 800-667-7918, www.palmcourt-inn.com

HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO BAYSIDE 4875 N Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92106 Host your reunion at the beautiful Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside across from San Diego Bay. Our experienced staff will assist you in creating a very special event.

Complimentary hosp suite and special reunion rates.

Beautiful guest rooms, heated pool, spa, shuffleboard, ping-pong and billiards, exercise room, family restaurant and cocktail lounge, free pkg, in-room movies, coffee makers, refrigerators, hair dryers; 619-224-3621, 800650-6660; fax 619-224-1787. dos@holinnbayside.com; www.holinnbayside.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL SAN DIEGO 2151 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108 You can go wild in San Diego and still save money!

Featuring 182 guestrooms with tons of FREE amenities including daily hot breakfast buffet, parking and WiFi, Ramada Plaza also offers discount Zoo and SeaWorld tickets, tour planning assistance and more, and is located just give minutes from San Diego’s best attractions! 866436-2833, www.ramadaplazasandiego.com 40 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE™ RESORT

COCO KEY HOTEL & WATER RESORT – ORLANDO

Nestled in the mountains and minutes to North Lake Tahoe, families can enjoy a multitude of on-site activities which makes staying and playing at Northstar affordable, easy and fun for the whole family. On-site activities include golf, biking, hiking, and skating as well as events, dining, and shopping in the Village at Northstar. The resort offers a variety of lodging accommodations, starting at $105 per night. All-inclusive family reunion packages make planning effortless; starting at $249 per person including two nights lodging, meals, and activities. 8 00-926-5096, reunions@northstarattahoe.com, www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

7400 International Drive, Orlando FL 32819 Family-friendly resort features a 54,000 sq. ft. canopycovered and outdoor water park. With 14 water slides, 4 pools, and a 6,500 sq. ft. Arcade there is something for everyone. Located on International Drive, this AAA 3 diamond property is near all of Orlando’s major attractions.

Newly renovated rooms feature modern décor furniture, and a variety of amenities. Connecting rooms are also available for larger families. On-site dining includes TradeWinds restaurant, Callaloo Grill, and Pizza Hut Express. For groups of 10 or more, special reunion menus are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For more information, please call 407-351-2626 or email info@cocokeyorlando.com. Visit cocokeywaterresort.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

COLORADO COLORADO VACATION DIRECTORY Make your search for the perfect family reunion destination easier! FREE FAMILY REUNION DESTINATION LOCATION SERVICE: www.TheCVD.com/groupsreunions and click on “EMAIL US your Request for Group Accommodations.” We will then send your requirements to Cabins, Vacation Homes, Lodges, Motels, Condo’s, B&B’s, and Campgrounds that can accommodate your desires; each one will email you directly with additional information. OR download our free Colorado Vacation Directory to compare reunion locations, which includes Places to Stay & Fun Things to Do. www.TheCVD.com/OrderForm.html

THE NATURE PLACE CONFERENCE & EDUCATION CENTER 6,000 acres of private land in the mountains of Colorado, 1 hour from C. Springs. We specialize in hosting extraordinary family reunions. Designed to bring families of all ages and interests together in fun and unique ways.

48 studio apartments/occupancy for 130. Contact us 719748-3475 / office@thenatureplace.net or Visit www.thenatureplace.net

FLORIDA KISSIMMEE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 1925 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee FL 34744 In Kissimmee, the Heart of Florida, next to Orlando and close to everything, reunions are our specialty. We offer planning assistance to reunions of all sizes and budgets.

Let us help you make planning your next reunion easy.

Call or email for details about Kissimmee’s reunion venues and services. 407-742-8254, meet@floridakiss.com; www.MeetInKissimmee.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

OCALA/ MARION COUNTY VCB Hold your next reunion in Nature’s Place to Play, Ocala/Marion County, Florida. Centrally located along I75 in the heart of the state’s gently rolling horse country, the area boasts the accommodations, facilities, family attractions and outdoor activities for a remarkable reunion. Plus, 21 golf courses within a 30-minute drive offer exceptional play for every skill level. Visit OcalaMarion.com today for more information and special offers, or call 1-888-FL-OCALA for free planning assistance. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

BUENA VISTA SUITES 8203 World Center Drive, Orlando, Florida 32821 800-537-7737. An all-suite hotel offering free full American breakfast buffet, free parking, and free scheduled shuttle to the Walt Disney World¿ Resort and nightly shuttle to Downtown Disney¿, just 1.5 miles away. Visit www.thecaribeorlando.com/buena-vistasuites/ SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

FLORIDAYS RESORT ORLANDO 12562 International Drive, Orlando FL 32821 Located just two miles from SeaWorld and Disney on International Drive, offers spacious two-and-three bedroom Grand Suites, with room for everyone. The free shuttle to the attractions and the I-Drive trolley makes it easy to get around town. With two heated swimming pools, game room, fitness center, and poolside bar and grille, you’ll want to spend quality family time right here at the resort. 321-329-4024; fax 321-329-4001; groupsales@floridaysorlando.com; www.FloridaysResortOrlando.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

WET’n WILD ORLANDO 6200 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819 407-351-1500, 800-992-9453

TRADEWINDS ISLAND RESORTS 5500 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach FL 33706.

Located on the white sand beach of Florida’s west coast, TradeWinds offers a wide variety of delectable dining options and flexible function space. Just 30 minutes from the airport, your group will enjoy an array of activities and entertainment far surpassing their expectations. Our award-winning staff ensures a successful and fun reunion for all. 727-363-2215 or 800-345-6461; fax 727-3632221; DProbst@twresort.com; www.JustLetGo.com

GEORGIA CROWNE PLAZA ATLANTA PERIMETER at RAVINIA 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30346 Located in Central Perimeter area nestled on a 45 acre park, with waterfalls, terraced gardens, facilities for gatherings of 10 to 1,000. 495 guestrooms, 33 spacious suites. Featuring a three story greenhouse atrium lobby, fitness center, indoor pool with sundeck. Across from the Perimeter Mall. Free shuttle to area restaurants, parks and MARTA station for downtown attractions. Visit www.cpravinia.com or call 770-395-7700. Mention this listing for 10 % off reunion banquet pricing. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

EMBASSY SUITES ATLANTA PERIMETER CENTER 1030 Crown Pointe Pkwy, Atlanta GA 30338 770-394-5454. All suite, upscale, renovated hotel located in beautiful Dunwoody, just steps away from Perimeter Mall, Perimeter Shoppes and more than 30 area restaurants/dining facilities. Hotel features complimentary amenities such as: cooked-to-order breakfast, Manager’s Reception, area shuttle, parking deck, indoor pool/sun deck, Precor fitness center and business center. Hotel offers an onsite restaurant with Starbucks cafÄ, meeting space and wireless internet throughout. Flat screen TV’s in all suites. Easy access to downtown via MARTA. Hilton Family Hotels. Book us at www.atlantaperimetercenter.embassysuites.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

ATLANTA MARRIOTT PERIMETER CENTER

WEB PAGE: reunionsmag.com CALL: 414.263.4567 FAX: 414.263.6331 E-MAIL: editor@reunionsmag.com WRITE: PO Box 11727 Milwaukee, WI 53211-0727

246 Perimeter Center Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30346 The Hotel is located adjacent to Perimeter Mall and the Dunwoody MARTA station offering easy access to all city attractions. Amenities include onsite restaurant and lounge, room service, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, meeting and banquet space for up to 350 people and complimentary hotel shuttle within a 2 mile radius. Ask about our special reunions packages. Call 770 394-6500 or visit www.atlantamarriottperimeter.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 41

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES STAYBRIDGE SUITES PERIMETER CENTER EAST

MICHIGAN

SAM’S TOWN HOTEL & GAMBLING HALL

4601 Ridgeview Road, Atlanta-Dunwoody GA 30338 Staybridge Suites is an All-Suite Hotel and offers a premier location in the Dunwoody – Perimeter Area within walking distance to some of the best Restaurants and Shops Atlanta has to offer. Minutes away from attractions like Stone Mountain, Six Flags, Zoo Atlanta, Hartsfield Airport and the Georgia Dome. Fantastic amenities like Free Full Breakfast, Free Shuttle within a 3-Mile Radius, Free Internet, Free On-Site Fitness Center and Guest Laundry! 678-320-0111; Fax: 678320-0250; Reservations: dos.atlpr@wm.staybridge.com; Website: www.staybridge.com/atlanta-pr. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

THE BENZIE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU

5111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas NV 89122. Sam’s Town boasts 646 elegantly appointed rooms and suites which surround the Mystic Fall Indoor Park. This popular hotel and casino has over 2,700 slot and video poker machines as well as 40 table games. In addition, Sam’s Town has 30,000 square feet of meeting space, multiple restaurants, food court, 18 movie theatres, RV Park, Bowling Center and much more!!! Sam’s Town offers a courtesy shuttle to the Strip and Downtown.

702-454-8120; www.samstownlv.com.

W ATLANTA PERIMETER

11000 Craguns Dr, Brainerd MN 56401: 800-CRAGUNS (272-4867). Since 1940 Cragun’s has taken pride in creating memorable reunions...here’s why: 1) trained coordinator will help plan it all, 2) arrival Welcome” and registration areas with planned activity agendas, 3) activities including golf outings, lake cruises, picnics, fishing contests, horse drawn trolley rides and more, 4) indoor facilities to ensure you a weather-proof” reunion, 5) private gathering areas, 6) special celebration meals, 7) professional group photos, 8) and best of all, enjoy a safe, secure friendly environment. Come to Cragun’s for your reunion. Named One of MN’s ideal locations to hold a Reunion.” by AAA. Call for FREE Reunion Planning Packet or visit: www.craguns.com/157.

111 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta GA 30346 Find sanctuary in 121 deluxe guest rooms and 154 fantastic suites complete with the W Signature Bed, Bliss™ Sinkside Six amenities and balconies in all rooms. Suites feature a full kitchen. Free shuttle service within a 3-mile radius, which includes Perimeter Mall and MARTA stations. Banquet spaces with full catering available. For reservations, call 770-396-6800; fax 770394-4805; GMWAtlantaPerimeter@whotels.com; www. whotels.com/atlantaperimeter. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

DOUGLASVILLE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU With a great location near Atlanta and over 1,800 hotel rooms why not choose Douglasville, Georgia! For details on complimentary services, including welcome bags and name badges, contact the Douglasville CVB today and let us help plan your next reunion. For more information call us at 1-800-661-0013 or email us at milesr@ci.douglasville.ga.us. www.visitdouglasville.com

CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OF DUNWOODY, GA Just 10 minutes outside Atlanta in DeKalb County, Dunwoody is the best location for your next reunion.

Minutes away from Stone Mountain Park, Georgia Aquarium, the MLK Center and more! Home to five excellent hotels with tons of meeting space and all within walking distance to Perimeter Mall and shuttle services to MARTA! Call today to plan your reunion – 678-2449800 or visit www.cvbdunwoody.com/. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

GWINNETT CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (ATLANTA) Minutes from Atlanta, the GCVB provides a FREE Reunion Planner, group welcome bags with gift; and free lodging assistance! Gwinnett has 97 group-friendly hotels with 33 of Atlanta’s best parks, and easy I-85 access to Six Flags, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Home, the new Aquarium and Stone Mountain Park! Call Cricket Elliott toll-free at 1-888-494-6638, ext 6049; direct at 770-814-6049 or by email at celliott@gcvb.org to plan your next Atlanta-based reunion today! www.gcvb.org. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CLAYTON COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 127 North Main Street, Jonesboro GA 30326 678-610-4242; rebekah@visitscarlett.com; www.visitscarlett.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD

IOWA WATERLOO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 500 Jefferson Street, Waterloo, IA 50701 New Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Historic Veterans Memorial, Isle Casino & Hotel Waterloo. Meeting facilities to 2,000 people. Family attractions – Lost Island Water Park, Phelps Youth Pavilion, and Bluedorn Science Imaginarium. 800-728-8431; fax 319-233-2733; Lonnie@TravelWaterloo.com; www.TravelWaterloo.com

MARYLAND BETHESDA NORTH MARRIOTT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20852 1-301-822-9200; fax 1-301-822-9201; BethesdaNorthMarriott.com 42 R E U N I O N S O reunionsmag.com

Located along Michigan’s northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula, the gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park and serenely positioned on Lake Michigan’s astounding shoreline, Benzie County is an optimal location for your reunion, wedding, meeting or gathering. Facilities to fit nearly every need from world class resorts to private homes and cottages on our pristine lakes and rivers. www.visitbenzie.com or call 800-882-5801

MINNESOTA WORRY-FREE REUNIONS AT CRAGUN’S RESORT

MISSOURI THE BRANSON/LAKES AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

SUNCOAST HOTEL & CASINO 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas NV 89145. Suncoast is an elegant gaming resort located on the picturesque western edge of the Las Vegas Valley. The stylish 400-room hotel is near three championship golf courses and has free shuttle bus service to and from McCarran International Airport. Among the Suncoast attractions are 25,000 square feet of convention space, nine restaurants, a 64lane bowling center, a 16-screen movie complex, a pool and a 500-seat showroom. 702-636-7050; www.suncoastcasino.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

THE ORLEANS HOTEL AND CASINO blends the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas with the festive flavor of New Orleans. The 88-acre full-service resort has 1,886 rooms and suites, 40,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, 12 exceptional restaurants and an oasis-like swimming pool. Attractions also include a spa and fitness center, a 70-lane bowling center, an 18-screen movie complex, a 900-seat showroom and 9,000-seat arena. 4500 W Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103; 702-365-7050; 888-365-7111 X 7050; www.orleanscasino.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

Located in America’s heartland, Branson, Missouri is the perfect destination for your next reunion because we offer so many choices of live music shows and family entertainment, lodging, attractions, dining and more.

Remember, in Branson, our value is unrivaled, our scenery breathtaking and our authentic Ozarks hospitality inviting. Call us toll-free at 800-214-3661; 417-334-4084 or visit our website at ExploreBranson.com and request a Reunion Planner Sales kit. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL OFFICE

PULASKI COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU

ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO

137 St. Robert Blvd. St. Robert MO 65584. Centrally located between Branson and St. Louis, Missouri on I-44.

Enjoy the Museums at Fort Leonard Wood or family activities on the Gasconade and Big Piney Rivers. Trail of Tears, Historic Route 66, Fairs, Festivals, Antiques, and more. Over 1,500 sleeping rooms and 70 restaurants including the Cave Restaurant, dining in a real cave.

Call toll-free 1-877-858-8687 or visit www.ReunionsAtFtWood.org for additional information.

SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

3800 S Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502 Atlantis is Reno’s Newest Hot Spot for Reunions!

Atlantis boast 50,000 SF of flexible meeting space. Stay in Reno’s newest resort rooms, featuring pillow-top mattresses and 42” HDTV’s. Dine in eight distinct award-winning restaurants. The Atlantis Steakhouse proudly serves Allen Brothers USDA Prime steaks.

Network at the ten captivating bars and lounges. Escape to Spa Atlantis winner of Spa Finder “Readers’ Choice” award! Sales Department 800.994.5900; sales@AtlantisCasino.com, AtlantisCasino.com.

NEVADA

GRAND SIERRA RESORT AND CASINO

ALEXIS PARK ALL SUITE RESORT Enjoy an oasis of 16 lushly landscaped acres, 3 sparkling pools, 4 unique suites to suit your style and a rooftop Terrance (with views of The Strip) for parties. With 495 suites and 50,000 square feet of conference space our friendly staff can take care of a reunion of any size!

Alexis Park is located across the street from the world famous Hard Rock Hotel, one mile from The Strip and McCarran International Airport. 375 E Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89169. Contact Chris Chapman, 702-7963395 or 800-582-2228. http://www.alexispark.com/

GOLD COAST HOTEL & CASINO Located just minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip, directly across from The Rio and The Palms. This friendly resort personifies all that is best about Las Vegas and features 712 rooms and suites, 30,000 square feet of conference space, full-service casino, five restaurants, showroom/lounge, 70-lane bowling center, race/sports book, a poolside fitness center, and shuttle service to the heart of The Strip. 4000 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103; 702-251-3560; 800-331-5334 x 400; www.goldcoastcasino.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

Located just 90 miles south of Las Vegas, Laughlin is an amazing spot to host family gatherings, reunions and getaways no matter what the size. Laughlin offers casual to fine dining as well as concerts, shows, activities and events for every age. And the Colorado River provides a great backdrop for your group photos. To contact the Laughlin sales staff call 1-877-685-2845 or go to www.VisitLaughlin.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

is just five short minutes from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport and just 45 minutes from majestic Lake Tahoe. With 2,000 rooms and suites, a full service casino, 10 distinct restaurants, an 1,800-seat theater with headlining entertainment, branded retail shops, a cinema, a 50-lane championship bowling center, outdoor thrill rides, aqua golf driving range, and Fun Quest Family Fun Center, you’ll never run out of fun and exciting things to do. 2500 E. Second St., Reno, NV, 89595 – 866.473.6672 – www.grandsierraresort.com.

SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NEW JERSEY MURRAY GROVE RETREAT & CONFERENCE CENTER The perfect place to get back to the simple things in life for your Family Reunion!

Murray Grove is a private non-profit organization in Ocean County, NJ. A purposely simple, relaxing oasis on 20 acres located 90 minutes from both Philadelphia and NYC, 60 minutes from Atlantic City, 25 miles from beautiful beaches. Ideal for Family Reunions, open year round, with comfortable and affordable accommodations for as many as 50, meeting space, large kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace, labyrinth, fire pit, playground, athletic fields, outdoor pool. Visit murraygrove.org or call 609-693-5558.

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

VISIT FAIRFAX / FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

HAMPTON INN NEW BERN

COMFORT SUITES BLUFFTON/ HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

Enjoy everything that Northern Virginia has to offer.

From the monuments and memorials of nearby Washington, DC to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, Fairfax County is an ideal location for your military or family reunion. Call us at 703-790-0643 or visit our website today at www.fxva.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

200 Hotel Drive, New Bern, NC 28562, 252-637-2111

WILMINGTON/CAPE FEAR COAST CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU From our historic riverfront city to the pristine shores of beautiful island beaches, you’ll find us to be an extraordinary destination. You can let us know what kind of adventure you have in mind, or we can suggest some themes that'll please the most particular travelers. We'll even create a customized itinerary matched to your exact specifications so that your guests will gladly follow you anywhere. Call 800-650-9064 or visit www.NCCoastalMeetingsReunions.com

OHIO EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS 800-354-2657, www.ExperienceColumbus.com/reunions.

Columbus is ranked one of the top value destinations in the country. With four downtown entertainment districts, annual festivals, the #1 rated Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, and an array of outdoor parks to choose from, you won’t want to have your family reunion anywhere else. Planning a reunion in Columbus is easy. And we’re here to help. Plus, all of our services are free. We will assist you with finding hotels, local attractions and more.

And when the time comes, we’ll provide you with Visitors Guides, Visitor Maps, plastic bags and pens. Contact Brian Cheek at 614-222-6136 or BCheek@ExperienceColumbus.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

DUBLIN OHIO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 9 S. High Street, Dublin OH 43017 Dublin is located in Central Ohio and is home to the PGA Memorial Tournament and one of the largest Irish Festivals in the world. Experience our European settings, impeccable golf courses and charming Historic District.

With the closest hotels to the #1 Zoo in America-The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, a safe suburban setting, free parking, and 46 accredited parks, Dublin makes a fun and affordable reunion destination. Learn about our 22 custom experiences. Contact Allison Potter: apotter@IrishisanAttitude.com; 1-800-245-8387; www.IrishisanAttitude.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

23 Towne Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910, 843-815-1700

SEA MIST OCEANFRONT RESORT – MYRTLE BEACH SC 1200 South Ocean Blvd., 29577 REUNIONS MADE EASY! Specializing in reunions from military to family at the most affordable rates in Myrtle Beach. Sea Mist’s premier oceanfront location is near shopping, theaters and golf courses. Over 600 of our 800 units have been completely remodeled, restaurants, miniature golf, 10 pools, Jacuzzis, fitness room, 17,000sq.ft. of versatile meeting space and much more!

800-200-8687; groupsales@seamist.com; www.seamist.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

TENNESSEE CHATTANOOGA AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU We are ready to host your next family or military reunion.

Our Staff works closely with the hotels, attractions, tour companies and you to provide exactly what you need to have a great reunion. Contact Christina Petro at 800-9648600 ext. 3017 or by e-mail at chrisp@chattanoogacvb.com for free help planning your next reunion! www.chattanoogafun.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

VERMONT SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT At America’s Reunion Resort, you’ll experience Mountain Resort Living, award-winning children’s programs (6wks.

- 17yrs.), family activities and entertainment, swimming, skiing, hiking, dining, shopping & more. Smugglers’ Notch Resort – the only resort in North America to guarantee Family Fun – Summer, Winter & Fall. For more information, call 1-800-521-0536. or visit www.smuggs.com/reunions. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

VIRGINIA CRYSTAL CITY MARRIOTT AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202 1-703-413-5500; fax 1-703-413-0192; CrystalCityMarriott.com

OREGON

CHESAPEAKE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

SUNRIVER RESORT

860 Greenbrier Circle, Suite 101 Chesapeake, VA 23320. Can you hear it? That voice inside, beckoning you to get together. Reconnect with friends, families and memories. The refuge, the waterways, the beach – so close you can enjoy them all. For more information on planning a family or military reunion in Chesapeake, VA, call 888.889.5551 or go to www.visitchesapeake.com.

Your family’s adventure starts here! Situated in Central Oregon’s pristine wilderness just outside of Bend, you’ll discover the perfect destination for your next reunion.

Enjoy endless year-round activities including family float trips, 63 holes of luxury golf, skiing and our very own Fort Funnigan Kids Camp. When the day’s done, relax and recharge in our premium River Lodges, Suites or a spacious vacation rental. Visit sunriver-resort.com or call 800.862.7212 to speak with our family reunion specialist today! SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

PENNSYLVANIA DOUBLETREE GUEST SUITES 640 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting PA 19462 Whenever you travel to the Philadelphia area, choose the Doubletree Guest Suites Plymouth Meeting Hotel as your premier source of accommodations. Set amid the natural wooded landscape of suburban Philadelphia’s fastest growing business corridor, our hotel offers business and leisure travelers the ideal location; 610-834-8300; fax 610-879-4242; www.doubletreeplymouth.com.

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WASHINGTON DULLES AIRPORT MARRIOTT 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles, Virginia 20166; 1-703471-9500; fax 1-703-661-8714; DullesAirportMarriott.com

FREDERICKSBURG TIMELESS. That’s the perfect description of the Fredericksburg region. Visitors to the area encounter the richness of the American experience, and walk in the footsteps of presidents and generals. They feel the joy of discovery in the Fredericksburg area’s unique present and entertaining past, in its historical attractions and battlefields, shops, galleries, beautiful wineries and chef owned restaurants. To book your reunion, please contact Lura Hill, Manager Tourism Sales, at 540-372-1216 or 866-405-3046. Or, email her at lhill@fredericksburgva.gov. www.VisitFred.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

NEWPORT NEWS Get closer to ships, history and the great outdoors with one central destination in Newport News. All this, plus Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Whether getting together with old classmates, ship mates or “familymates,” Newport News provides the perfect location and services to make your reunion a success!

With outstanding services and support, the best value and plenty to see and do, Newport News will make you r next reunion a memorable one. Call Cheryl Morales at 888-493-7386 or email her at cmorales@nngov.com to book your reunion. www.newport-news.org.

VisitNorfolk 232 East Main Street, Norfolk VA 23510.

Norfolk’s beautifully revitalized waterfront, rich military heritage, walkable downtown and Coastal Virginia location make it the ideal destination for your next reunion. Home to such attractions as the Battleship Wisconsin, MacArthur Memorial, Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the world's largest naval base. See why American Heritage named Norfolk "A Great American Place." Offering over 5,000 committable hotel rooms in various price ranges.

Call 800-368-3097; dallen@visitnorfolktoday.com ; www.visitnorfolktoday.com. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

CROWNE PLAZA RICHMOND WEST Crowne Plaza Richmond West’s premiere location includes 282 guest rooms and over 10,000 square feet of banquet space for large or small reunions. Perfectly set between downtown Richmond and the city’s west end, we are less than 10 minutes to Richmond’s science and historic museums, fashionable shopping centers, renowned outdoor gardens and downtown nightlife. Our features include a full service restaurant, indoor pool and complimentary parking. Visit us at crowneplaza.com/richmondva or call 804-285-9951.

TYSONS CORNER MARRIOTT 8028 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia 22182: 1-703734-3200; fax 703-734-5763; TysonsCornerMarriott.com

VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Virginia Beach offers the perfect blend of coastal charm and big-city amenities. Instant beach access and a modern city feel, we offer great variety in accommodations, dining and shopping. From the Master Jet Base of Oceana to the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek and Fort Story, enjoy a variety of military reunion exploratory opportunities. Our team of hospitality professionals are ready to assist you! Call 1-800-8223224. Email: smorgan@visitvirginiabeach.com http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com

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LIST YOUR REUNION FREE! Email (editor@reunionsmag.com) Contact name, address, phone, reunion name, date, and place. Check us out at www.reunionsmag.com A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 43

CATALOG OF REUNION RESOURCES PRODUCTS & SERVICES BUTTONS & BADGES NAMETAG (PHOTO BUTTON) Using the alumni’ photo we create a custom button with your school name, colors, and reunion year. Attachment options and accessories are available. We offer personalized service and quick turnaround. Visit us at www.TheButtonFactory.com/Reunions.htm

COOKBOOKS FAMILY HERITAGE TEMPLATES Make your own Book/Cookbook with easy-to-use templates for Microsoft Word or Publisher. Immediate download. http://www.family-heritage-templates.com

CRUISES CELEBRATION RIVER CRUISES The Celebration Belle, an 800 passenger riverboat, located in the Quad Cities, is the largest non-gaming riverboat on the Upper Mississippi River. We offer a wide variety of cruises ranging from 1 hour narrated sightseeing cruise to a daylong cruise. The Celebration Belle is known for our live entertainment, our hospitality, and our food, which prepared fresh onboard, not catered!

The Quad Cities is a great destination for your reunions.

Go to celebrationbelle.com or call (800) 297-0034 for more information.

REUNION WEBSITE BUILDER MYEVENT.COM Create your own reunion website with no skills. It’s fast and easy to use. Your reunion website has great features and planning tools. It will make planning much easier and everyone will love it! Features: Online registration, rsvp, ticket payment, message boards, family tree, guest book, quiz, poll, stories, photo albums, no ads, travel information, more. 7 day free trial. No credit card required for the free trial! Only $9.95 / month. http://reunions.createswebsites.com. Any Questions – 877-769-3836 or info@myevent.com.

T-SHIRTS Atlanta Family Reunion T-Shirts 2025 Peachtree Rd. NE Suite D, Atlanta GA 30309 678-978-5104

MAKE THE BEST REUNION T-SHIRTS! Design reunion shirts online - it’s fun and easy! Create your own design or have us create a design for you. From infant sizes to adult 6XL, you’ll find the perfect shirts for your reunion. FREE shipping, AFFORDABLE shirts, FREE expert-design help, and GUARANTEED delivery dates!

Visit www.customink.com/reunionwbk or call 1-877-8035885 today! Use voucher code RW210 to save $10 on your order of 6 or more shirts. SEE OUR DISPLAY AD!

VACATION RENTALS SellMytimeshareNow.com Interested in Vacation Ownership?

Vacation ownership is a terrific way to ensure that you set aside time each year to enjoy with family and friends. It’s also a convenient way to prepay for a lifetime of great vacation accommodations at today’s rates. And with brand names like Marriott revolutionizing the industry, the quality, flexibility and value afforded by timeshare ownership has never been better. If you are considering investing in a timeshare or would like to rent a villa to get a feel for ownership, be sure to check out the online resale market where you can often find terrific deals directly from current vacation owners. Visit SellMytimeshareNow.com

AWARD VACATION HOMES “Why stay in a hotel?” over 150 new luxury vacation homes just minutes to Disney. Offering 3 to 6 bedroom private pool homes, many with spas, game rooms, lake views, multiple master suites, and many character themed rooms for the kids. All of our homes are centrally located many next to each other and back to back for families to stay together in comfort for less than the cost of area hotels. Every home is fully equipped with all major and most small appliances. Our homes are available to view online at www.awardpoolhomes.com or call 1-800-338-0835; 1536 Sunrise Plaza Drive, Suite 100, Clermont, FL 34714.

MEMENTOS FAMILY REUNION HUT VERY CHEAP – Family Reunion Favors, Gifts, Banners, Buttons, etc. with no minimum order requirements or setup fees! Submit an online entry to win a FREE family reunion banner, winner drawn weekly. The Family Reunion Hut¬, familyreunionhut@gmail.com, 281-968COST, www.familyreunionhut.com

REUNION PLANNERS

more on www.reunionsmag.com

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REUNION MANAGERS (NARM) PO Box 335428; North Las Vegas NV 89033 narm@reunions.com; www.reunions.com.

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

FOOD PREPARATION

All of the following can be purchased at www.reunionsmag.com/shopping or by calling 1-800-373-7933, ext.4

COOKING FOR LARGE GROUPS (CD) Over 1400 recipes. System requirements: Windows 98/NT 4.0/XP, Intel Pentium Processor or better, 32 MB RAM, 20 MB free hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, SVGA monitor, keyboard, web browser, Adobe Reader, Window-compatible pointing device. $49.95 plus $1.29 s/h. Purchase at www.reunionsmag.com/shopping or call 1-800-373-7933, ext. 4.

HOW MANY?! HOW MUCH!?

A Step-by-Step guide to cooking for a large group, by Jennifer Cole This book will help you with menu planning, recipe costing, recruiting helpers, budgeting. Spiral bound, 73 pp.$19.95 plus $4.95 s/h.

BOOKS Family Reunion by Mary Quattlebaum, Illustrated by Andrea Shine. Thoughtful and fun, this book gives glimpses of family togetherness and tradition through various poetic forms, including free verse, a sonnet, haiku, a ballad and more. $16 + s/h.

THE FAMILY REUNION SURVIVAL GUIDE: How to Avoid Problems With Your Family Without Avoiding Your Family by Laurence A. Basirico.

(2003, Identity Publishing, $11.95). A book about relationships at family reunions and how to enjoy them. Based on original research. 2106 Coy St., Burlington, NC. (336) 584-1442.

Secrets of Successful Family Reunions by Robert W. Wolfe a.k.a. Uncle Bob A how-to-book for successful family reunions. Whether simple or elaborate it helps those who wish to pass their values to the next generation. 2008. $16.99 + s/h.

Treasure and Scavenger Hunts (3rd ed.) How to Plan, Create, and Give Them by Gordon Burgett Communications Unlimited, 2007, 134 pp. $15.95 + s/h or $12.95 digital.

Your Living Family Tree: Keeping your family together forever through print, photos, sound and video by Gordon Burgett Communications Unlimited, 2008, 174 pp. $17.95 + s/h or $15.95 digital.

The Pick A Party book set by Patty Sachs, party-planning expert Book #1: Pick a Party, The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasion 100 theme party plans for holidays, milestone occasions and special events.

Book #2 Pick-A-Party Cookbook Includes menus, recipes and table decoration ideas for the 100 theme parties in Book #1. Regularly $20 for the set, only $16.00 + $2 s/h) for Reunions magazine readers.

The Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games & Activities by travel writer Carole Terwilliger Meyers “May be the ultimate solution for back seat squabbling” on the way to your reunion.

Keep kids entertained all the way there. $8.95 + s/h.

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MAGAZINE Subscribe to Reunions magazine Ensure a full year of reunion planning advice plus workbook. Subscribe now. Send $9.99/yr or $17.99/2 yrs to Reunions Magazine, Inc., PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727. To charge to credit card call 800-373-7933 or visit our website www.reunionsmag.com.

MUSIC The Malone Family Choir: A Family Reunion is an original gospel CD opening with a song you'll want to play to say Welcome to Our Family Reunion! at your family reunion. CD $15 or tape $10 + s/h.

POSTCARD ANNOUNCEMENTS Notify your reunion members to SAVE THE DATE (bright red, they’ll not miss it!) and when you need reminders, send postcards that say TIME IS RUNNING OUT Fill-in cards – $15 p/100 postcards or 20¢ each – you fill in the date and reunion name; or Custom printed cards – $45 p/100 postcards or 50¢ each.

Send info to be printed: for SAVE THE DATE! (name, date, & place of reunion, contact info).

For TIME IS RUNNING OUT (name & date of reunion & RSVP date) + fax number or email address to get your approval before we print. Send to Reunions magazine, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727; credit card charges call 1-800-373-7933 ext. 4, or order online; www.reunionsmag.com/shopping.

Reader Service Card V22N1 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

To request information from our display advertisers, please check the box(es) and return to Reunions magazine, P.O. Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727.

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TOURISM & VISITORS BUREAUS

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Birmingham (Greater) CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Kissimmee CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Ocala/ Marion County VCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Clayton County CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Dunwoody CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Gwinnett CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Branson Lakes Area Chamber/ CVB . . . . . . IFC Pulaski County Tourism Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Las Vegas CVA/ Laughlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Columbus/ Experience Columbus . . . . . . . . . 33 Dublin CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Chattanooga Area CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Fairfax County CVB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fredericksburg VA (City of) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Norfolk CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside . . . . . . . . . . 15 Buena Vista Suites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort-Orlando OBC Floridays Orlando Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Coast Casinos Las Vegas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Gold Coast Hotel & Casino/ Coast Casinos . . 28

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NV Grand Sierra Resort & Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 OR Sunriver Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 SC Sea Mist Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 VT Smugglers' Notch Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 National – Great Wolf Resorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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J National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM) . . . 6 J REUNION RIBBONS – Ribbons4reunions.com. . . . . 45 J T-SHIRTS – customink.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Name

Reunion name/Organization

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E-mail Address

Telephone

A U G U ST / S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2011 O R E U N I O N S 45

P.O. Box 11727 O Milwaukee WI 53211-0727

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