Family Reunions -- A Drag or A Lot of Fun?

I was hoping the SC or NY relatives could host this time, but everybody's having money problems.... Guess we have to wait out this stupid recession.

I thought the recession was going to take its toll on our reunion this year in Colorado Springs. We won't get 124 like we did in 2008 in South Dakota, but I'm still expecting 50-80. We'll see, I've got about 35 confirming thus far...and they always seem to wait until a month before. I have another month to begin worrying. (But a couple said they wouldn't be able to make it this year because they just returned from Europe and another said they'd be in Europe at that time...go figure?)

That's kind of what happened to me in 2008. My Mom and I did most of the work (for three days). This time my cousins in Denver will help with the auction, MCing awards, running some games, etc. I'm hoping to be able to get out and about more this time.

From the 80s to present, our reunions keep GROWING. You would think as people die, they'd get smaller, but they haven't. One of the hardest things to do is to get people's current addresses (now I contact about 90 people via e-mail to save on the postage...) and then the next thing to do is to convince them that the reunion will be FUN. A well planned (lots of fun things to do) and executed reunion will get them coming back again and again. Good luck in planning and organizing a family reunion...it really feels good when it's a success.

family reunions are great... but only if the people are great as well. my experience of family reunions are contrasting. one great, other is bad. the great one is on my mom's side, we met all he family and all the other sides and it was fun to meet all my cousins and other aunts and uncles! there were rich and not so rich familie and it was really fun. they got our numbers so we can keep in touch and be able to contact each other in times of needs and problems and any occasions. my other reunion which turned out bad is on my dad's side on his mom, it was ridiculous because when we came, they keep on looking at us like we are beggars. well, we are not rich like they are so we are like out of place there. my dad's aunt (grandma's sister) asked him do you have money to go home and did you come here for a free food? that was surprising! and it really got on my nerve and asked her are you insulting my father? my dad called my attention and she answered her, we're here for the family and not fo the food. if you don't want us here you could have told my mom. we just asked everybody there that we need to go. my dad's mom was bothered but she didn't do anything as well. very disappointing. that was sad, we never went to the reunion of my dad's side anymore. they are very rude. so i think really that family reunions are really great, really just depends on people around.

Yeah, on my Dad's side the family isn't as close as on my Mom's side. I still get along with my Dad's side, but we don't have family reunions. The closest we're going to get to one is this summer...my mom and I are going to a wedding in August and we'll see some, but not all, of my aunts/uncles and cousins on my Dad's side. So yes, the members of the family make a big difference on the success or failure of a reunion. I'm sorry you had the bad experience at your Dad's side reunion. But I wouldn't give up on attending any future reunions on your Dad's side. I'd give it another shot, if given the chance. Thanks for your comments/thoughts.

We usually have a dozen or so kids and they play while the oldest adults talk. The rest of us adults play and talk. There's usually a few hours each day to go sightseeing, play a round of golf, go horseback riding, swimming, etc. Thanks for responding Jen.

You're right family is important and reunions just emphasize that. I love them too. Thanks for your comments.

Sounds like you have a great time and it is fun meeting all your relatives. "White leg horns"? That is funny.

That's too bad. Ours are a lot of fun. Thanks for your thoughts.

I only have one small group (2) of cousins who I don't see...and the last time I did, they were recently out of jail or headed back to jail. They don't show up at our reunions, which just leaves my fun cousins. (And I have plenty of 1st cousins.) Plus, I've got to meet a boat load of 2nd, 3rd, etc. cousins...and most of them are as much fun as my 1st cousins. You're right, who shows up makes a world of difference.

One of the things we always do to "include" everyone is to play a game at the beginning to "force" people to get to meet/know one another. If you don't, people, who know one another, will "hang together" and never meet anyone else. Also, our family reunions start on Thursday night with a social gathering (usually near a bar), last all day Friday and Saturday, and we break up Sunday morning. Over a three-day period, you begin to know people...your 2nd and 3rd cousins... By the 2nd and 3rd reunions, you're remembering people's names/faces and by the 4th and 5th reunions, you're communicating with your 2nd and 3rd cousins outside the reunions. I'm sorry your reunion wasn't much fun -- the first time, but try again. They get better with the more you attend.

Your reunions sound like a lot of fun, and I'm so glad you enjoy them. I love ours. One of my Mom's cousins has traced our family history back to the 1600s in Germany/Russia. One of our reunion agenda items is to have him tell us about our history and to give us an update on our history/anything new he may have discovered since the last reunion. At our last reunion, I asked people to bring pictures of our "official" reunions, dating back to 1970. I make videos as part of my home-based business, and I took those pictures and created a video, which I intend to show at our reunion in Colorado Springs, CO, in June. You got it when you said things were different at the old reunions. I laughed when I saw the women in dresses and the men in ties at a barbeque at the first reunion at a lake in the State of Washington. I hope you get to enjoy many many more reunions!

I hope that you can have a family reunion where everyone can come. Attending a reunion can be expensive, especially ours because they're located in the middle of the U.S. (and you have to fly or drive to get there) and they last for three days. But because people know they're going to occur every other year, people save up and usually tie their summer vacations to the reunions. But we do lose some people because they don't have the money to come. Through our reunions, I've got to know my 2nd, 3rd, etc. cousins as well as my first cousins. It's great. I hope you have many more reunions to come. Take care.

Yeah, we have games, entertainment, skits, an auction...all kinds of things going on. A little of everything for everyone. I've got to know my 2nd and 3rd cousins really well through our reunions... I always look forward to them. I'm glad you enjoy yours too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you for your thoughts. I guess we haven't experienced too many reunions because we still have a great turnout. Again, thanks.

That sounds great! Our big family reunions (on my Mom's Mom's side) are every two years. At our last reunion (2008), we had 124 people show up. We also have smaller reunions/get togethers just about every year. Our last one was last year in South Dakota; we celebrated my uncle's 90th and my aunt's 89th birthdays. There was about 85 people who showed up -- family and friends. I can't believe I didn't think I'd like reunions and would never go. Now, I generally can't wait... Have fun at your next reunion!

We usually have a high school reunion every 5 years. I've made most of them, but I missed the last one. I've never been to a college reunion...maybe I should check in to it. The others have been fun, why not college too? Thanks for your comments.

Planning/executing reunions can be a lot of work, but I'm retired, what else should I do with my time? :} Currently, I'm planning my 2nd reunion. This one's going to be in Colorado Springs, CO, in June. Everyone I've talked to is excited about the reunion AND the location. My cousins (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) and I get along great and our biannual reunions are a wonderful way to see each other again.

I'm so glad you, too, enjoy your reunions. We use to hold ours every 10 years, then every 5 years, then every three years, now we hold them every two years. Why? Because it is a great time! I hope you keep enjoying yours for years to come.