2021 Reunion
Jordon Family mini-Reunion
Celebrations!
USS Cogswell DD-651
Booker Washington High School Class of 1960
ALAFFFA Family Reunion
Williams Family Reunion
Vol 30 No 3 Virtual Edition September 2021
in this special issue DEPARTMENTS FRONT WORDS – 4 Planning ahead ALUM & I – 11 Booker T. Washington Senior High School Class of 1960 reunion by Anita Crawford 50th anniversary reunion of Orange Bowl high school band by Brennan Engle Ways to honor deceased classmates
SCRAPBOOK – 16 Reunion School Hospitality Answerman by Dean Miller Storytelling at your reunion with Javier Wallace New app guide to the Happiest Places on Earth! by Reid and Hunter Bellow
MASTERPLAN – 21 Strengthening the Family: Family Empowerment Conclusion: Excerpt from Black Family Reunions, Finding the Rest of Me by Dr. Ione Vargus Harvey Brantley Family Reunion by Dr. Brian Cunningham Groshek Chickfest! by June Groshek Czarnezki Jordon Family mini-Reunion by Johanna Roark
Misener/Misner/Mizener Family Reunion by Janet Fear Williams Family Reunion by Sheri Williams Pannell Tips for a successful hybrid reunion by Lisa A. Alzo, MFA
FUN(D)RAISING – 36 How are you going to pay for your reunion? Sod House Project by Brennan Engle The Brown Family Reunion raffle by Gertrude Roby Stewart Family Reunion uses many fundraising ideas by Marilynn Stewart Seidemann Family Reunion fundraising Collect family recipes for a fundraiser!
MILITARY REUNION NEWS – 46 November 11th is Veterans Day The impact of military reunions on the next generation by Sharon Danitschek USS Cogswell DD-651 Association Reunion by James L Smith YAGRS Association Reunion by Brian Forrester The Highground Veterans Memorial Park
REUNION RESOURCES – 53 A directory of reunion-friendly places, services, vendors and products ON THE COVER
Jordan Family mini-Reunion, USS Cogswell DD-651, ALAFFFA Family Reunion, Booker Washington High School Class of 1960, Williams Family Reunion
Reunion Celebrations September 2021 Volume 30 • Number 3 PUBLISHER Rick Voight EDITOR IN CHIEF Edith Wagner editor@reunionsmag.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Mary Catherine Stern ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Rueth SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER Roberta McLoud roberta@reunionsmag.com WEB WIZARDS Howard Ehrenberg Mackenzie Peters Chris Thompson HOSPITALITY ANSWERMAN Dean Miller CONTRIBUTORS
Lisa A Alzo, MFA • Adam Bellow Hunter Bellow • Reid Bellow Leah Jordan Bisel • Cyndi Clamp Cynthia Horner Clonch • Anita Crawford Dr. Brian Cunningham June Groshek Czarnezki Sharon Danitschek • Brennan Engle Janet Fear • Mary Thiele Fobian Brian Forrester • Patti Mason Havenar Jeanette Porter Marfield • George Overman Sheri Williams Pannell • Gertrude Roby James L Smith • Marilynn Stewart Jackie Utley • Ione Vargus, PhD Javier Wallace • Ruby Wiehman Reunions magazine, Inc. (ISSN #1046-5s235), is published 4 times per year. Email correspondence, queries, requests, submissions to editor@reunionsmag.com or send 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 and guarantee tear sheets of reviews and reprints. Reunions magazine, Inc., is not liable for information presented as facts in any of our advertising, byline stories or materials. We reserve the right to edit and/or refuse any material submitted for publication. We take responsibility for submitted materials but unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), submissions and photos will not be returned. All materials sent for publication become property of Reunions magazine, Inc. Advertising information contact Reunions magazine, Inc., PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 | 414-467-8104 roberta@reunionsmag.com | www.reunionsmag.com. © 2021 Reunions magazine, Inc.
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 3
FRONT WORDS
Be in touch! Planning ahead
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Mail to
Reunions magazine
eunions are neither planned check back and make sure the persons PO Box 11727 overnight nor in a day. If your goal is responsible for various chores/steps/projects/ Milwaukee WI 53211-0727 to have the best, most memorable tasks are doing what they’ve promised. reunion ever, planning is essential. A Nothing will be more disheartening than to call 414-263-4567 successful reunion requires good think someone is getting something done visit www.reunionsmag.com leadership. Careful planning and only to discover they’ve not done a thing by e-mail editor@reunionsmag.com committed leadership cannot be the deadline and there’s little you can do emphasized enough. No one can tell about it. A couple years ago, I learned about you that better than someone who did not plan early or take a reunion where no one checked on the person who was all the details seriously. We learned that from planners who supposed to be making hotel arrangements. He’d not made admitted they thought a couple of months was enough to plan even one call. End of reunion! It was cancelled because it was all they’d envisioned, only to realize that many details had too late to get everything they wanted. been overlooked, ignored or simply not realized in time. The first rule of reunion planning, therefore, is to give yourself enough time. First time reunions may take one to two years before they actually happen. So many details … lots to think about … lots of questions to answer … so many people to contact and hear back from … so many opinions and ideas to take into consideration … so much more planning than you can even imagine! Long standing reunions, of course, have many traditions that are already in place and can happen every year or every few years without a hitch.
Getting started … If your reunion is a Sunday afternoon potluck picnic in a park, it may take only one or a couple people to plan. But reunions that have evolved over decades are events that even convention and visitors/tourism bureaus (CVB) are interested in investing time and effort in. Contacting the CVB, whether in a distant city or your own home town, is a very wise early step to determine what they are able to help with. Most of their services are free and well worth taking advantage of, no matter what stage of planning you’re at, though the earlier the better. An essential step in planning any reunion is to not plan alone. Reunion planning should be a team effort. This adds to the enthusiasm and commitment of the reunion. Listen to everyone’s ideas. Many reunions are planned by committees (often more than one) who volunteer to take care of one or more details. That way, no one person is saddled with all the work necessary to stage a successful reunion. There should, however, be one person who oversees all the committees to make sure planning is moving along and on time for a successful reunion. An important responsibility of the chairperson or leader will be to check with others regularly to make sure everyone is on track. Ask persons in charge of parts of the reunion to report progress regularly. Delegation is a wise approach to getting details accomplished. When delegating, make sure each volunteer understands the purpose and your expectation of the task. If necessary, write instructions, read them together, then ask questions to make sure the job is understood. Once delegated, it’s important to 4 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
The Seidemann Family Reunion is nearing 90 years old, but nonetheless, a large committee meets to review details and progress each year. The annual reunion is on a farm near Newburg, Wisconsin.
Now with the advent of ZOOM meetings, committee members do not all have to be in one place, but can perform their duties from anywhere and report regularly. Though that would not have suited one committee man who reported that he looked forward to committee meetings because “the food was always so good!” A good place to start is Reunions magazine’s online timetable: www.reunionsmag.com/reunion-timetable/. It starts at the very beginning from when you get the idea to plan a reunion and goes through many steps, some of which may not pertain to what you are planning, but that you might want to consider. The timetable goes all the way to an important final step to evaluate the event and learn what was great and what could be improved. We’ve annotated and linked the timetable online with podcasts and articles to explain the steps and give you ideas about how to do them. While you may not need to do everything, there are many things all reunions have in common. Consider starting with the interest members have in having/coming to a reunion. continued on page 6
Learn a new way to have a reunion ! Learn reunion!! Learn a a new new way to have a reunion Zoom brings people together. Zoom brings people together. Zoom together.
The more the merrier!! The more the merrier The merrier
Teaches you how to connect, literally and and emotionally. emotionally. Teaches you how to connect, literally Teaches you you how how to to connect, connect, literally Teaches literally and and emotionally. emotionally. Tutorial Videos by: Tutorial Videos by: Tutorial Videos by: Tutorial Videos by: Tutorial Videos by:
Vivid-Pix.com/Education Vivid-Pix.com/Education Vivid-Pix.com/Education Vivid-Pix.com/Education
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continued from page 4
Reunion Timetable
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hese are suggestions for steps and the time it takes from the time you start your very first reunion. For someone organizing a reunion with a history, this list is also good for checking your progress or as agenda considerations for committee meetings. If your reunion has a newsletter, include some of these steps from time to time. Your members can better appreciate what their part is, if they know what you need to do when. For example, they might return reservations and t-shirt orders, if they realize your deadline date is not arrived at arbitrarily.
24-18 months before your reunion… [podcast] • Determine interest [article] [article] • Talk to other reunion organizers • Attend a reunion organizing class, workshop or conference [article] • Start collecting mailing and email list • Form reunion committee(s) and establish responsibilities and schedules [podcast] • Keep records of everything • Develop budget and bookkeeping system • Contact convention and visitors or tourism bureaus [podcast] [article] • Podcast: How to ask for money [podcast] • Search for / visit locations, facilities • Podcast: Hotels are looking for your reunion [podcast] • Set up social media presence! A website, Facebook and Twitter pages
One year before… [podcast] • Set dates [podcast] • Send Save-the-Date cards [shop] • Choose destination/location/venue • Send first mailer; tentative reunion schedule and plans (tours, souvenirs, memory books), theme, approximate cost, and missing persons list. • Podcast: Art of the loving invitation [podcast] [article] • Begin souvenir directory/list of members, memory book • Arrange or hire entertainment, caterer, photographer, videographer, printer, motorcoach for touring • Podcast: How to hire a motorcoach [podcast] • Reserve picnic area in the park
9-6 months before… • Visit hotel, meet with staff • Reserve block of rooms • Use website and Facebook pages to send announcements and build excitement • Send second mailer; include registration and souvenir order forms and cost • Send announcement to Reunions magazine; v I nclude reunion name, date, place and contact info to editor@reunionsmag.com vS ee examples • Schedule events and activities — program, speakers, awards ceremony, tours • How to make a fundraising book [podcast]
6 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
5 months before… • Confirm reservations, entertainment (band, DJ, comedian, magician, face painting), photographer, caterer •C hoose menu or make cooking/food plans [article] •A nnounce event to local news media, elected officials equest proclamations from elected officials •R • Use social media regularly to update, who’s coming, what’s new and create enthusiasm
4-2 months before… • Meet with hotel staff, visit facility with reunion committee • Reserve rental equipment; tents, bounce house, tables, chairs, porta-potties •S elect decorations, theme, signs and banners • T o ensure delivery before your reunion, submit personalized souvenir order (t-shirts, mugs, caps …) and deliver directory/ memory book to the printer
6 weeks before… • Review committee assignments •W rite checklist for reunion tasks •D esignate assignments for reunion day volunteers •P odcast: Don’t do it alone: recruit volunteers [podcast]
2 weeks before… • Purchase last minute decorations and incidental supplies •R econfirm meeting, sleeping and eating accommodations •R eview final checklist
The day before… • Determine location staff contacts assigned to your reunion •S olve last-minute problems •R eview final details with reunion committee
Reunion day(s)… • Set up registration tables, rental equipment, displays, decorations • J uggle details; volunteers, food, photographer, games, kids activities, entertainment, tours, ceremonies •E njoy •E valuate reunion
Afterward … • Reflect and evaluate — note what worked, what didn’t [article] •C omplete bookkeeping; settle accounts •W rite thank you notes to volunteers, hotel staff, caterers •A dd a reunion summary to your website and Facebook pages dd lots of pictures and videos •A •S tart planning your next reunion
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One person or a small group should start by discussing possible dates. If your reunion is to celebrate your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary or grandma’s 90th birthday, then the date is set but otherwise, you’ll want to consult other members for a good date. Make sure the date will not conflict with special upcoming celebrations that will include large contingents of family members like graduations, weddings, significant birthdays, and retirements. Once you’ve determined positive interest, you must decide when and where the reunion should be. Caution: do not ask everyone when and where because you’ll get as many answers as people you ask. Do some forethought and ask with a couple choices of dates and places and commit to accepting the response. Or you can dictate a date and place and hope everyone agrees. You’ll want to notify everyone as soon as a date is chosen, even before any other details are known. Make the announcement early so members can commit to being there. But here’s one GOLDEN RULE! If you send 50 notices (save the date cards, emails, letters), I guarantee the very first call you’ll receive is from someone who says s/he cannot come. Do not, REPEAT: DO NOT offer to change the date. Say sadly, you’re sorry, but perhaps they’ll be able to attend the next reunion. If you try to change the date at this point after you’ve notified everyone, you’ll always receive that first call over and over again and you’ll never settle on a date. If you’re working far enough in advance, the date is all they really need to know. All the fun details will follow as you plan the event because you’ll want to announce plans as you go along to build interest, excitement and enthusiasm for your reunion. Paying for the reunion is an important consideration in what you plan. An early budget plan will help determine what kind of a reunion you’re going to have. Is a Sunday afternoon potluck picnic what most members can afford? Or can you plan a three-day weekend retreat at a hotel with meetings, tours, entertainment and a banquet? What can your members afford? You must take your planning expenses into account as well as all the plans you have for the actual event. Will everyone pay individually? Or will you charge a continued on page 8
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 7
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continued from page 7
fee and pay as a group? Will you ask for donations to cover early expenses or cover them yourself? You will have down payments to consider if you plan tours, banquet catering, speakers or entertainment (use talented members as entertainers). Do you want souvenirs, t-shirts, printed histories, or directories, or cookbooks? Who will organize those details? Will they be giveaways or will you charge for them? Will you have a registration fee and how soon do you need money from members? There will be contracts to sign and guarantee. Who will/can do that? See fundraising ideas elsewhere in this issue and online. In the dark ages before computers, announcements, invitations, newsletters and reminders were all sent by snail mail and required the cost of preparation, printing and postage. Now emails, Facebook and web pages contain all the details, but it’s still a good idea to send at least one announcement. An eye-catching save-the-date card to hang on the refrigerator door or bulletin board for all
8 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
to see is not a bad idea. Send as soon as the date is confirmed. That will require design, printing and postage, but will be the earliest point for members to post on their calendars.
Summary In a study with Reunions magazine, Dr. Larry Basirico of North Carolina’s Elon University, found that the most successful reunions are also well and thoroughly planned. Planning and caring will show at your reunion. Reunions are best when ruled by consensus — equality and ownership are great group motivators. Every member owns a reunion equally. Ensuring that everyone’s ideas, likes, dislikes, and desires are taken into consideration is a smart way to generate reunion ownership. It also gets some ideas and suggestions on the table that otherwise might not have been considered. Every member has a voice — those who choose not to share their voices make the choice to enjoy what others plan.
… to be continued … By Edith Wagner, editor, Reunions magazine. Send thoughts, suggestions and questions to editor@reunionsmag.com. EW
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2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 9
Photo Solutions for Family Reunions
Maureen Taylor Author • Keynote Speaker • Podcaster
“Nation’s Foremost Historical Photo Detective” —WSJ
Identify, Preserve, and Share Your Photos On-Demand Classes:
maureentaylor.com
ALUM & I
Booker T. Washington Senior High School Class of 1960 reunion
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bag with the year and number of the class reunion at each reunion gathering. Our school colors are red and white and our mascot is a lion. Our shirts are proudly worn at reunions or when requested by classmates’ families at their funerals. After our first reunion, we formed a small group known as the steering committee which meets each year at the home of Anita and William Crawford during the Christmas holidays to discuss what is going on with classmates, their kids and grandkids. This event is called BTW Dinner Night and has been held for more than 35 years. This year our beloved chairperson of more than 50 years, Eugenia W. Chambers, died. The class was blessed to have someone with her dedication and love for her high school classmates. Class reunions were her dream and she made all the hard work look easy. To say that we’ll miss her is an understatement. To honor her dedicated service, she’ll be remembered on the t-shirts this year. Reported by Anita W. Crawford, New Orleans, Louisiana. The Booker T. Washington High School Class of 1960 makes t-shirts in red and white school colors with their mascot, a lion.
e were known then to other schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the Washington Lions. We began to celebrate class reunions twenty years after graduating. Our first reunion was celebrated with a meet and greet, dinner at a local restaurant, picnic at Audubon Park and Zoo, a church service and our first cruise. This has been the agenda that we’ve followed for all of our class reunions since. We have sailed to many places on our cruises: the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, and The Inside and Outside Passages of Alaska. We have sailed on many cruise lines including Princess, Norwegian, Carnival and most recently, MSC Cruises. Our class has been fortunate to have a great travel agent in Darlene Thomas of Thomas Travel and Cruise, wife of classmate Reginald Thomas. We’ve had shirts made that showed where we traveled on our reunion trips. In addition, we’ve used some interesting mottos on the shirts such as “Cruising into the New Millennium” and “Striving for Excellence Past, Present and Future.” Attendees have received mementoes in a class
The Booker T. Washington Class of 1960 includes a cruise as part of their reunion program! 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 11
ALUM & I
50th anniversary reunion of Orange Bowl high school band
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ecently, the Phillipsburg, Kansas, community, honored the 1970-1971 Phillipsburg marching band with a public event at Fort Bissell Museum. The 128-member band performed in the 1970 New Year’s Eve Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida! The reunion event was organized by former members of the “Orange Bowl Band” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their performance. The reunion, emceed by Tad Felts, featured refreshments, memorabilia from the era, and shared memories by alumni. The 2020 and 2021 Fort Bissell Wall of Fame awards were presented to the band honoring their Orange Bowl achieveEvent MC, Tadd Felts (left), was a local ment and for building the sod house at Fort Bissell as radio announcer who traveled with the band and Dave Elliott, who a fundraising project. initiated the reunion and gathered The band’s Orange Bowl names of the band members, came up audition tape was recorded with weekend agenda and planned from beginning to end. and submitted in spring 1969. Once Phillipsburg was invited to play in the Orange Bowl, months of rehearsing and fundraising preceded the trip.
GETTING IN SHAPE
HUGE FUNDRAISING UNDERTAKEN Rehfuss estimated between $15,000 and $20,000 would need to be raised for the trip and a goal of $20,000 was set ($137,000 in 2021 money). The entire community pitched in with enthusiasm, holding a multitude of fundraisers to help the 12 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
MIAMI BOUND The band departed Phillipsburg by bus on December 29, 1970, for the flight from Kansas City, Missouri, to Miami. The band was accompanied by several sets of parents and Phillipsburg High School Principal Bill Kendrick and his wife. Clark Hopson, a freshman trombone player, recalled the Kansas City temperature was in the 20-degree range, but when getting off the plane in Miami the environment was quite different. “We flew straight to Miami and everyone was wearing their coats, but when we got there at 10:30 at night it was 70 degrees and the coats came right off.” Photo by Jeanette Porter Marfield
The band’s director, Jerry Rehfuss, was only in his Tad Felts and Cynthia Horner second year teaching band Clonch, a band member who in Phillipsburg. He took over gathered memorabilia for the a seasoned band and lifted memory table. them to new heights, which required countless days of early-morning marching and performing. “We didn’t just march; we had special moves, high steps, and all kinds of things,” Paula Schilowsky, a junior clarinet player that year, remembers. “We practiced a lot. We would get up very early and march before school. We marched the streets of town constantly. People were out watching us after it became a routine.” Peggy King, a senior whose husband, Howard, was also in the band, played alto saxophone. Peggy said the band played many events for conditioning the summer prior to the Orange Bowl in preparation for the 7-mile parade route. “It made no difference what the weather was; we were out there marching. When other towns had parades we went to them. It didn’t matter how small the town. If it had a parade we went and marched in it, to build up our endurance.” Practice paid off. “We were good and we played songs that were tough.”
band reach its goal. Civic groups sponsored countless events: bake sales, a continuous garage sale, an “old timers” baseball game, an ice cream social, dances, performances, and raffles. Coin receptacles for donations were placed near cash registers at businesses around town. About $9,000 was raised by students performing nearly every kind of odd job: mowing lawns, washing cars, cleaning houses, painting houses, clerking in stores, babysitting and even selling hand-painted oranges, capitalizing on the Orange Bowl theme. Around $7,000 was donated by businessmen, townspeople and merchants. Committees of community members were formed to manage the fundraising efforts, including a business soliciting committee for commercial fundraising and a residential soliciting committee for general community fundraising. A Ford Maverick was donated to the effort by Leonard Ford Motors and raffle tickets were sold. Ironically, the winner of the car was band member Julia Lunberry. In the end, the band exceeded its goal, raising $23,000. About half of the funds covered the round trip cost of chartering the TWA Boeing 707 to transport the band and its sponsors to Miami and back.
Phillipburg band members on the go to the Orange Bowl parade.
Upon arrival in Miami, the band went to Florida Military Academy dormitories where they stayed while the regular occupants were gone on holiday vacation. The barracks had bunk beds and were described as “Spartan,” but only cost $2.50 per night per person. The group had a detailed itinerary each day. Band members did some sightseeing including a boat excursion, visiting Seaquarium where they watched a dolphin and whale perform, Pirates World Amusement Park, and the grounds of Vizcaya Castle. They also visited the beach, and while too cold to swim, Principal Kendrick reported that the kids had fun throwing each other in the water and getting wet.
ALUM & I Band members
New Year’s Eve Day was spent in preparation for the performance. The band left the barracks at 3:15 PM and were in line for the parade at 5:15 PM. They were able to get a good look at all of the parade floats while lining up for the march.
THE PARADE PERFORMANCE Bill Schick, a sophomore clarinet player who later became a band teacher in Phillipsburg, said the art of coordinated dance steps while playing instruments was a new idea in 1970. “We did dance steps for some of the songs. It was Two of the Band’s Twirlers 50 years later, something a lot of Sharon Rose Kellogg and Patti Mason Havenar bands were just starting to do.” Schi.ck said the band memorized 12 songs for the Orange Bowl and played the songs in three-song sets, with drum cadences in between. “Whichever set Mr. Rehfuss told the drum majors to direct, we would play. If a set was popular with the audience, we might go back and repeat those three songs before going to another set.” Songs included The Swing March, Peter Gunn Theme, Swingin’ on Parade, The Horse, The Pink Panther, and Phillipsburg High.
The Phillipsburg band was on the schedule to pass the viewing stand and be on national television at about 7 PM Central Time. In December, it’s dark at 7 PM, but the viewing area was brightly lit for the cameras. “After that it was street lights and kind of dark, but there were people all over the place,” Schick remembers. Hopson said all the miles of marching the previous fall and summer paid off in terms of endurance for the long route. “Our band and only one other didn’t have anyone drop out along the route,” he said. The parade was still in progress when Senator Bob Dole called from Washington, DC, to congratulate the band, stating, “The band looked just great. No wonder Phillipsburg is so proud of these young people.” Dole had contacted NBC-TV to learn the band’s position in the parade.
BAND ATTENDS ORANGE BOWL GAME The band members also attended the Orange Bowl game which featured the Big Eight undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers facing the LSU Tigers. The Orange Bowl win gave Nebraska its first national college football championship. Tad Felts was a radio news and sports announcer who lived in Phillipsburg. His son Gregg, a sophomore, was a clarinet player. He reported to KKAN radio along the way with phone calls and interviews and took pictures for the Phillips County Review newspaper. His reports on the radio had to be made on pay phones. “We were always looking for a pay phone to call back on,” Felts recalls.
SNOWSTORM STALLS BAND IN CONCORDIA The trip home was delayed 36 hours by a major snowstorm during the band’s flight back to Kansas City. Planes were unable to land in Kansas City at the scheduled time and had to circle back to St. Louis. Once in Kansas City, the buses headed for Phillipsburg but eventually, roads became impassable. The band’s three chartered buses stalled in Concordia, Kansas, as the winter blizzard created snow drifted highways. They got as far as the junction of Highways 24 and 81 and had to be escorted 14 miles back to Concordia by police and a snow plow. Concordia High School Principal, Don Musick, along with the president of the Concordia Board of Education, headed the task of finding homes for 128 band members. Generous Concordia families opened their homes at a moment’s notice, taking in two to ten band members each. Three men with snow tires on their cars transported the students to the various homes all afternoon. Band members did odd jobs for the families to show their gratitude, such as babysitting, washing dishes, and shoveling snow. The band was ready to travel at noon the following day, but one of the buses had broken down. By 4:15 PM, the buses were up and running and the band was on its way home, arriving back in Phillipsburg at 7:30 PM. The band’s unexpected stranding in Concordia due to the storm made national news. The Associated Press carried the incident on its national wire which made it into major newspapers in St. Louis, Denver, Portland, and New Orleans. Used with permission from an article by Brennan Engle in The Advocate in Phillipsburg, Kansas. Special thanks to Ruby Wiehman, of the Phillips County Historical Society and Curator at Fort Bissell Museum, who answered countless questions and willingly collected and shared details as I prepared this story, as well as Cynthia Clonch and Patti Havenar, band members and reunion planners. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 13
ALUM & I
Ways to honor deceased classmates
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he harshest reality of a high school reunion is learning a fellow classmate has died. You’re young, or maybe you feel young, so it’s hard to believe a classmate just as young is no longer with you. You’ll want to remember these classmates at your reunion … in a respectful and appropriate way. Here are a few ideas.
1) C reate a memorial table photo display. Set framed photos of each classmate on a linen covered table. Place a lit votive or candle in front of each picture. You may also frame a list of names along with a single white candle. Adding an appropriate poem or quote is also a nice touch.
2) Include a directory page. Include a page for each deceased classmate in your directory or memory book. Add their high school photo and ask a classmate to write a memory or reflection. Alternately, include a single page listing the names of deceased classmates.
3) Remember parents or family members. Let parents or families know you haven’t forgotten your classmates. One class set out cards for reunion attendees to write a note to deceased classmates’ parents. Each card was filled with messages about how the classmate was missed. Or you may want to send flowers to the parents or families, letting them know their loss is felt by everyone in the class. It is a way to let them know you also share in their grief. Use your best judgment about what you and the committee feel is most appropriate.
4) Make a donation to your school. Make a donation to your school or alumni association in memory of your classmates. Include the donation as part of the ticket price or ask classmates to donate to the fund when they register for the reunion. The donation may be used as a scholarship or to buy something the school needs, such as sports equipment or books for the library.
5) Create a permanent memorial. Collect donations to purchase a tree or bench. Dedicate it during the reunion weekend. Place the tree or bench on school grounds with a plaque such as, “In Fond Memory of Our Classmates, the Benton Class of 1991.” 14 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
WHAT NOT TO DO • It’s not necessary to include the when, why or how of a deceased classmate. This gossip isn’t anyone’s business, and you don’t want to offer information which may not be 100% correct. • Don’t read names or have a moment of silence during the reunion program. Classmates are usually too busy talking, visiting and drinking to listen to what you have to say, making it hard to maintain a tone of respect. If you are able to capture the attention of your classmates during this time, transitioning back into the spirit of the reunion celebration can be difficult. • Don’t leave empty chairs at a table in memory of deceased classmates. Above all, know it’s not wrong to celebrate your reunion while at the same time remembering classmates who are no longer with you. These are a few quotes you may want to include as part of your memorial. No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. Francois Mocuriac So many things have happened Since they were called away. So many things to share with them Had they been left to stay. And now on this reunion day, Memories do come our way. Though absent, they are ever near, Still missed, remembered, always dear. Author Unknown Hold a true friend with both your hands. Nigerian Proverb We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere. Tim McGraw Thanks to Cyndi Clamp at Varsity Reunion Services; www.varsityreunions.com
ALUM & I
Lafayette High School, Wildwood, Missouri Class remembers deceased classmates with scholarships
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uring the planning of Wildwood, Missouri’s Lafayette High School Class of 2002 five-year reunion, the topic of how to honor deceased classmates came up. One had been killed in a car crash, one had a fatal bronchial asthma attack and one collapsed and died of a heart attack while playing basketball. Later that year, the idea was expanded by one when another classmate died in a construction accident. They talked about ways to remember the four and a scholarship fund was agreed upon. They were ensuring their friends live on in a way that’s going to help other students. A committee person called the parents and said classmates would like to honor their sons; the parents were very enthusiastic. Letters about the memorial fund were included with reunion invitations and they raised enough money to award three $500 scholarships the following spring. It went over so well they decided to keep the scholarship fund going. What makes this special is that when the fund started, these alumni were either barely out of college or still in graduate school. Students who apply for the awards must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and meet criteria specific to each of the deceased alumni. One was a Marine reservist, so those applying for his scholarship must be involved in ROTC. One was planning to enter the seminary, so his scholarship goes to a student who shows Christian values through leadership. Another winner has to have attended local schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and hold a part-time job in high school.
Parents of the deceased are also part of the process. They have the final say about who is awarded their son’s scholarship, and during an assembly, they meet the winners. The parents have formed their own support group and look forward to working together each spring. “It’s helped us through the grieving process,” one said. Another said the scholarships have alleviated her biggest fear, that her son would be forgotten. The scholarship drive has spawned two fundraising events a year and a website that includes a blog where classmates post news about their lives. From a report by Susan Weich in the St Louis Post-Dispatch, St Louis, Missouri.
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 15
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Storytelling at your reunion
T Reunion Planning Workshops are added regularly on the web at www.reunionsmag.com/getting-started/workshopsconferences-seminars/. Please check online for new offerings and changes. FAMILY REUNION WORKSHOPS BY DEKALB COUNTY, GA Virtual Presentations 11 am-Noon • Wednesday, October 13, 2021 In-Person Presentations 10 am-1 pm EDT • Saturday, September 18, 2021 REUNION EXPO Noon-5 pm • Saturday, November 20, 2021
hink about storytelling at reunions. Think of all the lives that have been lived by everyone present and encourage them to tell their stories! They’re the history that make up your family or members of your class or military group. Everyone will go away having learned something about the teller and about the group as a whole. Javier Wallace, Master Storyteller and founder of Black Austin Tours, explains why storytelling is important. He has received the highest reviews for “Best storytelling” in Austin, Texas. Reunions are perfect times for storytelling so let Javier tell you why. He starts by suggesting how to tell engaging stories. First, make yourself the main character of your own story! Allow yourself to be vulnerable with your audience, be personal and let your light shine. Find your “Why” and share it with your guests. “Find that thing,” he says, “of who you are and where you come from and go out and find your story.” Learn more about Javier Wallace at www.blackaustintours.com and for Black Austin Tours, contact javier@blackaustintours.com.
Register at www.discoverdekalb.com/meetings-groups/ Contact: Penny Moore | 770-492-5018 Penny@discoverdekalb.com FREE VIRTUAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING AND LEGACY BUILDING WORKSHOPS Attendees enjoy hearing from industry experts and participate in “live” question and answer. Limited virtual seats are available, send an e-mail to webuildlegacy@gmail.com to register. Noon EDT • September 2, 2021 & October 23, 2021 SAVE THE DATE Saturday, April 2, 2022 WeBuildLegacy Family Reunion Planners Conference and Expo Philadelphia, Pennsylvania EXPLORE GWINNETT’S REUNION PLANNING WORKSHOP 9 AM • October 9, 2021 Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, GA Contact Maurice Odoms | 770-814-6059 Maurice@exploregwinnett.org Register @ Atlantareunion.com MILITARY REUNION NETWORK October 13-16, 2021 Louisiana Northshore/New Orleans area FAM Keynote: Dan Pedersen, creator of the Navy Top Gun Program www.militaryreunionnetwork.com/upcoming-events/ #!event-list Contact Sharon Danitschek | 425-501-1430 info@militaryreunionnetwork.com ALPHARETTA FAMILY REUNION WORKSHOP 10 AM-Noon • October 16, 2021 Mansell House and Gardens, Alpharetta, GA Contact Hala Shell | 678-297-2811 reunions@awesomealpharetta.com Registration and more info at www.awesomealpharetta. com/meetings-special-occasions/reunions-gatherings/ family-reunion-workshop 16 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
Giveaways for your reunion!
W
ho doesn’t like giveaways? You’ll not win unless you enter. There are DNA kits and games that can be used as games at your reunion or as raffle prizes. Visit to discover what’s new and enter today. Visit www.reunionsmag.com/ resources/giveaways-contests/ now to enter for one or all of the prizes before time runs out!
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Hospitality Answerman
Q: A:
Now that most of the members of our family have been vaccinated, we want to get together again, and are looking to hold a reunion in 2022. It’s been several years since we all got together. My two cousins and I (the reunion committee) don’t know where to start. We haven’t even decided where to have it. Some of the family is in New Jersey; others are in North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and elsewhere.
We’ve tackled this question before, but it’s always worth revisiting. The selection of the site for your reunion will most definitely impact your attendance, so you want to choose wisely. In a nutshell, the best location for your group — or any group — to meet will be determined by the size, needs, and interests of the group members. Start by asking yourself the following questions: — How easy (or difficult) will it be for people to get there? How expensive will it be? Can most folks drive there? If they have to fly, is there an airport nearby with ample flights and reasonable air fares? The less it costs folks to attend, the better your attendance will be. In this case, you may want to “meet in the middle” by selecting a reunion site halfway between the two extremes, so that no one has to drive or fly too far. — What types of things do we want to see and do? You can get together with your relatives in any hotel ballroom. Likewise, you can have a picnic almost anywhere. You’ll want to select a location with interesting and fun activities that everyone will remember — this is what will make the reunion special! Do most of your folks like the beach? (Some folks do, some don’t!) Do they want to ride roller coasters? Visit museums or historic sites that have meaning for your family? Go shopping or out to eat? Play golf? — What are the ages of the majority of your attendees? Things that delight young children may bore teenagers and vice-versa. Riding the “Roller Coaster of Death” at the amusement park may be great fun for the sixteen-year-olds, but not for those over 40. If there are lots of young children, having ample things for them to do is a must … if they’re bored and restless, they’ll be sure to let their parents know it. — How expensive are local hotels? Staying at a four-star resort is a wonderful experience, but is this what your family members are looking for? What sorts of rates are they willing to pay? At many beach resorts, summer is peak season, and the rates will be high. You may want to look at getting together at a location in the “off season” — the hotel or the local Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) can tell you when “off season” rates apply. You’ll be staying in the same hotel, but at much more attractive rates! Meals are another big expense for your attendees. Are there family-friendly restaurants in the area? Does the hotel offer refrigerators in the guest rooms where folks can store simple staples (juice, milk, sodas, etc.)? Does the hotel include breakfast in their rates? All of these things can help attendees control the cost of attending your reunion. — The “how expensive” question also applies to local attractions and sightseeing. If the only attraction around is a theme park and the tickets are $95 per person, that’s a $570 expense for a family with four children! (And that’s before they buy their first hot dog!) Consider places with state or local parks, museums, art galleries, historic sites and other activities that are either free or can be enjoyed at minimal cost.
Next, you’ll want to narrow down your list of possible locations to a select few that you can seriously consider. Start by calling the CVB in each location you’re considering. We’ve said this many times before, but it bears repeating: The local CVB is your very best source of information about all of the things you’ll need to consider when deciding where to meet – access, activities, lodging, restaurants, prices, the best times to visit, and much more. And virtually every CVB in the country is eager to assist you free of charge! Reunions magazine features an online directory of cities / destinations that have demonstrated they are eager to host your reunion. Start with this list and go from there! Ask the CVB representatives you speak with these questions … “ Why would my reunion have more fun if we get together in your city / destination than if we go somewhere else?” n “ We’re looking for nice places to stay that can provide rooms for $ ___ in the month of ____. What are our options likely to be?” n “ Why have other reunion groups met with you? What did they like best about your city? Was there anything they didn’t like?” n
Once you’ve spoken to a number of locations and received their information, narrow your search down to a few (probably no more than three or four) destinations that you’re seriously interested in and call the CVB again. Ask them to collect bids from their hotels that meet your needs. You’ll need to tell them the number of rooms you’re likely to need, the number of days you’ll need them, when you’ll need them, and the rates you’re looking to pay. Likewise, communicate the hotel features that are important to you. For example — a swimming pool, a ballroom for your banquet, a hospitality room for your group, a restaurant, free parking, and so on. The CVB will respond to you with bids they receive from hotels that are interested in hosting your reunion, and they’ll review these with you. They’re happy to arrange a visit to their city so that you can see the hotels and the area’s attractions first-hand. The CVB representative truly is your very best friend in whatever city your group is gathering. Good luck with your reunion!
About the Hospitality Answerman
Dean Miller, national sales director for Visit Fairfax (www.fxva.com), the convention and visitors bureau in Fairfax County, Virginia, is a great friend of reunions. Contact him (703-790-0643; dmiller@fxva.com) when you are planning a reunion in the Washington, DC, area. Fairfax County is nearby, affordable, and conveniently located to all the area has to offer.
??????????? Have a question for Dean? Send to editor@reunionsmag.com
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 17
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New app guide to the Happiest Places on Earth!
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eid (10) and Hunter (12) Bellow used pandemic time to develop an app for visiting the Happiest Places on Earth. The precocious tweens built a family-friendly app with colorful graphics and descriptions of each ride including height requirements, ride duration, and up-to-the-minute wait times. Their simple goal was to create an app to help families get the most out of their favorite vacation spots – Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. MyBDD (My Best Day at Disney) app will guide you to the right attraction to make the
most of your day by personalizing adventures; choose a theme (pirates or princesses) and the app will direct you. They thought of many details like adding a camera spotter which tells users where cameras are on rides so you know when to say, “cheese!” Across four theme parks and two water parks, Disneyland has 45 rides and Disney World has 53 rides. The Bellow brothers know how to make the best of Disney and their app provides an interactive guided tour of the parks in the palm of your hand. The MyBDD app is now available as a
free download on Google Play and Apple App Store. There is a one-time upgrade fee ($4.99) that unlocks the Magic when in the parks and 25 percent of the proceeds go to support the March of Dimes and Make-AWish foundation — two of the Bellow family's favorite charities. With encouragement from their dad, Adam Bellow, Plainview, New York.
18 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
Are your photos ready for your reunion?
September is Save Your Photos Month! Learn how to preserve and share your treasured memories! Join us online for a FREE 30-day interactive event. • 30 mini-courses you can view at your leisure • Weekly live Q&As with guest experts Register for free at saveyourphotos.org
20 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
masterplan
strengthening the family: Family Empowerment
Excerpt from Black Family Reunions, Finding the Rest of Me by Ione Vargus, PhD, founder of the Family Reunion Institute at Temple University.
Family Empowerment might be a serious learning tool for many reunions who’ve never even thought of how they govern and expand their reunions. This excerpt is the first of a series of three to improve reunion leadership. Also read about governance and listen to two podcasts about reunion leadership on www.reunionsmag.com/categpry/podcasts. Continuation from June 2021 issue … CHAPTER 5: with permission
Committees
A
s in most organizations, committees have emerged. The Bullock family has an executive committee of its national board. Sheila Linton explains, “Our Executive Committee got started because of the scholarship fund. We wanted to work on the issues related to that and found ourselves dealing with many other things.13 At the Bowser family’s fifth reunion, the following gave reports: the charter committee, the historical committee, the committee on committees, awards committee, and reunion site committee. Most of the functions of the committee are self-explanatory by their names, but the committee on committees had some interesting functions. The concerns of that committee were the following: 1. Dispersing information on schools and scholarships. The committee made a positive statement that it believed that it is in the best interests of the Bowser family members to promote education and training in order to develop marketable skills, whether it is through college or university education or technical training programs.
2. Voting. There were Bowsers voting when other Black people could not vote. “Furthermore,” explains the committee member, “a Bowser was a registrar for the Republican Party during the 1800s. With this kind of history, it becomes imperative that all of us register to vote in November. This is phase one of our civic responsibility as citizens of this country and as members of the Bowser family.” 3. Highlighting family members. Some ideas concerning family achievements. This archive might include a short paragraph listing achievements of family members.14 Other families may have a good and welfare committee, a type of committee quite prevalent in church and similar organizations. The purpose of this committee is to send births and anniversaries
Dr. Ione Vargus, 4th from the right in the second row, 1988 Kountze Family Reunion.
2008 Kountze Family Reunion
greeting cards, get-well cards, and expressions of sympathy. With members being far-flung, it is not easy to keep up with the news, but this committee serves a really important role in this new form of the extended family. Another family reports having a ways and means committee, which deals with financial programs; a hotel representation committee, which usually helps with publicity. More and more families now include a scholarship committee. When Wrise Booker and Vallery Kountze organized the 2003 Kountze family reunion, they established the following reunion committees: steering committee, facilities and transportation, financial affairs, communications, program development, youth development, social interaction, heritage, and scholarship. Each committee had a set of tasks clearly identified.
Charitable Activities Giving back to the community is often expressed as a desirable act at family reunions. Family members who have given to others, primarily through their good deeds, are acknowledged. Families may pass the hat or solicit funds to give to some desired organization. This is most often done on a one-time basis although the intent is to do so more often. Philanthropy is not new to African Americans although much of the money goes to the church. A study by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy notes, however, that there are traits that distinguish African Americans philanthropic tradition from conventional notions of philanthropy. These include the foundation of the African American philanthropy as being derived from a distinctive notion of family as an inclusive and permeable institution. African Americans frequently express their giving and serving through the idiom of kinship. They consider much of their giving and serving to family, neighbors and needy strangers as general obligation rather than philanthropy. When formal contributions of time and money continued on page 22
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 21
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continued from page 21
are made, African Americans prefer going through the church.15 Examples of what some reunion families have done include contribution to scholarships at colleges that educated relatives, establishing funds for needy families, contributing to organizations researching diseases for which African Americans are at special risk. The value of giving is passed on to future generations at the reunion. Some families are incorporated to conduct charitable projects. One such family is Camilla and Zach Hubert. The Camilla and Zach Hubert family is incorporated as a nonprofit — a 501(c)(3) foundation — and one of the primary purposes is a support black education, particularly in the state of Georgia. Their reunion had begun in 1974, primarily as a fun thing, and they continued to have reunions. Somewhere along the line, one of the cousins who inherited property when his mother died, and looking at the deed, saw that there was a parcel of land attached to the deed, which the grandfather had left to the family. He had also left land to each of his twelve children, but this particular thirteen acres was attached to this one piece of property and was unused. The family decided to become incorporated, and the land is now in the hands of the Camilla and Zach Hubert Foundation. The family has to follow strict bylaws. The Camilla and Zach Hubert family carry out charitable projects with the Springfield, Georgia, community where Zach set his homestead after slavery. The foundation makes annual contributions to Spellman and Morehouse Colleges, where Zack sent his twelve children. They have written a book about the family, which they sold, and they have cut timber as ways to raise money. Governed by an elected board of trustees, they have regional vice presidents and other officers, which meet the Internal Revenue Service requirements. As a nonprofit, the family must be always conscious of special regulatory obligations and meet annually.16 Families do not have to be incorporated to give to charity. The Booker family, one of the oldest African American families in Medford, Massachusetts, agreed to donate a monetary contribution annually to a Medford organization that serves needy families and children. Traditionally, this family has its reunion at Thanksgiving. One year, they discussed the issue of gift-giving in the family, recognizing that receiving gifts loses its the significance after childhood. They decided to contribute to children who might not have warm sweaters or small toys. The family hearkened back to its early family roots when one of its ancestors instilled in the children a sense of community, which has been carried out by family members in many ways over the years. The Alston-Taylor family reunion has a scholarship fund and also contributes to the Diabetes Foundation because the disease runs in the family. The United Negro College Fund is another recipient of this family’s contributions as is true for several families. The Shaw-Harmon family raised money to donate to the Civil War Museum in honor of their ancestors Timothy Shaw and Robert Riley, who served in the Civil War. The Weems family gave a $500 scholarship fund to the Boston chapter of the Hampton Alumni in honor of their parents, who were members of the Class of 1909. Gertrude Howard, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts and Samuel Weems, who was born in Rome, Georgia, met at Hampton Institute in Virginia. Their eight children believe that without Hampton, it is very doubtful that they would have met. The value of service is also promoted. The Dow family noted that it wanted a charitable project because “[they] had reached a certain point and now it was time to put something back into the community.”17 Although the ideas do not always come to fruition, 22 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
the thought is there. A facility to give foster children special services and a retirement home especially for aging family members are two examples of family reunion charitable thoughts. A frequent question to the Family Reunion Institute is whether the family should incorporate as a nonprofit or 501(c)(3) organization. Since the institute does not give out legal advice, we can only note some of the pros and cons of being a nonprofit and encourage the family to use one of its own family member lawyers, see if a local law school may have interns who can help with this question, or hire a lawyer. If the family’s main objective to become a nonprofit is that they might be able to get foundation and corporate funds for their reunions, the work involved in maintaining a nonprofit may not be commensurate with what they might receive. Unfortunately, experience has shown that those institutions are not good sources for income for family reunions, although they may give generously to other ventures. Families have discussed becoming a nonprofit so that the monies family members give to the scholarship fund can be tax=deductible. The scholarship will need to go to someone outside the family, however.
Economic Programs Self-determination was a phrase used constantly in the 1960s by the Black community. This expression seemed to scare the majority society almost as much as the words Black power and dropped out of sight. Without using the phrase, the sentiment is still there. Self-help, like philanthropy, is not new for African Americans. “We need to help our own,” “We need to be in charge of our own institutions,” and “We need to help our young people” are increasing refrains. Thus, even though families are scattered, they bring back the extended family function of financial help that was seen when familied lived closer together.
Family Scholarships African American families are developing scholarship programs to benefit their children. This is a sensitive endeavor since within the diversity and size of the family, not everyone will benefit. Scholarship programs have come a long way since the time twenty years ago, when Augusta Clarke, a former city council member in Philadelphia, simply ordered her Alexander family groups to put “$50 in the pot” at the banquet or business meeting. She collected as much as $900 in twenty minutes. Now, there are scholarship programs in many families. They are structured and governed by bylaws or very specific criteria. Although these rules vary from family to family, nearly all include such criteria as to who is eligible. When Thelma Jones of the Harper/Outlaw/Banks family shared at the Family Reunion Conference that the potential candidate’s family must have attended the reunion at some time, many other families inserted this rule in their criteria. Mrs. Jones started the scholarship at her family reunion in 1994, ten years after the reunion began. It was one way to involve teenagers and to get them to return to the reunions. It serves also as a morale booster. The scholarship amount depends on the amount raised from family and the number of graduates. An application is required, sometime with an accompanying essay as to what the candidate feels about the family. Graduates from high school, certification programs or vocational/tech schools are eligible, as are those who have earned a GED. Everyone is eligible since family income is not a criteria, but reunion participation and attendance adds points. The Kountze Family Scholarship is governed by a legal trust. Members of the family serve as trustees and decide who will
masterplan
Banks Hill Outlaw Family Reunion
receive the scholarship. Each year, the scholarship committee chair writes letter to family members soliciting funds for the scholarship. An application is necessary, but the scholarship can go to any age person, and they must be attending an accredited college. Thus, an applicant or recipient can be a person in their fifties. While one of the criteria is that the family of the recipient should have attended a Kountze family reunion, this is not always the case. In fact, the Kountzes found that when they gave a scholarship to a family member who had never attended the reunion until he came to accept the scholarship, this developed a bond, and that family has attended ever since.
The Flo-Line family quilts were originally thought of as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund. Area chairpersons were sent muslin patches and directed to distribute, collect, and return the completed ones for assembling. The patches immortalized some event, experience, or person. There were patches that contained a family cake recipe, doilies brought by slaves in the Underground Railroad, sport hobbies, portraits, memorial photographs, family crests — all kinds of things that uniquely linked the family members. What was to be one quilt turned into six quilts as family members became so excited that they sent in many patches. Those quilts were auctioned, but only six people could get them. Thus, patterns of the quilts were reproduced on stationary, puzzles, and posters, and sold. It became clear that the real value of the quilts was the family history and memorials displayed on the patches. However, the family did raise over $3,000 for the scholarship fund. Opalene Mitchell, who had the original idea for the Flo-Line quilt, taught audiences how to make the patches and involve family members at the Family Reunion Conference in a workshop entitled “A Stitch in Time.” Using that title, she then wrote a book in great detail about the process, including how to get the stationary and other by-products made.18 The Harper basketball shootout raised money for the family’s scholarship fund. Each participant was given fifteen seconds to shoot basketballs into the hoop. Each sponsor pledged ten cents or more for every basket made. The participants submitted an official scorecard to their sponsor, indicting the number of baskets successfully made.19 The purpose of the Ransom Sease scholarship is to assist those who wish to grow educationally during the year. There are two types of scholarships: a medical one and a general education scholarship. The medical scholarship is available to those seeking to study in the medical field; the general scholarship is open to all other majors.20 The George and Sallie Bullock descendants not only offer the high school students scholarships but also award a scholarship for aspiring teachers. Named the Vernell Pernsley Scholarship after a deceased member of the family who taught in the Philadelphia school system for thirty-six years, it is hoped that this scholarship will encourage more Bullocks to enter the profession. The Britt family goes even further by giving a scholarship to a student outside of the family.
continued on page 24
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Emergency and Other Funds Emergency funds to help family members have also been established. In 1985, the National Lowe family agreed to establish an emergency fund. Each chapter is assessed a given amount of money to go into the fund to provide financial assistance for any family member in distress, such as fire victims, deaths creating a hardship, and serious prolonged illness in the amount designated by the national body per family member. A set of regulations accompany how the money is distributed.21 This fund has been in existence over twenty-five years. In another family, every time a baby is born, everyone sends one dollar to start an account in the child’s name. And in yet another family, when someone dies, the children or parents receive $2,000 from the national chapter toward funeral costs. These kinds of activities emerge from families at reunions. In other words, without the reunion, such support and caring would probably not have happened. African American families meet in hotels, so they often realize the amount of money they are spending. Conversation begins about using their property or building a facility that they can use and rent to other African American families for conferences and reunions. Barbara Jenkins noted that her family spent about $50,000 in the hotel alone. With a family of about eight hundred attending the reunion the cost of rooms, banquet and food amounted to a great deal. “If we just had a portion of the money, there’s no telling what we could do. We’ve been talking about it at executive board committee, but unless you act on it …”22 The idea of setting up a collective family business often arises but runs into trouble because family members feel that the introduction of giving up money will disrupt the family. There are a lot of them that aren’t really pleased with the idea in moving toward a family business because they fear that once you bring money into the structure, there’s going to be fighting. So there are a lot of conservatives, but we’ve got to still look at this and still move on it to the future.23 (Gaither) While there may be resistance, families move through it with sensitivity and caring. As we’ve noted in another chapter, however, many a business has started at the reunion between two or three family members. The Kwanzaaa principle of Ujaama, cooperative economics, can become a tool for families to work with. Notes Ayesha Imani of the Stith-Porter-Ballard family, “Our children seem to forget that we are businessmen; we’ve been entrepreneurs.”24 In 1980, the Dow family began talking about and planning a new project that eventually became known as the 10-36 plan. Each family member who wished to would contribute a $10 per month for thirty-six months. This money would be used to generate more funds. Quite a number of families discuss starting a credit union. They believe this would help family members. Not all the ideas of families come to fruition, and they recognize that it is more than a notion to implement some of the ideas. However, this does not keep families from thinking about them.
Networking
Reunion Chandler
masterplan
Family reunions are about networking in the larger sense. When people say that the reason they want to go to the reunion to meet the cousins they’ve never met or to see family members that they haven’t seen I a long time, they’re often talking about networking. To a certain extent, many activities that go on are networking
masterplan activities, i.e., connecting people to each other, to their past, or to the common ancestry. The Flo-Line family uses the newsletter to network. Business cards are placed in the newsletter, and often, an article highlights an entrepreneur in the family. This, of course, is to encourage the use of that person’s services. Family members may even advertise in the newsletter. The Dow family set up a resource directory of trades and businesses in the family. Family members help to keep the money in the family by calling on family members first, even if the cost is a little more expensive. The Kountze-Dugger reunion held a workshop for networking among the young people in the family between the ages of twenty and forty. The discussion turned to business, and one of the members mentioned her desire to start a magazine. She found that her cousins could be very helpful. One could do the colorizing and find a good printer, one could help her to get ads, and one could help with photographs. Someone reminded her about her own brother and his writing ability. All this was very inspiring and Renaissance — the magazine with a positive outlook on African Americans — was launched. Her brother became her editor, and her cousins, all of whom were out of state, helped do what they said they would. Looking for creative activities has led to the networking between the members. One family has started a credit union. One family has established a travel agency business, although it mainly serves its own family members. Real estate and other businesses have developed between cousins and relatives in a family because of the reunion. The Gaither-James family realized that they could use the services of a florist in the family, no matter where they lived. There’s more to the networking than the tangibles that are gained. Networking is a learned skill. The networking that goes on at the family reunions exposes people, particularly young adults, on the mechanics of it.
Other Benefits of Organization Within this extended family structure, the talents in the family come to light. As they come to know each other, members learn to use these talents, often mobilizing and utilizing resources that they did not know existed. Individuals in the family have become entrepreneurs as a direct result of involvement at the family reunion. They found a task that they enjoyed doing and made it into a business venture. Persons who initially agreed to become the family historian have become certified genealogists. One person who had set up the workshops at his family reunion went into business of training and giving workshops. Ann Cureton had helped to organize and implement what turned out to be a very productive and successful Gaither-James reunion in Camden, South Carolina. The workshops had been meaningful, the play had been fun, and the talent show had been extraordinary. As the reunion came to a close, she said, “It will be pretty soon that we won’t have to go out of this family to get anything because we will have the resources within our own family, and we should use them.”25 While, of course, all of us are interdependent, her comment came from seeing so many arenas in which the family members shared their talents, their knowledge, and their expertise. They could help and use each other.
Leo Schultze says it well. If we are to continue in the future, we must become aware of our responsibilities, our dues, our pledge to our youth to give some assistance for their educational achievements, but above all this: this first order of business will be the order to take us in the 21st century. It just might be that organized families like ours with noble ideas, as such, may be the role models.26 Footnotes: Chapter 5 continued 13
Interview with Sheila Linton, Bullock Family Reunion.
14
Bower family bylaws.
15
Cheryl Hall-Russell and Robert Kasberg, African American Traditions of Giving and Serving: A Midwest Perspective (Indiana University Center on Philanthropy). Camila and Zach Hubert family history, 1977.
16 17
Interview with Helen Wilkinson, Dow family reunion.
18
Opalene Mitchell, A Stitch in Time (Philadelphia, PA: Family Reunion Institute, Temple University, 1997).
19
Harper News, Harper family reunion.
20
Ransom Sease Family News, December 2006.
21
“Scholarship,” National Low Family Reunion website, ibid.
22
Interview with Barbara Jenkins, Wilson-Lake-Herbert family.
23
Warren Gaither, ibid.
24
Ayesha Imani, presentation at the National African American Family Reunion Conference, 1992.
25
Interview with Anne Cureton, Gaither-James family. Leo Schultze, The Force (Winter 1995).
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his is a book filled with inspiration and wisdom for all reunion planners. Dr. Ione Vargus, founder of the Family Reunion Institute at Temple University in Philadelphia, traveled the country for many years visiting black family reunions to observe and experience how families met and celebrated. She interviewed family members for their impressions and practices. “Through activities at reunions,” she writes, “values are transmitted … recognition of family talents and role models … inspiration to engage in community concerns, advice on good parenting skills and the potential for positive character development occurs during the reunion.” Citing examples from the experience and reports of countless reunions, Dr. Vargus weaves tales of many practical reunion experiences that can be applied to your planning and your reunion. Dr. Vargus’s study and commitment to family reunions through the Family Reunion Institute and her many national family reunion conferences earned her the richly deserved title of Mother of Family Reunions. This is a book that every reunion planner should read and share with their committee members, friends and family as ideas for reunions now and in the future. EW (Xlibris, 2020, 205 pages, $31.99 hard cover, $17.99 soft cover, $3.99 e-book; www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/ bookdetails/810743-black-family-reunions) 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 25
masterplan
Harvey Brantley Family Reunion
Vision: To be a United Family Gathering that is Extraordinary in doing life together. Theme: Living a Legacy of Generational Family Love, Faith, and Posterity INTRODUCTION
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amily reunions are special occasions where interconnected families come together in the spirit of unity. Our family reunion is multigenerational, multi-ethnic, and ultimately, destined for multiplication. Our theme for our 2021 reunion was “Living a Legacy.” Often, families talk about leaving a legacy, but how often do we focus in on living out that legacy of each family member through grace and fellowship. The objective of our family reunion this year was to live the legacy of our ancestors and maintain, recover, and discover our own legacy by focusing on posterity. Posterity is the succession of generations, wealth creation, and familial holistic growth. As a result of this year’s family reunion, we have had workshop-like discussions which resulted in some family members being inspired to start businesses, ministries, and to pursue higher career ventures. Family reunions thrive when there is a momentum of shared vision and objectives. Great leaders cast vision! It is important to cast a vision for your family reunion that extends beyond the norm and includes
everyone. Why? Many family members need to see the vision to believe it, and they will congregate around a common purpose, theme, or vision that includes them. After you formulate a vision, create a family mission statement (if applicable), followed by goals and objectives that you want the family reunion to achieve. This year, our Goal was to: “Promote family education, health and wellness, as well as encourage Generations to increase the bonds of Grace and Fellowship.” In addition, the older generation entrusted the Next Generation (40 and under) with some of the family reunion planning. This year’s reunion was special, and during a pandemic, we were able to pull off a high energy, engaging, heartfelt family reunion that everyone respected and enjoyed. We chose a hospitable hotel that accommodated us to enact our mission with fidelity. Our Mission was to: “Provide opportunities for family engagement through authentic fellowship, faith, fun, outreach, and partnership.” We did just that during this Family reunion which incorporated a
Harley Brantley Family Reunion 26 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
variety of events and activities that the whole family engaged in. Be sure to create a team or committee and involve emerging young adults to give feedback, as the elders of the family guide and provide accountability. Many family reunion planners might ask: “Well how do we get everyone together from all sides of the family to attend the family reunions..?” The answer to that question is: “One family at a time.” You will never be able to reach everyone, but those who do attend, should be valued and prioritized. We must consistently value one another, and encourage one another, as you then transfer that love to family members who were unable to attend, distant or even lost. Secondly, we must also know that our presence is a blessing. When we choose to present ourselves back to one another at family reunions, it creates a stronger sense of self-worth, and self-identification. Family reunions help you know yourself better, as well as those who you share relations with. In other words, family reunions can help you become a better person inside and outside of your family structure.
masterplan
Day 1 – Our family reunion this year began with a pre-service dinner that was topped off with recreational bowling, games, and fellowship time at a local entertainment center.
DJ helped us top Thursday off with a family dance-off, which involved line dancing and popular dance selections to which all family members were able to get foot loose on the dance floor.
Day 2 – Thursday was the official hotel check-in and Welcome service event. During the welcome, we had an extravagant Gospel night with a sharing of the vision, welcome letter from the Governor, a variety of special guests, Christian performers, food, fellowship, theatrical skits, and a comedy show. The theatrical skit, performed by a professional acting troupe, provided an opportunity for family members to be inspired to do the same. As a result, we had a family talent show followed by a special Celebrity Comic View comedian who blessed us with clean comedy, fun, and laughter. Our special guest
Day 3 – Friday, family members explored the city and historic places of Atlanta, Georgia. Family members toured Stone Mountain Park, the Atlanta Zoo, and all the historic districts (Martin Luther King Center; Atlanta History Center and GA Aquarium City, to name a few). A family reunion carpool was established as we toured the city marveling at the city skyline, sightseeing and taking pictures. Friday evening was a family game night that included light snacks, games, a special guest comedian and the ultimate Family Reunion Karaoke Idol Showdown.
Day 4 – Saturday was the family reunion picnic at a popular metropolitan park. We rented a pavilion and had the entire park to ourselves. Food was sponsored by Atlanta’s signature barbecue catering company in addition to our grill master cooking on the grill. Saturday evening, we all dressed to impress in our ‘Purple and Gold’ theme colors, as we got ready for the banquet that involved a deluxe dinner at the hotel. The banquet also involved a memorial program that recognized ancestors, an award show for accomplished family members, birthday recognitions, and a soul train line dance and farewell dance to end the night. Day 5 – Sunday morning, our family offered a farewell church service for family members who were able to attend along with a final breakfast. All in all, we were able to do things in the Spirit of Excellence because of our proposed vision: Living a Legacy!!! Shared by Dr. Brian Cunningham, Family Reunion Planner, Author/Life Coach-Speaker, Atlanta, Georgia
ANY-SIZED FAMILY. ANY-SIZED BUDGET. WE ACCOMMODATE BOTH. You have a big family. We have activities for everyone and every budget. From fine dining to family casual, from easy-going hotels to uptown luxury, we’ve got your budget covered. And with a world of fun for all ages and interests, Fairfax County is tailor-made for your reunion. The new National Museum of the United States Army in Fairfax County is a great place for families. Current COVID-19 safety precautions established.
Let us help you plan your family’s reunion. Go to FXVA.com or call 703-790-0643
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 27
masterplan
Groshek Chickfest!
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t was with great anticipation that the Groshek gal cousins were able to attend CHICKFEST in person this year at their grandparents’ former farmstead home in Galloway, Wisconsin. Last year, at the height of Covid, the chicks had to settle for a Zoom call reunion. It was nice, but not quite the same. This year, a handsome Scottish highlander greeted them at the door reminding any rogue males that CHICKFEST is for “lasses only.” Inside, the table was surrounded with laughter and chatter. Dishes of homemade desserts and snacks filled the table: pineapple whip cream cake, potato chips and dip, peppered cukes picked fresh from the garden, meatballs and pasta salads. There was something to satisfy any palate. Rain was forecast, but the sun shone brightly all day as the chicks gathered outside for the traditional group photo. This year's special honor went to Cindy and Mona who turned sixty!
Little Milo, who would not sit still for the picture, is the fourth generation.
Taste of reunions!
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ho doesn’t look forward to the wide array of wonderful smells and tastes of reunion potlucks, picnics and banquets? Do these pictures remind you of wonderful memories and make your mouth water? Add these to why you can’t wait for your next reunion!
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Then it was time to vent out the year of frustration and grief on the Coronavirus shaped piñata. A cousin had bought a baseball piñata from a party store, spray painted it black and attached red crepe paper spikes to the entire surface. Hanging from an old apple tree, the piñata contained “humbug” hard candy with a small alcohol wipe attached to each piece. Back inside as the sun set, the chicks laughed so hard they cried ... almost blowing the roof off. The chicks did make one exception to the NO MALE policy while allowing two-year-old Milo to have fun picking piñata scraps and apples from the front lawn after he attempted a swing. Shared by June Groshek Czarnezki, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Three generations of Groshek Chicks! Special honorees, Cindy, is second row on the right and Mona was missing!
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Jordon Family mini-Reunion
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ur reunion was very small. Just two siblings, spouses, children and one grandchild who was too young to be vaccinated so we couldn't go anywhere. We stayed at my home in Michigan and the others came from Pennsylvania. We hadn't seen each other since my nephew's wedding in December 2019 (he's the one holding the dog). We just shared yummy meals in the house. We didn't go to restaurants or museums. One day we took a walk to a neighborhood park and played with the visiting dog. An excellent activity was when I brought out countless photograph albums and everyone perused them from cover to cover. Some photos had never been seen before and others brought back feelings of nostalgia. The Big Boy is a fixture in our backyard. My husband had always wanted one and was able to purchase it from the company that made them for the restaurants. The neighbor children loved to look at it when they were young. Shared by Leah Jordan Bisel, West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Celebrate your reunion!
Share it with the world! See your reunion on these pages and on our website. If you are not your family or group scribe, find someone eager to write about your reunion and share it with us. Consider students who could score a publishing credit! We edit everything so perfection is not as important as the facts of your story. Be sure to send high resolution pictures and videos in these formats – .mp4, .mov, or .wmv via www.wetransfer.com (a free transfer service up to 2GB).
We do not have deadlines but use materials as they are received so the sooner you send your reunion story, the sooner you can expect to see it in Reunions magazine! Send to editor@reunionsmag.com and thank you.
Marilynn Stewart was at Costco when she encountered a woman who said she was buying for her family reunion! The woman said they were expecting 300-350 members. Marilynn could not resist taking and sharing this picture. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 29
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Misener/Misner/Mizener Family Reunion
Misener/Misner/Mizener Family Reunion
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he 117th annual Misener/Misner/ Mizener Family Reunion was scheduled for August 15, 2020 in Wellandport, Ontario, Canada and was cancelled. The 117th annual Misener/Misner/ Mizener Family Reunion was then scheduled for August 21, 2021 in Wellandport, Ontario, Canada and was cancelled. The 117th annual Misener/Misner/ Mizener Family Reunion is now scheduled for August 20, 2022 in Wellandport, Ontario, Canada and we certainly hope to hold it. Our reunion is a one-day event and usually draws family members from New York State, Michigan, Iowa, Florida and Ontario, Canada. Attendance in the early years was in the 250-300 range, but now we are happy if we break 40. Most of the people that come have been coming all of their lives. I've managed to persuade a couple cousins to come occasionally – particularly when our cousin from Florida comes! Kids are included, but rarely come. There used to be games and prizes organized for them – but now it’s mainly the grandparents that come! Right now, its me and a cousin who look after the organization of the potluck lunch and beverages. A cousin helps with the computer stuff and a few more cousins handle the registration desk. We don’t 30 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
pre-register, so it's whoever shows up. I’m currently the treasurer and the newsletter producer. I always say, “as long as the cousin who looks after the kitchen and I show up
– we are calling it the Misener Reunion. And Mae and I are in our early 70s!” Lament shared by Janet Fear, Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Reunion members visiting tables looking at the genealogical materials we bring to the reunion.
Lake County, Illinois is reunion-perfect.
It’s time to reconnect – in-person – with the ones you love. Lake County is just north of Chicago and delivers the perfect backdrop to get together with your family again. Experience world-class attractions like Six Flags Great America, Hurricane Harbor and Great Wolf Lodge. Enjoy beautiful landscapes with 75 lakes and beaches. Explore Forest Preserves, including Independence Grove, which provides ideal picnic locations with lots of activities to enjoy. There’s also wonderful dining, entertainment, hotels and resorts for your big event. In Lake County, Illinois, your reunion will be truly unforgettable. Contact reunion expert, Kimberly Ghys, at Kimberly@LakeCounty.org to start your planning!
VisitLakeCounty.org 800-LAKE-NOW
masterplan
Tips for a successful hybrid reunion
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s families everywhere are easing back into reunions this year, things may look a bit different. Virtual reunions via Zoom dominated most of 2020, and now families are longing for in-person gatherings with face-to-face conversations and hugs! But perhaps not everyone on the guest list is able to attend or travel to the reunion destination. For families who learned how to creatively meet online, it is easy to use technology to include these faraway family members in reunion festivities. While this type of hybrid reunion may be a reflection of current times, it could also serve as a model for families to use at any event where loved ones have to miss out. For my family, this year marked our 54th ALAFFFA reunion, held at our usual venue — the 100-Acres House in South Park, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2020, the gathering was smaller than usual due to COVID concerns and restrictions, so it was important to bring back the usual activities and fun for those in attendance, while at
Celebrating 54 years of ALAFFFA Family Reunions at the 100 Acres House in South Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 10, 2021.
32 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
the same time, allowing those unable to join us feel they were still able to enjoy parts of the special day. The planning committee decided to keep some of the ideas from last year that worked well, including having the main meal at noon — a make your own taco bowl with chicken or steak, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and tortilla chips. At 5 PM, traditional barbecue fare (hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni salad, tossed salad, fruit salad and the customary ALAFFFA kielbasa/pork and sauerkraut pot) was served. A cookie table with to-go containers was available. A family meeting after the meal was held to discuss the next year’s reunion (our 55th), share family updates, and remember those no longer with us. Time was also allotted to have a family toast to recognize two marriages that took place in 2021, welcome a new baby to the family, celebrate another baby on the way, and note other individual milestones and achievements. This year also featured the traditional
by Lisa Alzo ALAFFFA Cornhole Tournament, the return of ALAFFFALYMPICS. This year we introduced J-ALAFFFA-DY—a new Jeopardy-style trivia game. Four generations participated and were divided into three teams, blue, green, and yellow. Each team had their own color-coordinated button to press to “buzz
Teams Blue, Yellow and Green competed to correctly answer family trivia questions during the J-ALAFFFA-DY trivia game at the ALAFFFA family reunion.
in” after each question was read by the host. While long-distance participation for the Cornhole tournament was not logistically possible, those attending virtually had the option to participate in the trivia game. After a spirited competition, the yellow
masterplan team emerged victorious. who are not able to travel How could we not win with due to health reasons or the family historian (me) work obligations. Everyone on the team! who wishes to participate can be Afterwards, each present in some way. yellow team member Of course, there are chalreceived a “gold” medal lenges associated with a and posed for a team Front and back of first place hybrid-style reunion. First, there photo. A group photograph is the technology component. gold medal given to Team Yellow winners of J-ALAFFFA- Wi-Fi access is essential, so wrapped up a beautiful DY trivia game during summer day and another someone needs to provide a ALAFFFA-LYPMICS 2021. fun-filled ALAFFFA Reunion! hotspot along with a computer, A jam-packed family reunion event is tablet, or smartphone and a paid Zoom only possible because of the dedication account for uninterrupted meeting times. and effort of the reunion committee Invitations with the meeting link(s) need to consisting of members of the second and be provided to virtual attendees in advance. third generations. Over the years, the Secondly, for organizers at the in-person perfect blend of advanced planning and event, keeping to a schedule is key to make room for flexibility has always served as a sure virtual attendees are not kept waiting. winning formula for our family reunion. If all participants give permission, you can Honoring our immigrant grandparents and record the Zoom meeting and have it as a the first generation who initiated the reunion keepsake to be shared with reunion has always been central to our everyone after the event. gatherings and serves as an inspiration as Finally, it is essential to keep all virtual the torch passes to subsequent generaattendees engaged so they do not feel lost tions. The reunion continues to be a in cyberspace when it comes to the touchstone for our family and the ability to dynamics which naturally occur during add in a virtual component ensures we do in-person interactions. Perhaps assign two not lose touch with those family members people who are comfortable with technol-
ogy and online meetings to be the Zoom co-hosts so they can control the video and audio settings and troubleshoot any issues. For our family, Zoom has become an integral part of how we stay in touch throughout the year so adding this as a checklist item for future reunions is something the planning committee can easily do. Time will tell, but I envision that a hybrid reunion will continue to be an option for us in the future.
About the author Lisa Alzo has been surrounded by family at their 50+ year running reunion and walks in her ancestor’s footsteps literally and figuratively, as a genealogist, lecturer and writer. Author of 11 books and endless articles for newspapers and magazines, Lisa earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the highly acclaimed Creative Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh. She works as a writing coach and online educator through her website Research Write Connect – www.researchwriteconnect.com.
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 33
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Williams Family Reunion
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he Williams Family are descendants of Enoch Williams and Mary Simmons. The baby girl of their nineteen children was our Auntie Thelma. She was also the last surviving sibling. Much beloved, I was blessed and honored to compose this poem as part of the Celebration for Auntie Thelma who was 102 at the family reunion in Miami, Florida, a year before she died in 2018 at 103 years of age. Our biennial reunion was postponed until August 2022. Why? The majority of the family was opposed to a virtual reunion. To the right is the poem Sheri Williams Pannell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, composed for Auntie Thelma.
Aunt Thelma at 102 by Sheri Williams Pannell August 1, 2017 You are so beautiful to me You’re everything I hoped for Everything I need You are so beautiful to me – Joe Cocker Regal bearing as she sits tall A crown of gray atop her head Dispensing wisdom we sit at her feet Hanging on to each word that’s said Every place and name is there In a mind so sharp, remembering all She answers the phone, “Hello, my dear…” Each voice recognized, during the call God has blessed her with more than 100 years While many others have been called to glory Perhaps the Lord has blessed her So she may testify and share their stories Gracious, yes, Aunt Thelma is But, don’t her soft voice fool you She has a wit that cuts straight to the bone And an opinion that will school you She is like that virtuous woman We read about in Proverbs 31 Honored by all her family Respected and loved by everyone Her eyes have witnessed history Her heart and back have carried pain Yet, she has been able to carry on Because she trusts in Jesus’ name © 2017 Sheri Williams Pannell
Williams Family Reunion, Auntie Thelma is in the front row center in the yellow hat. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 35
fun(d)raising
How are you going to pay for your reunion?
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f your family or group has a rich uncle or benefactor who is willing to cover the cost of your reunion, plan ahead and don’t worry about the cost. If, on the other hand, you’re like most planners, what you do next will either make or break your reunion idea. While determining a date and place, you’ll have to keep costs in mind. Will it be an afternoon picnic in a nearby park or a weekend at a resort or hotel in a city where members live or somewhere everyone wants to visit, but no one lives? You can see the range of possibilities for what this is going to cost, so keep that in mind as you pick a date and place for your reunion and begin to formulate a budget. Keep in mind that where you go and what you expect to do once you get there will all have associated costs and there will be seasonal rates to keep in mind. Since most families plan summer reunions when kids are out of school, rates in many places will be higher and reservations for some activities may be required. For example, prime picnic areas will need to be reserved months in advance in many places and will require a fee. There may also be lingering Covid restrictions to how many people can be in some parks or attractions. Also remember there will be a range of what your members can afford to pay for the reunion. So the picnic is the easiest and least expensive, particularly if it’s potluck and everyone brings side dishes and desserts. Perhaps all you’ll pay for is the meat for a barbecue and you can divide that cost among the adults. But if you are talking several days and the cost of travel to get there, you’re getting into an area that requires much more planning and consideration. Will the local family pay for the reunion and out-of-towners incur just the cost of travel? Or does everyone pay an equal amount of divided costs for adults? Are kids included at no cost or reduced cost? Or are costs divided by the total number expected, except for infants? How will you charge the elders who are on fixed or limited incomes? It is not written in stone that a reunion must cost lots of money, but you will need approximate expenses to notify members as soon as the date is set so they can plan ahead. While this is easier and less expensive with email and facebook, an eye-catching save-the-date card to post on refrigerators or bulletin boards is even better. That will cost printing and postage. You’ll need money for deposits if you’re planning a banquet or reserving a park pavilion. If you’re like many reunion organizers, you will front some, if not all of the money, to begin planning. So, unless this reunion is your gift to your group or family, others will need to know immediately that you expect them to contribute to and/or pay their fair share to this important endeavor.
36 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
WHERE TO BEGIN … Start by answering a question that addresses how to ask for money to stage your reunion. One planner wrote that the hardest part is soliciting everyone to contribute. She said she wrote a very tactful letter asking everyone for a mandatory contribution. She is not alone in her concern and here are some things I’ve learned that I hope will help. In preparing a letter, think about the following ideas and the letter will write itself. How many of your family members know what you need and why you need it? Who have you talked to? What was their reaction? Clearly state what you are asking for. Money to start planning ... money for deposits for accommodations, for a banquet or catering ... to reserve motor coaches for tours … to reserve a picnic site. There are many things for which you will need advance cash so asking for help right up front is to your benefit in the long run. It will also get cooperation and “buy in” from members. It will help with the time and effort you are/will be putting in. Ask for volunteers. Many parts of reunion planning and execution can be done by volunteer members. Remember, praise and recognition go a long way to generate and maintain volunteers. Are volunteers willing to design announcements or a newsletter? Can someone visit hotels to help decide which to choose? Be sure to contact the local convention and visitors bureau who will help plan visits and requests for proposals from hotels. Will someone be in charge of a picnic and recruit more volunteers to prepare food? Will younger family members help plan and stage activities just for their generation? Who will be in charge of the banquet program? Will the banquet be a buffet or table service? Who will choose the banquet menu? … yummm Combine your requests with some of the exciting ideas you're considering or working on. In fact, hook them first with the good news, then deal with their responsibility to help make the reunion happen. Fortunate families have generous, benevolent members who underwrite events/banquets/t-shirts/tour buses — stuff like that. Some donors demand that their generosity be shouted from the rooftops. That’s easy: do it! Thank them in all your correspondence and especially at the reunion ... over and over again. One bonus of the hoopla is that others may be inspired by the recognition to be generous, too. It’s called sibling rivalry! Others prefer anonymity. Lucky you, if that's your case. Generally speaking, though, acknowledging any contribution, no matter how small, will always generate more. For example, in all your communications, list who has already stepped forward, unless they’ve requested
fun(d)raising
anonymity. It will make others want to match — or exceed! — their generosity. It is never necessary to mention the amount of money that has been donated unless it’s a condition of the contribution. Or consider setting up classes of contributions or categories of donations – for example, $99 and under, $100 to $499, $500 to $999, $1000 to $5000 (not unheard-of). A list of names keeps everyone guessing, which is just fine as long as your members keep thinking about contributing. In any case, use every opportunity you can to praise generosity in all your pre-reunion communications, over and over at your reunion, and again when you thank members for coming. Also consider trading in-kind services for some of your budget or needs. For example, don't pay for printing if someone has access to printing and is willing to donate. Or if a cousin is great at graphics, ask her to lay out your newsletter or invitation, or design t-shirts. Or someone can donate catering for a meal or pay for the banquet (as did the long-time anonymous donor to the annual Utley Family Reunion in Jackson, Tennessee, who insisted on paying for the ballroom rental and the meal). It's probably better to identify who you want to volunteer for a particular task and ask directly to get exactly what you want.
Mary Thiele Fobian, of Pacific Grove, California, a veteran at both class and family reunion planning, says that how one asks family for money can depend on the family culture. Whenever her communication for her Knapp/Napp Family Reunion says anything like “Contributions to help cover costs are always welcome [mailing/ startup/down payments ... you fill-in-the-blank],” the checks just fall out of the sky. But she realizes she may come from a very special family in that regard. On the other hand, the Neptune (New Jersey) High School Class of 1972 – 35th reunion committee sent a very detailed save-the-date letter. They answer who, what, when, where and how questions plus add details. The e-Blazer, a two to three times monthly compendium of Class of ’72, Neptune High School and Jersey Shore contains news items of interest to the class. They call this an efficient and cost-effective method of keeping in touch. They explain that their event is “For us, run by us.” They keep reunion costs low to encourage participation by the greatest number of classmates. “Our philosophy,” writes committeeman Bill King II of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, “is that we’re our own best entertainment.” Asking for money is not a one-time thing. Once your reunion is established, it is wise to keep the understanding of your need for continued on page 38
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 37
fun(d)raising
continued from page 37
money in the forefront -- so you don’t have to beg all the time. When, finally, you send registration materials, the cost of the reunion and activities must be clearly stated. Will there be one fee that includes everything? Or will you break out a baseline of your costs divided among everyone attending plus individual costs for members to pick and choose? Will meals be included or paid separately? Will t-shirts, tours, activities be included or paid separately? These are all decisions that you must make before sending registration materials. Make deadlines very clear. Consider graduated deadlines with slightly lesser cost for immediate responses versus increased costs for late responses to generate early response and cash to cover costs. You will likely need to send more than one reminder, always emphasizing the importance of deadlines. You’ll need final counts for tours, motor coaches, meals and banquets and those who are not registered will have to find the nearest McDonalds instead and miss out!
something that can be done days before your reunion. Some things like family histories or cookbooks take at least a year to plan, collect and produce. Making a family quilt with everyone donating squares and someone assembling the treasure takes many months. Will you have an auction or raffle? How about a dessert contest where goodies are auctioned? The Seidemann Family Reunion raises a lot because members are topping one another as they bid for cakes and pies. Then, share them on the spot. … yummmm. See examples below about how many reunions have cleverly raised money.
FINALLY …
FUN(D)RAISING
At Reunions magazine, we are always looking for new ideas for how you have successfully managed to get members to pay, donate or contribute ... what you ask for or how everyone pays their share of reunion expenses. Email editor@reunionsmag.com with your ideas and experiences to. Sharing these ideas will make you a Super Reunion Organizer because next to how to get family members to register in a timely fashion, getting them to pay is a large problem for many reunions. Reported by Edith Wagner, editor of Reunions magazine.
Then, there are the communal fundraising activities before and during your reunion that can raise some of the money you’ll need. The fundraising section on our web and Pinterest pages illustrate countless ways other reunions have raised money. Take their example and flatter them by copying their good ideas. Fundraising takes time and planning and is not
PS! Many ideas for fundraisers follow but they only scratch the surface. This list is of possibilities that are not included here: sell t-shirts, tote bags, baseball caps with reunion name and logo, crowdfunding, theatre or concert parties, fashion show, dinner dance, casino night, group tours, runs/walks/rides, scavenger hunt, garage sale, car wash, bake sale, memory books, quilt + craft sales.
Sod House Project
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ne of the Phillipsburg (Kansas) High School fundraising projects (see story in class reunions) for the band’s 1970 trip to the Orange Bowl was to construct a sod house at Fort Bissell. Each of the student
band members were to help raise money for the trip. The Phillipsburg Chamber of Commerce funded the building by donating $500 ($3469 in 2021 dollars). Band member Howard King worked closely with
the contractor, 82-year-old Frank Hite. Soil was excavated near the Phillipsburg airport and brought to Fort Bissell for the sod house. King’s job was layering the sod pieces on top of each other to construct the walls. His father, Dean, built the wooden roof. The sod house was dedicated at Fort Bissell on September 27, 1970. Note: The original Fort Bissell was not a military fort, rather a safe haven for residents from Indian attacks. It was built in 1872 on the land of John Bissell. The fort was broken down in 1878 after there were no more threats. A replica, Fort Bissell Museum, was rebuilt in 1962 with 7 buildings, 5 of which were moved to the site. Used with permission from an article by Brennan Engle in The Advocate in Phillipsburg, Kansas. And special thanks to Ruby Wiehman, of the Phillips County (Kansas) Historical Society and Curator at Fort Bissell Museum.
Fort Bissell Museum, Phillipsburg, Kansas 38 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
fun(d)raising
The Brown Family Reunion raffle
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he Brown Family Reunion Saturday picnic was held at the Wyandotte County Park in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The family enjoyed food, games and taking scenic pictures amid the cool
breeze of the shelter house. A drawing was held for two baskets: a barbecue basket filled with some of Kansas City’s great sauces and a spice basket filled with cooking spices. Shared by Gertrude Roby, Kansas City, Kansas.
BBQ basket: In addition to some of Kansas City’s famous BBQ sauces that have been around for a while, the BBQ basket included sauces by KC Rib Doctor, L.C.'s, Classic 816 and Mike P.'s. It also included utensils, oven mitts and an apron that read "if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."
Spice basket: Some of the seasonings in the spice basket included butter buds, dried celery, green pepper flakes, whole sweet basil, dried tomato granules and seven pepper blend.
Announce a non-fundraiser!
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his is one of our favorite fundraising ideas. If you are doing fundraising before or between reunions, consider this approach! Send an invitation that declares “this is absolutely not inviting you to a fundraising event: no party, no gala, just the “biggest un-happening, non-event of the year.” The reunion committee invites members to help them reach a financial goal by month’s end or a set date. The committee asks everyone to join them for a “Stay Home and Read or watch TV” event on any day of the month, anytime of day at any location that makes you happy. Your most comfortable attire is required. Just send a contribution to the reunion fund.
Looking for ways to pay for your reunion? Consider these ideas! Make a family cookbook!
Sell t-shirts!
Make and auction a quilt! Hold a rummage sale! 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 39
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Stewart Family Reunion uses many fundraising ideas
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he most successful way we've raised money to pay for our reunion, Marilynn Stewart of the Stewart Family Reunion writes, is to hold a family auction. We’ve been holding reunion auctions for about 30 years. Everyone brings something to donate to the auction. Some family members work all year to make a quilt or other special item for the reunion, some offer services such as haircuts and some bake cookies, brownies or bring produce from their garden. The best sellers at our reunion are always the crocheted dish towels Grandma makes ($40-$80) and the hand-stitched heirloom quilts that Grandpa made ($200-$400). Other popular items are restored and framed photos of ancestors and photo memory books — anything with sentimental value. No one counts the items someone brings or judges them on how much they bid, everyone does the best they can, sometimes more, sometimes less. We raise between $1500- $2,000 on average. To get families excited about donating items to our auction this year we’ve added this: Do you want to be the first person in line to eat at the Stewart reunion? Just post your auction item on the family facebook page and you'll be entered into the drawing. If we draw your name, you will be first in line for every meal! Your auction items don't have to be DIY projects, you can donate something you've purchased or a service you will do. Deadline for posting your items is July 18th. Marilynn says “We found that it made for a very long auction if we auctioned off every single thing that was donated. So, we started doing a silent auction for smaller items such as canned items, hot pads, towels, small toys, etc. We set up items for a silent auction a few hours before the live auction.”
Silent auction table.
The most successful auction items at the Stewart Family Reunion are those of sentimental value. Tyler Maddox (left) and Toby Wynne (right), grandsons of the late DeLoy Stewart auction his needlework picture. 40 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
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Kids store.
Children usually want to participate in the auction so a few years ago we started a “kids store.” We run the store for about 2 hours every day. The store includes inexpensive items donated by family members. Nothing costs more than a dollar. The kids in our family love the store and the goodies they can purchase there. Because it's meant to be a fundraiser, we usually make between $200–$300 in the store. We've also done a reunion raffle of donated items from companies or family members during the reunion. Plane tickets or electronics are good money generating items. I prefer the auction to this idea, but we did raise some money with our raffle. I think the secret to a successful raffle is to have a large family. We sold tickets for $1 a piece or 6 for $5. Also, be sure to promote the raffle; let people know what you're raffling off so they're excited about participating. We've also tried dividing all reunion expenses equally (save receipts), or have everyone pay individually for expenses they incur. I hated this because there was no way to control what other people spent. Everyone just added their receipts to the pot and then we divided the total cost spent between the families and you paid your share. You only got reimbursed for what you had a receipt for and didn't get credit for anything you brought from home. For example, I was in charge of cooking a meal and I brought many of the ingredients for my meal from home. Other families purchased all their ingredients from the store and so were reimbursed. I haven't done this, but I think it's an interesting idea: a family yard sale. Hold a yard sale, either individually or collectively, as part of your reunion. Money raised goes in the family fund. Ask for reunion dues and request that family members send a portion of their dues on a quarterly basis so that it isn’t a one-time large payment. I've heard of reunions that charge a set fee for each person who attends and I'm shocked at what they charge — some reunions $80 a person. I'm afraid most of our young families wouldn't come to our reunion if we charged such high fees. We never charge individuals, but one time we were low on funds so we charged each of the original families (my husband's six brothers and sisters) $300 to cover expenses. (Editors note: higher charges may include admission to attractions, tours, t-shirts, etc.)
The late Grandpa DeLoy Stewart (inset with baseball cap) made gorgeous quilts for family reunion auctions treasured by those who won them. This quilt is held by DeLoy’s son, Larry Stewart.
SOME OTHER THOUGHTS Everyone in our family lives in Utah so people will often donate items. My husband always brings tomatoes and peaches from our garden to help with meals. Cut back on reunion time. The easiest way to reduce reunion expenses is to cut back on the time your reunion lasts. If you normally have a three-day reunion, cut back to two or just get together for a Saturday afternoon and evening. Feeding the crowd is so expensive! We usually camp, stay in a cabin or rent a condo to control our meals. Some things we do to cut costs is the reunion provides breakfast and dinner and everyone takes care of their own lunch. We plan one a big meal for Sunday dinner with all the trimmings — usually chicken, potatoes, corn on the cob, garden produce and homemade ice cream. Other meals are pretty simple; hot dogs and hamburgers or everyone brings a potluck side. Potluck saves tons of money on food. Breakfast is pancakes and eggs. Shared by Marilynn Stewart, Bear River City, Utah, who hosts the website familyreunionhelper.com. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 41
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Seidemann Family Reunion fundraising
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he Seidemann Family Reunion in Newburg, Wisconsin, is held on the site of the family farm, settled in 1848, the third Sunday of every July. 277 attended the recent July reunion. There are picnic tables where individual family groups can bring their picnics. However, everyone is encouraged to buy goodies from several stands on the site that help support the reunion. All profits from the reunion go to the expenses for next year’s reunion. According to planner Phyllis Naumann, “We are extremely grateful to members for their donations, volunteering their time to set up antiques, setting up the stands, cleaning, organizing games, working in various stands, typing name tags, shopping, organizing guessing games, playing bingo, baking kuchens and breads, making items for the silent auction, and of course, taking down the canopies, tables and benches, and storing them until next year … just to name a few things that need to get done on a yearly basis.” There is a silent auction where members donate homemade breads, cakes, jams, jellies and other food items as well as crafts.
The most popular stand, not surprisingly, is the beer stand!
Sisters Madeline and Kaitlyn Klein “staffed” a table of reunion merchandise: past reunion t-shirts, family books, bumper stickers and koozys.
There is a stand that offers bratwurst, hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers and condiments including sauerkraut. This is, after all, a family of German descendants. 42 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
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An indoor stand offers candy, sodas, bottled water, popcorn, ice cream cones and, the editor’s favorite, root beer floats. Members are encouraged to donate cupcakes, cookies and candy to sell at this stand.
Kuchen contest judges.
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here is also a Kuchen (cake in German) contest that, after the winners are announced, the sweets are auctioned off to some very high bidders! Members are reminded to bring fat wallets and the winner is often the baker’s spouse! Lively bidding led by kids who keep driving up the price, until the adults get in. Prizes are distributed along with paper plates and forks to be shared and consumed on the spot!
CHICKEN SPOT CONTEST
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ery few reunions would have the capability nor the interest for this fundraiser, but it is a lively favorite. 100 chances are sold and when they’re all sold, everyone waits for the chicken to “choose” the winner. Whatever number the chicken drops a spot on will get half of the pot. This game can be played over and over depending upon the cooperation of the chicken! 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 43
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Collect family recipes for a fundraiser!
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that takes a couple hours, rather months and sometimes, years. But the outcome in all cases will have people thanking and praising you for preserving a very special part of family history. There are several ways to collect and share recipes and use the collection as a fundraiser for your reunion. Collection will likely take longer than assembly; don’t expect this to be a quick process. Make a list of favorite recipes that you hope to get. Then, ask the relatives who are known for them for the recipes. Collect recipes from your siblings, s. ok bo ok co Stewart Family cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. You can ask for any recipes they wish to share or specify appetizers, main course or dessert recipes in anticipation for how you plan to arrange the collection. The simplest presentation is to paste recipes to 8''x12'' pieces of paper, then make as many copies as you need to share with others. Or you can re-type recipes, add Have you seen all those 3x5” cards your mother, aunts and illustrations and/or pictures of the grandmothers carefully saved their recipes on? Who will inherit food and copy them to share. those faded, ingredient-stained cards? Or the old cookbooks with Figure out the cost of paper and copying and mark them pages stained with cookie dough or binding and covers frayed up as a reunion fundraiser. Make extras for those who did not sign and falling off? up or order in advance, because once they see what they’re Do other members of your family feel the same? That you missing, they’ll want copies too! don’t want to go through the rest of your lives without being able Then there’s a step up if your relatives are willing to pay for a to taste those amazing cakes, cookies, casseroles, jams and jellies, real cookbook with hard cover and spiral binding! There are barbecues and all the ways fruits and vegetables were served? Are companies who specialize in making cookbooks for nonprofit your members willing to contribute recipes? And are you all willing groups and families who want to preserve favorite recipes. Some to use the recipes to make a marvelous buffet at your next provide limited time free to explore their services. So, if you do reunion to demonstrate everyone’s favorites? explore what the companies have to offer, be prepared to take WHERE DO YOU START? advantage of the free time by having recipes ready to assemble. It is wise to start by polling members to determine interest in Have your recipes, categories, stories, anecdotes and photos ready buying recipe sheets or a cookbook because either choice will to enter or submit. Most provide support, involve a substantial time commitment and access to templates and some have photo you’ll want to know you are not doing the libraries you can access. You’ll want to work in vain. In addition to collecting recipes, choose the design, layout, dividers, black you may want to collect stories, recollections and white versus color pages, and binding and special hints to go along with the list of for your book. You can design your cover or ingredients and directions. The outcome choose from covers the company offers. should be practical instructions alongside Decide how many you want to print. It’s stories of nostalgia that will practically have you wise to collect orders before you print to breathing in the sweet smells of favorite foods ensure all the books are sold. You’ll want to baking in the oven. You may want to add print a few extra for those who did not order pictures or illustrations and will need someone Cookbooks are a fun & affordable ahead and want books after they see them. fundraiser for families & organizations. to help with those additions. But don’t order so many that you find Create a time capsule of treasured recipes! This is a group project, but someone must yourself with a storage problem and no one 800-445-6621 be in charge to keep things organized and MorrisCookbooks.com/RMAG921 interested in the cookbooks. moving along. It is not, you will find, a project ave you ever thought about all those favorite family foods at your reunion or picnics or holiday dinners? Do you make them? Would you like to replicate what your grandmother makes? Have you ever even asked for the recipe? Has it occurred to you that after the older generation is gone, your favorite recipes might be gone too? Are you the only one? Or are other members of your family eager to collect and save favorite recipes?
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Here are some of Bill Rice’s specific tips from www.familyreunioncook bookproject.com to help you create your perfect family reunion cookbook. He emphasizes planning ahead because the reunion will happen whether the cookbook is finished or not. He encourages adding personal notes about why the recipe is memorable, who made it, where was it served and anything that will make the recipe come alive. He suggests photos of the food and members enjoying it! He also says to invite everyone to contribute, including non-cooks and kids. Rice says that while most cookbooks are organized by type of food (appetizers, main course, desserts), a reunion cookbook can be organized along family lines. Create a category for each branch of the family. Finally, Rice suggests including recipes from members no longer with us and that a cookbook can help make the memories of that reunion last forever. Morris Press Cookbooks offer some advanced items that will help you plan and collect recipes for your cookbook. They have great instructional videos to help you organize many steps and prepare your cookbook to be printed. Each step in your organizational process is outlined by the videos. They also offer a free cookbook kit you can order online that includes a publishing guide, pricing information and sample cookbooks. Take advantage of all their help!
Morris Press says their program allows you to easily create a cookbook that helps you reach your fundraising goals. They have a Cookbook Price Estimator at www.morriscookbooks.com/book_ estimate/ to determine options for your cookbook and understand its profit potential. This tool will give you a good idea of what each part and the whole book will cost. In addition they offer seasonal discounts so, if you can organize your committee and members to take advantage of the discounts, you’ll need to abide by their inclusive dates. Visit www.morriscook books.com/pricing/couponsdiscounts.cfm to check them out. Caution: it is very important to read and re-read the books and recipes many times before starting to print. Mistakes will be made and glitches overlooked but once the book is printed, it’s a final product. Ask members, friends and neighbors to do the honor of reading the book before you finally agree that it’s ready to print. Most companies take about two weeks to print your order.
COOKBOOK SALES You will want to price your cookbook to cover the cost of printing, but still so it’s affordable to encourage sales. Be sure to consider the mark up to add to reunion coffers. You will also want to have as many people as possible commit to purchasing the book and even paying ahead before printing so you have enough, but not too many books. Timing is also important so you order early enough to deliver the books at the reunion rather than having to send them later and add packaging and postage to the cost. Once you have your cookbook, ask everyone to choose a recipe, make the food and bring it to your next reunion to celebrate your family food history! Bon appétit!!morris
2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 45
e military reunion news
The impact of military reunions on the next generation
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canning my email inbox of late, I’ve noticed a trend in requests from veterans’ sons and daughters, inquiring about upcoming military reunion information. The military at the time consisted of more men than women, so the requests are focused more on family paternal sides. The emails often include stories of finding photographs or memorabilia when looking through old boxes or photo albums. They are looking for information for or about their fathers, uncles, cousins, or grandfathers. Comments often include “He was wondering if anyone else was still alive that served with him.” It’s amazing to experience the impact this new information has had on those receiving it. As children of Vietnam Era Veterans, the lens through which we see our parents does not include, at least in my case, images of their life before us. How often do we see them as people and not just parents? To get a glimpse into their lives fifty years ago is a huge gift. Those who have spent time with their parents at reunions or attending on their own, know exactly what I’m talking about. Prior to taking the helm of the Military Reunion Network (MRN), I never talked in detail with my dad about his service. I knew he flew an A-4D off the USS Ranger CVA/CV 61, but it never really occurred to me to ask him lots of questions about his service. Hearing the stories of the Veterans involved with MRN, I learned how to ask questions and was gifted with answers in amazing detail. Gaining interest and continued conversation, we decided to attend the 2015 USS Ranger Reunion held in the San Francisco area. My mom attended also, perhaps to keep us both in check. Not knowing what to expect at the reunion, I was pleasantly surprised to watch my Dad immediately interact with others who served on the USS Ranger over the years. He was genuinely enjoying himself, sharing tales of his sea days and taking in others’ stories. He became a bit of a celebrity as one of the older attendees. Younger Veterans sought him out to learn more of the “early days.” There was no doubt he was having a grand time. There was an ease about him at the reunion that I had not seen before. Perhaps it was from being with people who understood his experience, but whatever the reason, I gained new insight into my father during the reunion. Now well into his eighties, our conversations involving his service have grown over the years in frequency and detail. I have loved every minute of them, and I know I am not alone. Several years ago, a Facebook post surfaced from a Veteran who served on the LST218 in search of others who may have served at the same time. His daughter created the post explaining their search as well as a request to share it. It was shared over a million times Raymond “Devere” Johnson 46 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
and ultimately resulted in reuniting Devere and John. (Google The Last Signal movie for the full story) or listen to the interview “From Facebook to the Emmys.” Listen @ www.militaryreunionnetwork.com/military-reunion While the story of the reunion was amazing, the untold story is that of Cheryl, DeVere’s daughter. She learned about her father as a person, just as I did. Her experience in reconnecting her dad to just one other Veteran unlocked conversations they never would have had. Cheryl commented, “I never knew my dad did those things because he never talked about it. Once he left the service, he moved on with his life.” The reunion allowed her to get to know her father in a whole new way. For children attending reunions, the connection to parents that served continues even after they have passed. Richard Krejsa, Veteran and Military Reunion Planner for the 6994th Security Squadron has experienced this firsthand. He was recently contacted by a woman who found some military memorabilia among her uncle’s things. He passed away while serving and is listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. In a phone conversation, she wanted to find out more information about him. As it turns out, Rich not only knew him, but served alongside him for a portion of their time overseas. Rich encouraged her to attend the upcoming reunion as there was a great possibility for her to meet other Veterans that served with “Uncle Mike.” He was confident they would be eager to share their memories just as he had on the phone. Rich told me she was grateful for the conversation and invitation to attend. PJ Martin and David Blake are the reunion planners for two WWII reunions. Their parents, though long gone, come alive when the children of those who served come together. PJ plans the reunion for the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion, or more specifically, the children of the 291st. Many of them attended reunions with their parents years ago. Over time, the bonds that connected the Veterans extended to their families, and they’ve been meeting ever since. To those reading this: if your parent served, research the upcoming reunion for their unit, ship or squadron. Offer to go with them. For seniors, travel can be daunting, but less so with a younger companion. You will be amazed at the experience. As an adult child of a living Navy Veteran, I crave the stories my father shares about his time in the Navy. I attended the reunion with my dad in part to help with my mom. We had an incredible time. Even though we are close, I learned more about him. My personal regret is not having done it sooner.
Military Reunion Network Louisiana Northshore/New Orleans area FAM For information, contact Sharon Danitschek, 425-501-1430 info@militaryreunionnetwork.com www.militaryreunionnetwork.com/upcoming-events/#!events-list
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Children of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion reunion in Memphis, Tennessee.
Reported by Sharon Danitschek, MRN President, who was recognized as one of Meeting Today magazine’s 2019 Trendsetters for the work she and MRN are doing to support Veterans across the country. The Military Reunion Network (MRN) is a trade organization focused on supporting Veterans through education, resource and connection. They teach Veterans to plan their own events and connect them to destinations and hotels that are military reunion minded. The mission of MRN is to reduce Veteran suicide by encouraging continued connection through Military reunions.
Celebrate your Army veterans!
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he National Museum of the United States Army (www.armyhistory.org) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, provides the only comprehensive portrayal of Army history and traditions through the eyes of the American Soldier. Through preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting invaluable artifacts, the National Army Museum creates learning opportunities for all visitors and bonds the American people to their oldest military service. See exhibits that start with the earliest days of the Army preserving the nation in Revolutionary War to current history. Open daily except December 25th, free time-entry tickets are required: www.thenmusa.org/timed-entryticketing/. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 47
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USS Cogswell DD-651 Association Reunion
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etter late than never … the pandemic-delayed reunion of the USS Cogswell DD-651 Association was held in June in Bellevue, Washington. Initially scheduled for September 2020, the original reunion fell victim to restrictions related to the pandemic. The delay had one fortunate side effect. The Red Lion Hotel, the original site of the reunion, was repurposed for the duration of the pandemic, so the reunion was moved to the nearby Bellevue Hilton, which honored the room rates and amenities originally planned at The Red Lion. One of those amenities was a very popular daily breakfast buffet. It was a smaller than usual gathering with 40 attendees, down from the typical 90 to 100 at most previous reunions. Despite the lighter attendance, those who attended, including two first-time reunion attendees, had a wonderful time remembering their time of service aboard the USS Cogswell DD-651. Opening day registration concluded with a brief welcome meeting headed by President Frank Wille. As is our custom, a Missing-InAction remembrance of military personnel who never returned from war was held. That was followed by a light supper prepared by Alice Lincoln and her merry band of helpers. A silent auction handled by Selena Simmermann The reunion customarily holds a Missing-In- and her sister, Melissa Action remembrance of military personnel Davis, helped raise who never returned from war. money to defray reunion costs. Selena and Melissa are daughters of longtime Association member Gale Sessions. Many wonderful items were donated by Association members. The first two nights included gatherings of shipmates and their wives in the hospitality room where old acquaintances were
USS Cogswell DD-651 members at the B-52 Memorial near the Boeing Plant in Seattle.
renewed and many sea stories told. As always, the traveling “Cogswell Museum” was on hand with many artifacts and documents from the ship’s 27 years of service. On Tuesday, most of the attendees boarded a tour bus for a long day of attractions. Our friendly driver narrated an interesting travelogue of the greater Seattle area. He safely delivered us to the Museum of Flight near the Boeing plant where the group spent two hours touring the sprawling facility, open only to our group as the museum is normally closed on Tuesdays. The museum replaced the original stop of a Boeing factory tour. It was a very special time for sure.
Gale Sessions at the Vietnam Memorial.
Museum of Flight near Boeing in Seattle. 48 REUNIONS v reunionsmag.com
When we left the museum, we were taken to a new Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial just outside the museum grounds where we posed for photos under a B-52, the centerpiece of the memorial. Following that unplanned, but special stop, we headed to downtown Seattle for a visit to the Pike’s Place Market, probably best known for its “fish throwing” and fine seafood restaurants. Tour members were on their own for a couple hours of shopping and eating at the market. The narrated bus tour continued on our way back to the hotel. For the first time, there was no planned tour for Day 3 of the
military reunion news e reunion, so shipmates split off in groups and enjoyed a day of sightseeing on their own. Some went to the Seattle Zoo; others took a ferry to other parts of Seattle and a few just stayed around the hotel enjoying each other’s company. On the last night of the reunion, our traditional banquet was held in the hospitality room preceded by photo taking of all attendees. A poignant digital remembrance, set thoughtfully to TAPS, was aired remembering the 25 members who have died since the last reunion. A wonderful dinner was enjoyed, followed by speaker Dave Cable, who told his personal story of tragedy and triumph as a Vietnam War fighter pilot with 100 missions flown. He spoke of landing on an aircraft carrier, but the most dramatic part of
his talk revolved around a bombing mission he was involved in that ended in the loss of six Navy aircraft when they were hit by missiles fired from North Vietnam bases. The night of May 19, 1967 was burned into his memory. One of the lost pilots ended up as a POW, but at least two of the pilots were never heard from again. Following his talk, Mr. Cable led a Welcome Home presentation of Vietnam Appreciation pins to each of the Vietnam War Veterans in attendance at the banquet. The night and reunion ended all too soon and plans are already underway for our next reunion in the Orlando, Florida, area in 2022. Reported by James L Smith, Lapeer, Michigan, and George Overman, Oceanside, California.
USS Cogswell DD-651 veterans
Mark your calendar! November 11th is Veterans Day
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owhere in the country is Veterans Day celebrated so seriously as in Branson, Missouri. There will be a full Veterans Week of celebrations from November 5 to 11, 2021 when many reunions convene to take advantage of what the city has to offer from shows and attractions to tours, meetings and dedications. Veterans Day wakes up with a sunrise service at the College of the Ozarks Patriot Park and celebrates later with an absolutely amazing parade that is not to be missed. And I can speak from personal experience that it is wonderful! See The Branson Bugle for details; www.bransonchamber.com/the-branson-bugle/
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YAGRS Association Reunion
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Brian shared videos from the Saturday night banquet and commented, “Normally you would not see as many old timers on the dance floor at these functions. But the entertainer he hired really had them all going! See for yourself!”
AGRS were Radar Picket Ships patrolling the east and west coasts during the Cold War from 1955 to 1965. Brian Forrester, reunion planner, wrote after returning from Colorado Springs, Colorado, his first Military Veterans reunion of 2021, “I cannot express to you enough how excited everyone was to finally get together since their last reunion in June 2019!” The tours were great, but the best experience and what they enjoyed the most was the renewed camaraderie in the hospitality room and at the banquet. There were lots of emotions and Covid-related stories that everyone was excited to tell. There were approximately 150 members and spouses and everyone I talked to had been vaccinated with both shots. Masks were optional and after 2 weeks of being home, I have not heard of anyone that came away with anything they did not already have or bring. Reported by Brian Forrester, military reunion planner with of Holiday Cruises and Tours, www.holidaycruisesandtoursaz.com
The Highground Veterans Memorial Park
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he Highground in Neillsville, Wisconsin, was started as the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project in 1984. It has grown to a beautiful 155-acre park whose mission is to Honor, Educate and Heal our Veterans, their families and all who visit. The Park includes over 15 tributes, a museum and gift shop, four miles of hiking trails and nearby 295-acre Camp Victory. It has grown, from its founding by Tom Miller and a small group of Vietnam Veterans, beyond its memorial park roots to now
www.thehighground.us 50 REUNIONS v www.reunionsmag.com
hosting more than 225,000 visitors annually and serving 7,000 Veterans with individual referral, support and healing services. The Highground’s vision endeavors to continue its mission of honoring Veterans by educating tour and school groups, connecting Veterans to essential health services, providing a Veteran-focused gathering space, and offering expanded specialized retreats at Camp Victory. Visitors are rejuvenated by the fresh air and leave with a renewed sense of gratitude.
Guided tours ($4) led by knowledgeable staff and volunteers offer guests the opportunity to learn about the history of the park and the meaning behind its tributes. The Highground is one of the country’s largest privately-funded, continuously-staffed Veterans parks. It is a private entity, receives no ongoing federal or state funding, and is supported by private donations and grants. It is free to the public and open 24/7/365. The Gift Shop and Museum are open daily at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville WI 54456.
IN HONORING VETERANS 365 DAYS A YEAR We also believe Branson is the best place to hold your next military reunion. World-class shows. Amazing outdoors. Comfortable hotels and resorts. It’s an entire town that believes your service is worth honoring every single day. You won’t believe it, until you do.
NOVEMBER 5-11, 2021 - VETERANS HOMECOMING WEEK For details of events, visit www.explorebranson.com/veterans
The game is all about a fictional long-lost Great-Uncle: George Albert Bellamy, who emigrated from the U.K. to the U.S. in the early 1900’s. By collaborating with distant cousin Peter, you will analyze miniscule details in old photos and documents using the restoration tools in Vivid-Pix RESTORE software to discover hidden clues from Great-Uncle George’s past in the U.K. and his mysterious travels overseas to the U.S.
Before RESTORE:
After RESTORE:
Prepare yourself for a journey through Edwardian Britain and beyond, complete with crime, cryptic postcards, and more! The game is open to international participants by downloading a free copy of Vivid-Pix RESTORE and starting the game at: vivid-pix.com/unclegeorge
Complete the mystery and register by 11:59 p.m. EST, September 30, 2021 For a chance to win great prizes!
No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of any country who are 21 years or older.
Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. The closing date for entries is 23:59 p.m. EST, September 30, 2021. 52 REUNIONS v www. reunionsmag.com Vivid-Pix, Savannah, GA, USA. Giveaway Terms & Conditions Vivid-Pix.com/UncleGeorgeTCs
e military reunion news 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.
FLORIDA
FLORIDA PARADISE VILLAS Kissimmee and Orlando, FL 866-939-7376 reservations@floridaparadisevillas.com www.floridaparadisevillas.com Attention groups!! Sleep 8-30 per vacation rental in the Orlando area! We offer condos, townhomes or pool homes in resort settings with water parks and more! Homes include full kitchen, additional bathrooms, 3-14+ bedrooms, game rooms, movie theaters and much more. Similar to the cost of one room, from $900/5 nights. GREATER MIAMI CVB 701 Brickell Ave, Suite 2700, Miami FL 33131 305.539.3000 | 800.933.8448 www.MiamiAndBeaches.com www.MultiCulturalTourism@gmcvb.com Whether family, class, alumni or military, Miami is perfect for your reunion any time of the year. Let us help you create the best reunion that people will be talking about for years to come. Play in the sun and sand, visit historic heritage churches and other locations, find fun parks and recreation areas or specialized venues to hold your family reunion or other get together. With diverse multicultural jewels and robust outdoor activities, Miami lets you find your roots and reunite with the past. Reconnect today in Greater Miami and the Beaches. Visit www. MulticulturalMiami.com to see our special Plan Your Reunion page.
ILLINOIS
CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Reunions of all kinds, including family and military, can find superior facilities located conveniently to anywhere in the Midwest – and across the country. With our true Midwestern hospitality, the Chicago Southland feels like family. We offer complimentary services to ensure your reunion’s success. Call 888-895-3211 or Visit our website www.ReuniteInTheChicagoSouthland.com.
REUNION RESOURCES LAKE COUNTY CVB PLAN AN UNFORGETTABLE REUNION IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS – We’ll work together to help you plan a family experience that lets you explore all the excitement of Lake County. From entertaining attractions like Six Flags to our convenient, centralized location close to Chicago, there are so many reasons to choose Lake County for family friendly fun. For free Reunion Planning Assistance call or email us with your reunion planning questions. 800-LAKE-NOW | kimberly@lakecounty.org www.LakeCountyReunions.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD ON PAGE 31.
MISSOURI
EXPLORE BRANSON in Southwest Missouri surrounded by the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. Call the Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau to assist you in locating lodging for your next reunion in this ideal destination at the center of America’s heartland! Family values and budgets are honored! Branson’s breathtaking scenery, genuine patriotism, live music shows, exciting attractions for all ages, and authentic southern hospitality create memories worth re-living! Whether your reunion is family, military, or graduating class, request Welcome Bags and the Branson Reunion Planner Kit: Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP | 417-243-2105 Email: lneimeyer@bransoncvb.com www.ExploreBranson.com/groups SEE OUR DISPLAY AD ON PAGE 51. VISITCAPE CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO on I-55 between St. Louis & Memphis. Perched on the Western banks of the Mississippi River, Cape Girardeau is a small city with a big heart and something for everyone, from families to history buffs, outdoor adventurer and everyone in between. Consider us the prime location for your reunion. Call VisitCape at 1.800.777.0068 or visit us online at www.VisitCape.com.
OHIO
EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS Columbus is full of unforgettable experiences, distinct neighborhoods and one-of-a-kind tours. As a leader in experiential tourism, Columbus knows that getting groups in the middle of the action and behind the scenes is important. We put your wellbeing first with the Live Forward Safety Pledge. Whether you’re planning a group activity or giving individuals time to explore on their own, Columbus’ neighborhoods welcome groups in their own special way. Contact the Tourism Sales team at 1-800-354-2657 tours@ExperienceColumbus.com www.ExperienceColumbus.com/reunions
TEXAS
FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg, Texas is an ideal destination for reunions. Just over an hour from either Austin or San Antonio International Airports, or a quick drive from any of the major metro areas in Texas, Fredericksburg has everything your group needs
to host a memorable reunion. Local attractions include the National Museum of the Pacific War, Lyndon B. Johnson State and National Parks, the Pioneer Museum, Wildseed Farms, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Luckenbach Texas, more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms, awardwinning restaurants, boutique shopping and more. Numerous unique accommodation options, including boutique hotels, motels and luxury guesthouses, are group friendly. 302 E. Austin Street Fredericksburg , TX 78624 830-997-6523 www.VisitFredericksburgTX.com
VIRGINIA
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA 10560 Arrowhead Drive, Suite 350, Fairfax, VA 22030 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, Fairfax County is the ideal location for your military or family reunion. The spectacular new National Museum of the United States Army is now open and welcoming visitors Call Visit Fairfax at 703-752-9509, and Dean Miller, our reunion specialist, will go to work for you! dmiller@fxva.com | www.fxva.com SEE OUR DISPLAY AD ON PAGE 27. FREDERICKSBURG TOURISM VISIT FRED The Fredericksburg Region is known for its Colonial and Civil War History, arts community and year-round group-friendly offerings. Just 50 miles south of WDC, the Fredericksburg Region boasts an award winning distillery, wineries and breweries, outdoor adventures, parks and more. Make memories with your family, classmates, and military buddies in the Fredericksburg Region. To book your reunion, contact Victoria Matthews: (540) 372-1216 | 1-800-260-3646 vamatthews@fredericksburgva.gov www.VisitFred.com
WYOMING
DUDE RANCHERS’ ASSOCIATION 1122 12th Street, Cody WY 82414 Helping people find quality Dude and Guest Ranch vacations since 1926. Let us help you find the perfect all-inclusive location for your next reunion! Call 307-587-2339 | info@duderanch.org www.duderanch.org
COOKBOOKS
MORRIS PRESS COOKBOOKS Preserve recipes and family heritage with a custom cookbook. Create a unique keepsake that can be handed down for generations. A family keepsake cookbook can also be used to raise money for a fundraiser or family reunion. Morris Press Cookbooks, the nation’s oldest and most trusted Cookbook Publisher! Visit www.morriscookbooks.com for information and FREE samples. 800-445-6621 SEE OUR DISPLAY AD ON PAGE 44. 2021 REUNION CELEBRATIONS! v REUNIONS 53