Planning Your Reunion Without Pulling Your Hair Out!

Ah... It's family reunion time again! At a time when family members should be pulling together, many reunion planners find themselves pulling their hair out instead. All sorts of dynamics can come into play when planning a family reunion. Coordinating transportation for out of town guests, planning activities that appeal to everyone and getting the money in on time can become a challenge to even the best reunion planner. Coordinating a family reunion can be a daunting task, but with proper planning, it can be a fun-filled event for all ages. Here are some tips to help you avoid the reunion planning blues:

1) START EARLY! Don't wait until the last minute to get started. Many hotels and other venues are booked years in advance. Approach them with at least three desired times and book as soon as possible based on availablility. You'll also want to give your family members as much time as possible to help them plan, save money, purchase plane tickets or ask for time off from work.

2) MAINTAIN CONSISTENT CONTACT. Since it is often 12 to 24 months between reunions, it's important to keep the momentum and excitement going by maintaining contact with family members throughout the year as you approach the reunion date. Family newsletters are a great way to update plans and provide vital information. Take your newsletter online by sending it electronically or creating a website just for your reunion. But, keep in mind that some members may not be as computer savvy or have internet access, so calling posts or snail mail should also be included.

3) KEEP SOME MONEY IN THE KITTY! No bones about it... family reunions take money. Despite your best attempts to keep the costs low, ensuring that everyone pays their reunion fees on time can be an issue - not to mention the the lack of start-up funds for deposits. Rather than starting from scratch each year, try to come in under budget and keep some money in your reunion bank account for the next year. Creating additional cash flow can also be accomplished by selling a reunion CD or photo to commemorate the reunion and using the proceeds to get the ball rolling for the next year. Or, why not have your church service at the hotel where the family is staying and use the offering as seed money for the next year. Be creative! There are lots of ways to create cash flow right under your nose.

4) PLANNING ON A BUDGET. To keep the costs for your reunion from getting out of hand, check into local festivals, events, concerts in the park or other summer activities. Most cities offer free events, especially during the summer months. Incorporating these activities into your reunion weekend is a great, inexpensive way to show off your city. For picnics and banquets, take advantage of public venues, which are usually less expensive to rent that others. If you are booking a large number of rooms with your hotel, ask them about a free hospitality room or suite that can be used for family mixers. Even having an event poolside can be a fun, low cost twist.

5) CONSULT THE EXPERTS! You don't have to reinvent the wheel when planning your reunion. There are tons of resources available to you through your city's Convention and Visitors Bureau. Information from possible venues and activities to reunion souvenirs can be right at your fingertips. Some bureaus even offer reunion workshops to arm the reunion planners with a wealth of resources, vendors and even some volunteers to help at your reunion.

So whether you are planning a picnic or a full weekend of activities, your reunion can be successful if you keep these tips in mind. Give it personality, make it fun and your family members are sure to spread the compliments your way and you won't pull your hair out in the process.