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Community Corner

July is National Family Reunion Month!

Why not start a new tradition and plan a get-together with your extended family?

Debbie’s Daily Dose of Food for Thought

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” Cesare Pavese.

It’s early in the month so there is still plenty of time to plan a reunion with your family. Okay, it might be short notice for members who don’t live nearby; however, you can start small, inviting everyone but expecting that most likely only the locals will join in this year. At the same time, look ahead to next July so those who have to travel can plan to be a part of the celebration next year. After all, we truly do remember moments and having a family reunion is one sure way to create loving and memorable ones. Here are a few things to know about planning a family reunion.

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Who to Invite

This is the easy part. According to The Free Dictionary, 'Family' is defined as “a group of persons sharing common ancestry.” Of course, spouses and significant others and all children are part of the family, however, it is also perfectly fine to include anyone who has deep emotional ties to the group, such as close friends.

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Where to Hold the Reunion

Knowing the number of people who will attend will help determine where it should be held and establishing a budget would be helpful. Remember, a reunion does not have to break the bank! A small event can be hosted in someone’s home or backyard. A larger event could take place in a hall, state park, at the beach or perhaps at a large home you can rent for the weekend. Click here for information about renting one of Connecticut’s open air picnic shelters.

Suggested Activities

Organized games, story sharing and, of course, great food are all part of any get-together. It would be fun to have everyone bring along a family favorite recipe for either a main meal or dessert so everyone can enjoy and reminisce about Grandma’s spice cake or Aunt Millie’s special chicken dish.

Resources to Check Out

Go to your local library to borrow a book about event and reunion planning or check out these sites:www.reunionsolutions.com and www.gatherings.info/family-reunion. In addition, take a look at these helpful checklists: www.familyfun.go.com/parties/family-reunion-checklist and www.plannersguide.com/family_reunions.

Tip: If this is your first time planning a reunion, it may be best to start with a pot-luck picnic and plan a more elaborate reunion for the future. The point is to reconnect with people you care about and to stay in touch as time goes by and to have fun!

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