Hello Everyone;

I have planned family gatherings for smaller numbers (40-just over 100) and locally, however, I am now planning for a reunion on a larger scale (bringing together the various branches of Henry and Elizabeth (Harris) Tribble). I have a couple of wonderful family members helping and giving input/suggestions and constructive criticism et cetera (actually a solid team). This will be the first reunion in quite some number of years for most of the branches and will also be the first (ever in some cases) time in a while that fees will need to be collected.

I have a few questions I am hoping you will be willing to help me with by sharing what you and your family (families) have done.

1. We are planning to have ages 5 and under as well as 70 and older

be free of charge.

****I know this may sound awful, but for those that have done

this, did you just assume (hope and pray) that folks

wouldn’t fudge it up too much?—smile

2. We are considering selling ads so to speak to help offset the

cost of printing and mailing the reunion books. These will be

spaces for family members to include information about their

businesses (so that when family travel we can be sure to support

their endeavors) and ‘special messages’ and thoughts et cetera

****Has anyone ever done this? If so, how did it go over?

3. We would like to have disposable cameras for folks to take

pictures and then leave them for us to develop.

****For those that have done this, how many cameras were

actually returned? Did it prove worth while for you?

4. We are coming up with ways to encourage the family members to

step at least slightly outside of their comfort zone and meet

relatives from branches not their own.

****What are some ways you have done this without making folks

feel uncomfortable?

5. We plan to acknowledge our elders age 70 and older as well as

take a group photo of them for the reunion book.

****What are some ways you have done this in the past? Did you

give out certificates, special little trinket gifts or just

mention them at some point?

Thank you in advance for your ideas and input, I will be taking what I get here to my team and we will continue brainstorming et cetera (I am sure I will be looking to books to help with the brainstorming as well--smile).