OUr family generally is open to friends in attendance, but at the last one we ran into problems. One of my relatives asked the friends to collect extra souvenirs. Mind you, the fees charged did not pay for the souvenirs. My mother and I donated the items for relatives, in gift bags, estimating the number of relatives who would attend. This relative was quite upset when her friends returned empty-handed. She wanted to give these souvenirs to a son and his family who never attend any family functions, and haven't done so for 30 years. We were never sure that the friends ever paid their fee.

How has everyone handled the money? Have you opened reunion bank accounts, or trusted a family member to collect the money and handle these transactions? I've suggested that our family do it, but haven't had any success in getting anyone to go through with it.