Hi Nancy,
You may find this particular thread interesting. See http://www.afrigeneas.com/forum-reunion/index.cgi?read=2564

For some families, the name or the changing of the name can be a sensitive issue. Once you've formed an executive committee, you may want to let the committee tackle the naming issue? Also, many families contain different branches, but those branches are linked back to a common ancestor or patriarch and matriarch. Let's say that a reunion contain the Brown, Cole, Johnson, Agnew, and Miller families. But the progenitors of the family tree are Johnny Cole and Sinah Agnew Cole. To simplify things, you can opt to naming the reunion "The Cole Family Reunion" or "The Cole-Agnew Family Reunion" since those names are at the root of the family tree. However, in a case where the different families do not always descend from the same couple, and you want to recognize the participating branches, you could list those surnames in the reunion title by alphabetical order? However, having too many surnames in the title can be potentially problematic in several ways.

As far as maintaining momentum, here are several suggestions:

1. Continue with a family newsletter
2. Build a nice family website, post pictures and encourage everyone to submit data and pictures for the page, as well as family news (births, marriages, graduations, etc).
3. Establish a family e-mail group to communicate with family members throughout the year
4. Keep family members informed about the planning of the next reunion via the website, newsletter, and or family e-mail group; via the e-mail group, solicit ideas for the next reunion.

Typically, if the first reunion was a success and people are excited, the momentum will never fully fade away, as long as the family is making plans for the next reunion. It gives family members something to look forward to.

Also, my response to your question, "Should family members be dropped who show no interest – is it worth the time and expense to mail correspondence to family members who never reply or attend anything just to keep them informed?"

Personally, I don't like to drop family members from the correspondences because many may be interested, but other things in their lives won't allow them to participate at that time. We continually send correspondences to a number of family members who do not participate. Turns out, some of them eventually came on board. Besides, if the first reunion turned out great, and word of mouth continues about that great reunion, they may eventually become interested, especially if a website or newsletter is in place to show everyone the good time that was had by all.

I will also look forward to other suggestions concerning committee building, bylaws, etc.

Mel