Family Reunion

Our families define us, and hence we feel the periodic need to reconnect even (or especially) with those most distant from us. This is no trivial undertaking, though, especially for a typically far-flung American clan. Help for the harried has arrived in the form of Family Reunion, a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to planning and staging a gathering to remember.

Author Jennifer Crichton knows what she's talking about, having helped organize her own 125-member reunion. Whether your family has hundreds of people or only a dozen, her advice is clear and always helpful. Topics covered include record keeping, choosing a site, entertaining kids of all ages, and etiquette ("Thou shalt orchestrate spontaneous praise unto the reunion organizer"), as well as the dynamics and logistics necessary when herding a large group of people. Peppered with examples from American families large and small, Family Reunion makes reunion organizing manageable, rewarding, and even fun. See you next year! --Rob Lightner

• The Family Reunion Planner
• A Family Affair: How to Plan and Direct the Best Family Reunion Ever (National Genealogical Society Guides)
• Family Reunion Planning Kit for Dummies
• The Family Reunion Sourcebook
• How To Plan Your African-American Family Reunion