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Introduction
When our friends find that we have had forty years of family reunions with all generations enjoying and wishing to repeat them, a typical first question is, “What’s your secret?”
As we try to explain this to others, we realize there is no one secret. However, we do not believe you will be disappointed; we are sharing the variety of attitudes, practices, programs, and activities that we have found successful.
Some were thoughtfully planned, some discovered by accident, and some just hit upon by luck. The sum total will let you know how one extended family, with simple lifestyles, has been inspired to continue to persevere year after year to a rewarding and fun-filled long weekend to keep the benefits of a family reunion alive.
Actually, when data was being gathered for this book, I visualized it as a Handbook for Family Reunions. This was intended to convey a specific message to the reader. Trained as an Engineer, I was taught that a handbook might be read once, but it’s most important function is as a valuable permanent reference.
Through more than sixty years of practicing that profession, I have learned the value of having a familiar and dependable handbook for ready reference.
That was the intent of preparing this manual. It is recommended that you read it through once, to become familiar with the resource. The index, chapter titles, and sub-headings are intended to make it easy to quickly and accurately go directly to the subject at hand and find an answer to your questions.
Be aware, I am not suggesting you will find the answer to every question. If you do, it may not be the only answer. In addition, it may not even be the right answer. The right answer, of course, is the answer that accomplishes your purpose.
Many answers from my engineering handbooks were specific, based upon mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Answers to questions concerning family reunions do not always fit into a formula. There are just too many variables. We recognize that each family may have a different right answer to the same question. These forty years have taught us that successful family reunions are more art than science.
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However, many things are common among the choices that cause family reunions to become long-term, successful traditions.
The answers and suggestions in most of these chapters are based upon the specific, first-hand experience of forty years of trial-and-error of our particular family. While this family was spawned in the Midwest (Southern Indiana), the five generations involved now are from thirteen states—from Connecticut to California, Alaska to Hawaii.
Chapter Nine offers suggestions from friends and acquaintances, some of which we have not been able to test. They are believed to be very successful when they are thoughtfully applied.
In addition, “Secrets…” has been kept concise to provide a ready reference. Each chapter has enough white space for you to summarize ideas that are worth trying in your specific situation.
Your best reference will be this book after you have filled all margins and blank spaces with notes of ideas that occur to you as you study it. Notes should vary from “worth trying,” “modify it like this,” “not for us,” to “great.” In any case, your thoughtful additions will increase its value to you.
We are hopeful that this information can add to your success in family reunions, as well as to all your family relationships in general. If so, we will consider our efforts worthwhile.
Without wishing to be overly dramatic, we believe that the strength of our nation hinges upon the strength of our families. We can influence our culture, one family at a time. May your family and ours have positive influence!
For our families and for our nation, good luck, and Godspeed!
Your suggestions can help make this handbook even better. We invite you to send them to us.
Successful Family Reunions
P.O. Box 439
Ellington, CT 06029
Fax: 860-394-3030
E mail: http://www.successfulfamilyreunions.org/contact.html
Visit our website: http://www.successfulfamilyreunions.org
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