Planning for a Family Reunion

by Paul Birkhead   Rowan Public Library

     

                When you think of family reunions, what comes to mind?  Is it a large gathering at a local park, three-legged races, and wonderful picnic food?  The assembling of extended family is considered by many to be a cherished tradition but isn’t quite as popular as it used to be.  Families these days tend to have busier schedules and most do not live as close to one another as they used to.  However, just because it might not be easy, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the effort.   Rowan Public Library has resources to help you gather those long-lost cousins.

                If you want to host a successful family reunion, you’ll need more people attending than just you.  You’ll want to invite aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family members.  If those folks don’t live close by or you haven’t ever met them, you might need to start planning early.  Tracing your family tree is one way to find relatives you never knew you had.  You do this through the practice of genealogy which is the study of family ancestries and histories.

                Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist is a fun book to read through if you’re just getting started researching your ancestors.  The author, Buzzy Jackson, is a journalist with a PhD in history who gets inspired to discover her roots after the birth of her son.  What follows is an interesting account of her journey through historical societies, libraries, abandoned graveyards, and even aboard a genealogy cruise ship. 

                Once you’ve decided to trace your family tree, you’ll discover right away that today’s genealogists can gather a lot of information without ever leaving their house.  Using the Internet is a good way to jump-start your research.  Genealogy Online for Dummies is helpful for finding out how to use your computer to locate family information, communicate with distant relatives, and stay organized.

      Once you’ve found a good pool of relatives to invite for a reunion, make sure to check out some books from the library to help you plan the event.  Family Reunion Handbook and Family Reunion: Everything You Need to Know to Plan Unforgettable Get-Togethers are two good choices.  Both books include examples to follow from successful reunions, helpful checklists, and tips on how to feed and entertain everyone. 

      Did you know that the world’s largest family reunion is being held on June 6th this year?  And your ‘cousin’ A.J. Jacobs, a four-time New York Times bestselling author and journalist, wants you to join him at the New York Hall of Science, on the grounds of the World’s Fair.  There will be many celebrities present and various talks, contests, and games will be held. The reunion will be highlighted in a future book by Jacobs and be the focus of a new documentary by Morgan Spurlock, of Super Size Me fame.  Go to www.globalfamilyreunion.com to learn more.

      If you ever feel the urge to connect (or reconnect) with distant family, don’t forget that Rowan Public Library has resources to help you track down long-lost cousins and plan an unforgettable reunion.