Family Reunion Survival Kit: Last Minute Items and To-Do's For Guests and Organizers

Elk Lake Resort offers Family Reunion Cabins, great food, and a fantastic outdoor adventure destination. Family Reunions in the heart of nature bring your family closer together. Adventures at our western Montana Lodge include - hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, water sports, ATV riding, great food, extreme relaxation, great birding, wildlife viewing, peace and quiet, swimming, expansive scenery, and more. And, as the reunion organizer in your family finishes planning your next family reunion, consider the following Last Minute Instructions from Johnson Publishing.

Your family's reunion is just around the corner. And, whether you're a guest at the big event or you're the reunion planner, there's always something to do in those last moments before you hit the road or set up the registration table.

As any event planner, reunion organizer, and reunion-goer knows, the success of the reunion depends on what you do during the last few hours and days - - personally and from the overall event standpoint.

The first thing to do is make a final list of all preparations. Reunion organizer Nadine Lewis of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., suggests a binder or computer database with all of the things you need - - names, addresses, phone numbers of guests, contact information for the hotel liaison, receipts, contracts and canceled checks, reunion schedule and menus.

Also, make sure your guests know how to get in touch with you. Give them your cell phone number and room number if you're staying in a hotel. Make sure that your family knows the schedule and inform them of problems or changes to the itinerary as soon as possible.

"The main thing you want to do is maintain good communication," says Lewis, who works as a counselor in the Higher Education Opportunity Program at Marist College. "That way, you can keep your family excited and looking forward to the next family reunion."

The second thing to do is check and double-check your list and confirm the schedule for all program participants, including the caterer, musicians or DJ's photographer and /or videographer. Make sure all bases are covered and have a backup just in case. If you're having a fashion show or talent show, confirm all models and acts.

If you're a reunion-goer, you should also make a list and double-check it. Make sure you're prepared for the weather and have packed clothes for formal or semi-formal events. Make sure your road atlas is up to date, and that you have ID's if you're traveling by air. Also, if you're a volunteer or are participating in the talent show or Sunday brunch service, call the organizer and give him or her your itinerary.

Your survival kit would not be complete without a first aid kit, says certified meeting planner Dvorah Evans, director of conventions and tourism for the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce. Make sure it includes insect repellent, sunscreen, and all the medications and medical histories for you and your children. Don't forget the basics, though, including bandages, antacids, aspirin, and ibuprofen.

Your survival kit should also include a good pair of walking shoes, particularly if you reunion includes an outdoor event such as hiking or a visit to an amusement park. Pack your swimsuit so that you can take advantage of the hotel pool or beach if it's convenient.

Don't forget your address book and photo album so that you can stay in touch and share your cherished memories with loved ones. Some families have even started family reunion journals to better record their memories. . .

SURVIVAL KIT FOR REUNION-GOERS

SURVIVAL KIT FOR REUNION ORGANIZERS