Here are some things I’ve learned, mostly through the passing down from previous organizers:
Consistent Dates: We always hold ours over Labor Day Weekend. No guessing as to when it is going to be!
Location, Location, Location! So many things to take into account for this one!
Historical Significance – Is there a historical reason to hold it at a specific location? We seem to alternate between New York and other sites, mostly due to the area being the place all the original family members resided.
Key Activities – I’m hosting in Detroit for two specific reasons. The first is the Burton Collection of the Detroit Public Library. The New York Times lists it as one of the top five locations to do genealogical research in the United States. We will be spending the first day of the reunion here, to allow everyone to read, copy and learn as much as they can. The second is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Truly an educational site we will be spending the second day here. With both an inside and outside area, there is something for everyone! Kids can run and yell in the sun and fun and others can tour the museum, even if it rains!
Accommodations – Well, this one can get you into lots of trouble! Families are very diverse. Some are perfectly happy in the local $29 a night hotel off the freeway, while others want more posh arrangements. And the less expensive location will not have alternative facilities, such as meeting rooms and banquet facilities. The best solution is to provide a central location with alternative facilities nearby.
Meeting Room – This is the reason many of us go to these reunions! We want to talk with the masters of the genealogy. We want to fill in the missing links, and gaps that we may have and that hopefully someone else has solved! And of course we want to catch up on the latest news from all the distant cousins. There needs to be a place where the serious genealogists can spread out their information and share their charts and books and other good stuff.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Mark W. Swarthout's North American Genealogy topic, please visit the Discussions page.