Using the Internet to organize reunions

Plans are well underway for our family reunion in July. We designated a small committee to organize things and send out invitations. I was surprised that all but six went out electronically, either thru Facebook or email. Things have certainly changed since the last big one. We also set up a free family reunion website through Weebly.com and I have started filling Shutterfly.com with family photos from the last 140 years.

There are many, many websites now, to support family reunions in one way or another. You just want to read all the details before you make a final choice to be sure to protect privacy and that there are no hidden fees. We considered using Facebook for our Family website but everyone does not set the same level of privacy so we went with something which we could control.

I set up the Shutterfly photo account in the same way I do my own family photos, making files for older ancestors, Mom’s side, Dad’s side, and for each of my siblings. We will also have one file for the family reunion photos.

Family members will each get the username and password so that, we hope, everyone will post their reunion photos to the website, and everyone will have access to all the family photos. Shutterfly then makes it possible for anyone with a password to view and print the photos in any size or format they choose. They can also print photos on pillows, mouse pads, coffee mugs, T-shirts and many other items.

Shutterfly has many options for customized hardbound photobooks. You can link your Shutterfly photos to their This Life website for even more organizing options. There are several other photo sharing websites I have heard are good, but the only other one I have used is Snapfish, with many of the same capabilities as Shutterfly.

This year we are changing one major aspect. As soon as families exit their cars we are going to have a registration table where they will have to get name tags, complete address, phone and email registration, complete a short health history checklist, verify that the information we have in the family tree is accurate, and have a family group photo taken. We have had too many years where only parts of these important tasks have been completed, and we have been missing faces in the group shots. The family health history has become profoundly important over the years. We keep it brief, a checklist of about a dozen major issues. It is downright scary how useful this knowledge has proven to be.

We are trying to preplan everything, distributing tasks to many participants so that everyone has time for food, fun and conversation. I have gotten some great ideas from readers, thank you all very much! The deck of custom playing cards with family faces on them that one reader suggested, sadly, is no longer available. but, we will be playing games and have various ways we plan to share the family history, too. Of course!

Nina G. Brawn has lived in the Dover-Foxcroft area for over 50 years and currently lives there with her husband Fred. Nina was the last of 10 children, has three children of her own and nine grandchildren. She can be reached online at ninagbrawn@gmail.com.