Family reunions are often originated by a genealogist and history is what most reunion members have in common. These are examples of how families incorporate family history and genealogy in their reunions. We urge you to e-mail us your special reunion history and genealogy.

Get kids involved in fun family heirloom projects
   Family reunions are the best occasions for recording family history, and with the empty days of summer looming, why not get the kids involved? Using the tools available at genealogy.com (www.genealogy.com), including the free, online edition of Family Tree Maker Web Edition, and a little help from grownups, children can easily build a family tree to be cherished at the family reunion and beyond.

   Maureen A. Taylor, a genealogist and genealogy.com contributor, offers several tips for parents and kids who want to create a family history. “Don’t let the children know it’s educational; let that be your secret,” she advises. Taylor suggests several helpful tips to get started:

• Show your child family photos and talk about your grandparents, aunts and uncles. You’ll be amazed at the memories that surface when you see old pictures.
• Make a list of family members’ residences, occupations, military participation and pastimes. Capture your children's attention by focusing on appealing family history. Sports-minded children enjoy Grandpa’s tales about being a minor league baseball player. Discover a family pioneer and your family’s links to well-known Americans at www.genealogy.com/famousfolks.
• Write down ancestors names and help your child create a family tree online at www.genealogy.com.
• Set up a family home page, free at genealogy.com. Post updates and information about your reunion with queries to locate lost relatives. The page can be updated easily and is password-secure.
• Let kids suggest reunion activities using their family knowledge. How about games like Uncle Joe played or a trivia quiz to get the family reminiscing?
• Develop a questionnaire for kids to distribute. Ask kids to record favorite family stories to post on the home page. Ask kids to add new information to the online family tree.
• Ask the teacher if your child may present the family history project to the class: a great way to answer the question “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.”

Good source of Scottish genealogy info electricscotland.com.

How removed are your cousins?
  Not long ago, an emailer asked “Can you tell me what ‘once removed’ means when referring to a cousin? This has always baffled me!”

  Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, CG, to the rescue responded. A cousin "once removed" means one generation removed. Your first cousins are the children of your aunts and uncles (your parents' siblings). Your first cousins once removed would be the children of your cousins. Your children and your cousins' children would be second cousins. Still confused? For a chart to figure out relationships and for more information, see Unpuzzling Your Past, 4th edition.(Betterway Books, $18.99) or Dozens of Cousins by Lois Horowitz (Ten Speed Press, $9.95).

Resources

Reunion friendly Destinations Locations

Products & Services

Free Trial Issue

Send us your name and address to receive a sample copy of Reunions magazine.

Reunions Forums
Share your planning advice and experiences with other reunion planners, attendees, newbies, and the editors of ReunionsMagazine in our Reunions forums!