Be A Hit At Your Next Family Reunion<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
We\u2019ve all been to family reunions that are entirely social and don\u2019t include much in the way of history.\u00a0 One that I attend regularly usually includes a small area of poster boards full of old pictures but not much information.\u00a0 We meet new people and others that we haven\u2019t seen in decades.\u00a0 In MOST cases, a family reunion is held without a majority of attendees leaving with any more information than they arrived with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With only a couple of hours of preparation time, a few materials and our help you can change that!\u00a0 You\u2019ll arrive equipped with your own family reunion kit. \u00a0All of the forms and charts mentioned in this article are accessible at the bottom of the page<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re involved in the research of your family tree<\/a> there\u2019s something well worthwhile that you can do.\u00a0 Prepare a binder with copies (only copies and not originals) of your genealogy documents and family history.\u00a0 Next, prepare an attractive printout of your four-generation family tree<\/a> or pedigree chart<\/a>.\u00a0 Four generations is enough for most families to cover close to a 100-year span.\u00a0 This form isn\u2019t too crowded or difficult to read. Make lots of copies so that anyone can take one with them. It\u2019s easy, fun and it makes for a great conversation starter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The pedigree chart will include the common ancestor, their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.\u00a0 If you\u2019re missing a name or two don\u2019t fret.\u00a0 Chances are that someone may have some idea or clues as to who the missing person might be!\u00a0 If you\u2019re really short of names and you\u2019re self-conscious about it then use the three-generation chart and include more detail instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n First, make copies and printouts of all the interesting things pertaining to your genealogy research.\u00a0 Begin with the common ancestor that ties everyone together.\u00a0 The most interesting records that draw the most attention are census records, marriage records and draft cards or other things that may contain an actual signature.\u00a0 There\u2019s no need to include connecting records that were used as evidence in your research.\u00a0 Just include the most visually interesting items and include some photos if you have them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There are no guidelines for what you can include, so consider any interesting artifacts that you might be able to make copies of.\u00a0 I have copies of an ancestor\u2019s funeral card from the 1950s and lots of other neat things. One of mine includes a copy of the original identification and fingerprint card for an ancestor that was a policeman!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Assemble these pages in order with the common ancestor in the first pages and progressing back in time.\u00a0 Use the four-generation chart as the cover.\u00a0 If you\u2019re good at scrapbooking you\u2019ll be able to produce a very attractive and engaging conversation piece that will get passed around for nearly the entire reunion.\u00a0 Since everything is made up of copied items (and not the originals) you could perhaps make more than one and even give them away to someone that\u2019s especially touched by it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Upon arriving at the reunion place your binder somewhere on a table where it can be seen and made accessible to everyone.\u00a0 If your reunion has an area where they keep pictures or other things then place your binder somewhere nearby.\u00a0 Bring a plastic office tray to set beside your binder to hold copies of the family chart.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Include a clipboard with several sheets of the Family Reunion Guest Register if you know in advance that there will not be one already.\u00a0 This particular guest register takes the guesswork out of how someone is related to the family later on because it asks right on the form. Offer to share electronic copies of the guest register with the organizers or anyone that\u2019s interested.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You\u2019ll know that it\u2019s a success when you see people referring to the chart to explain how they are related and from which branch they came from.\u00a0 You\u2019ll hit the jackpot when individuals volunteer to share their records, photographs or stories with you.\u00a0 Keep a notepad handy for when these opportunities arise.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Add icing to the cake by taking along a few copies of the Geneosity Relationship chart.\u00a0 Is he a second cousin or a third cousin?\u00a0 You\u2019ll have all the answers with this quick reference that will help everyone understand how exactly they are related to one another.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An hour or two of preparation will make a big difference to a lot of people.\u00a0 You may be pleasantly surprised by the response!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Geneosity forms<\/a> mentioned in this article can be accessed below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n **Four Generation Pedigree Chart – https:\/\/geneosity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/4gpedigreechart.pdf<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n **This is part of our premium forms collection and is only available free from this article!\u00a0 If you would like to have a copy of the entire collection of premium research forms and charts you can access them here.\u00a0 https:\/\/geneosity.com\/geneosity-forms\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Three Generation Chart – https:\/\/geneosity.com\/family-tree-chart-with-footnote\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Plain Three-Generation Chart – https:\/\/geneosity.com\/family-tree-form\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Family Relationship Chart – https:\/\/geneosity.com\/relationship-chart\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Family Reunion Guest Register – https:\/\/geneosity.com\/family-reunion-guest-register\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"