Family reunions give families a chance to come together. They create the chance to develop family memories in a special setting. Long after they're over, people still talk about them with fondness, and new generations often look forward to the day when they can be the ones planning the next reunion. To ignite these feelings and to encourage future contact and participation in a family reunion, communication between family members often plays a key role. This can be seen especially in the reunion thank you letter, because it often sets the stage for the next get together.
Instructions
Writing a Family Reunion Thank You Letter
1. Think about what you're trying to achieve and the audience you're trying to reach with the letter. Not only do you want to express thanks in the letter, but acknowledge contribution and encourage participation in future reunions. Your letter should reflect these goals.
2. Choose pretty paper to print the letter on. You can get this at a print specialty shop or if you're handy with a graphics program, create your own using images from the reunion.
3. Open the letter with a warm greeting to all.
4. Create a recap of the events and the time spent together. These can be somewhat chronological, but don't have to be. Just try to recapture what struck you and others - if they've given feedback - the most.
5. Include photos of the events in the letter. If you're doing the letter on a word processing program, the photos can be copied and pasted directly into the body of the text.
6. Thank individual people for their contributions. While many times these letters will be created on a computer and sent out in mass, it's always a good idea to personalize them as much as possible and give thanks to people who deserve it.
7. Make the announcement for the next reunion. Many families hold reunions every couple of years. If the torch has been passed, and you know who it is, make the announcement. Encourage people to direct their inquiries to those next in charge.
8. Talk about reunion budget if it's appropriate. Many times if there was a fundraiser like a white elephant sale, people will want to know the results of this. If the subject is too sensitive, save it for a more personal letter later on.
9. Create a contact list for everyone and include it in the letter. Let people know in the closing paragraphs that this is enclosed. Encourage them to keep in touch with one another.
10. Close the letter in a general sense and wish everyone well for the upcoming year.
11. Add a personal handwritten note to each recipient at the end. This doesn't have to be long, just a couple of lines. This is a chance to connect with people personally and ask specific questions about their lives.
12. Print off the letters and send them.
Tags: next reunion