Reunions magazine offers new reunion ideas
Vivid-Pix announced the inaugural issue of Reunions magazine, which provides education, resources, event planning and sharing information for family, class, and military reunions, since its acquisition by Vivid-Pix. The issue includes new stories and ideas provided by our readers and experts for planning reunions during and after the pandemic.
“Reunions will take many forms this year,” describes Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix. “To illustrate, I’ll quote Merriam-Webster: ‘A reunion is 1: an act of coming or bringing together again after being apart. 2: an organized gathering of people who have not been together for some time.’ Most people are balancing safety concerns with longing to be together. Some will reunite with close contacts, others will have full gatherings, others will continue with ‘Zoom Reunions’ and we will see hybrid physical/distance reunions.”
Included in the upcoming June issue, Reunions magazine editors analyzed multiple data source research on who is planning reunions and services needed, including the most used reunions services implemented prior to the pandemic: catering, photography, videography, tours, buses, florists, and professional planners. The study concluded women over the age of 30 are the main planners of reunions, with 87% of planners female, 92% over the age of 30 and 54% over the age of 50. In addition, the majority of reunions, 59%, had 51-100+ attendees.
Making reunions safe and fun
The upcoming issue of Reunions magazine also includes an article by Lisa Alzo, genealogist, lecturer, and author of 11 books and numerous magazine articles, who has been planning her family’s reunions (nicknamed “ALAFFFA” after her family’s initials) for 50+ years. She delves into safety protocols, activities, and ways to make family reunions held in 2021 unique and fun, including:
- What safety protocols are needed: masks, cleaning, and social distancing?
- How should technology be used to connect with family members unable to attend in person?
- Using gifts and crafts to create a memorable family reunion.
- How to handle the food; is it time to go back to buffet style or should other options be considered: potluck, catering, or pizza delivery?
- What outdoor activities should be planned (usual games for her family were softball or cornhole)? Should indoor trivia or board games be implemented in case of inclement weather or for those unable to participate in outdoor sports?
- What should be done to make sure old traditions are not lost, including having a theme, designating time for family updates, and discussion?
- How are the skills of each generation of the family leveraged to make sure 2021 is a memorable experience for all?
- What is the appropriate way to remember those who have passed away?
“Family, class, and military reunion planners are eager to return to the task of making their reunions happen. Hugs can only happen in person … not online!” said Edith Wagner, editor, Reunions magazine. “Reunion planners rely on the knowledge, skill, and expertise of professionals to help answer questions, solve dilemmas, make decisions and plans. They are looking for answers to questions they’ve not even thought to ask and know they can’t do it all without help from experts at convention and visitors or tourism bureaus, hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise lines, ranches, bed and breakfasts, Airbnbs, and inns, t-shirt suppliers, memento makers, caterers, photographers, florists, motor coaches, attractions, entertainment, and more.”