Our Motto

family reunions are more than just a picnic.

We believe reunions have the power to nourish and strengthen families of all races and ethnicities. Reunions can encourage healthy extended family relationships, provide a sense of belonging, restore family pride, nurture and respect all generations, and impart wisdom, knowledge and a shared purpose. Our goal is to strengthen, inspire and support family reunion planning; share useful information and resources; and advocate for the teaching of family and reunion history, values and experiences.

Planning a family reunion? Click below for tips on:

NEED HELP with a Sticky Reunion Situation?

- Check the SRS Archives (CLICK HERE) -OR-

- Contact us (CLICK HERE).

FEBRUARY 2023

February is the month where history, freedom, love and family come together to educate, cultivate, develop and grow.

In February we proudly remember the shoulders of those named and unnamed abolitionists and civil rights activists whose bravery and fortitude progressed the movement of Black people forward. There is no question that without them there would be no National Freedom Day honoring the signing of the amendment that abolished slavery. No signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. No Carter G. Woodson conceiving Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (February 12th and 14th respectively). No expansion of Negro History Week to Black History Month. And no President Ford urging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Although the shortest month of the year, February is one of the most significant in that it carries the responsibility and burden of enlightening the world about the life, experiences and achievements of African American’s. Responsibilitybased on the need to proclaim a designated time to raise awareness of African American accomplishments—even though those contributions are lived out every single day of the year. A burden because even as the contributions are laid bare, African Americans are still misunderstood, mistreated, disrespected, caused harm (and even death) purely based on the color of their skin.

This Black History Month it’s hard not to give thought to the unfinished business of Carter G. Woodson, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights and the Black Lives Matter movements, and the fact that our country continues to fall short on it’s promise that “all men” have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We’ve come a long way, yet there’s so much more to be done. It is time for all of us—every color, every creed, every religion, every race, every age, every generation—to be better, love more, hate less, and realize that we all deserve to live our lives without fear.

In February our hearts are full of love, peace and family as we celebrate our next workshop for family reunion planners on February 25th (How Much Does a Good Reunion Cost?), Valentine’s Day, National Weddings Month, Random Acts of Kindness Week, American Heart Month, Bake for the Family Month, National Parent Leadership Month, Relationship Wellness Month, and so much more. Check out our list of… fun things for the family to celebrate, enjoy and explore in Family Time; Black History Month quotes for you to ponder in Worth Repeating; tips on showing family love in the Reunion Tip of the Month; and ideas for planting seeds of greatness for your reunion in Practical Family Reunion Planning. And come back later this month for our Black History Month Spotlight; the answer to What is Love, and this month’s Sticky Reunion Situation.

This February we hope you stay safe, warm, and well. Take care of yourself, your family, and your family reunions, and encourage those around you to do the same. Stay covid and flu safe by wearing masks, washing your hands, staying socially distanced, and getting vaccines and boosters. And if you’re not already doing so, make a commitment to seize the opportunity to learn more about—and honor—the accomplishments of Black Americans—all year long. Our world will be better for it.

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NEW NOW...
- Reunion Tip of The Month

- Practical Family Reunion Planning

- Family Time

- Worth Repeating

NEXT WEEK…

- Black History Month Spotlight

- What Is Love

LATER THIS MONTH…

- Sticky Reunion Situation

REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

Valentine’s Day is for families—as well as couples. This time of year our children, single and widowed parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, etc. need to be able to share in the giving and receiving of love too. So on Valentine’s Day send messages of love to family members to remind them how much they mean to you. Or, drop off a Valentine’s Day care package of a special meal, or candy, or flowers, etc.

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

February is Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month, designated to encourage everyone to take steps to “remove barriers and make a change in your life for the better.” People will take time this month to reflect on how they can make a difference for themselves, their family, business, career and/or community. And they’ll work on planning ways to achieve the change(s) they’d like to see.

This philosophy can also be used for our family reunions. Consider where your reunion is now and how it could be better, stronger, greater. What do you need to do to reach those goals, and who in your family could help make it happen. If you add exploring Planting the Seeds of Greatness to your reunion planning meetings this month, you’re bound to end up with some practical, effective and great ideas that will serve your reunion well.

family time

WORTH REPEATING...

February is full of history and history maker’s including Black History Month, National Women Inventors Month, National Freedom Day, Carter G. Woodson, Frederick Douglass, Abe Lincoln and George Washington. February is also the month of love, and it’s full of family and heart-filled celebrations and observances including Bake for Family Fun Month, American Heart Month, National Parent Leadership Month, National Weddings Month, Relationship Wellness Month, Random Acts of Kindness Week and Valentine’s Day.

Looking for something to do with the family this month that’s creative and different? Search out the countless number of Black History Month facts, info, movies and documentaries available for the family to learn from; take a virtual visit to one or more of the many museums and galleries that interpret, preserve and exhibit the heritage of African Americans; and check out our list of February observances for your family to research, explore, eat and enjoy.

click here for february FAMILY TIME observances

WORTH REPEATING...

“Black History Month must be more than just a month of remembrance; it should be a tribute to our history and reminder of the work that lies in the months and years ahead.” - Marty Meehan

“Black history isn’t a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people.” - Karyn Parsons

“Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” - Maya Angelou

“As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching.” - Carter G. Woodson

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” - Abraham Lincoln

One of the best sights at the family reunion is seeing everyone wearing the official family t-shirt. It’s an awesome sight whether we’re at the family picnic or out sightseeing. And we go through great lengths to identify the official t-shirt each year—making sure all family members are invited to be a part in the decision making. But every year there are family members who refuse to wear the official shirt and make their own. What can we do to get everybody on the same page?

CLICK HERE FOR THE FIX

Our Motto

family reunions are more than just a picnic.

You Are invited to our Next Workshop...

HOW MUCH DOES A GOOD REUNION COST?

Saturday, February 25, 2023 / 12pm - 2pm EST

Sponsored by:

MEET THE HANCOCK FAMILY...

REUNION TIP OF THE MONTH

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

PRACTICAL FAMILY REUNION PLANNING

family time

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

WORTH REPEATING...

STICKY REUNION SITUATION

REUNION T-SHIRT DILEMMA