When 80-year-old Pat Zimmerman made plans to fly from her home near Charleston, S.C., to visit her three brothers in New Zealand, she had no idea what she was starting. “We realized there might not be another opportunity for that generation to see each other and we wanted to be a part of it,” recalls Zimmerman’s granddaughter, Anne Pope. “In the end, we had 50 or 60 people representing four generations all together in New Zealand. We explored the countryside, ate exotic foods and got to know family from not only New Zealand, but also here in the States. What Granny started turned into a wonderful family reunion.”
One of the highlights of the trip was a dinner hosted by one of the cousins at his home, a winery in the countryside outside Queenstown. “After dinner, John had a group of native Maori dancers perform the haka, a traditional dance of the region,” Pope says. “It was a great way to share culture and give us all a wonderful memory of the trip.”
Reunions to Remember
According to Russell Lefebvre, who manages events for IMI all over the country, Pope’s cousin was right on target. “If you live in a place that has access to something special, take advantage of it,” he says. “Beaches, mountains, the resort communities—they all make wonderful backdrops for family reunions because of all the activities you can plan around them.”
And just what are some of those activities? When Lefebvre planned a family reunion in Vail, Colo., he set up a winter expedition to a mountain cavern. “We organized snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and horseback riding, and we had a chef on hand,” he says. “Success is really about finding quality activities that work in your environment.”
It’s All in the Planning
With locations on tropical islands, and atop snowy mountain peaks, and with easy access to golf, tennis and swimming, IMI communities are a natural for family reunions, notes IMI’s corporate event planner, Cathy Zaden Lea. “A list of some of your favorite sites along with maps, directions, phone numbers and transportation will let the explorers in the group enjoy themselves too. And at the end of the day, a family-style meal is a perfect place to share stories from the day’s adventures.”
In short, the key is planning. Get started at least six months in advance of the gathering, recommend both Lefebvre and Zaden Lea, to coordinate the following:
Invitations. Sure, you could pay a professional to create invites. Or you could lend a personal touch by making them yourself. One fun approach: Create a collage of family photos, or, even more entertaining, dig up the baby pictures of family members and turn the invites into a “Guess Who?” game.
A caterer. Hosting guests at your resort home is one thing. But you can be part of the reunion, too, if you hire someone to prepare meals for you. Clubs within IMI communities are typically available for such events.
Photography. A professional will capture moments you might miss. But it’s also fun to outfit every guest with a camera (perhaps a digital one) so you can share pictures on a Web site like ofoto.com.
Entertainers. Parties are that much more fun when there’s live music. You might also want to cater to the wee ones with a magician, face painter or balloon artist.
Hotel rooms. Depending on the size of your clan, you might need to block out some rooms at a nearby hotel. Be sure to ask for a group rate.
Transportation. Make it easy for family members flying in from out of town by arranging car service to and from the airport.
