Using the Internet to plan your family reunion
There is no denying, we are the internet generation! When planning a family reunion, we can no longer rely on old-fashioned paper invitations to spread the word or spend hours driving across town to pick up party supplies. Of course, the convenience of the Internet will save you time in meeting planning, but for the generation that can’t remember life without a smartphone, the Internet is the only way to get their attention and increase their participation in your next meeting! familiar!
For your next family gathering, try the online services of these popular websites.
Electronic Invitations: Kick off your next meeting with an attractive email invitation. Sites like Avoid not only allow you to send out invitations to a large mailing list, but also give your invitees the ability to RSVP online and track their responses. With the promise of postage increases in our future, an electronic invitation will save you more than time – it will save you money!
Collect Contributions: There is a way to avoid hearing “The check is in the mail.” Whether you’re collecting one contribution per person or one donation per family, online payments through companies like PayPal will make it easier to get paid faster.
Request personalized favors: Everyone wants to leave a meeting with a memory. If you plan to create a t-shirt or coffee mug, you should visit CafePress, where you can use photos and image files to personalize, and then complete your order online.
Photo printers: Don’t hate it when Uncle Jimmie or Cousin Sue (names have been changed to protect the innocent) take photos and then return to their home state together in hopes of sharing the photos! Encourage an evening photo roundup where photos can be downloaded to a photo service account at Shutterfly, Snapfish, York Labs, or another website. Have an account, but invite everyone to share the photos and request their copies of the service.
Share a family tree: Family gatherings are often where we exchange genealogical information. Why not start a family tree that you can share with others? Geni has been voted one of Time Magazine’s 50 Best Websites and a CNET Best Webware winner. Geni is perfect for sharing a family tree with a meetup group because there are no membership fees.
This year, your family reunion may be easier to plan and more successful when you use services offered online.
