~Reunion ?s & Suggestions~

Hello Missouri Board~ Well, I am happy to report that I think we are on the last leg of this reunion planning.. I have a couple of questions AND would like ANY suggestions OR comments you have about it~at this time-ok? Thanks. First-it looks like it will be the weekend after Labor Day. Rates are much cheaper AND lets hope and pray gas prices go down by then as well. I have found a resort that will keep their pool open for us (yeah) and it is solar heated-so unless we have rain or whatever-we will have access to it. They will also allow people who just want to come for the day to come for a fee of $5 per person, BUT that includes everything that the overnite guests are entitiled to. They offer boat/pontoon/jet ski rentals, swimming docks, hot tub/jacuzzi, solar heated outdoor pool with slides etc and we have a "community" are in the middle of the resort that offers volleyball, horseshoes, playground and where we can set up and all gather together to eat etc. Susan said she would bring her tent (its not a camping tent-but rather just to cover our eating area and we can hang our banner from it) The resort has said we can move ALL of the picnic tables to that area-just as long as we return them to their cabins when we are finished) Each cabin has a charcoal BBQ grill and picnic tables. Now-for the couple of questions I have: 1. Who would want to do like a white elephant exchange? We could keep it at $5 or under-or even do something laying around your house (appropriate) to exchange? For those of you who dont know what a white elephant exchange is-for whomever wants to participate you bring a wrapped gift-put it on the table-and for each person who brings a gift-you pick a number....and say #1 (who goes first) goes to the table and picks a gift-opens it-and shows it to everyone-well, #2 has the option of picking off the table OR taking the gift from #1-you can only have your gift taken from you three times. At the end, #1 gets to go again because, of course, they have no options to pick from anyone at the time the game starts.....Now-say you get your gift taken from you-well, then you get to go again. get to take off the table OR take someone elses gift-EXCEPT the one that was just taken from you-unless someone else takes your gift later on in the game-then you can go back to that original gift- (hope thats not too confusing-but it is soooo much fun-we have even played it with gag gifts and what have you) and everyone can play-men and women. 2. Tammy had an idea of doing awards-printed off the computer etc-who would want to do that? 3. Who would be interested in having a pot luck meal together where we could all bring a side dish and share? We will have a lot of people with us who arent bariatric, so-we need to remember that as well-but if we all brought a covered dish and each person could grill their own meats or what have you-thats an idea. Let me know what you think! 4. Would anyone be interested in doing a group event together? Like going to town, seeing a movie or going to Ride the Ducks or renting a pontoon? Anything like that-let me know.... ~~I did NOT use the word reunion when I emailed or called resorts (the 2nd time around working on it) because A LOT of facilities hear the word reunion and think if it gets cancelled-there goes ALL their business for that time frame and they charge more for deposits and such-so each person on board will be responsible for making their own reservations and getting payments or what have you to the resort-the resort that we are looking at right now (and they have been AWESOME with ALL my requests, questions and calls etc) is in West Branson. They are inexpensive and its all cabins-BUT are fully equipped and it would be like our own resort-they did not have any reservations for the weekend we spoke of at this time and said its usually a little later in the summer before they start to book out for that date. Trust me, I am not trying to be too structured-because we are ALL there to have fun and what have you-I just want to accomodate everyone who had a request or has questions or concerns. Please let me know what you think about the suggestions and if you have any-now is the time to speak up.....I want to hear the good AND the bad-and dont take it personally IF I cant accomodate everyone-its nothing personal, I am just doing the best I can do with the options that I have or the ones I have contacted......Thanks, in advance for any posts concerning this. ALL my love and prayers-Janet

Howdy Everyone.. Well Sis sounds like you are doing a GREAT job to me!!!! So far the place you have in mind sounds pretty good to me....... I would be glad to fix up some awards...Yall let me know what type of awards we might like to give so I will know what ones to do.....Like...Who traveled the farthest, the biggest looser, the person longest out from surgery & etc...... Wanted to mention to everyone too an ideal that might help out some of them....Some of you that are friends or think you might like to spend extra time with some one from the board....Check into sharing a cabin! Then you could share the price of that along with shaing food & etc..... And maybe saturday could be our main day for the reunioun and then use friday & sunday for doing some of the extra stuff. That way there would be a day set aside for those who might want to come for the day. I think the ideal for pot luck is a really good ideal.....You could bring some meat of some sort and a side dish......I know with as many that is wanting to come, we should have plenty of food....The best thing about pot luck is getting to try out so many different kinds of dishes you might not have had before.....HUMMM I guess I better get my brain working so I can think up something mmm mmmm good. lol lol lol..... Well I can't wait to see all the different suggestions!!!!!! I gotta run for now and get a shower and get ready for church....Hope you all have a great day!!!! God Bless.....big Hugs....Tammy~Ammy

Janet I know you have worked so hard on this reunion party/get together. Thanks for all the infomation and options that you hunted down for us. 1) The white elephant gift exchange sonds like a realy fun way to spend some time together. I am in!! 2) Awards sound really kewl. We also wanna see about getting a group photo like under the banner. So everyone can get a copy of it. 3) I am in on the Potluck dinner. Like Tammy said that would give everyone a chance at tasteing something or maybe getting a new recepie. 4) I think at least 1 group activtie sound good poor Branson wont know what hit them. lol Sounds like the perfect time for ome really good photos of everyone!!! Looking foward to our time in Branson and getting to see everyone again. Love ya gurl Mel

Your reunion/get together sounds cool. One suggestion.. for those that bring awesome dishes.. please bring a recipe to share. We all love trying new things. Denise

all of it sounds wonderful to me. Love all the idea. and yeah maybe the side trips could be on Friday and/or sunday that way we could keep Sat. for only the getting together and visiting and the pot luck and such. You are doing a great job. I am so proud of you Jan

Everything you said sounds great to me, count me in.......vesta

Janet, What a wonderful job you've done. Count me in for Saturday and Saturday night for sure. I might be able to come Friday after work and spend two nights. I think the white elephant thing would be way cool. I love to do that. Also the pot luck and awards. I think having an outing would be wonderful and I like Jan's suggestion that it be on Friday or Sunday so we can have all our group events on Saturday when the most people will be in one spot. I really want to thank you for all your work. See you Monday night I hope. If your darned back will let you travel!!! Hugs, Lana