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Page 4
A
Questionnaire
FAMILY
REUNION:
What
Does It Mean To You?
***It
means seeing family you haven't seen in years. Meeting
their children, seeing new babies, grandchildren,
etc...Spending time remembering "when" and
catching up on time past. Taking pictures of 5
generations..
What kind of activities do you do?
****At the last one...water balloon toss, egg toss, wet
T-shirt contest (males only), sack race, 3-legged race,
volley ball game, tug-o-war, relay race, fishing contest,
golf tournement, chariot race (pull your partner on a
gunny sack), horseshoes, parent feeding contest (for kids
under 5 and their fathers) scavenger hunt, dancing.
Where is it held? (park, zoo, a home, a hall, etc...)
****Once in a park, sometimes at a relatives home who has
a BIG yard, a hotel at the beach, and last Aug. at an
Okla. State park lodge and campground.
Do you enjoy attending?
*** Very much
Why do YOU attend?
***See # 1
About how many people show up?
***85-300 at various reunions
Is the amount decreasing each year?
***We don't hold one every year. We're too spread out.
But no, it stays pretty much the same, ppl die, babies
are born...
Do you look forward to the upcoming event?
**Don't have one planned this year. But, yes am very much
looking forward to the next one.
Do you have a display of your ancestors photos?
***My family, Yes, four generations of ancestors + the 5
now living, my husband, don't have any as far as I know..
What are some of your traditions involved in the reunion
when it is held?
***We have always had a watermelon eating contest (no
longer, because my nephew almost choked to death), and a
seed spitting contest.And home made ice cream!
Do you take donations from everyone and use it towards
the next one? If not, how is it funded?
***No, we have a raffle, (last year it was a 5"
color portable TV) and charge $ per family for the meat,
renting space etc, if we don't have it at a family
members house. If we do, it's everyone on their own, and
we each bring at least one dish and/or condiment.
Do you know everyone who attends? Or are name tags
necessary?
***Yes and no...I know all the adults up to age 30 but we
wear name tags because not everyone does. AND having the
children wear names tags, and we had T-shirts made,
assures that anyone finding a wondering child will know
where they belong.
How long have reunions been held in your family?
13... Not annually, but since I was too young to
remember...50+
Do you think family reunions are important?
***Yes.
Why?
***It keeps families from losing track of one another,
and a LOT of important information is passed around and
perserved at a family reunion. Genealogically
speaking..history, documents shared, pictures taken
etc... My dad saw cousins he hasn't seen in over 50
years. My grandchildren met my grandfather who is 99 yrs
old. Families are much more spread out now than they were
in past generations. And family reunions are an excellent
way of keeping a family close...
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