Funny yet sad. Family Reunion squabble.....

[Catherine Vincent]

I received this letter from my family reunion committee member:

Greetings:

Our first Family Reunion is fast approaching, and we pray for its great success. While organizing this reunion, I, (redacted), son of (redacted), prayed for this reunion, bearing in mind that because our family is very large, communication could become a hindrance to us.

When I began to work on the plans for the reunion, a committee was formed in (unnamed), California, and a committee in (unnamed), Louisiana. We started our planning in July 2006, with meetings in both states. It was decided that our family reunion would be July 20-21, 2007 in (unnamed), Louisiana. All voted and agreed.

The California committee was to handle registration, and the Louisiana committee was to provide accommodations for our lodging, reserve a banquet room, and have all monies sent directly to a bank account that was established by Louisiana members.

The committee in California decided that they would handle registration and collection of ALL funds. The Louisiana committee would help with registration and decorations as needed. However, the Louisiana committee was to be a "sub-committee," and final decisions were to be made solely by the California committee. This was not voted on or discussed with the Louisiana committee members.

Please be advised that the (redacted) family and offspring will not participate in the 2007 Family Reunion. We pray that the reunion will be successful, and we pray all God's blessings be bestowed upon all of you. We are one family, and there will be no strife among us; we must all work together in love and unity.

Dear Family, please read Ephesians 5:13-16, and meditate upon that scripture.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you all.

:)

[mandyky]

1. What does Ephesians 5:13-16 say?

Is it supposed to be funny or??

[Book Lover]

4. New International Version:

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. okayyyy....if a relative of mine were in 'charge' of a family reunion

and it was in the tone of that letter, I would have either RSVP'd regrets or located the a bar closest to the reunion site and set up a "Sub-Reunion".

The prayers and preaching are just over the top IMO.

[tenshi816]

23. I like the way you think... n/t

[Deep13]

13. So basically, "Be careful."

Glad it's not too wordy.

[cwydro]

15. oooooh Kay.

:shrug:

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I don't know. I didn't check my bible.

Sorry.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I'm very sorry.

I personally wouldn't be caught dead within a thousand miles of... whatever that is supposed to be. My family is very small and more than dysfunctional enough, thank you. :(

[Book Lover]

3. OK, I'm going to show some ignorance here I am sure, but

A committee? I am guessing this event is for many dozens to a couple hundred folks? Sorry - I can't wrap my mind around a family being quite that large...

[Catherine Vincent]

8. I think a committee is needed when family members are spread

out all over the country. And it is a large family. This is on my grandmother's side of the family.

[Book Lover]

17. Yes, I can see where that makes sense

Just took me a little while to realize that, yes, in fact there are many families in the world not like mine :rofl: For the record neither side of the BL family has had a reunion; I guess we all are too scattered globally for it to be realistic...

[Lex]

6. I think maybe smaller branches of the family should meet, eh?

Sounds like this thing got too big. Yikes.

And here I thought 40 or 50 members of my family meeting for a covered dish was a "family reunion!"

[fasttense]

7. You have committees for family reunions?

Wow, your family is well organized but sadly funny. We just do it and those that can come come, and those that can't can't. You never know who is going to be there until they show up.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Honestly, I prefer it that way.

There is a committee on my father's side also. But it's so simple for everyone to agree to a public picnic area, bring your own food/drinks and have fun.

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. There's a lot of families that have committees for large reunions

I've worked with a few of them and it's not unusual. But, it sounds like this family is going to have to go through some pains with the CA delegation 'taking charge'. It's the first reunion afterall, and they have to work through the kinks.

Personally, I'd just be having a real problem with the author who appears to be writing from a position of authority. It sounds pretty ummm... exclusive, IMO.

[Rosemary2205]

11. Nothing like a family reuinion to blow a family apart.

We had one about 8 years ago. The reunion was fun. It's the aftermath that is pure hell. Take my advice - don't do it.

[cwydro]

12. Now I have just got to see what the Bible verse

is...I'm at work...anybody with a bible out there?

[Taverner]

14. Go forth and be the voice of reason

Sounds like a large reunion (two states at least)

Show up and congregate with like minded individuals. Then prey upon the weak minded :)

[jobycom]

18. I guess the writer is basically saying

that he or she doesn't feel that the actions of the California committee were the answers to the prayers he or she made? It's tough being God, you know? You do the best you can to work these things out, and still someone isn't happy.

Good luck with that thing. :) Families scare me.

[immoderate]

19. Everywhere you go...

Assholes!

--IMM

[LisaM]

20. My boyfriend's family has large reunions

the same people seem to run everything. Their reunions sound pokey to me and they always involve church (he's never gone to one). His family are very stuck on themselves, also, and publish a book every few years listing all of their names.

I can't imagine having these committees, either, but then I have a very small family.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. I'm sorry - and I can appreciate the frustration

My family has done annual family reunions since the mid 70's or so. Dad's side of the family that is. There would be the six children in the family - each with children and grandchildren of their own. Until recently the siblings took turns hosting the event. Except for one older brother who has never hosted the reunion or assisted in its planning (but has almost always managed to attend with his family, children and grandchildren).

The annual ritual was that after the meal there was an informal meeting at which time someone usually volunteered to host the event the following year. Over time the event grew to include folks who were not immediate family. A few years back the siblings hesitated amongst themselves in volunteering to host the event the following year. Someone who was not part of the immediate family but who had been attending the reunion for some time volunteered. They hosted the event in the tourist community where they live - a community which was quite a long distance away from all the rest of the family. Not surprisingly attendance was down quite a bit.

One of the siblings volunteered to host the event the following year and chose to do so in the very rugged, rural and poor area where the siblings were raised. There are no nearby facilities for air travel. Roads are windy, steep and crooked - and difficult to drive especially for some of the older family members. Most of the area hotels and cabins cater to the fishing community. Many are old and not particularly well kept. There are very few restaurants. Activities for teenagers and children are almost non-existent. There are very few theaters or entertainment venues. Even cell phone coverage is something resembling non-existent.

I don't think most of the folks in the family really minded going back there the first year for the reunion. But the sibling in question was determined to keep having the reunion in that particular location. An announcement was made that the same family would host the reunion the following year in the same location. This occurred even though another sibling had previously offered to host the event the following year as had a couple of the nephews. Their efforts were completely ignored. A year or so later another sibling again offered to host the reunion. Again those efforts were completely ignored. We have had the reunion in that middle of nowhere location for the past several years now. Every year attendance drops further. Families with teenagers or young children no longer attend. Many of the older folks only come if they can prevail upon one of their children to drive them.

The sibling that has commandeered the family reunion spends a week either before or after the family reunion camping on the lake in an RV with children and grandchildren. Usually in the hottest part of summer. This is quickly becoming their family reunion. The rest of the family resents it and feels excluded. Some have tried to bring attention to the matter and discuss it but to no avail.

[mondo joe]

22. Are you related to (redacted) of the Oregeon (redacted)s?

I went to school with their son in (unnamed).

[Catherine Vincent]

26. LOL!

No redacted relatives in Oregon. :)

[Puregonzo1188]

24. How big is your family that you have multiply organizing committees for the reunion? (n/t)

[Catherine Vincent]

27. Very big. I don't have access to the addresses but there are plenty

that I have never met. And these are relatives on my mother's mother side only. There is no way anyone would want to organize a family reunion for both my mom's side and dad's side of the family. That would people equivalent to a population of a small country probably. :) And some of the members would probably get annoyed that it would be way too many people.

[seemunkee]

25. I think "Bite Me" would be my response

But I could organize a family reunion with 4 phone calls.

[zanne]

28. That was hilarious!

Maybe the family shouldn't have set up "chapters" and "committees" to plan the reunion. Then the Louisiana chapter wouldn't have said "F" you, California, and read your bible!:rofl: