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The Prince George's County Blog for All Things Reunion!Archive for Reunion Ideas
Baseball Fest 2010
It had been five years since the team had been together for Tim’s wedding. People had moved away; most of us were now married; John even had a baby on the way. A reunion was my idea. I wanted to see my teammates again—they were such an important part of my life, many of them were like brothers to me. 
We were All-State and the first baseball team from our high school to ever win a state championship. I can still remember that day perfectly—we all felt pretty invincible. I wanted to recapture that feeling of triumph, and what better place than a ballpark?
So, I texted John to see what he thought about a team reunion. He was all for it, he just didn’t want anything too complicated to plan. So, I got to thinking. Most of us still lived around the DC area, although there were a few that were out-of-state. I knew I wanted us to go see a game, but where was the most convenient? I asked my wife if she had any ideas (she loves planning trips and has traveled all over). She suggested I check out Prince George’s Reunion Capital USA website. She had organized a sorority reunion at Gaylord National Resort last year and said that their website had great information for reunion planning.
On their site I realized Gaylord would also be perfect for my team. Not because of their spa (where my wife spent all of her reunion), but because of its location in Prince George’s County. It was located minutes from THREE different baseball stadiums—Nationals Park, Maryland’s Shipley Field, and The Baysox’s Prince George’s Stadium. In one weekend, we would be able to attend three separate games—each with something different to offer.
Courtesy of The Bowie Baysox
The wives and kids could join us to watch the Baysox on Friday night. With the fireworks show and kids park, the kids would love it (and if the kids are happy, so are the wives). On Saturday night, the team could head to University of Maryland’s campus. This game would be particularly special for us. Tim (who played first base on our team) had played ball there a few years back and this would be a great way to honor that. We could end the weekend at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon. Many of us are die-hard Redskins fans, but hadn’t made it to a Nationals game yet, so we were all looking forward to this.
The reunion was last weekend. Everyone loved Gaylord (the place has every conceivable amenity possible), and it was so easy to get from there to each stadium. I, however, was happy just to be with my team again. We decided that “Baseball Fest” is going to be an annual event and I’m already looking forward to next year…
Courtesy of The University of Maryland
Fun Theme Ideas to Unite Your Reunion!
Do you have a special reunion coming up and are looking for ways to get the group excited for the event? Having a reunion theme or hosting a theme dinner is a unique way to keep everyone involved, give people something to talk about, and create a sense of excitement for the event.
A theme lets you get a creative focus, with everything from invitations, to food, music and even a costume event if you like. A theme can be a simple or wacky as your group would like. It can be a celebration of a milestone birthday for someone special in your family, a religious or holiday theme, or simply a special genre such as safari or western.
Themes are a great way for people to come together and let loose! There are endless theme ideas, whether you are looking for something special for your church, family, sorority or fraternity, or military reunion, there is a great option for everyone.
Start off by thinking about the basics—what type of reunion you are hosting, who will be attending, the time of the year, the location, or a common group interest are great places to draw theme inspiration.
For sororities and fraternities, think back to your favorite theme parties or common interests in college and re-create a special night. Did you and your brothers look forward to your annual toga party? Did your sisters and you attend college in the 80s? Break out your old college wardrobes and pictures and make even more special memories with life-long friends!
For church groups, celebrate the wonderful time of the year by having a holiday or seasonal theme. For a more unique idea, celebrate Christmas in July at a summer picnic, or have a topical luau at a winter gathering.
Once you decide on the topic, you can plan decorations, recipes, music and special beverages around it. You can also have attendees dress accordingly, and have games to go along with the theme for both adults and children to make it a fun, exciting event for all!
Themes are a great way to unite your group, give your event direction, and add a little extra fun to your group’s reunion, and bring the group together.
Please feel free to comment and share your reunion idea with others!
Having Trouble Deciding on a Host City for your Reunion? There’s lots to love in Prince George’s.
Planning your next reunion and looking for the perfect location for your special group…where better to stay then just outside our Nation’s Capital?
Prince George’s County, Maryland is the ideal location for any reunion, regardless of group size, price point or interests. From quality hotels, to historic museums, and fun attractions, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Gorgeous Prince George’s!
Looking for a high quality hotel for your group to stay? The Marriott Greenbelt hotel has won “Marriott Hotel of the Year” and is minutes from exciting attractions such as the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Six Flags America, downtown Washington, D.C., and within an hour from Baltimore and Annapolis.
Planning a reunion for a large group? Check out the National Harbor, Maryland’s newest dream gateway! It’s an incredible 300-acre waterfront destination just minutes from downtown Washington D.C., along the Potomac River. The cornerstone of National Harbor is the 2000-room Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the largest hotel in the Washington DC metro. The National Harbor features world-class dining, nightclubs, shopping and an amazing market, as well as special seasonal features and attractions for the whole family to enjoy!
There are a magnitude of unique and interesting historical sites, museums and cultural events to enjoy in Prince George’s. Go back in time and visit the Surratt House, home of Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the United States government after being found guilty of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. The museum presents a variety of programs and events, recapturing the history of mid-19th century life and focusing on the fascinating web of the Lincoln conspiracy.
Check out a performance at the incredible Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, take in a professional sports game, or spend a day exploring Fort Washington and it’s 341-acre park offering an assortment of recreational opportunities, including hiking and biking trails and a playground.
There are plenty of great places to experience on your reunion in Prince George’s, making it the ideal reunion destination! Check out Reunion Capital USA for reunion planning advice, ideas and more!
Follow ReunionsUSA on twitter for daily updates!
Enter the Cyberhunt Sweepstakes and you could WIN a reunion package worth over $20,000 in Prince George’s! It’s only open until December 31st so enter your group today and you could be the next big winner!
Advice For All Reunion Rookies!
So you’ve been crowned organizer of your reunion. Sure is different from hosting a small dinner party for a couple of friends, isn’t it? Don’t get overwhelmed; we can help ensure a successful reunion for all!
Reunions are a time to celebrate life’s milestones, achievements and renew old acquaintances. It’s also time to start losing the pounds, covering the grays and getting ready for some serious fun!
ReunionCapitalUSA.com is rich with resources and information that will help any Reunion Rookie plan an event to remember. Your reunion should be a fun, special event for all attendees, so here are some of the key points that will help you host a reunion like a PRO:
1. The first decision you’ll need to make is who to invite, and forming a reunion committee will certainly be helpful. The planning committee works as a team to make sure that all aspects of the reunion are taken care of, and that no details are left out. (It’s very hard for one person to be responsible for such a large task!). For more information about forming a reunion committee, please click here.
2. Develop a detailed budget. You’ll need to figure out how much each attendee will pay in order to cover the venue deposit, printing and mailing of invitations, long-distance phone calls, and any unexpected expenses you may come across. For more information on developing and sticking to a budget, please click here.
3. Start the search for a location as early as possible for the best rates and most choices. Deciding on a location can depend on group size, budget, time of year, geographic location, and the type of activities best suited to attendees. Select a date and start publicizing the reunion as early as possible so attendees can make travel plans. For more info on dates & location, please start here.
4. Stay in the loop! When the location, date, and facility have been confirmed, send out invitations to your reunion members. The invitations can be a simple e-mail, plain letter, or fun creation that goes along with a party theme. Ask attendees for information about their lives (including updated contact information). Compile it all into a booklet and mail this out to reunion attendees before the reunion, so they can be ready to pounce on family and old friends as soon as they walk through the door to catch up.
Interested in some great planning resources such as a reunion timetable and checklist, as well as a FREE planning kit, check out Reunion Capital USA for all your reunion needs, regardless of size, type or extravagance, and follow us on twitter!
Enter to win a complete and FREE REUNION worth over $20,000 by entering the annual Cyberhunt Sweepstakes! You and your group could be our next big winners! The final entry date is December 31st, so get your group members to enter today!
