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

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!

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!

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!

The key to staging a successful reunion is good time management and organization. Follow this timetable to manage your reunion planning and preparation every step along the way!

12 to 18 months before the reunion:
Create a database family names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses
Determine family interest, number of people that may attend
Assemble a list of relatives who will help with the event

11-12 months before the reunion:
Form reunion committee(s) and establish responsibilities and schedules
Create a budget/bookkeeping system. Keep records of everything you do related to the reunion
Site Visit – scout potential locations and facilities (if needed)
Set the date
Select the location
1st Mailing – Send out a reunion announcement w/tentative reunion date, schedule and plans
Arrange or hire caterer, photographer, etc.

6 to 9 months and counting:
Finalize reunion date and location
2nd Mailing – Send out reunion invitation
Reserve block of hotel rooms
Begin list of attendees

5 months and counting:
Confirm reservations, photographer, entertainment, caterer (if used)
Finalize the menu

6-8 weeks and counting:
Complete address/memory book
Draft checklist for reunion tasks
Coordinate volunteers and designate their assignments

2 weeks and counting:
Purchase last minute decorations and supplies
Confirm eating, lodging and meeting arrangements
Review final checklist

One day and counting:
Solve or Resolve any last-minute problems
Walk through all final details

Big day – no more counting – the reunion is here!
Get to the reunion site early
Coordinate day-of details, meet with volunteers, etc.
Decorate reunion area
Set up displays, rental equipment, and registration table

Done – What Now?
Evaluate – What worked and what didn’t work
Thank all the committee heads and volunteers
Settle all accounts; finalize bookkeeping
Set a date to starting planning for the next reunion!

Want reunion planning to be easy? Enter the Cyberhunt Sweepstakes and are elibigle to win a COMPLETE REUNION PACKAGE for 40 worth over $20,000! Enter Today!

Reunion Checklist

• Appoint a coordinator for the even and form a Reunion Committee
• Create a reunion notebook to track progress
• Make a master list or file of members and guests
• Poll your guests on possible reunion activities, location, time, etc.
• Set reunion date(s)
• Choose/reserve a reunion location
• Choose menu for reunion meals and casual get-togethers
• Set/finalize reunion budget
• Send first mailer – notify members of tentative reunion plans/schedule
• Arrange entertainment and activities
• Arrange for a photographer or videographer
• Send second mailer – invitations to all invited guests
• Reserve/confirm/block accommodations and/or hotel rooms
• Reserve/confirm entertainment and activities
• Reserve/confirm caterer/dining options
• Purchase souvenirs, t-shirts, hats, etc.
• Assign day-of-event responsibilities
• Decorate reunion location
• Arrange for ample number of chairs, tables, etc.
• Arrange for special needs of elderly or disabled
• First Aid Kit (and medicine cooler if event is outdoors)
• Set up registration table with registration/guest book
• Distribute and collect reunion evaluation forms
• Set tentative date for next year’s reunion while everyone is together
• Post-Event review, survey and follow-up

This is just a list to get you started. Check out a full reunion resource, ReunionCapitalUSA for extra help planning a a successful reunion for family, military, fraternity or sorority, alumni or church groups!

What would make your Reunion event better? Winning our 2009 Cyberhunt Sweepstakes Grand Prize Reunion Package worth over $20,000! Enter today!

Don’t be deferred, this is a Sweepstakes you can actually win! Chances are not a million to one, and we have a lucky winner every year for a reunion of a lifetime in Gorgeous Prince George’s County, MD—located just outside of Washington D.C. making it the perfect reunion destination.

The grand prize package includes luxury hotel rooms for a long weekend, catering for a reunion dinner and reception, a day full of fun at Six Flags America, a genealogy workshop, transportation and t-shirts for your entire group, and more!

Need reunion inspiration? Meet our past winners, Kendie Reich and Yolawnda Rogers and experience their reunion stories for yourself! You and your family or friends could be next!

It is a fun and easy to enter the Cyberhunt, don’t miss out on an incredible prize and memories with those you love! For extra chances of winning, forward the link to all your friends and family, and have them enter today! The contest runs through December 31st, 2009, check out our official rules and regulations if you have questions.

For daily reunion tips, inspiration, and helpful hints, follow ReunionsUSA on twitter!

Does your family have a reunion tradition that has gone on for years, like the Zubick family’s 71 year annual summer camping and rapids trip? Did you finally bring the whole gang together recently to celebrate a special day, like great-grandma’s 100th birthday? Do you have fun reunion themes or games and activities that have brought everyone closer together, or know the key to keeping the kids happy and occupied?

Please share all your favorite memories, unique traditions, or even favorite reunion recipes, and check back for inspiration!

Sharing stories can give others that little boost they need to start planning their reunion they have always talked about, or your creative ideas can help make their next reunion great–whether it be a large family gathering, to bringing their fraternity or sorority pledge classes back together for a weekend of fun!

Check out inspiring stories from people who have already submitted their memories, leave one of your own, or leave reunion ideas, suggestions or fun memories by commenting on this blog!

If you are interested or are planning a reunion follow ReunionsUSA on twitter for daily updates on all things reunion! And don’t forget to enter the Cyberhunt Sweepstakes today for a chance to win a complete reunion package for 40 worth over $20,000, and read about past winner’s experiences!

Enter the Cyberhunt Sweepstakes between July 1 and December 31, 2009, then check back to find why Gorgeous Prince George’s is your home for every kind of reunion possible… family, military, fraternity, sorority, church and alumni– we do it all! Check out our Grand Prize information!

Staying in touch is important, don’t let your friendships fall apart in everyone’s busy lives! Whether you’re a recent college grad, or if it has been years since you and your pledge class has been together, its never too late to start a group tradition you can look forward to each year. What could be better than a reunion get-away to relax, make memories, and remember the goodtimes!

Get started by getting in contact with your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters. We have a variety of resources to help! Also, you can get in contact with your college’s alumni association to get contact information for anyone you have lost touch with. Once you have reconnected, start planning your reunion basics: location, date, length of time, who is invited, and activities and accommodations. Your sisters or brothers will be ecstatic to bring the old group together again, and you can set up committees or designate responsibilities of planning through the group.

Imagine an exciting beach get-away with the girls who became your college family. Spend the day relaxing and rejuvenating for your busy lives, and remember what made your college experience so memorable– from the late nights in the sorority house to your favorite philanthropy events. Spend the nights celebrating over delicious wine and food, maybe taking in a show, or experiencing the local nightlife!

Guys– bring your brotherhood together again for an exciting weekend of sporting events, golf tournaments, or hanging out outdoors. Spend your nights reminiscing about the “glory days,” laughing about college nicknames and remembering why your fraternity was by far “best on campus.”

Planning a reunion doesn’t have to be intimidating. ReunionCapitalUSA is dedicated to helping you plan and prepare for any reunion, large or small, and has resources dedicated towards fraternities and sororities! Enter our Cyberhunt Sweepstakes and you could win a complete reunion package for your group worth over $20,000!

Don’t let your friendships fade away. Take action, and get your college crew together today. Cherish your college memories, but why stop there? Making memories for years to come is even more priceless.

Apple Crisp Recipe submitted by Roger Brow:

To make this all time favorite recipe you need the following ingredients:

4 cups sliced, pared, tart apples
Dash of Salt
¼ cup orange juice or lemon juice
½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg

Mound apples in buttered 9” pie plate; sprinkle with juice. For Topping: combine sugar, flour, spices, and salt; cut in margarine until mixture is crumbly; then scatter over apples.

Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until apples are done and topping is crisp and lightly browned. Serves 6.

Sweet Potato Pie submitted by Yvonne Ways:

Ingredients:

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & cooked until tender
2 pie shells, unbaked
1 stick butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon

Mash sweet potatoes, combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour pie mixture into unbaked pie shells and bake 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 2 pies.

Enjoy!

Interested in other Reunion approved recipes? Have one of your own you would like to share? Check out ReunionCapitalUSA!