This annual family friendly open house is from 10 a.m– 4 p.m., with free admission, parking and shuttle services! There are a wide variety of activities, delicious food options, and exciting events for all ages.

There are over 400  free events all about celebrating culture and the arts! Based on your particular interests you can “plan your day,” to make the most of what Maryland Day has to offer on their official website, including programs based around the arts, the global village, sports, becoming a Terp and more!

Special programs are set up for kids, alumni, and prospective students, so this event is not to be missed! Come rain or shine to explore hundreds of hands-on exhibits, workshops, games and live performances at Maryland Day 2010 on April 24th!

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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

Many groups of high school friends, college friends or sorority sisters don’t see each other very often, especially not as a complete group, and quality time together is an important way to stay connected with each others’ lives. Bring your girlfriends back together and plan a weekend trip of relaxation and fun to get away from everyday stresses, and enjoy important people in your life. Maybe it will even become an annual event for everyone to look forward to each year!

Prince George’s County, Maryland could be your perfect weekend destination! Located just outside of Washington, D.C., you can easily go into the city and spend the day enjoying its many famous historical sites, amazing shopping in Georgetown, and exploring the Nations Capital.

Prince George’s County offers a wide array of fun activities from spending the day at a world-class spa, to enjoying an evening of excellent food and wine then going to an off- Broadway show or the opera. With a variety of accommodations, you will be able to find the perfect location from your group–whether it’s a weekend of luxury at the Gaylord National on the Potomac River, a weekend at a quaint bed and breakfast, or even an adventurous weekend of camping!

For help in your planning process Reunion Capital USA is an ultimate guide full of fun ideas and plenty of resources in planning your get-away weekend. With so much to do in Prince George’s County, you will find something for everyone in your group to enjoy! Get in contact with your friends, and start planning your exciting girls weekend today!

For more great ideas and updates, follow us on twitter!

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Reunions should be an exciting an enjoyable (whining-free) experience for everyone, and for this to occur, some focus has to be made on keeping kids happy and having fun!

Beyond just keeping them occupied, kids are the legacy and hold the keys to the future of your traditions. If they do not have a positive experience, and get to know the next generation, your reunions could end and at some point everyone could lose touch. Luckily, kids are fairly easy to please, and a weekend with a few fun activities, lots of delicious food, and games to get to know one another better make all the difference!

Reunion Capital USA is a great reference for planning a kid-friendly Reunion for all ages! Check it out for fun location options, themes, and games, and activities that will keep kids happy and have them leaving already excited for next year!

Some favorite ideas are telling a family or group story through a craft, a trivia game or creating a scrapbook. These create a sense of connection and pass along information about your group’s heritage or times together, famous relatives or friends, military hero stories, memorable experiences and even favorite recipes or games!

Outdoors games, contests and trips to exciting destinations also help keep the kids active and happy! Prince George’s County boasts a terrific location, just outside our Nation’s Capital. There are plenty of locations to choose from including theme park thrills at Six Flags, interesting historical sites to rediscover the past, and beautiful state parks for exploring the great outdoors.

A reunion is a memorable and exciting experience for all in attendance, and can be especially important to maintaining family and other important relationships for years to come! Start planning yours today… and remember keep in mind that for the kids in the group, it’s a party! All it takes is a few fun games and activities and they will be all smiles and talking about it for years to come!

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