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"This is our 6th year here at Roddy Tree. Our annual Hill Country Vacation is a family tradition that started back in the 40's...memories we make here will last a lifetime."
The Brandt & Borski Families

General Tips for a Texas Hill Country Family Reunion, Getaway Vacation for Friends, or Anniversary Celebrations
In 2000, Keith and I planned a surprise 50th anniversary party for my parents, Jim and Helen Gambrell. Not only did we pull off the surprise and have one of the best times of our lives, it was the closest we had ever come to having a family reunion, as our family is notoriously spread out across the world. Family and friends were able to make it from all parts of the world. Those memories are priceless, as most family reunions are.

I love having family reunions here at Roddy Tree Ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas more than anything (well they are right up there with weddings). It is such a special time, and I enjoy seeing all the families coming together with their warm, poignant stories and funny quirks. Here at the Ranch, we can accommodate small to mid-size family reunions of 80-100 people. Whether you are planning a large reunion or a smaller family party at the Ranch, there are some important things to consider. These suggestions will help keep everything running as smoothly and effortlessly as possible. Every family reunion will have its own unique and distinct flavor. No two families are exactly alike; just like snowflakes, every family is different. However, here are some tips that all families can follow to ensure a successful reunion:

Early Planning
We have many families that have been having small and large family reunions here every year; some are coming up on their 7th year. Let me share some of the things with you that I have learned from them. Planning is the key to the success of a family reunion. As simple as this may seem, it's really important. The more planning that goes into the reunion, the more smoothly the reunion will come to pass. Too many family reunion plans are started too late. I recommend starting a year ahead of time, but 6 months ahead will do in some cases (smaller families). Of course, the most obvious reason is that the location must be scouted out and reserved. Summer is always the busiest season; so if you are flexible on your times, dates, and seasons, that will help. Another reason is that many people have to save money to travel to the reunion, and some have to reserve vacation time at work. Also, the basic premise of all reunions is that: "Everyone has the right to attend their own reunion."

Are you the one who's been the leader in making the reunion a reality? Along with the pleasure of bringing family members together come possible stress-inducing issues. Delegate! Start enlisting volunteers from the start. Not only will you ease the burden on yourself, but you'll also allow other family members to feel needed and involved. The more involvement a family member has, the more ownership they will have of the reunion. Try to match the right person to each job (e.g., an accountant as treasurer; a good cook to plan menus). Volunteer jobs include: mailings, money management, site coordination, ordering t-shirts or other souvenirs, buying decorations, soliciting and collating family surveys, organizing menus and making potluck assignments, planning games/activities for adults and kids, handling registration, organizing presentations (family history, awards, etc.), performing as master of ceremonies, setting up, and cleaning up. The list is endless, and there is plenty for everyone to do.

Here at Roddy Tree Ranch, although we are not in charge of your family reunion, we are very committed to helping out with the coordination of your celebration in any way possible; we want you to have many wonderful memories to take home with you. From the time you come to check out our place, decide on cabins for certain families, and book, to the time you leave, we will work with you. Feel free to take advantage of the many years of experience we have had working with the many families that come here year after year.

Show the kids a good time

"Continuation" is the essence of all families -- that's the reason they exist. For the most part, older people are the most enthusiastic about family reunions and are the ones doing the planning. But it's obvious to everyone that the kids are the continuation of the family, and are the ones who will be planning the reunion in 40 years and retelling the stories. So the older people want the kids to have a good time. Of course, every kid always wants to have a good time, too.

Remember: for a kid, it's not a reunion -- it's a party. So take some extra effort and show the kids a good time. Sell the reunion and the destination to your kids. Build excitement before the reunion. If your children are old enough, encourage them to help plan. Read about the family and the reunion place. Check out Roddy Tree on the Web site. Remember, kids are the people who, if they're not having a good time, can spoil it for everyone. But that's just the immediate consequence of not regarding kids seriously or thinking that just being at the reunion is enough to keep them happy. Serious thought must go into making sure kids will have a good time and not whine that they're bored (not that this ever happens to kids at Roddy Tree Ranch) and ask "when can we go home?" At Roddy Tree Ranch, many activities can be planned for the children, teenagers, and adults. Just use your imagination. They can be structured at certain times or they can just be there for whoever wants to take advantage of them. They can enjoy washer pitching, volleyball, and basketball courts. They can visit the animals by the stable, feed the ducks with Dodo, take a dip in one of the pools, or take the canoes or paddleboats for a cruise down the Guadalupe River. The pavilion is a popular meeting place for family reunions with the picnic tables, basketball court, jukebox, and enclosed playground right across the road. There is also a second pool area with an enclosed playground for activities. There are some extra charges and certain things will depend on whether or not you have the whole facility rented out. Make sure to talk to Keith about exclusive use of the pavilion, the kitchen facilities, the campfire area, the stage, and karaoke night.

Setting up "team activities" for the group can make or break a reunion. Many of our groups plan activities for everyone to help people get to know each other and to get folks active and outside. A great example of this was at Keith's Barnes family reunion a few years ago in Owasso, Oklahoma. The planners had everyone bring baby pictures that they put up on a huge bulletin board. A contest was held, and the person that correctly guessed the highest number of babies and who they had grown up to be would receive a silver photo album with Pa and Grandma Barnes. Well I am proud to say that my sons, Jake and Cody, got busy; they concocted a strategy where they were able to trade their grandmother Dodo's baby picture identity for the identities of most of the pictures and they won by a landslide! They were 9 and 7 years old and didn't know a soul when they got there, but everyone knew them when they left. They still talk about that reunion with fond memories.

Tell the family story
What really happens at a family reunion is that the family story is being told in various ways. This is the most important element of a family reunion. You can help this process along with memorabilia, home movies, a collage, scrapbooks, old photos, ethnic food and dress, ethnic music and decorations, family trees, and stories around the campfire. At the beginning of this article, I spoke about a very special party we threw for my parents, Jim and Helen, on their 50th anniversary. I gathered many of the old family and friend photos and scrapbooking supplies from one of our guests, Becky Warren, and started several pages. Over the course of the weekend, many people stopped by the house and put together a page or two. We would sit around talking about the photos, old times, relatives (long gone but not forgotten) while we cut, pasted, and created a fabulous gift for my parents. It was a spontaneous effort of family and friends that we will always cherish and it tells their story. Priceless.