Canale Farms
620 Canale Way
Oakland TN 38060
901-465-6690
620 Canale Way
Oakland TN 38060
901-465-6690
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Tips on planning your reunion; Please read before starting your reunion.
1) The first thing to decide in planning your reunion is who will be the official reunion planner
and does the majority of the family agree. I have seen many reunions fail to get off the ground
because family members could not agree on who was in charge and who was to do the planning
and enter into the necessary contracts for the family. This is a very important and vital part
of your reunion having your family stand behind the reunion planner and without it the reunion
cannot proceed. Make this decision at the FIRST MEETING. At this meeting
you and your family should at the very least, desice who is in charge and the rest of the family should
agree that this planner will make the necessary plans and contracts on behalf of the family.
It works best if the familiy is kept informed with monthly meetings and allowed to vote on most
of the cost and activites, but the reunion will work best if a reunion planner or coordinator is elected
and put in charge.
2) Second, deside who you will invite. Will you invite all your family that is a direct decendant of
a certain ancestor or will you invite only those with a the family name. It is very important to
make these decisions at the begining and wright down who and how many people my possibly
respond to the reunion. For example if you invite all the decentants of a certain ancestor, you may
end up with several thousand potential attendees, make these decisions early as to who you will invite
and what size do you want to keep the renuion to.
Things to remember: The average reunion in Memphis is about 90 people attending, many much larger,
but this is about the average.
The larger the reunion the more it will cost and the earler you will have to start planning.
You can put together a reunion for 80 to 100 without too much time and effort and have lots of choices of where you
can have your reunion. But if you have a reunion for 500 to 600 it will take months and you will need to
start on your reuion at least a year in advance and maybe more.
Also remember, If you invite 200 family members not everyone will show and the
numbers will end up being around 150 or less. This is just an estamate
but you need to consider it when you are planning your reuion. A lot will depend on the cost of the intire event.
3) When you have a handle on who you will invite and a good idea of how many will show start on the
BUDGET. The budget is the most important part of your reunion will determine who and how many will attend. At one
of the very first meetings, hopefully the first meeting deside on the schedule of your reuion. A one day
or 3 day reunion. Most family reunions in Memphis are a 3 day event. The first day is for uniting and
rekindling your relationships and is ususlly the banquet night. The second day is usually reseved
for the family picnic. The last day is in many cases reserved for a Church service or taking a trip to a
local attraction.
None of this is set in stone and a change up in your reunion schedule may be welcome to many family members,
but this is the schedule that many keep from year to year. I have also seen several reunions have only a family
picnic and the intire reuion is just for one day with a day time picnic and night time gathering at a local resturant or Church.
You will have to budget the cost of everything in your reunion, all deposits, food, intertainment and bus travel. An example of a reunion budget is as follows:
First day... banquet hall $2000.00
meal $3000.00 for 100 members
t-shirts $1000.00
Second day picnic $2500.00 (Canale Farms reunion package) parks are free, ad cost for catering or food.
Third day day tirp $4000.00 Civil Rights Museum, Elvis tour, Ball game, etc.
Hotel 2 nites $ 500.00 includes food
Bus rental $2400.00 2 buses, 3 trips
Total $15400.00 divided by 100 equals $154.00 per person
I have seen some reunions held for less than $50 per person and seen many for as much as $150 per person. All
of this will depend on what you want at your reuion, how many are coming and how much the family members will
do themselves to save money. It is a good idea to make all attendees put up a protion of the cost as you go.
MOST IMPORTANT: As the family reunion planner make sure you have all or at the very least 75% of your money
collected before any deposits are made.
DO NOT PUT YOUR PERSONAL MONEY UP to hold locations or as deposits for your reunion. I have seen several
reunion planners burned by puttig up thier own personal money to hold locations or for deposits to caterers and
lose out big time, don't do it. Make sure your family is behind you not just in enthusiasm but with funds to
support what you have spent on behalf of the family. At most facilities your deposit will be forfited if you have to cancel. Most reuions in Memphis are cancelled because of lack of money and lack of participation, since most
reuions are usually held in July and August, most are not cancelled due to bad weather.
4) Make a trip to your reunion site. Bring several member to the site and discuss all activities and menues. Make sure
all family members are on board with the menu, remember those who may not like bbq or who may be vegiterian.
Deside on whether you will allow alcohol and who in the family will have what responsibility for delegated duties.
5) Plan early. All reunion sites will say this but it's very true. The earlier you start that more likely you will have a
successful reuion.
6) Have several meetings. Meet early and often and keep your family informed as to what you have done as the
coordinator and what the family can expect.
7) Order t-shrits well inadvance and always order several extras for those who won't pay up early enough
to get in the first order and then want a shirt at the reunion.
8) Seek advice from family members who have planned reunions for your family in the past they are the most important
link to what to expect in future reunions.
After all this information on reunions we invite you to host your picnic day part of the reunion at Canale Farms. It will be
one part of the reunion that you won't have to worry about and we will be glad to help you with any questions about the
reunion. We can even take care of your t-shirt order.
GOOD LUCK! and God bless you for doing this extremely hard job for the benefit of your family there will be a special
place in heaven for those who undertake such an impossible task, but it will be worth it!!!
Drew J. Canale
Attorney, founder and event planner for Canale Farms.
Great site to visit with lots of info on planning your family reunion: Click Here
1) The first thing to decide in planning your reunion is who will be the official reunion planner
and does the majority of the family agree. I have seen many reunions fail to get off the ground
because family members could not agree on who was in charge and who was to do the planning
and enter into the necessary contracts for the family. This is a very important and vital part
of your reunion having your family stand behind the reunion planner and without it the reunion
cannot proceed. Make this decision at the FIRST MEETING. At this meeting
you and your family should at the very least, desice who is in charge and the rest of the family should
agree that this planner will make the necessary plans and contracts on behalf of the family.
It works best if the familiy is kept informed with monthly meetings and allowed to vote on most
of the cost and activites, but the reunion will work best if a reunion planner or coordinator is elected
and put in charge.
2) Second, deside who you will invite. Will you invite all your family that is a direct decendant of
a certain ancestor or will you invite only those with a the family name. It is very important to
make these decisions at the begining and wright down who and how many people my possibly
respond to the reunion. For example if you invite all the decentants of a certain ancestor, you may
end up with several thousand potential attendees, make these decisions early as to who you will invite
and what size do you want to keep the renuion to.
Things to remember: The average reunion in Memphis is about 90 people attending, many much larger,
but this is about the average.
The larger the reunion the more it will cost and the earler you will have to start planning.
You can put together a reunion for 80 to 100 without too much time and effort and have lots of choices of where you
can have your reunion. But if you have a reunion for 500 to 600 it will take months and you will need to
start on your reuion at least a year in advance and maybe more.
Also remember, If you invite 200 family members not everyone will show and the
numbers will end up being around 150 or less. This is just an estamate
but you need to consider it when you are planning your reuion. A lot will depend on the cost of the intire event.
3) When you have a handle on who you will invite and a good idea of how many will show start on the
BUDGET. The budget is the most important part of your reunion will determine who and how many will attend. At one
of the very first meetings, hopefully the first meeting deside on the schedule of your reuion. A one day
or 3 day reunion. Most family reunions in Memphis are a 3 day event. The first day is for uniting and
rekindling your relationships and is ususlly the banquet night. The second day is usually reseved
for the family picnic. The last day is in many cases reserved for a Church service or taking a trip to a
local attraction.
None of this is set in stone and a change up in your reunion schedule may be welcome to many family members,
but this is the schedule that many keep from year to year. I have also seen several reunions have only a family
picnic and the intire reuion is just for one day with a day time picnic and night time gathering at a local resturant or Church.
You will have to budget the cost of everything in your reunion, all deposits, food, intertainment and bus travel. An example of a reunion budget is as follows:
First day... banquet hall $2000.00
meal $3000.00 for 100 members
t-shirts $1000.00
Second day picnic $2500.00 (Canale Farms reunion package) parks are free, ad cost for catering or food.
Third day day tirp $4000.00 Civil Rights Museum, Elvis tour, Ball game, etc.
Hotel 2 nites $ 500.00 includes food
Bus rental $2400.00 2 buses, 3 trips
Total $15400.00 divided by 100 equals $154.00 per person
I have seen some reunions held for less than $50 per person and seen many for as much as $150 per person. All
of this will depend on what you want at your reuion, how many are coming and how much the family members will
do themselves to save money. It is a good idea to make all attendees put up a protion of the cost as you go.
MOST IMPORTANT: As the family reunion planner make sure you have all or at the very least 75% of your money
collected before any deposits are made.
DO NOT PUT YOUR PERSONAL MONEY UP to hold locations or as deposits for your reunion. I have seen several
reunion planners burned by puttig up thier own personal money to hold locations or for deposits to caterers and
lose out big time, don't do it. Make sure your family is behind you not just in enthusiasm but with funds to
support what you have spent on behalf of the family. At most facilities your deposit will be forfited if you have to cancel. Most reuions in Memphis are cancelled because of lack of money and lack of participation, since most
reuions are usually held in July and August, most are not cancelled due to bad weather.
4) Make a trip to your reunion site. Bring several member to the site and discuss all activities and menues. Make sure
all family members are on board with the menu, remember those who may not like bbq or who may be vegiterian.
Deside on whether you will allow alcohol and who in the family will have what responsibility for delegated duties.
5) Plan early. All reunion sites will say this but it's very true. The earlier you start that more likely you will have a
successful reuion.
6) Have several meetings. Meet early and often and keep your family informed as to what you have done as the
coordinator and what the family can expect.
7) Order t-shrits well inadvance and always order several extras for those who won't pay up early enough
to get in the first order and then want a shirt at the reunion.
8) Seek advice from family members who have planned reunions for your family in the past they are the most important
link to what to expect in future reunions.
After all this information on reunions we invite you to host your picnic day part of the reunion at Canale Farms. It will be
one part of the reunion that you won't have to worry about and we will be glad to help you with any questions about the
reunion. We can even take care of your t-shirt order.
GOOD LUCK! and God bless you for doing this extremely hard job for the benefit of your family there will be a special
place in heaven for those who undertake such an impossible task, but it will be worth it!!!
Drew J. Canale
Attorney, founder and event planner for Canale Farms.
Great site to visit with lots of info on planning your family reunion: Click Here
