Newsletters   (continued)

Fill your newsletter with fun

Grandma’s picture box

This mixes and matches photos of young and old. Line one side of a page with baby photos, the other with present-day photos of the same persons. Utilize limited space by photocopying or scanning pictures, then trimming faces from the photocopy. Attach photos to the master copy with double sticky tape. Family members enjoy matching yesterday’s child to today’s adult.

“Did You Know …?” or “About Your Family …”

  Another fun newsletter filler from Ray is information pages. There are interesting things in all our lineages. Include such things as the family’s originating country, surname changes through the years, little known facts about family members (such as what middle initial O in Uncle Bob’s name means and where it came from). What about the 3 brothers who married 3 sisters or Aunt Susie who had one green and one brown eye? When did your ancestors arrive in America? Where did they settle? What are your family’s traditions? How many generations have those traditions remained?

  Ray concludes that newsletter fun fillers serve a dual purpose. They better acquaint you with your family and provide entertainment for all ages and generations. Use them to add interest to your reunion newsletter.

Entertain with crosswords

 “Going, going, gone!” best described the newsletter stack on the registration table at our family reunion. Though filled with the usual family origins, births, deaths, graduations, weddings and tales elicited from family members, this particular edition had an added feature, a family crossword puzzle. I spent hours creating it and had a great time and now was anxious to see the family’s reaction.

  The sudden scrambling about in purses, pockets, or wherever else a writing instrument might be found was the first indication the puzzle was a hit. The second came when huddles formed across the room, a steady chatter arising from each. Mingling about the crowd, I overheard such comments as, “Who was an exchange student in Switzerland? Oh, Janet! Now I remember!” “Well, of course, I know our family came from the Isle of Man. I just didn’t know it is also called Ellan Vannin.” “Hmmm, let’s see. Who was the fifth child born of John and Lou? Help me out here, guys!” Conversation flowed freely as the puzzle sparked memories for some. Others learned things about their family they’d never known. One relative had a great time helping others, but when asked if she’d completed her copy she laughed and said, “No, I’m saving it as entertainment for when I get back to the motel!”

  Creating a family crossword puzzle can be approached in a variety of ways. Some prefer to have it professionally done. Others may wish to create their own puzzle, either with on-line help or the old-fashioned way. An on-line search for crossword puzzles should bring up several web sites of interest. While PersonalPuzzles.com directs one to professional help, Discovery.com provides on-line help to create your own puzzle. For those who still prefer the old-fashioned way of doing things, whether by necessity or for the love of a challenge, graph paper, a pencil and determination are your beginning tools.

  Regardless of the option you choose, the first step will be to make a list of family members’ names, nicknames, familiar places in family history, job titles, hobbies or anything unique to a family member. Be sure to represent every branch of the family. Use family-related clues/answers where possible. A few unrelated terms may have to be included to ensure a perfect fit.

  If you create your own puzzle, the next step is like playing Scrabble. Place letters into the graph paper blocks using words from your list. The blocks will help keep the letters straight as you begin to cross words over others. Be forewarned that there is nothing quick about this. It may require several “starts” before you get the hang of how words should link together. Keep a professionally done crossword puzzle at hand to use as a guide. It will help place solid blocks in the proper places, as well as provide a guide for numbering order. To finish your puzzle, prepare your own graph paper and make certain lines are dark enough to photocopy well. Darken in solid blocks, add numbers in the proper positions and trim the unnecessary blocks from the puzzle edges. Now you can copy the blank puzzle neatly onto an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper. List and number clues in the proper columns of across and down on a separate sheet. Work one copy of the puzzle to be sure no adjustments are needed. Photocopy the answered copy, reduce its size, then copy it in an obscure place in the newsletter.

About the author
Karen Luna Ray is a veteran reunion planner and freelance writer living in southeastern Oklahoma with her husband and two children. Her work has been published in Reunions magazine, North American Manx Association Bulletin and newspapers. She writes and publishes a family newsletter distributed on reunion day.

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