Where to start? Let’s face it, times are tough. Because of this we have been thinking about different options that would be best for the family at this time. I’d like to layout some of these options and get everyone’s opinion on it.
With the reunion coming up in a couple of months, we have realized that situations have changed for many families. We don’t want the reunion to become a burden for anyone so here are the options we have thought about:
1. Cancel the reunion for this year. If this is the case, Melinda & I would like to have another turn at planning the reunion since ours was canceled. We would propose to do this either after Morgan & Bethany or Sharese & Jordan’s year.
2. Not change anything. Stay where we are planning and go from there.
3. Possibly change to a smaller 6 bedroom cabin in Island Park that would end up being around $750 cheaper but still as nice. (We have talked to some families about possible sleeping arrangements in this situation. It would have ample sleeping room for everyone ie beds.)
4. Possibly help with expenses that each individual family may have just to attend the reunion, like gas money or paying for your family’s meal.
5. We would also like to propose cancelling the auction this year since the major expense (lodging) for next year’s reunion has already been taken care of.
We want to get everyone’s input on this. We don’t want to have a large cabin and spend more money than we need to if people are unable to attend. We are fine with anyone of these options, but we need to know and make a final decision by the 12th of October so we can get our money back if needed or change to a different cabin. After that date, our options will be very limited on what we can do. We realize that there may be other options we have not thought about and would love to hear everyone’s input. We would like this to be a family decision, not just ours.
Hey, I am good with whatever. I can see that a cheaper cabin might be a good option so we are not completely draining the account, especially since we may be looking at harder times ahead. I am not particular at where we are just as long as we are doing something fun together. Honestly, I am pretty bummed that the Gunderbutts and Lee and Jana are not coming. Those are the 2 fams I don't see as much. I would not be against cancelling if just for that reason.
ReplyDeleteIt kinda makes it more worth it moneywise, timewise, and everything when we ALL get together, you know what I mean? Anyway, I am OK with whatever you guys think is best!
Jen
To let everyone know where we are at finacially, we are looking better than I thought last week. I reconciled our account and found that my register was missing some deposits. Sorry about that. The family account is now set-up on line so I will see it all the time.
ReplyDeleteRight now we have $1,973.45. If we stick with the big cabin (an additional $1200 payment) that will leave us with $773.45. If we go down to the smaller cabin (roughly $750 less) it will leave $1523.45 in our account. There are still some families that need to pay. When they do, that will give us an additional $599.50.
This is where the numbers stand. I hope that helps you all make in your decision making.
As for my thoughts, I really want to see everyone and if we can somehow use the family fund to make that happen....well, what if we cancel the reunion, pay for travel expenses, and all meet either in Boise or Utah for Thanksgiving? I know it is Quigley Christmas this year, but Christmas is too close to when babies are coming. Just an idea. I definitely think we should cancel the auction--tough time of year--so we should either cancel the reunion or do it on the cheaper side so there is money left for Morgan. So I'm leaning for small cabin or cancel. Even if we do the small cabin, every family will still have to spend money getting there and for meals. Maybe the family fund could help pay for a trip to temple square to see the lights if the Thanksgiving idea doesn't work. These options wouldn't count as Greg and Melinda's turn, but might allow us all to get together. Just throwing out ideas.
Thanks for sharing your concerns, we’ll definitely support and help with whatever you decide to do for your reunion. We do have a couple thoughts. It is a time in our economy where pennies need to be counted. But, is next year, or the next, or the next going to be any better? Hopefully it will but what if the markets are slow to recover, are we going to cancel the Quigley reunion every year until we are all independently wealthy? With a family as large as ours there will always be babies to be born, business reports to file, tight finances, surgeries and many other things that will make some of us unable to attend a reunion here and there no matter the time of year. There is no fault in that. I know that Bethany and I are really tight right now so we’ve decided that in lieu of buying each other individual gifts for Christmas we are giving each other the gift of a vacation with all of you in the snow. That savings will more than adequately pay for our gas and we’d love to donate the extra to anyone who needs some extra money for travel expenses. I really think that it is important to do our best to accommodate as many people as possible when planning reunions knowing that with a big family we should count our lucky stars to get half of us together when it comes down to it. And we should never cancel an opportunity to get as many of us together as possible. My vote would be to have the reunion as planned. If after hearing from the individual families we don’t need the big cabin then it would be a great idea to save some money and get a smaller cabin. Perhaps you can use the saved money to give each family a small stipend that will help those traveling to afford it and help those not coming to get a little extra unexpected spending cash for Christmas. If you’d like, Bethany and I can check if our family cabin is available? It’d only cost about $100 dollars for the propane heat and $15 to plow the driveway it has separate rooms for 4 families but we’d love to sleep in the front room witch would allow for 5 families or more. Knowing that it is our responsibility to plan the reunion next year the family account is concern to us. The lodging is not completely paid for, there are and will be expenses that need to be paid. If you choose not to hold an auction to replenish the family fund that is fine, as next Augusts’ reunion draws closer and expenses are finalized we will handle it like we did the reservation fees and split it up between the families and ask that those who can afford to help pay more will do so in lieu of those who can’t pay full price. Again, we will support whatever you decide and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
ReplyDeleteLove, Bethany and Morgan
First & Foremost - We want to thank Greg and Melinda for their planning in the reunion. Knowing from experience how much emotion goes into planning a big function, we think it would be a true shame to cancel the reunion. We are in agreement with Morgan & Bethany that there are always going to be things that come up in a family this size that may interfere with someone coming to the reunion. If we cancel for every little thing, then what is going to happen to the reunion? It will fizzle out and it won't become a thing that we look forward to because we'll always wonder if it's going to happen or be cancelled at the last minute. We are TOTALLY in favor of keeping the reunion ALIVE!!! As far as lodging..... Our vote would be to go to Morgan & Bethany's cabin or downsize to a smaller cabin. As far as auction..... We are in favor of cancelling it, and that's not because of the time of year. Give me a break people... we have a full year to pay our auction bill so that isn't even a factor, it's just that we don't know if we are totally into the auction. We'd rather just know what we owe for our portion of the reunion & pay it. As far as our family coming..... the kids are coming for sure with Dad & Mom (minus Gunnar). We have already scheduled the vacation days for the reunion in anticipation that we will be able to make it too. We will just have to see how I am doing and what the doctor says as far as my traveling at that point in the pregnancy. I will be having the baby for sure via c-section on the week of December 29th, so it will be a close call. Please don't CANCEL the reunion because of us though. We are in TOTAL support of the reunion and think it sounds like the most fun reunion planned up to this point. There is nothing like being nestled down in a warm cozy cabin and doing fun holiday activities and playing in a TON of snow. It's the best ever and we will always relish our time we spent up at Morgan & Bethany's cabin last winter right before Christmas. DON'T CANCEL THE REUNION!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should cancel. When you think about it we have been really lucky to have as many reunions as we have had with all of us there. To coordinate 9 families(mom & dad included) to all make it at the same time for how many years now? is pretty amazing! It just attests to the commitment we all have to being together and that is a beautiful thing. This year is a little different but I am sure that everyone that can't come would be coming if it wasn't for the baby factor.
ReplyDeleteAnyway you all know all this- my vote is for REUNION: ON... WHERE: Small cabin unless that inconveniences anyone and if so we have the funds for what we were planning, lets go for it. Next year is a new year... AUCTION: Whatever-(I do have some good ideas for this year) although I don't see any reason to cancel it.
That is my take. Hope everone is doing great! REUNION ON!!!
BRIT
I would still like to hold the reunion. I'm am all for downgrading to a smaller cabin or using the Call cabin. We have had some awesome memories there. Jordan wanted me to say that a smaller cabin will be fine as long as it will accommodate everyone so people don't get cabin fever. Maybe pictures of the smaller cabin would help him out.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Nonni's idea to spend the money on seeing temple square lights was pretty cool. If it is not possible to hold the reunion, then this would be a great option. I, however, am hoping that we can get the smaller cabin and still hold the reunion in Island Park. It is beautiful up there in the winter!
As for the auction...I think that canceling the auction this year is a good idea. It takes money to make great auction items that will then bring in big money for the family fund. Wouldn't it make more sense to just donate the money that would have been spent on making the auction item directly to the family fund? This is just my opinion.
I do agree with Bryant that it stinks that we will be missing some families this winter, but it is also true that things will come up every year that will take people away from the reunion. This will actually be Jordan's first year coming to the reunion. Finally!
Greg and Melinda, thanks for all of you efforts in planning this amazing reunion. If we can make it work, I'm all in! I think that Jordan would really love to hear more about the smaller cabin option.
Reese
Dear Family, It's been awesome to observe all of your comments. You all are very level headed and wise. Your Dad and I agree that the reunion, as ably organized by Melinda and Greg, should go on as planned, adjusting cabin size as they see fit. We do feel, however, that canceling the auction would relieve stress during the holidays and it appears that there is plenty of money left in the account for extra activities, assuming that everyone brings a meal. Further discussion on future reunions can take place when we are all together at the reunion. Thanks again for all of your comments and especially to you, Melinda and Greg, for a great job in trying to do what is best for everyone!!! We love you all! Dad and Mom
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like lots of people are still in favor of having the reunion and are planning to come. I still would love to offer to see if our cabin is available and would definitely love to go there but it would be a tight fit if all of us come. The way I understood Greg’s post was that they were looking at downgrading the cabin because we no longer needed all the rooms in the big cabin if multiple families decided not to come. IF everybody’s coming but Jana and Lee then it would be my personal vote to keep the large cabin. If the money is in the fund to pay for it we might as well all be comfortable and have our own rooms. I don’t know if I want to share a room with any of you on a cold night. It’s like taking a date to a scary movie and having your Mom sit between you. Kind of hampers the opportunity for some good snuggling.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, I respect what ever Melinda and Greg decide. If they choose to downgrade, I’ll share a room with anyone that doesn’t own a Mac or go to Star Trek conventions… oh wait don’t the same people go to both :)
I’m really stoked to get in the hot tub then roll in the snow and jump back in like the masochistic little kids we were at Bev and Trent’s that one time.
Morgan