Last Minute Preparations

Can you believe we are only 32 days away from the McDonald Family Reunion?

Karen and I have received registrations for 84 people - 47 adults and 37 children (10 high school/junior high school age, 13 elementary school age, and 14 pre-school age and younger). The turn-out has been fantastic and we are looking forward to spending time together with everyone.

Just a few reminders in this posting. First, we are putting together the sleeping arrangements and will be contacting you shortly about them. Please plan to bring linens and pillows for your entire family, along with bath/beach towels, shampoo, soap, and other needed personal hygiene items. Second, those who indicated on the registration form an interest in having additional professional family photographs will also be contacted about costs. Third, please remember the family food assignments. And finally, when your family arrives on the 2nd there is a waiver required by Campus Grove that each family needs to fill out. We will have a copy available for you to complete when you check in.

P.S. I know there are some soccer fans out there, and in order to not miss the quarterfinal matches of the World Cup from South Africa, we are working to have an internet connection available to watch the competition. The matches on Saturday, July 3rd start at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Go USA!

Registration forms due on May 15th!

Just a friendly reminder that the registration forms and fee is due on MAY 15th. It is critical that these be sent in on time as deposits and payments are coming due. Please don't make us track you down and go all medieval.

There are a couple of changes to announce. First, the company we had originally contracted with to provide Friday's catered meal has gone out of business. No worries though, as we have a new recommended chef to step in, this time with a Dutch oven menu currently being finalized. Second, there will be an adult-sized bounce house, complete with a water slide. So, parents don't be afraid to bring your swim suits and jump in there with the kiddies. Third, the scheduled waterskiing trip on Saturday is being coordinated with Bart and Brian. They will need some help in transporting folks who want to go. Final plans will be made on Friday night.

Directions to Campus Grove in Albion, Idaho can be found here.

Please plan to arrive on Friday, July 2nd at no earlier than 4:00 p.m. Karen and I, along with Brady and Mindy McDonald, will be there to check you in, hand out the reunion t-shirts, and direct you to your rooms. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and family pictures will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Time is short, hope you are all as excited as we are about this reunion!

The Registration Packet is in the Mail!

No, its not an April Fool's joke - the registration packet is in the mail. Be sure to check your mailboxes in the coming days. Included in the mailing is the Registration Form, a tentative Schedule, and details about the facilities at Campus Grove. Please review all the information, as there are several deadlines to be aware of.

First, and this will be the last time we bug you about this, we've extended the deadline for the family history project. The absolute drop dead date to get us 10 to 15 of your family photographs is April 20th! Review the March 2009 and August 2009 entries for more details. Please don't miss out on participating in this project.

Second, the deadline to return the Registration Form is May 15th. It is critical that we have the registration forms back on time in order to finalize the reunion plans. The total cost per family is $355.00, which covers the rental of Miller Hall and its amenities; reunion t-shirts; group photographs; planned reunion activities; meals; family history and photo collection DVDs; and postage and mailings.

Scrapbooks, Home Movies, and Vacation Photos, Oh My!

Miller Hall's second floor Sitting Room will offer everyone a chance to share their home movies, scrapbooks, and family photos. Uncle Brent will be bringing a TV, DVD and VHS player to allow the entire family to share their own family histories. Sure, we'd love to see that stake road show you starred in. Yes, everyone would get a kick out of seeing those photographs of those awkward teenage years. Anyone else remember that Thanksgiving in 1991 at Brent and Nancy's in Nampa, where nearly the entire family gathered for the holiday? Well, be sure to stop by the Sitting Room, as Brent will be showing the two-hour video during the reunion. Please plan to bring your family memories to share with the rest of us - just follow the sounds of the laughter coming from the second floor.

Waterskiing on Saturday, July 3rd!

Bart and Brian have each graciously offered to bring their boats and take the family waterskiing at either Lake Walcott ($4.00 a day, per vehicle) or the Oakley Reservoir (also known as the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir). Both are about an hour's drive from Albion. Each boat can comfortably seat 6 to 8 people, and has life preservers. Those planning on going waterskiing will need to bring their swim suits/trunks, sun block, and towels. The reunion registration form will have a place to indicate for those wishing to go; further details will be released at a later date.

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Reminder that the deadline to submit your family's digital photographs is March 1, 2010. Please read the August 1, 2009 entry for further information about this important project.

McDonald Clan Weight Loss Challenge!

The McDonald Clan Weight Loss Challenge is designed to increase your physical activity, improve your eating habits, and lose the pounds, all while competing for a monetary prize. The challenge begins on Friday, January 1, 2010, and will end on Thursday, July 1, 2010, the day before the reunion starts.

Here’s how it all works:

Participants record their starting weight and starting measurements (specific directions will be given on how to do that to those who enter the competition). Those numbers are then reported to an independent party who serves as the competition's official recordkeeper. In addition to reporting those baseline numbers, you will keep a record of progress for yourself. Weigh-ins will take place every other Friday, beginning January 15, 2010, with your first weigh-in.

A percentage calculation of over-all weight loss will be used to determine the winner. Ultimately, participants will be on their honor when reporting weigh-in and measurement totals. The calculation will be figured to the 100th percent. In the case of a tie, the number of inches lost and will be factored in. For example Jasper’s weight is 220, Gertrude’s weight is 200. If Jasper lost 40 pounds, he lost 18.18% of his total body weight. If Gertrude lost 40 pounds, she lost 20.00% of her total body weight. So, for Jasper to have the same weight loss percentage as Gertrude, he would have to loose 44 pounds. For someone weighing 140 pounds, they would need to loose 28 pounds to hit 20.00%.

All numbers are to be reported via phone or e-mail to Lisa Curtis, (916) 875-4070 or CurtisL@saccounty.net. She is a health educator and fitness expert for Sacramento County who has agreed to confidentially keep all records, and complete the necessary calculations to determine the winners. She will distribute two progress reports approximately 6 weeks apart so all participants can view each other’s progress in the form of percentage totals.

Participants must register by Friday, January 15, 2010. The entrance fee is $50.00 per person, due on the first day of the reunion, Friday, July 2nd, 2010. The winner will be announced on Saturday morning, July 3rd. Prizes are based on anticipated participants and subject to change according to final entries:

1st place $600
2nd place $200
3rd place $100
4th place $50
"100 Percenter" Award $50 (highest participation in reporting their bi-weekly numbers)

For those wishing to participate or who have additional questions, please send Karen an email (kornerkutter@hotmail.com) and she will send you additional information and forms to help you in your weight loss and to officially enter you in the competition. We hope we get a lot of participation, after all who doesn't want to look good for the reunion?

Friday July 2nd Catered Dinner

On Friday, July 2nd we will be treated to a meal by Heritage Peaks Catering. The reunion officially begins at 3:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6:00 p.m. It's a chance to relax after your family's journey to Albion.

The meal will include:

Beef and vegetable lasagna
Tri color vegetable pasta salad
Twice baked bacon potatoes
Flake layer dinner rolls
Salad bar service
Fresh fruit
Apple, orange and grape juice, & milk

Come hungry! No need to worry about setting up or doing dishes, its all taken care of.