Hey Grand Family! After much deliberation, we will have a reunion this year 😊 The location has changed and we've scaled it down quite a bit, but we think this will be a much-needed change.
The reunion invitations are ready to send out. I'm sending all of the emailed invites today. If you don't get an emailed one, send us your name and email and we'll get you added to the list. Mailed invites will go out sometime this week.
Dear Grand Family,
Another year in the books! Our 56th year of celebrating our family together, and it was a success! Lots of hard work, yet an amazing turn out and lots of fun.
I want to say: Denise said she passed the torch to me in taking charge...well, she worked just as hard as she always does and has, which I am so grateful for.
A big thank you to Denise's mom, Kathy, for steppin' up and donating her tables and chairs for us to enjoy with no cost to us. Thank you, Willie, Jimmy, and Walt, for manning up and handling the cooking of two amazing meals. Thank you to all who stepped in to help without being asked. I needed all the help I could get!
We did well with the auction, bringing in about $1700.00. You can help yourself to the website to see expenses & revenue (click the State of the Reunion tab).
With all this being said - I am looking forward to next year! Thank you again and we'll see y'all in 2026!
Launi
Updates and notes from Launi:
Thank you to all that have RSVP’d and paid in advance.
If you haven’t yet done so, please do it now! We need a food count.
This year, at the Old Town Ranch, the camping in your own
RV is only $25 but no hook-ups. It’s only $125 each for the last two
wagons available. Go online and check them out, they’re pretty cool.
Please remember: NO PETS ALLOWED!
Our goal is to start the auction immediately after eating. So please
don’t forget your auction items. When you bring your auction items you
will receive one ticket per person to win a Grand prize.
Please be mindful to keep the camp clean throughout the day to avoid
a hefty fine from the venue.
Hoping your plans are to stay into the evening to enjoy the games,
campfire, etc. Please remember to bring cash to get in on the games.
Also, Denise and Launi have scanned over 200 of Jerry Stewart’s Grand
family photo collection. We will be selling the collection on USB drives for
only $10.
Hey Grand Family! Happy New Year! It's that time of year again, even if it is a little bit earlier this year, it's time to get ready for the 56th Grand Family Reunion. Launi has been busy organizing a wonderful reunion for all of us. It's been fun seeing the different venues and this year is no exception. Old Town Ranch has six Conestoga wagons for guests to stay in and RV's and tents can camp around them. Contact Launi if you're interested in staying in the wagons. All the information is on the invitation below. PLEASE REGISTER AND PAY EARLY. It makes a huge difference for the organizers. Also, please plan to bring an item for the auction (see the note on the invitation). Hope y'all can come.
Click HERE for a printable version of the invitation.
Just a quick note to say "Thank you" to Denise (and Larry too) for a wonderful 2024 reunion. The location was wonderful, and the smoked brisket and pork were delicious. Thank you for all the effort you put into making it so fun for the rest of us.
Also, we were super speedy getting all of the paperwork done this year, so the totals for this year's reunion are already posted on the State of the Reunion page. Check it out!
It came to our attention again this year that some folks don't understand the concept that paying the price for the meal is not just to pay for the meat. It doesn't matter if you're vegan or carnivore, or if you only eat what you brought. The funds that we receive should probably be called an attendance fee. The fee covers the meat, the venue and any other expenses. the Auction has also been a good way to pay for the expense of the reunion. The organizers try to break even each year but as you can see on the State of the Reunion page, some years we have a profit and some a loss. So, please don't come to the reunion and not pay the full price - it hurts all of us. Heck, even the organizers pay. Hope that clears things up.
Have you registered for this year's reunion?
If not, please do so NOW!
Registering BEFORE the actual event makes it so much easier for the organizer to plan how much food and supplies to purchase. This will keep costs down and eliminate waste. The organizers plan for months to make it a pleasant and fun filled weekend for you - the least you can do is register before you come to the reunion. We've made it super easy for you. Just scan the Venmo or Zelle links on the invitation or here on the Reunion Registration page or mail your registration form (bottom of the 2nd page of the invitation) Super easy! Heck, at the very least you could text, email, or message us here, to let us know you're coming. Oh, and I should say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has already taken the time to register, we greatly appreciate it 😊
A special thanks this year to Randy Jr. & Carmen Opperman for providing and donating the wonderful venue, the meat and hospitality at the 2023 reunion in Palmdale, CA. Your property was the perfect place to hold the reunion.
We still need a family to organize and host the 2024 reunion. Again, if nobody steps up to the plate and shares the responsibility of overseeing the next reunion, there is a possibility that we may not have one next year. If you're interested call Denise. Get a group together - siblings, cousins, etc. - and get in on the fun of providing the next generation with a link to their past and future - VOLUNTEER TO ORGANIZE THE 2024 REUNION.
Cindy wanted us to let you all know that Forest had a heart attack yesterday. It was followed up with a ride to the hospital and open-heart surgery to clear a blocked artery. He'll be in the hospital for a bit but cannot have any visitors. We'll be praying for a quick recovery.
Just wanted to convey a special THANK YOU to the Opperman family for all their hard work and attention to detail in planning and executing this years Grand Family Reunion. A great time was had by all who attended.
The reunion is this weekend!
As you can see below, we have a wonderful new logo this year. Since the reunion is held in Palmdale, the Oppermans thought it was only fitting to have a Joshua Tree on it. They did a great job on the design. This logo is available as a black, 9"x 9", iron-on for $3.00. If you'd like one, just bring a clean, white or colored (the black logo will show up best on light colors), t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc. Denise will have her heat press machine to press the logos on for you.
Also, although Landcaster's temperature is forecast to be 90 degrees on Saturday, it's been windier than usual, and the evenings are brisk. It's a good idea to bring a jacket and sunscreen.
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We love dogs, but kindly request they don’t attend the reunion.
In this fun backyard setting, space is limited for all of the shenanigans & easy navigation for our disabled & elderly family members.
It's that time of year again! Time to start planning your trip to the next Grand Family Reunion. A huge thank you to the Opperman family for taking it on this year. 😊
Just wanted to let you know that we've posted the income & expense totals on the State of the Reunion page. Click HERE or the button on the right side of the page marked "State of the Reunion".
The 2022 reunion operated at a loss. Fewer family members attended this year. As most of you already know, the planners try to at least break even each year. Unfortunately, we're never sure how many people will actually attend until the day of the big family meal since so many people choose not to register in advance. It makes it difficult for the planners to know just how much food and supplies need to be purchased. Most years it works out but small years it just wastes the reunion's money, and we operate at a loss.
Now, we have some decisions to make about how the reunion will operate in the future. When the reunion started a different branch of the family would volunteer to plan it each year. This was a great plan that kept the whole family involved and didn't put the work on one family. This has not been happening lately. In fact, it's rare for someone to step up and take it on. So, as we see it, if no other family volunteers to take on the planning for next year, it will probably be a very simple one-day event. By very simple we mean minimizing the supplies need so set-up and take-down is much easier, for example: NO tables or chairs would be provided - you'd need to bring your own chairs, drinks, etc. and eat picnic style. We're also considering eliminating some of the fun stuff like the horseshoe tournament & bingo. These have been reunion favorites since the beginning but without more help from the rest of the family this too may change. We don't want to see our beloved family reunions come to an end. We just need the rest of the family to take on some of the responsibility and joy of organizing a reunion now and again. Afterall, out of the 10 Grand children 7 of them have a great number of descendants to help carry on this Grand tradition - organizing the reunion once every 7 years shouldn't be too much of a burden for any of them.
If you're interested in taking on the task of organizing and running the 2023 reunion (or any of the upcoming reunions) contact Linda (619)442-6900 or Denise (951)265-6082 - or send us an email: thegrandfamilyreunion@gmail.com Check out the information we've provided to help with organizing the reunion HERE or by clicking the button on the right side of this page marked "Help for the Organizer". By the way, when you organize it, you get to choose where to have it.
Thank you.
We're saddened to announce the passing away of John F. Mallow on May 10, 2022.
John, "Johnnie" as he was loving called by his family, was the oldest son of John and Rita Mallow, born August 27, 1939. He was the first grandchild of Fred and Margaret Farmer. He joined the military when he graduated high school. He lived in various places around the country finally settling in Ridgecrest CA. He is survived by his wife, Robin and his siblings, Linda McKinney, Wally Mallow and Mike Mallow.
Rest in peace.
It's that time of year again. Actually, we're a bit earlier than normal, but it's time to start making your travel arrangements for our upcoming reunion. If you didn't get an invitation emailed to you, please send your current email address to: thegrandfamilyreunion@gmail.com You can download or print the invite with the link below. You can also sign-up and pay on the Reunion Registration Page - click the button on the right of this page. Here's the 2022 invitation:
Click HERE to download and print the invitation
Click HERE to register and pay with PayPal
