TAFRU Location

Although we don't have a specific location yet established, TAFRU will be held in Portland, OR.

Also, in an effort to continue spreading the word to other Toukoul adoptive families, we have been in contact with 2 of the 3 agencies. We hope to make contact with the 3rd agency in the next week or so.

There is plenty of room to add blog links to the TAFRU blog site. If you would like to have your family blog included on the sidebar just leave us a comment with your blog address and we will be happy to add it. Some of our families are waiting on referrals, some are traveling soon and others already have their children home. I, for one, am having fun checking out the blogs to see how everyone is doing and getting to know each family. Being able to meet many of you next year will be the icing on the cake.

Stay tuned for further updates and possible polls.

TAFRU Date and Volunteers

Based on the results of the poll, our first ever Toukoul Adoptive Families Reunion will be August 6th - 8th, 2010.

Also, joining me in making plans for TAFRU are Laura George, Kellyann Redick, Becky Zaw-Tun and Alisha Josifek. These ladies are going to do a great job helping me with the plans and I look forward to working with them over the next 14 months.

TAFRU Location Announcement

Based on the votes from those who participated in choosing a location, Oregon is the #1 requested location for our first ever Toukoul Adoptive Families Reunion.

Choosing a date was not so clear cut. There was a tie between the August 6th - 8th and August 13th - 15th dates. To select a specific date, I've set up a poll which is on the sidebar of the blog page. The poll will be open for 2 weeks, so please take a second to vote.

I'm also putting out a request for 3 or 4 volunteers to help with the remaining plans for TAFRU. I'll need at least one volunteer, preferably two from Oregon. If you are interested in helping out, please let me know.

I also realize that finding a location and date that would allow all families to attend was an impossible task. However, it was nice to see that some who chose Oregon, are not from Oregon but are interested in traveling to attend TAFRU. My hope that by having 14 months to plan, other families living outside the Oregon area will also be able to attend.

In the meantime, please continue to read the blog for updates as more specific details become available. I think we all want TAFRU to be a success so it can continue in the years to come at a location near you.

Oops!

I just realized that I left out a possible weekend, July 30th - August 1st. I know it's a little late, but I'm going to toss it into the mix so please let me know if this is a possibility for your family.

Final Update on Location and Date

At this point we have 55 families who have expressed interest in a Toukoul Adoptive Families Reunion. 47 of those families are blog participants and 8 have not yet accepted their blog invitations.

I'm still searching for Toukoul families who may be interested in participating in TAFRU, so please continue to spread the word.

Oregon is still in the lead for location; Central U.S. in 2nd and the E Coast and Washington are now tied for 3rd.

June 25th - 27th, August 6th - 8th and August 13th - 15th are in a 3 way tie for date right now.

So far, I've only received comments and/or emails from 17 blog participants giving me their choices for location(s) and date(s). Since we have 47 participants right now (48 counting me), there are 31 of you who have not yet given me your input. The location and date of TAFRU is going to be decided based on what the majority of families want, so please take a minute to leave a comment or send me an email with your opinion. It's okay to have more than one choice of location and/or date. Also, if you are willing to travel anywhere for for the reunion, please let me know that as well.

Last of all, if you would like to have your blog added to the sidebar so your fellow TAFRU families can 'get to know you,' please let me know. I know I've enjoyed reading the blogs and feel like I'm getting to know everyone a little better.

I hope everyone has a safe and glorious Memorial Day weekend!!!!!

Keeping Up On the Updates

In an effort to do a better job of keeping everyone updated, here are the latest and greatest stats:

We now have 43 reunion blog participants and 10 people who have requested, but not yet accepted invites to the blog.

Oregon is still in the lead for location, however, the Central U.S. has now taken over the 2nd place position.

June 25-27, August 6-8 and August 13-15 are all tied for the reunion date.


Again, if you have not yet left a comment with your choice for location and/or date, please do so. This reunion is for all Toukoul families and I want everyone to have a voice in as much of the planning process as possible.

Thanks.

Results-to-Date

Currently, there are 42 blog participants and 6 who have asked to join the blog, but not yet accepted the invitation.

In the lead for location is Oregon with the East Coast and Central U.S. tied for 2nd.

August 6th-8th and 13th-15th are currently tied for the reunion date with June 25th-27th in 2nd.


Because I am still receiving requests from folks to join the blog, I want to continue taking requests until May 31st. If you have not yet left a comment with your choice for location or date, please do so. It's okay to choose more than one location and more than one date.


Date choices are . . . . .


June 25 - 27
July 9 - 11
July 16-18
July 23-25
Aug 6-8
Aug 13-15


These are all 2010 dates.

Unless there is a clear winner for location and date, I will set up a poll on June 1st and ask everyone to vote on their choice for location and date. My goal is to have the location and date pinned down by the middle of June so more definitive reunion plans can begin.

Thanks for participating!!!!!