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Page 2
submitted
by our ListHostess, Shirley
Comments of Homespun members to a previous
Reunion discussion thread... (part 1)
In order to serve so many people we ate at an armory.
I've coordinated several reunions (hate to admit it).
We've had dinner dances with spouse (about $50/couple)
allow to pay the dj or band, etc, luncheons -- ladies
only -- I attended an all-girl school, dinners, they have
been at the school or other locations. My sister has a
"weekend reunion" There will be a family
picnic, dinner dance, and luncheon. You can attend any or
all of the events. Some have suggested a pizza party at
the school. Some have gone to Vegas as a group with
travel agents setting up the rooms, etc. I guess it
depends on the group. A questionnaire is always helpful.
But not too many questions. Also include a deadline for
returns. Get a committee to help you. There is a lot of
work involved.
At my 10th class reunion weekend, I had the time of my
life. I paid $50 a couple for me and my husband but I
would of paid more! One major piece of advice - my
brother's reunion is this summer and his class officers
hired a consultant to plan the reunion and it's costing
them a fortune! Don't do that - it's hard work planning
one, but worth it.
We had a casual get together on Friday night at a local
restaurant/bar. It was not air conditioned and we liked
to burned up. We won't do that again, but the owner was a
classmate and we got to rent the bar side for free and it
was closed to the public. We hired a band made up of
mostly classmates or THS (Tupelo, MS) grads. We had free
finger foods and soft drinks. You registered there
andreceived your free t-shirt and class book. The book
told all about the grads now and their address and such.
If anyone wanted to order food or drinks, it was on them.
Saturday we had a family picnic at a park. Everyone
brought their kids and ate bbq that was catered in. We
had the usual bbq stuff and soft drinks. Everyone just
visited and saw each others kids. It was fun too and low
keyed. The kids
ran around playing. This is where we voted for things
like most changed, least changed, longest married, etc.
Saturday night was at a banquet hall with a band and
finger foods and soft drinks. There was a cash bar. It
was fun but too small. We plan for a larger place at the
20th. We had a display memorializing those who had died
and a display of memorabilia. It was fun and I loved it!
A friend of mine on country recipes said at her husband
reunion this summer, she compiled a cook book and
household tips of the classmates.
My 30th reunion is coming up in a couple of weeks. We
have pretty much a set plan for each reunion. Friday
night we meet at the local Elks club for registration and
social gathering. Saturday afternoon we all do a
community service. This year we're washing cars for
Literacy. Last time we collected money for DARE. Saturday
night we have a dinner somewhere at $50/couple complete
with a dj and reading of the class will and class
prophecy. Sunday either someone hosts a backyard bbq or
we go to the local swimming hole. A few reunions ago we
combined forces with area school reunions and brought the
Beatles (impersonators of course) to town! Boy, we
rocked! Even our kids were dancing!
My high school (an all girls school) also hosts a yearly
reunion luncheon. It includes an update of the past year,
recognition of special accomplishments and a huge raffle.
All prizes are donated and most recently they've been
organized into gift baskets. A basket of tickets to
play/movies and coupons for popcorn or a basket of new
baby items or gardening items or artsy items or craft
items, etc. Then on the day of the luncheon tickets are
sold and you can place a ticket(s) in a small box in
front of each of the gifts you want (small kleenex boxes
work great). Numbers are drawn and prizes are claimed.
What fun.
A few years ago I was visiting an aunt in Millinocket,
Maine. It happened to be "Reunion Weekend" The
town invited all past graduates to a dinner dance. My
cousin and her husband were attending and asked me to go
too. (I spent the evening talking to the spouse. The town
had graduation pictures from each class in all the
storefront windows. It was neat to cruise up and down the
streets and find the appropriate class.
Also a good thing to do is to include memorabilia from
your time in high school. Include such things as a gym
uniform, prom bids, special newsletters, funny stories,
we had dumb-looking uniforms. Someone on the committee
kept all these things.
Before or after each meal- guests sign with ink the linen
table cloth - after the cloth gets embroidered and is
used as a wall hanging to remember everyone who has
visited. I think it would be great at a reunion then
embroider it to pass around the families who hold the
next reunion event...
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