The Reunion Project - Location, Location, Location (12/7)
By Scott Ryan
Well, we did it. Finally booked a location for our party. It's at the Crowne Plaza in what is now Virginia Beach's downtown area. Obviously the credit for getting it done goes to the part of the crew that's out there. And I think we learned a good lesson--however much lead time you think you need, double it! As far as 'good' locations go, we were running low on options. The other route would have been to change the date, but that would have been too confusing and some people had already started making plans.
And that freed me up to send out about 300 emails to people, half of which didn't reach their destinations. Why? Good question, but I guess that's what I get for setting up an email list that big. So now I have to track people down--again--to see if they got my email. I've already re-sent it to 100 or so classmates. At least my upcoming vacation is planned out. Of the 150 or so people who've replied, just over half are planning to be there.
But the good news is that we have a location, a menu, and even some sponsors! This is the biggest reunion effort to date--and with so many people reconnecting with old friends, it's a great chance for people to do business with someone they know.
I'm even trying my hand at website design. Check it out here! Let me know what you think.
Along with Saturday night's event, we're trying to plan a Friday night gathering too. And a picnic. Saturday is a party. Period. No tuxes, you don't have to wear a suit or an evening dress. Show up and eat, laugh, dance. A wedding reception without any formalities. That means Friday will have to be more about food and friends--we're working on a restaurant.
I'm not sure yet if we'll wind up making the Friday event a free one. We might just follow what the group for the 20th reunion did--pass the hat. Several classmates are only interested in the Friday event--in part, because certain friends will be there. And those friends will be there because of our exhaustive efforts to bring everybody together. I hope people take that into consideration.
*About this blog: Scott is a 1988 graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Va. and is blogging about his experience ahead of his 25th high school reunion in 2013. You can contact Scott at 248-945-9950 or via email at sryan@cbs.com. Please put "The Reunion Project" in the subject line.
