The Reunion Project - Passing the Torch (6/30)
By Scott Ryan
As the final minutes ticked away Saturday night, a big weight lifted from our shoulders, but we knew there was just a bit more work to do. Sunday morning, a few of us met for brunch to recap the amazing weekend. Considering the fact that we got a late start in planning things, it turned out as close to perfect as possible. We made enough to cover our costs--if there's any money left over after everything is finalized we might donate it to the school.
We maybe could have been a little better with communication when it came to PayPal fees and the food details. Neither was a serious problem, but with an event this size you're always looking for ways to improve. I also wished I could have had enough time to find every single classmate. Out of an unofficial class size of almost 400, we officially contacted 369 people, but I suspect I found half of the missing people--they just didn't reply to any calls or emails. We wound up with 250 or so in total attendance over both nights, though some people went to both functions.
However much work you think something like this is, double your estimate. And have some serious people in place to work with--people who get results. I was lucky to have two great people to work with. I can't say whether we'll all be here to try our hand at this again, but I feel we've set a standard for future classes to follow. Regardless of what the future brings, I've probably talked myself into a role with any reunions down the road.
Finally, our moment in time was captured by one of our classmates in video montages for Friday and Saturday.
July 21 Update:
The school district is considering tearing down the high school in 2018 as part of a long-tern capital improvement plan. I guess it's been talked about for several years, but at some point, buildings simply have to be renovated or replaced. PAHS was the first high school in the city, but I guess 60 years or so is a pretty good run. I just hope they'll let us walk the hallways one last time as part of our 30th reunion.
*About this blog: Scott is a 1988 graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Va. and is blogging about his experience planning his 25th high school reunion, which was June 28-29, 2013. You can contact Scott at 248-945-9950 or at sryan@cbs.com. Please put "The Reunion Project" in the subject line. Visit his class website here
