50th high school reunion----

[wendyquat]

I'm on the planning committee for our 50th reunion later this year and need some ideas. If any of you have been to a good reunion lately please share your experiences on things that made it a unique and memorable occasion.

[chuckinca]

1962 Music from American Graffitti.


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[graciegirl]

I just need you to know that no matter how you word the invitation a strange bunch of old people are gonna show up.

Been there.

Done that.

Keep the music low so you can hear what the others have to say.

BIG letters on the name tags.

Just being together will make it one of the best days of all of your lives.

Wishing you the happiest party ever!

[Figmo Bohica]

You think planning one is hard, try the plan when everyone was in a DOD School in Japan and come from all over the US and overseas. Our last one had 800 "kids" out of the 1200 plus that attended the overseas high school. God Bless the Internet.

Take Graciegirls advice, everyone will be old except YOU. *S*

Then make time so that everyone can talk about old times, your reunion will be a hit.

[paulandjean]

Just had one. Smalll Catholic school in Detroit. 62 in our class. Keep music low, Lights up, tables for easy in and outs.

[RichieB]

My class (66) had its 45th last year at a hotel on Long Island. My suggestion is to find a venue that has everything in one place - a dining hall as well as hotel rooms. You will have classmates coming from potentially all over the country. For everyone's comfort and safety, a hotel that can meet your needs is a good place to start.

[NotGolfer]

We stopped having the d.j. for ours as folks would rather chat with their friends and the $$$ was a waste. Have name tags with pictures of the person from the year book on it. Send out a form that the folks can fill in info on their family and what they've been doing over the years...then print a book. Also have them put in contact info.

Our class makes sort of a weekend of it. Friday night is a "mixer" and then Sat. there is a golf outing (with a breakfast or lunch where everyone is welcome). Sat. night is the actuall reunion with a banquet and a master or mistress of ceremonies. Rewards...you figure out for what to be given!

Sunday.....farewell brunch!!

[manaboutown]

Although I was unable to attend our 50th (I attended the 20th, 30th and 40th) whoever was in charge hired a guy who takes videos of class reunions. I bought a copy of the DVD and it was great! He interviewed attendees as they showed up, during and after after dinner and taped the class president (who is a very funny guy) MCing after dinner. I do not know if people who do this charge up front or just hope to sell videos, probably both.

[njbchbum]

our reunion committee prepared an address/contact book after the reunion AND included a comments section that was generated from providing attendees a large index card so each could answer 3 questions - what is your best h.s. memory, what is your worst h.s. memory, what was your biggest surprise at the reunion?

it is best to put a label with the respondant's name on the index card in case they forget to sign it. and the comment cards were just scanned into a computer and then cut/pasted into pages for the booklet...simple desktop publishing software put the whole thing together.

[Ohio RailGirl]

My last reunion was the 45th and I scanned every yearbook photo, old football game programs, etc., added some oldies music and old time still photos like Sky King, Lone Ranger, howdy doody TV shows pix and added 1950/1960 music. I put all this into a CD and had it continuously run on a big screen in the country club during the reunion. I made extra CDs in case anybody wanted them and got so many requests I made and mailed out many more.

[manaboutown]

For the 20th and 40th the organizers hired a photographer who took photos of couples as they arrived all dressed up for the saturday night banquet. These, along with other photos taken at the friday night cocktail party and the sunday picnic where used to create a "yearbook" of the reunion. We also toured the old school on saturday at the 40th and had a group photo of us taken there. The yearbooks turned out great and I have them saved along with the actual yearbooks.

[jebartle]

a golf tournament, which was GREAT fun!...In addition to Gracie suggestions, make sure they know where the restroom is located....Ha!

[LatDoc]

I went to a large all boys high school in Phila....I know a significant number are gone by now....It would be nice to invite their widow or a grown child to attend...they might enjoy meeting some high school friends who knew their father/husband.
Has anyone attempted this?
Did it work out?
This will be my 50th....I have not been back for 25 years.
I know a few of the guys who have died and would be glad to ask their widow or child if they might like to do this.

[KYWildcat]

Golf scamble! We always have one and the gals are invited also! If they do not play, have them drive the beer cart!

[RichieB]

Golf scamble! We always have one and the gals are invited also! If they do not play, have them drive the beer cart!

ooh, ooh, I volunteer for driving the beer cart ! Can't guarantee how much beer will be left for the golfers :icon_wink:

Where and when is the reunion ?!:beer3:

[CaptJohn]

All of the above suggestions are great. Every time I thought to add one, somebody else had it. I would emphasize the yearbook pictures on nametags with LARGE printed names so you'll recognize 'those old folks'. (You're who?)
We found a local band from the sixties that had started playing again and hired them. Put them at the end of the 2nd night though for the hard core partiers and volume problem. Everyone had a good time dancing. Cheerleaders lead old school cheers. Food in adjoining room buffet style, stand up eating. 2 nights----first just talk session, second, the real party.