Second Guessing

The planning for the 45th is well underway. The place and time are set, the arrangements with Reitz are done and the reservation forms have been sent. Linda has made a special effort to contact those whose emails bounced back (naughty naughty for not letting your reunion committee know that you changed 'em) and several of the few we mailed were returned to senda' so we're working on that too.

The point, I suppose is that it's decision time. To go or not. One evening out of 45 years to satisfy curiousity, to see how people turned out, maybe to renew an old friendship. Not a bad deal for $20 bucks. I can tell you from my own experience with my class and my less than friendly reunion committee that at one point I was seriously torn about attending my own reunion. But ultimately, I went and I managed to avoid the committee for the most part and managed not to get myself thrown out for expressing my feelings.

In return, I received far more than I gave for the $75 they charged for admission. All that I wrote about how some people change, how some people don't, how the reasons for friendships 45 years ago still exist, it's all true. I'd say that I'm so wise, except Linda will tell you the truth. So for less than 1/3 of the cost of my reunion, come make up your own mind about how wise I am. There are people who will be looking for you. If you come, it will make it worthwhile. If you don't, they will miss you.

The biggest problem the reunion committee is facing now is second guessing itself based on the results of the 44th Spring Get Together. While following the guidelines provided by the forms we had folks fill out, we're going to have a cash bar and no music to interfere with the conversation. That still leaves decorations, themes or no, menu planning, program of events, a directory update or not, how to handle memorials (the way we did it at the 44th, while very moving, was quite the downer), so many issues for the committee to work out.

In truth, a hundred years from now, no one will know the difference, but nonetheless, any conscientious person will continue to second guess themselves right up to the actual event and beyond. I know it will turn out fine. I know that everyone will have a good time. I'm hoping for an even better turnout than last time because everyone will have heard about what a good time was had back in the Spring of 2011. And our pictures will still be free for all who want them from the website or for the cost of printing and postage for those without the means to print them. And I absolutely promise to get that shot of the Veterans of the Reitz Class of 1967, without fail. Linda has also sent postcards to teachers who may attend.

Till next time, I will leave you with a thought: No matter what you may think now, attending will have an impact on you. I think back to Dave Spae, in my class, with whom I reunited in the process of putting together my class directory. We were actively finding friends and classmates and talking about the reunion which just took place, on a regular basis. Dave didn't attend. He passed away this past February, just 3 months shy of the reunion. I would have liked to have seen Dave again, but never got the chance. This year Reitz 67 has lost several classmates since the 44th. The message is clear.......

Get Ready for the OOBE

OOBE? That's Out Of Box Experience. I just had one this past weekend. In addition to the Wayne Valley High School 45th Reunion in Wayne New Jersey, I also attended a get together of my 7 and 8th grade classes featuring our teachers, who married not long after surviving us. They had a profound influence on us then, and they did again this weekend.

This weekend was an emotional and intellectual roller coaster. There were too many people to talk to them all, and some I even missed until I saw photos later. Many of them were there because of Linda and my contacting them, some of them attending for the first time. They are only just beginning to see how reunions can be different. As you can see, I think Reitz 67 had almost as many people  for the April get together. Wayne Valley had 600 + classmates. So not the turnout one would hope for.

Now the Reitz Class of 67 has had a chance to see what can be done. Now the Reunion Committee is stepping it up a notch! By a whole $8 dollars. For $20 a head, you get fed, you can buy a drink and pull up a chair and talk with people you haven't seen in a while (sometimes a good long while) and share in the memories you made back then and the memories you will make in September. There are going to be teachers there too.

So presuming that you've already gotten your reservation forms, fill 'em in, send in a check and we'll mark you down for the t shirts you say you want. July 15 is the theoretical deadline (we're trying to be kind to our vendors by giving them enough time to do what they do.) September will be here before you know it.

Before You Know It

Linda's got me working on the class info database so that we can produce mailing labels (much better than hand writing envelopes - we try to work smart when we can) so you haven't heard to much from me here. That same database will help generate the photo name tags too.

I'm also working with my Wayne classmates for later this month organizing an informal get together with my 7th and 8th grade classmates before the "official" reunion.

I thought retirement was going to be lounging around living the Life of Riley. Riley doesn't live here.

That's right. Before you know it, the 45th Reunion will be upon us. The reunion committee is preparing a combination leaflet and reservation form which will be mailed and/or emailed to everyone during the beginning of June.

Because of vendor scheduling, we need reservations for attendance at the events and T-shirts by July 15. We need to confirm expected attendance numbers with Echo Valley, and T shirt orders with the screen printer to allow them production time.

To review the scheduled events quickly:

Friday Sept. 7, 7am: R-Men's golf scramble, shotgun tee offs.
Friday 6pm: Reitz-(opponent to be announced) football in the Bowl

Saturday Sept 8, (time tba) School Tour
Saturday 5pm The Reitz Class of 67 45th Reunion at Echo Valley

All the details will be spelled out to the best of our knowledge in the leaflet.

I remember thinking after last April's Spring event that we had plenty of time to get it all ready for the Real Reunion the following Fall. Time has passed quickly. As each year represents a smaller and smaller fraction of our lives, I think that perception just keeps accelerating. Keep an eye out here and on Facebook - and in your mail box (real or electronic) for details as they become available. Still waiting on Reitz and the IHSAA for the Reitz opponent Reunion weekend and also when the school tour will commence and who will be doing guide duty.

See you soon!

Even as we prepare........

Bob Padgett

Even as we prepare for the re-ignition of the Reunion Committee this Sunday with a little meeting to discuss what little needs to be decided, we mourn the passing of our classmate, Ron Carlisle and the beloved Reitz Track and Football coach Bob Padgett. Ron lost his battle with cancer at the end of last year. Not having heard from his family for a while, we feared the worst and the worst was confirmed. Mike Connors first let us know about Coach Padgett, who died just this past week. Obituaries for both can be found on the Memorial and Teachers pages respectively and respectfully.


Work on getting teacher photos is progressing and as ever, those of you who have not yet gotten a photo to Linda will be subjected to paparazzi attentions at the Reunion.

Expect announcement about the sale of T Shirts for the Reunion football game and other September Reunion events. and more details about the Reunion itself (menu, pricing etc.) As ever, we will do our best to strike a balance between a fair affordable price and quality. And as ever, the keyword is inclusion. We also hope to have some of the faculty attending as well. More on this as we get teacher responses.

More Photos and Some Updates

Louise Owen

Hi Folks,

Linda, despite being a crazed shut in for the past few weeks, is still hunting photos for both the class and for teachers as well. She contacted Louise Owen who is still around in Evanville and doing well. Before you know it, she'll be zipping around the Westside in the little red Smart car again, unstoppable as ever.

Patty Qualls also got a photo of the previously elusive Phyllis Day.

We are starting to plan some of the elements of Reunion, namely T-Shirts, getting pricing and logo styles and such. We will be announcing details as soon as the research phase is complete. As with everything else we have done in class related items, we will be doing our best to keep pricing affordable to get the broadest participation possible. Reunion theme decorations are starting to float around in the air in as yet idle speculation too.

We found out from Larry Broerman that the R-Men decided to have their Golf Outing on the Friday of Reunion weekend instead of the usual Saturday. That just eases the event crowding on Saturday so the golfers can also do the school tour on Saturday morning.

The response to the Class Cruise Vacation is starting to build. We actually have a half dozen reservations already and verbals for about 20 more (after all, it's a year away, and the miserable sleety snowy weather outside this morning certainly makes me think fondly of the Caribbean that we left only 3 weeks ago.) Yes, we know it's not cheap, but it ain't a john boat on the Ohio either. It promises to be a truly memorable (and better yet, sharable) vacation worth saving for. David Fritz strongly suggests that reservations be made by April so that favorable room accommodations can be secured. After that, the more desirable locations may be gone.

I for one am truly gratified by the wonderful response from the veterans of the class including many photos from the way-back machine.

We're Back!

The Hip Cruise has been taken, the surgery is over, the recuperation has begun, and the work continues We're back on the job, tracking down your teachers. Some are gone, but many are still here and we'll be contacting them and inviting them to the reunion. What better way to spend your stuck-at-home time then to track down the Reitz teachers who gave so much. So keep your eye on the teachers page on the site!

And needless to say, if you have any info about these folks, let us know!

The Cruise to Somewhere clarification:

1. Cruise prices are set by the cruise companies. There are no "discounts" by going to one cruise agent versus another. The commissions are all built in. If you book direct, the cruise company keeps the commission. The difference is what a cruise agent can do with on board ship credits and fee waivers. That's why we went with Cruise Everything.

2. The details of the Cruise are as follows:

     a. The Ship: Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
     b. The Date: February 10, 2013 - that's NOT next week. It's NEXT YEAR!
     c. Departing from Port Canaveral, FL
     d. Destinations: Cocoa Cay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten

3. You have to get to Port Canaveral. Cruise Everything can help with that too, if you choose.

4. Here is the link to the cruise offer: http://cruises.advaia.com/details/?CID=41&OfferID=876387

5. You can call David with any additional questions you may have. He will be happy to talk to you.

It's Never Easy

Well, the New Year has arrived and Linda and I hope that you had a truly joyous holiday season. The website is still up with the .net ending. I am still working on getting the .com ending to work like it did before. Suffice to say, it's technical.

Before everyone forgot that things Reunion are still moving forward, Linda told me to make sure I told you about:

1. The Cruise to Nowhere is now the Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on Royal Caribbean setting sail on February 10 of 2013 (Next year, folks, next year). So far we are estimating that about a dozen couples are set to sail with us. Leaving out of Port Canaveral, it is about a 12 hour drive or you can arrange for transportation through our very own cruise director, David Fritz of Cruise Everything who has balanced value and price. If you are interested, contact Linda and she will provide all the details as we have them right now. These facts are starting to be etched in stone. There are still some variables though.

2. In February, we will be starting the pricing research for the Reitz T Shirts. We will end up with a standard size distribution matrix and once we start taking orders we will set up a price based on a quantity estimate. Once again, as we typically do, we will be trying to set a fair price for a quality shirt.

3. Later this Spring we will start the process of contacting everyone to remind them of all the arrangements for the 45th. Please make sure you update your contact information with Linda so you won't miss a thing!