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Walter Keith Murphy
Lynn, you’ve done a fantastic job of organizing the website and promotion of the reunion- I’ve enjoyed checking on the updates and activities of classmates.
In order to prevent severe bodily injury in the underwhelming stampede of volunteerism, I think we should consider simplifying the initial plans for a reunion. We don’t have the advantage of the private schools, colleges and professional schools with pre-selected alumni to host events and an organizational office to handle paperwork and promotion. We only have about five weeks, which won’t allow time for a systematic approach and multiple committee decisions. My experience with college and professional school reunions is that, when two back-to-back evening events are planned, the result is a fragmented turnout, with many, especially the alumni in close proximity, choosing one event or the other to attend. I would suggest a focal event, preferably on Saturday night for the traveling out-of towners, at one of the country clubs. We may have to check both Chatmoss and Forest Park, as wedding receptions may already be booked that evening. Buffets appear preferable, as a sit down dinner is time consuming and limits interaction with those at the table, as opposed to being able to wander, chat, and mingle. A cash bar will also simplify matters and reduce cost. A DJ in the background playing era-appropriate music (disco and pop rock) would be a nice touch, but polyester leisure suits will have to be banned. Decorations can be minimal or left out; nametags with a high school picture would be helpful, and it sounds like Dana has handled this already. For those in town or coming in town early who want to get together on Friday night, a meeting spot at a bar or a small event at a volunteer host’s house would be an easy option.
For those of us making this a family getaway so we can drag the unwilling children around and show them all the hallowed sites of our formative years, a family-friendly get-together on Saturday would be nice- we can keep it as simple as a bring your own picnic to one of the city parks, the Museum of Natural History, or a farm at the edge of town owned by an alumnus. I haven’t been in Martinsville in over twenty years, so an alumnus in the local area would be much better at this choice. We may have to rent a tent (or book the shelters if at a park or an event room at the museum) in the event of inclement weather, so a little pre-planning may be necessary.
We should be able, with the info Lynn has collected, to handle the RSVP’s and dissemination of plans through the internet- we don’t have much time for traditional invitations and responses as well as planning in the short period of time left.
I am willing to help on an organizational committee to the extent I can here in Richmond- someone locally will need to check on the availability and costs of the options-
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