August 18, 2025

Hello again to everyone!

NEW DEADLINE FOR REUNION PAYMENT IS SEPTEMBER 15!! If you haven't sent in your confirmation and check/Venmo for our 50th class reunion on October 4th, you still have plenty of time!  The sooner we receive acknowledgement, the closer we can come to making things as perfect as possible!  $75 per person.  Please make your check to Julie Pixley and send to 10888 N. 40th St. Hickory Corners, MI 49060.  Or if you prefer, the Venmo account is Julie-Pixley.  Please feel free to add on to the $75 if you're so inclined to give a donation.  As we explained in our last letter, the venue and food are quite costly - almost $8000!  We truly appreciate all the help so many have already given!  Thank you!!

While we are trying not to inundate you with a lot of reading material, there are lots of reunion weekend details to share, as well as a fundraising effort that we hope you agree is worthwhile.   I'll start with that topic, since I will refer to it again later on.

Last year, the GLHS Class of 1974 raised funds ($2,000) to establish a scholarship to the GLCS Gateway Academy.   This is a highly successful alternative school.  These students may not fit traditional scholarship programs, yet, similar to other graduates, they may still require assistance to pursue higher education or trade-field goals.   Tim and I attended their graduation this past May and were very moved by the stories shared by these students (there were 20 this year, and four of them spoke on stage about their experiences).   Many of them have faced significant adversities yet were able to complete the requirements to receive a diploma through the help of Gateway Academy and their instructors.   Competitive nature aside, we thought it would be wonderful if our great Class of 1975 could provide another scholarship to be presented next spring.   We will have a 50/50 cash raffle at our reunion to help fund this, so please bring cash or checks to the reunion for this purpose.    We will also use any profits from shirt sales for this scholarship.   If you want to read more about Gateway Academy, check out https://www.gulllakecs.org/gateway/our-school

 Activities happening over the weekend!

Friday, October 3.   HOMECOMING!

While we don't have the exact times of the events of the evening, we are planning to have a float in the Homecoming parade.  Cheryl Gilcher Robinson and Denise Roush Brockway are heading up plans, so if you would like to help decorate, please let them know.   That will most likely happen on Thursday afternoon/evening, October 2.   We would like to enlist as many of you as possible to walk the parade with us or hitch a ride on the float itself.   Later in this email you will see the link to our pop-up shop for shirt sales, so order some gear to flaunt while you're walking.    Several of us will be wearing "Class of 1975" on our sleeves, and you can too. 

After the parade, we will meet in the parking lot of the middle school (our old high school), where we will have a tailgate set up with hot dogs, chips and pop (no alcohol please!).   Of course there will be other treats available at the concession stand inside the stadium grounds.    We plan to have a row or two of bleachers available so we can sit together at the game.   After the end of the first quarter, our group will be announced and may even be invited to take a bow on the field.  

After the game, (or anytime after 7:30 for those who aren't attending the game), you are invited to a bonfire at my home, which is just a couple of miles north of Richland (9251 M-43)  Keep your fingers crossed for clear weather!   Bring your own drinks, although Tim usually has a small variety of beer on hand!   🙂

Saturday, October 4 beginning at 10:00, Dave Adamski is heading up nine holes of golf (course to be determined), weather permitting.  Please email Dave directly, dadamski@tds.net, if you have an interest in playing or have any questions.

Saturday, October 4 from 1:00 - 4:00, Matt Kollig and Julie Split have scheduled a pickleball play at The Picklehouse! 7878 Gull Road (used to be the old Kalamazoo Plug Company) and the cost is only $10 per person. Since it's in Richland, there's plenty of time to play and still be beautiful for the party!  Please  text Matt at 269-615-0454 if you have an interest in playing or have any questions.  

Saturday, October 4 to 11:00  **REUNION**  Bedford Valley Golf Course, 23161 Waubascon Rd Battle Creek. Cash bar opens at 6:00. Appetizers begin at 6:15ish. Dinner at 6:45ish. Two things to remember - we only have an hour to set up before everyone arrives, so if you're too early we might put you to work, and, we MUST start exiting around 10:30.  We have to be cleaned up, dismantled, and out by 11:00 sharp!

Sunday, October 5, Mr. Chris Rundle, Superintendent of Schools, will lead a tour for those interested of our old high school (now the middle school), the new high school if there is interest, and the 40th street school, where we spent 8th grade.   We will meet at the old high school at 10:30 am in the rear parking lot and caravan to the next places.  

Our farewell luncheon will immediately follow the tours.   This will be about 12:00 pm at THE DOCK (formerly Bayview), 12504 East D Avenue, Richland.   Attendees may purchase on their own from the menu, with a 20% gratuity added.    In addition to the regular menu, the Dock's famous blood Mary bar will be served until 3 pm . . . A meal in itself!

And lastly, please visit our shirt shop, provided by Underground Printing.   I hope you love our old mascot, our Blue Devil!    Please order as many shirts or sweatshirts as you'd like for yourself or family, as all profits benefit our scholarship fund.   Be sure to wear your shirts to the Homecoming parade, so the Class of 1975 is recognized!    You may share this link with anyone you think might like to order:    https://undergroundshirts.com/groups/gull-lake-high-school-blue-devils. The deadline for ordering is SEPTEMBER 10.   You will note that you can have orders shipped to yourself for a small fee, or they can be shipped to me (Stacey) for free.   I will distribute them Friday or Saturday of our reunion, or earlier if I receive them and we can meet! 

Stacey Freeland Clancy/Julie Blackburn Pixley and committee 

Denise, Gaylia, Jan, MarriAnn, Sally, Sylvia

   P.S. Thank you for your patience with all this info! When you send us your confirmation and payment, would you also let us know what activities you plan on attending?  Float/Parade? Tailgate? Game? Bonfire? Tours? The Dock?  It helps us have an idea of numbers!