Cooper High School
Class Of 1999
User Forums
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Misti Caudle White
 Joined: 04/24/09 Posts: 1 View Profile |
Reunion Ideas Posted Friday, April 24, 2009 10:30 AM
How great to see/read about everyone! I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to our 10-year reunion. I attended last year’s reunion (I married Jeff White ’98), and I thought I could provide some insight into what worked and didn’t work. (This is meant with absolutely no offense to last year’s class officers. They worked really hard and did a great job planning. Some things were more successful than others, however.)
We kicked off the weekend with a tailgate at Shotwell before the football game on Friday night. Families were invited, and all of the alums sat together at the football game. The tailgate was BYOB/food and you had to purchase your own tickets ahead of time. This was not a highly attended event, but was fun. Unfortunately, we played the Brahmas from who-knows-where (hate to break the bad news to some of you, but Cooper is no longer 5A) and the game wasn’t too exciting. I would recommend either the Cooper/Abilene High game, homecoming, or a preseason game if we play a team we used to play, like Permian, etc.
On Saturday, there was a “bring your families/ sack lunch” to the old cafeteria and “hang out.” Honestly, I did not attend this event, but I heard that it was also meagerly attended. However, several people were very excited about eating in the old cafeteria and had a great time.
Saturday evening was the main event. It was held at Elegante, the old Embassy Suites behind the mall. We had a somewhat small, private room. Upon arriving to the event, there were name tags (which were needed!!!!). They catered Mexican (fajitas, enchiladas, tacos). I am not sure who catered – either the hotel or something brought in – but, I completely recommend against them. They ran out of food, which happened to be cold and tasteless. There was a cash bar. The decorations were nice – old pictures, which were submitted by people on the website via email (aka if you want to see yourself in the pictures, you had better submit them), old trophies, megaphones, etc. There was not designated entertainment: no band, no music, no dancing, no trivia, no slideshow, no minglers, nothing to help break the ice. The only scheduled event was a class picture following dinner.
To sum it up, $100 a couple is a lot of money for some people, not to mention the travel expenses. I suggest we try to spread our funds as well as possible and attempt to provide a meaningful and memorable evening. Dress should be specified on the invitation, at least for the Saturday event. As for the rest of the weekend, we should be able to provide an inexpensive meal at the Friday night function, perhaps at either Shotwell or at Festival gardens. It would be great if we could get sponsors, so if any of you are still in Abilene and/or have connections, please speak up! I am sure that the class officers would appreciate your suggestions and help in planning the big weekend for everyone.
Hopefully some of this will help!
Misti (Caudle) White
Misti (Caudle) White |
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Brady Nichols Sloane
Joined: 04/21/09 Posts: 2 View Profile |
RE: Reunion Ideas Posted Sunday, April 26, 2009 01:10 AM Hi, I am in Abilene finishing up grad school and would love to help but cant the weekend of Homecoming (I am out of town for work and can't get out of it). I have subbed at Cooper a little the past couple of years and it is a bit different...and misti is right about the 4A thing...not like when we went to State all of those times!! In fact, when AHS plays CHS , the AHS kids have a section on the cooper side cause it doesn't sell out (thats what CHS teachers told me). That being said..I bet someone who lives here could "camp out" and get a block of football tickets for reunion attendees. I agree wholeheartedly with the Elegante comments....not the best idea. There is a lot going on downtown (there has been a huge revitalization in the past 10-13 years. The arts community is pretty great and there are lots of places to have events...there is also an outdoor sculpture area. The Zoo has also had a remodel with places for outdoor events. Also, if the evening event is outside of town...should the "Abilene trolley" be rented for shuttling people? Just some ideas! Brady
Brady |
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Ashley Harendt
Joined: 04/24/09 Posts: 1 View Profile |
RE: Reunion Ideas Posted Friday, May 1, 2009 01:47 PM Thanks for the insight, Misti. It's good to hear what worked and didn't work last year. I agree that if we have a tailgate party, it needs to be for a game against one of our old rivals, if possible. I've never even heard of the schools that Cooper plays now. As far as a place for the event, T&P downtown is a great place. I'm not sure the capacity, but I've been to a few events there, and it's a really nice spot. Also, as far as name tags are concerned, my mom had a good idea. She said at her reunion, all the name tags had their yearbook picture on them to help you recognize them. Also, all of the spouses (if they didn't go to her school) had their husband or wife's picture on their name tag so you know who they "belonged" to. Some people probably hope that their senior pictures are long forgotten and will never be seen again, but I think it's a good idea... |
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