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Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Attention Bicentennials!

Lots going on.

1. First... the Class of '76 will be the most represented class at the Alumni Association's Spring Training in Mesa on March 2nd with 10 attendees. while we have guaranteed our headcount and paid Sloan Park, I have four tickets set aside for latecomers and want to give our class dibs.  Let me know by Friday if you are interested in a ticket or two, (Milan and Arnie). After that they go out to the public on social media. Thanks to Georgette for coordinating another awesome post-game party. Should be a great time.

2. Pre-reunion planning. Getting people off their duffs is the biggest challenge for any reunion.  The Class of '74 had 160 people at their reunion. That's the largest I've seen in my involvement with the Alumni Association, but we can beat that...

While we have a huge roster of classmates on this site, only about 20% are in this system with valid contact information.  So I am asking all of us to mobilize. Click on "missing classmates" in the menu bar on the left and check out the list. See who you know and hunt them down. Get them to sign up or get their permission to at minimum, add their emails to the list so we can tell them what's going on. 

3. We'll be sending out a survey soon, (hopefully after we've accomplished #2 and have a lot more emails), to canvass classmates on what they want included in the 50th reunion. If you have a specific topic you'd like addressed, let me know at michelle_wnr@yahoo.com. 

That is all for now.

Go Lane Go!

Grace Tanaka (Danziger)

Not sure I'm using "hoist by my own pitard" correctly here, but after encouraging '76 alumni to use this official Forum instead of the unofficial Facebook public group (I think that's how it got into trouble), I was fooled by someone posting there to purchase "1976 LTHS Alumni" garments. I feel like an idiot. Who knows if they will show up and what they will look like. More fool me. As I messaged Milan directly, I'm not going to visit the Facebook group any longer, and hope others will follow suit and stick to this official Forum, run by our faithful Alumni Office Executive Director, Michelle Weiner. 

Just yesterday, I reached out by text to two women I know since elementary school to ask them to join this Forum for 50th Reunion news if they are interested. I hope I hear back from them, or they confirm that they are here and have simply been quiet. Reach out, everyone, let's have the largest turnout ever for a 50th LTHS Reunion!

Edward Mc Carthy

Grace.....I know the sorrow and heartbreak of losing a kitty.  Losing any pet.  And we have been lucky to have our own private back yard cemetaries every where we have lived.    Since our lake home has been a constant for over 40 years, most of the family pets are at peace up therre. Cats have been our pet of choice since childhood.  Had/have plenty of them.  Can't refuse a rescue.   Same for dogs. Plenty of pups too.   And  they all get along.  Perhaps it is the nature of a rescue to be so good natured.  Luckily my incredible  wife is also an animal enthusiist and lover.  Pets can bring such joy.  Having kids brings immesurable joy too but I must say pets dont seem to complain as much!!!!   LOL.  Still can't imagine life without beasts running around the homestead.  Since wintering in Florida is our new norm, we are fortunate that our youngest still lives at home and is a proven pet sitter.  Frankly, we love that he is still residing at home.  He is a great young man and helps us understand the younger generations out there.  We boomers grew up in a different world..........

Gregory Groeper

Hi Grace & All!

In Re: Facebook group.

As the "volunteer" creator of the Lane Tech Class of 1976 Facebook Group decades ago, I also was bothered by individuals "poaching" our alums by trying to use it as a sales platform for "their" merch for profit, with no benefit back to any class of Lane '76 causes.

In addition to the required sign-up questions, I took the time to establish "Filters" now provided by Facebook to stop sales ads and links to outside websites. I hope they are working now.  There is also a front-end "warning" that abuse of the page will result in suspension or removal.

Nothing iz perfct (haha), so please do not besmirch the existence or use of our Facebook page, it has served many of us well.

Further, I've been speaking with Michelle about coordinating messaging across both platforms, so that we have common data and announcements. I provide directions to this "class creator" alumni page, too. This is not a competition, it is an alliance. Even if you choose not to participate in the Facebook page, please don't discourage others from joining.

As an editor's note, I'm amazed at how many Lane 76ers either don't know the correct answers for the Facebook sign-in or refuse to complete them. I don't let just anyone join the page. I personally approve each request to join, whenever possible, cross checking them back to the full alumni list.

I look forward to our work in organizing and producing our fantastic 50th reunion in the year of our nation's "Semiquincentennial" (250th) anniversary.

Thanks for your kindness & understanding!

Go Lane Go!

greg groeper (872.230.7135) txt or call

Science/Math/Music '76

Per C Pearson

I saw the garments as well and thought, Cool! They used the Indian. Then it hit me with the political correctness only our original articles of clothing would pass now. Its sad you have to be so defensive for scams. 

I'm excited and look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. 50 years is quite something. 

Robert Cole

Yeah... and how are you going to put a Champion on a sweatshirt now, anyway?

Gregory Calvimontes

John Simmers

Grace Tanaka (Danziger)

Hey all, I don't know who started insinuating that I or anyone was disparaging the Facebook group or discouraging people from joining it. I WAS encouraging alumni to join here, which is as you all know, the official Alumni Office-run forum for Bicentennial 1976 LTHS Alumni. I would never discourage anyone from doing what they choose to as far as following alumni news and activities. In fact, I was there wasn't I, on the FB group when I made the mistake of ordering "alumni" garments from the site that purported to have Lane Tech gear. Unfortunately I was not able to cancel the order or get a refund, and I won't go into that here. But again, each of you is free to join whatever fora or groups you like to stay connected. The main point is to keep in contact with one another, isn't it? I just don't want any of you to think I asked anyone, besides myself - and that was my own individual choice - not to join the FB group. 

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

I'm excited to be meeting up with about a dozen Bicentennials in Mesa in two weeks, (thanks Georgette Rath for helping coordinate things in AZ), but for those of you remaining in the Chicago area, there's a party goin' on in celebration of Albert Grannis Lane's birthday on March 15th at Copernicus Center (formerly the Gateway Theater). So come join us! Last year, classes from the 80s dominated and we need to fix that.  

Proceeds will go to the Go Lane Go Fund - a new LTAA initiative that helps Lane students, no matter their income level, participate in experiences like college tours, field trips, and competitions. In its first year, the Go Lane Go Program is already helping send:

300 students to the Art Institute

The Chess Team to State Competition

The Sound Engineering class to 2 recording studios

48 Students to tour colleges and universities in IL & MO

Future Business Leaders to 4 conferences

The Astronomy Club to Adler Planetarium

40 students on the HBCU Tour

The Science Olympiad Team to competition at WashU

11 Student-writers to present at a conference at BYU

Tickets are on sale now at Big AL's Birthday Bash #2

Big AL's Birthday Bash #2

Georgette Mihalko (Rath)

#1843  

In response to Michelle's message about our 50th Reunion. I live in Arizona but would be more than happy to assist with the 50th Reuinion festivities! Just let me know who will be in charge and how I can help. It's so exciting and unbelievable all at once, it seems just like yesterday we were all at Lane Tech!

Hope you all are doing well,

Georgette

Georgette Mihalko (Rath)

I'm so excited to see everyone who's coming to the Cubs Spring Training Game 3/2/25 in sunny Arizona! We had so much fun last year!! Thank you Michelle for always going above and beyond to bring us together, keeping us informed and creating so many fun events. Your efforts are much appreciated!

Michael Bentley

Nota Bene:

I just now saw the In Memory update for Dave Marquart. I have email records indicating his death was during or just before January 2016, so I believe that the grave finder record is not accurate. He was also living in or near Rochester, Minnesota at the time. There had been an obituary posted here:

 <http://www.ranfranzandvinefh.com/obits/obituary.php?id=665870>

but the page no longer shows up when I follow the link. Note that the funeral home RanFranz and Vine is based in Rochester. A friend from UIUC attended his friends and family gathering on Wed 20 Jan 2016. 

The original notice was sent on LinkedIn by Dale Marquart, his brother. I no longer have any record of those messages. Not without trying :)

-Mike

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Thanks Michael. I found Dave's death certificate on Ancestry.com and you are correct, 2016 is the recorded year so I changed the In Memory entry.

Now... I need some local Bicentennials to show up at Big AL's Birthday Bash on March 15th. Who's up for  live music, sub sandwiches (not quite Heros but close) and a bunch or overzealous fearless & bold fanatics?

Plus... it's at the Copernicus Center, where we all went to see the Exorcist when it was the Gateway Theater!!

Good times.

Link for tickets is Big AL's Birthday Bash #2 just in case you are QRcode averse.

Gregory Groeper

Hey Fellow 76ers:

As you know, I'm getting preliminary work done in advance of our planning for the 50th reunion next fall.

Right now I'm trying to clean up the Class of 1976 Facebook Page and root out unknowns and imposters. Since I don't have my yearbook, I was hoping to get some help identfying some names as actual classmates.

Please email me if you see someone you remember on the list below.

Thanks!

greg

ggroeper@gmail.com

----------------------------

Lisa Abrams

Arti Ackermann Valenta

Ed Bell

Evangeline Cadence

William Dey II

Ed Donald

David Drobena

Maurel Garrucho Samonte

Jeroz Gumba

Kris Hallowell

Bryant C. Holmes

Chris Hur

Stakizi IIha

Stephanie C John

Michael Johnson

Dan Karys

Rahmin Khan

Felebar Macud

Kristin McCarthy

Marie McJilton

Nusrat Mituya

Deanna Lynn Naughton

Ray Norum

Peter Oberdick

Maureen O'Dea

Linda Ogawa

Mike Oquendo

Debbie Palarz

Kristy Peck

Angela Perez

Lora Peterman

Johannes Rath

Georgette Rath

Dianne Reed

Kodi Reyes

Linda Rowan

Debbie Royal Mrowiec

Sally Schori

Md Shakib

Peggy Smith

Scott Sora

Alice Spaulding

Bradley Stone

Joe Tinaglia

Tim Van Noordt

Willames Villey

Mark Wattley

David Zierenberg

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Nevermind guys. 

We got you, and identified the non-Bicentennials in Greg's list.

Andrew Flor

Andrew Flor

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

For those of you planning to meet up in Arizona this weekend...

Grace Tanaka (Danziger)

Georgette Mihalko (Rath)

Looking forward to seeing LTAA folks at the Cubs game in Mesa, AZ tomorrow! Fun Times!!

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

I can't believe this was just over a week ago.  Georgette and Grace, thanks for helping with all the local details. (No one calls raffle numbers quite like Georgette!) And Milan, thanks for being a good sport and muscling through our off-key rendition of Happy Birthday. Jeff, Wally, Steve, Kristi and of course all of the very patient significant others... thanks for coming out.

Now, "Let's get some runs!"

Andrew Flor

That is brilliant! Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. Wish I could have been there. Looks like you guys had a great time. I have to make it one of these years. Can't believe I was so close in Las Vegas that weekend for work but couldn't plan on being able to make it. As it turned out, we finished early on Saturday and I could have taken the short flight there on Sunday. Oh well. Hopefully there won't be a conflict next time around.

Robert Cole

OH! Those are CHAIRS in the picture! At first glance I thought they were WALKERS! 

Jeffery Mazur

Thank you again for setting up the cub game that was so much fun. I am looking to next year already . you .guys are awesome. Love you very much thank you.