Geoffrey Gavurnik

Tom Porrazzo

We have less then a year now for our target date for our 50th reunion. We should start organizing now. If not chaos is always in a hurry.

Dan Bowman

Jennifer, good to learn that you will join us next year.  Even though you can't formally join us for any of the planning sessions, your opinions, interests and ideas are welcome.

The same goes for Geoffery and of course anyone else who may like to share their thoughts.  What I would like to know from Geoffery is how you determined where in Florida you would move to?

Tom, your thoughts are what motivated the decision that time was here to get the ball rolling. 

We currently have one venue available to us for the main reunion event.  However, the costs associated with that location may be too exhorbitant when compared to a couple of nearby establishments we would like to look at.  Although we have two alternate dates listed, maintaining the late June weekend date will be a strong factor in making that determination.  I certainly don't want to disappoint those who have given us the knowledge the date is good for them.

I mention the information above solely in the interest of transparency.  This is where we are at the moment with many more important details to discuss.

I wouldn't be surprised that someone will come up with an idea that will have us talking for years into the future.

We ARE the Class of 1969

Linda Peetz (Kramer)

Dan - I’m happy to help with the reunion planning.

Geoffrey Gavurnik

Dan,

It was my wife Jane who chose Pensacola.  Need to avoid the high sinkhole areas of Florida. And being a freelance artist, she says there's a lot of opportunities to selll her paintings there.

As for the reunion, just keep in mind that we're not a young as we used to be. Many of us have health and mobility issues that need to be considered.  I for one can't stand long or walk far, nor can I climb any stairs.

Geoff

Patricia Browning (Senner)

I will mark my calendar for the last weekend in June. If the date has to be changed, please let me know as soon as possible. I cannot attend any of th eplanning meetings, but would love to be kept informed and offer ideas.

Rose Davis

Dan,  I would be happy to help out.  Rose

Dan Bowman

I would like to schedule the first reunion planning session for Tuesday evening,

August 14th.

Location: Richard's Pizza in Hamilton  417 Main St.

Time: Approximately 6:30 PM       

If you care to eat before meeting time, please join me at 6:00.

Hopefully each of you who expressed interest in helping to organize our 50th reunion can attend this first meeting.

Dan Bowman

Today we are approximately 320 days away from our scheduled reunion date.

This evening will be our first meeting to begin sharing ideas as well as getting reaquainted.  

Dan Bowman

Our first 50th class reunion planning session took place on Aug.14th at Richard's Pizza on Main St.

In attendance, classmates Tom Porazzo, Rick Turpin, myself and the long distance award winner, Melanie Williamson Gross.  She flew from her home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to join us for the evening.  We knew of two others who wished to be there but an earlier commitment for one and an unforeseen situation preempted the attendance of our other valuable classmate.  To be clear, any classmante who can attend to share ideas during this early stage of planning are of value to not only the committee but for all who attend our "once in a lifetime" 50th anniversary.

A question posed on this forum concerned spousal participation.  My reply was in the affirmative.  Having been a novice military reunion planner in 2003, many of us collectively learned that "If Mama ain't happy, nobody's happy."  The "norm" was to plan events that weighed heavily on the men's interests with the spouses expected to tag along.  Living in a two gender world necessitates input from both sides.  If my spouse were not a particant in helping to plan our 50th, I must honestly tell you that any ideas that I may personally feel strongly about, would be shared with her knowing that I would receive objective feedback.  I still feel committed to having spouses join us if they wish.

As with any planning of this nature, knowing certain criteria is paramount.  What we need to know can only be answered, at this point, with a mistake proof crystal ball.  Learning that these rarely seen accurate future telling mechanisms are in extremely short supply, we must press on with planning by placing ourslelves into the minds of each of our classmates.

So far, the committee feels that as in the past, most classmates want to stay close to home.  Hamilton obviously is HOME.  However, there is a cost to staying close to home.  Therefore, we are looking at some other venues nearby that may be more lucrative cost wise.  From past experience, I know that some people will not find a problem spending an amount of money that another would feel to be too exhorbitant.  The bottom line for the committee is to have each and every class member attend if they choose to do so.  We do not want money to be an impediment to attending this event.  

A 50th class reunion is to be celebrated like none of the past reunions.  Our dilemma is to provide the best at a cost everyone will embrace.  Some may want a fully plated, sit-down dinner with everyone wearing their finest while others may wish to snack, drink and schmooze while dressed in their most comfortable attire.

Most importantly, we need to know numbers.  Who wants to attend/will attend is high on the list of things to know.  Obviously, if we provide objectionable answers to your hopes, the list of attendees shrinks.  

Although there are no guarantees in life, the planning committee would be more comfortable knowing what our classmates wish.  Sharing your ideas either on this forum or contacting us personally would help us determine what course to follow.

Thank you for taking the time to read.  If there is any confusion due to my rambling thoughts, please consider "asking for a friend."

Pam Maurer (Tyson)

Hi,

Thank you for all who are doing the planning and working on this.. it is all great...

I am open to any format that is finally decided on...

i would suggest to go between the two ideas of a plated dinner and the most casual approach..

1. Cash bar only - helps save money

2. Making it more like a cocktail party atmosphere with heavy hors d'oeuvres instead of a plated dinner,adds to more socialization and less worry about where to sit.  It can be primarily small plates stations and finger foods.

3. Disc Jockey playing the oldies always adds to the fun..

4. As far as location, i am not sure how many classmates will be coming in from out of town and need to stay at a hotel versus locals. And if Uber is readily available for those who have had a few.

5. Since it is just myself and a once every 5 or 10 years, the cost is not something i am overly concerned about.. But understand for couples it is harder.

hope this helps... I am sure everything will work out well.

Christy Bassitt (Kirlin)

Sounds like a lot of classmates are thinking about the 50th Reunion and actually looking forward to this event.  Yes, I am planning on attending, if the world has not ended by that date.  Since I no longer have a place, the house I grew up in was sold two years ago after the passing of my Dad.  I will need suggestions on lodging.

I agree with Pam Mauers idea, of finger food,  great music and more casual than stuffy. I have reconnected with a few Classmates thanks to technology in the last few months.  It's been interesting seeing/ or hearing about their adventures over time.

Keep me posted as idea continue to move forward.  

Chris Bassitt Kirlin, Nashville, indiana.  🌺🌼🌺

Dan Bowman

Pam and Christy,

Thank you for your responses and suggestions.

We appreciate the feedback and calling attention to the minute details that go into the entire planning of such an event.

As time passes, we'll provide a checklist of the items discussed and how determinations were made. 

The point has already been made that we can't please everyone.  However, it is our mission to surpass that elusive target.

Randy Welsh

Dan, et.al.: Many thanks for your efforts in planning a reunion. As to the details, I agree with Pam and Christy.  Please continue to keep us posted. randy welsh, Liberty  Twp.

Ken Whitaker

DAN:

I'm assuming the end of JUNE dates are final?

I too hope to attend and request to be kept up to date of any changes.  Like all our other classmates that do NOT reside in the area we need to locate home and pet sitters while making this adventure into the past.

Thanks for taking on the task of planning etc:

I hope to see many of our still young :) classmates there.

Ken Whitaker

Sue Johnson (Lawrence)

Ken Lawrence and I still live in the area so location is not a problem. Any dates in June or July are fine. I also want to help with the planning . Unfortunately we were on vacation and were out of town for the first meeting. I plan to be at the next meeting. Ken and I plan to attend the reunion!

Cheryl Hughes

Thanks, Dan and the Planning Committee. I agree with Pam and others, you have a good idea going. I have this on my calendar, especially since I could not attend the previous reunion. See you next summer!

Sam McMillan

Dan,

Thanks for the info and I will be attending. I would like it to be kept causal as this would be a vacation up north for me! Thanks also for taking the time and effort to plan this event.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Sam C. McMillan  

      

Steve Poulemanos

Dan,

In answer to the reunion questions; I would prefer casual attire and finger food (hors d'oeuvres), versus formal dress and a sit-down dinner. This would provide a cocktail party atmosphere affording more opportunity to mingle and socialize. The venue of the Mariott seems like a natural; centrally located, and most out-of-towners would want to stay there for convenience and not needing to drive after celebrating with a few drinks.  The date is as good as any for me, since I live here. 

Thanks to you and the committee members for your planning efforts.

Sincerely,

Steve Poulemanos

Dan Bowman

The latest planning session was held last evening (Tuesday 8/28). 

Classmates Tom Porrazzo, Wes Flannery, Dick Herzog, Doug Harris, Cheryl Costanzo, Rita Gibson LaBoffe, Sue and Ken Lawrence and Rick Turpin joined Cara and myself.

Our primary business concerned the final choice for the location of the reunion.  

Although the Marriott in downtown Hamilton has been the "advertised" location for our 50th anniversary observance, the cost to hold the function there made further investigating necessary.

The consensus was unanimous to hold the reunion event at Pyramid Hill.

The contract to lock in our date will take place Friday afternoon.  However, you can fill your social calendar for June 29, 2019.  That date is only 10 months from today.

Obviously there will be a lot more information to share with you as we continue honing the finer points of the upcoming reunion.

This update may seem to lack details for some of you.  Feel free to ask questions how we arrived at the decision to hold our reunion outside the confines of what we have become used to in the past.

As always, your input is welcome.  

Cheryl Hughes

My sister Shelley's 50th was in 2017, and one of the highlights of her reunion weekend was a tour of Hamiton High. She was very impressed by the school and all its amenities. I'd like to request that our class gets a tour. It would be fascinating to see the changes between then and now. 

Connie Pfister (Gilbert)

I thought Si Shaw was in Hamilton all these years, or many years. There's an address 1214 Gilday Ct, Hamilton 45013-3847. Was that returned by the PO? Connie G

Jeffrey Davis

Couldn't be a better idea than to visit Hamilton High School's campus especially for those who have not been back to our city in quite a while.  Belinda and I along with our daughter Cory, her husband Mike and their son Nicholas, have spent a great deal of time at HHS.  Our grandson has been very active in several sports and other projects.  Those who have not seen our new school buildings etc, will be shocked and in awe of the fantastic facilities afforded today's students.  My personal opinion is that the HHS facilities stand alone as the top public high school campus in southwestern Ohio.  The opportunites for learning and advancement are endless in the Hamilton City School District.  With all of our new buildings, our city is very fortunate to offer a great education to all.  Those choosing private schools have their reasons to do so and that is completely fine!  However, what sort of irritates me is even though those families are paying property taxes which help finance public education plus their private tuition fees, many have not gone to visit the beautiful, highly technically supplied HHS campus.  I am sure some of them would wonder what their student would think of all the offerings.  I envy the students attending HHS.  It is a great place to learn ANYTHING.  P.S. For me, my favorite 3 years of attending Taft Senior High School were the best years of all my education.  I had a blast with some teriffic friends who I still see today.  Jeffrey Davis

Cheryl Hughes

I am looking forward to the HHS tour too. My sister Shelley toured it during her '67 reunion, and said it was truly impressive. There is no signup for this, so just show up at 10:30 Saturday morning at the main door of the school. The tour guide and probably the principal will be there waiting for us. 

Mary Weenink (Mignano)

Thank you so much Dan and Cara and your committee members for a very memorable 50th reunion!  For many of us this was our first reunion since graduation.  It was such fun to renew friendships and meet so many spouses,  and hear about how our lives have unfolded over the years.  

The venue was well chosen and decorated beautifully.  The food was plentiful and tasty .  The tour of the high school was an extra special treat!  The many hours of planning and organization you put into this special event  are much appreciated!  Again , THANK YOU!!   Sincerely, Mike and Mary Weenink Mignano