Planning and Set-up

After asking for volunteers and contact info over last winter, Rhonda got the ball rolling with group texting in March/April, and the planning committee's first phone conference call happened in early May. We repeated these conference calls every few weeks with progress reports, narrowing down venues, caterer, dates available, etc. We also received input and feedback about what people wanted to see and experience while at the reunion, to make it memorable and fun. In the meantime, Joni worked with Shari on updating the class's contact information spreadsheet, adding several teachers to the list as well.

After considering Hightower, the Legion, and the Lions Den, Shari and Sandy both happened to attend a family event at the Weaver Park facility, and thought it would be a contender for the reunion venue. Rhonda sent a local person to videotape the interior, and later, James E, Anna, and Shari did a walk-through. Our first-choice date of August 2 was already taken, but we settled on Saturday, July 26, paid a reservation fee, and Teep Spaulding agreed to cater even though he would be double-booked that day.

Once date/location was confirmed, we started getting the word out on Facebook page, class website, word of mouth - specifically Arlene Kolbe at Fanna's who sees quite a few classmates stop in the business. For others who we weren't successful contacting other ways, and the teachers, Rhonda mailed out postcard invitations in early June. RSVPs began to trickle in, and payments by Venmo, Zelle, and check, so we had a rough idea on head count. We also opened up our event to HHS friends of 1980 and spread the word on a few Hesperia Facebook pages.

Sandy Witham Mitteer was a big help with logistics and ordering and providing supplies, as she and her husband put on several large family events at their house on Stony Lake throughout the summer. She helped set-up and she and her husband John helped tear-down afterwards. Besides her help updating addresses, Joni put together packets of "those lost" and a display in their honor. Anna organized some ice-breakers (which we ended up not needing), put together a playlist for background music, helped set-up and tear-down, and returned Teep's cookware. Besides all the planning and mailings, Rhonda facilitated the insurance rider that Weaver Park required for BYOB, lent out several items for our use from River's Edge, and kept us all on track and made sure things got done. Shari spent several hours gathering updated photos from classmates to add to the original "Then and Now" slideshow we first presented in 2010, set it to popular 1970/80s music, to show after dinner at the reunion. Other committee members, Lori Hanes, Vonda A., Arlene generally helped get the word out and contributed insight and ideas.

Those who were able to meet, set up the night before the reunion - Rhonda/Chris, Shari/Frank, James E/Anna, and Sandy. That week had been in the 90s, humid, with a town water ban in place. After that, we agreed to meet around 3PM the next day, an hour before the 4PM start-up time.

Thanks to everyone who helped in any way!