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12/28/08 12:12 PM #2     Elizabeth Spanich (Sherman) Hello classmates! I am excited to get back in touch with any/everyone. How has everything been going?

12/28/08 10:56 PM #3     Danny Pang If you have any faculty members you want to invite, please let me know. If you have their contact information, that would be excellent.

12/31/08 09:57 AM #4     Courtney Gallant (Turco) Just a thought, summer months are the most popular time to travel to Florida, especially Orlando. That generally means hosting events are more expensive then, just a thought in selecting months, September/October may get more bang for the buck, especially on non-holiday weekends.

12/31/08 02:41 PM #5     Sarah Avril (Cobb) If looking at weekend dates in the fall, try to avoid big football weekends that may take away a chunk of our class. My husband's reuninion last year was during the UMiami/UF game, and a crowd of us spent the night in the lobby bar watching the game. =)

01/02/09 05:40 PM #6     David Gross In response to Sarah's e-mail "big" Florida football games include: 9/12 Oklahoma at Miami 9/19 Tennessee at Florida TBA Miami at Florida State (probably 10/10) 10/10 LSU at Florida 10/31 Florida vs. Georgia 11/28 FSU at Florida That leaves 9/5, 9/26, 10/03 and 10/17 depending on when FSU / Miami play. Happy New Year to everyone!

01/02/09 10:06 PM #7     Elizabeth Gastel (Marjason) Hi everyone!! Just a thought about the fall months---remember those who still live in Florida---its hurricane season!! Would hate to have everyone travel to FL for the reunion and get it canceled secondary to weather. Maybe good idea to plan in early August before school starts, hurricane season starts, and football season starts?? Just a thought!!

01/07/09 03:59 PM #8     Tiffany Griffin (Stuart) I am on the July or August bandwagon. I think for people that have kids that are in school that late July early August is a good idea. I am just excited to see who ends up coming and to see everyone again after so long. Living in Kissimmee I still run into a lot of you though :)

01/08/09 01:06 PM #9     Alexis Zangari Hey everyone! Just a heads up.. I'm an event planner for a large hotel in Tampa and July - September are the best months to hold an event (August is the best). We would be more likely to get a great discount because businesses feel the same way about holding conventions/ events here in Florida. Hurricanes and Summer Vacation tend to put a damper on large corporate business. Theme parks will be busy and sleeping rooms will be full, but convention space is normally just sitting empty. Busy convention business picks back up in October and will get more and more expensive the closer you get to the Holiday Season. Well, that is our pattern here in Tampa and I'm assuming that Orlando would be very similar. I'm happy to help in any way I can.

01/08/09 08:27 PM #10     Elizabeth Gastel (Marjason) I agree with Tiffany and Alexis. How much would it cost to have a buffet meal at the Hyatt at Disney Lex?? Do you know any hotels Tiffany?? We had our xmas party at the Embassy Suites in LBV, it was buffet, $45 a plate. The decorations, table clothes, soda, and tea were included. I think the first week in August would be a good one. Anyone else with ideas??

01/08/09 10:30 PM #11     Danny Pang August sounds like a good time with most of the tourists heading home. Alexis, if we do plan on having our reunion in August, when do you think is the latest we can secure a place. I believe some places require that you have a certain amount of people when dealing with the catering, or there might be a minimum we must pay (open bar is always good). I've been talking to class officers of '98, and I know they were having problems at the end with not having enough people attending and their tickets were around $70. I don't really know what would be a good indication of people's commitment. I know class of '98 showed lots of interest at the beginning, but when they started selling tickets, people started backing out. Hopefully, we won't have to sell tix in the $70s range. I'm planning a trip back to Orlando to look for places, but when do you think would be a good time for me to come back. We should get together and look at the places together.

01/09/09 01:27 PM #12     Alexis Zangari I wouldn’t mind calling the Hyatt Grand Cypress to get some information regarding pricing, availability and discounts offered in summer months. ANY hotel that we decide to go with will end up contracting us to a minimum food and beverage. It’s always smart to underestimate the number of people who will attend the event so we don’t get stuck paying extremely high ticket prices to make up the food and beverage minimum. Worst care scenario, if more people show up that originally expected (well, that wouldn’t be a bad thing, that would be wonderful!) but we could just change the type of meal we serve… instead of a plated dinner we could do heavy hors d’oeuvres and stations to make more space in the ballroom. Most hotels include the standard Ivory, Black or White Linens and a basic hotel centerpiece so if it does get to be a bit pricy on the food side we wouldn’t have to worry about basic décor. I would suggest finding a place no later than April, but the closer we get to August… if the venue still has an open ballroom we’ll get an extremely good deal. It’s a game of chance. LOL… okay, that might not have been my best suggestion, but I know that I’ll give the house away if I’m only 3 months away and I still have my ballroom open!! How many people did the c/o 98 end up having at their function? Danny, it will be easier for me to get away in March (I hope that isn’t too late for you). Any weekend, but the 21st is good for me. Let me know and I will start calling around to get menus and set up apts.

01/09/09 10:32 PM #13     Elizabeth Gastel (Marjason) I knew Alexis would pull through!! Tiff where are you?? Hee-hee!! I like the idea of open bar but to keep the prices down--a cash bar might be the way to go. Some don't drink as much as others anyway and wouldn't want to pay the price for the open bar (don't worry, I like to DRINK!!;). I agree---if we can keep the prices down--we can get more people to commit. Its those who live out of town that I would like to see more of a commitment to coming. The one's who live close will be easy to get there and get to commit. Any ideas about how to do the invites online where everyone can see who is coming?

01/10/09 12:52 PM #14     Danny Pang Thanks Alexis, that's really helpful. The class of '98 did their Reunion at the Adams Mark Hotel at the Florida Mall. They had about 88 people who attended (though there were over 350 people on their website). A majority of the attendees brought a plus one, therefore there were most likely only about 50 people who were really from the class of '98. They had their reunion in November. Their original plan was to have the reunion on the same week as the CCHS Homecoming Game, that way they can all go to the game the night before. Lyzz had mentioned that maybe we should do a two day thing, like perhaps a picnic the next day that way everyone can bring their kids. We can also wear our class of '99 T-Shirts (if you still have them). Alexis, I can come back in March, if we plan on August, I think we should be okay. We can get a group together and go check out the places and catering, it'll be fun! In regards to on-line invites, maybe we can just do evites since we have everyone's emails when they registered on the website. But, I'll do more research. If anyone knows of a good electronic invite thing, please share. Be well!

01/11/09 08:26 PM #15     Tiffany Griffin (Stuart) Hey guys! I'm definitly around to check out some prelim pricing and stuff if need be. I just planned my company christmas party in December and got several competive prices from different hotels and such. We ended up at the Citrus Club with heavy horderves and 4 hours of open bar for $60 per person. I think if we keep it open bar that leaves us some room for a DJ and other items we need to which is nice. I've also found with weddings I've planned that Royal Plaza by Disney, Florida Hotel (where 98 did theirs), Metropolitan Resort, and the Sheritan on Idrive (recently remodeled) are throwing out some of the best prices. Let me know if you want me to gather some info or what help you guys need. I normally check in every day during the week since I sit in front of the PC all day just not on much on the weekend. I'm free to go look at places too in March but I think by that point we should maybe have a narrowed list and be ready to book if need be so we don't shoot ourself in the foot. Just a thought.

01/12/09 10:37 PM #16     Christi Braak Hello everyone, I think August is a great idea... Hotels always seem like a great idea, and can accommodate more people, however, Country Clubs and golf courses are also a great place to hold events. I used to work at Falcon's Fire golf club and still know all the big contacts very well. I know for a fact that summer is the slow season and they welcome any events and parties as they lack the typical large golf tournaments during the hot summer days. Falcon's fire can hold up to 250 people I believe. So keep golf courses and country clubs in mind when looking for a place too, as you may find the best deals there.

01/13/09 11:37 AM #17     Courtney Gallant (Turco) If prices are getting to be a concern, there may be a best of both worlds option. I know in NJ (not that it would be the same there), that if you do just beer and wine open bar the cost is lower. Mixed drinks would be cash bar, or even decide on beer, wine and an "official Class of 99" drink. I didn't really drink in HS, so me being the prude would not be the best to offer that idea, but someone may have a great idea on that one. As an out of towner now, I love the idea of a hotel, because I would not want to have to drink and drive!

01/13/09 11:38 AM #18     Courtney Gallant (Turco) Oh yeah, we may want to talk to Kelly Avril too. I know she is a big event/marketing or something another with Starwood. She is on Vistana's property last I checked, but think she may know a few people.

01/13/09 08:50 PM #19     Tiffany Griffin (Stuart) Starwood just layed off Kelly Avril and Ryan Schlutz...which stinks because I had the same thought!

01/13/09 10:33 PM #20     Elizabeth Gastel (Marjason) Yeah, Rachel Jones (c/o 01') just got layed off from Marriott event planning or I would've thrown her name out there too. I am glad to see that people are coming up with ideas. I think its great Tiff, if you can get some quotes before Danny comes in town---that will make his visit easier. Maybe we should throw around some dates in August?? I know that the final date will depend on the place that is picked. I like Tiffany's idea of heavy hor d'uerves (spell check?) and Courtney's idea of open wine/beer, and cash liquor bar. I think that would keep the price down. Anyone else know people who could help Danny out too?? I think that Christi has a point too, even though a hotel would be ideal, I don't think we should count out the golf courses/country clubs. I have seen some get more bang for their buck in those places--at weddings I have been too.

01/14/09 08:54 AM #21     Alexis Zangari Lots of great ideas... so many places to look! I used to work for Starwood as well and I can ask a few of my friends to do some research regarding their properties. I called the Hyatt Grand Cypress earlier this week and ALL of their ballroom space is under renovation from June to the end of September!! Who would have thunk!? There is another Hyatt in Orlando, but it's the one at the air port and I'm not exactly sure how anyone would feel about going to the air port for an event... Wouldn’t be my first choice… Beer and Wine... Great suggestion! Saves money and still offers everyone SOMETHING for free.

01/15/09 10:14 PM #22     Francy Gutierrez (Rodriguez) Hello people. I know I'm late in coming to this discussion but early September would work out much better for me. I have my medical boards on August and will have no mind for a reunion until I'm done with them. Please,please consider September a little more. Thanks

01/16/09 03:48 PM #23     Sergio Cotzal I think sept. would be a great time to have the renuion b/c tourist season is over and it would prob. be a lot cheaper to rent out places. Well hope everyone is doing well and can't wait to see everyone again.

01/18/09 11:36 AM #24     Danny Pang I know we are probably going to have a lot of conflicts with the final date we are going to choose for our reunion, but we will try our best to accommodate as much people as possible. I think when we actually start going to look at places in March we will see what is available and for what price, and then we can make a better decision. If anyone has suggestions about locations please email the names and locations of the venue to me at contact@cchs1999.com, then Alexis and I would find our more about it. I will put up a new link with pictures of the site and a little information about it, that way everyone can join in the discussion. In terms of the booze, we are definitely going to work out an option where something or other is going to free for everyone. What's a reunion without free drinks.

01/18/09 09:03 PM #25     Tiffany Griffin (Stuart) Sounds like everythings under control between Alexis and Danny :) Let me know if you need any help otherwise I'll butt out now LOL! I can't wait to hear and see more details!

01/20/09 10:55 AM #26     Elizabeth Spanich (Sherman) It is great to see that everyone is getting in to planning mood. I will talk to a few people I know in the hotel biz in Orlando and see what we can all pull together. I know that everyone wants to keep cost down, which is super important for folks not living in Florida/Orlando anymore. A two-day deal where we can have a picnic in the park would be fun so we can bring our kids. I am with Danny and Lyzz--on an open bar but the beer and wine only deal would be great too...

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