Qs? & As!

Need a dinner program?

Q?
The questioner wanted suggestions for “fun things to do during a dinner program for a 40th reunion” but we asked the experts to make their answers appropriate to any reunion. We consulted members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM).

A!
Carolyn Moore of Reunion Planners of Texas in Magnolia, Texas, offered these great ideas. Classmates have gathered to “get back in touch” with old friends. To help them find out about each other and provide conversation starters, we use the following method to determine who “wins” the certificates presented for longest married, most children, most recently wed, youngest child, traveled farthest, changed most, least, etc. Information is NOT compiled beforehand but on the spot. The Mistress/Master of Ceremonies says, “Anyone who traveled more that 50 miles to get here tonight, please stand up. Those who traveled more than 100 miles, remain standing,” and so on, until you have a winner. Next, “Will everyone who is married please stand up. If you've been married more than five years [then 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years] remain standing,” until you have a winner. It sometimes comes down to counting years, months and days. Ask all the questions in essentially the same way. Standing up and sitting down makes it more fun. I find it best to do only five to seven topics, as it takes a long time and classmates want to talk to each other about what they've discovered. Also, I hire a DJ who “does his homework” and studies websites about what was going on (prices, #1 songs and headlines) during the years the class was in high school. He and the photographer work together to “recreate” groups; people who played together in small bands, sang or played sports together and those who went to elementary school together.

Laurie Peppenger of Merlin Information Services in Kalispell, Montana, made these suggestions. Have current students dress in styles that were “hot” during the year when the class graduated. For example, 1963 styles included buzz cuts, letterman jackets, dungaree jeans, penny loafers and high top red ball jets. (I’m guessing on the fashion because I’m much younger.) Set time for a fashion show complete with MC and runway. The MC can introduce each model as the “son/daughter of John Johnson.”

Carol Riley, Owner of Reunions Unlimited in Olympia, Washington, can always be counted on for very sage advice. Carol is also Past President and Treasurer of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM).

Whatever you do, make it short and funny. You will lose your audience if it is too long and dry. Be prepared to give awards you may have forgotten about—classmates may suggest one or more. Also brace yourself for the program that may not go as expected; technical difficulties may arise (this happens a lot) or the group may be too large or the crowd may not stop talking (try again later or just drop it).

These are fun things to do for the program in no particular order.

The traditional awards include who traveled farthest or lives closest, married longest or least or never or most often, greatest number of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, highest degree of education, still drives or owns the same car he or she had in high school. The list goes on and on, but never do “who has changed the least or most” as that can be very embarrassing. We recommend having an energetic and enthusiastic emcee who asks questions.

Other ideas:

• Build a theme around a period car or other unique era or high school item.
• Bring back the cheerleaders, pep squad, school mascot (give them a donation).
• Reunite school choir members and have them sing the school fight song.
• Pass the microphone for introductions by table.
• Open the microphone for interesting stories.
• Do a slide/video/music show with pictures from the past and present.
• Have a call and response trivia game ( i.e., “Who remembers the name of the school nurse”) with funny awards.
• Have a raffle: committee members solicit donations, give everyone a ticket for a drawing, and give exciting gifts.
• Bring in a casino.
• Revive a high school band for a song or two.

This is all fun, but on a somber note, please remember to have a memorial display and a moment of silence (easily incorporated in your welcoming and call for dinner) for deceased classmates. Remember, each of them was somebody's best friend! 

How to make a power point presentation

Q?
Bruce Mewbourne asked: Do you have any recommendations for hiring someone to create a media presentation for a reunion? I’m interested in showing “before and after” photos in Powerpoint.

A!
We turned to members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM). These are their answers.

Nancy Shirey at A+ Reunion, LLC, Ellicott City, Maryland, recommends contacting a high school or college for a suggestion and perhaps your need could be made into a class project.  If not, they may be able to suggest a student and/or instructor willing to help out for a few dollars.

Carol Riley, Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington, says budget is the biggest factor in multimedia presentations. If money is no issue, hire a local, regional or national media professional who can coordinate details from production to presentation, using the latest technology. If, on the other hand, you’re on a budget, ask classmates. You will be amazed at their talents. Carol says, “We’ve always found a volunteer to create the presentation. Many times they even have access to equipment to save money on rental fees.” 

Carol’s final word of advice is that getting the old stuff for your presentation is easy. Collecting new pictures from classmates is a little harder. Be patient and prepared to send a few reminders and include instructions for how to send, when and where.

Janice Masciarelli, Reunion Central, Inc, Bear, Delaware, says they don’t do many Powerpoint presentations at reunions because they are costly and time-consuming to prepare. Committees who do use them usually have a professional graphics person willing to donate a lot of time and talent.

Committees who want a show but are unfamiliar with Powerpoint, scan or photograph yearbook pictures and make them into slides. They need a projector and screen at the reunion. Photos can be shown in constant rotation or made into a “presentation” and shown all at once. A presentation should not last more than about four to five minutes, as reunion attention spans are extremely short!

Finally, Jonathan C. Miller, Reunited, Inc, Weston, Florida, says while it is tempting to hire someone to produce a presentation, the technology exists for even the most novice user to achieve professional results. Most newer computers are equipped with software to produce a multimedia presentation with minimal effort. Macintosh has a well-known reputation for its ability to easily create these shows. Windows-based PCs usually have excellent utilities that are surprisingly simple. A trip to an office supply or computer store will reveal several off-the-shelf programs which can help you produce incredible shows. MyDVD Studio by Sonic has earned widespread accolades for ease of use and final results.

Miller cautions that, if you produce a show (either yourself or professionally), plan for the cost of projection equipment. If your show is on a DVD, you will need a DVD player, digital projector and screen. This equipment may usually be rented from your reunion venue, purchased at a local store or borrowed from a classmate or reunion member.

Or maybe, Miller suggests, you should work with a professional reunion planner who includes production work among their services. Miller’s company, Reunited, Inc., produces a digital slide show for all their reunions. They include photos from alumni, images from the yearbook as well as video footage from previous reunions and other related events.

To bring spouses … or not

Q?
When planning a 20-year high school reunion, we are considering whether to go with spouses or no spouses, do you have an opinion on this?

A!
That's a great question and one that changes as reunions get older: 10th year you want to show off your spouse, by the 60th you're joined at the hip so for the 10th and 60th spouses are essential. But 20-year, who knows? Perhaps it’s more fun going solo, which is often fine with the spouse-who doesn't want to go anyway.

My own reunion and my sister's a couple years later have been having Friday night gatherings that are for classmates. Some spouses who are really close to class members come along. But spouses who know no one in the class should be spared one uncomfortable party.

I think the question can be answered from the point of view of the classmate, who is eager to see former friends, and the spouse, who knows no one and does not look forward to being ill at ease. The classmate is either reconnecting with old friends or duty bound to hang on to and introduce the spouse over and over again. Spouses not related to the class are all in the same uncomfortable position. They can form a cadre of uncomfortable others so if one of them is a cheerleader, they can soon bond, if only for a couple of hours … every 10 years. They may, as often happens at military reunions, form their own group who look forward to seeing one another at the next reunion.

Note: these are only opinions: there are no rules!

We also asked expert members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM) what their experience is.

Many people have different feelings about bringing a guest or spouse to their reunion, wrote Joyce Capolino of The Best Reunions in Tequesta, Florida. To make everyone happy, we always invite all alumni with a guest and it is their decision if they would like to bring a guest or spouse. Some alumni will not attend without their spouse; many people do not like to travel or attend functions alone. We let it be the individual’s decision and the more the merrier.

Typically, whether a reunion event is “Classmates Only” or not is specified on the invitation. The popular way to hold a reunion is to have a Friday evening classmates-only event, and a Saturday event with spouse/significant others, and then sometimes a family picnic on Sunday, wrote NARM’s Administrative Assistant, Renee Mead, Renton, Washington.

Byron Davidson of 1st Class Reunions, Loganville, Georgia, said his experience has been that if a class is close and has had reunions, spouses have formed at least a casual relationship with other alumni and spouses. So by all means invite spouses but have some activity or recognition involving them. For example, use the DJ to get the spouses dancing together, then possibly line dances (Electric Slide, etc.), as long as there is something for them to do. Also, there’s a practical aspect to having spouses there. Alumni may “party to excess,” so when it comes to leaving, the spouse is a designated driver.

Gayle Rapoport, Reunion Organizers of Minnesota, Minneapolis, agreed that some people may choose not to bring their spouse or significant other, but there are those who do not go anywhere alone.

Carolyn Moore of the late Reunion Planners of Texas, asked whether our reader/questioner is trying to increase the divorce rate for their class. “Without spouses, you will lose about half the class attendance.”

T. Stevens, Reunions to Remember in Manhasset, New York, says to definitely include spouses, as long as they are willing to come! While Greg Hollander, Class Encounters, Sacramento, California, suggests that, on average, about 50% of classmates bring their spouse or a guest to their reunion.

Help! I’m Master of Ceremonies!

Q!
 Dorothy Huddleston, Ellinwood, Kansas, wrote looking for humorous material for a Master of Ceremonies and material pertinent “to us oldsters” for a 60th high school reunion.

A!
Have you gone back to a history book? Chronicle of the 20th Century is a good one and there are lots of websites, too. It gives you lots to talk about life back then:  prices, styles, world and national events.

These additional thoughts don’t have a lot of humor though I suspect with a little work they could:

Read what the yearbook said about classmates and then document what really happened. If you can get a bunch of yearbooks, read what classmates wrote to each other. How many promises were made? kept? broken?

Distribute a questionnaire before the reunion, tabulate information about your classmates and make a report at your reunion. In other words, find your class’s footprint in time. I’ll guess it’s pretty impressive. How many went into the military? How many went to college? How many children did you all produce? grandchildren? great-grands? What occupations did you pursue? How far did you move away? How many stayed close by?

At the reunion, pose a provocative question and ask everyone to answer: What is the funniest thing you remember about high school? Or, how did life turn out for you?

Talk about how your town has changed since you graduated from high school or how the world has changed. Have someone read one of those impressive lists of things invented/discovered/developed since you graduated from high school.

Editor’s note: What material do you have or have you used that might help Ms. Huddleston? Email to reunions@execpc.com and send to Reunions magazine, PO Box 11727, Milwaukee WI 53211.

Need 20 minutes of comedy

Q?
Jim Mace, Sacramento, California, wrote “I’m looking for a short skit about teenagers and high school life in the 1950s and ’60s. A semi-comedy to last between 10 and 20 minutes.”

A!
My inclination was to suggest he write his own, but thought I'd check first to see if any of the experts at the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM) knows of or has an answer.

Kandy Davidson, 1st Class Reunions, Loganville, Georgia, also suggested Mace write his own skit after talking to people in that age group about their funny experiences.

Carol Riley, Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington, agreed that he write his own based on his class. Another approach is to watch old TV shows for ideas, or at least jog his memory! Riley had one class that did a skit of announcements over the school’s public address system. This year they hosted a 40-year reunion and brought in the current HS Band and Cheerleaders!

Reunion Specialists, Carlsbad, California, suggested any of the songs from Grease would be cute and could easily be adapted.

What about inviting kids who didn't graduate with us?

Michael C. Gergel, New Boston, Michigan, writes “I am on a reunion committee and we received this question from a classmate. Is it typical to invite former classmates who did NOT graduate with us? Other classmates are asking the same question.

   “Some schools say yes, others say no. For example, Fort Ashby High School Class of 1973 committee decided to invite any class member during their sophomore, junior and/or senior year but may not have graduated with the class. Other schools invite classmates from years before and after to attend.

   “We have made no distinction between those who graduated and those who moved or did not graduate from Napoleon High School. I was invited to my high school reunion at another school I attended from kindergarten through 8th grades.

   “Is there tradition about this or is it up to the committee?”

Riley, owner of Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington, and member of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM), answers.

We invite, and add to the list, anyone who was a member of that class anytime in their life. As children and teens, it was not usually our decision or first choice to go to another school, move or even drop out because of difficult personal circumstances or health. Sometimes classmates do not actually graduate until the year after if they needed summer school or a few extra credits. 

 We do not typically formally invite those from the year ahead or the year behind but if they ask and want to pay that is fine with us. They must have had a strong association with the class. We never let anyone from the class or any other class attend without paying!

t's our 50th! what do we do?

Q?
The dilemma
   A California Class of the 1950's faces its golden anniversary reunion and pleads “We need new ideas, new formats for activities, new means of announcing the event and new presentations for ‘the big night’ program.”  To start, we asked what they’d done before to avoid replaying old songs. Here’s the response:
    Friday evening there were one or two get-togethers at classmates’ homes for reacquainting, drinking and chatting.
   Saturday morning, weather permitting, there was a golf outing for men while women visited, shopped and lounged at home or their hotel. Saturday afternoon there was a picnic which very few attended or visits to the high school, museum or other places of interest. Saturday evening the big bash was dinner at a place large enough to accommodate 100 graduates plus spouses and guests. The program rarely varied; an MC paid tribute to the reunion committee for their hard work [Editor’s note: Let’s not change that], recognized deceased classmates, and introduced a program of a monologue, skits, and awards for who came the furthest, had the most grandchildren, etc. Finally, the evening was capped off with dancing to recorded music from the past which attracted very few people and a lengthy session of group and individual photos taken by a hired professional.
   Sunday morning breakfast was followed by announcements and a short church service.
  “People are becoming bored and there are always problems finding lost classmates and with funding. Funding was charging each attendee a one-time fee which invariably left the committee to make up shortages in the general fund. No wonder volunteering is declining.”

A!
We found this dilemma about a 50th class reunion somewhat universal for all reunions. Therefore, any class reunion organizer will find intriguing ideas from these experts. We turned, yet again, to members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM), who make their livings organizing class reunions. They are paid to keep reunions from boredom.
    Nikki Anderson, Reunion Specialists, Inc., Carlsbad, California wrote that several classes she’s working with invited a representative from the high school to do a “then and now” presentation. They included things like school enrollment, number of staff, classrooms, parking spaces. One class invited a school group (band, dance team) to perform. This season they have several classes doing Sunday events that include a “Day at the Races.”  Football or baseball games with tailgate parties are also popular.
   Deirdre Marvin, ReunionTeam.com, Vernon Hills, Illinois,reported “a big hit at an older classmates” reunion. The reunion committee made a contribution to the high school and their marching band made an appearance at the reunion playing the school fight song as they marched into the ballroom. Cheerleaders, pom-pom squad or flags add to the presentation. If space does not allow a marching band, a jazz band is a smaller alternative. It makes for a very festive and fun presentation.
   Carol Riley, Owner of Reunions Unlimited in Olympia, Washington and past president of NARM, suggests that reunion attendees have expectations and like to have a format to follow. They expect to have one main dinner event which can be changed by having a theme party (’50s, Hawaiian, etc.) and/or a change in menu (BBQ, pig roast or international food stations).
   Keep the golf, Riley says, open it to women and move it to Friday afternoon, followed by an informal cocktail party open to all golfers and non-golfers. Or have an informal non-alcoholic reception at the school. On Saturday, “nix the school tour if the school has not had a remodel.”
   Cancel the DJ at the main event. Keep the program short, skip the skits and pass around a cordless mike from table to table for classmate introductions. Or maybe offer an open mike for anyone who wishes to share something with the entire group.
   Put together a slide show from kindergarten through the 50th year reunion. Make a video or CD of it and offer it for sale.
   For a donation, ask current cheerleaders, majorettes or band to perform, adding to the excitement of the event. They run in dressed in school colors with pom-poms, mascot included, and do some cheers or songs. They may also sing or play the school anthem.
   Don’t do individual photos. One large group shot is fine and offers classmates a chance to mingle. Or take it a step further and break down into grade school groups.
   Offer something totally unique on Sunday. If you live close to a large body of water, secure a large boat (walk-on ferry or something similar), bring onboard light finger food and a bar and go out for a three-hour cruise.
   Chris Clishe in Riley’s office, who is midway to her 50-year reunion, suggests an additional event after the reunion. Work with a cruise line or vacation center and offer a class cruise or trip a day or two after the reunion weekend, giving classmates a longer and less scheduled chance to be together.
   And finally, Riley makes a surprising conclusion that finding missing classmates is easy. The answer? Hire a NARM reunion professional in your area!
   Beth A. Miller is president of Reunited, Inc. in Weston, Florida. She gave careful consideration to the reader’s question to do a golden anniversary reunion a little differently from past reunions.
   First, I’d suggest shortening the menu of events to two— at most three. On Friday, a “happy hour” ice-breaker at a local bar or club may be a nice change. It can be done inexpensively by starting early before the “regular” crowd arrives. Try to arrange a drink special (ie: 2-for-1, a drink named for the school mascot for a reduced price or even one hour of open bar) whatever the establishment is willing to provide in exchange for an early-arriving crowd. Ask the establishment to provide hors d’oeuvres and light munchies. Remind management reunion attendees are mainly there to see old friends and not to consume the free drink and leave. Such an event could also provide publicity for the establishment and expose it to potential new and repeat customers.
   For the Saturday “big event,” why not change things a bit and dress down, make it casual, they’ve done the dress-up thing before. Take it a step further and ask alumni to dress in school colors. It’s pretty cool to still have spirit after all of those years. Add to the spirit by having a trivia contest throughout the night. Give the DJ/emcee a list of questions about old hang-outs, teachers, who had what kind of car, who was voted best dressed, Homecoming King, etc. Provide token prizes or maybe divide the group into “teams,” for a team prize. Solicit token prizes from local businesses.
   Offer an informal Sunday event for the “die-hards,” such as a poolside gathering. Anyone who wants to can order lunch or drinks on their own and it doesn’t raise the ticket price.
   Put extra thought into the content of events and really bring people back to the “good ‘ol days” without the pressure of big ticket prices and fancy outfits.

What to do with leftover money!

Q?
This provocative question is from Sandy, Butler High School Class of 1997 reunion, Augusta, Georgia.  I have just begun to organize the reunion and it occurred to me that more people might respond than I expect, leaving the possibility that we might have surplus money when we finish. Any ideas for "leftover" money collected for this high school reunion?
A!
Responses are from members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM).
Everyone agreed with Debby Pattin & Carol Riley, owners of Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington, and Denise Silva, President of Great Reunions, Garden Grove, California, who say if you’re lucky enough to have a surplus, you can save the money as seed money for the next reunion or donate it to your school.
   Kirsten Richardson, Reunions With Class, Inc., Bellevue, Washington, cautions that surpluses “can be a hassle to track, report interest to the IRS and manage the account if it is small (banks like to charge fees for small accounts).”
   Joe Smith of Back to the Future Reunions, Pleasanton, California, suggests having the account set up legally with a CPA to prevent trouble on a number of fronts, including the possibility that something happens to the person in charge of the account. After the account is set up and the reunion is a memory, “wait three to four months to be sure all the bills have been paid and no one is requesting a refund for any reason. Once you are sure the money left is really ‘extra’ money, then start thinking about what to do.”
   If you use the money for start-up funds for the next reunion, there are some pitfalls. Who controls the money? Is it in a bank account and who has access? Is the person who has control of the money going to want to plan the next reunion? As shocking as it may seem, some reunion chairmen have moved away and taken the funds with them. If a great deal of money is involved, safety precautions should be explored.
Linda Wright and Jim O'Gorman, Keep In Touch Reunions LLC, St. Charles, Missouri, exclaimed: “WOW! What a great problem to have! You could give the money to your high school as a 'thank you' gift from your class. Pinpoint it for a special use, say for technology or library. We give committees an option of adding a dollar or two to their ticket price for just this purpose.
   The money can be used to buy door prizes. By a day or two before the reunion you should know if you will have extra funds. Door prizes can be given at the dinner dance or be used to help boost attendance for a Sunday event which is usually less well-attended. Or give the money itself as a door prize and call it a ticket refund.
   Nancy Shirey at A+ Reunion in Ellicott City, Maryland, suggests offering a cordials bar after dinner or door prizes. Create a calendar with pictures of events from reunion weekend, offers Frances Farlow, Reunions For U, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Or participate in an adopt-a-family for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
   Put the money toward what Darla Methey, Reunions By Design, El Cajon, California, calls memorabilia enhancements. “Sometimes committees rent mannequins to display prom dresses or outfits of the era (from wigs to shoes). Or consider these ideas that don't require a lot of lead time — reimburse committee members' tickets, award a prize to the first person to RSVP or pay for faculty tickets.
   In preparation for our ten-year reunion, we discovered we had never spent the high school funds our class president placed in a savings account,” Michelle Webber, Administrative Assistant for NARM in Canby, Oregon wrote. “We had over $1500 to spend for our first reunion. We used half to reduce the per-person ticket cost for alumni from $60 to $40. I believe this helped increase reunion attendance.”
   Jonathan Miller, Reunited, Inc., Weston, Florida, added some new ideas. Project your estimated windfall and purchase a keepsake item to give out at the reunion or as a post-reunion thank-you for attending. Create a fund to subsidize tickets for classmates who feel they can't otherwise afford to attend the reunion. Create a scholarship fund to recognize a current/upcoming graduate of your school or support a worthy program at your school or in your school community. Or you can upgrade your catering menu or offer a complimentary cocktail.

Reunion entertainment ideas

Q?
Deborah Swan, from Toukley, New South Wales, Australia, asked for entertainment ideas for her Gorokan High School Class of 1980 reunion.
A!
Denise Silva of Great Reunions, Garden Grove, California, cautioned that too much entertainment is just as bad, if not worse, than no entertainment. The majority of classmates want to spend their limited time reminiscing, not watching a show. She has been successful having the current school band and/or cheerleaders come for a brief alma mater and traditional cheer just before the awards. They do it for a small donation. Another suggestion is to have classmates send pictures before the reunion (with their name and address on the back) to be made into a video.
   Darla Methey at Reunions By Design in El Cajon, California, reports that they have a company come in with blackjack and crap tables. She says you can find companies in the yellow pages under “entertainment,” or contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau for referrals. The company they use costs about $100 an hour. Sometimes they offer raffle tickets at the end of the night for exchange of chips, with a prize of a 3-day/2-night stay in Las Vegas. These games are good for spouses and guests at reunions because they are happy and have something fun to do while the spouse enjoys talking to classmates. One of the DJs Methey hires devises contests. One requires a group of five to eight male classmates to strike poses or do a skit. Then the females do the same. Methey reports it’s great for laughs and a fun opener for the committee. They’ve also had comedians or a disk jockey who plays Name That Tune.
Nancy Shirey at A+ Reunion in Ellicott City, Maryland, adds a trivia game.
   Joseph W. Smith of Back to the Future Reunions in Pleasanton, California, says the three things to keep in mind for your reunion are: “Be creative and think outside the box. People are more interested in reminiscing than anything else, so any entertainment that you bring in should be unobtrusive. And keep it cheap!”
   Keeping that in mind, you are ready to start looking for entertainment. The first thing you should do is start talking to your classmates about who they work for and who they know. A lot of times we find that someone owns a company that has something we can use or knows someone that they can talk into donating a service or selling it to us at cost. Possibilities include Casino Nights, magicians that go table-to-table, a comedian during dinner, or just a fun icebreaker game. Local libraries offer books that describe hundreds of party games.

Need help finding classmates?

Q?
"We are looking for an organization that takes on the task of finding classmates. We are in the process of putting together our 40th reunion for 2004 and need assistance. Can you recommend one?" e-mailed Juanita Hayes.

A!
The professional management companies that organize reunions specialize in finding people ... it's part of their cost. Try www.reunions.com for something close to you. Tell them Reunions magazine sent you!

This might be the reunion where the solitary responsibility of your committee is to find a company or party planner to organize your reunion. Then, even committee members can be guests. Start by asking around for others who have hired services. It's in the best interest of the company to find as many classmates to come to your reunion as possible and their fees, usually all-inclusive, are not outrageous if you compare the cost to many other entertainment or leisure activities you attend.

Don't miss this opportunity to commit to a continuing search because some of your classmates are going to move a few more times by the time of your next reunion. Use your database and perhaps even recruit a searching fanatic in your class with the challenge to find everyone! Check an article by Bill Williams about his successful searches.

Finding professionals to plan your reunion

Ask for references from the company. Then, call the references. Ask references to be candid about the good and the "bad" of working with that company.

Look for a fair price. Expect the fee to include all catering costs, rentals, entertainment, optional memory book. Then expect approximately $20 to be added as over-head charges; labor, research, printing, phones and postage plus a little profit.

Q?
Janice Clarkson, Midland, Texas, e-mailed that she wanted to put a small booklet together to distribute at our 1999 reunion. I need successful ideas or examples. I want to include graduation pictures along with recent photos from each classmate and their family. Help!

A!
*Paula Sheagley, reunion expert, responds.
A very easy and inexpensive idea is to send a printed questionnaire to classmates that has an area to neatly print or type their bio and "best memories" of school days. They attach a photo with or without family. Take the sheets to a printer and ask them to make "copies" for everyone.
Attach a cover and spiral binder. It's quick, easy and fun to see everyone's handwriting. Use a quick self-mailer (to save money on envelopes). Only expect about one-third to return their forms, so plan follow-up. Also, try this trick: tell classmates they can include their business cards (camera-ready advertising) on their personal page. Free advertising, everyone loves that these days!
Also consider these ideas. Ask other reunion planners what they've done. Check other kinds of organizations that do similar projects: family reunions, churches, organizations and associations. Ask your quick printer what jobs they've done and if they've done nothing similar: call around. Someone's already doing what you want to do and probably would love to tell you all about it! Good luck!

*About the expert
Paula Sheagley wrote many class reunion articles for Reunions magazine so we turn to her expertise when faced with class reunion dilemmas. She is the former owner of a reunion planning business in southern Colorado and was a charter member and past president of the National Association of Reunion Managers. Paula is presently the event coordinator and marketing representative for Holy Cross Abbey, home of Benedictine Monks in Canon City, Colorado, which she describes as "beautiful grounds with wonderful reunion and retreat facilities built around a turn-of-the century."

Should you hire a professional?
We are often asked if it is better to organize a reunion with or without professional help. Our response suggests that the decision should be up to each reunion because it depends upon whether or not you have the time and energy to do a thorough job. There is much detail and many considerations over a long enough period of time so a serious commitment is called for.

We asked Debby Pattin, a partner in Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington, and chair of the Ethics Committee for the National Association of Reunion Managers, to tell us why to use a professional reunion manager.

Professional reunion managers have the experience and offer a comprehensive set of services and expertise to make your class reunion a success. Just think about how much time it would take to locate alumni, organize events, prepare and mail announcements and registrations and coordinate registrations and confirmations. Professional managers know how to find classmates, the most difficult task of reunion planning and provide one place of contact for consistent and up-to-date information.

Professional mangers also pay up front costs, maintain web sites for secure on-line registration, provide toll-free phone numbers, e-mail and fax and credit card processing, deposit and bill paying. Then, consider music and photography, memory books, contacting local media, the school and alumni association, staffing events and paying for liability insurance. Professional managers take care of all those details and much more.

Here's the best part: there is no cost to the committee for using a reunion manager. Managers take the hassle out of planning a reunion and allow the committee to take the credit and have fun.

Members of the National Association of Reunion Managers follow strict industry standards and adhere to a code of ethics. They have strong working relationships with hotels, banquet facilities, caterers, DJs, vendors and suppliers. Best of all, your reunion committee always maintains decision-making power while working with a professional.

Like everything else, it is important to shop around and ask for and make reference checks for any potential manager. For information about a professional reunion manager in your area, visit the National Association of Reunion Managers web site www.reunions.com or call 800-654-2776.

How to reach the experts:
Debby Pattin and her partner, Carol Riley, own Reunions Unlimited, PO Box 11203, Olympia, Washington 98508; 360-866-8842 or e-mail reunions@reunionsunlimited.com.

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