Update 1-29-02


Okay,

Easy reading:

First, the results of all your answers, after some quick cross-country consultation among Teri, Paul, and myself:

We're going to hold close to the initially announced cost of the Saturday night banquet---32.95 plus taxes and tips (about $10)---but for easy bookkeeping we're rounding that to $45.

Next, we're going to suggest a voluntary donation of $15 per classmate---but not per extra guest (in other words, if you're bringing your husband, wife, or significant other, you pay $45; he, she, or it pays $45; and we'd like you to donate an extra 15 bucks.  But he, she, or it doesn't have to).

And if you'd like to donate more than $15, that would be just great.  This is the money that will pay for the hospitality suite, stock the hospitality suite with food and drink, and fund the teachers' Saturday night dinners.

Also, we've been told there's no way the $350 per night for the hospitality suite will be comped.  The hotel feels they've already given us a good deal on the individual room rate, cutting it from $250 a night to $109.  And since we're not a 50 grand wedding, they're not going to make a lot more on us, so they really want that money for the hospitality suite.

In the same way, the banquet manager for the hotel feels he can't make enough money stocking the hospitality suite for us, which is why he suggested we stock it ourselves.  The other alternative he suggested was using room service.  But that's expensive, with a limited menu.

Now the way we're doing the math, we already have about 70 people tentatively coming to the reunion and we're hoping to pick up another 30.  That would give us 100 (this is real easy arithmetic) times 15 bucks, totaling maybe $1500 in base voluntary donations.  From there it's not very hard to get to $2000 through the little bit extra some people will kick in.  Round about April 1st, when Paul would like to have all this money, we'll see where we actually are on donations.  Then if we need to, well put out an extra call.  

There's also the money we'll pick up from people who decide after April 1st that they want to come to the reunion.

Meanwhile, Paul's in the process of setting up a bank account, with Dennis Shapiro as the co-signer (they're both accountants so know how to do this stuff).  As soon as that's set up, Paul will tell us where to send the money.  A single check will do, just for the Saturday dinner and donation.  All payments for the hotel rooms are between you and the hotel.

At the moment, we're not thinking of a DJ; we have a boom box.  And we're still investigating the best way to do a video that will serve as a record but not be an intrusion.  As for a brochure of all our pictures and bios:  well, yes, it's a nice idea.  But who will do it?  Nancy Garfield nicely volunteered to put together a questionnaire, and to collate the results.  But that doesn't guarantee 100% involvement.  In fact, with this update going to about 160 e-mail addresses weekly, we get only 20 to 40 responses when we ask really, really important questions---like should Robert Fiveson be encouraged or committed?  So unless someone can figure out how to get the information, I'm afraid we're going to have to leave the brochure as just an idea.

Finally, we're still thinking of not charging for drinks within the hospitality suite, leaving me wide open for Jay Kinder to say, "I told you so," when I have to dissolve my retirement account to get back to California.  But Jay's a sweet guy, and he'll probably give me a lift to the nearest bus station.

And that's tentatively it.  While I've been typing, and Paul's been in the counting house, Terri's been putting together a list of all the teachers you've collectively asked us to try and find.  Some are easier than others.  The ones who ultimately retired from South are on a list maintained by one of the retired administrators.  But teachers who moved on to other jobs well before the age of retirement may be as hard to find as our missing 100 class members.  So please don't be disappointed if we don't turn up your favorite teacher, or if he or she is presently living too far away to visit conveniently for the reunion weekend.  

Next, a fast reminder about the February 9th New York gathering:

When:    Saturday, February 9, 2002  1:00 PM
Where:   Lily Flanagans, 279 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre
Contact: Paul DeMartino:  PINA_1@msn.com  or  516-799-1590
Currently coming:  Dennis Shapiro, Mark Yetman, Danny Stellabotte, Barbara Endy, Jerri Clamp Rachoi, Robin Feit, Carmine DeSanto, Tom Buck, Barbara Brill, Dave Licht & Paul DeMartino

Some more April RSVPs:

From Marc Jonas:  Re: reunion:  me, too.

From Peggy Cooper Schwartz:  I just spoke to Jeryl Monsees Denois--who will also be joining the reunion.

Currently coming in April:

Alison Altman
Fran Bellucci Johnson
Barbara Blitfeld Pech
Barbara Brill
Tom Calise
RoseMarie Cassillo Digilio
Linda Chanes Abel
Marsha Churnin Soroka
Michele Cohen Collins
Peggy Cooper Schwartz
Jerrie Clamp Rachoi
Steve Davidson
Grace Dibble Kincade
Terri Donohue Calamari
Paul DeMartino
Carmine DeSanto
Andy Dolich
Richard Duncan
Rich Eisbrouch
Barbara Endy Ianniello
Ellen Epstein Silver
Carol Ewig Duran
Alan Finder
Robin Feit
Marc Fishman
Robert Fiveson
Diane Fruzzetti
Peggy Galinger Menaker
Nancy Garfield
Jay Gladky
Stuart Glasser
Rick Glickman Wall
Marc Goldberg
Neil Guberman
Art Halprin
Judy Hartstone
Sharon Hoenig Barry
Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer
Marc Jonas
Stu Kandel
Barnet Kellman
Jay Kinder
Ralph Kramer
Ira Levy
David Licht
Roz Minsky Bobrow
Ira Mitzner
Jeryl Monsees Denois
Martha Morenstein
Allen Moss
Ellen Nudelman Davidson
Lynn Nudelman Villagran
Audrey Olsen
Judy Peters Sylvan
Dennis Pizzimenti
Rachael Robinson Rizzo
Peter Rosen
Larry Rugen
Jane Ruzow Tiell
Irene Saunders Goldstein
Bernie Scheidt
Paulinda Schimmel
Robin Seader Cottmeyer
Dennis Shapiro
Robin Singer Taylor
Ray Staley
Benette Steindam Pizzimenti ('66)
Jay Tuerk
Gayle Ulrich Ramesh
Linda Vicinanza Marrs
Janice Williams Teewe
Paul Zegler
Barbara Zingman Braunstein

A new e-mail address:  From Judy Peters Sylvan:  Just wanted to let you know that my e-mail address has been changed to j.sylvan@cox.net.  Please make a note of it.  Have a great day!

A follow-up:  The Class of '64's April 12th to 14th reunion in Tampa is moving ahead nicely.  They have about 40 people confirmed, which is terrific seeing Sue Raitt Howard is doing most of the work herself.  The Friday night through Sunday morning schedule pretty well parallels our plans, as do the costs.  And the Class of '64 welcomes anyone from South who'd  like to attend.  For more specific information, please write Sue Raitt Howard at:  HSUZOO@aol.com

An embarrassment:  I've just discovered at least one name which should have been on the group mailing list for the weekly updates and wasn't.  If you know someone who's sent me an e-mail address, and should be getting the updates, and isn't, please tell me.  What there was of my memory, sometimes hasn't been seen since 1965.  Also, if I've left anyone off the April reunion list, please let me know.  Thanks.

Finally, from Allen Moss:  I have decided to stay with "the gang" at the hotel rather than with other friends.  I realized that part of the fun would be to pull an adult "all nighter."  

Fast Address Link: http://hometown.aol.com/reunionclass65/myhomepage/profile.html

Home Page Link: http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a/myhomepageprofile.html


Rich