Update 7-12-05

Hi,

Math question from last week: If you owe $3500, and someone gives you 2 grand, how many chunks of Rich's brain are missing for him to decide you still owe $2500?

More useful mail, first from Rob Kelman: I finally worked out the details. Please add my name to the list. I'll be staying at my daughter's in Lynbrook, so no hotel room needed. A check is going in the mail tonight. See you there!

Next, a quick guest addition from Terri Donohue Calamari: Mrs. Margolin (Bargman) will join us for cocktails on Friday night. I am still waiting to hear back from Ms. Rea, and Mr. and Mrs. (Ressa) Schmidt.

From Mr. Allen Moss in Maine: We are still over $3000 in the hole for the reunion, and we are thinking about a DJ for over $500? Uh... I don't THINK so!
Personal opinion only but... forget it! We seem to have done just fine last time with the canned juke box music, and I am assuming it is cheaper. I think we need to cut costs wherever we can at this point. What about our dinner selections for Saturday night? Is there a way to have a nice dinner, but maybe cut a bit of the costs that way? I don't know all the details, but we have to make up that money somehow, and it will take some hard decisions. How about McDonald "Happy Reunion Meals" for all of us instead of Saturday dinner? ONLY KIDDING!

[Rich -- Actually, we looked into downsizing the party three months ago when the snags first became evident. Unfortunately, we're locked into that contract ordering food for 90. Since there are likely to be only 50 or 60 of us: First, we can all eat very well. Second, we can take doggy bags for Sunday morning breakfast. Third, we can feed the Huntington homeless. Any other suggestions happily accepted.]

From Ralph Kramer: I hardly use my old e-mail anymore. Could you please change to my newer one: rlkramer@pcfamprac.net Thanks.

On a somewhat wider plane, a letter from Nancy Garfield's brother Jim, probably class of '69-or-so, that was published in The New York Times on July 5th under the heading "Exit Strategy for Iraq."
To the Editor: President Bush says our exit strategy is victory. You can have victory in a war only when your enemy surrenders. Anything less is not victory, and in Iraq there is no one in charge of the enemy to surrender.
That said, we must define an exit strategy, a series of well-defined goals that when achieved can be the beginning of our departure.
Some reasonable goals might be electricity for 90 percent of the country 100 percent of the time; clean drinking water for 90 percent of the country 100 percent of the time; 90 days with no United States casualties; 90 days with no car bombs.
If these four items can be achieved, we may not have achieved victory, but we would have achieved a measure of success.
Jim Garfield
Baiting Hollow, New York

A more personal appeal, from Terri Donohue Calamari: Dear class, those still on the fence, or those thinking about waiting until the 50th reunion: In all likelihood, there will not be another reunion. A class reunion often takes place when someone has a burning desire to organize one. In 1975, Linda Passaro put together a very nice party at Goldie's in Gibson. In 1985, Mr. Rosov was retiring and wanted to see our class one more time, so he made arrangements at a catering hall in Baldwin. In 2001, after our class started regrouping, and spurred by the loss in the tragedy at the World Trade Center, there was push to get together. But no one could agree on a time or place, so I took a leap of faith, pulled out my American Express card, and booked a hotel. Because of that party's success, in 2005 -- our 40th -- Dennis Shapiro and Paul DeMartino didn't think they were taking a leap of faith. We did a head count before booking a hotel, and we thought we were okay. Well, we weren't. We've solicited other classes and are getting some response. I have decided to do my part by bringing my Peace-Corps-and-Navy-veteran daughter to meet Mr. Gibson and Mr. O'Brien (members of the Greatest Generation) and, of course, to have the honor of meeting all those other people attending. But this could possibly be the last gathering with some of our former teachers. Many have moved away, and many have unfortunately passed away. And many of us are moving away and in ten years may not be so willing to travel. Also, who's going to risk planning another reunion and booking another hotel if they only end up picking up the bill? So please reconsider joining us. I would love to see ya'll one more time.

Finally, the current reunion attendee, guest, and supporter list, alphabetically by their last names in 1965:
Joan Aries Cleven
Jay Berliner
Barbara Blitfield Pech
Thomas Booth '66
Nancy Calamari
Tom Calise
Linda Cohen Greenseid
Peggy Cooper Schwartz
Wendy D'Angelo Scully '68
Carol D'Angelo Tucci '67
Elaine DeMartino Maas '67
Paul DeMartino
Teresa Donahue Calamari
Rich Eisbrouch
Barbara Endy Ianniello
Ellen Epstein Silver
Carol Ewig Duran (supporter only)
Robin Feit Baker
Alan Finder?
Sherry Finkel '68
Henry Gabbay
Peggy Galinger Menaker
Booker Gibson
Steve Gootzeit
Neil Guberman
Art Halprin
Judith Hartstone
Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer
Stuart Kandel
Rob Kelman
Barnet Kellman (supporter only)
Ralph Kramer
Theresa Margolin Bargman (Friday)
Ira Mitzner
Allen Moss
Lynn Nudelman Villagran
Bernie O'Brien (Friday)
Judy Peters Sylvan
Dennis & Benette Pizzimenti
Rachel Robinson Rizzo
Peter Rosen
Irene Saunders Goldstein
Dennis Shapiro
Robin Singer Taylor ?
Danny Stellabotte
Mark Yetman
Arthur Yngstrom '69

When: August 5th, 6th, 7th (Friday night through Sunday noon)
Where: Hilton Long Island/Huntington, 598 Broadhollow Road, Melville, New York, 11747
Cost: $100 per person
Reunion Package Includes:
Friday night cocktail party with snacks and cash bar (7:00 PM -- Midnight)
Saturday night buffet with open bar & DJ (7:00 PM -- Midnight; Dinner at 8:00)
Lobby area with cash bar available both nights to continue parties
Former teachers comped for both parties, and we're trying to attract as many of
our former teachers as possible.
NOTE: If you just want to come to the Friday night party, a $25 contribution per person is
requested.
SEND: Checks to Dennis Shapiro. 495 Wateredge Avenue, Baldwin, New York, 11510. Please make them out to: VSS 40th Reunion.
Also: Since there are a limited number of Friday night hotel rooms being held, please e-mail Dennis Shapiro when you've made your reservations so he can lobby for more. His e-mail address is: dshapiro@optonline.net The hotel's Phone Number is: 631-845-1000. Ask for the Reservations Desk and mention our class reunion discount. Hotel rooms should be $129/night.