New Topic Reply Subscription Options |
Reunion Committees
Forums: General Discussion | |||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:06 PM
I was just curious how some of you have functioned in the responsibility for setting up a Reunion, generally speaking. We are having our 50th Reunion this September, getting reasonable response as usually expected. This is only our 3rd ever Reunion, and the first in 20 years!! Our committee is made up of 5 enthusiastic classmates, but we only acquired ClassCreator well into this upcoming reunion planning. Hence, we really are not using the Reunion Planning functionality of ClassCreator this time. I want to use it to fullest extent next reunion (hopefully earlier than another 20 years). I have had at least a couple of our committee members mention they wished I lived closer, as most of them are "running out of gas" and would like some fresh outlook. That is my question. Does your reunion committee function primarily with "close local" people"? Our reunion site is in Oklahoma, I am in California. It seems to me that closeness is not nearly a factor as years ago, what with the capability of computers. The other question involves committee Meetings.... Do you 'physically' get together for meetings, or do you conference call, or even use Webex for computer "distance" meetings? I realize, close committee members are absolutely necessary for such things as being able to coordinate restaurants, hotels, and meeting places. But, seems most anything else it wouldn't matter about an efficient committee as to where they are located. I would like to use our ClassCreator to be much more involved in the next reunion, even though I am half way across the USA where the reunion will be held. I guess I am mostly interested in how you MEET.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 1:48 PM - Response #1
OMG!!!! Use the Reunion Planner for this reunion..it's so easy..you still have time..it doesn't take long to set it up..and you can get checks or credit card orders. Our credit card ticket sales are thru the roof. No need to use snail mail except for the people who don't have internet access or computer challenge. Especially...since you have a committee who's spread out all over the place.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 1:49 PM - Response #2
We are having our 50-year reunion this fall in Minnesota. I am in North Carolina. The person handling our media presentation is in Texas. We are all PPR's (persons primarily responsible) for certain areas. A larger group in Minnesota takes care of the local items - site, catering, decorations, etc. I talk to the leader of that group once a week or so, and I'm in close communication with the media person and another who has expertise in the promotional area. They all keep me up to date on progress so that I can keep the web site accurate. Besides the web site, I have taken care of the communications to classmates. This has all worked very well for us. ClassCreator has made all this a possibility. Hurray for CC and all the guidance and support, both directly and via the CC Forums!
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2:00 PM - Response #3
We are having our 50th Reunion this September, getting reasonable response as usually expected. This is only our 3rd ever Reunion, and the first in 20 years!!
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2:40 PM - Response #4
If you have laptops with web cams, you can Skype to attend meetings.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2:43 PM - Response #5
We have several classmates who live in the town where we graduated. There about 8 on the committee, 3 are traveling about an hour to attend. We are mostly comunicating by email. We are having our 50th reunion this year, 2nd of Oct. We have met 2 times, first meeting in May of this year. Our class has had a reunion every 5 yrs since graduation. With the help of our CC website, which we've had for the last 2 yrs and previous reunion commuications, we have been able to keep in touch with most of our fellow classmates. We hope to get the registrations letters in the mail by the end of this month. We are not using the CC reunion planner, because a large percentage of our classmates will not use the internet to buy tickets or send money..
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 3:06 PM - Response #6
50 years and on October 2 for us, also. We used Reunion Planner only for keeping track of who was registered, not for receiving payment. We had one person who has traditionally done that, and everyone feels comfortable send their $$ to her. We still have about 1/3 of our classmates who are not or choose not to be active computer users; so, this plan worked well for us. That is one of the reasons CC that is so wonderful - you can use all or part of it, whichever suits your needs and desires.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 3:39 PM - Response #7
Our 5 year reunions were run by a small group over the years -- without much 'inclusion' if you wanted to help. For our 50th, we invited everyone to help if they wanted to and now have about 35 people on the "Reunion Team". These are people who have attended at least one of the two meetings we've had so far -- a third is scheduled for Sep 15 (our reunion is in July 2011). A number of team members have commented that they were glad to be 'allowed' to participate in the planning. We've divided up into working groups on the different events we plan to have over the weekend -- golf, river cruise, etc. While it doesn't take 35 people to plan the reunion, it has been helpful having that many people to bounce ideas off of. I'm 2000 miles away. Most of them live within 40 miles of the town we grew up in. Some take on specific tasks I ask them to do -- like research obituaries, call class members without internet and ask them the Profile questions, etc. I hope we'll have over 350 at our reunion and when that time comes, we'll need 35 people to help guests check in, get them their name badges, etc. (I think the largest reunion in the past was half that size.) CC has been great to help us reconnect people. We haven't done it yet, but it would be possible to use the Live Chat feature to hold 'meetings' to discuss problems, etc. We started CC in April 09 - over two years before our planned 50th Reunion. But a week ago, I helped a friend set up their CC site and their reunion is in late October. They've opted to allow people to 'sign-up' for the Reunion through the Reunion Planner, but checks are mailed to the Committee chair rather than offering online payment. (The deadline for reservations and payment is the end of August.) For those class members who aren't online, the committee chair has the option of using Admin access to manually enter attendee and payment and profile information and to download up-to-date lists of class members and which will be attending. She can use this data to create name badges as well.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 3:44 PM - Response #8
smileyfacepileanimated.gif Our "reunion committee's" "quit" a few reunions ago, so i plan the "reunions" from halfway across the country also. i probably have the biggest mouth of the entire class, and have no fear of the usual rejection. Our "locals" helped with the last reunion five years ago, but are "burnt out" and apparently there was some animosity at some meetings, so they have not so much as volunteered to blow up balloons. But i remain undeterred. this reunion is for those that haven't been heard from in 35 years, and many have found the web site "by accident" and it is only because of ClassCreator and the web site that we are even having anyone show up next weekend!
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 3:50 PM - Response #9
Webmaster Darlene wrote: We are having our 50th Reunion this September, getting reasonable response as usually expected. This is only our 3rd ever Reunion, and the first in 20 years!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You are just starting to plan your reunion to be held in September??? Geesh...you need to hurry up. Our reunion is next Month..and we started planning is a year ago..and it wasn't enough time. You need about 2 yrs..one to locate everyone..and do a kinda save the date mailing. And then get the venue,dj..and all the other goodies the year before. Our Committee is now meeting every week. We want to have a unstressful week of the reunion...if possible!!?? We started meeting every mo..then twice a month 2 months ago. The website from CC makes it so easy to plan and collect the money for the reunion. I hope this helps!! No, not at all. The committee started 6 months or more ago. I am just an outside classmate that started our website. I have been unable to get the "Local" committee yet to go with the planning through ClassCreator, but I will. That was the only reason that I ask this information. Committee is entirely Local, I want to change that, and use computer capability much more. Our class is almost everyone computer illiterate, except myself who is employed as a Computer Support technician for Accounting Sofware.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 4:04 PM - Response #10
Great ideas folks! Kris and John I really like your views on this. Others also expressed my problem is out there for others. I have the same local committee that has planned all previous reunions (only 3 in 50 years though!!). They express being burned out. I also have a lot of classmembers that literally fear computers and refuse to use them. Though our Reunion planning has been going on for 6 months, maybe a year (don't know for sure), we can certainly make it a lot easier by using the parts we meed of ClassCreator. Also, one of you mentioned that you let them register on the website, but you don't collect dollars on the site. We would have the same issues with classmates that make that solution very viable. I guess I am like Kris. I think it can be done better, and I will be discussing that with the existing committee. Use them yes, but I want more control to make it easier for all. Forty of our eight-eight classates do still live within an hour of our home town. The rest of us have moved for careers, etc. I do like the idea of using webcam and our own ChatRoom. Geez, we don't have to sit next to each other to meet and make plans. All I need is someone to drive out to the 1 or 2 restaurant meeting places remaining, and reserve! My sister can do that for me since she lives there still. LOL Thanks again. I do plan to use a lot more of Class Creator next time around, but I am 'working on' the committee fears of computers still yet.
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 4:34 PM - Response #11
Thanks113.gif Derrell,
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 4:55 PM - Response #12
Kris Thrailkill wrote: Derrell, We are also going to try Brad's suggestion of using a Web cam on the site on the night of the reunion, for those in other corners of the world that cannot make it. kris Whoa! Webcam at the Reunion for those who cannot attend! I hadn't seen that idea. Can anyone give me a link for specifics on setting that up? Is this LIVE??? Wow, that would be way cool. I do plan to video and record for placing on website afterwards, but a Live Webcam would be so nice (announced of course the last minute, cause I don't want to provide any excuse NOT to attend....LOL). Geez, I have a couple of unused surveillance cameras, one with InfraRed for those dark corners....heehee. I could link those on internet and any with the address could watch......sound too!
|
||
|
|||
Participant: Log in to see names |
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 5:21 PM - Response #13
Here's the link, from yesterday! Timing was perfect! Thanks Vickie and Brad! kris
|
||
|
New Topic Reply |
Subscription Options: Have all new forum posts sent directly to your email. |
Subscription options are available after you log in. |