Plan Mini-Reunions All Year Long

Why wait 5 or 10 years before you get together for another class reunion? You should encourage classmates to put together mini-reunions any time or anywhere. Using the internet and Facebook an informal mini-reunion can spring up orchestrated by anyone who wants to reach out and say: "Hey I'll be here on this date and at this time. Meet me there." One of my friends, Vicki, has become the class ambassador. She travels a lot, and when she's in a major metropolitan area, she makes an announcement to her friends on Facebook that she'll be there and voila a party happens around her at a local restaurant or bar. It's truly amazing. Another friend, Barbara, knows she's planning a vacation in Fort Lauderdale in the Spring, so she has organized a mini-reunion welcoming other classmates to join her there for a weekend Luau. In this case she has 6 months lead time to generate enthusiasm and get commitments from the class. Steve has a band, (Steve and Steve), that plays around the NJ/PA area. Once or twice a year he plays near our hometown, and classmates always make a point of supporting him at the local pub. It's always a fun night of music and auld lang syne. Louie and Ken (the year before ours) always plan an annual dinner at a lakeside restaurant owned by a friend. They get favorable rates and a crowd of about 45 always show up to have a great time. These little reunions are always fun and require minimal planning and expense. They range from about 8-50 people, and the excitement surrounding these little parties generates more energy for the big events when we have them. Be creative. Form your own little minis and see what you come up with. And, if you do, be sure to share your ideas with us.

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