While no one likes to badger others for money, high school reunions present a unique circumstance. In most cases, the budget for a reunion is formed by the investments of former classmates and teachers. Once a reunion committee or group has been established, those individuals canvass for funds by charging each person to attend the function. Of course, in order to make plans for the reunion, the money has to arrive early – preferably, several months prior to the actual event.

If you are working with a planning committee, you have no doubt formed an e-mail list or online social networking group to keep in touch with school alumni. If you’re having trouble getting firm responses, there is no harm in starting a sneaky rumor that the reunion is on its way to being called off. After all, if you can’t develop a plan and form a budget, there is little chance that the reunion can go ahead anyway. Don’t be afraid to start a fire underneath their feet to get them moving.

You can also use online networking groups to keep potential attendees up-to-date on the event’s progress. If you receive $1,000 towards your budget in the first few months and that number seems to stand still, perhaps someone will take notice. It’s also important to inform others about the amount of planning involved. Unless they’ve tackled a similar project, they may not understand that there is more to creating a great reunion than booking a venue.

The key to acquiring a sufficient amount of funds is to set a due date. Tell former classmates that their money must be submitted by a certain date in order for the plans to begin. In order to give those last-minute attendees some extra time, choose a fake due date approximately two weeks’ prior to the actual due date. Then, as the makeshift date approaches, start e-mailing or messaging your past schoolmates and provide them with a countdown. Try contacting them two weeks, one week, and finally, three days prior to the date set.

Once the fake date has passed, add up the numbers to see where the reunion budget stands. If the funds are still lacking, send out a final e-mail or message, stating that the date has been extended by another week. Be sure to note that there will be no further extensions granted and that if you don’t receive a response by at least x-number of people, the reunion will run the risk of being cancelled. You may be surprised by the amount of classmates who will succumb to the pressure of a deadline, even if their ability to attend remains unclear.

Although you may be feeling burdened by the responsibility of creating a large-scale event, the pride that you will feel at the end of the journey will make it all worthwhile. Seeing the faces of former classmates as they enter the event, hearing compliments about the food, or listening to attendees rave about the decorations, venue, or music will be immensely satisfying. As you hassle old acquaintances for money, it is important to keep the final goal in sight: an unforgettable night filled with great friends, great food, and great memories.

Sometimes, nervousness associated with an old flame reunion stems from harboured feelings of hurt or resentment. Teenage breakups can be devastating and the experience can carry over into future relationships for years. There is nothing like young love and oftentimes, even the most gentle of high school splits can wreak havoc on an adolescent heart. If you found your boyfriend under the bleachers with the head cheerleader, or if your straight-A girlfriend hired the cute exchange student as a tutor, that pain may still feel very real, even all these years later.

Hesitation to face an ex may also be traced to your current situation. If you consider a great job and a beautiful family to be the ultimate measures of success – and you possess both – you will no doubt walk into that reunion with your head held high. On the other hand, if you feel your situation is lacking, you may be dreading the thought of informing your ex that you’re still ironing out the wrinkles in your life.

Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the discomfort and possible embarrassment. First and foremost, confidence is a must. If you can’t be happy about the way your life turned out, you certainly can’t convince others of the same, particularly an ex. Take a long, hard look at your circumstances and identify the brightest spots. Let’s say you’re a writer who has yet to publish a book, but you work a regular gig as a columnist. While you may not consider the column to be the height of your success, your former partner may prove to be impressed.

Next, looking good is crucial. True, it may sound shallow, but it’s a major component of self-assurance. Revel in a great facial or massage, dish out a few dollars for a good haircut and style, and buy a new outfit especially for the reunion that highlights your assets and downplays your flaws. If you don’t have the financial resources to be frivolous, don’t worry – you can still turn heads on a budget.

It is also vital to constantly remind yourself how many years have passed. Simply put, the topics and situations you fear may not even be a concern for your ex. In fact, he or she may actually be looking forward to seeing you again. This is your time to shine, to show others what you’ve become and to make it obvious that you are not who you used to be. Even if your personality is the same, your life has changed.

Once armed with a knockout appearance and a long list of conversational pieces, it’s time to hit the reunion. On the way there, occupy your mind by thinking about the other classmates you want to see, then force yourself to stay distracted by making predictions about their jobs and accomplishments. Often, it’s the hours prior to an event that make us the most nervous because we start to create unlikely predicaments in our heads. You may daydream about your ex laughing in your face, refusing to speak to you, or announcing that he or she has become extremely successful.

Although being happy for an ex is the more mature road to take, it can be hard to act excited about a former partner’s triumphs if bitterness rears its ugly head. Keep things in perspective. If you spot your ex across the room, don’t try to hide – regardless of the sweaty palms or nausea that fight to consume you, the ball is in your court. Your reunion will be whatever you make of it, and it could turn out to be a very pleasant experience.

Remember, high school reunions are about catching up with old friends and – given the time frame – it’s normal to be nervous. However, don’t let an ex ruin the event for you. There’s a good chance that whatever trepidation you feel when it comes to sharing your own victories, your ex feels the same. The trick is to put a spin on the situation so you are presented in a new light, one that makes you feel exceptionally good about yourself.

The funny thing about high school reunions is that many people spend weeks or months dreading the thought of revisiting their teenage years, yet manage to have a good time at the actual event. At one point or another, we’ve all wondered what became of someone from our past – and while you may pick a voluntary root canal over confronting the school bully who used to stuff you in your locker, the episode could prove to produce some much-needed closure. Chances are, that intimidating adolescent is now a happy-go-lucky family man. Stranger things have happened.

As you find yourself approaching the door to your former life, you may be engulfed by a string of thoughts. Why am I here? Is it possible to find my ex-lab partner without being recognized by anyone else? If I leave now, will anyone notice? However, overcoming those initial fears is the first step to a potentially wonderful evening. So, where to start?

It doesn’t matter if you recognize anyone – how could you after twenty years? Scan the room for someone standing alone and approach them with confidence. Remember, most of your former classmates are not who they used to be and what you discover may pleasantly surprise you. Begin with a hello and ask how they are enjoying the event. Push yourself to make small talk, even if it’s not usually one of your strong points. Believe it or not, breaking the ice at a reunion is much easier than in other settings because there are so many questions to ask. No matter who you speak to (with the exception of current friends, of course), you have two decades’ worth of information to touch on.

Gain some insight into the lives of former friends, teammates, and even ex-partners by quizzing them about their jobs and families. Before you know it, the ball will start rolling on its own. Unfortunately, most of the apprehension that stems from attending a reunion is the result of our own expectations. It’s true, we can be our own worst enemies, making it extra important to dive right in and conquer our fears. Truth be told, none of us can break the ice without a little bit of poise and a lot of courage, or vice-versa.

The only way to fire up a conversation is by speaking first. There’s just no way around it, and why should there be? Reunions give us a chance to revive old friendships, make new acquaintances, and see where life has taken an entire group of individuals. It even provides an opportunity to right a few wrongs by apologizing to those we hurt so long ago, whether it was a stood-up prom date or overweight teen who was constantly teased.

Not everyone embraces change, so if you find yourself trying to strike up a discussion with someone who appears to be less than interested, there are only three options. You can continue to try to coax them into a dialogue, you can abandon the mission completely, or you can try talking about yourself. It doesn’t take long to get a feel for someone else’s personality, and pushing the issue may backfire in your face. On the other hand, once you’ve found a likely candidate, talking should come fairly easy. Mention the city you live in, the current weather, your spouse or children or neither, and your career. Even if you live in a town you despise or toil away at a job you hate, your comments can all act as icebreakers.

If you’re still feeling apprehensive about launching a conversation with somewhat of a stranger, a teacher makes a great first target. Best of all, teachers are often much easier to recognize than old classmates and often have no trouble maintaining a flowing discussion. Most of them will truly appreciate the details of your journey, from the last day of high school to the present. Once you’ve practice on a few teachers, approaching that former high school sweetheart may seem just a little less intimidating.

Thanks to those that have sent in their comments on the reunion. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the next event please email us so that we can get those in the planner.

Stay tuned for updates and videos on what happened. The Video Memory Book is going to be AWESOME based on some of the clips that I have seen so far. You can tell when the drinking kicked in for some of the “confessionals” I mean video clips.

Friday: 4:30 PM Tour of Kamiakin (Meet at the front office)

7:00 PM until ???? Meet and greet at the PUB

Saturday: 10 AM Golf Tourny kicks off ( We are all sold out and team pairing will be sent soon)

Updated 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM Family Picnic at Columbia Point Park just off George Washington Way. Bring a sack lunch or snack and drinks and get to visit with your classmates and their kids.

6:00 PM Anthonys Banquet Center in Richland at Columbia Point (Not the restaurant) REALLY BIG EVENT.

Address for Anthony’s

Richland, WA 99352-4373

We have gotten Tony Messinger to graciously volunteer his services to help DJ our event. He will be dusting off the old albums and spinning some of the great classic tunes from the 1980′s. Todays generation can only relate to MP3 players where everything is digital and would probably not know what a record is if they saw one.

REGISTER NOW

fancygens.com

Time to register and let us know that you are coming. We need those that are planning to attend to register ASAP which can be done by clicking on the “Register” button on the right hand side or send your checks to:

Jeff Rogers

17316 E Galactica Ct

Greenacres, WA 99016

Hello Kamiakin Class of 1988,The date is set for July 11-12 for our class reunion.

Saturday evening: 6 PM Banquet dinner at Anthony’s Banquet Center. The meal planned is your choice of steak,salmon, or a vegetarian with a Chocolate Fountain for dessert. (And no swimming in the fountain). Plus depending on how many people register early enough we can plan on other fun event. We do have games, trivia, and pictures to share.

Columbia Room
Views of the Columbia River, the marina and the promenade greet your guests as they enter the largest of the private dining rooms. The two-tier room provides view seating for all and opens to a large outdoor deck, facing the river.

fancygens.com