Author: Ken

Reunion Playlist

Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

The Reunion committee will be polling classmates as we get closer to date in 2021 about some of the finer details about our event and even the day before and after for those traveling from a distance or staying over. We will do some simple polls here but also others on our survey site at SurveyMonkey. We hope you’ll give us feedback.

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Reunion Update for September 2020

IHS 50Hello Classmates

I hope this communication finds you and your families safe and well.    It’s hard to believe that almost 6 months have passed since we last updated you on our 50th Reunion.   We are now just a little over a year until the event.    That’s exciting, and with what has been going on in the world, I think we can all use a little positive excitement.

Just to refresh everyone we will be celebrating on October 9th, 2021 at the APA Hotel in Woodbridge NJ. 

Since our last email we have contracted with a DJ.  We have yet to find a photographer at a price that will not unnecessarily inflate the cost of the Reunion.    Since most of us have cell phone cameras, I’m sure we will collectively have plenty of digital memories to share with each other.   But, it would be nice if we had someone outside of the class with at least amateur skills and a decent camera that could take the large group photos and grammar school group photos.  If you have any family or friends that might be willing to do that for us, please let us know.

Of course,the big question that is probably on everyone’s mind right now is what impact COVID-19 will have on the Reunion, if any?  That is a question that nobody can really answer yet, but we are all hoping that by October of next year we will be in a much better place than we are today.   The contracts we have with the Hotel and DJ allow us to get out of the contract as long as we give 3 months notice.    So, we are moving forward with the hopes that by June of next year we will have a much better picture of the situation and make a final determination to hold the Reunion on 10/9/21 or defer it until a later date.

We expect the cost of the Reunion to be approximately $115 per person.    In January of 2021, we will send out an email with more event details and start collecting for tickets.   If by chance the event is cancelled due to the situation in June, we will refund all monies that we’ve collected.

The DJ will work off a list of bands and songs, if we provide one to her.   So, start thinking about what music is on your must-have list.  We will be polling  you for your favorites other questions n the near future.

Are you on our mailing list? Then this update was emailed to you along with an EXCEL file and WORD document with the latest class list and reunion attendance as known at this time.

Stay safe and be happy.

The best antiques to collect are old friends. 

for the IHS Class of ’71 50th Reunion Team, Michael Emanuele
Manny Fernandes, Rhonda Goldberger, John Manning, Terry Masucci, Laura Krampetz Mueller, Karen Long Rohe, Ken Ronkowitz, Vita Venturi Stohler, Karen Mericle Suter, Tom Trokan, Doris Woitowicz Wendell )

zoom
The Reunion Team on Zoom for the September meeting.

Reunion 50 Has a Venue

updateWe hope all of you are staying safe during these unprecedented times. It’s been a while since our last update but the team has been hard at work visiting venues and negotiating a contract and we are happy to announce that we have a date and have booked a venue for our 50th Reunion Celebration!

Our Reunion Team put a lot of thought and effort into choosing a venue and date to celebrate our 50th Reunion. We want to thank all of you who gave us input and suggestions through our surveys and emails as they helped us in our selection. Some of the criteria the team considered in making a selection:

  1. A location that is centrally located for everyone’s convenience and not too far from an airport for those flying to NJ.
  2. A venue that has a 4 Star rating with a Hotel, Restaurant and Bar on-site and a banquet room that could accommodate at least 250 people for a buffet-style event.
  3. A reasonable price point for the event and hotel rooms to mitigate cost being a major factor in attendance.
  4. A date that avoids peak vacation time, holidays and major inclement weather months. We considered October to be the best month, but who knew that October is now the most popular month for weddings. But autumn in NJ is generally warm with crisp night air and the occasional last fling of warmer days.

The Reunion Team’s Venue Selection Sub Team was led by Laura Krampetz Mueller and guided by the above criteria. The selection process was intensive and included multiple site visits. After looking at a group of possible venue locations and feeling less than completely satisfied, we were thrilled when Vita Venturi Stohler came across a new location which turned out to meet all our criteria. It is a beautiful contemporary facility in an amazingly convenient location and we have booked it for Reunion 50+ to Saturday, October 1, 2022.

Our Reunion celebration will be held at the APA Hotel in Woodbridge. It is right off of exit 131 of the Garden State Parkway, about 2 miles from the NJ Turnpike, within walking distance to the Metropark Station, 12 miles from Newark International Airport and 14 miles from IHS.

APA hotel

What’s Next?

  • SAVE the DATE – block out your calendar for Saturday, October 9th, 2021.
  • Mike Emanuele sent out an Excel and Word document with an updated class list in his recent email which includes email addresses (if we have them) and the indications classmates gave us as to whether or not they were likely to attend the Reunion and planning to bring a guest.
    Please review the list to make sure your information (email address, Reunion Attendance, etc.) is correct. If it needs to be updated let us know at ihsclassof1971@gmail.com
    Look over the list to see if you have contact information for any of our missing classmates. We could really use your help here – perhaps this will help you pass any idle time you have if you are confined to your home.
  • The Reunion team will start working on further the planning of the event including the final pricing for the event.
  • Any further thoughts about the event? Let us know!
  • GET EXCITED and get others excited too. Go through your old photos or keepsakes and post them on Facebook. If you are not on Facebook, send them to the class email address and we will post them here and on Facebook.
  • This website will be updated with additional information, such as price, how to register etc.