Richard Gere carries Debra Winger off the factory floor to the strains of the song “Up Where We Belong.” The first CD player is sold in Japan. Rocky and Mr. T duke it out in the third of Stallone’s namesake sequels. And everyone is trying to figure out what’s going on with the Human League’s hair. It’s 1982 all over again at the bakery-cafe in Colonial Heights, Virginia, as the nearby Petersburg High School class from that year use this Panera Bread bakery-cafe as the headquarters for planning their 30-year reunion.
It’s not an unusual sight - lots of folks gather at Panera Bread bakery-cafes to plan reunions and other get-togethers. So once you’ve picked a place to meet, what else is key in the reunion planning process? Carol McEvoy, owner of Reunions Forever, a Tampa, Florida-based reunion planning company, shares her favorite tips for organizing class get-togethers:
Assign a sleuthing team. Finding classmates for a 30-year reunion may be a little more difficult than for previous years. Some classmates may have left one career for another or moved when kids went off to college. Assign a team on the reunion committee to track down contacts - social media sites like Facebook or LinkedIn and word of mouth through other classmates can help.
Get it on the calendar. Mail “save the date” cards as soon as the plans are in place. Then, send an invitation ideally six months beforehand and a last-chance reminder about six weeks prior to the reunion.
Post profiles. Create a class reunion website to post senior photos and profiles with as much up-to-date information as you can: current job, name of spouse, hometown, and number of children, for starters. Along with allowing others to refresh their memories, the profiles will give classmates something to talk about at the reunion.
Boost your memories. Create nametags with senior class photos for the event. This small touch will allow classmates not to stumble or get embarrassed because they don’t recognize someone they haven’t seen for 30 years.
Start with a mixer. Having a cocktail hour before a scheduled meal allows classmates to connect and make plans to sit together later at dinner.
Go high with tabletops. Putting some high cocktail tables in the event space allows classmates to easily move from table to table and more readily have casual conversation and reconnect with each other.
Play pass the mike. Having a microphone available so classmates can stand and introduce themselves and their guests is another way to help break the ice. Also, classmates may see someone they will make a point to talk with later.
Plan separate family events. Classmates may want to show off their kids (or grandkids). But plan for separate, family-themed events, such as picnics or pool parties, at a different time than the more formal, evening main event.
Offer stations. Lots of folks don’t want to stand in a buffet line for their food. A more popular option nowadays is serving stations, where you can have food available for guests to come and go as they please.
Skip freebie drinks. Avoid the cost (and potential liability) of providing free adult beverages at reunions by not providing any complimentary drinks. Instead, check into providing a cash bar, where attendees can pay for their own drinks.
