The perfect card to pass out at your high school reunion.
Why Facebook is Not a High School Reunion
February 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Sure, the popular take on high school reunions these days is that you don’t need to go to your reunion because anything and everything you would ever want to know about your classmates is on Facebook. It seems every news outlet enjoys announcing the demise of the high school reunion because of our ability to reconnect online. We know this because we’ve been contacted many times for our opinion as professional high school reunion planners. So, I’d like to offer our official stance on the issue here: Facebook does not replace, make obsolete, or ruin your high school reunion. And here is why:
1) Facebook life is not real life. We’re savvy these days when it comes to our online profile. We know what we post can be seen by friends, potential employers, and our parents. We’re calculating about what we share and how we share it, and we know how to quickly untag a particularly unflattering photo. While what we post may be true, it is often the well-edited version we’re willing to share with 350 of our closest Facebook friends.
2) You can only experience the real “status” of your classmate in person at your reunion. Technology gives us many ways to connect to each other, but nothing online is as genuine or engaging as a face to face conversation. You can’t hear the infectious laugh of the classmate who sat behind you in geometry, see an ex-boyfriend’s smiling blue eyes, or hug your former locker partner on Facebook. After all, a life update is much better than a status update.
3) Think everyone is on Facebook? Think again. Facebook is the largest social network, but for any reunion, there is only about 1/3 of the class represented. For a class size of 300 students, that’s a whopping 200 classmates you don’t see on Facebook and who you’ll miss out on reconnecting with if you don’t go to your reunion.
4) Even with the best of intentions, you really don’t get together with those high school Facebook friends. Life is busy for everyone these days – ever try to schedule a girls’ night with more than a friend or two? Between work, family, volunteering and life’s responsibilities, there aren’t many opportunities to get-together with a large part of your past, all at once, all in the same place. And you certainly can’t do it on Facebook.
5) Facebook is just a preview of what’s to come. Instead of replacing the high school reunion, Facebook actually makes the entire high school reunion experience better. Facebook fast-forwards your conversation to what is real and important. When you already know where a classmate recently moved or the names of his three kids, you are able to skip past initial small talk and jump into a conversation worth having.
Still think you aren’t missing the fun of your high school reunion because of Facebook? How can you be sure? If you don’t go, you’ll never know.
Relive the (Party) Memories
February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Relive the Party Memories!
Remember all the stupid things you did in high school in the name of fun? Sneaking out of your parents’ house, mailbox baseball, toilet papering, keg stands?
Check out what happens when a bunch of guys dust off their party hats and pay tribute to their high school years.
Click on the screen shot above to see the video, or click HERE!
Relive the Party Memories! You won’t know unless you go!
Easy and Fun Super Bowl Recipe Idea
February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Looking for a new way to serve veggies and dip? Buy individual glasses, usually for a couple of dollars each, drop in a 2-3 tablespoons of dip or hummus, add a variety of fresh vegetables, and voilà! An easy, self-serving of a party standard. We served these at the Prospect 1991
20-year high school reunion, but it is simple enough to serve at any party.
The same idea also works well with seven-layer dip! (thanks to The Girl Who Ate Everything Blog for sharinig this cute idea!)
Your Chance to Win an iPad2!
January 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Who doesn’t want an iPad2?
Well, here is your chance to get this nifty, little, how-did-I-ever-live-without-it gadget for free.
The National Association of Reunion Managers (N.A.R.M.), of which we proudly belong, is giving away an iPad2 to one lucky winner. And all you have to do for your chance to win is to “like” their Facebook page.
Don’t worry about spam or too much unwanted information. NARM is a non-profit association promoting high school reunions. That’s all.
Click HERE to enter today!
Oh, and if you already have an iPad2, you can always give this one away, donate it to your kid’s school, use it as a door prize at your high school reunion, or make a soon-to-be graduate very happy.
Good luck! Let us know when you win!
Our Top 5 Happenings of 2011
January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A Reunion Repeat
The Parkway Central Class of 1981 20-year high school reunion was the very first reunion we planned when we started Varsity Reunions in 2001. The reunion committee was a fun group of ladies who worked hard to plan a great party f or their classmates. Ten years later, we were delighted to partner with the committee to plan their 30-year event. Thanks to Mary Hediger and the Parkway Central Class of 1981 for helping us reach an important business milestone.
That’s What She Said
With all the talk of Facebook and its affect on the high school reunion, more than one news outlet called to find out our professional take. Each reporter seemed to have a different agenda for the high school reunion story, but our favorite was Ray A. Smith with the Wall Street Journal. His multipage feature on attending a high school reunion, with an emphasis on what to wear, was informative, interesting and included a quote by us!
It’s a Blog!
During our 10 years of high school reunion planning, our website has gone through a number of revisions, refreshes and re-launches. We were excited 2011 brought a new website with the new ability to blog. Our goal has always been to provide fun, relevant, useful information for the high school reunion planning committee and the high school reunion attendee. We have lots of ideas for future posts, including fun ways to serve food and how not to use Facebook to plan your high school reunion.
Kids Know Best
We were fortunate for the opportunity to be part of a class marketing project for the Management of Promotions class at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL). In September, four groups of students selected our company as their case study to analyze our marketing efforts and to offer new strategies. Each group provided a comprehensive report, and while not every idea suggested is doable, their fresh take sparked our own new ideas.
50 is the New 40
The Lindbergh Class of 1961 50-year reunion was a delight, and it was a sincere privilege to partner with their reunion committee to plan their celebration. With about ½ their class size attending, these Flyers wanted a party. A specially invited guest was their high school principal, who attended along with his wife. Planning reunions mean we frequently hear “We’re so old! Where did those 10 years go?” How great to see that at a 50-year reunion, no one cares anymore.
The 8 Personalities You Meet When Planning Your Reunion
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Planning your high school reunion is certainly a fun experience, but managing expectations, staying organized, and dealing with many different personalities can have its challenges. Here are a few personalities to watch out for, and a few hints to make your reunion planning stress free.
1. The Class President
The classmate everyone else expects to take the lead in reunion planning, but who often feels the decision made at 17 to be a class officer wasn’t a lifetime commitment.
Hint: Not everyone wants to take on the planning of the reunion, and that’s okay. Pass it on to someone else or hire a reunion planning company to do the work for you. Check out the website for the National Association of Reunion Managers to find a reunion planning company in your area.
2. The Anti-Reunion Bandwagon Leader
A wave of negativity about the reunion is usually started by this one person with a “I don’t like the way the reunion is planned” complaint. The bandwagon can grow exponentially if it isn’t addressed, but is not a true sentiment of how most classmates view the event.
Hint: Meet the complainer head on, and as soon as possible, to explain your thinking behind the reunion plans. Once a complainer understands there are valid reasons for your choices, he or she usually backs down and stops instigating negative feelings. Remember that you can’t please everyone, and if you polled all of your classmates, you’d get 100 different answers about how your reunion should look. Plan the type of reunion you’d want to attend (within reason) and stand by your decisions.
3. The Bitter Classmate
After attending the reunion, this classmate makes a harsh, sometimes public, comment which stems from his or her personal reunion experience not being what he or she wanted or expected. The former football star is now treated like an average guy or the girl hoping for the “look at me now” moment is ignored by her former high school boyfriend.
Hint: Take the comments as an outlet for someone not happy with themselves to complain about something out of their control.
4. The Reunion Cheerleader
Appreciate this classmate who will take time to send you a message before the reunion to let you know how excited they are about attending, and a note afterwards to thank you for all your hard work creating a memorable event.
Hint: Get your picture taken with this classmate at the reunion as a reminder of why you planned the reunion in the first place.
5. The Committee Slacker
The reunion committee member who quickly volunteers to help plan the reunion, but never attends a meeting, doesn’t have an opinion, and shows up late to the event.
Hint: Don’t rely on them for anything – obviously – but don’t criticize either. It isn’t worth the bad feelings, and they are probably a non-issue anyway.
6. The Committee Imposter
A reunion committee member who enthusiastically agrees with all the decisions made by the committee, but who later complains and then chooses not to attend.
Hint: Extend the olive branch one time only. Let them know you’d still like them to be involved, but don’t allow them to ruin your experience. If they aren’t receptive, move on.
7. The Committee Worker Bee
The reunion committee member who exceeds expectations by accepting the jobs no one wants – stuffing 500 invitations – and expects little recognition in return because they are just happy to help.
Hint: Buy this person a drink at the reunion and follow it up with a friendly thank you note afterwards. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, even if they don’t act like it.
8. The Reunion Committee Chair
Part politician, part peacekeeper, part planner, the reunion committee chair will earn every thank you he or she receives the night of the reunion.
Hint: If this is you, forget everything that happened before the reunion and enjoy the fun party you created. Feel good about the reunion, and know even if classmates don’t act like it, deep down they appreciate all you did to make the night happen. After all, who else can claim to create an evening where memories are made?
5 Things to Know When Selecting Your Reunion Event Venue
September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Since many reunion committees are first time reunion planners, we wanted to provide a few definitions and helpful hints for some common terms you’ll see as you begin deciding which venue will host your reunion event.
1) Venue Sales Person
Your contact at the venue who will work with you to sign a contract, answer questions, and coordinate requests. Although your point of contact throughout the reunion planning, you may or may not see this person the night of the reunion.
Hint: Send, in writing, a list of everything you are expecting the venue to provide the night of your event, and request a written confirmation.
2) Tax& Gratuity (also known as plus/plus ++)
Can increase your food and beverage per person cost by 30%, but is rarely mentioned when your venue sales person talks about the $26.99 dinner buffet.
$26.99 + 22% gratuity + 7.5% tax = $37.40 (the new per person cost)
Hint: Bring a calculator with you when meeting with the venue sales person so you can see the actual costs upfront.
3) Minimum
Often required – and included in your contract – by a venue, this number can be a dollar amount or an expected number of people. It is up to you to ask about the minimum, so make sure it is one of your first questions. If you are the one to sign the contract, be sure you are willing and able to cover the cost if the minimum is not met.
Hint: Ask your venue sales person to create a proposal so you can see exactly what is due after the event. Factor in that number when determining ticket price.
4) Open/Host Bar or Cash/No-Host Bar
An open bar means all drinks are included in one set price, which you then include in your ticket price. With a cash bar, no drinks, not even soft drinks or water, are included and must be paid on consumption by the classmates attending.
Hint: How to decide between cash bar and open bar? Check out the cash bar prices. If one mixed drink per hour is greater than the 4-hour open bar cost, including tax and gratuity, go with the open bar.
5) Banquet Manager/Captain
The go-to person at the venue the night of your reunion. This person is in place to help ensure your evening goes as planned and to help with any night-of needs (extra tables, turning down the A/C, providing food for the vegetarian classmate, etc.)
Hint: Arrive early enough to meet your banquet manager and introduce yourself. If your banquet manager provides exceptional service or helps you out of a bind by setting up 5 extra tables to accommodate your 40 at the door attendees, a $20+ tip is appreciated.
Next week, we’ll take a look at a few of the personalities you’ll meet while planning your reunion! Be sure to check back!
