Community Weblog - [ Reunion News ]

- carey herbert  [ 9/15/2006 - 02:17 ]   #

  Hello everyone!  I am Carey Herbert.  I know, most of you are like????? who?????  I was a quiet guy, who never really talked much.  I'm sorry I could"nt make it to the reunion, even though I really wanted to.  I have gone through a lot of hard times in the past 10 years( heartache, sickness, death, divorce( not me) identity theft, dui's, took a bullit), But hey, you don't need to know all that.  I have recovered well, I guess, bought my first house a year ago.  Still not married, no kids( congradulations, Andrea, I am happy for you), but I would reall like to hear from all you other goons!  Yea, the ones I used to hang out with, and eat lunch with!  Phil Jacubiac? Sid Case? Tim Reamer? Nick Heinz? Damen Cherit? Jodie Ellery? Dean Henderson? ( hey, hope all is well man, I heard about you guys breaking up, if you wanna talk, or rock sometime, blee21dc@yahoo.com ) Adam Mokan, once in a while, you goofy f#*k? Sorry, it's been so long already, I forgot alot of you, but I know there were at least 7, or 10 others at the lunchroom table!  Some goofy dude, Who Played bass guitar( sorry I forgot your name, really tall with blonde hair ) Dave? ( I think? ) Sam Lerner ( once in a blue moon ) .  Ben polk, and Amy Polk ( Bourne ) , Kevin Speck? ........... sorry so many other cool peopl that just kinda vanished.  Would really like to hear from you all, though, so email me!

- Andrea Austin  [ 6/15/2006 - 17:51 ]   #

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to send a quick message to let you know that it's not too late if you haven't RSVP'd or if you know someone who hasn't...

If you want to come to the reunion and I don't have your RSVP/payment, please just come to Canterbury and pay at the door: $55 single and $100 a couple (cash or check to Andrea Austin). Dinner, drinks, dancing and fun are all included. 6:00pm - 12:00am...click here if you need directions

We have a large turnout already and the more are always merrier!!!! My cell phone is 248-765-0023 if you have any last-minute questions/comments!

I haven't had my baby yet, so now I'm hoping I'll be really late and go into labor on Sunday :)

I hopt to see you all there!

Thanks,
Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 5/25/2006 - 11:26 ]   #

Hey Everyone,

As of today, I have only received 33 response cards. This is BOTH for people who can attend and cannot attend. I don't mean to raise any doubts or alarms, because we haven't reached the RSVP deadline of June 4th and I have a pretty good idea that we will have MORE than enough people. (I have heard through the grapevine that SO MANY people are both excited and planning on attending).

This exact thing happened to the class of 1994. People were slow to respond so the event was cancelled, only to be re-scheduled at the very last minute because it turned out that well over 140 people planned on and did attend (and it turned out to be a BLAST!). They had a lot less people in their class, too.

We need a minimum of 130 confirmed attendees to have the reunion (If we have less than that, we still have to pay for the difference and that would be a huge waste of class funds and I cannot pay for the difference myself!). I sent out 260 classmate invites (and 60 teacher invites), so if you include any dates or spouses of these people we SHOULD have MORE than enough. 

Because this is a formal dinner, I need to have a proper head count so there are enough place settings, servings, etc. Pretty much just like a wedding!

Anyway, I just thought I'd send a message out to remind everyone to PLEASE send in your pre-stamped response cards ASAP. If you've already sent your response...THANK YOU!!!!!!! About 100 of us will receive this email, so if you run into anyone from our class, please let them know how important it is that they send their response cards in! We can't rely on people just showing up at the door because I will be unable to give Canterbury a proper headcount and we won't have place settings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your help...I hate to be a worrier but this has been running through my mind constantly!

Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 5/22/2006 - 11:16 ]   #

Hi Everyone!

I received an email from Dan Wilkinson and he is organizing a limo bus for transportation to and from the reunion. Dan is the transportations manager for the MLE Company (formerly Corporate Coach) and has access to a bus that can transport up to 33 people. It looks like the bus will be picking up and dropping off at the Lapeer West parking lot.

If you are interested, please contact Dan ASAP: 810-577-4509. The price will be based on the number of people riding and Dan thinks it won't be too much since it will just be enough to cover his costs (driver and fuel).

Also, please be sure to get your responses in ASAP. I need to have confirmations in order to tell Canterbury our attendance numbers :) There are many classmates out there who don't receive theses messages so please pass the word around!

Take Care,
Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 5/15/2006 - 11:34 ]   #

Hi All,

I've had a few people ask what the attire is for Canterbury Castle. The building is elegantly decorated; the walls are trimmed in wood mahogany panels. We'll have cloth napkins and table cloths...

Since this is an evening event, you'd be safe with what you might wear to an evening wedding or something like that, but it isn't formal like a prom or anything. Guys, you'd be in good shape with khaki pants and a polo or button-up shirt and tie. You could even do a coat and tie if you want :)

I hope this helps...

Hope to see you there!!!!

Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 3/21/2006 - 16:20 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for some people to volunteer to track down names & addresses for teachers and the students who didn't walk in graduation (Vo-Tech, Alternative Ed, etc.). I have been focusing on the graduating class list but I need help with the other lists because we are going to invite these people as well. If you would like to volunteer or have suggestions on how to track this info down, please post to the discussion board.

I've started to shop for the invites; I have found a nice package at a great price. The invites will include a response card where invitees can respond "yes" or "no" and send payment.

I'd like to get them out by the end of April so that people out of state can make arrangements to come back "home" to Lapeer :)

Thanks!
Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 3/6/2006 - 14:15 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

The reunion committee is forming our master class contact list and we need your help! Please send an email to me: andrea@edict.com with your contact info:

• Name (with maiden name if applicable)
• Spouse Name (if applicable)
• Mailing Address
• Email Address
• Phone Number

Invites will be mailed out in May, but we need to get the completed list assembled as soon as possible. Also, I know that many of you keep in contact with other classmates, so please send their contact info along as well.

Great News: about 25% of our class has registered with the website...so with a little luck, forming our class list will be a breeze!

Take Care Everyone!
Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 2/16/2006 - 11:42 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

We have a few candidates for entertainment and I wanted to get your opinion.

DJ Services

Nick Anderson from Nick at Nite DJ Service is available that night. Many of you may remember Nick, he was a West grad from the class of 94. It looks like his business has really grown from back in the day and he has some nice offerings. Here's something I didn't realize: his brother Kevin Anderson (from our class!) is his brother! Kevin has expressed interest in coming up from Florida for the reunion and to work with his brother that night. Nick DJ'd our senior all night party and he also DJ'd my husband's 10 year reunion two years ago. Here's what he has to offer:

• All 6 hours for $600
• Includes sound, lighting, dinner music, etc.
• No additional fees for travel, setup, etc.
• $50 deposit
• Nick is also including his "video package" (normally $300) for free
• Eight foot video screen displaying music videos, pictures, and live dance floor action with our remote controlled video camera
• if we put together a class photo montage we could project it there (this would be a nice place for remebrances of classmates who have past away as well)
• Here is his music video page
• Here is his website and his reunion page

Theresa (Waugh) Smith knows a DJ who works in her office who is available. He did Theresa's sisters' weddings.  Here's what he has to offer:

• 6 Hours for $600
• MC service included
• $100 deposit

Cover Band

Robin Baker has suggested a band that she manages, called "Decade". 

Here is what Robin has to say: "I talked to the members of the band that I manage and they would be more then willing to play and dj for the reunion and I think that the price is pretty reasonable. I don't know what kind of price the Nick atNite DJ is offering, but I personally think it would be cool to have a band and a dj. But that's probably just me. They have a whole show, costume changes and everything. They aren't your typical bar band. Every set is a different decade beg. with the 70's and moving right on through to the music you hear played today."

Here's what they have to offer:

• Band and DJ service for $800 (normally they get about $1100 to $1500)
• They would spin DJ music during dinner and then pay afterwards
• 3 30-40 minute sets with breaks (DJ music) in between
• Each set they do a different decade with costumes (70's to present)
• $100 deposit
• Here is the band's website

Please post your thoughts on your preference as soon as you can on the discussion board. We need to make a decision soon as DJs and bands are booking fast! Thanks All!

- Andrea Austin  [ 1/31/2006 - 17:57 ]   #

After we decide on whether or not to do the East/West joint reunion, we need to select our entertainment.

I noticed that Robin Baker posted that she knew of an excellent cover band that we may be able to get on the cheap. Our other option is a DJ.

The reunion is 6 hours long, so I think we'll want to be as cost effective as we can without sacrificing good tunes!

Please post your opinion about entertainment here: http://west96.edictspaces.com/apps/discuss.asp?guid=BE3E46AFC919416CAD2C56F4E13D9139

Also, if anyone would like to volunteer to locate DJ's and their prices, please post that as well. Perhaps you have seen the DJ at a wedding and remember they did a good job...Robin, is there anywhere that we could see the band perform?

If anyone contacts a DJ, please find out their price for 6 hours on Saturday, June 17th. Be sure to ask about any required deposits. I don't think we need any packages (sometimes DJs offer entertainment extras for more money) but it would be great if their services include minor MC-ing of the event. Please post your results on the message board.

- Andrea Austin  [ 1/17/2006 - 14:11 ]   #

Hey Everyone,

Julie Corckett (Shemanski) got a call from the Lapeer East class of 1996 and they we inquiring as to if we wanted to do a join-reunion with them:

"Hey Andrea,

This is Julie (Shemanski) Crockett.  First, I wanted to say congratualations on the new baby coming soon.  And second, thanks for doing so much planning to get the reunion organized!  Well, last night, Rachelle (Lintz) Klaffer from East contacted me to see if I knew who was planning our reunion and asked if we were interested in having a West/East reunion together.  I told her what I knew we were doing and said I would pass the information on to you.  So, here is her e-mail if you want to contact her.  rj8898@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Julie"

This definitely isn't my call, so I thought I'd throw this out there and see what people's opinions are on this. We have an online discussion forum on this topic, so please post your thoughts here.

I haven't contacted Rachelle yet, I'm not even sure if she knows that we have our place/date booked...thanks in advance for your help!

Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 10/25/2005 - 17:26 ]   #

I just got a call from Sarah at Canterbury Village and they have received our deposit check. She wanted to let us know that they are lowering our minimum occupancy to 130 people! I think we're in really good shape for a fantastic party!

Also, she let me know that we have the room and open bar for 6 hours: from 6:00pm - 12:00am (with time before hand for setup and decorating).

Thanks to everyone who has taken the reunion interest survey. If you haven't taken it yet, log in to the class website and click the red box at the top of the screen!

Take Care!
Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 10/11/2005 - 14:58 ]   #

Save the Date!

The Lapeer West Class of 1996 10 Year Reunion has been confirmed for Saturday, June 17th at Canterbury Village on Joslyn Road in Lake Orion!

The reunion will include a full dinner buffet, open bar and dancing!

Please mark your calendars and pass the word to as many people as you can! We need a minimum of 150 guests to attend, so spread the word!

If you haven't already, please update your profile on the Class of 96 Website by logging in and then clicking "my profile" in the footer of the page. There, you can update your current mailing address for the formal save the date card and invitation.

If you have email addresses, phone numbers or addresses for other classmates, please send them to andrea@edict.com. We will soon post a list of classmates that we are in need of locating...

- Andrea Austin  [ 10/5/2005 - 11:58 ]   #

Hi There,

Emily Wenzel-Miles is one of our class officers and has volunteered to be our Lapeer Schools contact...thanks Emily!

We need to locate one more officer to sign off on our class funds so that we can put them in a checking account (I was thinking that a National City account may be easiest because there are so many branches).

Anyway, Emily is ready to sign off on funds, but the school needs one more officer to to so (hopefully a local person). Does anyone have the email address of any of our officers? Looking at the yearbook, these people are pictured in the Senior Class representatives picture (I apologize if I get this wrong):

• Kathleen McCann
• Julie Morse
• Emily Wenzel
• Emily Bodoin
• Erica Anga
• Chris Palte
• Wade Merrill

If the officer needs a copy of the sign-off form, please forward this link to him/her! We can make arrangements for getting the form to Emily and then to the school.

Thanks everyone for your help...this is a high priority because we need the funds for our location deposit!

- Andrea Austin  [ 10/4/2005 - 12:35 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for your opinions of the location...it sounds like most everyone is interested in Canterbury Village and the general thought is that we want the reunion to be a little fancier since we didn't have a 5. I called Canterbury Village today and put the room on hold for June 17th for 1 week. Sarah gave me a little more information:

Per person ticket includes:

• 6 hour room rental/6 hour bar
• Complete setup, white tables cloths & napkins
• Dinner buffet including:
• 3-meat entrees (including a beef tenderloin carving station)
• 3 salads (1 tossed & 2 chef's choice)
• Relish tray
• Pasta course (like fettuccini alfredo)
• Potato & veggie sides
• Tax & gratuity
• Cake cutting & serving

Price with everything above: $53 per person. If we wanted to keep the ticket price to $50, perhaps the class could pick up the difference???? (150 people = $450).

They require a $500 deposit, which is credited toward the final bill. We are allowed to decorate the tables with centerpieces (no confetti) or whatever we want: there is plenty of room for a DJ.

The room (Raphael Room - up the stairs and to the right, pictured right) has a minimum of 150 people and a max of about 200. If we don't reach the 150, we would be charged for the difference of people.

I am thinking about calling the Best Western Hotel on M-24 in Lake Orion and asking about a special rate for anyone interested in getting a room there to stay, but after we have made our final decision. Jarrod had a great suggestion that a bunch of us may want to locate a local bar or something for a little post-party...I would highly recommend the Hamlin Pub on M-24 in Lake Orion!

Please let me know on the discussion board if this is the way we want to go...if so, a few of us will get  a hold of the class funds and cut a check for the deposit.

I am very excited that we very well could have the date/location finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Chris Thompson  [ 10/3/2005 - 21:04 ]   #

I vote for either Devil's Ridge (site of our senior prom, and many stupid nights with me and Jarrod who used to work there) or Canterbury Village. Canterbury seems like a pretty reasonbale price with everything included.

- Andrea Austin  [ 9/27/2005 - 10:53 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

I need your help in estimating how many people would be attending our reunion. I'm not sure about the best way to go about this. Does anyone have any suggestions?

We need to come up with an estimate ASAP because it governs where we can have the reunion. I'm finding that many places are booked fast for weddings and such, so your help is appreciated!

Andrea

- Andrea Austin  [ 9/27/2005 - 10:38 ]   #

Hi Gang,

I've made a few more calls and looked into a couple more venues for Saturday June 17th. Here's a status update:

• Devil's Ridge Golf Club, Oxford - Available
• Price per person: $50 (includes dinner, bar, room rental & setup, DOES NOT include gratuity & tax)
• Canterbury Village, Lake Orion - Available
  150 people minimum, up to 215
• Price per person: $42 (includes dinner, bar, room rental & setup, DOES NOT include gratuity & tax)
• Room is nicely decorated...no need for outside decorations
• Oxford Hills Country Club, Oxford - Available
  150 occupancy MAX , 120 comfortably
• Price per person: $23 (includes tax & tip) and up for buffet
• Room rental & setup: $150
• Cash bar only (avg: 2.75 for a beer, $6.75 pitcher)
• They only have rectangle tables
• The room has an outdoor patio
• Davison Country Club - Available
  150 or so max occupancy - click here to download their package brochure
• Price per person: $23 (includes tax & tip) and up for buffet (3 entrees, 4 salads, 1 vegetable & 1 starch, rolls, tea, coffee) POP NOT INCLUDED
• Complimentary veggie appetizer display
• Room rental & setup: $450, $20 setup for cake. If someone FROM OUR CLASS is a member of the Davison Country Club, the setup fee is only $150.
• Cash bar suggested (avg: 3.00 for a beer)
• The room has an outdoor terrace
• Christa, the banquet manager suggested that the class could sponsor the pop and a keg or two: a 150 person party uses about $110 worth of pop, kegs are $150.
• Christa says she's never had a reunion with more than 150 people, so it's a safe estimate
• Metamora Golf & Country Club, Metamora - Available
  120 occupancy indoors, Over 120 they put additional tent outdoors - click here to download their package brochure
• West & East Classes of 95 were here
• No room fee unless we need tent (Tent with tables & setup is $1500)
• Price per person: $26 (includes tax & tip) and up for buffet (2 entrees, house salad, 1 vegetable & 1 starch, rolls, tea, coffee)
• Cash bar suggested (avg: 3.00 for a beer), pop, water, coffee included in buffet
• The class is able to purchase kegs for about $110 each domestic
• Liberty Golf Club, Clarkston - Waiting for callback
  Looks nice from the website
• Victorian Manor (Virgilio's Banquet Center), Imlay City - Waiting for callback
  A renovated historic brick building...looks neat
• Copper Ridge Golf Club, Davison - Waiting for callback, but most likely reserved for an outing
  Many dinner/appetizer packages
• Mount Christie, Metamora - Expansion Construction in June 
• Lapeer Country Club, Lapeer - NOT Available
  (Currently taking reservations for 2007!!!!)
• Boulder Pointe Country Club, Oxford - NOT Available

If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know ASAP. I'm glad to make the calls and get the skinny on prices. The general rule of thumb for these places is most services are included in the per-person price except an average 16% gratuity and 6% sales tax. Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad to back the tax & tip into the ticket price. For example at Canterbury Village, a $42 ticket with the extras would be $50.

We'll need to need to either increase the ticket price or cover tax & tip with class funds. For 200 people, that can add up to almost $2000! We need school funds for other things like invitations, postage, DJ decorations and a cake...we have $3000.

Does anyone have input as far as a per-ticket price? Please post your thoughts in the discussion box...

- Andrea Austin  [ 9/26/2005 - 08:07 ]   #

Currently, the general consensus is to shoot for Saturday June 17th. This is Father's Day weekend, which can really help out with our classmates that are traveling long distances...a "kill two birds with one stone" approach.

I've made some calls to some local venues...Boulder Point Golf Club in Oxford is booked that day (which is probably OK anyway because they're a little pricey). Devil's Ridge on Oxford (where we had out prom) is available. I received a planning package in the mail from them last week. I'm going to talk to Lapeer Country Club and Metamora Golf & Country Club today.

The planning committee is taking shape. Once I've received packages from these other venues, I was wondering if the planning committee, or anyone else, would like to get together sometime in the next month or so to catch up a little and to review our options. Everyone is welcome to join the planning committee, even if you're out of state. A lot of the planning work can be done via email and the discussion boards...sign up here.

Take Care Everyone!
Andrea (Karmeisool) Austin

- Andrea Austin  [ 8/24/2005 - 15:03 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

The website is really starting to take off...you'll see that a lot of us are participating in the discussions on reunion ideas.

We're forming the planning committee. If you'd like to join, post your reply in this discussion: "Planning Committee - Calling All Classmates!"

The general talk right now is pinning a date down. There have been some really good points that have come up: many of us are teachers, so somewhere in the summer break would be best. We also want to avoid getting too near the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. On individual notes, late July may not be too good because there is a wedding (with many alumni attending and another person is traveling to Africa!)

What are your thoughts about one of these weekends: June 10th, 17th or 24th? Post your Opinion Here

- Andrea Austin  [ 8/24/2005 - 14:55 ]   #

Hi Everyone,

If you would like to be on the planning committee, please add to the discussion that goes with this message...

Confirmed so far on the committee:

• Andrea (Karmeisool) Austin
• Jarrod Erpelding
• Wesley Knapp
• Kathleen McCann
• Matt Prentiss
• Emily Wenzel-Miles

Even if you're out of town, your help would be greatly appreciated. Most of the work will entail tracking down addresses and making fun decisions like food, music, invites (just like planning a wedding!). Most of our communications will be taking place via email and this website!

- Andrea Austin  [ 7/27/2005 - 16:30 ]   #

Any suggestions for music? We can have a DJ, or set up a constant-play music station (I have access to large speaker equipment with a microphone, cd player, etc).

I have yet to find out about any available class funds, so perhaps this can be better answered when we know how much money we have!

- Andrea Austin  [ 7/27/2005 - 16:08 ]   #

I am contacting local facilities for pricing on meals/drinks/room rental. Here's where I'm looking. I will post packages as I receive them:

Boulder Pointe - Oxford - Already Booked!

Devil's Ridge Golf Club - Oxford (where we had our prom) - Available June 17th

Dinner Package - $49.95 Per Person Includes:

• Salad
• Romaine and Baby Mixed Greens with Wedges of Ripe Tomatoes, Cucumber Slices, Shredded Carrots, and Shaved Red Onion with Choice of Dressing
• Pasta Course
• Served family style with choice of red meat sauce or Alfredo sauce.
• Five Hour Open Bar
• Includes Juice and Soda Bar, Wine and Beer Bar, Vodka, Rum, Gin, Tequila,
  Whiskey, Scotch, Bourbon, Brandy, Cream de Menthe, Irish Cream, Cream de Cafe's, Peach and Peppermint Schnapps, and Triple Sec.
• Combination Plated Dinner
• Grilled petite filet of beef tenderloin (center cut) perfectly cooked, topped with Zip sauce and our delicious sauteed chicken Marsala topped with exquisite-creamy Marsala wine sauce and sauteed mushrooms, your choice of vegetable and potato, Fresh Rolls, Coffee, Tea, and Soft Drinks
• Cake Cutting and Serving
• Linen, China and Glassware
• Room Rental Fee

*This package includes the 16% gratuity, but not the 6% sales tax
This same package is available on Fridays for $10 less per person, and a 4 hour bar
I am going to call them to see about better pricing... www.devilsridgegolfclub.com

Lapeer Country Club - Already Booked!

Metamora Colf & Country Club - Metamora

Mount Christie - Metamora - May Not be Available Due to Expansion Construction

They have a really neat facility, there. The whole place has an equestrian theme, and is typically catered by the White Horse Inn. They don't have a liquor license, so I think we can bring our own alcohol (which can save a TON of money!). Upstairs, there is an awesome game room with a pool table, game table, etc. www.mountchristie.com

- Site Administrator  [ 7/15/2005 - 16:12 ]   #

In the discussion box to the right, please contribute any thoughts and ideas for our reunion including:

• location
• date
• price