
60th Reunion
Attached is the current registration list. Many have
registered – but many have not.
Send any changes you want made to the current list.
Hotel reservations have been made for all that
indicated they will or might attend.
Things are looking up for a safe reunion, so if you
have not registered, do so.
If you see Classmates or widows that are not signed
up, encourage them to join us.
For purposes of the
registration, assume that by May it will be safe to have the reunion.
Just make your current best choice now – you will be
able to make changes as time goes by.
Attached are references that explain the options and
help you make your current choices.
We send a special invitation to widows – Please join us.
We ask Classmates/wives to contact close widow friends and encourage them to
attend.
Once you are ready, use the following link to access our Reunion Registration
Survey
Once you are ready, use the following link to access our Reunion Registration
Survey
Fill out REGISTRATION form
If you have questions contact us
at
61reunion@cfl.rr.com
Your 60th Reunion Planning Committee
Bob
Cairns, Gene Witherspoon, Phil Mallory, Joe Fishburne, Ed Brown, Peter
Gleichenhaus
Latest 60th Reunion Information
Warm regards Class of 1961
and associates:
Hard to believe, but we are
now less than four months away from our 60th.
In February 2019 we did an
initial survey to get an early indication of interest to help plan for the
60th. The interest was outstanding, with 300+ indicating preliminary
interest in the 60th. We used the data collected in that survey to do the
planning for the 60th, including selecting the same hotel we used for the
55th. Here is the skinny.
* Base Days:
Thursday 13 May - Tuesday 18 May 2021
* Early Arrival/Late
Departure optional
KEY PRINCIPLES FOR THE 60TH
The key planning principles
for the 60th flow directly from the features and attributes of the
55th. Here are the primary ones from the 55th that will be
incorporated for the 60th.
1. Reunion Plan
Based on Class Preferences
a. We use internet-based surveys to survey all classmates and widows to
get their inputs for planning the reunion.
b. From these
surveys, we determine where attendees want to go for the reunion and when they
want to go there.
c. We learn what
they liked about past reunions, what they did not like, and what they would
like to see for the 60th.
2. An
Outstanding Hotel for Our Preferences
a.
Marriott, Park Ridge, NJ. This was our hotel for the 55th.
Once again, this hotel offered the best value and best met our requirements
for the 60th.
b. It offered the lowest overall price. The service and support for the
55th was outstanding and based on the very positive responses we
got it promises to be the same for the 60th. It has been remodeled
thruout since the 55th and includes all walk-in shower rooms.
Several key attributes for the Park Ridge are shown in the following table.
DISCRIMINATORS |
· Proven
performance and satisfaction at 55th. |
· Lowest
cost option. |
· Hotel
size - large enough for group comfort - not too large - more intimate. |
· Loading
zone handles all buses at one time. |
· Option
to release unsold rooms 90 days out. |
· Corkage
fee at $8. |
· 2x
comp suites to use as hospitality rooms. |
· Comp
meeting rooms for memorial room and hospitality room |
· 15%
discount off banquet list prices |
· More
attractive front entrance - creek, patio, trees. |
3. More Time
to Relax, Socialize, and Tour
a. For the 55th, the Class felt that past reunions’ agendas
were too full and folks had to rush from one event to the next – they wanted
more time to relax and socialize.
b. For the 55th we had a five-night/four-day event base period
with options for extending before or after the base period, multiplying the
free time available many-fold when compared to past reunions.
c. Similar plan for 60th.
4. Private
Places to Meet, Relax, and Enjoy Old Friends
a. Prior to the
55th, we had no hospitality room for past reunions.
b. For the 55th,
we had four comfortably furnished hospitality rooms that were stocked with
food and beverages.
c. Similar plan
for 60th. All one can eat and drink available 24 hours a day
included in their social package.
5. A Flexible
Itinerary
a. Numerous options for day trips, tours, or visits – none mandatory –
every event is optional.
b. A lot of free time for attendees to pick and choose what they want to
do.
6. A
Streamlined Transportation Plan
a. Buses are optional. POVs are transportation options for all events.
Attendees only pay if they use the bus.
b. Buses load and leave when full rather than wait to convoy.
c. Employ staggered departure times based on different groups’ needs –
cuts down on waiting around at the destination.
7. Lower Costs
a. For the 55th, the cumulative cost savings for the Class as a
whole was about $100,000 when compared to the prices for the 50th
reunion for like items. For the 60th, we plan many cost saving
initiatives similar to the 55th;
b. These include: tax-free room price $10 lower than room for the 50th,
breakfast buffet discount, free WiFi, hospitality rooms we stock with snacks
and beverages, Class supplied wines at dinner with reduced corkage fee, 15%
cost discount from posted hotel catered dinner prices, buses optional – pay
only if they request a bus, classmates for photography rather than
professional photographer, electronic Welcome Packets rather than hard copy,
memorabilia by request only, and free hotel shuttle available all days for use
within 3 miles of the hotel.
8. A la Carte
Pricing –
a. All items are optional.
b. Only pay for what you use
9. A Memorial
Room to Remember Our Deceased Classmates
a. This is a dedicated room at the hotel with a tribute for each of our
deceased classmates on the walls of the room.
b. It is a quiet room, separate from the hospitality room, in which folks
can walk the walls and think about and remember guys they knew.
c. For the 55th, additional items were in the room, such as the
Howitzers, Registers, 50th Yearbook, cadet uniforms, tar buckets,
etc. Similar plan for 60th
The purpose of this survey
is to remind everyone of the event dates and obtain updates of the preliminary
headcounts. We will do another survey about six months before the reunion to
get your detailed preferences and plans.
A “Do not plan to attend”
response is important to us for planning purposes.
Please respond as soon as
you can. Use the following link to fill out your response.
Fill out form
If you have any questions
or additional comments contact us at
61reunion@cfl.rr.com
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