How Homecoming Reunion Started in a Nutshell
Back in mid-late July, Tom Reynolds (Class of 1966) invited several folks:
David and Betsy Farris
Sherry Hart
Ruth Berry
Michele Myhand
Jerry and Marilyn Selby
Gary and Judy Newton
Hope I didn’t leave anyone out (please forgive me if I did).
to listen to his idea of having a get together of all FSHS / NHS alumni. His thought was to plan an event in conjunction with Homecoming. We all listened and agreed, but were a little apprehensive about the level of effort required and the short timeline of 10/17/08. Tom, being a real optimist, and a great salesman (and fun loving guy), convinced us that if we had faith, “they will come”. We are all giving our best efforts to have some fun and prove him right. This is a not-for-profit endeavor, strictly in the spirit of reunion! If any money remains after cost, (the faith part -- and that could be a big IF), Tom suggested that we donate it to Northside as an Alumni contribution.
Tom has contracted with the Downtown Holiday Inn for Friday, October 17th date for the facility, food and beverages; and Marilyn has contracted with a local DJ for entertainment. Presently, costs are estimated to be $2,000. In this regard, a bank account will be established at the Bank of the Ozarks named “Northside Alumni Fund”. We are soliciting pledges from each individual alumni class reunion fund to defray costs and to maximize the Northside Alumni Contribution. If possible and desirable, please have your class treasurer communicate your class pledge on the blog page below.
Time is short, we need everyone’s (YOUR) help! The Class of 1966 is providing on their home page, an advisement of this event. This site will serve to keep everyone updated as to activities, costs, RSVP’s, etc. Website Address: www.nhs1966.myevent.com Also, on this site, a Blog page has been set up for you to communicate your support and level of participation for this event.
Additionally, we have created two easy to remember email accounts
1) grizzlyhomecoming@gmail.com to coordinate planning communication for event organizers (All names listed above). We need to be joined by YOU.
and
2) callingallgrizzlies@gmail.com to accept RSVPs ONLY to the Homecoming Reunion. This email account is setup to receive RSVPs. Please copy and paste this email address into your personal email tool to confirm your reservation, you will receive an automated response (back to your local email account) that you are registered. Please designate by [Individual Name(s)], [Class Year], and a summary total [Total Number: x ] of those who will attend. Remember, all monies will be collected at the door on the night of October 17th.
For the FSHS/NHS Alumni Homecoming Reunion event to be successful, you must:
1) Call and email your classmates to inform them of this event on Friday, October 17th, 2008 starting at 8:00 pm at the Downtown Holiday Inn
2) Have them (and you) RSVP to callingallgrizzlies@gmail.com (once and only once, as outlined above) for the number of adults in their party that will attend.
3) Get involved and lend your support and help to the organizers
4) Show up and HAVE FUN!
2009
April 25, 200...
2008
TR
If everyone will beat the bushes for their own classmates, there should be a big crowd on October 17th. Thanks in advance for the hard work everyone is doing. Life short....we should stop and smell the class flowers every now and then. Joe
Jerry
work with us and get what we need run across the bottom of all tv stations in River Valley and Northwest Ar. during the nightly news. My e-mail is above and my phone number is 479-420-1280. He told me he would work to get this done thru e-mail early next week. I'm at home until Tues. Morn. Need someone to get back with me asap. Larry Vaughn
Sherry Hart
Hey guys! I saw the ad I emailed on the pubic television station--channel 5. I told the girl to feel free to change it up a little to fit on the announcements, and I think she did a good job. Check it out if you have time to waste watching the government access station!
See you all soon.;
Tommy, what happened with the Interview with Fox?
There are several things on the drawing board but nothing firm just yet - but soon. Have been in contact with NHS about activities. The band is planning to host it's alumni and even have them perform with the Grizzly Band and halftime. I instructed the band director to attach the info about the reunion to the letter he is sending out. The word is spreading and I think we will be seeing more response in the next couple of weeks. I'll keep you all posted.
TR
Jerry Selby asked me to cut and paste my email about our all alumni reunion last night, so hee it is. Hope next time, WE HAVE 200 OR MORE PEOPLE!
REUNION COMING UP, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO. UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO, I HAD NEVER ATTENDED ONE, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC...................... 40 YEARS HAD GONE BY AND NO ONE CARES WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, WHO YOU'RE MARRIED TO, IF YOU ARE RICH OR POOR, OR WHO'S YOUR DADDY! In other words, all those things we worried about ourselves in high school just don't matter anymore. And, if they still matter to anyone out there--GET OVER YOURSELF!! The best thing about last night and any reunion is fun!
I bet by now that some of you are sick to death of me sending emails, but I had to report on our reunion last night in the hopes that if someone runs with it next year, those of you who were unable to attend this year will DEFINITELY COME NEXT YEAR. We really did have a great time. I think there were around 100 people there from the class of 1941, 1943 and on. It looked like the class of 1967, 1966, and 1962 were the most represented. Our deejay was wonderful...he was the kind who played the music and didn't interrupt constantly with chatter. I think most of us knew the words to every song! We started off chatting and laughing, and ended up dancing until we couldn't breathe, but kept on going!! I think most of us forgot how old we are (until this morning when I can't even bend over to pick up my newspaper in the yard), but it was worth every minute of it. From our little group that met in July or August to plan this to last night's event, things were just fun! Thanks to our "dreamer", Tom Reynolds (class of 1966), and our ever present, hard working, Jerry Selby ('66) for maintaining our web page and RSVP's (and his beautiful wife Marilyn Archibald Selby for her friendship, fun and work, to Jerry Davis (class of '62) for spreading the word and checking in with me and others to see what he could do and for his class donating some cash for the event and to many member of his class for spreading the word and showing up, to Dixie Geren (class of '67) for her work and for her class giving a $100 donation to the party fund, to Judy and Gary Newton for their work during and at the event (Bobby Crouch too), and Larry Vaughn for helping with publicity, and to his wife Sandy---get WELL. I wanted to get to meet you. THANKS, THANKS, THANKS TO ALL! (this kind of sounded like a Sarah Palin sentence -hard to diagram) . Where is Mavis Morton when I need her? Anyway, I apologize for not being able to do as much as I wanted to on the organizing of the event (some personal issues got in the way), but I did have fun getting in touch with the Local Government Access channel who was thrilled about our little idea, and with the Times Record for running my story twice, and to E Entertainment magazine for mentioning it twice and using all the vital info I sent to them. Be sure to thank any of those folks if you run into them! Anyway.............we had so much fun! Please join us next year if this is planned again..............AND IF YOUR CLASS HAS A
Those of you who were not there................................... WE WISH YOU HAD BEEN. If I forgot to thank anyone, I'm sorry-remember I'm old and I did have a whiskey sour last night!
Michele