The following are helpful pointers for successful reunion planning:
1) Start Planning Early – Begin planning your reunion well in advance of the anticipated date, 10-12 months if possible. This allows for better availability of the school or location of your choice, plus DJ, caterer, etc.
2) Assemble A Reunion Committee - Call classmates to help you form a committee. Gather as many as possible. A small number of people may work together more efficiently but involvement of a large number of classmates will produce more ideas, generate a better response, and make the work load lighter for everyone.
3) Determine Date, Location and Type of Event – We encourage alumni to have their reunion at Kennedy. The newly remodeled commons and lobby area provide a beautiful setting for a party and lends itself to everything from casual to formal. But, like any banquet hall, the calendar must be checked for availability. It will be up to the committee to decide how formal or informal of an event you want. Reunions have been held at county parks, banquet halls, classmates’ homes, and various restaurants. You decide. It’s your party!
4) Determine Cost/Consider And Gift – Once you’ve decided what type of reunion you’d like to have, it is necessary to determine the cost per person. The Advancement and Alumni Office at Kennedy requests that you include a class donation to the Kennedy Annual Fund at the conclusion of your reunion. This allows us to continue to provide the services we now offer to alumni at no charge. Determine who will be in charge of collecting the reservations and making payments to the caterer, DJ, banquet facility, etc.
5) Contact Classmates – With the class list provided to you by the Advancement and Alumni Office, it is suggested that committee members try to contact classmates and verify their information. Attempt to locate “lost” classmates. (Please keep the Advancement and Alumni Office apprised of any updates.) “Save the Date” postcards can be mailed out by the Advancement and Alumni Office so as to advise people of the reunion as soon as possible. This can be followed by another mailing containing the detailed invitation.
6) Any Extras? – Does your committee want any “extra” at the reunion? Some classes prepare booklets which contain a paragraph about each class member (photo, name of spouse, children, education, occupation, etc.) Other classes hand out awards at their reunions (the classmate who traveled farthest, has changed the most, changed the least, etc.) Do you want any type of party favor on the tables for classmates to take home?
7) Stay Organized – Set a time table of things to do and stick to it: finalize class list, book reunion site, deadline for mailing invitations, etc.
8) Make It Fun – Planning the reunion doesn’t have to be hard work. Getting together with former classmates should be fun! If the committee sticks to the time line and you let the Kennedy Advancement and Alumni Office help, both the planning and the reunion itself will turn out great!
10) Promote and Publicize – The Advancement and Alumni Office will promote your reunion on the web site and, time permitting, including it in the Frontiers Newsletter. In addition, your committee should find other ways to publicize your event (Facebook, local newspapers, church bulletins, etc. As of Jan. 2009 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch no longer advertises reunions.)
To list your reunion in the Suburban Journals mail information to:
Suburban Journals
West Editorial Department
14522 South Outer Forty Road
Town and Country, MO 63017
Attn: Reunion editor
FAX: 314-821-0843
E-mail: rcomo@yourjournal.com
For the answers to other questions you might have, contact the Kennedy Catholic Alumni Office at 636-227-5900 or email Jessica Gonzalez, Director of Alumni Relations.