Remember to have fun at reunion

“Did you have fun?” I asked a high school classmate the other day.
The answer: Yes.
For a handful of dedicated souls who have talked, fussed, worked, and debated over a 50th high school reunion, that answer was reward enough.
But, lordy, these things are work.
Here’s a bit of advice — completely unsolicited and likely to be ignored — for anyone faced with planning a big class reunion. Anything after the 20th counts as pretty big, even though the number of participants may dwindle.
The same advice could apply to anyone trying to put together a family reunion or, for that matter, a wedding.
So here goes:
•Start early. My class — Portland High School 1966 — has had very successful reunions in the past, but we started kicking around ideas for this big one — no way to get around the fact that the 50th is a big one — almost a year in advance.
I’ve forgotten when we held our first, very informal meeting. It was probably late last summer or early fall, about nine months in advance. A few of us gathered at The Galley in Decatur because it was convenient geographically and started kicking ideas around. We made next to no decisions at that time, but we got the ball rolling. And that proved to be critical later on.
•Start the planning process small and continue to widen the circle. Our group started with a handful, but we kept inviting more and more people to become involved until — finally — it was sort of an everybody-into-the-pool approach. The result was that the basics were squared away, but new ideas kept coming from every direction and every classmate.
•Ask people what they want. Past reunions with DJs have sometimes been deafening. Conversation has been difficult. Many folks in my class said they wanted no music at all, so they could just talk.
•Be prepared to ignore suggestions. Despite the emphasis on conversation, the planning group felt strongly that music was an essential part of the festivities. The question was a matter of volume, not whether tunes would be playing in the background.
•Try new things. There’s no reason that the 50th reunion has to look like the 40th or the 30th. Do something different. This time around, our class opted for some live entertainment; and it was a great addition.
•Lock up your venue as soon as you can. Post-banquet party sites are at a premium. Get yours secured as many months in advance as possible.
•Pass the hat. Some classes insist they have no money. But passing the hat works when you’re trying to put together a party. Fifteen people kicking in $20 bucks apiece gives you $300 to work with.
•Go to the alumni association banquet. These pre-Jay County High School alumni groups are winding down, and it’s important to support them. It’s a bit like a tontine, but it matters.
•Use the internet. Much as I detest Facebook, it’s a great connector when it comes to old friends. Make the most of it. Send out frequent updates and reminders. Get folks to “save the date” as early as possible. Make sure your database is as complete as possible.
•Secure a photographer. And when you get one, make sure the class cooperates. Taking a group photo of 50 or 75 people, some of whom have had too much to drink already, is like herding cats. No, make that cats with attention deficit disorder.
•Be creative. Many classes do a “yearbook” that catches people up on one another. This year ours included not just our old 1966 yearbook pictures but more recent photos. It helped us figure out who those other old people were. Meanwhile, some talented guys in a band that used to play at high school dances put together a CD of music to mark the occasion. It is priceless.
•And finally, go. The only people who miss out are those who could have attended but didn’t. Health, distance, and expense are issues. But when folks are traveling from California, Florida, Texas, Utah, Oregon, and elsewhere, it doesn’t make sense to sit on the couch just down the street.
That’s it. Enjoy. And, most importantly, have fun.