What I really know about High School reunions. By Richard Scileppi –Bayport, Long Island, NY.
What I really know about High School reunions is they need to be inexpensive, relaxing, and fun. This past summer I helped plan our 40th reunion. I had attended all the past reunions and noticed how the turnouts dwindled. It was always the same people just different gossip. People were tired of the cost of a formal dinner and loud music. Everyone wore their high school class picture to identify themselves. The evening usually ended with silly prizes that went to the couple married the longest, who travelled the furthest, and who was most changed. It was always the same winners. It was time for a change. Something we could all enjoy, relax and reunite.
The country was in a recession and just sixty miles west of Bayport; Long Island, N.Y. were the daily demonstrations of “Occupy Wall Street” in NYC. People were out of work and so many people were just feeling lousy about everything. This reunion had to be unique and bring people together. This event had to provide laughter. Faced with these challenges and knowing what we wanted, suggestions came rolling in.
Our seaside town is already uniquely on the south shore of the Great South Bay and directly across the bay is the summer resorts of Fire Island. I suggested a sunset ferry dinner cruise on the bay with a stopover at Fire Island. Our local Steins Ferry Company offered a beautiful passenger ferry to our class for five hours at twenty dollars per person, provided we had 75 guests. They suggested bringing hero’s on board with salads, boxed wine and water to serve. They recommended after dinner to stop at a local nightclub on Fire Island. Many of these summer resorts offer music, dancing and entertainment free of charge since they know guests will be purchasing drinks. Our class was very excited about these plans and with nearly one hundred guests and a total cost of $35.00 it was a huge success. The menu was upgraded to sliced marinated steak, grilled chicken, Greek salad and fresh seasonal fruit. Classmates enjoyed the relaxing ferry and informal buffet. The nightclub provided music, dancing with an incredible top comedian /singer tailored to our class. The moonlight ferry cruise back to Bayport was the perfect ending to one of the most enjoyable reunions Bayport has ever done. This event is now an annual event! (The 1st Saturday night in August board the ferry to the Ice Palace)
Ps
To all my friends/ family /classmates
Lets hear from anyone out there – What do you know about class reunions!
Zen Digest 