Tips for Planning your Reunion!
How do we form a reunion committee?
Every reunion begins with the formation of a reunion committee. Start by forming a core local team of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure a successful reunion. |
| Appoint a reunion chair who will arrange and drive meeting agendas.Appoint a treasurer to oversee finances. Beyond these two key individuals, solicit classmate volunteers who can actively participate and be assigned to work on various reunion tasks. Share the work amongst as many who are willing to offer their help. Successful reunions are the result of successful committees. |
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When do we start?
The amount of lead time you need really depends on how elaborate of an event you are planning, but generally speaking the more time you give yourselves the better! Whether you are planning a simple family picnic or a formal event you will minimally want to start planning approximately 6 months in advance. Many of your classmates will need lead time in order to participate, especially those living far away. Another consideration is that prime locations and other services you need for your reunion may require advance booking.
What role does Gross Catholic play in planning my reunion?
Gross Catholic is happy to help out with the planning process of your reunion. Alumni Programs Director, Mikaela VanMoorleghem, will meet with your reunion committee to get you started and answer any questions.
Mailing Invitations & Save the Date Cards
We will provide a copy of your class list with the most current addresses we have in our database. You will want to give yourself time to verify or update addresses before sending out invitations. We ask that you send your updates to our Alumni Office so that we can update our records as well. Gross Catholic will print envelopes or labels for your class mailing/s, photocopy and stuff your invitations. You will be invoiced for the cost of each mailing that you do. If you have over 200 pieces going out at one time you will get the post office bulk mail rate which currently is approximately 11 cents per piece. You can pay the invoice once your reunion is over or immediately.
Email Reminders, Class Facebook Pages & Website Updates –
We will also list your reunion information and link to a class Facebook page on our website and Alumni Facebook page. We will update this information as you have more details regarding your reunion. You will also want to collect email addresses for your classmates so we can email reminders and reunion updates. We will create and send e-cards to your classmates with the important information. This is a free service we provide for you.
Facilities
If you wish to hold your class reunion at Gross Catholic High School, we recommend that you book the date at least 6 months in advance to ensure it is available. There is no charge to have your reunion here. We are also happy to give a tour to your class at the start of your reunion party so you can see what’s new!
Class Gift to Gross Catholic High School?
The Gross Catholic Alumni Office is asking all class reunions to raise $1,000 to support the Alumni Legacy Scholarship program which benefits children of alumni. We recognize our responsibility to ensure that the new generations of the Cougar Family benefit from this special, quality education in the Marianist tradition. You can help keep Gross Catholic strong with YOUR class gift. Previously classes have built the donation into the cost of the reunion. For example, if the cost of your reunion is $25 you may want to charge $30 and put the extra $5 towards your class donation. There are many ways to raise funds and it is completely up to your class to decide what you would like to do and how you would like to do it.
Here is a listing of some of the tasks to consider. Please keep in mind that you these are merely suggestions.
- Date selection
- Determine event venue and format
- Event location / lodging selection if needed
- Financing
- Classmate contact listing
- postal addresses, email addresses, phone numbers
- search for missing classmates
- Web site updates through school and/or create your own class web page
- Facebook account for class/blog
- Decorations
- Entertainment
- Photographer
- Registration & name tags
- Mementos
- reunion / memories booklet
- novelties
- prizes / awards
- Marketing & communications
- mailers, emails
- internet advertising
- Deceased classmates tribute
- Additional reunion activities
- school tours, pre & post reunion events
- Alumni Legacy Scholarship class gift to Gross Catholic
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