Here we are again, folks. . .
First off - if you haven't read Report #1, you might want to start there. Report Numero Uno
The most recent reunion planing sessions were held last weekend, June 5-6. Good weather, lots of people, great food and drink, serious dancing to the Horn Band, and A LOT of laughter. Attending were Judy Wallace (our hostess with the mostest), Nancy Wallace, Melanie Hamilton, Leah Javer Pillsbury, Holly Wilkinson, Howie Lyhte, Marilinne Cooper, Steven Hecht, Alan Strell, Mark Shapiro, Natalie Woodroofe, Wayne Turiansky, Mark Chain, Beth Simon, Christie Shaw, Dan Solomon, Veronica Hartman, David Goldblatt, Ned Depew, Heather Lakey (daughter of local people; documenting the reunion and College years for an academic thesis project! Aahh, so in keeping), and George Manupelli (creator of the Ann Arbor Film Festival), who began the video documentary of the whole thing.
THE NEXT PLANNING SESSIONS ARE SAT & SUN, AUGUST 14-15
IN BETHLEHEM. CONTACT NAMES ARE THROUGHOUT THIS REPORT.
NOTE: To protect everyone from getting spammed, no hyperlinks to anyone's
email address will be provided here.
The Friday session began - after introductions, re-introductions, exclamations and stories - with a review of the first planning sessions. What evolved out of that were: renewed questions about the main site for the reunion; Christie's announcement that her son and Sam Hepburn's daughter are in love - the announcement leading to a consideration of the creation of a "Genealogy Chart" at the reunion; ideas of having business-sized cards available for reunion participants with various messages on them like; "If I was there, I don't remember", "I wasn't there, but what I remember is...", "Did that REALLY happen?", "HEY! I remember you!" and so forth. Further ambiance was provided by Melanie and Veronica, who had been to the N.H. Historical Society and so covered the dining room table with all sorts of College documents, photos, and issues of the Franconia Review. Jeff Greenfield, aka Moose, aka The Big Man, called while we were sitting on the porch. He's alive and pretty well in Philadelphia and has agreed to organize/coordinate the Talent Show.
Further discussion about: creating a Rumor Board; is someone/who's going to invite Leon?; consensus for a "Fat City" banner at the entrance to the site; and adding a Memory Board or Booth - a brokerage, sort of - to acquire new, get rid of old or unwanted, or exchange memories. Also the question of whether we need something like a "Lucy Booth" or "Bad Trip" tent. Whether or not we should have a Wedding Booth was left unresolved.
Dinner: Judy's multi-mushroom lasagna (bellissima!), more stories, lots more laughter, and off to the Hillwinds around 10 PM to the Horn Band.
Sunday: meet at the College site, walk around, contemplate the various machinery, piles of pipes, gravel and mulch, stand at what was the swimming pool, measure for the tent, investigate the (really big) sand pit that once was the soccer field, stroll by Hughey, Dewey and Louie, then past the back of the President's House (considering the meadow there as a possible camping-area - or maybe we'll need an RV park, Marilinne later wonders), past the hole where Alice and Henry's was, then on to Elliot's field - unfortunately now the stump-dump for all the Forest Hills excavation work - thoughts and talk of Elliot's and James Fisk's gardens. Before leaving, Howie wants to see the Old New Dorm site - we have to tell him the site's become someone's million-dollar back yard. Howie sighed.
ON-SITE DECISION: The "CoreTent" - probably 60x100 or 60x130 feet - will be set up on the *f a r* end of the tennis courts, i.e. between the former Xanadu and Main Building sites.
Back to Judy's for the "formal" meeting.
FINANCIAL DECISIONS:
Various further resolutions/questions/happenings between everything
else: And then: THURSDAY, AUGUST 10 FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 On to the Committee Reports: The F.B.I. (Franconia Bureau of Investigation): VENUES: HOUSING: FINANCES: ADMISSIONS: FOOD: EVENTS/PROGRAMMING:
The Reunion YEARBOOK is being coordinated by Nita Gage jgage@uhc.com
STUFF So, folks, that was it. Except, of course,
for the following repetition exercise:
Questions of finances come up at the outset. Do we want to sell
"acknowledgment" space to local merchants/reunion supporters
on the reunion web-site (no ads, but name acknowledgment and possible
hot-links for those who have given financial support)?
- to charge a fee of vendors who want to sell on site;
- to include one meal in the cost of the registration fee (no decision
yet on what the reunion registration fee will need to be - will depend a
lot on how many donations are made prior to deciding about the fee);
- a list of projected expenses will be presented at the next planning
sessions.
- Have areas in the CoreTent for the different College-eras;
- "Era"-Photos and a reunion group photo;
- Post photos from the planning-sessions on the Reunion web-site;
- E-mail everyone on the Heard List for donations;
- Post lists on the Reunion web-site of people "Already Notified" and
of people who "Have Already Made Donations";
- Schedule a deadline for receipt of Event-suggestions; but if you have
any, SEND THEM NOW! (contact Judy jwallace@ncia.net or Mark
mchain@yahoo.com
- Have a "Video-Statement" Booth: Show and Tell on film;
- Have a "Memorabilia" Board in the CoreTent (in addition to the
Memorabilia Exhibition at the Franconia Museum)
- Make and sell photo enlargements/posters of people/events/things/unauthorized dogs . . .
- Do we want newspaper and/or magazine coverage of the Reunion
(mentioned were Newsweek, People, Utne Reader and, of course, the
Union Leader)
-Nancy tries contacting Rob Foley of the Mystic Suns - lots of Rob or
R. Foley tel. and e-mail listings to choose from. Nancy gets him, i.e.
the right one - on the first try. He's in Phoenix, had no idea about
any of the goings on.
THE FIRST TEMPORARILY PROVISIONAL
DETAILED POTENTIAL SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED EVENTS:
The following is a revised and shortened schedule for the
reunion. A number of people thought we'd need to end it on Sunday,
rather than Monday (as previously ideated), because of work commitments/travel
time/etc. Others of us thought that, given the monumentality of
the event, people would take days off from work to be here if
events were scheduled through, say, Monday noon. LET US KNOW YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THIS (THE SOONER THE BETTER; contact Mark mchain@yahoo.com
or Judy jwallace@ncia.net so we can clarify this at the August
planning sessions.
Meanwhile . . .
Early arrival day.
Get here, check in, meet folks, help out, hang out, wander around,
help out . . .
(No scheduled activities; show up at the CoreTent and take your
chances from there; something will surely develop)
9 AM - Noon Pass under the "Fat City" banner at the
entrance. Follow the "Registration This Way" sign.
11 AM Guided Walking Tour of College grounds.
NOON - 1:30 PM Lunch & Community Meeting (really - no dogs)
1:30 - 3:00 PM FREE TIME Volleyball anyone?
ONGOING
F.C. Videos in CoreTent
Memorabilia Exhibit at Franconia Museum
Art Exhibit contact Veronica: vhartman@mix-net.net
Volleyball / Soccer (with or without Goddard) NEED ORGANIZER
3:00 - 5 PM Road Rally carsfull of alums driving around the Franconia-Littleton-Bethlehem
area on a scavenger hunt of geographical reminiscence and transpersonal
treasure. contact Marilinne mcooper@garnethill.com
5:00 PM Cocktail Hour (NEED ORGANIZER)/Road Rally Awards
6:00 PM Barbecue
8:00 PM Dance to the Wicked Smart Horn Band (David Goldblatt and
friends)
ONGOING
F.C. Videos in CoreTent
Special Memorabilia Exhibit at Franconia Museum
Art Exhibit contact Veronica vhartman@mix-net.net
Volleyball / Soccer (NEED ORGANIZER)
10:00 AM Brunch with Open Mike (Stories/Epiphanies/Rants/etc)
1:00 PM Theatre performance. Contact Christie: xtshaw@together.net
3:00 PM Talent Show (Contact Jeff Greenfield, aka Moose, aka The
Big Man at flo_19151@yahoo.com
5:00 PM Sit-down supper with acoustic music
7:00 PM - ? Battle of the Bands contact Alan astrell@landmarknet.net
DoobieUs Awards Ceremony (NEED ORGANIZER)
Bonfire
Fire Drill
10:00 AM Brunch with Open Mike
11:30 AM Poetry Reading
2:00 PM Parting, Group Hug & Melancholy or Can We Get Outa Here Now?!
Natalie reports not having received all too much input; they're still
trying to compile mailing lists.
Veronica will go through all the Forum-messages to collect names and
e-mail addresses.
Mark Shapiro has signed on to the F.B.I., said he will e-mail everyone
on the Heard List to request that each person 1) contact others about
the Reunion, and 2) SEND MONEY (you'll hear this a lot).
LET NATALIE natw@together.net or HOWIE howie3@ici.net KNOW:
- BY AUGUST 1ST (of this year): if you're likely to come to the
Reunion. (We need to get an idea of numbers as soon as possible so we
can start figuring expenses/costs at the next planning sessions);
- How to contact you, if they don't already know;
- Contact anyone you know whose name is not already on the Heard List
or Forum (you can use the "Spread the word far and wide!" link on the
Franconia Y2K Reunion web-site to get to the "Ponzie Scheme"
letter-template Howie has designed.)
- Any names/addresses you have of alums not already on the Heard List
or the Forum.
Natalie and Howie will post an updated list of peoples' names after the
next planning sessions.
THE MAIN REUNION VENUE IS THE COLLEGE SITE.
Nancy has already been in touch with the people at
the Forest Hills Assn., the owner of the grounds/ development.
They are very enthused about it all, even offered us a written contract
allowing us to use the site (at no cost), so we're going to try
and get this on paper this week - before they change their mind -
or are convinced otherwise by terrified residents of the development.
We also decided to invite the residents - free of cost, terrified
or not - to the Reunion.
The committee will post a venues & costs list on the Forum after
the August planning sessions.
The committee will post a list of area accommodations and rates
after the August planning sessions. It was also decided that people
coming will have to make their own reservations.
First guesses about possible costs of the whole reunion got up to
$15,000. The tent alone will cost between $2500. and $3200 (depending
on the size we choose).
The Committee is in the process of gathering cost information and will
present a first-draft budget proposal at the next planning sessions.
David reports that about $250. in donations have come in thus far.
Thanks to those who have already given.
Everybody else: S E N D M O N E Y N O W !
Make checks payable to: "Franconia College Reunion 2000" and send them to
David Goldblatt, 216 Grove Street, Littleton, N.H. 03561. David's
e-mail is goldenleaf@landmarknet.net
Steven Hecht s-hecht@ma.ultranet.com and Wayne Turiansky
culturew@together.net have joined the Finances Committee
Leah Javer Pillsbury has joined the Admissions Committee. Howie
will be designing the official Reunion Application/Registration
Form.
Lots of talk about IDs, badges, buttons...the whole "registration
packet".
"Let them eat cake." OK - so we're going to see about
having the Vermont Culinary Institute create a cake for 500(?)
people in the shape of the Main Building - the cake, not the people.
Otherwise - it's too early yet to be fixing meals.
DECISION: to create an AWARDS COMMITTEE; WE NEED AN ORGANIZER FOR THIS
Contact Judy at jwallace@ncia.net or Mark at mchain@yahoo.com
Long discussion about the video documentation of the Reunion.
Consensus was that we want a documentation that is both people
and event oriented, and that portrays both the individual and
generational/sociological dimensions of the College and the Reunion.
Valerie Taylor e-mailed us with ideas and names/addresses of film
schools in New England, suggesting we take advantage of the motivation,
resources and low overhead of having a crew of grad students do
some filming.
Alan Strell suggested that among our children might be professional
filmmakers.
We were reminded that Marc Steiner probably knows filmmakers through
his radio work. Judy will contact him.
Ned Depew reminded that Steve Elliot (in Maine) is a filmmaker.
Ned will contact him.
Valerie Taylor and Steve Hecht will be overseeing/ coordinating
the video documentation.
IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE VIDEO DOCUMENTATION,
AND/OR IF YOU HAVE NAMES OF FILMMAKERS,
CONTACT:
VALERIE TAYLOR v-taylor@pacbell.net or
STEVE HECHT s-hecht@ma.ultranet.com
We'll be contacting the local Chamber of Commerce with basic info,
including how to guide people to the Reunion web-site.
Starting July 1st, FRANCONIA COLLEGE DECALS and F.C. REUNION BUMPER
STICKERS will be available for a minimum $25.00 Donation. The
decal is the large format, official College decal; the bumper
sticker proposed will read:
FRANCONIA COLLEGE REUNION Y2K
SEARCH THE WEB
Send checks and a business-size SASE (don't forget this, please)
to David Goldblatt 216 Grove Street, Littleton, N.H. 03561; David
will send you your stuff.
- Let Howie or Natalie know by Aug. 1, 1999 if you're likely to be coming to
the Reunion.
- S E N D M O N E Y
- Let us know (Judy or Mark) if you would be willing to take 1-2 days
off work if the Reunion were to be longer. Do you think others would?
- S E N D M O N E Y
- If you want to work on the video documentation contact Valerie Taylor
or Steve Hecht
- S E N D M O N E Y
- If you want a College decal and bumper sticker, send $25. or more and
a #10 self addressed stamped envelope to David Goldblatt after July 1, 1999
- S E N D M O N E Y
- WE NEED ORGANIZERS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
AWARDS COMMITTEE (organize/coordinate/M.C. the various Awards
Ceremonies/prizes, etc)
WALKING TOURS OF THE COLLEGE GROUNDS (30 minute walks, more or less)
M.C. for "PRECIOUS MOMENTS"
ON-SITE SCULPTURE (Ned Depew said he can get us clay)
VOLLEYBALL / SOCCER
COCKTAIL HOUR
Contact Judy jwallace@ncia.net or mark mchain@yahoo.com if you
want to take on any of the above.
So there it is, folks. Stay tuned for corrections, additions,
disclaimers, updates, downdrafts and sidekicks . . .
This message brought to you by
Mark and Judy and Howie