(If you need to refresh your memory about what's been going on in the Zone, click on to the previous Planning Session Reports. Also: get e-mail / snail mail addresses from the Heard List.)

Saturday, October 23. It was a dark and stormy day as I (Mark) left St. J. to pick up Judy and drive to Peabody Lodge to meet the others for a tour of the site. At the crest of the hill on 93 South, Cannon and Lafayette appear in view. The rain was falling steadily, diagonally; the wipers couldn't clear the clouds shrouding the mountains. At Baker Brook, the rain started to freeze; coming up Long Hill, it turned to snow . . . Coming up Agassiz, the truck briefly considers a lateral slide. I haven't locked in the hubs yet. The Nokias keep us on track. At Silverman Field we see a car that's gone off our side of the road. We stop. The man is unhurt. Can't say that about his car: it's almost 90 degrees to the road, front end out, the trunk wrapped around a tree growing out of its middle, back window gone, strewn about in thousands of little bits of tinted glass. The front end is up to the bumper in mud. The man said he was coming from Franconia, hit black ice. My tow chain's too short to be of use. The idea of pushing him out by hand is ludicrous, but I try it anyway. Doesn't help. We're just about to drive him into Franconia when Strell drives up-on his way to Peabody. He's got a long tow strap . . . but we can't reach to anything except plastic. The man gets his keys out, Judy and I go on to Peabody, Alan takes the man into town.
Howie's already at Peabody - wondering if he's at the right place, till we show up. Natalie arrives. Alan arrives. Inside the Lodge, Bill Walsh, Peabody-concessionaire, isn't here. Instead, 100 or so people are - doing some sort of ski and tourism seminar. We tour the lower level, take measurements of the big room; then upstairs to the main room and measure it while the seminar group is taking a break; then up to the balcony and measure it. Melanie, Mark Shapiro (hereinafter "Humpy" [Is ok Mark?: since there are more than one of us]) and Wayne arrive. From inside, I see them standing perplexed in the parking lot; I go out and wave to them. They join us inside and we continue. Bill Walsh shows up, apologizes for being late. We sit with him downstairs and talk about food, beer labels, the Tram (participants with Reunion "IDs" will get reduced rates), hanging things on the walls... He tells us the Old Lodge building - connected by a wooden walkway to the building we're in - has now been emptied, so we can also use its single, open 100' x 50' room if we need it. Bill leaves. We all go to Judy's to continue.

The snow has stopped. Steve, Marilinne and Holly join us here. Melanie has gotten a list of names of, more or less, all the students who ever went to the College - about 2500 names. Stories, sighs, musings as we take turns reading through it over the course of the weekend.

And on to the "formal" agenda:

Re: Peabody Lodge
We're in ongoing conversation with Bill Walsh about menus and prices for the meals we'll be having. We've scheduled decisions on these things for the next planning sessions (Jan. 8-9). We'll check with Bill about having the bar open and sandwiches, etc. available on the Thursday (early arrival) night.

Re: Officer Krupke
The question comes up if we should - "proactively" - contact the Local Authorities about the Reunion, especially since at least the Road Rally will take us public. We decide that the Publicity Committee will contact them "in advance" - but not yet. The idea of providing our own security force and trying to get Gary Young to come out of retirement was not pursued very far. Alan volunteers to be Rt. 18 midnight/early warning scout and report back to celebrants still at the Lodge.

Re: Accommodations
We hope to have the list of lodging and camping sites and rates completed soon. We'll post it when we do. You have to make lodging arrangements for yourselves, though, people.

Re: Call for Submissions
Design-submissions for FRANCONIA COLLEGE COMMEMORATIVE BEER LABELS, POSTCARDS, DECALS are now being accepted. DEADLINE for camera-ready submissions is April 1st. Send submissions to Alan; mark your envelope "TCHOTSCHKA DESIGNS"

Re: Reunion Video Documentation
We've pretty much decided to have George Manupelli, a Bethlehem friend and professional filmmaker, do the Reunion Video. He would produce and deliver a master for $1500, we'd then have as many copies made as people want. Wayne will be investigating video-reproduction costs and let us know by the next work sessions. At this point we're thinking that we'll only do the video if the necessary selling-price promises to be no more than $20.00 each. We should be able to firm things up the next time we meet. We'll then post the information. The sooner we know if there are enough pre-orders (with deposit) to cover the production and shipping costs, the sooner we can commit to George. (Buy the video, though, even -- especially -- if you won't be coming to the Reunion.) So: even knowing only that it won't cost you more than $20.00 per video - and maybe less - why don't you PRE-ORDER NOW?

Re: The Time Capsule
Oliver Drerup couldn't make it to the meeting, but sent an e-mail with his thoughts. He wrote, in part: "…It has occurred to me that a VW Beetle carcass would be an appropriate canister" Strell then tells us that he has one, half-buried out at the Homestead. Probably be too big for the Franconia Heritage Museum (projected repository/guardian of the Time Capsule) to handle,though. Oliver again: "The organization of the weekend's activities needs to support the importance and solemnity of placing something meaningful (which could be funny)in the capsule."
Ideas from the work session: Time Capsule in the form of the Main Building? The Old New Dorm? ANY IDEAS OUT THERE?
In any case, think about what you will want to put into it (smaller probably better, here). Let Oliver know about this or anything else re: the Time Capsule. Brief consideration was given to engraving the Time Capsule with the words "TCHOTSCHKES and CHAZERAI". (Address inquiries, comments, alternative spelling suggestions to Alan.)

Re: Reunion Registration
Natalie presented a draft of the Registration Form; several additions are made and it's approved. She tells us of a friend of hers who can set up the Form electronically for the web and we approve the $100. this will cost. The Form will appear on-line and be otherwise available FEBRUARY 1st. You'll be able to make payment with check, money order or credit card. It will be secure. You get your Packet when you arrive and register ("ID", meal tickets, schedule, program, etc.). More on all this as we get the details taken care of.

So - that took care of the Saturday session.

Then - a fine evening meal with Judy's moussaka and Wayne's ginger noodles. Wayne and Alan then off to Lyndon State College to hear/see Rick Danko. The Horn band is playing at Hillwinds, but those of us still at Judy's get back into conversation and stories and stay there. At some point, Humpy tells us about his being "half-human". Ask him. Alan and Wayne return much sooner than any of us would have expected. With amusing stories. Ask them. The last of us call it a day around midnight.

Sunday morning:

Coffee, bagels, spreads, fruit . . . David Goldblatt and Christie Shaw here today, too.

Re: Yoga / Meditation
If there's interest, we'll reserve times and space.

Re: Wicked Smart Horn Band
Judy will contact the band's business person this week to get things rolling with the contract.

Re: Road Rally Awards Picnic
Christie has spoken with the owners of The Lodge (former President's House), which is where the Road Rally will finish. Everything is ok for us to have the picnic on the lawn there. We may need to set up an awning or two on the lawn if it looks like rain. Judy will check out local sources and prices for prepared bag/box lunches.

Re: Group Photo
Now scheduled for SATURDAY, 6-7 PM
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE: The Group Photo will be on the slope AT PEABODY, instead of at Dow Academy. If the weather prohibits doing it outside, we'll move inside. In any case, the Cake will be in the front row. The GROUP PHOTO WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BASIC REUNION PACKAGE.

----------------------------

Finances: David Goldblatt Expenditures made to date: $390. for decal and bumper sticker production $500. Deposit for Peabody Lodge (will be applied to food bill) Current account balance is about $400. Sometime in the near future, Howie will add a running BALANCE SHEET on the Reunion web-site. About 35 people have made donations to date. Thanks, folks. As for the rest of you: Don't tell us you gave at the office; THE OFFICE IS HERE!
However, there does still seem to be some confusion about money that has been sent in. We have already posted that the $25.00 we've invited you to send in DOESN'T cover any of the Basic Reunion Fee. (Details are in Report #3; see below for update info on what the Basic Package will include.) The $25.00 - or more - is "seed money" and gets you a College Decal and Reunion Bumper sticker. If anyone really feels misinformed or misled: sorry for the confusion. Get in touch with us (David, in this case); we'll set things right.
Aside from still needing people to send in such money, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU:

LET US KNOW IF YOU THINK YOU'LL BE COMING TO THE REUNION. Contact Natalie.

LET US KNOW IF YOU'LL WANT A REUNION BOOK and/or VIDEO. PRE-ORDER IF YOU DO WANT SOMETHING; THE DEPOSITS HELP US TO COVER EXPENSES.

IF YOU WANT A SPECIAL EDITION T-SHIRT, SEND IN A $15.00 REGISTRATION DEPOSIT ANY TIME BEFORE APRIL 1st.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SENT IN DONATIONS

Back to the Finance Committee Business:
We take up the issue of a BUDGET and come up with the following list of confirmed and projected expense-items:
-$-Wicked Smart Horn Band
-$-On-line Registration Form
-$-Reunion Video (if it happens): production,reproduction, shipping,
-$-Construction and Decoration Materials
-$-Supplies, Postage and Office Supplies
-$-The Main Building Cake
-$-Group Photo Production, Printing, Shipping
-$-Registration Package Material (ID, Program, Diploma, etc.)
-$-Reunion Book (if it happens): Printing, Shipping
-$-Time Capsule: Construction materials (if necessary)
-$-VCRs / Sound System(s) (if we can't them on loan)
People will be gathering cost-information before the next planning sessions, which is when we will do the budget. Also: we unanimously approve $100. for Judy for house, food and hospitality all these months. Judy declined.

Stuff:
Wayne Turiansky 2 different T-SHIRT VERSIONS will be made and offered for sale. Tentative designs are:
1) with "Manchester ReUnion Leader Front Page" on the back; DUX emblem on sleeve; F.C. logo on the front.
2) With F.C. Main Building image on the front; logo and years of College's existence on the back.
A SPECIAL, LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT will be produced and given at no cost to all those who register with a $15.00 deposit by April 1st. Design is not yet set.

Venues:
Judy Wallace If you want a space for some sort of event, exhibit, merchandise, contact Judy.

Site Decoration:
If you have any ideas, contact Judy, Nancy, Natalie or Alan.

Events:
Mark Chain, Judy Wallace We want to hang some sort of long banner on the outside of Peabody Lodge. Send your ideas/designs to Mark by mid-January. A decision on the banner-design will be made at the next planning sessions.

If you have photos for the PHOTO BOARD, let Judy know or send the photos/copies to her.

If you want to be involved in the ON-SITE SCULPTURE, contact Ron Smith: 2028 Main Street, Bethlehem, NH 03574 (no e-mail or fax)

If you have suggestions for the DoobieUs Achievement Awards categories/prizes, contact Mark.

Send TRIVIA questions/prize suggestions to MITCH JUREKSON (e-mail on Heard List)

WE STILL NEED PEOPLE TO ORGANIZE the following events (if you want them to happen):
- YOGA and/or MEDITATION SESSIONS
- a CONTRA DANCE
- any THEME-RELATED, SCHEDULED DISCUSSION GROUPS
- an OVERDUE BOOK RETURN (aka THE REDEMPTION CENTER) (Or: just send in - anonymously - the titles of books you still have and we'll put together and post a list - for the general entertainment - of books that are, ahem, still out on loan.)
- SHOWINGS of COLLEGE and/or ERA-RELATED VIDEOS

SO: ANY TAKERS? Let us know - the sooner the better, so we can do the logistics here.

There will be an INTERACTIVE TIME-LINE OF FRANCONIA COLLEGE HISTORY on one of the walls at Peabody. We wrote it once, we'll write it again.

There will also be table space available at Peabody if people want to peddle ORIGINAL WRITINGS, CRAFTS, ARTWORK, etc. Contact us well in advance if you want space.

Reunion Book:
Ned Depew couldn't make it to the sessions, but sent an e-mail with his thoughts, which informed our discussion about book size; length limits of submissions; editorial policy; text only or graphics also?; one section for personal, free-form entries? another for essays, etc. on given themes?; cost; etc. What became clear was that we aren't yet clear enough ourselves about what the book could/wants to/should be. Marilinne will contact Ned and we'll further our conversations. We plan to decide about Book form/content/submission deadline, etc at the next work sessions; also whether the Book will be included in the Basic Reunion Package or be an a la carte item.

Theatre:
Christie Shaw hasn't gotten any text/script submissions yet. If you have something to offer/you want to see presented, get it to her SOON.

Tour of the College Site:
By Christie. The WALKING TOUR of the former College site will be about an hour long.

"In Memoriam" Board:
If you know of former students who are no longer alive, send their names (and circumstances, if known) to Natalie or Howie. IMPORTANT: Please indicate whether you ABSOLUTELY KNOW/HAVE VERIFIED the person is no longer alive, or whether you've only heard such (in that case, from whom?), in which case we'll consider them MIA. BRING PHOTOS / INFO / MEMORIAL NOTES TO THE REUNION.

Poetry:
Adelina Axelrod also couldn't come for the work sessions, but forwarded us the following info: The FROST PLACE Board meets the first week in November, at which time they'll decide if we can hold the MAIN POETRY READING there (scheduled for Saturday, 3 - 5:30 PM). The Frost Place is a short ways out Easton Road; it's not the former Frost Dorm on Main St. The Director of the Frost Place Program is Don Sheehan, former College faculty. If you want to read there, contact Adelina SOON. There will also be an open reading at Peabody. Time and place to be determined.
There will also be POETRY ON/OFF THE WALLS at Peabody. There's lots of space. If anyone wants to have his or her work posted, send it - "wall-ready" - to Mark. 6 pages max. (include separate card with your name - and anything else you want to put on it)

Art Exhibit:
Veronica Hartmann couldn't make it either, but also sent an email; She's in touch with Evan Haynes in Maine and is working on things there. Idea is, we'd like to see ORIGINAL ART at the Reunion. If you want to exhibit at Peabody (it will be secure), contact Veronica SOON.

And that took care of Sunday's session.

Which brings once, once again, to the

Re: MONEY. DECALS AND BUMPERSTICKERS are still available. $25.00 gets you one of each. Remember: the $25.00 doesn't cover any of the registration fee.

LET US KNOW IF YOU THINK YOU'LL BE COMING TO THE REUNION. Contact Natalie.

LET US KNOW IF YOU'LL WANT A REUNION BOOK and/or VIDEO. PRE-ORDER IF YOU DO WANT SOMETHING; THE DEPOSITS HELP US TO COVER EXPENSES.

IF YOU WANT A SPECIAL, LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT, SEND IN A $15.00 REGISTRATION DEPOSIT ANY TIME BEFORE APRIL 1st.

Re: BASIC REUNION FEE /PACKAGE Check Report #3 for a list of the items included. The GROUP PHOTO WILL be included in the package. We'll decide at the next planning sessions if the Book will be included. Again: let us hear from you. The sooner we get an idea of how many people will be coming - and want particular items - the sooner - and better - we can come up with the Package and Fee. And keep in mind: the more people come, the less it'll cost each of us.

Call for ORGANIZERS / COORDINATORS / CONTACT PEOPLE

We STILL NEED PEOPLE for the following events/projects:
- YOGA / MEDITATION SESSIONS
- CONTRA DANCE
- SCHEDULED DISCUSSION GROUPS (reflections/dialogue on philosophical, educational, social, political, etc. dimensions/ramifications of the College, its history, your experience . . .)

Call for DESIGN SUBMISSIONS

Send in your design(s) for F.C. COMMEMORATIVE BEER LABELS, POSTCARDS, DECALS… DEADLINE for camera-ready submissions is APRIL 1st. Send designs to Alan; mark your envelope 'TCHOTSCHKA DESIGNS"

Send BANNER ideas/designs to Mark by MID-JANUARY.

Send TIME CAPSULE ideas to Oliver.

SITE DECORATION: If you have any ideas, contact Judy, Nancy, Natalie or Alan.

THEATRE TEXTS / SCRIPTS: Send submissions to Christie (or Marilinne, if Christie's not on-line). Send them in SOON, people; this is going to need a fair amount of time to put together.

DOOBIEUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: Send category and prize ideas to Mark.

PHOTO BOARD: Send photos/copies to Judy

ON-SITE SCULPTURE: Have ideas/materials/willingness to help?: Contact Ron Smith (address above)

TRIVIA: Have questions / prize suggestions? : Contact Mitch Jurekson (e-mail address on the Heard List)

WRITINGS, ARTWORK, CRAFTS FOR SALE: Contact Judy if you want table space.

POETRY READING at the FROST PLACE (presumably): If you want to read, contact Adelina SOON.

POETRY-ON/OFF-THE-WALLS: Send wall-ready texts (6 pages max) and a separate card with your name and whatever else to Mark.

ART EXHIBIT: If you want to exhibit at Peabody, contact Veronica.

F.C. MEMORABILIA: If you have anything you want to permanently donate to a permanent exhibit at the Franconia Heritage Museum, contact Adelina.

So, that's it for this round, folks.

THE NEXT PLANNING SESSIONS ARE SAT-SUN, JANUARY 8-9 IN BETHLEHEM. If you want to come, please contact Judy at least a week in advance. In the meantime, bountiful Thanksgiving and glad Winter Festivals to all out there. More from us here in Year Triple Zip.

Mark and Judy and Howie For the Planners