Bon jour, dear friends,
First off, we'd like to thank you all for the hundreds of calls,
emails and telegrams we got from you expressing your concern about
our health, welfare and recent capacity for holding the planning
sessions on July 29-30 as scheduled. We are glad to report that
we survived the recent rebel attack on Planners by members of
a group calling itself OOO-AA (Oxymoronic Organization Of Alumni
Anarchists) and were able to make arrangements for an alternative
meeting venue . . . to ensure our being able to work without further
disturbance. And although we were required to summon up considerable
inner fortitude to accept the necessity, we ultimately did make
the first class reservations, and are thrilled today to send you
our best greetings and this Report that the meetings DID take
place and, in fact, began less than an hour after our arrival
here.
Ahhhh, if we could only convey to
you HOW well we are working here . . .
But we can't . . .
So we won't . . .
Yours trulys, in photogenic order:
front, l to r : Marilinne Cooper, Judy Wallace, Richard Mellor,
Melanie Hamilton, Howie Lyhte, Alan Strell
back, l to r : Mark Chain, Natalie Woodroofe, Holly Finlay, Beth
Simon, Nancy Wallace, Ned Depew
Wayne Turiansky is out getting fresh croissants for all of us,
and Brad Whipple is over at the Highways & Byways Department
talking with local authorities about our putting up Reunion signs
around the countryside.
Anyway . . . it seemed only fitting, so the first item of business
we took up was
REGISTRATIONS &
BUDGET:
So far, 262 former Franconia people have registered. If
we had full payment for all these registration, we'd be in good
shape with the budget. But we don't . . . yet.
Oh . . . did we forget to mention that we had to take our escape-from-the-anarchists-tickets
as a complete tour-package?. . .
So this guy is out in the middle
of the desert, close to dying of thirst. He thinks it's a mirage
he sees, but slowly, another man approaches. "Water . . .water
. . ." the desperate one says. "Sorry," says the
man, "I don't have any. But I can give you a tie." "Don't
need a tie. Need water. . ." He blacks out. The other man
shrugs and walks off. Night falls, the man regains consciousness
and begins crawling, ever so slowly. He crawls all night and all
the next morning, and is just about to expire when he realizes
he's arrived at an upscale oasis-tent. The crisp and colorfully
dressed doorman appears, the thirsting man sighs in relief. "Water
. . . water . . . Let me in!", he pleads. "Sorry, sir,
but you must be wearing a tie to get in here."
So here's the question: What is ageless, yearless, and filled
with the riddles of antiquity?
It's THE BOOK: Ned is awaiting the galleys. The mock-up
looks GREAT! It's included in the Registration Packet, or is $9.95
(including s&h) if you order it a la carte.
And then there's:
The VIDEO: also included in the Registration Packet, or
$11.05 (including s&h) if you order it a la carte.
and
The BAG LUNCH: FOR SATURDAY'S ROAD RALLY AWARDS AND PICNIC.
$7.00 ea (includes non-alcoholic drink).
You have to ORDER THEM AT PEABODY BY FRIDAY, 6:00 PM.
You can PICK THEM UP SAT. 10 AM - NOON AT PEABODY.
DON'T FORGET - THE BAG LUCH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION
PACKET.
Meanwhile, as evening settles in over the sands, we move on . . . so as to get our buck's worth out of the tickets. Modest as we are, we eschewed the limousine service and hiked the local shortcut to the hotel.
Apropos walking the walk . . .
The WALKING TOUR(s) OF THE COLLEGE
SITE: We haven't found anyone to be Tour Guide on Friday yet,
but we're still working on it. We're all pretty sure it will happen,
though.
The OPEN MIKE: Friday & Saturday from 10 AM on. Alan's
figuring individuals can have about 20 minutes, groups about 45
minutes each. A sign-up sheet will be posted at Peabody. Daytime
will be mostly for acoustic music, nights electric.
FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: The following homegrown bands - in
one configuration or another - will almost certainly be playing
Friday night: Con Fullam, Suns, Pan, Sarah Brooks. Sarah will
also be singing during the HornBand breaks Saturday night.
WOMB MUSIC: Background ambience during meals; orchestrated
and presented by Roger Gucci.
. . . And in support of the ongoing quality control commitment
by our Sartorial Excellence Department, we did not neglect the
opportunity to get someplace where it was sunny and warm enough
to test out some T-shirts:
Armani Wayne Versace-Turiansky reports on the new line:
T-SHIRTS: 2 versions for sale. Expected price range is
$5 - $7. Ca 300 of each in sizes SM - XL.
Then, for our study of the documentary video on Reunion Planning,
called "How to be Successful, Rich and Happy Without Anyone
Finding Out About It", we adjourned from the beach and headed
into the Media Lounge.
As you also will be able to do:
We'll have ONE TV/VCR AT PEABODY for showing/viewing college
& era related videos, including the legendary documentary,
"Water Snake in Coney Valley". Bring your Franconia
or otherwise-related, family-rated videos if you want to show
them. DON'T bring originals, people. Nonetheless: DO attain in
advance to that magnanimity of spirit required in transcending
eventual involuntary donations to potentially nameless members
of the attending public. Capisce?
and not to forget:
TIME CAPSULE: Bring your things which will transcend the
persistence of memory. We don't know where the capsule's going
to end up yet, but that's right in keeping . . . don't you think?
Stay tuned.
INTERNET LIVE-FEED / CHAT-ROOM: Keep an eye open for a
Forum-posting from Ned inquiring about interest in having a live
Internet video-feed or Chat-Room hook-up at certain times on Friday
and Saturday.
TIME LINE: The Interactive Wall Documentation of Our Yet-To-Be-Determined
Franconia College
History.
POETRY READING: Adelina reports that we have 8 confirmed
and about 5 other possible readers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Adelina's compilation of "Franconians
in Print, Broadcast and Film/Video", some 37 pages, will
be available at the Reunion for a $3.00-4.00 donation to cover
production costs.
ARTICLES about the reunion have been sent out to the AP
New York and New Hampshire, to UPI, USA Today, the Boston Globe,
the Boston Phoenix, and the Village Voice. Keep an eye out . .
. maybe something will really get printed. Rumors that they are
already being translated and distributed in 32 countries could
not be confirmed at press time.
and now:
A ROAD RALLY TEASER: Marilinne says: "A sample of
what the Road Rally will be like":
...Continue on past the Littleton Opera house in the direction
of Whitefield. After 1/2 mile you will come to a red and white
building on the left:
1. What store in Littleton calls
itself the "oldest ski shop in America"?
2. What was the name of the infamous
female sales clerk who worked there?
And while you're driving, don't forget (we sure didn't) Douglas
Fairbanks' motto for success: "Keep smiling and moving".
. . . Well, when the bar ran out
of umbrella drinks, we decided we might as well pack our bags,
head for home, and finish putting this thing together.
So here they are, the final facts and repetitions:
Which brings us nicely to the matter of:
SET-UP & CLEAN-UP:
If you're going to be here early and want to help set things up
with us, contact Judy in advance . . . like today. And come Reunion
Sunday-afternoon, there's going to be stuff all over the walls
that has to get taken down, equipment (not too big or heavy) that
will have to be moved, and suchlike. We'll need people to lend
a hand. (Bill Walsh and his Peabody crew will be doing the cleaning,
trash, structural rehabilitation, etc.)
- GET YOUR REGISTRATIONS & MONIES IN MUY PRONTO
- IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH SET-UP and/or CLEAN-UP, please contact
JUDY in advance
- ANY EARLY ARRIVEE INTERESTED IN BEING TOUR-GUIDE ON FRIDAY?
Contact HOWIE
- NO CREDIT CARDS FOR ANYTHING AT PEABODY (except for the bar)
Whew . . . Well, here we are back in the North Country, folks.
And since we're not taking credit cards at the door, and there
will be a lot of horse-and-buggies to park, we thought you'd appreciate
seeing the cutting-edge ATMs and hitching posts we've installed
at Peabody for your convenience.
Mark, Judy, Howie
for the Planners
It's a wrap.