Steve Carlson

    Whatever we are going to do, sooner is better than later. In the last 12 months I have had a leg amputation, a heart attack, a stroke and just had a triple bypass in June. A lot of vultures have their eyes on my money including medical establishments and family. No guarantee I'll make it to 2018 but
I'll try.

i'll try.

Joanne Young (Bevacqua)

Hi folks. I read the suggestions and examined the acalltocollege.org website. They appear to be doing a tremendous job. I like that they manage the donations for us and connect students to vocational options. I was very impressed with their interactions with young students. I think it might be nice to start the fund raising/collecting before the end of the year. Perhaps at the reunion the the total raised by the class of '68 would give us an extra reason to celebrate! And Steve - take care of yourself!

Deborah Hall (Barlow)

I think you have an excellent idea, Roger. I visited acalltocollege.org website and liked their work with the Newark School District. Thanks, Roger.

Gale Cady (Williams)

Steve Carlson, You will be much in my thoughts and prayers. Take care! 

Margaret Freytag (Stewart)

Great idea, Roger.  I support this and also like the idea of starting the collection prior to the reunion.

Peggy Gartner (Dunlap)

Hello Everyone!!  I worked with A Call to College for the past several years.  They worked with my second and fourth grade classes.  They taught our students how important school was, what earning money was all about, going on field trips to the Library and the Works, and much, much more.  The students loved them coming into the classrooms.  For those of you who live in Newark, they invite guest readers and speakers into the classrooms to read and talk with the students.  They would love to have you   

Newark staff are able to have pay deduct for  A Call to College and I have given since it started.  They do an excellent job and they help a lot of our Newark Students. 

I have already talked with Janet Schultz from a A Call to College and she is checking on how the Class of 1968 can give directly to A Call To College and how they can make sure it will be denoted from the NHS of 1968.  I told her we would like to start as soon as possible.  I will let you know when they get back with me.  Thanks for the Great Ideas.

Also, the committee hasn't really started planning for our Reunion yet.  We will definitely keep in mind the suggestions made and we would welcome and encourage anyone to participate or if you want, please take over the planning

This is just my opinion... October 27 is pretty late in the year.   September  would be better and there are still many classmates who like the summer months.   

Finally, we had $627.00 in our account.  I just renewed the website for $412.00 for Ten years.  I talked with Jan Burch Campbell and she felt we should do it so I did.  I had been paying for it in the past, but this year it was a little higher than I wanted to pay, so I will take the money out of the account.  I hope this is good with everyone.   In the future, since I am retired, I hope to get all of our pictures put on this website.  I am getting better with the in's and out's of this website.  If anyone wants too help with website....please let me know.  I will turn it over in an instant

I hope everyone is enjoying life!   Steve, Jan has kept me up to date.  My prayers are with you.  Take Care.

Peg

Deborah Gail Smith (Hall)

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share that I feel this is a wonderful idea and am so excited to participate!  I read that some others mentioned the possibility of increasing the amount we each donate to $100, and I would like to say that was a thought I had also, but I am good with either amount. This will be such an amazing legacy for our Class of 1968 to share with others!

Also, Peg, that was so generous of you to have maintained this site for the Class of '68's use.  If additional funds are needed for the account, please me know how/where to send and I would love to help -- perhaps there are some others who also would like to do the same.

I thoroughly enjoy reading what others are doing and how they are; it is sad to read of others' passing. 

Steve, I'm sorry to hear of your health issues and will keep you in my prayers. 

Deb (Smith) Hall 

Larry Wilson

Looking forward to the 50th class reunion.  I also like the idea of leaving a legacy through a scholarship fund.  Let me know what you do, so I can contribute.  Steve, may God be with you in your trials.

Ronald Butler

Steve, I'm sorry to hear about all of your health issues. I feel some of your pain. I just had a triple bypass in March. Hang in there and take care of yourself.

I'm looking forward to attending the up coming 50th class reunion. You can count on me for a contribution to the class gift/scholorship. Peg, if we need more money in the class fund, just let us know and we can contribute to that also.

Roger McDonald

Thanks, Peg, for taking on the burden for implementing the class contribution idea.  You are, and always have been, the rock for us '68ers.

David Fredrick Smith

As I thought about this, and I know I am rushing, besides the donation of the $50 I thought I might add a donation in the name of a member of the class that is gone. A memorium, sorta. Does this sound like something that might be acceptable? I apologize if I am moving to fast, but after retirement time seems to be moving so fast. Didn't we just celebrate Christmas and New Years.

Larry Wilson

I have heard from some that the Trout Club might be a little expensive.  Any other places being considered?

Bill Ford

Steve Carlson wanted you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.We are believing for good news the next report we get and know that we all care....

Jan Carol Burch (Campbell)

I haven't been on our site since early May,and was surprised to see so many people already thinking about  50th reunion,but glad to see the interest. Hopefully many of the locals will get on board when committee meets. I like the idea of a fall reunion,but for those wanting to see leaves changing color, October 27th is pretty late,the leaves will be gone.Middle of the month is better for color change,but I am good with what majority want.Also,could be a bit cool for those of you who golf. The Trout Club is a beautiful venue,but I am afraid the price would exclude some people,and I heard the food that class of 66 had on Saturday wasn't much. It is hard to please everyone,and regardless of where we go,let us remember we are gathering to see each other. Does anybody else have ideas about where we could meet if Trout Club not possible? I definitely agree with A Call to College as a class donation. For those who want to give but can't give $50, know that you can give whatever you want, but I agree that we should be able to raise $5,000 by the time of reunion,or beforehand. For those who want to give more,that is great. I recently found out that Jeff English didn't do 2 tours in Nam, I misspoke,but he did do one. Thanks for being so astute,Dave Roach. Look forward to hearing more from everyone. Thanks for getting this started,Margaret!

Gale Cady (Williams)

Well put, Jan Burch Campbell. :-) Your input on the late date in October is right on the money; when we do have color in the fall, it's usually gone by the end of the month.

I do think that if class members truly want to include all alumni, that assuming that people can afford $100 donations or $50 donations is rather presumptious. Not all of us are doing well, whether in retirement or not.

Additionally, most of us don't play golf. At our projected age of 68, many of us may not be playing any sport at all. ( I am doing well to take a walk every day, and to use my at-home workout accessories!) Certainly, if people want to get together and plan to play golf, good for you, but I don't see that as part of the reunion. That is something that Facebook group events are perfectly suited to creating. Anyone can create a group event who has a Facebook account; this is how I plan my family reunions for the Cady clan.

My input on this is that the primary, and really ONLY, need is for a one night event that takes place in a big space that will allow us to freely sit and move around, in order to sit and visit with one another, with little to no planned activities, other than to just provide us the space for us to talk to one another. What the meal is, is of little importance to me, but the cost needs to be in the $30 area for me ( and I'm sure many others) to be affordable. Everything else is superfluous. 

My needs grow simpler every year; we don't need keepsakes other than a program with all of our names in it, and the food is actually only the secondary aspect; the primary need is the opportunity to visit and catch up. I think a  noisy bar is not a good place to do that. 

To continue on in what is probably an unpopular opinion, I do not drink (for those of you who do, that's fine, I'm not judging you). I take medicines that prohibit alcohol, and I think many of us at our age are in a similar situation. I won't be attending any event that takes place in a bar, because even if I can buy a non-alcoholic drink, which of course I can, I think bars are too noisy and chaotic to allow talking to people and catching up. I know that our class has always had a large component of heavy drinkers, and for those of you who drink, party on! But let's have you do that on your own, in a separate event. 

I think one event in a big space with a buffet would be a fine choice. 

For whatever it matters, that's my opinion. 

Gilbert Kerns

Thanks Jan and Gale, there is indeed plenty of room for dialogue and your comments are cogent for at least many of us who are now on fixed incomes, starting to snap, crackle, and pop, as well as having an ailment or two.  So, having carefully read what folks are saying excites me-knowing that we have plenty of time to explore various plans and venues.  When will the reunion planning group be meeting to actually begin the planning process?  Could a survey be posted on site to ask for feedback to assist in steering which direction we may go?  I'll volunteer for anything including clean up, if fair lead time is given. 

Steve Carlson

    I didn't mean to scare everyone. I have dealt with the mental anguish that comes with the loss of a limb. I currently have a prosthetic leg and can stand and walk with the help of a walker. I hope to come to the reunion using a cane. Golf is still a little iffy. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers. A special thanks to Nurse
Jan for your visits and my good friend Chris  Gill for finding me every time I've been moved

Steve Carlson

Is it just me pushing the wrong key or do others have problems with the print going real small on here.  Might be my WIFI connection too.

Karen Snelling (Hysell)

David Roach

Jan, Gale, everyone:

   Jan, thanks for the compliment, appreciate it. Gale, I agree completely with you on what we really need. Not that much. A couple of messages ago my real motivation in writing was putting out there the idea of a tour of the redone NHS. About how long ago was it refurbished? I missed the reunion 4 years ago, did I miss a tour? Steve, hang in there, buddy. I have faith you'll be doing better. Roy, consider going to the reunion. Try it, you'll like it!    Oh, yeah -  Carolyn, my wife, Philo H.S. class of '66, 165 in the class, percentage-wise  has lost more people than we have, even accounting they are 2 years ahead of us. Here ends the trivia of the day! 

Gale Cady (Williams)

Dave, I think a tour of the high school is a great idea. It was mostly finished by May of 2013, because that's when our daughter graduated - they have since finessed things a bit and planted grass and a few trees. It's very different from the buildings we knew, especially in the lack of trees and grass. However, no one gets wet or cold now between classes, and this building is air conditioned, which is a huge plus.

If you look at a birds' eye view of it on Google Earth, you'll see that the building sprawls in several directions, like a lobster, and all of them have two stories, connected by long hallways. 

There are elevators now, too, to provide access for handicapped students or to transport things. 

I have zero  knowledge of how to schedule a tour, but I do know the person whom we would contact for that: Seth Roy, who is the PR contact for the school district, and a former education reporter at The Advocate. He is a great young man who has provided the district with amazing resources to make communications far better between students and teachers and parents and the community. A big win. 

A further thought on the get-together: I do think that a lot of activities and expense is a thing that has kept many members of our class away. Lots of us - me at the top of that list, most likely - do not like parties or dances or high-octane social situations. A low-key event will be far more attractive to lots of people. My idea of a perfect reunion would be about 7 hours (5 to midnight?) of mostly unplanned time where people can sit wherever they like and just talk. The less fuss, the better. Very casual. 

John Hughes

OK, this has nothing to do with the 50th reunion, but I have been an avid CUBS fan for over 35 of those 50 years, since high school. So, on the day of the first WS game against the Wahoo Warriors, I have to say,"GO, CUBS, GO!!!!"

Kris Glaser (Beebe)

I usually "lerk", but I support Gale's ideas on cost, and what is needed. Last time I opted to just go to Damon's which is no longer there under that name and visited some.  I did tour the new high school and was  impressed with the remodel.

I have eaten at the "new" Trout Club and was not impressed with either the food or the cost.  Personally I don't think it is a good fit especially if we just want to visit.

I think just asking for donations to A Call for College is enough.  People will give what they can afford, but setting a goal of hopefully at least $5,000 is worthy.  Actually I have found that setting the goal is more important that asking for a set amount from each.

Thanks to those persons responsible for setting up and planning events and maintaining the website.   

Peggy Gartner (Dunlap)

And John.....this has nothing to do with the 50th reunion....I have been an Indians fan for about the same amount of time you have been a Cubs fan.  Always hoping we would get to the World Series and here we are playing the Cubs...... Go Tribe :)

Roger McDonald

When I first mentioned a dollar amount for any "A Call to College" contributions, I did not presume that $50 or $100 might be construed as some sort of mandated obligation; and I regret that it seems to have been interpreted that way.  Much better to get a maximum number of us to participate in any way that fosters a team effort.  We're in this as the Class of '68:  We would be prouder of 100 contributing $10 than 10 contributing $100. Who contributed what is something none of us needs to know. So I fully support Kris's suggestion to set a realistic overall goal.