Your Committee at Work

I thought today's photo would make you think that your committee is working themselves to the bone but, truthfully, we are having too much fun! Here are some bits from last night's meeting.

Harry Pund and Butch Murdock have coordinated the efforts of this group.

Saturday Night: Pete May has planned a fun evening with BBQ, dancing and memorabilia. Tables will be placed around the room for displays of your 'stuff' for ARC, Langford, Murphey, Tubman and the Potpourri (those who went to Junior High in other places.) You'll be able to sign in, browse bits of the past and have a mini-reunion with old junior high buddies. A short show, dinner and dancing will fill the night as you begin to recognize old friends in new faces. Betty Reed Keenan and Donna Andrews Pittman are decorating, so you know it'll be cool.

Saturday Morning: Don Patterson has arranged for the school to be opened for touring at 9:00 with the class picture on the front steps at 10:30. Then we'll head down Walton Way and turn left onto 15th Street. Turn right onto Greene Street just after you cross the Butts Memorial Bridge. An immediate right turn will take you to the parking lot of the Enterprise Mill complex where you'll find the Petersburg Boats on the Canal. Be sure to allow lots of time for the Interpretive Center before and after the cruise. Pick a spot for lunch and enjoy your afternoon.

Saturday Evening: Janice Johnson Dixon wants this to be a memorable and fun evening. We will have the entire floor at the Country Club to ourselves, so there will be no crowded rooms. A buffet dinner as only the ACC can do it will begin after a greeting and invocation by co-class Presidents Frank Stafford and Jayne Dye Snell and the Memorial to our deceased classmates. Charles Henry will emcee the evening and a DJ will provide our favorite music. We'll still be visiting as the last song ends. If you are wondering what "dressy casual" means -- put on something a little special but be comfortable -- you are gonna dance; you're gonna hug; you're gonna eat. You want to look good in the pictures.

Thursday evening and/or Friday lunch: If you are coming into town early and want to join classmates for a meal, let me know and I'll put together a little group.

The Memory Book: Ron Colvin and I have received lots of information for you. If you still have bios or photos you wish to send, please do so. We will squeeze you in as late as possible. If you run across an interesting photo of yourself as an adult, don't hesitate to send it.

The books will be available both evenings, so you can pick one up either night. Your name will be on it, so don't worry about losing it.

Oh, the things you have shared. I can tell you this:

• Few look the same.

• Most are more interesting.

• Most don't care who you used to be, just who you are today.

• Few will care if you have grey hair or no hair; if you are fat or thin; if you are wrinkled and pruney or smooth and lifted.

• They WILL care that you made the effort to come to share the weekend with them.

A reunion is like a walk in the early spring woods. You never know what you'll find after the long quiet winter, but the Unexpected will make it Memorable.

photos: Sunday Walk in the Woods

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50th Reunion Reports

The Committees reported in last night. All that's needed now is a commitment from The Fabulous 59ers to join in.

Your invitation will be in the mail next week, but the personal bio form will arrive THIS week. We want to get your information whether you are coming or not, so don't wait!

If you want a copy of the questionaire by email, you can just fill it out and return the email with photos attached. Faster. Easier. You don't have to look for a stamp.
Email: annette@annettebush.com with reunion in the subject line

All the details on the events in the invitation packet. Please note that Saturday night's event requires jackets for the guys and NO denim for anyone! The cost for both Friday and Saturday night events, the tour of the school and the Reunion Book is $75 per person. The optional 1 hour Petersburg boat cruise on the Augusta Canal is $10 per person.

Are you one of The Fabulous 59ers? Do you want to see who is?! Then, come on to the party!

Did you ever park at Lake Olmstead?!

Okay, I really don't want to know. Just thought I'd get a little attention for the Friday Night Barbecue.











I've been asked to post a few photos of Julian Smith Casino. It's a great space for an informal party like our Friday Night Barbecue. I took these photos at the Classes of the 60s from Augusta State University (Augusta College.) I thought it might look good festooned with purple and gold. If you have suggestions or want to help, Pete May is the Friday night chairman and Betty Reed Keenan his decorations chairman.

Let me know and I'll forward your email address. Please do not put your contact information on this blog. It sometimes gets read by people all over the world!

Annette

50th Reunion Report

Tuesday night, the air seemed a little cooler after our days of triple digit temps. But maybe it just always seems to be cooler down by the river at Butch and Jackie's house. Butch presided over the hamburger grill and classmates visited in groups on the grass. On the inside, plates and bowls of goodies filled the serving counter and other folks gathered in the air conditioning.

There were a few complaints, "My mouth won't fit this burger." seemed to be the main one.

It was time for the meeting to begin. Heh heh. Just wanted to point out that planning a 50th Reunion is not always just hard work!




Janice Johnson Dixon and Frank Stafford reported on the research for locations.












They did a great job of offering options for both a casual event and more formal evening and will pursue a couple of venues.



Co-chairs Butch Murdoch and Harry Pund tried to keep us in line as we discussed the thoughtful suggestions sent in by Dan Miller, possibilities for this historic weekend and options for a full schedule. Janice Johnson Dixon, Janice Keel Helton and I will develop an agenda which can be discussed in blocks of time. So get ready for a fabulous ARC weekend in 2009 -- probably late April.

In the photos, I hope you will also spot, Mike and Jane Bass Moxley, Fred Fidler, Eddie Glover Tanner, Ron and Louise Colvin, Annette James and her friend, Mary Gahnz Usher, Robert and Judy Little Murphy, Don and Norma Patterson, Robert Dixon, and Diane Pund .

The next meeting will not be until December, but we have lots to do until then.

The Check Is In The Mail. . . .

Oh, sorry.The INVITATION is in the mail!










This week the Community Room of the Martinez Fire Department was buzzing as each class of the Fifties filled a table with envelops, labels, invitations, newsletters, and stamps.

What efficiency! What dedication to duty! What speed!

Almost 2900 envelopes were ready and packed in boxes within two hours for Robert Murphey ('58) in his purple hat to take to the post office.


So, send your reservation in ASAP. If you hear from Robert, tell him, "The check is in the mail!" (It's music to the ears of an old CPA.)





See YOU at the Decades Reunion on October 20th.


A few more pics.

More Time to Mail Survey

Butch Murdoch's workshop has been the meeting space for the '59 Reunion committee. It's a great space, but lots of work for Butch and Jackie to rearrange, set up tables and be prepared with something cooking on the grill. Committee members bring along extras and the meal makes the planning for the reunion even more fun.

Yesterday, Butch called to say that they have a family commitment and will need to change the date of the meeting. Now we will meet on August 21 at 7:00 to discuss where our 50th Reunion will be . . . and a few dozen other things.

So if you haven't answered the questions about reunion preferences on the newsletter survey and mailed them back to Harry Pund, you have a few more days!

We'll look for a sunset like this one which I saw on the drive out one evening.

We might even talk about a few old classmates.

On Track to the Fiftieth!

Last night a few members of the planning committee for our fiftieth reunion met in Butch (Alvia) Murdoch's workshop. It's a fascinating place where it's difficult to tell if he is a wood worker, an auto restorer, an antique buff, a collector of fireman memorabilia . . . . but that's another story.

After exploring the workshop and eating hotdogs cooked by Butch and Jackie with other goodies by everyone else, the group settled down to discuss what needs to be done to get ready for the reunion in 2009. The dynamics in the group were interesting to watch as everyone felt their way through the events of the 45th and analyzed stuff to keep and stuff to change.

Since Don Patterson has stepped down, Harry Pund agreed to join Butch as co-chairman.

In the end, it was decided to get input from class members through a survey in the next newsletter to see what everyone would like to do.

Don will put this together, but it will include questions such as:
When it should be --
Spring, summer, fall.

What it should be --
A stand alone event or on the weekend of the Lost in the Fifties Barbecue.
Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night or just one event.
Casual, formal, in between or both.

Where it should be --
Julian Smith Casino, Old Government House, Old Richmond Hotel, The Boathouse, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, and assorted Country Clubs.

I suspect some decisions will have to be made on what is available and how many others come to join the committee to do some of the work.

Frank Stafford will work with Janice Johnson Dixon to explore locations and will make some recommendations based on rental and other costs, catering requirements and best type of event for the venue.

There is a lot of work ahead, but the group seems up to the challenge. I also spotted these folks around the tables --

Judy Little Murphey
Charles and Judy Hunnicutt Johnson
Eddie Glover Tanner
Mike and Jane Bass Moxley
Judy Kent Huff
Janice Keel Helton
and the spouses --
Jackie Murdoch
Robert Murphey
Norma Patterson
Dianne Pund
Robert Dixon

We're on Track to A Great Celebration!!
Facelifts, diets, hair plugs and new wardrobes.
There's so little time and lots to do!

Dusting off the Rolls for the 50th

When you start thinking of a 50th Reunion, you think there is lots of time. After all, we can't be THA-A-AT old!!

Suddenly, the time is slipping up and the committee hasn't met for a while. There are concerns. Names and addresses are all set in Mary's computer, but wait! Several have retired and moved and no one knows where. There needs to be a new meeting place, maybe a few new committee members. . . . What to do?

So. . . Judy has sent an email that there will be a meeting at Butch's house on June 21. Stay tuned.

Ideas or comments are welcome on this blog.