High School: Does it ever really end?

I thought 20 years out that things would be different but judging from the comments on our group Facebook page for our upcoming 20th reunion, it looks like some high school people are still insane. There seems to be a bubbling tension amongst the planners of the reunion. We have Stephanie who began the organizing of it. She wanted something relaxed, not the 'wedding reception'-type of reunion with the bad food, the $100 ticket to get in and the cash bar. Along comes Monica who originally offered her services to swindle...I mean, sweet talk local businesses to sponsor the event which would bring down the price for everyone. Somehow, Monica has since self-titled her group as the Official High School Reunion group and has fired the first shot with this recent comment on the group page:

Stephanie,
It is very disappointing to us, as it appears your group chooses not to work with the Official Reunion Committee in planning and organizing the all inclusive event for the upcoming 20th High School Reunion of the Class of 1989. For the order of, planning a event that is all inclusive of everyone that graduated or are affiliated with the original Class of 1989. As the Reunion Committee, we have made a number of efforts to work with your group to coordinate ideas, plans, cost containment and make a truly nice event for all alumni.

It appears that your group is determined to go on with their plans to have an event at a bar. We have spoken to a number of alumni and have learned that, for personal and/or religious reasons, object to this type of venue as the only option for the 20th Reunion. We feel that for the sake of all alumni, everyone’s beliefs and concerns should be addressed and respected.

Stephanie, Todd and I spoken to you personally about these concerns of our fellow alumni on a Skype conference call rescheduled on March 29, 2009, to accommodate your schedule, twice. If I have it correct from my notes, you stated that you would address these concerns with your group and encourage the group to take into light other alumni’s viewpoints and join into our regularly scheduled conference call. I believe, again from my notes, you were supposed to reach out to either Todd or I with the feedback from your group.

In addition, during our conference call, we offered to assist in financing your events at Cady’s Grill with any monies raised from the Sponsorship Committee if we could market both events as an alternative for all alumni. Again, you stated that this was a great idea as the monetary assistance would help your group with their cost for the Cady’s Grill Event. Todd, you and I all agreed that it would be beneficial for all alumni, regardless of religious and/or personal concerns, to market both events as Official Alumni Activities in the following fashion:

-Friday, August 21, 2009-Alumni Pre-Party Meet and Greet Event at Cady’s Bar and Grill-which would be a free event that alumni could choose to attend. This would be partially financed by monies raised from sponsorship committee along with any outside financing of your groups choosing.

-Saturday, August 22, 2009-YHS 20th Class Reunion- which would be a paid event that all alumni could choose to attend. The Class Reunion would be held at a local hotel with full catering, drinks that include fountain drinks, coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages, if alumni so chooses. We would have an exclusive DJ playing 1980’s music along with recent hits. Mock elections, keepsakes, official class reunion picture and other activities would be held at the reunion on this date.

It appears that your group desires to take the options and opinions of a select group of individuals and force them upon the entire class. We do not believe the bar venue should serve as the only option for all alumni to attend.

With this in mind, is your group willing to work with the Reunion Committee, or do you prefer to manage your event without joining into the Official Alumni Activities?

If you could post your groups reply on this Facebook page for all alumni to see, it would be most helpful. That way Alumni would have knowledge of your event and can attend if they so choose but, it would not be an Official Activity Event with the Alumni Reunion Committee. Thanks, in advance.

The only response was a short one from one of the other co-organizers stating that Cady's is a restaurant, not a bar. Then I had to throw my two cents in:

Judging from the results of the survey that I took, at the time most people wanted the Cady's option.

Also, if people have a religious/personal issues with bars, why are there a handful of bars on the list of area businesses you're trying to sweet talk money out of?!? If these owners knew this, I doubt they would be willing to donate...and didn't Jesus prefer wine? :-)

I threw in the smiley face to soften the blow which is my usual m.o. Monica's comment screams "I am back in high school again" and I had a feeling this would come up when Stephanie made a comment early on that she had checked with other alumni (all who happened to be from the popular group I noticed) and they leaned more towards the informal event. I don't think the formal event will work out well because unless there are assigned seats, the banquet room will resemble the lunchroom circa 1989 when all the popular kids ate together, all the black kids, the miscellaneous ones, etc.

Seeing all this, I'm really glad that I missed the 10 year one. Maybe I'll sit this one out too. To answer my title question...yes, for some of us.