ARE YOU READY FOR THE BIG WEEKEND?

Hi All!

It's finally here -- the event we've been working on for months to make sure you get your money's worth -- Reunion Weekend!

Tonight (6:30pm) at McKenna's is promising to be a great group of people! If you plan to go tonight, just enter through the restaurant's main entrance and tell the hostess you're there for the reunion party.

Re: Tomorrow's Official Reunion -- have you purchased your tickets? If not, give Creative Reunions a call at (310) 539-0111, or you can always purchase tickets at the door (Take note that it's CASH ONLY -$105- at the door). 

The event officially starts at 6:30 and there will be a class photo taken around 7-ish.

NOTE: If you're wondering what to wear (I've received this question quite a lot), just think "classy casual" and work up from there as much as you want. No need to wear a tux or gown unless you want to.

For those of you who are unable to make it to the reunion this time:

1. We'll miss you!
   
2. There will be a memory book and other memorabilia available for purchase even after the event.
   
3. I'll be providing information soon on this blog site about how you can get your copy of the reunion slideshow on DVD.
   

I'm off to get my toes painted now. See you soon!

Now Photos, Then Photos, and Phone Calls, Oh My...

Last night's second-to-last Reunion Committee meeting went very well! Details were solidified, attendance was reviewed, and phone lists were distributed so that the committee can start following up with those people who haven't yet purchased their tickets for the reunion. Thanks to Crystal, we enjoyed a wonderful summer evening on her back patio with a few good drinks, some chips n salsa, and a review of people and faces from 1988. 

I have to say, from ALL the "Now" photos I have received from classmates, high school has nothing on this thing we call Adulthood. The photos are so varied and beautiful and I'm very happy to see so many diverse and accomplished people from our class. It's a pleasure to reconnect!

Question: Does anyone know of any classmates that are/were in the military? I'd like to find and recognize them in the slideshow if I can.

Since we're getting down to the wire, the committee wanted me to post some fun details about what we've confirmed for the night of the reunion. 

• Dinner will be buffet style. Casual and cool. The theme is Endless Summer. You can be as dressy or as stylish as you'd like!
• Memorabilia Table: We've got a lot of Wilson items for the memorabilia table, but if you have something you'd like to share, you're welcome to bring it to the table for display on the night of the reunion.
• Class Photo: A full class photo will be organized at around 7:30 pm, so if you plan on coming to the reunion, try to arrive by then.
• Around 8pm, we've got drummers performing Rock Out, introduction of a slideshow of Now and Then photos, and maybe some awards for some of you who have submitted the questionnaire you should have already received in the mail.  If you haven't, email us.

Finally, if you still need to buy tickets, log onto creativereunions.com and you can purchase them online, and the tickets will be waiting for you at the door on the night of the event.  If all else fails, you can always buy tickets at the door on the night of the reunion. (FYI, after August 8 the ticket price goes up $10. 

...And one last heads-up: If you haven't yet signed up to attend the reunion, you may even be receiving a check-in phone call from a dedicated reunion committee member! 

Ciao for now.

-Deana

A Message from Crystal McNaughton Glenning

Fellow Bruins,

The time is coming to celebrate our 20 year Reunion. 

I know it is unbelievable that the time has gone so fast.  As I am sure you have all discovered, sometimes life doesn’t go the way we thought it would 20 years ago.  I am hoping it is true for everyone that there have been some great successes, wonderful adventures and lots of good times along the way.  I am guessing it is also true that life has thrown a few curves.  Either way, we all come from a great place, Wilson High School, which created a strong foundation to take on whatever life has had to offer.    

After 20 years, I am thinking this is worthy of a celebration, or actually two. You should have received your “official” invitation in the mail (along with a questionnaire for you to fill out and return) for our reunion.  If not, it is either coming today or you need to contact  www.creativereunions.com and give them your mailing info so they can send you one.  Also, check out our blog, set up by Deana (Gordon) Rodriguez, at www.wilsonclassof1988.blogspot.com.  

Here is the general low down on the happenings for the weekend…

Friday August 22^nd

Six – ish in the evening

McKennas on the Bay

(it is by the old Jolly Rogers)

Come say hello, meet, greet and be merry

McKennas has reserved a room for us.

We figure with a class of 1000 that we may need or want more time than one evening to catch up with everyone.

 

Saturday, August 23^rd  

Wilson '88 Reunion

The Hyatt Hotel      

6:30 ‘til Midnight

~ Cocktails & Dinner ~ 

[No, not a sit-down-all-stuffy-event]

The Drummers are coming to do "Rock Out" just to get us into even more of a celebration mood.

Maybe a bear or two will show up, who knows...?

Plus a slide show, dancing, photo ops, shirts for sale, and other memorabilia.

No matter what, we are planning on FUN. 

Come, enjoy, share a few laughs, a few stories,

talk to a few people you haven’t seen in a long time.

 

We hope you can set aside at least Saturday evening to join in the festivities.  We know life is busy.  There are kids' soccer games,  family events, distances to cover to get to the event, obstacles and hurdles to get past, or you are just thinking “Whatever. It’s been 20 years, who cares?  I talk to everyone I want to keep in touch with anyways.”  

You may be surprised.  It is what you DON'T know you don't KNOW that will make this so fun.  Make it happen -- it will be worth it!

We look forward to seeing you there.  Please pass this along to anyone and everyone you still keep in contact with today.  We don’t want anyone to miss out.

Thank you!

 Crystal McNaughton Glenning

Our Reunion's Less Than Two Months Away!

Hi All,

For those of you who didn't receive the first reunion mailer a few months ago, you don't necessarily have to keep your eye on the mailbox for that reminder card (which will be going out in a month or so). You always have the option of simply going to http://www.creativereunions.com/, and selecting the Wilson High Reunion link on the 2008 Reunions page.

That will send you to a "Register" page, where you can sign up for the reunion and pay by credit card or PayPal. You can then pick up your tickets on the night of the event. If you want further confirmation of purchase, you can call Creative Reunions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creative Reunions has a list of about 700 classmate respondents...
But only a small percentage of those have paid so far!
Let's get jumpin'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re: The Biography Book Questionnaire...
I have been told by Creative Reunions that the bio questionnaire will be mailed out by next week.

Just in case you don't receive a mailer, I have a PDF copy of the questionnaire -- If you want a PDF copy that you can print out, fill out, and send back to Creative Reunions (whether you can make it to the reunion or not, you can still be included in the biography book), then send an e-mail to me (Deana) at 1988@WilsonHighReunion.com, and I will send the PDF doc to you directly. Once it's filled out, you can mail it to:

Creative Reunions
24248 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite #210, Torrance, CA 90505

Toll Free (800)700-6607 Office (310)539-0111 FAX (310)530-5998

Here are sample questions from the bio questionnaire:

• Are you married ?


• For how many years?


• Did you marry a classmate?


• What did you want to be in high school?


• What did you become?


• What were your three favorite songs in high school?


• Who was your favorite teacher in high school?
  
• Who did you have a crush on in high school?


• What is the most unusual job you have ever done?


• What is the craziest thing you did in high school that you can now confess too?


• Where have your travels taken you?


• Is there something you’ve done (for yourself, your family or your community) that you are particularly proud of that you can you share with us?


• Who would you most like to see at our reunion? Why?


• If I knew then, what I know now, I would?


• ( ) Yes, I will attend ( ) No, I cannot attend

The slideshow is moving along nicely -- but I'm still waiting for some pix and videos from those who have promised them to me. Please send them to me before July 18 if at all possible.

OK, Ciao for Now -- Until next post.

P.S. -- My 2-year-old saw the Wilson bear on the upper left corner of the blog and said, "He's grumpy!" lol

McKenna's - Fri, Aug 22 - 6:30pm

Let's begin our reunion the night before the reunion! Join the Casual Cocktail Get-Together at McKenna's.

Add this to your Calendar:

Friday, August 22nd @ 6:30pm
McKenna's On The Bay
190 N Marina Dr
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 342-9411

There'll be no entry fee, and cocktail waitresses will take drink orders for us in the separate banquet room. Just let the hostess know that you're there for the reunion get-together.

Note: If you want to have dinner there before cocktails, you should make dinner reservations, and let the hostess know you'll be going to the reunion shindig afterward.

This is coming together nicely, don'tya think?

Pass the word around! Share this blog site address with any classmates for whom you have e-mail addresses! Thanks.



~~~~~~~~~

P.S. If you have any photos or videos that you would like to include in the Reunion slideshow/dvd, please e-mail or mail them to me, or call me to arrange for local pick-up, by Friday, July 18. We'll need some time to put it together proper! E-mail your messages to: 1988@WilsonHighReunion.com and I'll be sure to send you all the necessary contact information.

~~~~~~~~~

Classmates Searching for Other Classmates

While I wait for more information on our Friday, August 22 get-together, I thought I'd include a blurb here about Class of '88 classmates who are searching for other classmates. I have received a few requests, and don't personally have the answers for those who are asking. Here's a short list of requests.

• Andres III (Andy) is searching for: LaShell Allen and Lenora Couvre
• Chantelle is searching for: Billie Collins, Maria Figueroa, Shiloh Jamarino, and Ana Trejo
• Karen is searching for Stephanie Chislock and Danny Unger

Now,

~If you are searching for a classmate,

~If you have contact information for any of the above people,

~If you are one of these people and would like to be added to my regular e-mail notification list, and/or be contacted by the person who's searching for you, or

~If you have any other questions about the reunion or classmates,

e-mail me at 1988@WilsonHighReunion.com and I'll respectfully receive any contact information I am given, and pass it on to the recipient if you desire, or I'll add your request(s) to the above list. Have a Great Weekend!

P.S. Don't forget to participate in our polls on the left -- They're helpful in our preliminary, and very rough, estimates on the number of attendees to expect, and the number of Wilson shirts to have on-hand. Pass the word around! Share this blog site address with any classmates for whom you have e-mail addresses! Thanks.

Friday Night Plans are Being Finalized

Hi All,

1. News about Friday Night (August 22, the night before our official reunion at the Hyatt) will be brief, for now. Before posting anything lengthy, I am waiting for solid details on the gathering. Just be aware - for anyone who's interested in making the most of our reunion weekend, we will be having a fun and casual get-together that Friday night! Stay Tuned.

2. Thank you Kim Lee, for e-mailing me some great high school photos! We'll definitely be incorporating them into our slide show. Also: Sharion and Tiffany, I am still very interested in getting your pictures/videos. If you need more information on how/where to send them, please contact me (Deana) through the reunion email address, 1988@WilsonHighReunion.com, and I'll contact you directly with instructions. The same goes for anyone else out there who has pictures and videos for the reunion. Keep 'em coming.

3. The Committee wants to sell fun Wilson Hawaiian shirts at the reunion, and wants to get your opinion on whether or not you'd buy one (see our new Poll, to the left).

Check out this shirt. The pocket matches the pattern, even! A sign of a quality Hawaiian indeed...


Finally, please remember to scroll down through this rather extensive blog for any information you need -- everything is here: Dates, Times, Registration Info, Contact Info, Prices, Bio/Memory Book Info, and much more.

Even if you can't make it to the reunion or the pre-reunion gathering, you can still make yourself seen in many ways. When the reunion questionnaire arrives, fill it out and send it back with a current photo -- you'll automatically be included in the biography book, which you can purchase separately from the reunion. If you have great pictures you want to include in the slide show, send/email them our way. If you have any memorabilia to contribute, or any random memories or trivia you'd like to share, email us. Tell us your story! Have a great day!