40th Reunion Committee Meeting #1

AGENDA FOR REUNION COMMITTEE MEETING #1, 20 FEB 07

1. Selection of Reunion Committee Chairman

2. Review of feedback from 35th Reunion (see atch)

3. Summary of Class financial status (AOG)

4. Discussion of proposed date of 1-4 Oct 08 (Navy weekend)

5. Reunion update from AOG---administration, nominal schedule

6. Committee division of labor/subcommittee needs
(subcommittees from 35th: Vice Chairman, Committee Communication, Class Communication/Website, Memorial Service and Warrior Tribute, Hotels/Meals, Golf, Merchandise, Contracts, Local Transportation, Banquet/Entertainment, Class Gift, AOG Membership)

KEY CONTACTS;

Gene Rose: genjanrose@aol.com hp: 719-481-2595

Class website: www.usafa68.org

Class webmaster (Pat Russell): webmaster@usafa68.org

Note: see next page

Atch

CLASS OF '68 35TH REUNION FEEDBACK

LIKED BEST:

Cadet sq get togethers/Friday supper and dance at Wyndham
Receptions/Warrior Tribute/Dinner
Support of AOG staff/Wyndham/Pardee
Socializing with friends/close accommodations/Academy tour/AOG support
Free time/Warrior Tribute
Golf/social activities/Memorial/Tailgate/football game/invitation to non grads
Thurs night reception/USAFA tour/Warrior Tribute/Memorial Service/flyby
Tailgate/AOG parking and access to game/free room giveaway/courtesy room for changing
Friends
Pardee/meeting cadets at lunch and in SARs/golf/Memorial Service
Cocktail time to visit
Pardee/nothing rushed/Friday was great/everything in one place
Pace of events about right/weather
Pre reunion flow of info/AOG support/Friday briefings
Cadet area open house/lunch at Mitchs/football game/Wyndham
Warrior Tribute/SAR time/time with classmates/Memorial Service (non denominational needed)
Warrior Tribute (involve cadets)/golf/Holland/Pardee
Football/classmates/dorm tour and brief/golf/casual rejoins/Tailgate
Wed night social/Thursday night/Friday night dinner
All
General format/packages and mail outs well done/quality and cost of Wyndham
Sharing Tailgate with other classes/inviting non grads
Good turnout/plenty of time to talk/Pardee/Wyndham
Relaxed timing/casual attire/Josten's/Warrior Tribute and Memorial Service
Briefings at Fairchild/Warrior Tribute
Wed and Thur get togethers-good food/Friday Banquet/Holland/Pardee/Friday afternoon and Begert
Classmates coming for first time/Warrior Tribute/Memorial Service/Friday dinner/Thursday reception
Free time/low key cocktail gatherings/nice not too formal dinner
Golf/watching Carl cut off Pardee (thought Pardee was good)
Food and support at Wyndham

LIKE TO SEE CHANGED:

More discussion regarding class projects
Sat night reception instead of Wed
Don't need background music at class events-makes it hard to talk
Reunion announcement too late to purchase merchandise/Memorial Service needs to be non denominational
Squadrons not prepared for time with cadets/Academy briefings with substance and sincerity
Do away with coat and tie at dinner
Better hotel with more class-Antlers or Broadmoor/contact board with cell numbers
More and different clothing items for sale
Pre planned nametags with large block letters/more time between afternoon and evening events for the ladies
Live music at the dinner
Advance info on the type and amount of food at rejoin and cocktail parties (ate twice, twice!)
Memorial service non-denominational
Different gifts at registration/combining with another class/cater Tailgate with someone better
Move tailgate to stadium/better food/wine on tables at dinner
Wyndham "hospitality suite" could not be found /Greg Varhall and wife will fund morning donuts at the hotel!
Golf should be best ball (would encourage more to play)
Make dinner more informal (buffet)/golf scramble format and start earlier/more time for Q&A with staff
Tailgate needs more room to sit/merchandise sales more organized/make buffets serve yourself-more lines
Prep School did not provide the dinner we paid for/Memorial Service non denominational
AOC needs to attend meetings with cadets
Music too loud Wed and Thurs nights/non denominational Memorial Service/golf on Thursday AM also
Non denominational Memorial Service
Start post game rejoin earlier/lunch with cadets and SAR time disorganized-cadets unprepared/tailgate

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Trip to Farrish
Solid Schedule, lots of free time to chat
Activities for non golfers (spouses)/better music for dancing/accommodations that include breakfast
Better not to pair with another class
Anybody really care about the class photo
Right pace
Make other facilities available during golf time (swimming pool, ice rink)
Coed round robin volleyball or softball tournament (by sq or blind draw)
Hike up the hill and put a '68 on it/other sports besides the football game
Dinner comic was too long
Start Rejoin earlier
Friday schedule was too tight-double booking Memorial Service not with
Friday too busy-split it up
40th should have special, quality music during the dinner dance/need power naps
Memorial Service needs to be non denominational
Tailgate at AOG too crowded
Tailgate at AOG too crowded

PRICE OR QUALITY:

Wyndham very good
Good quality and fair price
Both were fine
Doolittle Hall meal too expensive for quality/hotel accommodations high for number of attendees
Seemed expensive particularly with cash bars
Alcohol prices at hotel way too high
$5 per drink too pricey
Very reasonable
Too pricey-rolling AOG dues into the price kept some folks away-go to O'Club for rejoin?
Great value personally and $$ wise
Doolittle Hall food too expensive for quality
All good, except for at class receptions (Thursday night)
Price OK/food at Wyndham quite good/Doolittle Hall food not worth the price
Fair price/good good/dinner was very nice for a large group
Hotel rooms a little pricey

OTHER SPECIFIC COMMENTS FOR 40TH REUNION COMMITTEE:

Keep control of the Memorial Service
Do it like this (the 35th)
Joint function with our adopted class (2008)/less emphasis on individual sq liaisons
Some participatory events to get folks out of their chairs/voluntary bios distributed
More time for discussion with USAFA officials
Squadron tables at dinner/list cadet squadron on attendee list
Put '68 on the hill-I will lead (Bill Wood)
At the Memorial Service just read the names who have died since last reunion
Lapel pin of our class crest very popular, might want to resurrect
Stick with the fall/better merchandise-pen desk set nice, A jackets and cadet sq patches
How we looked back then badges
Doolittle tailgate a mess-do something different
Crème donuts made people sick-be careful
Use 35th as a model---Memorial Services terrific
Power naps/get more folks there on Wed (easier as we retire)
Golf earlier/longer cocktail hour before buffet dinner
Put snack table on opposite side of bar to spread folks out (Wed night)
Get ideas from classes with reunions in the last 5 years
Facilitate cadet squadron activities (i.e. sitting together)
Indoor tailgate nice since it was cool
I got no feedback for my gift of over $1000 at the previous reunion-we need to know where the $'s go

ANY OTHER COMMENTS:

Thanks for the memories
Great reunion-excellent job by Reunion Committee
Thanks to Committee and AOG
Hats off to Committee/Include names of spouses on list of attendees
Great reunion
Great reunion
Turned off by furor over Christian aspect of Service-a bit long, but not a big deal
Carl was great MC
Couple of pictures reversed in Memorial Handout
Very nice to bring back classmates who were not grads
Having everything at the hotel was very nice
Great
List of details of change for cadet life would be fascinating (carpet, email vice lights for uniforms, etc)
Absence of Sup at the Sabre Society event was very disappointing-no good excuse-letter of apology needed
Move the souvenir table away from the door so it is not so crowded
E mail address list for everyone would be nice
Have the tailgate outdoors if weather permits
Prep School event should be organized to encourage non Prep School folks to attend as well
Memorial Service must be non denominational
Keep Memorial Service non denominational
Merchandise (particularly clothing) should be handled by a vendor, or the Visitors Center (choosing from
a catalog very difficult)
Football tickets we got were in a different section than rest of the reunion group (Mrs Rusty McBride)

NOTE: TOTAL OF 29 CRITIQUES RECEIVED. WE HAD A TOTAL OF 75 FROM THE 30TH REUNION-NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB HERE (GENE)

MINUTES-FIRST MEETING OF 40th REUNION COMMITTEE

1. Gene Rose, interim chair, convened the meeting somewhere close to 1700 on 20 Feb 07.
2. Attendees included Gene Rose, Rock Gaines, Garry Dudley, Bill Eckert, Steve Staley, Bob Denny, and Al Blumberg
3. Gene then introduced Ms Cindy Kinder, our Association of Graduates (AOG) reunion point of contact, and Ms Lani Wing, the AOG reunion coordinator.
4. Items addressed:
a. See agenda
b. Attendance roster
c. Feedback from 35th reunion-on agenda
d. Key contacts
e. Date for reunion
f. Deconfliction with '63
g. Location
h. AOG overview and reunion website
5. Decisions
a. Gene Rose was selected Committee Chairman.
b. Date: 1-4 Oct 2008-Navy game weekend. The Committee unanimously agreed we should go ahead and schedule the Reunion for this weekend. The alternative is to wait for over another year before we have the fall 08 conference football schedule. That weekend also offers a quality football game, and the potential for good weather is high since it is early in the fall. The weekend does conflict with the FAC association reunion that year, but the Committee felt it was not reasonable to pass on this date (the only one available now) for that reason.

c. Location: The Committee selected the Embassy Suites (located near the USAFA South Gate) as the headquarters for the reunion. The selection was based on value for cost, and the Committee reviewed other available facilities as presented by the AOG. The selection was contingent on a site visit the next day. (Note: Gene Rose and Garry Dudley met with AOG personnel and Embassy Suites personnel the following day, and validated the selection).

d. We will schedule a class meeting during the Reunion on Friday at the Academy if the Committee or Class officers desire one---the Friday dinner at the Embassy Suites will be for socializing and dancing with no formal program or speaker.

e. The Committee will strongly consider Squadron Tables at one of the evening functions.

f. We have approximately $45000 in the class operating fund, and will not hesitate to use some of that to support the Reunion effort.

6. AOG input from Cindi and Lani-All individual involvement with pre-reunion "paperwork" will be online (unless someone wants to do it the old fashioned way, in which case the AOG will make arrangements to accommodate them). To include:
a. Registration
b. Purchasing merchandise 5 weeks before and 4 weeks after
c. Football tickets
d. Lost souls
e. Attendance list
f. Personal information/biographies/updates
g. Access to class website

7. AOG handouts were reviewed
a. Reunion Planning Guidelines
b. Fact sheet with objectives, responsibilities, committees, etc.
c. Reunion agenda template
d. List of hotels

8. Since we have selected the same weekend as the Class of '63, we are the "junior" class when it comes to scheduling issues. We discussed the golf tournament and felt there were several good options. The Class of '63 does not conduct a Warrior Tribute at the flagpole during Retreat so there is not a conflict with that event. Our lunch at Mitchell Hall with the cadets will likely be on Thursday vice Friday. There did not appear to be any show stoppers.

9. The Embassy Suites does not have a single room large enough to accommodate the entire class for a sit down meal, so they also set up tables in the center atria area, and provide food via buffet. The AOG indicated this has worked well for other classes in the past. The Committee felt that this would work well but would mean we would not have a formal program at dinner-but devote the entire time to socializing-with music and dancing available. The Committee agreed that was fine, and we could schedule a class meeting while out at the Academy on Friday if desired.

10. Cindi and Lani pointed out to the Committee the necessity for making sure the class website does not get confused with the AOG website for the reunion. Gene Rose will work with Pat Russell, our webmaster, to deconflict as needed.

11. Gene Rose briefly discussed the key responsibilities that need to be undertaken, and solicited volunteers to be Committee Vice Chairman and likely lead the 45th reunion effort.

12. The meeting was adjourned after about an hour, and will reconvene at the call of the Chairman to work the details. The next meeting will likely not be until late this year, or early next year.