The MKHS Multi-Year Reunion Committee thanks everyone for providing feedback regarding the September 23rd event.  Your comments and opinions may also be very helpful to committees preparing their individual class reunions.  Thanks in advance for participating.  

RESULTS:

Did you attend the reunion?  95% of respondees attended the reunion.

Would you be interested in another multi-year reunion?  All responded yes.

Was the ticket price appropriate?  All responded yes regarding the $90 price.  However, a few disagreed with offering the $45 "door" ticket that allowed entry post-dinner event.

Would you volunteer to assist with the next reunion?  About 50 - 50 on this one - thanks!

Any suggestions to add to and/or improve the next multi-year reunion?

Cancellation Policy:  Some commented that it was unfair not to be able to resell or gift their ticket to others.

Response:   We had two cancellations deadlines.  The first was September 1st.  We changed that to September 15th in order to provide as much time as possible to make changes and give us time to modify attendee list and menu selections.  I received calls as late as the Wednesday prior to the reunion requesting changes.  It was not humanly possible to go back and make changes at that point with all the other activities taking place.  There were so many of us working like crazy to get everything done.  If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with the original September 1 date.

Photography:  Difficult finding the photographer - hire more.  Have candids shot by a photographer - not alumni.  No class photo announcements.  Hire a videographer.

Response:  There were two photographers - one for individual poses and one for groups.  Unfortunately, the size of the party was too large to be managed by just two.  (This topic was raised with the photographer prior to the reunion.  I was assured they could handle the crowd with only two - guess it didn't work!)  The schedule for group photos was posted on the website prior to 9/23 and also posted at the entrance to each ballroom.  We tried!  (It was impossible to announce classes over the P.A. as music was playing throughout the schedule.)  A videographer wasn't in the initial budget.  Bottom line - we'll plan better next time.

Attendance:  Not enough alumni attended from certain classes.  

Response:  Between Classmates.com, my database, and our e-mailing network, more than 50,000 e-mails were sent - don't you remember my updates?!  In addition, 1700 postcards were mailed.  We had a team working on search databases trying to locate alumni.  Sometimes, you can try everything to make contact, but people choose not to respond.  For this type of reunion, it's really up to the individual classes to network to get their classmates interested. 

Staff / Volunteers:  Need more people to help.

Response:  Amen to that!

 Venue:  Get a bigger room with more A/C power!

Response:  Absolutely!

 Reunion Program:  Eliminate dinner so people have more time to socialize.

Response:  Some hotels require that dinner be a part of the service when reserving the larger meeting rooms - it's how they make their $$$.  In this case, it was required.  Don't know if we can find one that will accommodate 700 - 800 people without commiting to the dinner, but I'll research that option for next time.

 Future reunion ideas:  Palms Spring weekend with a golf tournament; 3-day cruise; picnic; Las Vegas weekend.

Response:  I'm in for planning Vegas next summer.  Mike Lucero '81 will pick a date and place for a beach party next summer - an informal type of plan - and maybe make it an annual event.  As for the other suggestions - I'll go if someone else plans them!    

Faculty:  Invite them!

Response:  This topic came up at a couple reunion committee meetings, but no one would take on the responsibility of doing the legwork.  (I couldn't take on another mailing project at the time.)  We did distribute the announcement postcards at the school.  I also called and spoke to three faculty members.  Obviously, they weren't interested.  Maybe some of you that suggested this might be willing to take this on next time around?
  
Silent Auction / MK Store:  Hire staff to run if this is included at the next reunion.  

Response:  Agreed - if we decide to try this again.

 Music:  Too loud - couldn't hold a conversation.  

Response:  Perhaps a table in the back of the room would have helped?  I imagine it can be difficult to fill a room that size with music without offending someone.  Personally, I would have turned it up :)   

Where should we hold the next reunion?  95% liked the beach location.  Someone suggested Almansor Court - sorry, it would be too small!  Another suggestion was MKHS gym - not sure if they were serious...

Did you take an individual photo?  Most did not.  See "Photography" comment above.

What should we do with the gatecrashers?  A resounding majority suggested the intro to Larry Landless & Co.!  That's a compliment to your team Larry!

Response:  The truth of the matter is that there will (unfortunately) always be people that show up unannounced.  (Some from my class have gone to EVERY reunion without paying.)  After seeing the photos - I would guess there were at least 30 or 40 people that did this.  There were a small number that cancelled, received a refund, and then showed up!?!  Can't say much about that - or them.  Some things never change...

General Comments:

- (4/26/7) This kinda bugs me. I wasn't able to attend because of a last minute going out of town thing. I contacted the planners, and they wouldn't let me give away my $90 ticket to someone who went to Keppel, couldn't afford the ticket, and really really needed to go to re-connect because he was going thru a tough time, and nothings better then old friends! i was extremely disappointed, and then to learn people crashed it anyway! i guess some people never change-the crashers OR the ones who can't make room for changes, and me who can't let go. such a shame! 

Response:  The cancellation deadline was moved from Sept. 1st to Sept. 15 to try and accommodate last-minute cancellations and changes.  You wanted to make a change five days prior to the reunion in the midst of the most ridiculously hectic time in planning.  Just too late to expect a change.

- The air could have been better but what can you expect with all of those excited people. I had so much fun, and am now in touch with so many friends. I had never been to a reunion prior, I thought they were lame, but it was terrific...

- It should be billed as a school fundraiser or else the money should go towards the event.

Response:  We didn't realize until a few weeks prior to the event that there would be excess funds.  I guess we could have bought a round of drinks for everyone downstairs (someone bought a round for the upstairs attendees) - but  I think we did the right thing with the money collected.

- Keep up the good work.  Stay connected.
- Let's do it again!
- Announce the date further in advance to deter gatecrashers - we will - but it won't help!
- Gatecrashers should have to spend the night with Martha Ramirez-Mendoza '81 - that would teach them!  Agreed :)
- Don't forget to personally go door-to-door and advertise via national newspapers and television - yes, I'll add it to the next reunion budget right now...
- Thank you to all the committee members that made it such a great success!
- Logisitics need more attention.  Agreed - let's get more alumni volunteers for next time.
- My friends and I had not been together in many years.  It was a night to remember.  We look forward to the next one.  Let's make it soon...
- John Avila and the MK Alumni Band were GREAT!
- The committee did a great job.  It was an incredible night!
- Steve Lustro - I would LOVED to have posted your comments re gatecrashers - but it's a "family" site.  You made me laugh loud and long...!
- Well organized and well executed.
- Extend the evening my a couple hours to give more time for socializing.  Thanks for giving us the opportunity to go back in time.
- My name is Joe and I love long walks on the beach while listening to Christopher Cross.  I'm looking for a straight single girl that enjoys the same things I do.  (I'll never tell!)
- I think we should forgive and forget the gatecrashers and not make such a big deal about it. I personally paid the way for a couple from my class who otherwise would not have been able to attend. Most of us had some good times back in the day by entering through the back door and I think we shouldn't be so quick to judge. I feel that it was too much of a topic at the event and on this website and it takes away from the good times had by all. Why are we playing cops here? If anything, let's all pitch in $5 at the door for those who wish to attend but cannot afford it instead of judging or embarrassing them.
- I realize the party was bigger than you originally expected and we were lucky to get the second ballroom, but it did split things up... I kept wondering if the person I was looking for was in the other ballroom..now that you know this... A bigger room next time would be great! Overall, it was a great nite and since I didnt volunteer any of my time, I have absolutely no complaints! Thank you Ave and all the volunteers who helped make it such a terrific evening.
- As long as the crashers show up after the meal and do not present a problem with room capacity... I see no problem.
- It seems that a party crasher would not have a wrist band and if the Fire Marshal showed up, non-wristband wearers would have to leave first! That would be my solution. When it comes to parties, my motto is "the more the merrier!"
- Let people make changes as long as they are paid for in advance. And, if they can't attend, make sure they get a book sent to them right away, and not make them have to call for it. 

But seriously folks...

I've worked as an event planner for Boeing for the past three years and have experience in managing a lot of people and activities on a monthly basis.  I must say that the alumni that volunteered their time through seven (!) months of meetings (without a salary) did a TREMENDOUS job!  My event co-workers at Boeing couldn't have done it better.  Especially given the fact that every alumni volunteer that night sacrificed their socializing time to make our party happen.  There were so many surveys I received that had many wonderful things to say about our group and that reunion experience - and rightly so.  Again, an amazing group indeed!

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