Nancy Andersen (Madeira)

Let's get this party started!  I could "rock out" in Kansas (believe it or not!), but I want to party with my "old" friends!  Please, get on the phone right now and call at least 5 of your old Savanna friends and get them to register for the Beach Party.  I am haviing such a good time reconnecting with people I haven't talked to in 50 years!  We all have our stories to tell.  The Reunion Committee has be working so hard (and having fun at it) to make a very memorable and fun event.  So  -- "Let's get this party started!"

Steve Braden

After our meeting last Saturday at Kathleen's house, I wished that everyone could have been at our meeting. We are so fortunate to have such great classmates with a real passion. Someone once said, that events like this are held for those who don't show because they are the ones who could really benefit from such an event.  Don't miss out on this great 50 year reunion and share your story with old friends face-to-face. You will not regret it. Hope to see you register and attend. Now, as the old AT&T mantra once said, "Reach out and touch someone." Come along and catch and share the passion and "Keep Rebel Tradition Alive."

Michael Elliott

It's been an absolute pleasure to be working with the Reunion organizing committee to help plan our big September events and assist with our Savanna65.com website.  The website is loaded with great information and memories to bring back one of the truly formative times of our lives.  The classmates profiles are all fascinating and full of touching and humorous stories.  If you haven't registered at the website, I encourage you to do so as the experience is most remarkable and rewarding.  I've had the opportunity to visit with a number of the classmates I knew and admired back in our Savanna days and making new friends now that I missed knowing back in 1965.  There is loads of useful information about the main events:  The golf outing on September 25th and the Beach Party on September 26th as well as info on the event venues, lodging, and registration.  The Reunion is shaping up to be an experience not to be missed for the Class of 65 Rebels.  See you there!

Tom "Skip" Johnson

Nancy,

Nobody rocks out in Kansas...maybe in Power and Light...but in no other part of the state.  Brownback has cut the spending for "rock out" events.

Michael Elliott

Does this mean we're not in Kansas anymore?

Doug Bell

Hi Everybody!

We're hoping that many of you that have RV's will choose to stay at Newport Dunes for the reunion.  Bob has arranged a block of RV sites and cottages for us.  Being able to just walk "home" after the Beach Party will be great.  We will also have a Savanna '65 Hospitality site which will serve as Reunion Central for the weekend. 

For those of staying at Newport Dunes the party will start Thursday evening and run through Sunday morning.

Enjoy!!

Doug

Bobbie Bechtold (Ryan)

Nancy, 

Now that registration has started for Our 50th Year Reunion, will you explain how others can see who has already signed up?

Thanks,

Bobbie

Nancy Andersen (Madeira)

To see who has already registered for the Beach Party and the Golf Outing go to the "Class Member Profiles".  Look for the logo of a person (5th one down) and click on it and you will see who has registered.  You can also look for the logo of a person to the right of the classmates name in the Class Member Profile.  Hurry up and register.  We don't want to start the party without you!

Nancy Andersen (Madeira)

Bob MacKinnon posted  about the Hospitality Area -

We will have a pre-party Hospitality Area set up on Saturday in the 4100 section of the RV Resort. Class members are welcome to come early and park in the large lot outside the RV area, then walk along the beach to your left until you see our banner in front of the last group of cottages. The Beach Party event will be located in Pavilions C&D which are at the North section of the lagoon. See you there!

Steve Braden

High school was a long time ago and it was a period of years. Our reunion is a once-in-a-lifetime event and it is one, no one should intentionally miss. We only live our lives once and it is all about giving and relationships. I hope you will be there and connect with old friends and meet many new ones too. 

Michael Elliott

Doug Bell has announced that we have had our 200th registration to our class website.  That is a terrific milestone to have achieved thus far.  The more we get the word out and encourage other classmates to sign in, the more we can build on this.  Well done.

Mitch Wise

Hopefully, the efforts being made by our Reunion Committe will pay off in a huge turn out.  Looking back, I feel we all had a great time at Savanna and would think it would be great to have the time to catch up with old friends.  I know that I am looking forward to seeing all of you.  Promise not to wear the Beret or speak any French.  Maybe a few of the air cheek French Hello kiss things for a few of you.  Ha .

DeAnne Mosher

I would be interested in renting a cottage for the event.  How do I go about doing that?

Bob MacKinnon

Here is a message from Mitch Wise along with my answer.  I hope that might help those looking for hotel accomodations.

"First of all thanks for all your efforts and especially for you and Doug to get this ball rolling. I hope we have a great turnout. One quick question. I know Mike Leahy has made reservations at the Hyatt Regency NB for himself and me. I have seen a few other comments from some of the classmates on the site that they were thinking about that hotel. Do you feel you can get us some type of rate there as well? It is very close to the reunion site."

All of the current information on overnight accomodations is located at the bottom of the "Reunion Info" page.  Rooms are available at the Hyatt, but the hotel rooms are more than $230/night and they would not offer us much of a discount.  We are recommending the Ayres Hotel near OC Airport (half the price of Hyatt and 10 mins. from Newport Dunes).  They are hightly rated on Trip Advisor and our site visit confirmed that it will be a great location.  Since we have contracted with the Ayres for our Friday night "Mixer", it really is the place to be.  Therefore, it is the only hotel that we are recommending.  You can stay somewhere else, but the action will be at the Ayres.
 

Mitch Wise

Thanks for the help Bob. Will miss the Friday event in that we will be with our grandsons  will see everyone on Saturday  Mitch 

Doug Bell

Hi Everyone,

Registrations for the Beach Party are starting to pick up now, and I thought you might want to help the Reunion Committee with some of the program.

It occurs to me that somehow we could demonstrate our remaining school spirit.  My thought is that we should encourage Bobbie and Mitch to lead us in the "Savanna Spellout" or some equally impressive cheer.  I'm sure the choreography could be re-learned and mastered before September 26.

I know that this idea might meet with some resistance from the cheer squad, but massive peer pressure from classmates should change their minds.

If you agree with me, please join this forum with your encouragement.

I only hope we still remember how to spell Savanna.

Doug

Steve Braden

Great idea, Doug. I know with the talents of Bobbie and Mitch they could pull this off with no problem.

Go Rebels!!

Steve

Nancy Andersen (Madeira)

I think we need to hear from the Drill Team also!

Mitch Wise

Not a problem here Doug,  you just have to show up in the silky shorts you wore for basketball.  Steve try to get back into your football uniform   Just kidding both of you.  See you all in Sept.  Wish I could organize another hootnanny from Bordeaux.

Patt Dragoo (Smith)

Hubby and I have our reservation at the RV park.  Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Doug Bell

Hi Pat,  

Welcome to the neighborhood.  We will have a great time.

Doug

Bob MacKinnon

I've been contacted by one of our lady class members who would like to reserve a cottage at Newport Dunes, but she is single and is looking for a roommate.  Anyone interested please post a response and I will connect you.

Michael Elliott

Hey everybody!  It's time.  Time to register for the Reunion Beach Party in September.  We've waited 50 years for this but it's just around the corner on September 26th at beautiful Newport Dunes.  If you think you're having fun on this website, just wait until we're all together in person, listening to some great surf music and hanging out on the beach.  We need you there and want you there!

Gordon Reed

I have looked at the ads for the beach party and the golf outing. I am not a golfer so that is out for me right away. When I look at the beach party announcements I see an appeal to old groups of friends which means the old cliques to me. Since I was never a part of those old cliques, where would I ever find old aquaintances? My perspective on the planned reunion is that it is being set/organized  up for the old tight cliques, not for the general graduating class membership. Please tell me what I am missing. I had several one on one friends in the graduating class but my main friends at the time did not even attend the school so how would I connect with the few that were at Savannah? I really want this to work for me but it looks like it is organized to exclude me and folks like me. I know that is hard for folks who were in the main social network to undersatand but most of us graduates were not like you few.

Yes, I am an old fart taking a stand against the bias of the "sociual fireflies" of the graduating class.

Greg Cook

Gordon, it's been 50 years and I don't even remember if I was in a clique (of course my memory is so bad I could plan my own surprise party). I suspect it will end up being just like all other gatherings of  65+ people. We'll talk about our kids, grandkids, where to get your AARP discounts and our various medical afflictions. Of course we'll be drinking wine and listening to surf music, so it should be fun regardless.