OHS Reunion Meeting Minutes
Benoit Community Center
September 17, 2009—6:30 p.m.
Presiding: Jan Kupczyk and Terry Torkko
Steering Committee in Attendance: Paul Beeksma, Nikki Gregoire, Linda Lindahl, Nancy Pagac, Mary Piff, and Bill Radosevich
Excused: Ann Green
Others in Attendance:, Caroline Green, Jeff Johnson, David Lulich, Robyn Lulich, Dee Nemec, Fran Snippen, Myra Snippen, and Nancy Walker.
Minutes of the May 30, 2009, minutes were reviewed. Nancy Raspotnik Walker’s name was omitted. Correction was made. Myra made a motion to accept; Fran seconded.
Treasurer’s report was given by Terry for Ann. We have $488.58 in bank. Nancy Walker made a motion to accept; Caroline seconded.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Cookbook: Fran Snippen (committee chairperson) stated we have approximately 200 recipes. She is still accepting recipes.
The cookbook cover will be designed by Mary Ann Bichanich Aina.
The 1st week of November is the target date to start accepting orders if we want them in December. It takes six to seven weeks to place main order.
It was decided the cost of the cookbooks would be $10 (plus shipping and. handling), if purchased through website). We hope to have a source in Ashland for purchase as well.
History Book: Jan (committee liaison) gave the report for Ed Augustine (chairperson). Ed has reported to have reviewed all OHS yearbooks and compared it to the 1990 book to eliminate errors
The book will be similar to 1990 yearbook in size, with senior photos of all classes, action photos with captions, and lists of timelines of events and historic information.
Taylor Publishing will need 50% of payment in 2010. ($4,500)
The deadlines: June 15 to print. July 15 to be delivered.
Question if there could be an electronic copy made. Will ask Taylor Publishing.
Our Website will link to Taylor for purchasing History books. Question was brought up if Taylor could ship out and only after the August 8 date. Jan will look into this.
The history book committee reported that each committee member will download Photoshop at a cost of $60 each to develop pages. That amount will be added to our cost.
It was decided the cost of the History Book would be $35 (plus shipping and handling, if purchased through website).
Nuts & Bolts: Paul (committee liaison) gave report.
They will be soliciting volunteers for the event. They will need approximately 100 individuals to help up front before the event. Terry questioned security and the need to assure we won’t have any problems occur during the event.
BART busing is still a possibility.
Tent would remain set up Saturday at the Benoit school to enable other classes to use this a meeting space on Saturday if desired. The tent will taken down on Sunday.
We will need to have a tent also available at the Avalon as well for the outside band.
Decoration/Hospitality: Linda gave the report. She passed out minutes from the 9/16/09. They have some great ideas from members who attended their meeting.
Shirley Gerbozy Trautt is making flags for the event. Approximate cost will be $100.
Some ideas for the event are: A memory wall for deceased classmates, a Teacher “Guess-Who” board, and colored banner areas signifying the different class years so attendees will know how to find fellow classmates.
Paul Beeksma volunteered the Nuts and Bolts committee to help set up.
Registration: Caroline reported.
Committee helped with the undeliverable postcards that were sent out in July. They were able to find addresses for many.
The committee is looking into the prices of tote bags and souvenirs to put in them.
They decided to use the paper sticky nametags. .
There was a discussion on when to send out the pre-registration forms. It was decided after Christmas would be best. Attendee could get an “early bird discount” if returned by a certain date.
Soon prices will need to be determined for the different events.
We received a number of responses but they are not done tabulating due to a computer glitch. Ann will keep us informed. 1,200 people is a possible number to work from .
Souvenirs/Theme//Auction: Nancy Walker and Myra (committee co-chair people) gave report.
Committee is checking with businesses for the costs of souvenirs.
There was discussion on t-shirts. Nancy showed a nice design that David Hnath made of the Mason school. David has volunteered to design one for the reunion. The inclusion of “The Bull” in the emblem was brought up. Many thought there should be more than one design for the t-shirts.
The Auction discussed. David and Robyn Lulich were in attendance. They have agreed to handle the auction. The auction is planned for Friday evening in the tent at Benoit School . Hopefully past students will show their talents and donate items such as “Aggie” items, or handcrafted items. Nancy gave a list of ideas such has painted milk cans, sewn quilts or old Aggie uniforms.
Corporate sponsors were discussed.
It is important that to keep in mind that the proceeds will go to benefit Benoit Community Center.
Legal: Bill gave report.
The event has been filed under an Unincorporated Association. We will not need to charge a sales tax (up to a certain amount).
Website: Jan reported.
Pam Hawk, the Web site coordinator has been in constant communication with Jan, Terry and those persons needing to post items on the site.
Pam asked about a Favorite Teacher contest on the website, and all felt it was a good idea.
The selling/purchasing of cookbooks and history books will be over the website as well as local paper order blanks.
Food: Mary Bailen Piff (committee chair and liaison) gave the report.
Sharon Margetta Chilakas has agreed to handle the Friday evening event at Benoit for picnic food. Guests will have two choices—either the fish boil or picnic style with brats and such. Committee has contacted Diane Kacvinsky Martins, who works with the Cornucopia Fish Boil, for prices per plate. Sharon will also coordinate the Saturday night event at the Civic Center.
The Huff Store will open Saturday at noon at the Civic Center. Yvonne Hill has volunteered to organize that.
Robyn said she has access to some food distributors.
Contacts: Nancy Pagac gave the report.
She gave statistics of 2,600 living classmates. She has sent 700 emails and 1200 postcards informing people of the event.
Fundraising: Terry gave the report.
Carol Kluge Demars , Bonnie Pennanen Leakey and Pete Viater have agreed to help with the fundraising. They have put together a list of potential donors. The committee will be contacting people this month.
4TH OF JULY PARADE:
OHS reunion had a float in this year’s 4th of July parade. Lulich Implement provided the tractor and wagon. The participants had a nice time with this and it was a good promotion for the event.
We will plan to have one in next year’s parade again.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Terry reported on the core parts of events:
Friday afternoon:
2:00-9:00 Museum open
4:00-8:00 Food served
9:00-1:00 Music in the tent at the Avalon (Clay Toman Band and Bob Sell Band)
Saturday:
Noon-? Huff’s Store opened
4:00-8:00 Food served
8:00-9:00 Program
9:00-12:00 Easy Listening Music
IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS
Communication during the event was brought up. It was decided cell phones would be the best mode. We should have an information table or an office central location.
Terry suggested we look into “A Piece of Ondossagon”—possibly a piece of the flooring. The possibility of making key chains out of the wood was suggested. Terry felt this might not happen, but would check into it.
We were informed that there are old textbooks still in the school and would anyone like them. The class of 1990 showed some interest. Terry will look into this for them.
In a conversation with an employee of the Great Lakes Visitor Center, Terry learned we could possibly get some postcards made up. The minimum order would be 4,000. Group felt there would be businesses in the area who would be willing to sell them. There is a business that would be willing to share the order. It was decided we should consider this.
The program for the event and needing a MC was presented. A suggestion of asking Julie Moravchik (local TV personality and current news Director for Fox 21 in Duluth and graduate of OHS) to serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. The committee felt she would be a good choice. Mike Frame would do a video of the event. Along with filming the reunion, it may be good to include interviews on it. Committee agreed to go ahead with this.
Nicky brought up the possibility of day care during the event. She will follow up on this.
Meeting was adjourned.
