It's Done but Not Over....

 26 July 2010 - After a year of planning, organizing and reaching out to reconnect with over 673 MHS 80 classmates, our thirty year class reunion weekend has drawn to a close. But the old friendships revisited and new bounds that have been formed are too valuable to once again let slip into obscurity. We encourage each and everyone of you to join us and stay connected as we proceed forth as a group with a common connection reaching back over 30 years plus. Please sign up for our newsletter using the form below to stay informed about news, upcoming events and activities concerning you and our class. For example, we are currently looking into a very affordable family and friends cruise package that may be available to us as early as July 2011!

Additionally we would are looking into scheduling affordable or free informal get-togethers on an  more regular basis: family picnics, river raft trips, bar-b-ques, boating, golfing, camping and a host of other activities that will help us maintain the bond that was strengthened by this reunion.

Our next goal as a group is to decide how often to hold formal reunions - every 10 years? Five? Two? We want your input to help decide.

Once you have subscribed to our class newsletter, you may update your contact information at any time. So come on Warriors! Come out and play!

The Class Reunion Website is in stage 2...

At the risk of tooting our own horn, I must disclose that a lot of time, work, effort and resources have already gone into thirty year reunion coming up this July. the reunion committee has met numerous times and individually they have all put forth a winning effort. We are all hoping for a big turnout.

Our class website at MHS80.com is up and everyday new 'Event and Activity' pages are being posted that enables everyone to select from a menu of activities and to pay in advance ensuring not only their reservations but that we (as a class) are able to pay for the venues and activities in full so that everyone is assured a memorable, fun and worthwhile reunion experience. Deposits and ongoing expenses have been paid out personal pockets and reimbursing those outlays will be possible as folks begin selecting and paying for their choices.

As always we invite, indeed, solicit your feedback and support.

Warriors! Come Out and Play!

New MHS Class of 80 Website

Our new website is nearing completion and you will soon be able to set up an account and make payments on the activities you chose to participate in during the reunion this year. Our next reunion planning / social hour is this Wednesday (Feb 3rd) 6:00PM at the studios of Viral Intermedia Production.

As usual - anyone and everyone is invited to attend. If you haven't attended one our meetings yet, now would be a good time to start. Most of the grunt work is done and we tend to emphasize the social aspect of the whole thing :)

See the new site at MHS80.COM

Minutes 8/3/2009 MHS Class of 1980

General:

• We still need more volunteers! Leads?
• Pay Pal account status: Dana
• Cheryl investigating classmates that have passed away

Friday (Casual gathering): Leads – Jennifer and Eddie

• Waterfront suggested by Eugene, free, decision?
• Event specificications

Saturday day (Multiple options): Lead – Todd

• Golf – Boise Ranch or Warm Springs – approx. $35
• Rafting – ¾ of a day excursion, $70 to $100. 3-hour $35 to $40

• Day Spa – Janice & Tricia to talk to Panache owner for a deal. (Discount + referral)
• Trap Shooting – Boise Gun Club - $20 to $30 per person.
• Tour-train - Tricia

Saturday night (Stueckle Sky Center): Leads – Diane and Janice

• 10% discount received with Steve’s patronage ($2,050-205 disc.+111+74 taxes = $2,030)
• 50% paid by Diane, contract sent to BSU last week
• Liquor permit owned by BSU, special permission bestowed by President Kustra
• Will need liability insurance
• Pilot Error – was anyone able to attend?
• Cheryl to check into souvenirs – pending.
• Eugene to check out a photographer and CD/DVD – pending.

Sunday (Settlers Park in Meridian): Leads – Tricia and Julie

• Updates from Tricia and Julie
• BYO option proposed by Brad to minimize costs

Next steps:

Next meeting: Monday 3 Aug 2009

6:00 p.m. 1121 N Cole Rd.

Minutes 13 July 2009 "We Need More People Showing Up!"

 Just a quick update to let everyone know that the Reunion Committee Meeting this past Monday here at my office on N. Cole was a success in many ways except one: we had less people show up than the first meeting.

In and of itself, that is not an indicator of how successful our reunion will be but I must admit, I am concerned. Although I was not a part of the 10 year (I was living in New York) and did not attend; I did go to the 20 and I will share with you that I thought it was fantastic. So much so that I have often felt a little curious as to who and how many people it took to pull off such a well planned event that served our classmates from all over the country so well.

Brad Campbell (our senior class president and head of the current reunion committee) shared with me a little after this last meeting that he was hesitant about being too involved this year. He felt that he and the others from previous committee's were relatively unsupported. The time, energy and responsibility that the former committees put in paid off well for those that attended but cut into their family lives, resources and busy schedules. Brad was not complaining; in fact he sharing that this endeavor felt unlike the previous years. I was excited that he thought this project seemed more inclusive than ever before with people willing to help us reach out and folks reaching back.

We do have busy lives but we also have nearly a year to pull off a spectacular and memorable event. The committee intends to have an event that we will both enjoy and that takes into consideration where we all might be at this stage of our lives. For instance, we expect that Family Day (Sunday) we might see more folks bringing their grandkids in addition to or perhaps instead of their adult kids.

Please get on board with your classmates and become a part of your reunion planning team. We want you and we need you.

A date has been selected! July 23rd - 25th, 2010 - mark it on your calenders now.

Click here to read the rest of meeting minutes.

Warriors! Come Out and Play!

Current Class List

Gathering together an updated and useful list of our class mates along with their contact information is a daunting challenge to say the least. Brad Campbell provided a list with 643 names. You will probably recall we were the largest graduating class in Idaho in 1980.

Today we have available free and easy to use technology to assist in our quest to reconnect with each and everyone of our classmates and to provide them with updates, information, and the opportunity to help with our reunion planning process and most importantly to attend our Thirty Year Reunion in person or at least in spirit. In spirit? Yes, as disappointing as it may be, some of us may not be able to attend the reunion for a number of reasons: other obligations, finances, distance, etc. If you think that you may not attend, we still invite you to connect with us and contribute to the planning, fund raising, and brainstorming. We are looking into creating a yearbook, multimedia slideshow DVD and perhaps even a 'livestream' over the internet for those of you who are just not able to make it for whatever reason.

Those of us who have already joined the planning committee are doing our level best to make this event the most memorable, inclusive and affordable reunion yet; to date we have had two: the ten year and the twenty year. I was surprised to find that a couple of people were not aware of one or the other. I am personally committing to getting the word out to every living classmate that attended Meridian High School as a member of our class (1980), graduate or not, whether they attended all three years or a day.

It's a challenge, to be sure; but many of you have offered to help and I am accepting your offer! We still need folks to join our planning committee in person, via e-mail or by phone. Additionally, we have a number of tools in place to support our reconnecting process:

1. If you are on facebook, please connect with me personally (eugeboy[at]gmail[dot]com) and I will invite you to our facebook page where you can read and contribute to the discussion regarding the reunion. If you are not currently on facebook, please consider starting a free account as it is probably the easiest way to communicate.

2. We have a blog website that you can subscribe to at www.mhs80.com (you may be reading this here already). Please subscribe to this page so that updates are automatically emailed to you. You can submit your thoughts by starting a new topic or click comment under any article to comment on the article topic.

3. I have started a Plaxo Group in order to allow anyone to update their own contact information. Plaxo is a free and useful tool that updates everyone when you change e-mail addresses, phone numbers or snail mail address. It is also useful to anyone wanting to backup their own contacts online regardless of what email client you use (ie: Outlook, Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.) Once you start your free Plaxo account at Meridian High School Class of 80, you will be sure to be included in our database.

4. Finally, please consider starting a free (or paid) account at classmates.com, reunion.com or any of a number of alumni related sites. Many of us may not be members but you can assist us by looking for others that are registered there and making them aware of the 2010 Reunion and this website.

Our next planning committee meeting is July 13th at my office here in Boise (1121 N. Cole Rd / 83704)
Please join us any way you can. If you need to speak to me personally (Eugene Boyle) you can call me at 208-779-0080. I would love to hear from you.


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