Reunion Business & Fun Day
Today is THE busy day with the reunion group. We were up early to get our "free" breakfast eaten before the business meeting at 9 AM. I always look forward to the business meeting because that's when they conduct the raffle and decide where the next reunion will be held.
The business meeting always starts with the treasurers' report. We're doing well. Most of the money raised goes toward the next year's reunion for the various suites we need for hospitality, business meeting, and banquet; the entertainment during the banquet; and "freebies" that attendees receive, such as a canvas bag with imprinting about the current reunion, badges, patches; and the printing and distributing of the newsletter and historian's expenses.
During the raffle, we took quite a razzing because Dave and I won 6 items. But, we assured the masses, "You have to spend money to make money." We had 50 tickets between the two of us. But, what makes matters worse is that we did this last year as well. We did get some nice things such as a digital barometer, a USS Princeton clock, and a 2.5 lb block of Wisconsin cheese (this cheese will, of course, go nicely with that Cherry Wine I bought!).
The next business is to elect officers for the next two years. We have a great board, and most ran for re-election. All that ran were unopposed, so this moved the meeting right along.
Next new business decision was to decide that we are holding the next reunion in Branson, MO, in 2010. Dave and I had decided to go to Branson on our way back to Georgia at the end of our trip, now we'll by-pass that stop and wait until 2010 to do it up big.
Because of the rainstorms coming in during the afternoon (yup, still more rain is a comin'), the chaplain decided that he'd conduct the memorial service (which is done at every reunion) at the end of the business meeting rather than waiting for 2 PM as scheduled. At the end of the memorial service, the memorial wreath is always ceremonially thrown into the sea. When the sea is not available, the group finds some source of water--at this reunion, they chose to use the hotel's pond. This year's service was especially difficult for Dave because of the loss of his friend, Jim Erikson, whom Dave was able to reunite with in January (a couple of months before Jim's passing).
After the chaplain's service, and just as we were all heading to the pond, the skies opened up. But many brave men and women stayed for the throwing of the wreath. It was touching.
In this picture, you can see all the raindrops on the pond water.
After the ceremony, I walked back to the room in the rain, as Dave walked to the car in the rain to drive it back to the room. The ceremony was about half-way to either destination.
After drying off, we took a little nap to the pitter-patter of the rain.
Later we dressed up to get our pictures taken and to go to the banquet. Each year, all attendees are asked to pose for individual (or couple) pictures, which we can purchase if we choose to do so. All individual pictures and many of the candid shots taken throughout the reunion are put into a memory book, which attendees can purchase. It's great to have the book to remember the festivities of each reunion.
We arrived for our pictures at 3 PM because in previous years, we had to wait in line for about 30-40 minutes for our pictures to be taken. The banquet started at 5 PM and both the picture taking location and the banquet were close to the casino (at the other end of the hotel from our room). Naturally, there was no line, and we were done by 3:20. We decided not to hike back to the room, but to hang out in the chairs near the casino and people-watch. Then we decided to wonder into the casino and spend the $10 the casino gave us to spend gambling. We did good, again. We walked out with $2.25 of the casino's money. And, we even got a free Diet Coke. So, hey, we left with funds in our pockets, and smiles on our faces, again. Geez, what big gamblers we are!!
The banquet was sit-down service and not a buffet. Dave and I had Prime Rib, which was very tasty. We had delightful tablemates and Dave had a great time with two of the men who had great senses of humor.
The reunion group hired a DJ and after dinner there was much dancing and celebrating. Dave and I managed to hobble to the dance floor for one dance. In addition, the group dragged Dave off for a Conga line, which he was glad was short lived.
This picture is of some of the wild and crazy attendees doing the hokey-pokey!
We had a great time in Green Bay, with great guys and their gals, and as sad as it is to see the reunion come to an end, we also look forward to seeing everyone again in two years.
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