Cyndi from Varsity Reunions

[edreamleo]

Just had a very pleasant and informative phone chat with Cyndi from Varsity Reunions (VR). They are base in St. Louis and do a lot of reunions in the Chicago area. Cyndi's phone and email: 314-647-6565 cyndi@varsityreunions.com

Here are some notes from that conversation:

Our committee will make all the decisions, such as when, where and ticket price. They are willing to advise us and steer us clear of dubious choices.

VR will do at least the following for us:

• Provide up-front money.
• Track classmates and create class list (including deceased)& find class mates.
• Send out cards.
• Manage the event: collect money & pay money.
• Handle all aspects of the actual event: sign in booth, make name tags with graduation pictures on them, coordination with event staff, etc.
• Handle financial liability.
• Have a local photographer take the class picture at no charge. The photographer makes money selling the picture to attendees.

More details:

• The committee will sign an agreement with VR. It covers, among many other things, the refund policy in case the event must be cancelled due to lack of participation.
• Hotels or other standard venues typically carry liability insurance. There is no need for us to buy more.
• VR fees are part of ticket price, approximately $15 per ticket. Several extra costs may be added into this ticket price.
  • Alumni Directory (memory book): About $9 per ticket.
  • DJ: $600.
  • Friday night food.
  • Anything else: photos, decorations.
  • Food for the main event is always included in the ticket price.
• Our committee is responsible for things like displays, memorabilia, memorials to departed classmates, etc.

[dynamicmeryl]

I see great value in having VR handle the class lists (take that ominous, thankless task off of Robert's plate! as well as handling the money issues and sending out invitations. Sounds like a very good idea to me. Other thoughts on this?

[edreamleo]

I have verbally given Cyndi the go ahead. She will send me something to sign in the next day or so. I'll post what she sends here, so we can review it. If there are no objections I'll sign it.