A Great Time Was Had By All

Will Hepburn Giving Thanks

The 2012 reunion of the mid-60s classes of Morgan Park High is in the books and by all accounts was a great success.  An old saying says “many hands makes for light work” and there were many people involved that all helped make this reunion the great event it was.  If you count the names you will run out of fingers and toes, I promise. 

Friday night’s mixer at Lexington House saw 164 classmates gather for drinks and appetizers.  The memorabilia contest was a huge success as we all pored over approximately 100 items ranging from Joanne Capek’s (’67) girls gym suit (ironed, even) to Stephen Westerholm’s (’65) display of ROTC memorabilia, Gary Klimke’s (’64) MP blanket honoring Mr Cunnea, plus photos, dance bid books, letter sweaters, 331/3 LP recording of the a capella choir under Mr Hurst the tables were loaded with memories, a Delta paddle and more. A special shout-out to Cherie Mulder who couldn’t attend, but sent memorabilia anyway. 

Jean Storms Sommers had the room and tables decorated and the whole evening ran smoothly.  Photos of the classic juke box and balloon marquis are on the website and facebook pages.  Great job, Jean!

Saturday’s banquet, thanks to the great effort of Jan Miller, was also a huge success.  The food was great and the two videos Jancreated of vignettes of our school years brought back a flood or memories.  Thanks Jan for all the hours that went intothat.

The raffle, organized by Sue Engle Budash and run by Bill Kamenjarin, was a huge financial success which also kept everyone mixing all night long.  There were exceptional items were donated by: Chuck Thompson, Mary Tiegreen (’69), Chris Rosell Brobst, Gaye Schulhof Marcus, Sharon Shephardson Avny, Taffy Cannon, Patt MacDonald Christie, Susan EngleBudash, and Gary Klimke (’64).  The raffle netted $605 which went into paying for extras like the juke box, balloon marquis, video and table decorations.

Judy Halligan Willingham MVP received the 2012 “Most Valuable Classmate” award and was awarded a new laptop computer, paid for by a collection taken up among the reunion committee.  Judy received a huge volume of data from last year’s phone calling effort and went to work updating our database of classmates.  She researched and selected the wonderful Tinley Park Convention Center as our new Saturday night venue.  She researched and beta tested websites, maintained the database all year and generated email, snail mail and calllists, and acted as Treasurer, taking ticket money and creating attendance andname tag lists for use in registration.  She was personally answering emails and taking calls on behalf of the reunion, and attempting to track down missing classmates right up to the reunion itself.  There was little that Judy did not have a hand in, and without Judy’s efforts we might not have had a reunion this year.  Thank you Judy on behalf ofeveryone.

Other reunion volunteers include:

Craig Hullinger, Communications Chair who set up the webpage, got us the Internet address MorganParkHigh.com, created blogs, got us onFacebook, Pinterest and actually sent out the emails you all were inundatedwith.

Carol Post Raines rode herd on Registration, chairing both Fridayand Saturday events and keeping track of the largest group of volunteers wehad, including Chris Leo, Friday Registration Manager, Carol Hager Zalga, Saturday Registration Manager and registration helpers, Lois Jacob, Chris Roselle Brobst, Shirley Husarik Paul, Marlene Tomasek Grabe, MarleneWalko, Jane Jezuit Grable, Mary Agnes Clancy Spengler, Gaye Shulhof Marcus, Gail McGary Murchison, Sandy Schuessler Wright, Marge and RonMcComb, and Mary Caroline Baker Hunt.

Last year, Sue Engle Budash, got together a group of phonecallers who worked to update our 5 database, our first big task.  That group included Karen Holck Ketterman, ChrisLeo, Sandy Schuessler Wright and Carol Youngquist Macola who each put in loooong hours on the phone.

Thanks to Carol Youngquist Macola for manning the neighborhood table on behalf of the Beverly Ridge Historical Society and the providing the area attractions list.

Although without an official title, Taffy Cannon provided great guidance and advice along the way.

There were lots of photos and individual comments posted on the morganparkhigh.com website and on the MorganPark High School Alumni '65-'67 Facebook page. If you have comments or photos please post them.  If you need help, contact morganparkhigh@gmail.com

Financially it looks like we have paid all of our bills and will be able to leave a slightly larger nest eggthan we began with for the next reunion.

We plan to send a questionnaire out to gather your reaction to this reunion and suggestions forthe next one(s).  If you would like to volunteer to be on the next reunion committee you will be able to indicate that on the questionnaire.

Like I said, it was a great party.  Thanks to all who came and all who helped.  We couldn’t have done it with out you.

Best regards,

Will Hepburn
Reunion Chairman