Wendy Rehm (Comar)

As of March 18th, 2019 we have not had anyone come forward to lead the 45th class reunion planning.   We are disappointed certainly but know all have busy lives.  So we have decided we won't be having a formal 45th reunion however if someone wants to plan an informal get together in Niles this summer at a local watering hole, let me know the details and I will post them.   Thanks all.  Keep on Truckin.  Wendy Rehm Comar

Rex Carpenter

Wendy has anyone gotten back with you to do this yet. I thought Geni was going to head this again & I said I would help. Is there any way to salvage this for this year yet? Or was it Karen who was going to start this ? If you can help I'll halp you get this going or do you think it's to late in the season ?

Rex Carpenter

To all of my classmates from the class of 1974, I want all to know if you want to have a reunion let me know as soon as you can. Please respond to me no later then 4/5/2019, & i'll do what is needed to get it going but I'll need all to respond & to let you know i can still set up something at the Elk's lodge if you all want to do this. I'll do all thats needed if I can just get a little help from at least 3 of you who are close or in town so we can do some quick planning . I can get food & entertainment (DJ) but I'll need some help to contact those who said they would come. I can either plan on a meal or just some finger food to keep the price down but I would need at least 50 people to give up there time & money before the time we plan on this event. If I can get the elks to maybe even serve dinner for all who come or cater something in. Finger foods would be less as I can get that part done from a local grociery store. Finger foods could possibly be like wings, chees, veggies, & other asst. finger foods , chips & drinks would be able to be bought at the Elks. If all will let me know I can get some prices for this all 3 ways but I will have to have money in time to pay once I have the prices all figured out. Music I already know the prices, but depending on what i can find out about the other options I can let all know. I don't want to wait for another 5 years & lose a bunch more of our class. I also want you to know I to thought the memorial last time was a bit much, even though we all miss those who have past & want to remember, i think a poster or posted list of those who have past & a short reading of those name would be enough as we are there to hapy happy times with those who are still here , but also to remember those who aren't. PLEASE,,,, contact me here or at rexs73gto@sbcglobal.net to let me know your in.  I believe that we can do this for somewhere between $ 35.00 & $ 40.00 or around that to have this still go on. Thats with a min. of 40 people showing up. More will help bring the price down & still give us a great time.  LET ME KNOW IF YOUR IN FOR THE FUN !!! 

                                                                                                        Thanks Rex Lee Carpenter.

Andy Hulce

Rex, I would like to come as long as the date works.  Thanks for your efforts.   Andy Hulce

Rex Carpenter

Andy , I'm goign to do some checking on places & prices for food this week & I think the best time for this because it's getting started so late will be in late August. After I get some prices I'll figure out how much it may cost & let all know about a date. Is there a date better for you in August. I can get some feed back for those who WILL come & then figure out an excat date.

Steve Myers

Rex - I plan on attending a 45th if we have one. Can't think of any dates in August that are better than others at this time.   Steve

Mike Southworth

Thanks, Rex, for being willing to put something together.  I really appreciated the opportunity to re-connect at our 40th and would plan on being there if something is put together for later this summer. 

Blessings,  Mike

Deborah Lunger

Hi Rex thanks for your efforts - I don’t know if I can make it - depending on the date- but I will certainly send $$ regardless.  since I’m in Chicago I can’t really help with the planning from afar - but if you can think of something please let me know - Debbie Lunger 

Lynn Bassler (Porter)

Hi Rex, I want to say thank you for your hard work on this.  I am still living in Terre Haute IN and do not make it back to Niles but about 1X per month.  Now that mom is gone it less frequent.  I'll support whatever you or the team can determine as a 45 year reunion, place, date etc.  I will eventually be moving back to Niles but I don't forsee that happening for several years.  Once back in Niles I can dedicate time to a possible 50 year reunion.

Thanks again, Lynn

Lynn Bassler (Porter)

Rex regarding dates it’s pot luck. I visit Niles during the main holidays Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving. So I would make your date fit because I don’t have any hard and fast rule coming to Niles. I hope to start remodeling the house so I may be up there more than I realize!!  Thanks for asking 

Melody Conrad

Hi Rex.  If I can help with the reunion in any way let me know.  I would be glad to help.

Rex Carpenter

AS I WAS TOLD EARLY ON NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO THE REQUEST TO COME TO THE REUNION & IF I DON'T GET SOME,,, A LOT SOON THERE WON'T BE A REUNION FOR US. IF YOU KNOW OF SOME WHO WILL COME & CAN CONTACT ME VERY SOON TO LET ME KNOW I LIKE THE OTHERS WHO TRIED , I WILL HAVE TO SAY STOP TO THIS YEAR. SO PLEASE LET ALL KNOW SOON THE LET ME KNOW IF THEY ARE WILLING TO COME OR NOT. THANKS FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO HELP. REX. P.S. RIGHT NOW I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 8 PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY WILL COME. 

Anne Rigby (Haley)

Hi, Rex.  Sorry I didn't realize that an additional "I will com and I will help in any way" was necessary.  Let me know what I can do.  -Anne

Karen McGregor (Bezemek)

Hello All, 

Really not sure why or how the emails I sent to survey responders who wished to help or, the request for a ‘pop up’ meeting during Ice Festval (both in January) escaped being seen but so it goes.

Now it’s good to have Rex taking the lead and seeing some replies to offer help. 

I’d like to suggest once again that given the short turnaround those who have again raised a hand get together ASAP and discuss a date and place for this summer where a Class of ‘74 45th Reunion “gathering” will be held for one night with simple food and drink with a minimal charge at the door. 

THEN advertise the heck out of it on the website coordinated with the FB page.

Wendy can be asked to do a full-on takeover of the home page as a HUGE marquee poster and also send notices out using the sites backroom tools. 

The website could also be how RSVPs are handled - but no payment taken of course. Just gives a head count of sincere interest. 

What we know from the survey Wendy did, a good 30+ were in favor of a 45th and they may be the very classmates who will effectively promote to others to come and RSVP. 

At the end of the day, or evening gathering this summer, the folks who come may be just who’s needed to take on the 50th Reunion! 

I know I’d come for a simple one evening ‘reunion’! 😊

Rex Carpenter

Karen , I'm trying to get as much response as possible but so far only a handful have responded to my inquireis so far. I need some help in getting in touch with those who wish to came, & as present we only hve enough money in the bank to cover a place & not any food of any kind. I have checked with a few places & so far the least as far as cost is the elks,, so far. More help is needed ,,, Please.

Rex Carpenter

I hope this goes out to all, I checked with the people who now have the old HI's rest. & they aren't open yet but will be very soon. I did talk to the owner & told him what we would want to do & I will be talking to him later next week as he has to talk with his other staff to see if we can do our reunion there with what we want. He said they are doing things a bit diferent as they have a bakery, & coffee bar & Ice cream bar upstairs now. Plus food throughout the rest. to. SO as in my last post we may be able to have our reunion there & then if anyone would want to have dinner there to they would be able to eat downstairs & we would have our finger foods upstairs along with a full service bar & rest. all night. He did sound enthuised about being able to let us do this but does need to work a few items out as they won't be open for a few weeks yet. If the price is right we can do this as a 1 night thing with a min. of cost to us. I think if the price comes in where I hope it will we can do this as posted before for about $ 15.00 single & $ 20.00 per couple. Now as before I need feedback from all who want to come & a date that would work for all. I would think just because of timming the last week in August would be good. Please let me hear form all who want to come & if this would work for you. Thanks Rex.

Melody Conrad

Regretably, not all our classmates check in on this site.  I'm sure there are those who would be interested that we haven't been in contact with. Maybe we could post something on the Niles associated and Niles Alumni Facebook pages and see who responds.  Please let me know how I can help.  My email is auntmel92@yahoo.com.  Thanks for all you're doing to make this happen.

Tom Houseman

Rex - As currently stated it looks like plans call for "late" in August - the last weekend. Are we talking Friday, August 23rd to Sunday, August 25th or the week after that  - August 30th to September 1st? (The later dates bleeds into "Labor Day" weekend so I don't know if that is an advantage or a disadvantage.) Thankfully the advantage is no home Notre Dame football games either of these weekends. That helps folks from out of town as lodging is much less expensive. Yes - I understand we are only looking at a Saturday evening "official" activity but if we're traveling from out of town I'm sure you can count on some other gatherings thruout the weekend.

Based on how many will hopefully be coming Margie (Vanderwater) and I will plan on coming. It is a little bit of a drive from Oklahoma but we haven't missed one yet so count us in. Also - it appears Margie and I have harassed Dan Tinkey enough that he may even be putting in an appearance - provided Lakeshore doesn not have a football game that evening - fingers crossed!

Also - thanks for spearheading this...it is appreciated.

Tom & Margie

Rex Carpenter

Tom & Melody I know thats a somewhat difficult weekend to try to do this but to I think this may be the best weekend to do it. I want to thank everyone in advance for all your replys & if your in contact with any of our other classmates please have them get in contact with me about this. If your reading the posts I've  made you'll see I'm trying to get a place that all will know & is a place we can have some fun & great talks about all the things that we've been up to & about the past to. I'll post more as soon as I know about the old HI's building as thats the best place I think as the Elks is a bit to much money for this time,,, I think. Thanks for the replys & I'll post again soon. Rex.

Don Nugent

Rex, I'm behind u 100%. I really need to know ASAP about a date. It seems that the summertime excursions for me get booked up earlier and earlier every year. My vote on the venue would be somewhere a good meal could be had. HI's sounds interesting. Keep us posted lil brother

Dan Gillis

the golden coral at douglas and main may be a good place to meet. inexpensive, can set aside a room, eat what you want.

many people do the fair in august in our state, other states may already be in school by labor day.

beginning of August, end of July may work as well as end of august

Dan Gillis

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Rex Carpenter

I'm glad I'm getting some feedback now & i can tell you I will be talking to the guy who has the old HI's rest. on fri. to see if it will work out there. I think,,, Hope that I can get any date I want at this point as thier not open yet so i should be the 1st one to ask for a date there. I'll post more as soon as I find out which should be this weekend. What i posted about that place was what I talked to the owner about & he souldned good about being able to have us there & get a bit of extra business to boot. Thanks Guys & send out the word to let all know so i can see how were going. I'll be in touch with Mike Peters this week to , so if you have ANY questions contact me as soon as you have a question & I'll get you an anwser as sson as I can. Thanks guys for the support. Your fellow classmate & friend Rex.

Steve Bender

What about Lehman's Winery/Bewery in Buchanan?  They have a special room fr groups

Don Nugent

Great suggestion Benny. You , no doubt , have been there ? Good food.....good beer.....good vino ? I think that someplace like that would be good just for the atmosphere alone. Not really too concerned about the admittance fee

Terri Bayles (Howells)

Steve, would you be willing to check into the cost for Lehman's? Sounds like a great spot (outside overlooking the river), though I don't think it's wise for anyone to front money for a deposit (hate to have someone get stuck).

My two cents: We should definitely consider Karen's suggestion though - pick a bar that has an outdoor patio, pick a date, and invite everyone. Nothing formal, no money up front (everyone pays for their own food and drink), we just get together and have a good time. For what it's worth, I've always thought the Friday night informal gatherings were a great time - and most were nothing more than making sure everyone knew where to meet. We could even let people in the other classes (72, 73, 75, 76) know about it and maybe a few of them would come in too. The more the merrier!

No matter what's decided, we need a date. Wendy, is it fairly easy for you to send a poll with August and early September Saturday dates (and Friday?). Or should we just get this group that's talking about it to weigh-in?