Steve Bender

I will check on Lehman's, but it will be a bit spendy, if available.  I totally agree we meet at a cozy bar area and everyone pony up their own bill

Rex Carpenter

Steve , if it's a high cost place that will turn a lot of people off, I'm still waiting for a reply from the owner of the old HI's rest. I will be talking to him on Wed. this week & he said he will have prices & an anwser for me about being able to have our reunion there. Hope your Easter was good. Rex.

Steve Bender

The class of 74 has always been all about "fellowship".  We were not a class of cliques, but a class that loved to hang out with each other.  Hard to believe, but this is our 45th reunion baby!  It is disappointing that venues and costs seem to be a determining and detrimental factor.  Heck, we could have fun in a cornfield, a hill or even a pond (which we have many times in the past).  The bottom line is that so many of us just want to see each other again.  With so many conflicts dealing with aging parents, children, grand childen and even great-great grandchildren, planing ahead with a designated date is the key.  Everyone has a lot on their plates!

As we head into the summer without a date or a place, maybe we just designate Labor Day weekend and then just throw out places to rendevous and pay for our own drinks/food?  Let's reconnect our RELATIONSHIPS.

It is so evident now that Tom Bonner was the glue that kept us together for so many years.  So, as I am writing this I am thinking "What would Tom Bonner do?"  He would say, "Let's get a keg of beer, set it down anywhere, annd have a great time!" Places and Prices do not matter - PEOPLE matter.

Anne Rigby (Haley)

Good thoughts, Steve. I agree completely.  Lets choose a date and come @## or high water, we'll be there.  We all will do our best!

Andy Hulce

Hi guys,

I’m with you and planning on attending.  Just waiting for confirmation of date.

Andy & Laura Hulce

Rex Carpenter

Andy , & all the rest the date is going to be the 3rd Sat. of Aug. & we will be at the old HI's rest. here in Niles. I just got some of the info from the owner & will have all the info I need on Thur. I will post this to the class site & start to contact all & see who is going to show. The cost ,, I'll post on Fir or Sat so all will knw how much. When I give everyone the price you'll have 2 different places to send it. You'll either be able to send it directly to me or to Mike Peters. I hope to see everyone there & now is the time for a real head count. Let me know, & if you can & are in contact with some of our classmates let them know to vist this site for info.  Thanks, & I didn't forget about it , just been busy trying to get all the ducks in a row. P.S. All those who wish to help contact me either by Phone at 269-684-3085 , my home phone or my cell at 269-362-7715. As always you can reach me here to.  Thanks Again Rex.

Terri Bayles (Howells)

Hi all,

Steve, I agree completly! Thanks for the great reminders about why we want to do this in the first place!

Rex, I appreciate your efforts, but for what it's worth, I'm in favor of Steve's idea - which was suggested originally by Karen - and just seems to make the most sense. 

So, before Rex gets too far into this (specifically with deposits and such), can we try to find out from folks who have expressed an interest in coming out if they prefer a 'formal' retreat (for which we currently have no committee or money) or a casual gathering or gatherings over Labor Day weekend - or in August - as Steve suggested, where people pay their own way.

For those paying attention to this discussion - could you please let us know what you'd like to do?

THANKS!

Terri

Jerry Ernsperger

I think since Rex and others have already done alot of leg work for this reunion that keeping it scheduled for the 3 week of august is a good idea. Also labor day weekend is the last major holiday of the summer. People will have other plans for that weekend not to mention the traffic will be terrible for trveling labor day week end.

Randy Toler

Great thoughts Steve!  It would be great to catch up with everyone. 

Rex Carpenter

The reason were going with the current plan is in the post from Jerry E. the Labor day weedend is when most spend the last part of the summer with family & friends & the place I'm getting is not very expensive but will have the room for all who show up. Plus the cost of it will be FAR less then a formal affair at an expensive rest. in a town thats not our own. Steve I think you were try to step on any of our toes in any way. It's been a hard deal to try to put this together & any help suggestions are always a help. I have found that the place we've chosen is a very cost friendly place & will have a good menu for those who will want to eat before during or after they have come upstairs to enjoy our reunion. Also Terri if we don't use the little bit of money for this reunion there may not be enough of us around to even enjoy it at our 50th. Granted we don't have a lot of money to use but what we have should be enjoyed by all who can show up this time. If you try to plan something thats to fancy your going to exclude a lot who may not have or don't want to spend that much just to say Hello to our fellow classmates. Granted some of us have made a good living , but there are those who haven't & it's not right to exculed them because they can't afford to come to a place that my be cost more then they can afford. For this reason I/we have decided to go with the plan at hand. I/we want to make sure those who want to come can. I'll post more info on Fri. for those who are reading this & are interested in coming. Thanks Rex.

Rex Carpenter

Ok here it is. The date is Aug. 24th & will be from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm at the Rage, which is the old HI's rest on front St. here in Niles. They will be open for dinner & we will have the upstairs in the north part of it but will also be able to mingle throughout the entire upstairs. The upstairs has a ice cream bar with Yougert & other refreshments. They have a complete bar for anyone who wishs to have that before , after , or during adult drink. LOL. There will be munchies to nibble on , ( wings, meat balls, aveggie trays with dips for all to eat in between all the catching up with all our long lost friends. Dinner can be had downstairs at a reasonalbe price. The avg. is between $ 10.00 & $ 12.00, so no one will go broke. All the soft drinks will be FREE while were there. Make sure you thank the owner ( Steve ) for that. 

Now for the other part. The cost this year is going to be very resasonable. Cost is $ 15.00 single & $ 20.00 for a couple. The cost will cover some of the munchies & the rest will go back into the bank for our 50th class reunion. Hopefully we can have a real blow out for that one, but this year is just to get as many back to catch up & have a great time doing that. 

You can send you money to either me Rex Lee Carpenter , 423 N. 14th St. Niles MI. 49120 or to 

Mike Peters at the flower shop at  East Main Gardens Care  of Mike Peters fro the class reunion at 1521 East Main St. Niles MI. 49120.  Please send your money in as soon as you can so we can get a true headf count as we need to know about how mant to count on. Also make your checks out to the Class of 1974 that way they will get to the bank correctly. If you have any questions you can reach me here or at rexs73gto@sbcglobal.net. Thanks & I hope to see everyone at the reunion on August 24th 2019 Saturday Night from 5:00 om to 10:00 pm. 

Karen McGregor (Bezemek)

Excellent Rex! I'll send in my check ASAP -- have the date of Aug 24th on my calendar and look forward to seeing lots of folks from Class of '74! 

Morgan Reed

Rex Carpenter

Morgan , when I was in the Navy & stationed in Norfolk VA. I could get home in about 9-10 hours depending on traffic that day. I would come home on the weekends to be able to spend time with my mom & dad, I would come down the toll raod to get home as that was for me the most direct route. 

Deborah Lunger

Thanks Rex for your work on this - that weekend is the only time I am free in August 

Thanks for that 😉

I’ll send my check in for two ASAP 

Rex Carpenter

Thanks Deb , this is the only weekend that seems to work for most, as most want to be home or at familys house for that holiday. It's not going to be real fancy it's just a get together so we can have a bite to eat & mingle with old friends. We will have whats posted on the forum for munchies & dinner can be had at the new rest. that was once HI's. I'm going to ask the owner to for a small discount for us so that will help us & give him some extar business that he may not have gotten. See you both soon Rex.

Anne Rigby (Haley)

Check's in the mail!  Looking forward to seeing all.  Thank you for your work setting this up.

Tom Houseman

All - Check is in the mail - so count Margie and I in. Thanks, Rex!

Wendy Rehm (Comar)

Hi everyone--I emailed the class with details of the class reunion and also posted same to the homepage here for your future reference.  Let Rex Carpenter know if you have questions.  

Steve Bender

If anyone is on the fence about attending the 45th and says, "I will wait until the Big 50", I think you should re-examine your thoughts.  Any time we have a designated class reunion is an opportunity to stay connected.  There are no guarantees in life, and we need to enjoy every day we have on this earth. We have lost too many classmates in recent years.  A class reunion should never be taken for granted.  Go Vikings!

Kit Bagley (Locke)

Happy Birthday Lynn🎈

Rex Dillman

stopped  w  ww2 jeep at  east main gardens  he was out left message i will bring $ there....  told whitehead the other day  to send $ if he can come .... hope he gets here this time have  told him every yr to get here.... 

Rex Carpenter

With a sad heart I have to let all knw that I can not continue to make plans for the reunion which would have been on Aug. 24th Sat. 2019. I have a surgery that will make it unable for me to contiune with this. I hope it is early enough to let all who made plans to come here to change their plans if needed. If someone can take over for me I'll wait for a response for 1 week from today to hear if someone is willing to take over , but I won't be able to go on . I hope this is not to big of a problem for all but with the upcoming surgery I won't be able to as it will be on my mouth & I won't be able to talk for awhile. I will send al the monies I received back to those who sent it in in 1 week if I don't hear if someone else will be able to take over for me. I only received 7 responses , so I don't hink this is going to be to big of a problem having it cancelled. I'm sorry this has happened . but because of the resons it can't be helped. I'm sorry & hope that if I'm able I'll try to help with the 50th if we have one. Thanks Rex Lee Carpenter.

Kit Bagley (Locke)

Rex, I’m sorry to hear you are having health issues. I was not able to come on the 24th, but I was following the conversations and you were the only one stepping up to try to make the 45th happen. Mainly, get well and feel good. That’s all you should have to be concerned about right now. 🙏🙏🙏 for you! Thanks for all the effort you put in so far. 

Rex Carpenter

Thanks , I just hope this doesn't hurt anyones plans for this , & I thanks you for the well wishes.