Hi All,

REUNION

Our 60th reunion was held on September 26-27. Friday had 34 attendees; Saturday had 37. We had the delightful opportunity to once again thank Jim and Marjie Pehta for the decades of leadership in coordinating class activities. We would not be able to keep having these events without the foundation Jim built. 

Many thanks also to the reunion committee, Kathy Wilson Nickelman, Karen Swetlik Reeves, Kathy Weaver Markley, Jack Hannold, Bob Kayser, John Reid, and Dick Lami for coordinating the events.

Eero Ravantti has provided a link to photos he took. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bRmfU7UvDjPJkvwA7

The link will also be on the class website (glenbardwest1965.com) If anyone who attended has photos they want to share, those can be added to the website. Just send them to me. (abrainerd@gmail.com)

One of the remarkable and satisfying outcomes of these events is not only the opportunity to reconnect with old friends but to occasionally make new friends. 

WEBSITE

1. Updating your contact information hasn’t been running smoothly. Sometimes classmates cannot update at all. Other times, a duplicate is created. To make it easier, please email me your change requests and I’ll update the information for you.
2. There was a new software version installed last spring. Several issues arose from the changes. If you notice anything strange on the website, please let me know and I’ll research it.
3. We’re reviewing photos to see if any old ones have been lost/hidden with the new version. It’s also an opportunity to send any photos you have to be added. Please include event, date, names of those in photo. The 75th birthday photos don’t seem to be on the site. I can add any that you send.
4. Memorials were displaying incorrectly. That has been fixed but if you see any other issues, please let me know. Also, please send any new (or old) memorial information even if you don’t have an obituary. I’ll try to find it online.
5. We are still looking for “lost classmates”. In the Classmates section, there are 4 options displayed. Those with emails have a Contact button which allows you to send an email to the person without sharing their email address. Those with some contact information but no valid email have no button or comments . Those who have passed away have See Memorials in the Comment line. The last group has Contact Information Not Available in their Comments line. We’ve located information for ~8 of those classmates but you’ll see there are many more still missing. If you have a moment to help, you can use Google, LinkedIn, professional associations, unions, etc. to try to find them. If you are in contact with classmates who don’t get class emails, please invite them to share their contact information with me. Especially email, as that’s the only way we can contact classmates. 

80th BIRTHDAY PARTY

Several people suggested we consider a birthday party event in 2027. We will set up a section on the website for discussion, ideas, suggestions re: the party. Anyone can volunteer. Don’t hold back. Even comments help the volunteer effort. No major commitment expected. So far there are these comments:

1. The date of the event need not be homecoming. Would  spring, summer, Labor Day weekend work? And the location need not be exactly in Glen Ellyn. Just relatively close. 
2. Was the no prepayment, less structured 60th reunion event better than more formal/expensive events of the past? What other type events/venues could be considered?
3. The 60th reunion venues were loud. Given that more and more people hear less and less well, a quieter place would help communication.
4. Can we set up occasional zoom calls or somesuch to discuss ideas and options? Anyone want to be the zoom coordinator?

I’ll add whatever else any of you suggest to this list. 

TREASURER

For those of you looking to pump up your résumé, here’s an opportunity to fill an executive position. In fact, the only executive position we have. 

Jack Hannold graciously collected donations at the reunion toward the $249 annual subscription fee. Those who could not attend are also welcome to donate toward covering this year and hopefully next year’s payment, which is due in June 2026. I’m hoping Jack will agree to be the focal point for donations by check. But if not, you can apply for the position with an email!

So, feel free to note website problems, find missing classmate information and make suggestions about 2027. In the meantime, party on!—Alice