MadWest1958.org Online

Message Board

50th Reunion
Message Board

2nd Planning Committee meeting report

10/18/07 01:55 PM
The second Reunion Planning Committee was hosted again by Bill Lautz, on Tuesday, October 16th. It was definitely a productive session.
Several decisions involving core activities were reached. Probably the most significant is that the Saturday evening dinner/banquet will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club instead of previously announced Monona Terrace Convention Center. Here is a summary of planned events so far:
Friday night, July 11 - - - Social gathering at Marsh Shapiro’s Nitty Gritty on the corner of Johnson and Francis Streets at 7:00 to include a cash bar, and snacks furnished by the Committee.
Saturday night, July 12 - - - Banquet at Blackhawk Country Club in Shorewood Hills at 6:30
Sunday afternoon, July 13 - - - Traditional Pig Roast at Westmoreland Park from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Family and teachers are to be invited.
A Newsletter should be out by December 1st regarding hotel accommodations, costs, and Saturday activities.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 27th.
Forum visitors are welcome to post their comments or suggestions.

Planning Committee holds 1st meeting

09/13/07 02:20 PM
The 50th Reunion Planning Committee met for the 1st time on Tuesday, September 11th at the home of Bill Lautz. Bill reports that a lot of great ideas were discussed, and many on the committee left the meeting with assignments to make calls, and do research to bring back to the next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 16th.
I have asked the members of the committee to feel free to post any additional comments to this message about the planning process, and progress.
Stay tuned!

Site for Saturday Night Event selected

09/07/07 02:27 PM
is the country club that is set for saturday night--the same one where we had to sit in TWO different rooms--
 
if so--don't you think that some place that could accommodate us in ONE room would be better.
 

Include a Randall School reunion ???

09/07/07 02:26 PM
just to let you know--not every one went to randall--many of us went to Dungeon grade school.

Reunion Directory Suggestion

08/05/07 02:31 PM
I received this msg from Maria (Messina) Ritacca today:
"Your Name: Maria Messina Ritacca
Your Email:xxxxxxxx.net
Subject: 50th Reunion activity suggestion
Message: I hope that our directory has a photo of us showing how we looked then (1958) and how we look now (2008).
Marsha Clinard and I were puzzled the entire evening of our 45th reunion wondering who was sitting with us. We were too embarrassed to ask.
I finally figured it out after looking at my yearbook and trying to piece it all together when I got home."
ChuckR

Site for Saturday Night Event selected

07/31/07 02:38 PM
I spoke to John Lorimer today, and he said that the only news about our 50th Reunion that he has is that the Saturday Night event will be held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center overlooking Lake Monona. The reservation has been made and the deposit has been paid.
No other Reunion details are available yet.

Activity Suggestions

07/29/07 02:42 PM
(This message was originally posted on our old message board on 03-01-07)
12/05/05 20:43 | (name removed) Chuck
I am thinking that, as we near our fiftieth (letters are somewhat more comforting than numbers) year since graduation, we should focus on a class gift to mark the meaning West High has in our collective past and present. So I shall throw out the first idea: I'd like to see our class (maybe with the help of other classes if need be) rid the campus of the old, crumbly concrete tennis courts and plan a garden of perennials with scattered benches so that from the street the area isn't the same as it was in "our day". I imagine that this garden would be not reachable from the Regent Street side and the benches would be of steel. ( I could probably get us a price on benches from a Madison manufacturer.) Would it be too much to envision a corps of the geriatric Regents planting as a part of the upcoming festivities?
That's my idea; let's hear some others. (name removed)
=========
(This message was originally posted on our old message board on 03-04-07)
Chuck, I think that's a great idea! I pass the old crumbling tennis courts almost daily and it leaves a hollow feeling in my stomach to see their deterioration. I remember lots of fun times playing on those courts, but today they are destroyed and useless. Since we have a whole new bank of courts across the street, I would love to see a renewable, growing tribute to our days at West High on those old courts. A garden would be perfect and I would gladly help in its construction.
Nancy (Grosshandler) Rane
=====
(This message was originally posted on our old message board on 04-11-07)
Chuck, I also think that contributing to the upgrading of the old tennis courts is a great idea. I don't get back to Madison often, but i sure do remember playing tennis on the old courts.......would love to know that a 'renewable, growing' pocket park, with a bench or two, could be built there as a memorial to our 'class of '58'.
Mary Anderson Bourne 

Include a Randall School reunion ???

07/29/07 02:40 PM
(This message was originally posted on our old message board on 05-31-07)
I received this message was received by Sharon (Gerson) Glass:
" Message: Can we please have a Randall School reunion as part of the 50th next summer? I would love to go inside, visit the playground, share memories."

Booklet suggestions

05/31/07 07:02 PM
I received this message from Sharon (Gerson) Glass that I would like to share:
"Message: Chuck, Bob\'s class, 1957, has distributed a wonderful booklet to each classmate with the history of West, the world at the time of our birth, entry into school, graduation, and bits of interesting trivia. I would like to suggest that those working on our 50th think about such a publication. I would be happy to help.............Sharon"

It's never to early to start planning

07/23/06 07:30 PM
We just went to the West High class of 1956 50th reunion & it was great!  They had the open room overlooking the lake at the Monona Terrace.  Instead of a sit down dinner they had appetizers at one table, turkey breast & round of beef at another table, meatballs & chicken wings at another & some appetizers passed around.  There were tables for 8 to sit at & also table to stand at.  It was perfect for mixing & mingling.  Also no band or DJ--just soft 50's music cd's in the background.  We are there to talk to as many people as possible & the large open room was very condusive to this.  Also they took photos of each grade school group: i.e. Nakoma, Shorewood, Randall, etc.  & then photos of each homeroom for the website.  It was $50 per person for the weekend--I imagine the majority of this was for the Monona Terrace but it was worth it.  I'm looking forward to our 50th in 2008.
Mary Bushnel

It's never to early to start planning

03/11/06 07:31 PM
This may be a bit premature, but July 2008 will be upon us before you know. That being said, start thinking about ideas of what you would like at our 50th Reunion. Based on your comments, the planning committee will have a better idea of what classmates want. This forum has the ability to conduct surveys, where members can make choices on any number of questions. There may be some test surveys appearing shortly to test how they work, and if the will help the planning process. Stay tuned!