Before the Reunion

DO  RSVP. Reunion organizers need an attendance count and will appreciate your response.

DON’T assume the Reunion Committee contacted everyone in the class. If you’ve kept in touch with classmates, take a few minutes to send their names, addresses and email addresses to the Committee. Please, send us a message using the "Contact Us" page.

DO inform the Reunion Committee of any special needs you may have or any food allergies. We will oblige as best we can.  Please, send us a message on the "Contact Us" page.

DO call special friends before the reunion to arrange extra time together to catch up — perhaps arrive a day early. Then, you’ll be free to circulate at the reunion instead of talking to just one or two people all night.

DO review your yearbook before going. It can’t hurt to familiarize yourself with names and faces. If you no longer have your yearbook, you can view and purchase yearbooks on Classmates.com; however, you will most likely have to subscribe to do so.

DO take your spouse if 1) you’re attending just to observe and don’t plan any prolonged reminiscences with old buddies; 2) s/he is able to entertain the him/herself; 3) you know for certain your old girl/boyfriend isn’t going to be there; 4) s/he was a classmate.

DON’T take your spouse if you’re susceptible to the mood of the moment. 

DON’T take your spouse if he/she isn’t enthusiastic about being there. Reunions often involve long conversations and inside jokes and can leave outsiders feeling a little bored and sometimes neglected.

DO think about printing some personal business cards containing your contact information, to hand out to people you want to keep in touch with. (Remember that not EVERYONE uses social media.)

DON’T try to lose weight to impress anyone else.  Sometimes dropping a few pounds genuinely boosts your confidence but when all is said and done, others will remember only whether you seemed happy.

DO go shopping for something to wear that makes you feel attractive. Forget about designer labels. Look for something that’s flattering, comfortable and appropriate for the setting. Also plan ahead for shoes (you’ll be doing a lot of standing and dancing) and accessories.

DO think ahead of questions you want to ask and answers you want to give.

DO indulge yourself in recollection.  Bring your yearbook and old photographs. You can also share your old photos on the "Photo Album" page, where everyone can enjoy them.

DO take along a few pictures of your kids (and, of course, grand and great-grandkids, where appropriate). Old friends are really happy to see them. And, you’d like to see (a few) of their pictures.

DON’T take your entire library of family albums and vacation pictures.  Direct people to your Facebook page or other social media, where they can browse at their leisure, after the reunion

At the Reunion

DO be considerate and introduce yourself by name when saying hello. You don’t want to put others in the awkward position of trying to remember who you are.

DO politely ask for an introduction if you’re drawing blank on a name.

DON’T ignore people simply to save face because you can’t remember.

DO talk to the people you may not have been friends with years ago. You’ll be surprised at how much everyone has changed.

DON'T talk politics!

DO take plenty of photos.

DO share what you’ve been up to all these years.

DON’T make up stories about what you’ve been up to.

DON’T  hold grudges. Even if someone did something hurtful once, remember that high school was a long time ago. You’ve all changed quite a bit, and odds are pretty good that they’re sorry about whatever they did (if they even remember it).

DO be careful not to overindulge. Most of us have an embarrassing high school story or two, but you don’t want to also have an embarrassing reunion anecdote!

DO use the opportunity to reflect upon where you’ve been, how far you’ve come … and, of course, where you’re going.

DO above all, be yourself. Relax and have fun!