Meeting Minutes – Reunion Update 04/04/09

Attendees:

Adrienne Jackson Corrothers / James Grayton / Rochelle Myles Galloway
Charmaine Thrower Franklin / Jean Davis Smith / Ronald Thurston
David Janifer / Maria Wilson Henderson / Tracy Fennell
Gina Barbour / Marion Woodfork Simmons / Walter Porter
Gwen Dove / Rhonda Moore Holder / Willie Young

Communications Committee: Marion Woodfork Simmons

One of our classmates is a general manager affiliated with five local radio stations. We asked her (and other stations) to make public service announcements concerning our reunion. Many of the planning committee members have heard this announcement.

We have added all of the yearbook photos as well as the 700+ names of the classmates who are listed in the graduation program to the website. The website administrator will gladly correct any name and photo mix-ups once you notify her of the error. (We apologize in advance, but we only copied from what was placed in the yearbook and the graduation program.)

The D.C. Public School System’s (DCPS) records for the Class of 1979 indicated that as of October 1978, our class consisted of 724 students. However, as of our graduation on June 5, 1979, there were only 600+ graduating students. Overall, we had a graduation rate of 84% -- which is pretty good!

Treasury Committee: Willie Young

We have established an account and a post office box. The website has been updated to reflect the mailing address – classmates can now send in monetary donations – all checks should be made payable to “RAW Productions (McKinley 30-Year Reunion).”

Venue Committee: Adrienne Jackson Corrothers

This committee is making final decisions concerning food, entertainment, decorations and the overall program for the dinner/dance on Saturday, August 8. This event will begin at 8 p.m. and will end at 1 a.m. The buffet will be available from 8-10 p.m.

We have also reviewed two potential bands and hope to make a decision soon concerning the entertainment. Tickets will not be sold for this event, but payments will be receipted and tracked. We are planning for a minimum of 175 classmates and hoping for 300! :o)

Program Committee: Rochelle Myles Galloway

This committee is deciding on the type of program booklet to commemorate our 30-year reunion. Members of the overall planning committee completed surveys to help this committee gauge whether to aim for a simple memory booklet or a detailed keepsake.

The committee also provided sample pages reflecting various formats for “then and now” photo shots as well as a short narrative description, which will be lifted directly from the website profiles.

Church Service Committee: James Grayton

The church service will be held on Sunday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to noon, at LangdonPark (20th and Franklin Street, N.E., Washington, DC). The committee is considering specific ideas and suggestions that have been received concerning the order of the service and participants.

Picnic Committee: David Janifer

The picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 9,immediately following the church service, from noon to 8 p.m. at LangdonPark, 20th and Franklin Street, N.E., Washington, DC. The committee is making decisions on food, entertainment and other miscellaneous items.

In case of rain, the event will be moved to Saturday, August 15, 2009.

Deceased Committee: Charmaine Thrower Franklin

We have made progress in obtaining the year of death and a copy of the obituary and/or funeral program for those deceased classmates’ profiles currently reflected on the website. The committee is deciding on an appropriate way to honor them during the Saturday dinner/dance and/or the Sunday church service.

If you know of any other classmates who are deceased, please notify this committee, and if possible, provide a date of death. All data must be verified before posting on the website.

General Information

The planning committee has been in contact with the current principal of McKinley concerning the Class of ‘79’s participation in a “service project” to benefit the school and/or community.

The committee is also considering discussions about development of sponsorships and patrons list. If you have any suggestions or ideas in this regard, please notify a committee member or leave a message on the website.

A couple of our teachers have expressed an interest in participating in our reunion events. If you have knowledge of or know the whereabouts of any of our former teachers, please notify a committee member or leave a message on the website.

(We are also interested in knowing of any deceased teachers. We have been informed that Mr. Trent, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Ridley and Mr. Armstrong are all deceased.)

As of the date of this meeting, April 4, 2009, 165 classmates have registered their profiles and 101 have taken the survey indicating their interests in the reunion activities. However, we still have a long way to go! We need everybody’s help to find our missing classmates and direct them to the website to register!

The senior class photo (on the bleachers) has been posted to the website. Do you remember where you were sitting on that day? :o)

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“Meet and Greet” Fundraiser

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009

8:00pm – 1:00am

At the

StoneFish Grill

880 Capital Center BlvdLargo, MD 20774

Donations Will Be Accepted to Help With Our Start Up Fees!

Make Checks Payable to RAW Productions

NEXT REUNION MEETING:

DATE: APRIL 18, 2009

TIME: 12PM – 2PM

LOCATION:

AlionBuilding

8100 Corporate Drive

Landover, MD

Please be on time because this is a secure building.

Also there will be a conference call number. It will be posted on the website.