55^th Reunion
 13 -18 May, 2016

55th Main Page

55^th Reunion

GREETINGS GUYS AND GALS 

It has been about a year since we started our preparations for the 55^th

It is now time to review what we have accomplished and where we are, and get some more info from you

We Completed Three Surveys

1. Survey 1
   1. Covered all aspects we needed to start the process, including:

i. What we liked about past reunions

ii. What we did not like about past reunions

iii. What we would like to see for the 55^th 

2. 335+ responded to this survey
1. Survey 2

2. Dealt solely with potential alternate locations.
3. We looked at 35 potential venues suggested by you, including West Point
4. 300+ responded to this survey.
2. Survey 3

0. Dealt solely with when to have the reunion
1. You said you preferred to have the reunion in May, Sep, or Oct, by wide margins over other months
2. We offered for consideration three spring choices (Retiree Appreciation Weekend, Open Weekend, and Alumni Weekend) and two fall choices (Football Weekend and non-Football Weekend).
3. 300+ responded to this survey.

We Now Have Great Insight into What the Class Wants 

1. Where to Have the Reunion

West Point was preferred location by wide margin

2. When to Have the Reunion
   • Winner was Alumni Weekend by almost three to one over second choice, Football Weekend.
   • Our dates are Friday, 13 May 2016 to Wednesday, 18 May 2016.
3. More Time to Socialize
   • 90% wanted more time to socialize or were neutral on the subject
4. Flexible Itinerary
   • 93% wanted a flexible itinerary or were neutral on the subject
5. Parade
   • 180+ indicated that seeing a parade was important to them
6. Prep School
   • 135+ indicated an interest in a tour of the new WP Prep School
7. Golf
   • 85 folks indicated they would like the option to play golf
8. Less Time on Buses
   • 88% wanted less time on buses or were neutral on the subject
9. Opportunities for Visits to Local Attractions
   • There were dozens of suggestions for places to visit in the area
10. Other Suggestions
    • There were several thousand separate comments and suggestions regarding all aspects of the reunion, which we reviewed, consolidated, and incorporated wherever possible.

Your Reunion Committee has its Marching Orders

1. Our Mission

• Plan, enable, and support the most enjoyable reunion for ’61 that it has ever had.
1. Our Vision
   • A reunion that is people-centric instead of location-centric as in past reunions; that enables the time and an informal, comfortable environment for socializing with other members of the ’61 family; and that offers attendees as much flexibility as possible to choose what interests them and pursue those interests when they wish and at their own pace.
2. Our Strategy
   • Select a hotel that best responds to our objectives for social activities, lodging, and dining.
   • Ensure that the time and surroundings are available for comfortable, relaxed, and informal interactions among attendees.
   • Create a streamlined itinerary that makes the best use of attendees’ times and provides as much free time as possible.
   • Include in the itinerary all the primary activities of general interest to our class and offers the times for smaller groups or individuals to pursue their individual interests.
   • Make all activities optional for attendees.
   • Facilitate visits or tours to all attractions of interest to attendees.
   • Maximize the time for social interactions and personal interests.
   • Minimize the time on buses, time waiting around, and time moving between activities.

We are Responding to those Marching Orders

• People-Centric vs Location-Centric – Our Response

You are the central focus for all plans, itineraries, activities, and facilities.  West Point is simply one of many things you can enjoy while you are attending the reunion.  For example, past reunions were two days with essentially 100% of the time from 0800-1800 (10 hrs per day) committed to activities at West Point. 

The 55^th offers four days with only about 14-16 total hours of the daytime hours (0800-1800) (approximately 35% of the total) committed to West Point activities out of about 40 daytime hours available

• Opportunity to Socialize – Our Response

For the 55^th we have four days with about 26 hours during the time from 0800-1800 plus about 20 more hours for the period 1800-2200 for socializing or other activities of interest. 

We will also have a dedicated hospitality room available 24 hours per day (although at our age not sure how late we will use it) with snacks and beverages available any time you wish. 

There will be social hours before each dinner and the hospitality room will be available after each dinner.

• Flexible Itinerary – Our Response

There are no mandatory formations – all activities are optional.

West Point alumni functions will be at fixed times, but you decide whether you want to attend or not.

Other activities and tours will be options for you to choose as you wish.

• Tours and Attractions – Our Response

You suggested numerous attractions in the area that were of interest to you.

So far we have identified over 50 of these attractions that will be offered to you as options for individual or group visits.

Each of the reunion days we are also offering what we call a “Featured Activity”, which is an optional day trip to locations that were mentioned by a large number of people.  Preliminary plans are for Hyde Park (includes FDR mansion, Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Rockefeller Mansion, and Eleanor Roosevelt house) on Saturday; New York City on Sunday; West Point Tours on Monday; and West Point Events on Tuesday (the latter two driven by scheduled Alumni activities at West Point).

• West Point Attractions and Events – Our Response

Alumni Week includes a USMA and AOG update briefing, organ recital at the Cadet Chapel, Alumni exercises/wreath laying, Cadet Review/parade, lunch in mess hall, and Cadet Glee Club performance.

We may be able to schedule group tours for selected authorized facilities, such as the library, Cullum Hall, etc.

Free time for individual tours of West Point.

• Some Other Items – Our Response

Golf and tour of USMA Prep School will be options

• Reduce Times on Buses and Moving Around – Our Response

All hotel options being considered are closer to West Point than the Westchester Marriott, which was the hotel for past few reunions

Itineraries at West Point are being streamlined to minimize time of travel and movement around West Point

Travel by bus from the hotel is optional - POV’s may be used if preferred.

• Keep Costs Down – Our Response

All activities a la carte – pay only for what you use

Competing hotels for room costs – target is Govt rate or below

Discount for dinner costs

Senior portions and rates for banquet dinners

Optional breakfasts with class special

Special pricing for drinks at cash bars

Specialty drink for dinner parties

Self stocking of snacks and soft drinks for main hospitality

Bulk buys for alcoholic beverages in hospitality room and dinner

Auxiliary hospitality rooms with all items self-stocked

Buses optional – car pooling an option

The Next Step

• We know where we want to go and when we want to be there - Now we are working on what hotel to stay in.
• The number of rooms we need is a critical data point to help make the hotel choice.
• It has been about a year since you gave us your initial input on whether you planned to attend and much has or may have changed during that period.
• So we need you to complete this survey, which is solely focused on an update to our planning figure for number of rooms.

You should now complete Survey # 4. 

We ask that you respond as soon as you can, but NLT 10 June. 

At that time we will integrate the results and press on accordingly. 

If you have any questions contact us at 61reunion@cfl.rr.com 

Thanks for your help

Your 55th Reunion Planning Committee

Bob Cairns, Gene Witherspoon, Burke Mucho, Phil Mallory, Joe Fishburne, Gary Hyde

Now complete the Class of 1961 55th Reunion Survey # 4

JUST CLICK THE LINK BELOW, FILL IN THE INFO, AND SUBMIT

https://docs.google.com/forms