Class of 1955 Mini Reunion

April 23 (Tue) - April 27 (Sat)

2013

Birmingham, Alabama

Update for the EXCOMSaturday, March 3, 2012

(415 days until the Mini Reunion)

Committee• Bill Haas, (Chair)--Hotel, Transportation, U.S. Space &

Rocket Center Tour, and Entertainment

• Buddy Roberts--Hospitality Suite, Name Badges, and American Village Tour

• Carolyn Cumbie--Icons (for dinner tables and buses), and Art/Craft Consignment

• Larry Michalove--Hyundai and Birmingham Tours

• Sybil Michalove--Dinner Menus

• Dick Baker--Administration, Records, and Finance

Other Committee Members(for special projects)

• Fred Pirkey—Golf

• Don Andrews—Marion Trip

• Jim Drummond—Hyundai Lunches

• Bill Edwards—Eternal Word TV Network Trip

• Roy Thorsen—Farewell Dinner Entertainment (Haas communicates individually with this group on their projects and sends

them periodic updates via e-mail)

The Reunion Hotel• The Wynfrey (soon to be the Hyatt Regency) is a 4 star/4

diamond hotel,), with 329 guestrooms. It is the centerpiece of the Southeast’s largest enclosed shopping mall, the Riverchase Galleria. It is truly the premier place to stay in Birmingham.

• The Wynfrey is located in Hoover, AL, a Birmingham Metro community which is 20 minutes from Birmingham’s Shuttlesworth International Airport.

• The Wynfrey provides complimentary shuttle service for registered guests with two shuttle buses for rides to and from the airport.

The Reunion Hotel• Normal rates start at $190 (plus tax).

• Our reunion rate is $130 (plus tax) for a standard, double occupancy room. Lodging tax is currently 14%. ($148.20/night)

• The Class has 55 rooms reserved from August 23 (Tue) through August 26 (Fri) at the $130 rate.

• The hotel is a non-smoking facility. (If violated, the clean-up fee is $250)

The Reunion Hotel

• There is a fee for parking in the hotel garage or the gated area in front of the hotel. There is, however, ample free parking in the mall lots within easy walking distance of the Wynfrey.

• The hotel is currently accepting reservations for the reunion. Use group code 1BA62T. You may make your reservation by calling 1-800-996-3739 or on line at www.Wynfrey.com The internet site also has virtual tours of the Wynfrey.

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                          

Location• The Wynfrey Hotel is located in Birmingham, Alabama and attached to the

renowned Riverchase Galleria.

• It is 15 minutes south of downtown Birmingham, 20 minutes from the Birmingham International Airport, and less than 10 minutes from Oak Mountain State Park, Hoover Metroplex, Pelham Civic Center, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and many other local attractions

•

Riverchase Galleria • The Riverchase Galleria Mall is a one-of-a-kind shopping destination with more

than 200 shops, including anchor stores Macy’s, Belk, JC Penney, Sears, and the LEGO Store.

• Within the nine-story glass atrium — beneath the soaring glass of the world’s largest skylight — you’ll find lush greenery, streaming neon, sparkling lights, and a great shopping experience. Adults and kids of all ages will be thrilled with a ride on the beautiful and majestic 19th century Gustav Dentzel carousel.

• Named one of the top 25 malls in the United States, Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham is Alabama's most visited tourist attraction

Committee Responsibilities by Day            Duties April 23 (Tuesday)

Check-In Desk:  Bill, Larry, and DickHospitality Suite Attendants;  Buddy and Carolyn

            Duties April 24 (Wednesday)Hospitality Suite Attendants;  Buddy and Carolyn

H-1 Tour Guide:  LarryH-2 Tour Guide:  DickRC-1 Tour Guide:  Bill

Eternal World TV Network Trip: Bill Edwards            Duties April 25 (Thursday)

Hospitality Suite Attendants:  Bill and DickRC-2 Tour Guide:  Larry

AV Tour Guides:  Buddy and Carolyn (Group est. size requires 2)            Duties April 26 (Friday)

Hospitality Suite Attendant:  BuddyB-1/2 Tour Guide:  LarryB-3 Tour Guide:  SybilMMI Tour Guide: ??

Schedule• April 23 (Tue): Check-In.  Hospitality Suite opens 2 p.m. Social hour (6

p.m.-Cash Bar) Dinner (7 p.m.) Seating by Service and Specialty or Branch

• April 24 (Wed):  Optional trips and events or free time

Trip H-1:  Hyundai assembly plant; lunch at the Drummonds (7:30 a.m. -- 3:45 p.m.)

Trip H-2:  Lunch at the Drummonds; Hyundai assembly plant (9:45 a.m. -- 5:15 p.m.)

Trip RC-1: U.S. Space & Rocket Center (8:30 a.m. -- 5 p.m.) Eternal World TV Network Trip: Tentative Trip During Evening (sometime

between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) Iffy, only eight indicated interest.

• April 25 (Thur):   Optional trips and events or free time

Trip RC-2:  U.S. Space & Rocket Center (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Trip AV:  American Village (9 a.m. -- 3 p.m.)

Schedule (Cont.)• April 26 (Fri): Optional trips (all of which conclude with a 30-min bus

tour of Mountain Brook Residential Area) or free time

Trip B1/2: Museum of Art/Botanical Gardens; lunch at Johnny Ray’s; (9:30 a.m.—4 p.m.)

Trip B-3: Botanical Gardens and Vulcan Park (9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

MMI: Marion Military Institute Tour (Iffy, only five indicated interest)

Hospitality Suite closes at 2 p.m. Social hour (6 p.m.-Cash Bar) and Dinner (7 p.m.) Seating by Cadet Company. Flashback (8:30 p.m.)-Roy Thorsen

• April 27 (Sat): Check out and departure.Hospitality Suite will be open

Tour Guide Expense• Designated Tour Guides will not pay for the tour.  However, the Tour

Guide will pay for his/her lunch if there is a lunch cost associated with the tour.  All tours, except H-1 & H-2 have a lunch cost.  While tour lunch costs vary, Tour Guides will pay a flat lunch fee of $7.00

Tour Guide Spouses• If the Spouse of a Tour Guide is going on the tour that her husband

is guiding, the Spouse will pay the full tour cost.

Registration Fee• All Committee Members will pay the $175 registration fee. 

Reunion Dress

• Dress for all reunion activities including the two class dinners in the Wynfrey Hotel is casual.

• Sport Shirts are entirely acceptable for both dinners (Tuesday and Friday Nights)

• Casual dress is the norm for most Birmingham restaurants; however there are a few exceptions

Hospitality Suite and Artists• Hospitality Suite will be open and manned daily by a

committee member

• Attendees who are artists or craftsmen/craftswomen are encouraged to display and offer their works for sale in the suite

• Buddy Roberts is taking reservations for display space

• Status: Buddy reports, “No takers so far.” (Feb 26)

• Continental Breakfast (Juice, Coffee, and Danish) will be available every morning

Death of a Classmate• If the surviving spouse or next of kin contacts us

requesting a refund in full or part, we will immediately issue the refund.

• If a Classmate lives close by, we will ask that Classmate to contact the surviving spouse or next of kin to determine his/her desire regarding the Mini.

• If there is no Classmate living close by and if the remaining spouse or next of kin does not contact us within 30 days after a death up to Jan 31, 2013, we will write that person a letter encouraging (as appropriate) the remaining spouse to attend and bring a companion if he/she so desires but offering a refund in full or part if that is the desire.

Death of a Classmate (Cont.)

• For deaths from Feb 1 to Mar 31, 2013 the above policies apply except that if we are not contacted within 15 days, we will initiate contact.

• Deaths after Mar 31, 2013 will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  If there is no contact or decision prior to the reunion and the spouse or next of kin does not attend, we will offer to refund the money or donate it to a charity of his/her choice or the Class fund.

H-2 Initiative• Mac Mcllroy sought interaction with Mini Reunion [due to host’s

(Meekison) knee problem] for the eight H-2 survivors (Dickson, Grey, Hagan, Mcllroy, Meekison, Raymond, Pickett, and Weaver)

• Bill Haas picked up on Mac’s initiative and made adjustments so H-2

could participate from Thur, April 25 until Sun, April 28 by paying a

registration fee of $87.50 or could attend the entire Class Mini.

• Status --- Meekison and McIIroy will attend. Two widows indicated

that they will not attend. Picket will not attend. Weaver is signed-up for the Mini. Seems to be a lot of enthusiasm. Jury is out on – Dickson, Grey, Hagan, and Raymond. (Feb 26)

Proposed H-2 Schedule• Thursday, April 25:

Arrive and check-in at the hotel and the Class hospitality suite

• Friday, April 26: 10 a.m.—3 p.m. H-2 group trip to local places of

interest (Tannehill Iron Works, Civil Rights Institute, American Village)

6 p.m.—9 p.m. Social hour and dinner with Class Company seating

• Saturday, April 27:, 9 a.m.—6 p.m. On your own or small group activities 6 p.m.—9 p.m. H-2 social hour and dinner

• Sunday, April 28: Farewells and departure

Alternate PlansThere are three items, none of which we can control, that could have a

major adverse financial and/or tour adjustment impact on the Mini:

• The price of gasoline• The weather• Jeanne and Jim Drummond’s health

Bill Haas has indicated that we must have plans in-place to cover each

eventuality.  Accordingly he has asked all Birmingham committee

members to prepare alternate plans (per Bill’s instructions) and to

present same at a meeting on Wednesday, March 21 in the

Birmingham Botanical Gardens restaurant at 11:30 a.m.

Miscellaneous• Fuel (in contract with Rare Transportation)

If gas is $4/gallon -- 4% up-charge of total contractIf gas is $5/gallon -- 10% up-charge of total contract

• Cost of Food and Wine – 10% pad is included in Registration Fee

• Tour cost includes tip for driver, lunch, and tip for lunch

• Both dinners include two bottles of wine. Waiters will not pour. Bar will remain open during dinner for those wanting an additional wine

• Tour Guides and on duty Committee Members will wear Houndstooth Caps

Bill Haas and Houndstooth Cap

The End