Monday, November 5, 2018

Stepping Up to Catch Up


Fifty years and a few months after walking out of the Brookings High School gymnasium for the last time as students, the BHS class of 1968 got together last September for a class reunion.  Joining approximately 68 classmates were friends and spouses, bringing the total attendance to just over 100.  Events included a Meet & Greet on Friday the 21st, followed by a  Brookings, 50 Years Later  bus tour the following morning.  A banquet wrapped up the festivities that Saturday night.


The two days went off surprisingly well, considering that Sandy Frie-Smith and I were trying to organize it from California and Minnesota, respectively.  The secret to the success was how some classmates stepped up big time to fill needed gaps just in time for the event itself.  Jeff Neuberger was the greatest Stepper Upper: He managed the excellent Class of '68 Facebook page, as well as taking countless reunion photos throughout the two days.  In addition, Jeff created the In Memoriam tribute to our 30-plus departed classmates.  Rick Wahlstrom used his skills as a certified Methodist Lay Pastor to lead a full-group Memory Lane session that was sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant and always fascinating.  Mike McClemans narrated the bus tour with all of the candor that a long-time real estate agent and former city council member can deliver. Mike pulls no punches with his opinions; no one slept on THAT bus ride!  Steve Hayes and Linda Moe and Randy McClagan stepped up locally to take care of several late-breaking issues.  Craig Steen again took care of the financial matters for us.  Julie Brchan took on the reunion-booklet publishing task.

Many thanks to all who attended a very successful reunion.  We were able to Catch Up because so many classmates Stepped Up.

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