May 13th, 2010
Here is my follow up letter to our Reunion.....
Where do I begin.....The night now is a bit of a blur to me. It seemed to go too fast with so many people to reconnect with. In my eyes, it was a MAGICAL evening...We got more attendees then ever imagined. I was getting emails up till 7pm that evening, on my Blackberry asking, if possible somehow, some way, could they still attend the reunion...that they were on the GSP and would love to still get into the reunion! Everyone looked fabulous. Everyone radiated. Everyone was excited to be there and who really wanted to attended, showed up! If the room had a super-sonic-radiation machine to measure the amount of love in the air, it would have been "off the charts". So many of us felt that it was great that there was such positive energy in the air, no "clicks" no malice, no attitude, just pure beautiful, grateful people with passion in their hearts for the childhood memories we all shared. The very presence of Joe Vallones consistent smile through out the night touched everyones heart. His mother mentioned that Joe had been so excited for our reunion that he spoke about it for the past six months....and he will now, speak of the fun he had for the next six months ahead.
I feel all the work and commitment the committee put into the evening was all worth the time and energy that it took. The alcaldes we have gotten from the alumni is overwelming! Please be sure to fill out our "30th Reunion Feedback" Survey on the left tool bar. With all the great feedback we will be sure to have a 35th reunion to look forward to, and with your responses, it will address all your thoughts and desires for the next reunion. Please continue to stop in at this site, for it will remain on going for the next five years, thanks to everyones constant contributions. You can still post your business card or make a donation, at any time. We will be constantly updating this site and keeping everyone in the loop with announcements. If there is something you want to see on the site, just drop anyone on the committee a note on the site and we will respond to it. This is YOUR site, the Class of 1980.
Although there never seems like enough time to spend in one evenings time, or even the weekend, there will be a UHS Union-ReUnion at the Waters Edge this summer, July 10th. Hoping its a gorgeous day at the Jersey Shore, it's a great way to see each other once again. It will be great to see you that day!
In closing, I wish for all those in attendance and for those who were unable to attend, my best. May the next five years find you happy and healthy.
Sincerely,
Janine
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This is where it all began.....
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Dear Fellow Classmates:
My interest in finding friends from my youth started at the ten year mark, when I relished in seeing so many wonderful people who touched my life at our first reunion. It was from that point that I looked forward to each of the five milestones in reuniting with all these great people. And now, thirty years later....
As I established myself living in New York City and building my career in the garment center, marriage and raising my daughter Julia, I always stayed in close contact with many people from our class. For you see, though Union was a blue collar town, I felt blessed being surrounded by so many diverse people. My memories are so vivid and alive from each school I attended to parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet 16's to the proms and graduation. When I visit our home town, I tend to drive slowly to absorb the memories and changes that have transpired throughout the years, and there are many of both. My mom is still living in the same house, on the corner, which I grew up in and my brother Joe is living in a near by town and happily married to Maddalena Cioffi. My father passed away two years ago due to Alzheimers. We still summer at the Jersey shore.
I made the decision not to go with an outside source to put our reunion together, for I thought having a different venue and doing it "our way" seemed like a great possibility. I began to reach out to Alumni and we created a strong committee, and with everyones strengths, we have put into work many fabulous ideas, starting with this website, our custom designed postcard, the menu and the many exciting things planned for the big night. I have choosen to take this "monster" on, but understand, it is the "sum of all the parts" that is creating this weekend to be an outrageous experience. Not something I could do alone.
It is the Commitment of our Team that is to be Thanked.
We have chosen a different venue for our "30th Reunion Bash" down to Atlantic City. I had no idea the excitement and fun it would be in trying to put this "soiree" together. The more people we contacted, the more I got to know each of you better, the more I know how much this was meant to happen. The excitement is "off the charts".
In my quest I discovered that I am who I am today because of who you all were. We are all partially responsible to each other for the people we have become. Some maybe more then others, but we all have that special connection just the same.
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October 23, 2009
Today is my daughter Julia's eleventh birthday. She attends an intimate Catholic school in midtown Manhattan where she is very content. As I assisted in helping pass out the pizza and cupcakes with the teachers, I began to "zone out"....thinking....."Wow....6th grade", Central Six. Most of us were bused, so many of us were new to each other and we all came together to spend the next year getting to know each other. Today I looked at each of these kids, thinking...where will they be in 36 years? What will they pursue and what path layed ahead for each of them (though I am sure none of them really has put much thought into their future)......So many wonderful memories were made in Central Six...and how cute all these boys and girls looked to me this morning.....Seemed like yesterday......Six Grade.
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December 16, 2009
As the holidays approach us and the year comes to an end, I begin to get melancholy of the past year......There are so many wonderful things I am grateful for, ie: my family, my memories of growing up, and the life that I have designed. It has been so fabulous touching base with so many of us through Facebook & even if it's just a "hello", that click of the keyboard provokes a memory. This venue has been a fabulous way for us to gather, remember and to spread the word of our up-coming event in April. Please continue to reach out to all those you are in touch with and encourage them to attend. (I have personally spoken to some alumni who feel like they weren't popular and being there wouldn't make much of a difference). But it is quite the opposite...they will make SUCH an impact by simply showing up. And hey, I for sure, wasn't one of the "popular ones"!!!!
The committee is meeting at the end of January at Cioffi's in Union. If you are interested in helping out, please contact me and we will be happy to have you join us. The more the merrier. The meetings have been a lot of fun, yummy, and there's still a lot to do.
May you and your families have a Wonderful, Safe & Healthy Holiday!
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January 11, 2010
So glad everyone is finding their way to our site....it's been a lot of work trying to get the information out to everyone. We had a HUGE class....so if alumni haven't heard through the "grape vine", haven't gotten the postcard we created & mailed, aren't on Face Book, it's a struggle trying to track people down. That's why we ask everyone to come out of their comfort zone and reach out, make a phone call or drop an email to those you have contact information on. Just get them to this site, and they will register & attend. People are REALLY happy to hear that they are being sought out and that we are all getting together again. Please help us out by Reaching Out!
On another note....for those who are staying the weekend.....we are organizing a dinner at The Pier Shops at Ceasars on Saturday night. It's the Mall on the Pier, & the restaurant is the Continental (on the top floor)...here's a blurb about it:
"the Continental"
"A clever mix of vintage elegance and vanguard sophistication, Continental Atlantic City invokes the drama of the rat pack days on the Vegas strip. The space incorporates such unique retro elements as a sunken fire-pit lounge, populuxe bar and outdoor patio all accented by a breathtaking view of the ocean. The global tapas menu showcases a variety of innovative dishes meant to be shared. And of course the martinis are an essential part of the experience."~
It will be a great way to catch up with those you may have missed the night before. Dinner reservations will be made for 7:00pm Simply go to the "Who we are Survey",(on the left tool bar) & take the poll....the last question asks you to RSVP to this dinner. Hope you will join us!
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January 18
Today I got a Very Unexpected call from one of our classmates in my office. So unexpected, that I haven't spoken to this person since our last reunion 4+ years ago. What was so interesting is that this person, (male) told me a story from 30 years ago, a conversation that we had, and how it impacted his life. He asked me if I remembered it, and I said honestly that I didn't recall it. He told me that the conversation made such an impact on him, having shared our conversation with others over the years, and how, after all this time, wanted to tell me, in turn, how it effected him. I was shocked, to say the least. Not only that I didn't remember our conversation, but how what I said, stuck with him for so long. It was feelings of misunderstanding, confusion and then acceptance and forgiveness! Wow! How I never really thought how things said can resinate with someone, and for so long. But when I think of it, there are conversations that have always stayed with me, that you would never even realize how they have made a difference. We have all made a difference in each of our lives in some way, large or small. What a great call to receive today!
March 2nd, 2010
Tonight our committee is meeting for our 4th-5th meeting in preparation for our reunion, which is just around the corner. It was about a year and a half ago when we decided to go forward with this event and to take it on as a team, rather then hire a reunion planner. I am so glad that I went with my gut and the confidence of the team we created to carry on the planning ourselves. The very thought of putting a "party" together with out a data base or any experience of this magnitude was initially frightening to me. Those that truly reached out and took a stand, committed that "WE could do this OURSELVES", prevailed. Organizing this soiree' has been a wonderful experience, and I think I can speak for all of us on our team, that it has been a pleasure socializing and networking as well as putting our skills into work. We have all gotten along beautifully and each person has truly pulled their weight, and kept their word as to the jobs they were taking on. With only 60 days to go, we are tying up loose ends, continuing to draw more people to our website and relish in seeing the ticket sales rise. We welcome everyone to an outrageous evening we have planned and hope that you are as excited as all of us are. Please, Please continue to reach out to those who have not registered on this site. There are many alumni hiding in the wings that are thrilled to be found! Get ready to DANCE!
See all of you on 4/30!
March 7, 2010
Yesterday I stopped in Terminal Mill Ends in Union Center to have a chair reupholstered, as I was spending the weekend at my moms in Union. While I was being assisted by the owner, she asked me what brought me to her store, and I proceeded to tell her that I grew up in Union and continue to visit the town often to see my family. She told me she graduated from UHS back in '74. I, of course, had to tell her that I was working on our 30th reunion and how so many of us were looking forward to it. Listening into our conversation was a woman who was making her purchase who said...."Hey, I too graduated in 1980". I was shocked and couldn't recognize her till she told me her first name, Ruth. Ruth Dambres! We hugged and we were elated to see each other since it's been since graduation. I told her that I think of her every time I pass her home in Union. She has since moved to another home in Union feeling that she had such a wonderful childhood and memories she wanted her children to have the same. I "of course" had to mention the reunion, and I told her that I was aware that she hasn't yet registered on our site and she began to tell me that she "wasn't that interested in attending". So with my salesperson persuasion, I began to tell her that she shouldn't miss the night. She then told me she would be in Florida at the time for a "Flag Team" event and she definitely wouldn't be able to make it............................Well, by the time I left the store and grabbed my receipt, she had opened her date book and saw that she would be back just in time to attend and she would really want to be there. How special it was to see Ruth today, after so many years. Ruth...you look great and we really hope to see you next month!!
April 1st, 2010
I have to share with you the laughter that so many of us shared in regards to all our planning and the excitement of our gathering......Last night Cindi F, Jennifer A. & I were up till 1am on the "Live Chat" on this website. (Please be sure to join us....around 10pm). We were giggling like young HS girls, laughing about our plans for that evening, (LOL) who we're getting on the dance floor and just how excited EVERYONE seems to be in rekindling all our old friendships! I hope all of you share in the thrill of our great gathering and your prepared to dance, drink, & laugh, eat well, dance more and more...then to bring the PARTY down to the EGO Lounge to continue till dawn! Despite today being the last opportunity to purchase your ticket at the original price....Tickets sales continue to come in EVERY HOUR! We are thrilled to see the amount of attendees every day and look forward to all of us being together in Trumps GORGEOUS banquet room.
I spoke today to Joan Spiropoulos who has been wonderful in wanting to assist us in the many tasks we have taken on. She mentioned that there were a few "peeps" who don't think they will be attending because they weren't popular and even if they do show up...no one will remember them! Joan has agreed to reach out to those who feel this way and "wrangle them in". As I told her....."their absence will be missed, but their presence will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE! "It's the Sum of All the Parts". To everyone.....please grab your old "buds" and tell them to come on down to AC for the BEST reunion we have EVER had! All the past reunions were simply...."reunions"...this one will be the "Greatest Dance Party EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!".
April 23rd, 2010
With less then a week remaining.....the Excitement is really Outrageous! Met Angelo P. yesterday and he claims he & "the guys" are very excited for the weekend. They have a golf game early that day which will lead them right into an incredible night. I have received so many emails from classmates who claim this is their first reunion and they can't wait to see everyone. Many of the girls have finally "gotten the perfect dress" and everyone seems to have wrapped up their commitments and saying goodbye to their daily life for a couple days of FUN. Some have come forward to entertain us with live music and singing....How great is that going to be!!!
This has been an incredible journey. I hope most of you feel as so many of us do, Blessed to have the memories of High School and the chance to bring it all back. See you on Friday. xo
