Is Facebook a reunion killer?

Something I pondered at my blog: Is the rise of Facebook and other social networking software going to be the death of college reunions?

Social networking has largely been a force for good, reconnecting grade-school classmates, creating a whole new approach to dating and enabling employers to check up on new hires. But it might just kill the college reunion.

Historically, reunions have used voyeurism as a lure. Who lives where, who got hitched, who got fat--you had to show up to find out. But now the answers are all online. "Facebook has turned the idea of college reunions from an expensive necessity to just expensive," says Kevin Pang, who skipped his five-year reunion at the University of Southern California last week.

All I know is that you can't have a beer with a Facebook page. What do you think? And if you're on Facebook - like me and other Class of 88ers - let us know.

Letter from Class of 1988 Reunion Committee

Dear Classmate of 1988,

Have the demands of career and family caused you to lose touch with some of your Trinity classmates? Ever wonder what happened to your first-year suitemate? When was the last time you visited Trinity campus or San Antonio for that matter? Have you made your reservation to attend our 20th reunion on October 10-12, 2008?

If not, please mark your calendars today to return to Trinity this Fall. Information about registration, schedule of activities and events, and hotel options for the reunion is available here. In addition, we have a webpage specifically for our class, including the “lost” list, the biographical survey (which can be completed and submitted online), and other details, located here.

Here’s how the weekend is shaping up at this point:

Friday, October 10 – Various departmental receptions and All Alumni Gathering at the Eugenia Miller Fountain (it has been relocated on campus in the last few years) from 6-8 pm. We are currently identifying an off-campus location to host an informal dinner later that evening - check the website for further information on this event next month.

Saturday, October 11 - Class with Dr. Coleen Grissom at 10 am, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff book display and signings at 11 am, All Alumni Picnic and Alumni and Student Artisans’ Showcase at 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Trinity vs. Rhodes football game at 1:30 pm, and the Class of 1988 Reunion in the Ruth Taylor Courtyard from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Join our class for food, drinks, and a slide show commemorating the sights and sounds from our time at Trinity (free babysitting for ages 6 months to 12 years is provided by APO service organization student volunteers from 6 - 11 pm on Saturday in the Coates University Center Waxahachie and Woodlawn Rooms).

Sunday, October 12 - Service at 11 am in Margarite B. Parker Chapel

We will provide more details about the weekend as they become available. If you live outside San Antonio and need lodging for either evening, blocks of rooms have been reserved at special rates at the hotels listed on this website. Please reserve your hotel early!

In the meantime, we ask your help with a few items that will help us make this a memorable weekend.

1. You can help us develop the program for Saturday night’s reunion by sending scanned or copied pictures from our time at Trinity. Please forward those to me at bryce.linsenmayer@haynesboone.com.

2. You can help us get updated information from the “lost alumni” of 1988 by reviewing the list. Please send us any new contact information you may have on our “lost” alumni.

3. You can complete the enclosed 1988 biographical survey and return it (either online or by mail) by September 15. Please note that the recent photo that the Alumni Office asks you to send with your completed survey cannot be returned. Returned surveys will be compiled into a directory and available at our reunion.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Leslie Hollingsworth ’88 who has agreed to serve as Gift Chair for our class. Working with the Development Office, Leslie will coordinate the gift to Trinity from our reunion class. Watch for communications from Leslie soon - we encourage you to respond generously to her invitation to participate in our reunion gift.

Please use the enclosed reply envelope to return your survey right away. Make our reunion a success by contacting your college friends, roommates, suitemates, and classmates now and encourage them to join us in the fall. The Official Alumni Weekend 2008 brochure will be mailed later this summer. We look forward to seeing you at Trinity in October.

Sincerely,

Your 20th Reunion Committee:

Bryce Linsenmayer, Chair
Beth Witte Apollo
J.J. Baskin
Kevin Golliher
Marshall Hess
Eric Hilty
Leslie Hollingsworth, Gift Chair
Charles Kuffner
Julie Crandall Labonte
Becky Yates Pemberton
Juli Reese-Petry
Jennifer Wilbanks Risdall
David Roper
Amy Smith Valentine

The letter and the enclosed survey/list of lost classmates can be found here.

Introduction

Howdy. This blog is intended to be a resource for the Trinity University Class of 1988 and its planned 20-year reunion at Alumni Weekend in San Antonio, October 10-12. Check back here for news, personal stories, and other reunion-related information. See you in San Antonio!