Steve Friend reported to the SLS email group that Mike Kain’s father died at age 91. Funeral and viewing are at St. Laurence Church on Saturday morning February 23, 2008 at 9:30 AM.

11 SLS Grads of us gathered Thursday February 7th at the Lamplighter. Two first time attendees included Elsie Silvestre Clery and Lynn Monville Burke.

1 - Finding SLS-58 Grads: Thanks to some great work by Frank Thornton , Tom Dowd and especially Mike Farrell our tally of found classmates tally is exceptional – Of the 116 on the 30th reunion list, we have addresses of 78 ! classmates. We know of 8 that we believe have died, leaving only 30 on UNFOUND list. George Clement emailed Bob Jansen and Marion DeFlavia’s addresses yesterday. Jim Vagnoni sent out a mailing to 17 recently identified people with an overview of the reunion.

The group went through the list of found grads and divided up the names to call to both get a sense of how many are attending as well as to talk up the event. PLEASE CALL ONE ANOTHER! The question came up about asking people to send in the $20 advance “seed funds” for deposits and other costs (like mailing – stamps alone will cost $32, invitations, the program, etc.) We decided not to ask unless the subject came up. We projected attendance at a minimum of about 50 but we think even more will come.

2 - Friday night: Kevin Quinn solidified the Friday night get reacquainted gathering at the Lamplighter. He will get a quote for hors d’oeuvres/snacks – otherwise it will be a cash bar.

3 - Saturday: Rich Rotella reported for Jamie DeFelice stating it looked like a good turnout for the Golf Outing. We know of one woman who will play hoping other will join her.

We talked again about having something on Saturday afternoon for the non-golfers. If we are going to have something someone will have to step forward and volunteer to take the lead. It could be as simple as a box lunch picnic, perhaps on the grounds of the ELEX.

Elsie Silvestre suggested we have a tour of the school and also suggested that those who wished (Catholic, catholic or whatever) could attend 5:00 Mass as a group. The tour could be before or after Mass. We then discussed a class gift to the school and the invitation will include a line for an optional donation. We could give the class gift as part of the Offertory at Mass. Jim Vagnoni checked with the school and Father Silcox and the tour is arranged as is the expectation that some of us would attend Mass.

4 - Saturday Night: The Main Event, Saturday night at the McCall center is booked. We will start with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Three dinner selections were chosen at the previous meeting. We voted not to pay extra to have linens that matched the school colors.

We talked about finding DJ and a couple of possibilities were noted. Mike Farrell will go to listen to someone at 3:00 on Sunday Feb 17th - if anyone would care to join him. We then talked about the necessity of having a program or activities. One thought was asking people to put together skits. If you have any ideas of “fun stuff” please put them out to the group. No solid decoration plans have been made as yet.

We talked about the souvenir and some hesitation about having commemorative T-shirts was voiced. We have to make a decision soon because time is fleeting. All agreed the ideal souvenir would be a group photo that we would seek to take (perhaps outdoors on the McCall grounds). Of course duplicating the graduation pictures has always been on the list of things to do.

FOLKS WHO HAVE WORKED ON SOME ASPECT OF THE REUNION INCLUDE:

Ellie Keegan Joyce Ellie.Joyce@prufoxroach.com and Janet Carrozzino Cappy jccbunny@yahoo.com are coordinating Saturday evening. Please contact one of them to get involved.

5 - Sunday “Adios” Brunch: Some ambivalence about Sunday brunch was voiced. Would folks be heading out of town, or just too tired, or even tired of one another? The ending thought is the Brunch could be easily put together at the last minute and did not have to have a huge attendance. Mike Farrell got together a list of possible places near St. Laurence for such a gathering.

6- Mailing Invitations: The invitation is best mailed six to eight weeks in advance – that would be the week of March 16th. The biggest challenge is figuring out the costs. At the last meeting we debated the pros and cons of trying to go on the cheap and decided we would not be extravagant but neither would be chintzy. Several people voiced a willingness to confidentially sponsor or help sponsor any grad that could not afford the Saturday evening main event.

We would make all events but Saturday evening optional and that would be reflected on the invitation return card. So if someone wanted to golf, they would check that box and the cost ($65) would be there for them to tally their total cost.

St. Laurence School has a small website: www.saintlaurence.org

Despite some bad weather, eight of us were still able to gather on the 17th of January at the Lamplighter Tavern and we accomplished a good amount of work. We began talking about our friend Nick Arone and his untimely death. Nick is a wonderful person and was taking such an active in bringing about the 50th. We will miss his physical presence but our memory of him will surely have him spiritually in attendance come May 17th.

1-McCall Center. (The ELEX) Ellie Keegan Joyce gave a report on the Mc Call Center. She and Janet Carrazzino Cappie have been working on the securing the site. Ellie and Jim Vagnoni had visited there earlier in the evening. Ellie and Janet had also visited previously. All agreed the McCall Center fits the bill for the Reunion. Elli had negotiated some cost discounts for the space. She brought menus and price lists.

We decided we would choose to have a buffet and had fun choosing the meals – We had the choice of three & ended up choosing your standard a Chicken, Beef and Fish entrees – but except for the Roast Beef, the chicken and fish are not the run of the mill.

We looked at the cost of items but it’s preliminary but it looks like dinner and the place might run about $35 each. Regarding beverages, the unanimous decision was to have a cash bar since so a large contingent of people no longer drinks alcoholic beverages. We hope to have this expense and some final costs soon

2- Other details Re; Saturday main gathering: Janet and Ellie are coordinating Saturday's plans. Some details we need to attend to five months out include:

• We decided not hire a professional video and/or photographer – people agreed it was not worth the expenses – believing that we would not look at it after the event and knowing people will bring cameras and we can share the photos.
• Janet’s DJ is not available but Rich is looking into it – he believes he knows someone that would be good. We’ll look for other options as well– Know a DJ that would do 50’s – plus some 60’s & 70’s stuff.
• As we did for the 30th reunion, we want to create a booklet/memory album or printed program. We need volunteers to help with this task. Jim Vagnoni will seek to muster a crew to work on it.
• Getting a projection of cost is am important task by estimating costs and projecting attendance.

3- The schedule of Activities: We discussed the tentative schedule devised at the pervious meeting.

The Friday night “re-acquaintance” gathering at the Lamplighter is a go. The same minor details can be discussed later – particularly if we’ll have a small per head charged for snacks.

For Saturday the Golf event is gathering some momentum. Jamie DeFelice is spearheading this activity open to women and men. The general opinion at the meeting was to drop the structured afternoon plans. The timing of the golf outing and the projected location at the Church grounds which has a less than inviting flair to it were a couple of the reasons. However, a significant number of people do not play golf and may wish to get together. An informal activity may still be planned. Saturday evening’s primary event.

The Sunday brunch is still considered as another optional activity that can be easily planned at a later date.

4- Coordinate the search for former classmates: Presently we are up to 68! Classmates found (including one that has withdrawn, one too disabled to attend and Nick who died). That's 15 more since we last met! We still have 42 more people to find. A number of people are working hard at this task including folks that recently sent me names Mike Farrell, Frank Thornton, Dolores Kling McNamara, Tom Dowd, Elsie Silvestri Cleary, Bill Greisser and several others.

TWO CRITICAL TASKS REMAIN

1. We must continue to make concerted and creative efforts to locate classmates. Please see latest list of calls mates that is attached if you are getting this email or enclosed if you are getting this mailed.
2. It’s time to start talking to each other to encourage and solidify attendance. Perhaps we can divide the names and start to confirm or if necessary promote/persuade folks to attend – after all it’s very unlikely there will be another of these in 50 years!! So volunteer to make some calls, send some notes or emails!!

Twenty people sent in deposits so that’s a great indicator. Let get a minimum of 50 out for the 50th!! But strive to get everyone we can!!

5- Determine Planning Meeting Schedule: We all agreed that 4 months until the 50th Reunion is a very brief time – A tentative meeting was scheduled for Thursday February 7th

A number of St. Laurence grads attended Nick’s wake tonight.

NICHOLAS J., ARONE age 63, died on Jan. 10, 2008 of Lansdowne, PA. Husband of Patricia L. Arone (nee Kortze). Loving father of Stephen (Karen) and Christopher Arone. Dear brother of Marie (Michael) Murphy. Friends are invited to visit the family Monday 6-8 P.M. and Tuesday 8:30-9:45 A.M. at THE DONOHUE FUNERAL HOME, 8401 WEST CHESTER PIKE (cor. LYNN BLVD.), UPPER DARBY, PA. (610)449-0300 Funeral Mass Tuesday 10:30 A.M. St. Philomena Church, 41 E. Baltimore Ave., Lansdowne, PA. Int. SS Peter and Paul Cem.

With much sadness, I report that Nick Arone died today.

I understand it occurred as he was exiting his card to go to the doctor. Nick’s brother-in-law phoned Rich Cahill in Florida. Rich in turn has let folks here know.

Nick has been very active in organizing this reunion and our gathering a couple of years ago. I feel blessed to have become reacquainted with such a wonderful man. Nick, you are always with us in SLS-58.

We have some great progress to report on the 50th Reunion! Two planning meetings have occurred and innumerable emails exchanged since the first notice of the reunion went out last May. An amazing number, twenty-two folks have been involved -- a few from far away places like Florida, Illinois, Minnesota and closer locales like New Jersey and Delaware -- brainstorming, planning and most importantly searching out graduates.

WHO: We are pleased to report we have located 55 of 109 classmates on the list. We have set what now seems as a very reachable goal of locating at least 70. Maybe we can even find a phenomenal 80 or 90 of our fellow graduates!!!
Accompanying this letter are two lists, one with folks yet to be found and a second with the folks for whom we at least have an address. If each one of us finds one more person, then we will have found everyone plus at least one stranger!! Bad jokes aside, let’s all try to find someone.

WHAT & WHEN & WHERE: We are also happy to inform you we have a tentative schedule for what is now a reunion weekend May 16th through May 18th 2008. The idea is that we would have the main reunion event on Saturday evening May 17th with optional activities Friday night May 16th, Saturday during the day and Sunday the 18th late morning.

On Friday night we have a re-acquaintance get-together like we did in 2005 at the Lamplighter Pub in Havertown. The Lamplighter has become a SLS Class of ’58 gathering place for a number of years now. Attendees will buy their own drinks but we are thinking we might have a small amount of hors d’oeuvres for which we’d have a small charge.

A picnic, fun/game gathering is planned for Saturday afternoon about 1:00 to about 3:30 – 4:00 with ideas floated such as random parings for lunch, playing games in the school yard, having a mock May Procession, but we’ll definitely have a retake of the graduation photos of each class (that many of us still possess). Yes, great minds are at work on this one. Jamie DeFelice has arranged a golf outing for Saturday morning - women as well men could participate if there are enough players.

On Saturday night will be the main reunion event at the McCall Center which is the former Philadelphia Electric Company Country Club that most of us know fondly as the ELEX. The group voted not to have a sit down dinner to encourage mingling. We will have a DJ and 50’s and 60’s music. Decorations are important so think imaginatively about props, posters, pictures, etc. A number of people looked into possible venues and Andy Sivak suggested the ELEX. An email and “live in-person” vote was taken and the ELEX was the overwhelming choice.

On Sunday late morning, those who wish can join together for a farewell brunch at a site to be determined.

Here is a summary chart: of the reunion weekend.

HELP WANTED

Yes, we have made much progress but we have much more to do. The most important job remains finding and inviting fellow 58 grads. In mid January, we plan to have a “phonathon” where volunteers will make contact and survey everyone on the lists to encourage the reluctant and welcome the enthusiastic and thereby get a sense of how many will attend what events.

Another item to report is a decision on at least one souvenir of the event, that is to purchase T-shirts, one that looks like the girls’ uniform and one that looks like the white shirt with the SLS tie the boys were required to wear.

We are still nine months away with time for more brainstorming. Folks remember the wonderful booklet put together for the 30th. Recall, too, that publication was ahead of its time. We should do the same again especially with the advance of technology and the ease of desk top publishing.

PLEASE, if you have or know of any photographs from that period or even a little later please have them scanned and sent by email to SLS-58@comcast.netor mail them to the address on the letterhead. You will get the photo’s back! Frank Thornton gave in picture of his brother Jim and Totsie Fitzpatrick all deck out for some Bonner event, Eleanor Evans provided a number of May Procession pictures of girls. If you have pictures from the 30th reunion or other class gatherings, please send them. Lastly, any of those lists that recount life in the late 50’s are welcomed and encouraged.

We do have a website shell but we need items for it. Please send what ever you can!! If you have questions please ask! The best means of communication is by E-Mail so if you have an email address that is not on the list please send it to: SLS-58@comcast.net.

Lastly, although we won’t have a finalized budget for some months, we are asking everyone for a deposit of $20 to help us get the reunion launched. We did have some money, but it was needed for the deposit to hold the McCall Center. The money will be used for other deposits, mailings and other expenses as they surface. The $20 advance will be credited toward your payment for the eventual cost of the reunion. Please send the deposit to the address on the letter head. Checks should be made out to: St Laurence School – 58 Reunion

THE ELEX IS SELECTED AS LOCATION FOR REUNION.

After much discussion and internet email exchanges, the overwhelming consensus choice is the Mc Call Gollf and Country Club for it central location and unique history in our lives. Janet Carrozzino and Ellie Keegan will soon seal the deal in the next few days.

Ten of us assembled last. We missed all of you who could not make it -- but we probably did tell a story from 50 years ago that included you!! The group first discussed choosing a location soon. Although we have three excellent possibilities, 9 of the 10 were very enthusiastic about the McCall Center (the old Philadelphia Electric Co. Country Club on Lynn Blvd) as a great location because of its proximity to the school and the nostalgia of so many of us having played at the ELEX as kids.

Janet and Ellie are co-chairs of the Event Committee and they are planning to visit the McCall Center with Richie and possibly others as well. Andy Sivak had surfaced the place and gotten the contact info.

We discussed expenses specifically what we would be the cost for a person to attend. Part of the context of this conversation was the cost of media and materials like a CD/DVD, a booklet, a T-shirt -- there was even the great suggestion (Nick Arone's) of have temporary Tattoos made. We also talked about having activities in addition to the Saturday evening event.

One person was particularly concerned that we did not have a cost that was too expensive that someone might be excluded. The reality is we can have several activities that are optional. For example mentioned were a get-together at the Lamplighter on Friday night that people would pay for their own drinks (and food ) if they wished. We talked about having something at the school grounds on Saturday afternoon like a picnic and game day (maybe even a May Procession) and that could be optional as well. We also mentioned having an optional brunch late Sunday morning (we recalled how late we stayed at the 30th!!!)

Other Committee/tasks overviewed in included the most important task of finding Class of '58 Alums. Nick agreed to work this as did Joann Deless and others. It's our most important task. We also talked about a Materials and Media committee that would produce a booklet (and a CD or DVD like we had at the 30th and that we can wait sometime before that is prepared. In fact, if you have any photos from that era please as advise by replying to this email. These could be scanned and you would get the photos back by return mail. Or you could scan them (or have them scanned) and email them.

Janet suggested accumulating as much stuff as we could about those years...like funny quizzes and lists. A letter will go out in August soliciting photos and memorabilia. The Event committee will be doing the decorating and besides needing help of more members, they will needs stuff and ideas!! Regarding decorations, the current thinking is "Too much is not enough".

So specific date was set for a subsequent meeting. If the ELEX is available and will let us have a free hand with decorating, the overwhelming consensus of about almost everyone is to have it there.

Congratulations on making it to a 50th Reunion! Some of the folks who organized the previous reunions, feeling blessed to be in relatively good health and ready to laugh at life and old SLS shenanigans, have taken step one in committing to do this wonderful thing – a 50th Reunion. Part of that first step was to get a consensus on a date – May 17, 2008 – was selected since it’s after Mother’s Day and before Memorial Day. So please set aside the day in you calendars and plan to join everyone in Delaware County, PA next year.

Folks also agreed this is likely to be our only 50th grade school reunion so let’s make it special – which likely leaves out the school basement as a location. In all likelihood, too, activities will extend through the whole weekend. But nothing yet is planned except for the May 17th date.

Yes, we have an immense amount of work to do and planning meetings are occurring periodically at the Lamplighter Pub on Darby Road near Eagle Road in Havertown probably at 7:00 pm. It’s the same place where 40 of us gathered in October 2005 as a preview of the 50th. We need a lot of help.

The most important job is fanning out and networking to find and invite as many people as we can. We'd like to match, or even exceed, the 60+ folks that came out for the 30th!! Everyone can start now by contacting everyone from the class with whom we had some contact - whether they know about it already or not. A list is attached with names of folks both with and without contact info.

The best means of communication these days is by E-Mail. If you have an email addresses please send it to: SLS-58@comcast.net.

Also, everyone thought the nun from the 05 reunion is a good Icon/logo/brand to get started.