Of course you never know who really changed their minds but at least a dozen people came up to me and said they were there because of me, or at least partially because of my nagging. A couple of other people asked if I had had a career in marketing. No one seemed particularly put out about the numerous messages. And a couple of old time Springville residents even thanked me for highlighting some of the events of Art City Days.
The following is way too long but is necessary to give you a feeling for my advertising campaign. Sample messages:
4/28
Fellow
classmates-
With only six weeks
left before our 50th HS Graduation anniversary it's time to start putting our
travel plans in place. If you live more than a couple hundred miles away or
have a 10 year old Subaru, you may want to consider an appointment with your
mechanic or appropriate airline tickets. In spite of all the improvements Utah
made for the 2002 Winter Olympics, building a new airport for Springville wasn't
one of them so you'll have to rent a car or find some other way to get to
Springville after you've landed in Salt Lake City.
We now have
everyone's name on the Reunion
Website, at least I hope so. Come check it out and register if you haven't
done so yet. We've tried to be inclusive so if you spent 10 or 11 years in the
Springville education system and then ducked out the last year or two, you're
still part of us. Just as you would be if you transferred to Springville in
10th grade and managed to find your way to the graduation ceremonies 3 years
later. Some rough statistics for your interest: Our graduating class numbered
approximately 200. Twenty percent of us (40 people) have died. Of the
remaining 160, half (80 people) have submitted pictures and biographies to Becky
Turner (or Bob or me) for inclusion in our memory book. Too bad we can't get
everyone. We do have obituaries or eulogies from most of those who have died. I
understand we'll have a special memorial section in the memory book for them.
We don't need that section to be any bigger,
About 25 classmates
have given me permission to copy their pictures and biographies from the Memory
Book to the Reunioin Website. Enough to show how nice it would look if everyone
submitted pictures and stories for both the web site and Memory Book.. Remember
that your phone number & address will never be available to non-members of
our class.
It's my intention to
keep the website up even after the reunion if it serves a purpose. With that in
mind, please tell me what thiiings should be on the site or what things you
think should be changed.
Arnold
Loveridge
4/30
Fellow
classmates-
This past weekend
I've been lookling over the biographies that have been submitted for our 50th HS
Reunion Memory Book. It was almost like having a brief conversation with each
of you.
Two things occurred
to me: 1) Wouldn't it be great if people could see these stories before the
reunion so they can actually talk with each other at the dinner instead of
reading the book;; and 2) If people could read this before the reunion they'll
have a lot more to talk about at the dinner. And that brings up the website.
Thirty-one of your classmates have given us permission to share the biography
and current picture they sent in on our reunion website. We have, of course,
screened out the addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses so they
cannot be accessed by anyone other than you. The exception is that you can flag
the email address for release to classmates if you desire.
If you'e like to
share your bio and picture on our website, please reply to this email and
include your initials below.
And by the way,
check out the Reunion
Website, when you get a chance.
Arnold
Loveridge
5/5
Hi Terri
Well, the time has finally come. We held the deadline open for submitting the Memory Book biographies just as long as possible. There does have to be some final proofreading and design/editing and then, of course, the printers need a little time to work their magic. And we want to make sure that the books are ready the evening of the 50th Reunion dinner - June 9, 2012.
So Terri, if you sit down right now and write up your entry for the Memory Book and send it to me by tomorrow evening (May 6, 2012), you'll be included. Otherwise, you can explain to your kids why you're not in there. Remember, this is the only 50th reunion our class will have.
So please take 20 minutes and write down what you've been doing since graduation, where you've been, who you married and how many kids you have. Your biography will almost write itself and you'll wonder why you put it off so long. And don't forget to send us recent picture of you and your spouse as well.
Arnold Loveridge
ps Call me if you have any questions (916) xxx-xxxx
5/9
You'll
be amazed! You'll be surprised! You'll be delighted!
It
has scores of contributors and dozens of pictures.
Some
stories will amuse you. Others may make you cry.
I'm
talking, of course, about the Springville High Class of 1962 Memory Book
2012
Actually,
it's not off the press yet. Becky, being the perfectionist she is, is making
final adjustments. But I've seen the work in progress and I'm impressed. Becky
has included not only the senior yearbook pictures of our class members and the
current pictures of our now Senior Citizen class members but she has also gone
back in time and included pictures from our formative years. She wants some of
these to be a surprise so I can't be specific. I'll just say that I'm sure
you'll wonder how she got hold of some of these pictures since you haven't seen
them before.
When
everyone else at the reunion is wiping the tears from their eyes while reading
their Memory Book, what will you be doing?
Email
your order today only $15 per copy.
Arnold
Loveridge
5/10
You know, I'm just a little puzzled. The final count
of contributing memory writers for our Memory Book is close to 100. But the
number of Memory Books ordered is 61, give or take a couple. Which means that
40% of our class were gracious enough (or were hounded enough) to submit a
memory page but so humble that they don't want a copy around their house for
fear their family or friends might discover their past association with the
SPRINGVILLE HIGH RED DEVILS. That can't be right.
So what will it
take to convince our fellow classmates they should order a Memory Book. (I've
ordered mine. You've ordered yours, right?)
Well what
is in our class Memory Book? In addition to all the memory pages and the surprises
I mentioned in yesterday's email, there will be a tribute to our class members
who are no longer with us (and I don't mean they've become Democrats).
Of
course there are memories, memories from almost 100 of our classmates.
I
mean where else could you find the answers to such questions
as:
Who
served in Vietnam as a combat medic until he himself had to be medivac'd out of
the war?
Who
was the only girl in her Algebra II class?
Who
worked on the costume team for the 2002 Winter Olympics?
Who
showed up in dressy top hats to take their dates to the Rivoli
theater?
Who
served on the national committee of Fight Crime, Invest in
Kids?
Remember, this
is a one-of-a-kind book with significant historical value. The Class of 1962 will never publish another
50 year Memory Book! Order one for each
of your children and prevent a nasty inheritance fight over who gets the book
when you die. Order one for your classmate who
hasn't ordered one so that he won't have to borrow yours.
Email
your order today only $15 per copy. To order your
copy (or additional copies) reply to this email with how many you want and send
a check for $15 each (plus $4 shipping if you can't pick the book(s) up at the
reunion.) Send the check to
Robert
Livingston
Thanks again,
Arnold
Loveridge
5/11
There is never enough
time at the reunion to catch up the way we'd like to . The idea of a Memory Book for our class was
conceived as a way to share with each other some of the experiences of the past
50 years. So maximum distribution to our
class members is a higher priority than selling a certain number of books. I apologize for giving the wrong impression in my previous emails.
Although the book has not come off the press
yet, we have a pretty good idea of what it looks like. Likewise, we do not have a CD-ROM yet that is
the "equivalent" of the book but we think we know how it will look and
work. There is even another medium
which may be possible and more desirable for some people. Let me try to compare the 3
possibilities:
|
|
Bound Book
|
CD-ROM
|
Internet
File
|
|
Cost/Price
|
$15
|
$2
|
Internet
charges
|
|
Advantages
|
Most portable
Easiest for EVERYONE to
use
Can be autographed and
annotated
Easiest to
read
|
Low cost
Allows for computer
searching
Easily duplicated
Good for backup
storage
Image enlargement
|
Minimal cost
No physical space
needed
Unlimited portability with
newest technology
Cannot get lost
Works on all computers with Internet
access
|
|
Disadvantages
|
Moderate cost
Old technology
Non-searchable
Image cannot be enlarged or
reduced
Easily damaged or
lost
Requires physical
storage
|
Requires equipment to
read
Subject to technology
obsolescence
Not easy to read "spur of
the moment"
Limited
portability
|
Requires Internet
connection
Requires equipment to
read
Can be withdrawn from
circulation
|
If you have used a
Kindle, a Nook, or an iPad to read an e-Book you probably have some additional
comments of your own. There is no clear
winner yet which is why I recommend all three media.
Bob is taking the final order quantity to the printer on Monday,
May 14. If you reply to this email by tomorrow evening, you can proabably still
get your order. Thanks for putting up with me.
Arnold
Loveridge
5/19
What a great way to
start the Reunion weekend! In less than 3 weeks, Mary Jane and Grant will open
their hearts and their home to the Springville High Class of 1962. Plan on
coming early and staying late or vice versa. No one's gonna keep track. Your
hands will be full of snacks and a drink so you don't even have to shake hands.
On the other hand, you might see the person you took to the senior hop, throw
your arms around each other and laugh at how time has treated you both.
Just remember the
Date: June 8
Time: 6:30
-ish
Dress: Comfy casual (if
you're not comfortable, you're not casual enough and
canyon
breezes can be chilly)
Bring: Appetite &
thirst, since drinks, snacks, and sandwiches will be
provided
Note on the enclosed
map that Houtz Ave runs behind the Palfreyman house parallel to South Canyon
Drive. Its a much better place to park.
Arnold
Loveridge
5/29
Hi, it's me again.
I'm
sure you're aware that the date selected for our reunion was not random. No,
sirree, this date was chosen so that we could ride in that grand parade which
kicks off Summer in Utah County - Art City Days!. And while you're in town you
can participate in dozens of other activities from a 5K Family Fun Run/Walk this
Saturday, June 2 to our sit-down dinner and reunion at the Art Museum Sculpture
Garden. Below is a sampling of things going on. You see we're right in the
middle of things!
Don't forget the
parade. Our flatbed trailer with luxury hay bales and hand painted signs will
be located somewhere around the Springville Stake Center and Junior High
School. The whistle blows and the bands start marching at 10:00 am so you'd
better be on board 30 to 45 minutes before then. And give yourself another 10
to 15 minutes to get lost trying to find the trailer. Come prepared for a
leisurely tour down 4th South to Main and then along Main to 200 North. Prepare
for about an hour. You can then meet up with the rest of your family there or
ride on the trailer back to where you parked your car.
Oh, and did I
mention the parade? You can watch it from the inside out this year. Sort of
like watching a play from the stage. Remember Saturday morning, on the trailer
before 9:30. If its raining bring an umbrella. If its sunny bring a parasol.
A bottle of water wouldn't hurt. But no water balloons. See you
there.
Arnold
Loveridge
6/4
When was the last
time you dragged Main Street? With the blessing of the
cops?
Here's the latest
scoop on the Art City Days parade and our part in it. Thanks,
Leon!
Just
received the parade # for the trailer. We will be # 37 out of 95. We will be
parked just north of the LDS church. It is about 600 East 245 So. The parade
starts at 10:00. We will have the trailer there at 9:00. Those wanting to ride
on the trailer should be there no later than 9:30 or 9:45. See you
Friday.
Leon
Arnold Loveridge
Leon
Arnold Loveridge
Saturday,
June 9 Grand
Parade
Reunion
Dinner
6/4 School fight song
Loyal to the
Springville High
Long may our colors
fly
Stand, the Red and
Blue passes by
Let every loyal fan
salute.
Here's to all the
victories.
Here's to the
faithful team
Let us praise the
Springville High School
And shout for the
Red and Blue.
To the coach, to the
team,
To the faculty
members we all esteem,
To the pep, to the
vim,
To the loyal
supporters who help us win,
To the red, to the
blue,
To the sportsmanship
that will pull us through,
Let's shout, let's
cheer,
Let's give nine
rah's for the best school year!
Loyal to the
Springville High
Long may our colors
fly
Stand, the Red and
Blue passes by
Let every loyal fan
salute.
Here's to all the
victories.
Here's to the
faithful team
Let us praise the
Springville High School
And shout for the
Red and Blue.
I hope you're all
looking forward to a great weekend of fellowship and reunion. Enough water has
passed under the bridge that we can all forget any unpleasant times and
just remember the best times, the BEST School Year we had at Springville High
and greet friends one and all.
Saturday evening's
affair is a time for renewing old friendships, not worrying about how many
wrinkles we've gained or haow much hair we've lost. Relax, jackets and ties are
not expected. You can arrive as early as 5:30 but dinner will be served at 7:00
to give us plenty of time to shake hands and share hugs. And yes, we may just
sing the school song sometime during the evening just because we
can.
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