The Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel in Northbrook has offered us a discounted room rate for the whole weekend of $99.00 per night.

I need to let them know how many rooms we would like to put into that discounted block for each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The hotel is willing to hold now, pursuant to a written contract, up to 30 rooms per night without any obligation to our group (so far that's me -- would anyone else care to write some checks?).

The 30 rooms would be a courtesy block and individual guests would have until 3 weeks prior (September 20, 2013) in which to make their reservations at the discounted rate.

If we need more than 30 rooms we could hold them with an additional contract, or I believe (and will confirm) that guests can now make reservations at the discounted rate, by booking directly through the hotel and mentioning the Reunion.  Call (847) 498-6500.

If there is anyone out there who claims specialized expertise in EVENT PLANNING call me or shoot me an email at kmaynardesq@gmail.com and I will share with you the contract I need to sign BY THIS COMING TUESDAY as to food and drink options.  Perhaps I will post it for cumment if I find time.

If left to my own devices, I will go plain vanilla all the way. . . .  After all, no one attends a reunion for the rubber chicken, and no one insists on Veuve Clicot when Korbel extra brut tastes just as good (after the first glass).

In any event, our STEERING COMMITTEE (or me) needs to start making some decisions that will affect cost -- and the amount that we will ask each attendee to contribute.

Is $100 per person too much?  Too little?  If we get $100/head and 300 people show up that would seem to provide enough cash to go all out on entertainment, subject to an understanding that any excess is refunded, donated to charity, or used to buy a Class Gift for the now-unified New Trier.

That raises another issue . . . do we want to do a class gift?  If so what?