Grads say they’d do it again for the next reunion
From the results of our survey of ’63 grads who attended the 45-year reunion on July 19, it’s quite clear that respondents would show up in 2013 and that they’d be willing to get together in an airplane hangar again.
Sixty-nine percent of grads said that they would for sure attend a 50-year event, while another 25 percent said they were quite likely to be there. As for a venue, 41 percent said they’d prefer it in an airplane hangar. The reunion was held this time at Airlake Airport in Lakeville, hosted by classmates Bruce and Joni Nyberg Jorgensen, who own the 60-by-70-foot structure.
While 41 percent echoed an interest in doing the hangar again, the second-highest sampling of students, 17 percent, didn’t answer the question about a preferred venue. The third-most responses were for a hotel or motel ballroom, 10 percent.
In addition, 12 classmates signed a suggestion sheet that the 50-year be held at the Wabasha Street Caves, an event hall and bar in the sandstone cave system across from downtown St. Paul. Well, when the time comes, we’re sure that the site will be considered.
Forty-eight grads filled out the survey, which doesn’t sound like much of a representative sample from a class of 680 students. But keep in mind that the great majority of our classmates don’t come anyway. The experts put our margin of error at plus or minus 14 percent, and even that statistic wouldn’t bring into question much of our survey results.
For instance, 74 percent responded that the hangar, which sits at roughly 220th St. and Cedar Av., was at a location that was a welcome break from high-traffic areas. Only 10 percent said that it was too far out of the central metro area. Asked if BYOB had been a good idea in 2008, 94 percent responded yes.
The most equally divided opinions were on the maximum amount that grads would expect to pay in 2013. The biggest group, 23 percent, left the question blank. Nineteen percent said $30-$35, 15 percent said $70-$75 and 12 percent each said $40-$45 and $60-$65.
Also, interestingly, 40 percent said yes to an interest in helping plan the 2013 get-together. Two respondents didn’t supply their names, but they’ll get their chance to step forward when the reunion committee starts meeting, probably early in 2012.
For complete survey results, click here (PDF). You’ll be able to see that the 45-year reunion was very-well received. A total of nearly 150 grads and guests attended.
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