There will be SKYPE-ing!

Dear 209’ers:

The 50th Reunion is soon upon us. And I will join many of you who are looking forward to getting together.

For classmates who cannot attend, we will set aside times to SKYPE into the April 25th luncheon. You would need to be available on Saturday, April 25th from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Saving time!).

If you wish to join us by SKYPE, please send the following information to Pauline Schwartz at pschwartz@newhaven.edu by Tuesday, April 21: Name, SKYPE address and email address.

We will try to accommodate as many classmates as possible with the time slots and computers available.

All the best,
Pauline Schwartz
On behalf of the Organizing Committee

Reunion updates and details

Dear Classmates,
Here is additional information about the reunion events on Saturday 25 April. All events are either at the Ritz Hotel or within walking distance of the Ritz.

• LUNCHEON 12-4 p.m. Ritz Carlton Hotel
• Valet Parking at the Ritz: any time period during the day $27 (plus tax); overnight $41 (plus tax). For other options, Google “Parking near 10 Avenue of the Arts, Phila.”
• The luncheon will be held in the Petit Ballroom on the 2nd floor. As you enter the hotel lobby, look for the registration area on the right and beyond it there are stairs and an elevator going directly to the Ballroom.
• There will be Skyping with classmates who cannot be at the luncheon. If you wish to participate, we will have computers set up for you to talk and see them from noon to 12:45 p.m. Plan to be there a little early to sign on.
• Registration will be set up in the foyer in front of the Petit Ballroom, 2nd floor. Please sign in and get your name badge and additional written information depending on what other events you may have signed up for on your RSVP.
• Dietary restrictions you reported on your RSVP have been communicated to the hotel kitchen. Identify yourself and your needs to your server at the luncheon table.
• Cocktail Party will be held at classmate Emmy Salzman Cooke’s house from 6—8 p.m. For those of you who RSVPed you were coming to the party, you will receive walking or parking instructions when you register at the luncheon.
• Dinner reservations at a group of nearby restaurants can be arranged by calling at least three days ahead to the hotel concierge at 215.523.8212.
• After Party will be held from 8—10 p.m. in an area reserved for our group in the Lobby of the Ritz Hotel. Snacks and drinks are available at their cash bar.

Questions? Call Linda Klevit Hahn at 215.413.2232 or email Mary Cogan Frankel at mcfrankel@comcast.net See you soon!

Last minute update

Here is one of the last updates concerning our 50th reunion, April 24—26.

The Ritz Carlton has extended the deadline for rooms at the group discount to Friday 10 April. After that date, all remaining rooms in the block will be released. Take advantage of this opportunity if you have not already. Details on how to reserve online or over the telephone are on our website: girlshigh209reunion.blogspot.com

For those of you who are coming, advance reservations for dinner on Saturday are recommended as the city will be jumping with activity. The concierge at the Ritz Carlton has made tentative reservations at 6:30 pm on Saturday for tables of four and six guests in advance at a variety of restaurants (cuisine and price) within walking distance of the hotel.

For 4
Rouge
Sampan
Alma De Cuba
Estia
Marathon Grill
Sbraga

For 6
Barclay Prime
Jones
Pietros
Raw Sushi and Sake

Contact a few classmates, make a plan and call it in to the concierge at the direct number: 215-523-8212. You can discuss the choices he made or ask for a specific restaurant you prefer for any number of guests at any time. All your wishes will be handled. The tentative reservations made by the concierge for our group will be released if not taken by Wednesday 22 April.

That’s all for now. The plans are in place and the facilities are fantastic. Many pleasures and surprises are in store for the weekend. Our group is over 100 strong! To whet your appetite, here are a few pictures from past reunions (thanks to Gwen Gay Williams): http://girlshigh209reunion.blogspot.com/p/photos.html.

We can sneak in a few more classmates in the next couple weeks if your calendar has miraculously opened up. Join us.
Questions? Call Linda Klevit Hahn at 215.530.7151 

or email Mary Cogan Frankel at mcfrankel@comcast.net.
See you soon!

Historic Opportunity!

The reunion committee is looking for a 209er who might be a history buff, to put together a short synopsis of the main historical events that took place from 1961 to 1965, to share with us at the reunion. We have a volunteer who has agreed to create a 60s music compilation, and if we could round out the program with a brief history review, that would be a gas, a blast, far out, hip, keen, neat and cool! Please contact Mary Cogan Frankel if you'd like to volunteer. You could also send a note using the form on the home page. Thanks!

Girls High Girls!

Thanks to Gwen Gay Williams.

Gwen Gay Williams has generously offered to make name tags for the reunion luncheon — complete with each of our photos from the yearbook along with our name and the event, 50th year reunion, and the dates. Many people had suggested that we do it but no one wanted to take on the task until Gwen offered without even being asked. Above is a collection of the tags she has finished for class members who have registered.

Deadline for registration extended

Dear 209ers,
It is early March and there is still time to RSVP that you are coming to our 50th reunion, from Friday April 24 through Sunday 26, 2015 in center city Philadelphia. The weekend is full of activities with time to reunite with classmates coming together from around the country and around the world.

• Friday is a visit to our alma mater on Broad Street to see the Winged Victory still standing and meet with the principal.
• Saturday afternoon is the big event, the reunion luncheon at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, sharing a meal and the afternoon with the entire group.
• Saturday evening is more relaxed with informal get-togethers at classmates’ homes in center city.
• Sunday is a pay-your-own-way brunch at the Bourse Building in Olde City prior to guided museum tours of either the African American Museum or the Jewish Museum, both nearby.

UPDATES:

• The RSVP deadline is being extended until the end of March to accommodate all comers. But please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.
• The Ritz Carlton Hotel has expanded our room reservation block for both Friday and Saturday nights at our group’s discounted rate of $249. If you tried before to reserve and could not, try again. But do it soon as when these rooms are committed there will be no more at this rate. The rate is only available until March 25, assuming there are rooms left by that date.

A robust group of classmates have already signed on, and more are letting us know that they are on their way. The RSVP deadline is being extended until the end of March to accommodate all comers. But please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.

New slide show!

Gwen Williams has provided 65 photos from previous reunions, and I added five of my photos, to create a slideshow. You can see it by clicking on the photos tab above.