50th Reunions
It is your 50th Reunion! Can you believe it?
Thank you for your willingness to be part of your class’s 50th Reunion Committee. We at the Office of Advancement strive to make the reunion planning and fundraising experience as easy and stress-free as possible for our volunteers.
Engagement and the Annual Giving team work together on all aspects of the 50th reunion. In order for all class volunteers to build excitement and energy to attend reunion as well as give to the reunion gift, all class volunteers will meet via zoom periodically throughout the planning and fundraising process after the conclusion of your 45th reunion.
Planning and fundraising for your 50th reunion begins just before your 45th reunion with the recruitment and selection of new class officers to lead your class to the 50th reunion. It is important to build a team of volunteers focused on various parts of the 50th reunion.
Event co-chairs will coordinate all of the committee’s efforts and communicate details to the Engagement team. Fund co-chairs will do the same for fundraising efforts.
The following committees are recommended to achieve a successful 50th reunion.
Committees who work closely with the event chairs:
- Mini Reunions and Outreach
- Reunion Book
- Meals
- Programming
- Favors
- General and Social Media Outreach
Committees who work closely with the fund chairs:
- Gift Planning
- Special projects
- Stewardship
- Participation/Outreach
Reunion Planning Guidelines
Four Years Out
- Establish committee structure, recruit for the committees
- Determine attendance and fundraising goals with the assistance of Engagement and Annual Giving
- Create a strategic plan for outreach to encourage classmates to return to campus for the weekend and give to the reunion gift
Three Years Out
- Establish Reunion weekend budget
- Will there be favors?
- Will you create a reunion book?
- Will it be printed or electronic? Will you require a designer?
- What will classmates pay for? (Typically: food/beverage, Reunion book, overnight accommodations, favors)
- What will the treasury (if applicable) pay for? (Typically: decor, entertainment, audio visual needs, transportation from hotels, favors)
- Offer mini-reunions (via zoom or in person)
Two Years Out
- Outline a schedule for Reunion Weekend
- 50th Reunion Programming and Schedule
- Thursday: Registration opens at 2:00 p.m., possible programming begins at 4:00 p.m. followed by a reception and dinner, traditionally at Alumnae House
- Friday: Class programming in the morning, lunch, college-produced programs in the afternoon, class reception and dinner in the evening
- Saturday: Parade and Celebrate Vassar, class lunch and meeting, class memorial service, college-produced programs in the afternoon, followed by multicultural and affinity receptions, class reception and dinner, ending with the all class dance party
- Sunday: Service of Remembrance, dorms close at 12 p.m.
- 50th Reunion Programming and Schedule
- Meal Planning
- Identify preferred campus venues for meals
- Is there a preferred caterer? (NOTE: Caterers are assigned to specific campus venues for the entire weekend)
- Entertainment during meals (music: live or playlists)
- Décor and centerpieces
- Develop ideas for class-specific programming/activities
- What interests your class?
- Are there members of your class who should be featured individually or as part of a panel in a classroom lecture?
- Are there faculty members you would like to feature in programming? Connect with Vassar’s classroom lecture coordinator
One Year Out
- Engagement blocks rooms at off-site hotels
- Finalize budgets (treasury/individuals)
- Favors are selected and confirmed
- Menus, prices are finalized with caterers
- Class specific programs are finalized
- Registration details are confirmed for printed version
- Overall 50th reunion schedule is finalized and prepared for printed version
- Fundraising Challenges?
- Outreach, outreach, outreach