Coming from me, you can about guess it pertains to the Falls High Alumni Newsletter.
Issue No. 55 was mailed in mid-August —about three weeks ago. Hopefully, if you are a subscriber, yours arrived, you got some pleasure out of reading it and you are seriously thinking of sending some news or writing an essay or poem — no grade expected, as when you had Miss Sture, Mrs. Hoppert, Mr. Aker, and the dozens of English teachers who followed them. Maybe send a picture? Historic or from the summer of '09 and the class gatherings.
I've gathered the International Falls Bass Championship winners — three cheers for Falls folks! John Cann, '79, and I became acquainted when we both taught the same classes at the two Burnsville junior high schools — keyboarding and general business — he coachedat the high school and yes, (for you who know me) I did the scorekeeping for basketball ,volleyball and worked track meets. Basically, we taught on manual typewriters except for a few wearing-out electrics that came down from the high school. Another day I'll tell you how that worked out.
Well, about 70 plus issues from No. 55 came back —some with updated addresses and more without. We send out over 2,200, so some of you will think that is pretty good — well, I don't agree! We pay to get them back and pay first class charges to send 'em out again. As noted in issue No. 55, retrieving costs and re-sending costs (when possible) have gone up as has sending them out the first time, cartridges, and mailing supplies.
Labor costs are non-existent — thanks to Red, Tammy Lyon, '85, with her computer expertise and David Thomas, '53, who manages our data base and label printing down in St. Paul. Most issues bring in workers who tape, label and haul — and often they have last names like Gust or Simon — Joe/Mary Nell and relatives. My February winter drivers (and haulers to the post office) have been Jim Nelson, '60, and the late Bob Frederickson, '58, who will really be missed five months from now. You need to know that this is far from a one-person operation now in year 14. (And how would I survive without help from the post office crew!)
It is impossible to list those who share their writing or photography talents — or photos from back when — and those who give suggestions for stories or ask for some publicity help for an upcoming event. Well, this could go on but issue No. 56, due out about October 16-19, is in progress and I need to get back to that. There is talk about putting each issue on the Internet. In fact, most of issue No. 55 is there now! I haven't seen it yet.
Are you hearing any talk about an All Class Reunion in the next five years — 2010-2015? If so, let's spread the word.
Please get in those summer of '09 reunion stories and pictures that have not been shared, any advance dates for reunions planned for 2010, trips, weddings, grandchildren, fund raisers coming up, original essays and poetry, pictures you'd like to share, etc. If I'm buried with material, that is great as I will fly home in February to do issue No. 57. Remember Christmas letters — highlighted by you — are very welcome.
Our address after mid-October is 906 Sylvan Boulevard, Hendersonville, NC 28791. E-mail is janet.schultheis@yahoo.com.
Thanks to all who help in any way. (And especially to my husband, who tolerates the mess I create, is the world's fastest triple taper, does all the cooking all the time and I haven't driven one block in the state of North Carolina! I do drive to Curves here — there is something about my going there at 6 a.m. that he thinks I can manage by myself!)
I'll be waiting to hear from many of you with your contributions. Enjoy fall,
