Kally Klose of Aurora wouldn`t dream of missing a high school reunion. In fact, she has attended the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th and is eagerly looking forward to her 50th reunion this fall.
A 1942 graduate of East Aurora High School, Klose said all the reunions have been wonderful.
”We`ve always had good turnouts,” Klose said. ”We`ve had no trouble getting committees to do the work either. In fact, every reunion has been headed up by a different group of people.”
Klose said that her class of about 350 graduates has a special bond. At their June graduation in 1942, World War II was quickly escalating and the future looked very uncertain.
”There were many classmates who were absent at graduation because they had already left for the service,” Klose said. ”We were really glad to see each other at our fifth reunion.”
Through the years Klose has not only attended the reunions but also has frequently served as committee member. She has accumulated a lot of tips as to what makes reunions successful.
At the top of the list is making people feel welcome.
”Lots of people come without a spouse, so we try to plan activities that fit the single person as well as the couple,” Klose said. ”We reassure the single person they won`t be alone.”
In order to provide a warm welcome, callers telephone classmates encouraging them to come, committee members greet classmates as they arrive, and at dinner only background music is provided. No dance bands.
”Dancing makes the single person feel very single, very alone,” Klose said. ”We`re too old to dance anyway. We just want to sit and visit.”
As chairwoman of her 45th reunion, Klose initiated a dinner table game that involved identifying detailed photos of old haunts where they hung out as kids.
”It was like the stock market,” Klose said. ”Old men were jumping up and down waving their hands with the answers. It was a great mixer.”
Klose has also found keeping events local adds to the fun.
”For our 50th we`re having cocktails on the stage of the Paramount Arts Centre,” Klose said. ”We all used to go there to see the big-time movies.” Klose said that the reunions have been so successful that classmates call a year in advance, even before any information has gone out, to get dates in order to plan vacation times around them. They also come from throughout the country.
”We make it a big three-day event,” Klose said. ”When people come so far, a little chicken dinner on Saturday night doesn`t do it.”
Klose said one of the best parts about a reunion is the nostalgia of going back.
”Some friends can pick up as though it was yesterday,” Klose said.
”Those are real friends. They`ve maintained strong feelings for each other over all the years.”
