Photos Provided by Tyler Core, HSE High School Class of 2003 Alum & Owner of Headshots With Tyler Core!

Coming up on a class reunion year? Wondering if you want to take on the responsibility of planning that event so you can connect with old friends?

If you are considering coordinating your upcoming reunion take some advice from an alum who recently did just that.

Hamilton Southeastern High School Class of 2003 alums, Lindsay Schnarr and Lynda Raheema, decided they wanted to plan their 20th reunion celebration. Lindsay says she knew she wanted to keep it fairly simple and also didn't want to charge classmates for the event. Those two things were important as she embarked on her reunion planning journey.  

Here Lindsay offers thoughts, ideas, perspective and advice that could be very beneficial for anyone thinking about embarking on the reunion planning journey.

Reunion planners Lindsay (left) and Lynda (right) at their HSE High School Class of 2003 20th Reunion

Tigers Royals Alumni Network had the privilege of meeting Hamilton Southeastern High School Class of 2003 alum Lindsay Schnarr, who recently reached out to us to talk about plans for a 20th reunion. After our initial discussion and with a few of her questions answered, she proceeded with plans for a wonderful celebration for her and her classmates at a local establishment.  

After the reunion we asked Lindsay some questions about her reunion planning journey in hopes of helping others who might be willing and able to take on that task for their own upcoming reunions for HSE High School or Fishers High School. Below are her responses. We hope that in her answers you find some ideas for your own upcoming reunion celebration!

What prompted you to take the lead on reunion planning for the HSE High School Class of 2003?

It started with a Facebook post, and I tagged over 100 classmates. A lot of people seemed very interested, and so I just took it on from there.

Where/When was the event held?  How long was the event and what were the hours?

The event was July 8th starting at 3pm with no end time. We held it at Free Spirit Bar and Lounge (21 and up).

 Was there a cost for classmates to attend?

We prioritized making it a free event, so we found a venue with no fee.

How much did it cost to put on the event?  Did you donate personally and/or find others who were willing to help?

I would say the event cost around $500-$600. Lynda and I split the cost of the event. We both own businesses and have sponsored events before. We did not ask anyone for money.

Did the HSEHS Class of 2003 have any money left in the class fund to offset some of the cost and how were you able to find out this information?

I asked a couple of folks who were referred to me by your group, and they said there were no funds available.

What was the final number of classmates who were able to attend?

I don’t have an exact number, but I would say around 50 people.

How did you spread the word about the reunion?  Did you have a list of classmates?

No list, we only used social media (Facebook event invite) and allowed everyone to invite other friends from our class. Definitely encouraged everyone to spread the word.

Describe the event in your own words.

A casual gathering at a bar in which we had a space reserved for us and decorated to celebrate the event. We had cupcakes, nametags, senior photos hung up, and a classmate who volunteered to professionally photograph the event! Some stayed out all night and moved over to Joe’s Grille for karaoke! It was a wonderful time with many hugs, laughs, and reconnections. We had attendance from all over the country!

What are some things that you feel went well?

The event space was perfect. They were amazing with service and help setting up.  We were very happy with the turnout and the overall event, and everyone gave us very positive feedback and were very appreciative to Lynda and me for putting it together!

What were some challenges you faced during the planning or execution of the event?

The only challenge was short notice...giving people more time to plan to come to the event. Had I known I would be planning it, I would have locked in the date in the spring to make sure we were able to have even more people attend.

If you were to take on the responsibility of planning the next reunion, what would you change/do differently?

Just plan a little earlier. That’s it!

What advice would you give to other alumni who might be thinking about helping to plan a reunion for their class?

Keep it casual and make it easy for people to attend. Keep it free. Make it easy on yourself as far as setup and cleanup.  And be sure you reach out to as many people as possible, or have help doing so!

How do you feel the Tigers Royals Alumni Network could best help in the planning of class reunions? What would be helpful?

Other than any funds they could help us find, I think having a collective group on social media/email where we can notify class members of upcoming events would be the biggest help. I wasn’t interested in doing fundraising with our class, so if that’s an option, it would help future classes in the event they do not have anyone willing to pay out of pocket.

Anything else you would like to add?

We were extremely happy with how it all went! Can’t wait to do it again in 5 years!

Interested in helping to plan your next class reunion? Please reach out to Jill McEldowney ([email protected]) at the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation with questions on how to get started.