Is it going to happen?
I hate to say it, but the response to another reunion has been a bit underwhelming… Dealing with real estate agents at Tahoe has not been exactly productive, either. They tend to deal in higher-end properties and condos. NOT what we’re looking for.
It’s still a year away, but I’m not as optimistic as I once was.
It seems everyone wants a reunion – in theory – but when it actually comes down to planning or going, there’s something else that gets in the way.
The concept behind a Tahoe Reunion came about because we rented a house from a friend of my brother-in-law, Mike, over my 50th birthday. (I’m going to be 57 in a few weeks, so you can see it’s been a while.) Anyway – our whole extended family was there, the house slept a bazillion people, and was cheap.
There just wasn’t enough support to return to Fort Robinson for a 4th time. The battle cry was “we can get three or four houses like the one we rented” and have the reunion at Tahoe.
Works for me… I love Tahoe. I lived there for almost 5 years (May 1976 – October 1980). I have a lot of really good (and a lot of really vague) memories of the place spanning most of my life. My email address is TahoeT, my business website is TahoeT.com. Tahoe?!? I’m there.
Except…..
Over a year after announcing a Tahoe Reunion, we still don’t have any information.
No one has been able to get a hold of the guy we originally rented from. No idea of where, no idea of costs, no idea of who really wants to go. We’ve been in contact with a couple of real estate agents, but, as stated above, $400-$500/night condo’s at Northstar that sleep 8 people each (3 br with a sofa bed) aren’t really conducive to the type of gathering we’re looking for.
I totally and completely understand that it’s nigh-on impossible to give a solid yeah or nay without better information about dates and actual costs, but the vast (and I do mean vast) majority of folks on this email list have not responded in any way, shape, or form.
I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel, but if folks are serious about having a Family Reunion, we need to start working a bit harder at getting information. The last blast email I sent out asking for feedback netted exactly one response.
So…
I’m thinking a September 1st deadline to have something more-or-less concrete in place. If we can’t get it together by then, we probably aren’t going to get it together, at all.
Comments?!?
Tahoe sounds good to me.. Lucky for everyone, I spend way too much time online so I will put forth some effort and keep you posted on what I find.. I will try to find a few options/prices but it sounds like we should go whenever we can find enough space for the least amount of money….
I will call Marianne because she lived up there for years and ask some firemen friends I have (they have a big house they use/own), I’ll make an effort to help make it happen for Tahoe. I really would love a reunion up there. Love 2 you both, Judy
Tim…..Just a note to let you all know that we are still very interested. What can I do to help……I’ll get on the internet too and see what I can come up with…..Don’t give it up just yet, Tim. Love….Betty
Jane, Maddie, Miranda, Susie, Sophie and I are in. I think if we had a couple houses or condo’s that a couple families could share (air mattresses can be used as well) then the cost is more reasonable. Anyway, we would love to go if things work out.
Ed
Not giving up, yet. I just want everyone to know what’s going on…
The Prendergasts are in. I can’t say how many yet, but at least some of us will be there.
Thanks for all your work so far Tim.
Mike
Pat and Mara Prendergast are 100% in!
So, Tim–part of the problem with not getting responses might be that a lot of us don’t seem to be getting any messages. Rita forwarded this to me. But then I might have not received them due to the fact that I didn’t respond after you shot me down when I suggested that my sister’s wouldn’t be able to afford Tahoe and that the next generation wouldn’t be able to either. Your response was that you didn’t care about the next generation and that if someone really wanted to go they would save and find a way. Well, when you have kids in College and kids in Catholic schools saving isn’t always a reality. Mike and I would probably make it due to the fact that our daughter lives in Reno and we go to see her often as it is. But I want to be able to see cousins and their children too.
Tim, know that I realize what you are trying to do and that I appreciate it , but Tahoe may just be too expensive for a lot of people. Beth
Hi Beth!
Well… I’m glad Rita forwarded this to you. Seems you may not have been receiving the missives – not because I was feeling snarky – but because I have been sending them to your .cox email address. I’m sure there are lots of current email addresses I don’t have, just as my Christmas Card list has dwindled down from not knowing so many folks have moved.
I have been relying on others to forward stuff and get help the information out and that was pretty much the reason I started this – one-stop shopping where everyone could get the same information.
I’m sorry if I came off abrupt.
I’m finding that the reality is that folks like the concept of a family reunion, but life is just getting in the way.
I have known since first proposing this that some folks would not be able to attend and the location was not going to work for some. That’s just the way of things. We’re looking to try and coordinate 28 cousins and their spouses or significant others, and I have no idea how many offspring they have.
I can’t keep up with my own 13 nieces and nephews and their spouses and kids – I can’t even fathom how many are in the rest of the family, and if they’re under 20, I’ve probably never met them.
And that’s pretty much why my first priority really has been *our* generation and up. On the other hand, I’ve probably gotten a better response from the next generation than I have my own… Go figure…
2 years ago when I first sent out feelers about a 2010 reunion (still thinking Fort Robinson at the time) I received almost no response – except a few who did not want to go back to FR. I asked for family updates and even had an online form that was easy to fill out. The same three people filled it out. From the very beginning, I have not heard from the majority of the 28 cousins.
At my father’s funeral, the overwhelming choice from relatives was to go to Tahoe. People knew people who had affordable houses, etc… I was resistive, but finally changed direction and said “Let’s Do It”. Two attempts at another Fort Robinson reunion had already failed.
That was met with one email that stated “Tahoe is too expensive so we’re not going,” your email, a couple that graciously explained why they wouldn’t be able to attend (generation up from ours) and a few others that were supportive.
Subsequent emails I’ve sent out asking for information have been met with almost total silence.
And as I write this I have no more information about Tahoe than I did a year ago. People have not been forthcoming with information, the realtors that have been contacted all seem to deal in condos or high-end homes, and I don’t have the vaguest idea how many beds we would need or how much they would cost.
I’m going to see my siblings in Portland in a couple of weeks, but I’m really not holding out a lot of hope that this is going to come off…
And, that’s okay. I’m disappointed, but let’s face it, things are a lot different since those first reunions. We went for our parents, and most of them are now gone. We’ve grown too unwieldy. There’s just too many today to try and lock down to one place and time.
We’ll still cross paths when we can and take heart in knowing that we’re all together in thought.
That’s pretty good.
I would prefer Fort Rob because as as semi retired teacher it would be easier for me. As another option Barb and I would be willing to plan an Omaha reunion. We could come up with a reasonably priced option with plyenty to do. You might be surprised at what Omaha has to offer these days.
Hi all,
How about somewhere in between Nebraska and California. I found this place in Estes Park, Colorado and it can handle our size group. The prices so far look within range of what we can handle. Worth exploring?
http://www.elkhornlodge.org/groups.html
I am all for any place! What say you, family?!?
Marci, That is a pretty good find also.
Jim and I are open to Estes Park (#1 choice) Ft. Robinson #2 and Tahoe #3. Jay and his wife Jennifer are stationed in Missouri for the next 2 years and I think it would be easier for them to get to choices 1 &2. Just let us know what the consensus is by November as Jim puts in for 2010 vacation at that time.
Mary
Thanks Tim for the effort
I wanted Tahoe,but if not I wanted Fort Rob. Mostly because I wanted to show my grandkids the history of the midwest. You know brother,I’ll go whereever!!!!!!!!