Departure

We are leaving in a few minutes. We can be most easily reached by phone 248-230-0466 or 248-318-0386.

As we just got back from a camping trip with our grandaughter Nadia and daughter (Amanda Ronis, '00) it struck us:
*Michigan is incredibly beautiful and it is sad that so many of our alums have had to leave. This sadness is off-set a bit by the group of young Roeperians who have stayed in the area (especially those who have moved into Detroit).
*The warmth of the Roeper family. While "up-north" we stopped in to see our old friend Sally Booth (former teacher, alumni parent, former Board member, Mariann BFF, and community mainstay). Her hospitality and fondness to talk about Roeper is typical of many who have been and are members of our community. I know she reads this blog so "Hi & Thanks, Sally."

This Grand Tour will give us a chance to reconnect and catch up with folks while also becoming acquainted with some we have never had the pleasure of meeting. If there is any chance you can make any of the reunions, please do so. Please call us if you have any questions.

In advance, I want to thank my co-pilot, purser, main organizer, quartermaster and sweetie who not only agrees to crazy ideas like a 6000 mile road trip but does so with energy and good humor.


Lastly, I would like to introduce the third member of our crew. The Development Office folks gave me a stuffed squirrel that chatters cutely when squeezed. Like a certain ubiquitous travelling gnome, it is our intention to take photos of this critter across the nation, seeing the sights and posing with alums.

So here is your Grand Tour team including Hinstrum (this is the old name for our stream area beloved by all those who were on the Bloomfield campus. In true Roeper fashion, there is a debate about this spelling versus "Hindstrum"). Andrew Brock just walked in and suggested we solicit name suggestions. At first, I resisted as I didn't want to confuse Hinstrum with a name change but since he already has a problem with two different spelling of his name and since stuffed squirrels are not normally prone to identity crisises, we welcome any suggestions for his name.

Chicago gathering tonight at 7:00 at Tegan's, 4656 N. Beacon, Chicago, 60640-7013.

Hopefully, photos of it will be up some time this weekend.

Possible discussion questions and topics for the GT gatherings

I have been asking current Roeperians, alumni and startled strangers on the street what they think I should ask or tell the alums at the Grand Tour.  Here is what I have so far:

The state of the school today - how's ole' Roeper doing.  What are its challenges?

How did Roeper prepare or didn't prepare for life after leaving?

Have you been able to take your Roeper values to the outside world and do anything with them or is the outside world just too different?

If you were developing a school or curriculum for a crazy, rapidly changing world, what would you propose?

What do the alums think would help reconnecting them back to Roeper?

What can alums do for Roeper and what can Roeper do for its alums?


What do you suggest?

Why a Grand Tour?

In this age of social media and instant communication, why drive 6000 miles?  The easy answer is that nothing will ever replace face-to-face and personal contact however useful and needed are electronic connections.  I want to shake some hands, get some hugs and hold some babies.  Seeing the passions displayed while people talk about Roeper isn't quite the same on Skype.  I'm planning on getting animated and passionate discussions going and those are best when humans are nose-to-nose and can experience each other's body language and facial expressions.

In addition, we will be bringing yearbooks and Roeper swag for you all.  You can send back anything you want displayed at Annemarie's memorial on August 25.  Artworks, essays, photos, whatever will be on display that day.

In terms of why drive, it is a matter of economics.   Flying two of us to a city and then another and then another and so on is a lot more expensive.  And it doesn't lets us stop in smaller cities which might have one or two Roeperians.

Which brings me another point - are there individuals not in large cities who want the Grand Tour to come to your hamlet.   The Bistaks in Lawrence are a perfect example.    If you live anywhere along the route    (Chicago to Twin Cities across N.Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Seattle, Portland,  Bay Area, SoCal, Phoenix, Santa-Fe, Denver, St. Louis, Detroit) and you just can't make to the already established gathering sites, why not request we stop and see you.  It might not work but it might.

Be sure to watch the FB Roeper alumni page to stay informed of Grand Tour  news.

If you need to contact me, I do best with phone 248-230-0466 and email  emery.pence@roeper.org

Announcing the Grand Tour Blog!

Folks: Follow this blog starting June 28 as Linda and I travel the western U.S. holding alumni gatherings.

Please send me any questions or topics for the discussions we will hold at the gatherings.


THE GRAND TOUR: Coming to a western U.S. city near you will be the Roeper Alumni Grand Tour. After loading van with yearbooks, Roeper swag, questions and words of wisdom from new Head David Feldman, Linda and I will be going to
(I have removed the addresses of private homes for privacy reasons that I should have realized before publishing them here originally.  Please consult the Roeper FB page for more details or call (248-230-0466) or email (emery.pence@roeper.org ).  Addresses are also to be found in email newsletter the Roeper Alumni News.
Chicago Friday, June 29   7:00-9:00 PM (Liz and Randall Dunn will be joining us)

Minneapolis/St. Paul Sunday, July 1 Pad Thai Grand Cafe 1681 Grand Ave, Saint Paul MN 55105 6:00-8:00 PM

Seattle, Thursday, July 6 Alki Beach Park, 1702 Alki SW Seattle, WA 98116 (Shelter 1) 6:00-9:00 PM

Portland, Saturday July 7 Jenny Ohno's,   3:00-7:00 (a backyard barbeque)

San Francisco/Oakland/Bay Area Tuesday, July 10 . We can't get a restaurant or other venue until we get a better idea of numbers but we can promise you a place near BART in SF. 7:00-10:00 PM .
If you are interested in a Palo Alto, San Jose, Mountain View July 11 area gathering because you just can't make it up to SF on July 10, please call or email me immediately.

L.A. & SoCa Saturday, July 14 . Robyn Scott , '00,and I are still looking for a venue. Here is Robyn now with a message for all those Lotusland folks: The Southern California Reunion is July 14th, 2012 at a TBD restaurant at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, CA. There is ample parking and entrance is free. Please feel free to contact me on Facebook for more details as they come. We encourage Roeperites from all generations to join us!
Cheers!
Robyn Scott Class of 2000

If anybody is in San Diego and would want to host on the 15th, please call me immediately.

Phoenix, Tuesday, July 17 Peggy & Jared Klein's     6:00-8:00 PM

Sante Fe & Northern NM,, July 20,      6:00-9:00 PM

Denver, July 22 .  Chad's Bar & Grille, 275 Union Dr., Lakewood, CO 80228.  5:00-8:00 pm

Lawrence, Kansas July 24 Bistak's. We think it is just going to be the Bistaks and us but please call me at 248-230-0466 if you are in the area on the 24th.

St. Louis July 25 The Boathouse Restaurant, 6101 Government Dr. in Forest Park 6:00-8:00 PM

NOTES OF IMPORTANCE ON GRAND TOUR REUNIONS:
* All meals are paid for. We just want to see you.
*My phone number is 248-230-0466. Linda's is 248-318-0386.
* We would like "soft RSVP's" which means we would like for you to tell us you are coming but if you don't and show up anyway, we will still give you a hug.
* Apparently, there is something called a "blog" which we are going to be doing while on this Grand Tour. You can follow us as we travel to find the soul of America, seek the perfect piece of pie, tell folks in the middle of Montana why they should move to Michigan to enroll their kids at Roeper, catch up with a lot of old friends and make some new ones. http://roeperalumnireunions.blogspot.com/