Mendota Heights, MN August 15, 2025
Dear Classmates of Waukesha High School Class of 1971,
Over the past 55 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching, mostly from the sidelines, as our class reunions came to life. While my name may have appeared on a few committee lists over the years, I’d be overstating my role if I claimed to have contributed much. Truthfully, I’ve been more of an observer than a participant.
But from that vantage point, I witnessed something remarkable.
Time and again, a dedicated group of classmates stepped up to plan and organize our reunions. They worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to create events where we could come together in a warm, welcoming setting, rekindle friendships, and share stories from long ago. The turnouts have been consistently strong, and I hope you've enjoyed these gatherings as much as I have.
What you may not know is how these reunions were financed.
After our first reunion, a refund was issued due to the venue falling short of expectations. The committee decided to invest that refund to help support future reunions but there was a minimum amount required to open the account. So, each committee member contributed funds. Still short, they went around the table again and gave more, and the investment was made.
This fund became the financial backbone for future reunions. It allowed the committee to:
After the 50th reunion, most of the funds were used and for good reason. The goal was to make that milestone celebration truly memorable, and to keep the price reasonable so that as many classmates as possible could attend. If you were there, I’m sure you’ll agree, it was grand.
We’ve all seen examples in life of money being mishandled, in everything from government to youth sports. But that has never been the case with our reunion committee. Their financial stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, a model of transparency, teamwork, and trust.
To my knowledge, no other high school class, not in Waukesha or anywhere else, has planned and funded reunions quite like ours. It’s something to be proud of, and I hope you’ll join me in thanking the people who made it possible.
While the committee has evolved over the years, the original members were:
Diane Hasslinger-Stewart, Peggy Bohrman-Eckart, Linda Miller-Congemi, Diane Price-Marx, Linda Schirmacher-Finn, Jamie Smith-Carlson, Ann Terlinden, and Bob “Mike” Stewart.
Please thank them and all who have served, when you see them at our 55th reunion.
Best wishes always,
Jerry Slater
Dear Classmates of Waukesha High School Class of 1971,
Over the past 55 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching, mostly from the sidelines, as our class reunions came to life. While my name may have appeared on a few committee lists over the years, I’d be overstating my role if I claimed to have contributed much. Truthfully, I’ve been more of an observer than a participant.
But from that vantage point, I witnessed something remarkable.
Time and again, a dedicated group of classmates stepped up to plan and organize our reunions. They worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to create events where we could come together in a warm, welcoming setting, rekindle friendships, and share stories from long ago. The turnouts have been consistently strong, and I hope you've enjoyed these gatherings as much as I have.
What you may not know is how these reunions were financed.
After our first reunion, a refund was issued due to the venue falling short of expectations. The committee decided to invest that refund to help support future reunions but there was a minimum amount required to open the account. So, each committee member contributed funds. Still short, they went around the table again and gave more, and the investment was made.
This fund became the financial backbone for future reunions. It allowed the committee to:
- Cover upfront expenses (like venue deposits, postage, and supplies),
- Provide a cushion in case turnout was overestimated, and
- Reduce the cost for each attendee.
After the 50th reunion, most of the funds were used and for good reason. The goal was to make that milestone celebration truly memorable, and to keep the price reasonable so that as many classmates as possible could attend. If you were there, I’m sure you’ll agree, it was grand.
We’ve all seen examples in life of money being mishandled, in everything from government to youth sports. But that has never been the case with our reunion committee. Their financial stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, a model of transparency, teamwork, and trust.
To my knowledge, no other high school class, not in Waukesha or anywhere else, has planned and funded reunions quite like ours. It’s something to be proud of, and I hope you’ll join me in thanking the people who made it possible.
While the committee has evolved over the years, the original members were:
Diane Hasslinger-Stewart, Peggy Bohrman-Eckart, Linda Miller-Congemi, Diane Price-Marx, Linda Schirmacher-Finn, Jamie Smith-Carlson, Ann Terlinden, and Bob “Mike” Stewart.
Please thank them and all who have served, when you see them at our 55th reunion.
Best wishes always,
Jerry Slater
