"FIFTY-FIFTY" REUNION PLAN SUCCEEDS AT CORNELL

An article in a recent issue of the Cornell Alumni News describes a reunion plan conceived and successfully executed last year by the Cornell class of 1916 which is attracting the attention of many college graduates. Princeton and Yale had previously experimented with the idea but had underwritten it in order to insure its success. The first step of the Cornell 1916 reunion committee was to gather data and to determine how much the project would cost and what assessment would have to be made. Following this initial step the procedure of the plan as described by the Alumni News was as follows:

Through the cooperation of the Alumni Representative's office, figures were procured showing the number of 1916 men residing in every State, also the number of men who had attended reunions from every State during the four years preceding 1926.

These figures were used in computing the probable number of '16 men who would return. A figure of ten per cent was reached. This would mean that '16 could expect a minimum of 130 back out of a possible total of 1300. The next step was to estimate the cost of transportation. J. Floyd Andrews, assistant general passenger agent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, prepared a schedule of fares from the points farthest away from Ithaca in each State. On the basis of previous figures, the United States was divided into six fare-zones, and an average fare of twenty dollars was computed.

Three-Day Schedule

The next step consisted in determining the other expenses and in this connection a tentative program was drawn up consisting of a schedule for three days:

Thursday night—Glee Club Concert, lodging.

Friday—luncheon, ball game, boat races, transportation to the boat races, Glenwood and return; buffet supper at Glenwood, lodging.

Saturday—luncheon, ball game, banquet, lodging.

The above of course was exclusive of railroad fares, costumes, band, etc.

The Athletic Association gave the class prices on its events. The Alumni Office gave prices on lodging, luncheons, banquet, etc. The Glenwood Hotel submitted menus and costs on a buffet supper. Various organizations submitted estimates on bands, and costumers made suggestions and estimates on uniforms.

Having found all of our costs we proceeded to figure a budget and on the basis of two hundred and three hundred men returning we found that $50 a head would protect us in everything including postage, printing, and a large amount for reserve. The final budget consisted of the following items on the basis of 200 men.

Final Budget Dr.

Transportation $ 4,000 Band 1,000 Costumes 800 Meals 1,000 Lodging 600 Ball Games 600 Advertising 1,000 Glee Club ISO Miscellaneous 775 Stockings 75 $10,000 Cr. 200 men at $50 $10,000 $10,000

It was found that if two hundred men did not return the proportion would remain the same.

The next step was a matter of organization and it was thought best to have a small general committee situated in New York to run things and a geographical committee to get the boys together.

The geographical committee received lists of men in their locality and were requested to spread the reunion gospel to these men. This committee was augmented by a fraternity committee and an athletic committee. All did splendid work.

The complete advertising program was mapped out before a single letter was sent. The printed campaign was aided by personal letters and dinners in various cities. Pictures, letters, postal cards, ads, and write-ups in The Alumni News, and the crowning feature, a book containing pictures and the personal history of each man returning a "Who Who's" of 1916, completed this phase of the work.

With the idea that we should receive interest on our money as it was received a special checking account was opened with a bank in which we received two per cent on our daily deposits.

How it Worked

At the end of May we started sending lists of those paid-in to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and Mr. Andrews started his machine working. In the case of the men living in New York City, tickets were sent to each man by registered mail accompanied by a reduced fare certificate for their return passage. Those at distant points were asked to get their transportation from their local passenger agent. In some cases men preferred to pay their own way and they were promised refunds after the reunion, consisting of one and one half times the direct fare from their town to Ithaca, the half fare bringing them home on the convention plan as sanctioned by the various passenger associations.

A total of 167 men returned. This was a new record for returning men and for ten-year reunions. Owing to the California crew we had to charter a boat, special trolley cars, and a bus. Other miscellaneous conveyances also came in handy. Everybody seemed to have a good time as shown by the many letters received by the secretary after the reunion.

A number who had paid in found at the last minute that they could not come. These compensated for the number that did not expect to return but found they could at the last minute.

The financial arrangement turned out splendidly and contrary to the Princeton and Yale ideas, was not underwritten. All bills were paid, all men who had paid fifty dollars and who did not return received their money back, and the men who paid fifty dollars and carfare were refunded for their transportation. Some $1,700 was refunded after the reunion.