I wish all of you could hold in your hand the 2008 magazine - Traverse City - Your guide to Traverse City and the surrounding area. It is stunning in its photos and commentary that whets our appetite for the last week of September. Please view their web site- www.visittraversecity.com.

The center of our activity is the conveniently located Holiday Inn - West Bay with it's 179 bay-view rooms. These people know how to cook too! Beginning with a full hot breakfast every morning to our feast of a banquet. Massey room rates of $85.32 w/tax will apply before and after the dates of the reunion. 1-800-888 8020 or www.tcwestbay.com for reservations.

Sunday September 28th
The activities begin at our registration followed by a get acquainted gathering in the hospitality suite.

Monday September 29th
We meet for breakfast in the hospitality suite to be fully energized for
the trip to Mackinac Island. What was originally thought of as an option, has progressed into such a great event that we will make it part of an all inclusive package. Transportation - bus, ferry boat, and horse drawn carriage tours with guides are in a package that includes tips. We will have discount booklets for your Mackinac Island lunch consideration and have arranged with the Grand Hotel for 32 lucky people to enjoy the guest privileges of the Grand's public spaces, the world's longest veranda and the Grand Luncheon Buffet at a special price of $39.00 per person. All tips, taxes and the Grand's admission charge for non-guests is included. Mark and return the Grand Hotel option on the reunion application as soon as possible.

Tuesday September 30th
After a leisurely breakfast in our private hospitality suite we will have time for our business meetings followed by free time the rest of the morning to explore the shops and restaurants in town and the natural beauty and parks along the bay. About 2PM we board our buses for a 30 minute ride to that unique settlement called "Fishtown" a town frozen in time located on Lake Michigan that has only three other equals in charm and history in all of North America. After a few hours we "migrate" to the Bluebird Restaurant.

This 80-year old institution has been the winner of 5 first place Reader's Choice Awards. The menu and wine lists are vast - thus, "each person's appetite is each person's bill." After settling with the waiter, we board the "Mishe-Mokwa" a 130- passenger ferry for a two hour sunset cruise. Imagine the sunset's rays on the water and the towering sand dunes!

We will be back to the Holiday Inn about 9PM. (a 130-person limit may cause a change here so we will need a head count as soon as possible.)

Wednesday October 1
We have a leisurely breakfast then board our buses and enter The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. We will drive some of the most scenic highway in North America and witness the 400 foot rise of the coast line above Lake Michigan. Within the park are two old towns that have survived unchanged, Glen Arbor and Glen Haven. The Coast Guard Life Saving Station will be one of our stops. We will pick a well known tourist attraction for lunch and then proceed back to our hotel. About 4PM we tour The Great Lakes Maritime Academy and the SS Michigan training ship. Since they are parking lot neighbors, we have plenty of time to get ready for our banquet at 6PM.

Since all of our activity is near or on the water, we have options, depending on the weather for our memorial service. Please use the application below to sign up for what is sure to be a memorable reunion in Traverse City! If you have any questions, please contact Gordon Risk.

Reunion Sign-Up Application