Classmates: Please Complete Reunion Planning Survey ASAP

Attention Richmond Raiders Class of 1985 only! As Class President, I need your answers to the linked brief survey as the 30-year reunion planning committee continues its work. Please complete your survey by September 1. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3DXKXB5

Richmond Raiders Class of 1985 Takes 1st Steps For 30-Year Reunion!

Last Monday afternoon eight of our classmates gathered at the famed Hudson Brothers Deli in uptown Rockingham to kick-off planning for the official 30-Year Reunion of the Richmond Raiders Class of 1985!

First of all, it's hard to believe it has already been almost five years since the last celebration by our class.

Of course, even harder to believe is that we're almost at the thirty - that's the big three-zero - year mark.

Attending the first planning meeting were Karen Allen Strong, Robin Thrower McRae, Kimberly Payne Leberth, Bobby Mabe, Wayne Goodwin (class president), Curtis Ingram, Marcella McDonald, and Tommy Harrington.  (pictured here)

Other classmates were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts but plan to join us at future planning sessions.

And you're welcome to join us at any our planning meetings, too!

We have some terrific ideas for the reunion so far, including a casual 1980s-music-dance on the Friday night of the reunion weekend, potentially attending a Richmond Raider game that night, and then having a catered dinner on that Saturday evening, along with a special program, dancing, photo sessions, games, and catching up with classmates. 

However, nothing is set in stone.  And that's where YOU, fellow classmates, will come in:  The planning committee is drafting a survey that will go out very soon asking for your input on the various options under consideration.  One goal is to keep costs lower than our 25-year reunion and another goal is to keep things local.

Within the next week to ten days you will receive a survey via facebook, email, etc.  Please review it, complete it, and return it back no later than the day after Labor Day.  Very soon thereafter the Reunion Planning Committee will meet again to review the survey responses, ideas, and comments, and make further plans toward what will once again be a fun event for the Class of 1985.

Meanwhile, if your mailing address or email address has changed within the last five years, then please send it in as a comment or message so the correction may be made to our database.  Also start the buzz among classmates you've stayed in touch with over the years so they know when to mark their calendars, etc.

I hope you're looking forward to this reunion as much as our planning committee is!

- Wayne Goodwin, Class President

Final Schedule for 2010 Raider Reunion Weekend, Aug 6-8

There is something for EVERYONE in our Class of 1985 - and those visiting with our class - during our 25 year reunion gala weekend!

Friday, Aug 6

Tommy Harrington is hosting an informal, unofficial, casual dance that evening at The Ballroom on Hamlet Avenue in Hamlet. The cost of that event is NOT part of your registration fee for the official events.

Meanwhile, now for a special message from Karen Strong Allen, Misty Britton Barnes, and other women from the Class of 1985 who are having a "Ladies' Night Out" in Pinehurst:

"Misty Britton Barnes, Kim Payne Leberth, Robin Thrower McRae, and Karen Strong Allen are having dinner at the Bell Tree downtown Southern Pines on Friday, August 6th at 7:30! Please come join us if you'd like."

Check in with any of them via their email or Facebook accounts for more information, or I can put you in touch with them. This is also an unofficial event..

I've heard of other small groups of classmates getting together. As I get the specifics on those and if the organizers would like those gatherings publicized, then I'll update the blog post here.

Saturday, Aug 7

A casual Picnic in the Park will be from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 pm until at Castlewood Park, right off of Ledbetter Road in Rockingham, not far from the high school. Light lunch available for $7 per person. Family and children are welcome. Rain or shine, unless really really bad weather. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

(I understand that there are some groups of classmates going golfing or shopping or otherwise enjoying the day in Pinehurst/Southern Pines/Rockingham/Hamlet. These are unofficial events and are coordinated by various folks.)

Reception at historic Pinehurst Hotel from 6 pm til 7 pm. This is also the time for registration/check-in for later events that evening at the hotel. No charge for the reception except for adult beverages. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

Seated Richmond Raider Reunion Dinner at historic Pinehurst Hotel in the Carolina Ballroom, starting at 7 pm. The cost of the dinner/program/photo/dance is $80 per person, which includes a photo CD memento of the evening. Richmond Raiders from other classes graduating between 1982 and 1988 are welcome to attend the dinner and/or the dance, below. No matter what class you are in, it is highly encouraged that you give us a heads-up that you're attending, if possible, before the weekend so we will have enough dinners prepared by the chef. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

The official Reunion Program begins approximately 8 pm at the Pinehurst Hotel. We will recognize all classmates in attendance and special guests. We will also have a moment of silence for classmates who are deceased, and begin a series of awards and door prizes. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

Approximately 8:30 pm we will take the official Class of 1985 Reunion Photo. Only persons who have registered for either the dinner or the dance are eligible for the photos and CD memento from the reunion. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

The 80s Reunion Dance begins right after the class photo, approximately 8:40 pm and lasts until 1 a.m. As you'd expect, and by special request, we will be highlighting a lot of 80s music for our listening, dancing, and reminiscing pleasure! For those persons who did not attend the dinner, the cost for attending the dance only is $25 per person. This is an OFFICIAL event of the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

Sunday, Aug 8

Our classmate, the Rev. Kirby Woodard, has invited those classmate who will and are able to attend his church for Morning Worship Services. (After the reunion gala the night before, church may very well be a better idea than normal!) Kirby's church is St. Stephens AME Zion Church, 407 West Avenue, in Hamlet. The time is approximately 11 a.m. More details at the reunion. This is an unofficial part of the gala weekend, but is recommended by the Class Reunion Planning Committee.

WE HAVE WINNERS! Class of 1985 Reunion Contest Winners Announced ...

Approximately two weeks ago we held a contest for members of the Class of 1985. These classmates competed for either of two categories of prizes – either (1) a free room for one night during our upcoming reunion weekend at Pinehurst Hotel … AND … a pair of free tickets to the seated dinner, program, and dance on the night of Saturday, August 7; or, (2) a pair of free tickets to the seated dinner, program and dance on the night of Saturday, August 7.

Sponsoring these prizes are Wayne Goodwin - our NC Commissioner of Insurance, the first Richmond Raider elected to statewide office in the history of the school, and President of the Class of 1985.

We are very pleased to announce the following winners:

FIRST PRIZE

Kevin Grooms and a guest
Krystal Allen Gomiller and a guest
Regina Hawks Yingling and a guest
Ron Barnes and a guest

SECOND PRIZE

Lillian Renee Blakley and a guest
Michelle Caulder Meyer and a guest
Allen Williams and a guest
Jackie Robinson (her guest is classmate, Carolyn McNeill)
Wayne Bell and a guest
Donald Harrington and a guest
Tom Pangborn and a guest
Tanya Patrick Mercer and guest (Gene Mercer, Class of '84)
Sherry Honeycutt Cote and a guest
Nicole Bristow-Lacy and a guest
Doris Ledbetter Page and a guest

* * * * *

We ask each of the winners to verify by email to gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com, phone to 910-997-1301, or a message on Facebook that they’ve received this message and that both tickets will be used. When the winners arrive at Pinehurst Hotel just identify yourselves at our Class Reunion registration table downstairs as you go in at Carolina Hall.

Meanwhile, many thanks to all who participated in the contest, both those who won and those who did not (this time)! There will be other contests for classmates attending the reunion both before and at the reunion, so please stay tuned …

And, REMEMBER, for those who haven’t registered for the reunion yet … you may do so securely online by either debit card or credit card, just go to clicking on http://richmondraiders1985.blogspot.com/. Or, if you plan on paying at the door, for planning purposes please do go ahead and give us a heads-up so we’ll have enough places set for dinner.

The Class of 1985 Reunion 25-Year Reunion Gala is just two weeks away!

Reunion Planning Committee Meets Tomorrow Night, July 19

Whether you've joined us before or not, if you're interested in helping out with the final stage of the reunion then plan on being at Hudson Brothers Deli in uptown Rockingham between 5:45 and 7 pm on Monday, July 19.

We will go over several action items, receive updates, and have a light dinner.

For more information, call (910) 997-1301.

Richmond County Daily Journal Publicizes Upcoming Reunion

Class of 1985 plans series of events for its graduates but also invites Richmond Raider classmates from the classes of 1982-1984 and 1986-88 to join in the fun celebrating growing up in the 80s.

Read more at this link to the newspaper article.

Savings and Additional Options for Classmates and Guests!

Great news, everybody -- we've gotten the late fee dropped by $20 per person, so to enjoy the nice seated dinner at Pinehurst Hotel on August 7 (and attend the dance, plus get the photo/memory CD, door prizes, awards, etc etc), it's only $80 per person.

If you cannot attend the dinner for some reason, then to attend the program and 80s dance ONLY, it is $25 per person.

Go to the home page of this website to pay securely online or make your payment by mailing it to P.O. Box 1654, Hamlet NC 28345, or pay at the door. A courtesy RSVP by email (gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com) or phone (910-997-1301) is greatly appreciated.

We also have some free events in Rockingham and Pinehurst for classmates to attend.

Meanwhile, as the middle class of the 80s decade, we are also inviting Richmond Raiders classmates from 1982 through 1988 who attended with us to join in the evening. We have lots to celebrate and fun to be had.

Watch this site for more details to come!