Junior Reunion Overview
OVERVIEW[edit]
The 5th - 20th joint reunions usually begin on Commencement Day, a Thursday in early June, and continue into the weekend, concluding either on Saturday night or on Sunday following a morning brunch.
A reunion is a combination of social and intellectual events. Free time should be included in the schedule for classmates to meet informally. The schedule should also enable women in the class to participate in Radcliffe-specific events held during this time. It is also a good idea to plan a particular time for the Radcliffe class to meet separately, if that is something they wish to do.
On Thursday classmates can begin by participating in the HAA annual luncheon and the annual meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association that same afternoon. It is also possible to schedule a low-key event Thursday evening for those classmates who have already arrived or live nearby. The Friday evening reunion schedule is flexible, but the day includes the Radcliffe annual luncheon open to both men and women. Most classes leave Friday afternoon open, since the greatest number of classmates will arrive Friday afternoon and evening.
Because of travel uncertainties, the Friday night social event is usually an open-ended buffet lasting a few hours, rather than a sit-down dinner at a set time. This gives classmates time to meet and talk informally.
Saturday's schedule may include a morning class meeting, memorial service, and symposium. Lunch can be a picnic followed by "Field Day" activities at Soldier's Field. An alternative is to hold your Saturday picnic/field day at a non-Harvard/Radcliffe location – a classmate's private home on the North or South shore, for example. The Saturday afternoon event is really the only reunion event that is appropriate for children.
Saturday evening is a time when classes can have dinner at either an on-campus or off-campus site, usually followed by entertainment and dancing. Most reunions conclude on Saturday night, but some classes have held successful Sunday brunches.
The reunions offer considerable room for a variety of events within the three and one half days available to the reunion committee. The following sample schedule is only a guide to the committee's creativity.
