The Reunion Manager is very easy to use, basically this is what happens.

1. You register your Reunion Event - and you become the Reunion Account Manager (RAM).
2. You enter in all reunion information into your Reunion Account  Manager - including:
   • Estimated event costs
   • Ticket Price
   • Location (a Mapquest link is shown for direction information)
   • Reunion Message for all to see
3. Send Emails out or post your online registration link for people to register.
4. People Register for your reunion event and pay for tickets via paypal, or print out your registration form with the total amount due - who to make the check payable to - and where to mail the registration.
5. The Reunion Account Manager receives confirmation of payment and marks payment as being received.

That's it - nothing complicated See Reunion Account Manager Panel below for further information

Class Reunion Account Manager The Reunion Account Manager (you) can see and edit all reunion registrations to date and see the following Reunion Event Information at a glance: Total Estimated Cost for Event Total Tickets that need to be sold to cover event cost Total Tickets Sold to Date Total Amount received to date Total Registrations to Date # of Tickets still needed to be sold to cover your Event Cost # of Pay Pal Tickets Sold # of Mail-in or onsite Payments Expected Note: You can Print out the Registration list and use it as your check-in form at your reunion as people arrive, and quickly see who has paid or not paid. Other Features included: Maintain list of Missing Classmates - Email link classmates can use to send the registration link to those they know and have email addresses for. If your Reunion location has internet access bring your Laptop computer and allow people to register directly online and even pay for the event then online instantly using their credit cards. You also have the ability to send out an email to all those who have registered for your reunion event at anytime - a great way to stay in touch between reunion and announce future reunions. A Free Online Yearbook is setup and never expires so those who have registered can keep in touch with people when ever they want. The only way to access your Online Yearbook is though their account page. Even those who can not attend should be encouraged to register for future reunion information email announcements.

Class Reunion Registration Process Overview Your classmates use the registration link you provide and they go directly to your Reunion Event Registration page - which displays all reunion information. People also have the ability to upload then and now pictures and post a message for others to see when they register. Only people who have registered for the event and have logged in will be able to see any information - no one else. They complete the registration form and elect how they will pay for their tickets - via Pay Pal Online - Mail in form or at the Reunion itself. Once they complete the Reunion Registration Form and Click Register they then login to their registration account and will see a Pay Pal Button for them to click to pay for their Reunion tickets using their Credit Card or an E-Check online. If they have elected to mail in their registration all mailing instructions instead will be shown instead with the amount they need to send in and who to make the check or money order payable to. That's it - very easy and simple. NOTE: • If a person does not want to pay on line they can choose to print out the registration form with the total owed based on the # of tickets they wanted with all mailing instructions included. • Once logged in they will have access to your online Reunion Year Book which never expires, and can view others who have also registered and stay in touch over the years.

Q. As the Reunion Event Manager do I need a PayPal Account in order to allow people to pay online ?

A. Yes, you can either use a PayPal account you already have or set up a new one - Setting up a Pay Pal account is free. If you need to set one up click here now.

 

Q. Do People need a PayPal Account in order to use PayPal to pay for their tickets ?

A. NO. When they click on the PayPal Button and go to PayPal to pay there is an option to Pay Now with out an account using only their Credit Card. (see next question)

 

Q. What type of paypal account do I need to set up to accept payments online for our reunion ?

A. There are 3 types of paypal accounts you can set up at paypal for your reunion - Personal - Premier - Business. You need to set up a Premier or Business PayPal account in order to allow alumni to pay without having to open a paypal account. If you only have a Personal Paypal account set up you will need to upgrade (free) it to a Premier account in order to allow alumni to pay for your reunion tickets using Paypal without having to open a paypal account. If you already have a Business paypal account your all set, just make sure your paypal account is set up to allow this in the account preferences section.

WE RECOMMEND you use a Premier Account if setting up for the first time as setting up a Business Account can be a royal pain in the neck.

Once you have the proper account set up - go to your paypal account profile page and under the Selling Preferences column select the Web Site Payment Preferences and select Yes for PayPal Account Optional (click image)

 

Q. Can Alumni pay for their reunion tickets via paypal without opening a paypal Account ?

A. Yes - as long as your reunion paypal account has been set up properly (see previous Q & A ) then they do not have to have a paypal account and can just use a credit card. When a Alumni registers and then clicks the Buy Now button they will be taken directly to paypal to complete the reunion ticket payment process. They will see a page like this - Click Image.


Tell Alumni to click the Continue link in the red area to pay for their reunion tickets at paypal without having to open a paypal account.

That's it !

Once they have completed the payment process at paypal for your reunion tickets online you will receive a confirmation email from paypal. At this point once you receive the paypal confirmation that the reunion ticket has been bought you will need to login to your Reunion Account Manager and mark the Alumni's record as being paid.

Q. Is there any cost for people to use the Reunion Manager to register online ?

A. Yes and No - There is NO cost to use the Reunion Manager itself for Alumni to register for your Reunion Event.

However if people are paying for your Reunion Tickets Online using PayPal/Credit Card - Pay Pal itself does charge roughly 2.9% + 30¢ a transaction. So if your reunion tickets are $50 you will receive a net of about $48.25 per ticket.

To cover this fee by including it in your ticket price you will need to divide what you want to receive ($50) by .971 (1.00 - paypal fee of 2.9%) and add .30, so to receive $50 per ticket divide $50 by .971 and add .30 for a ticket price of $51.80 or round it off to $52

Signing up for the Cash for Class Program to help offset the PayPal Fees is another way to cover this fee also.
Click here for more information on the Cash for Class program

An unlimited number of people can register for your Reunion Event.

The convenience factor though out weighs this cost and allows you to get cash in immediately to help pay for the reunion which reduces the amount of money you might otherwise put up out of your own pocket prior to the reunion being held.

Q. Can people register even if they can not attend the current reunion

A. YES - you should encourage them to do so to get email announcements for future reunions.

 

Q. Is personal registration information protected ?

A. YES - no one is able to see any registration information unless they have registered and have logged into the system. Even then the person registering has the ability to hide their information if they choose. People who have logged in will only be able to see other registration information for your Reunion Event only.

 

Q. Can I send a email message to all those who have registered ?

A. YES - As the Reunion Event Manager you the ability to to send out a bulk email to all those who have registered for your Reunion at any time you want even after the reunion has been marked as closed.

 

Q. Can I use my Reunion Event Account again for our next reunion ?

A. YES. You can use the Reunion Manager over and over again for all future reunion registrations, all you have to do is update the appropriate Reunion information and send out the same link you used this time. Your Reunion Event Account and Reunion Online Yearbook never expire.

This is why you should ask people to keep their registration account profiles updated at least once a year so you can send out a blast email to all people who have registered for your Reunion announcing new reunions.

Q. If I'm having a problem who can I contact to help me.

A. First check our support forum - many commonly asked questions & answers are there - Click here to view it .
Support is Free and provided via Email - you can send your questions to info@reunionmanager.net or via 800-768-6024 support line

Quick Reunion Planning Reference Guide

12-18 months in advance:

• Create a Reunion Event website by clicking HERE
• Visit or call the school: inform them of reunion; obtain class list if available, see if they have any class yearbooks hanging around they could send to you.
• Ask the School and Town to post on their websites a link to your Reunion Information and a link to the online reunion Registration
• Prepare preliminary budget, figure that between 25-40% of classmates will attend a reunion - 50% of those that attend will bring a guest.
• Open bank account - if possible use a Nationwide Bank  or a Bank within your Classes Town or City
• Open a Pay Pal account - If you don't have one Click Here to open one - Attach the bank account to it so you can transfer the funds.
• Consider getting a Pay Pal Debit Card also to use for paying Reunion expenses directly out of the Reunion Pay Pal accout itself.
• Choose the Date for your Reunion - keep in mind travel times and it is best to hold your Reunion on Thursday, Fridays or Saturday nights.
• Contact the local Newspapers and ask them to print your reunion information - include the Reunion Manager link for people to register online - and in all communications you send out.
• Since you can use the Reunion Manager to Email all Classmates at once - as people start to register send an email out once or twice a month asking people to contact old classmates who have not registered yet  - make sure you include the link to register so they can forward it.
• Post Missing Classmates page on website (and update as you go)
  

8-12 months in advance:

• Finalize date of event (if possible)
• If you can scan your Class Yearbook do it now - as people register upload their Class photo
• Book location or get neccesary permits if needed
• Make arrangements with local Hotels for special Room Pricing for your group.
• Book caterer, or start planning menu
• Finalize ticket pricing - Average Reunion Ticket prices are between $50-$75 per person.
• Send broadcast e-mails hyping the reunion to local papers - community websites, facebook etc...(ongoing until event)
• Invite the non-paying guests (teachers, coaches, etc.)
• Start early-bird ticket sales and incentive programs
• Book entertainment
• If you are hiring a photographer or videographer, get quotes

4 - 8 Months in advance:

• Arrange supplies for name tags
• Get volunteers to work the registration desk (if possible)
• If you plan to have paper tickets, (not recommended) send them
• Broadcast e-mail reminders
• Cut-off for final ticket sales (if your venue needs notice for extras)
• If you plan to have a program booklet, assemble it now
  

The Final Weeks:

• Print guest lists for registration table within your Reunion Manager Event Account area
• Give final meal count to caterer
• Prepare name tags
• Compile registration kits if any - Reunion T-Shirts are always a big hit - Click Here for Bulk Discount Reunion T-Shirts
• Prepare all office supplies and signs needed for registration desk
• Confirm with all vendors, suppliers, donors, etc.
• If Reunion Location has Interent Access make arrangements to bring a laptop to use the Reunion Manager on-site registration feature.
• Send Email out to all registered guest reminding them of the Reunion

Reunion Day:

• Decorate room, tables, displays
• Set up registration area
• Ensure required audiovisual equipment is set-up
• Review check-in procedure with registration workers
• Pick up or ensure delivery of registration kits, giveaways, mementos...
  

The Reunion:

• Enjoy it and
• Ask people when & where they would like to hold the next Reunion
• Ask People to keep their Reunion Manager Yeak Book Accounts up todate so they can be informed the next time a reunion is planned

7 Essential Reunion Tips
by Heather Wood

With summer just around the corner, reunion season is about to bloom, meaning that perhaps you or your classmates are planning an event. No matter how casual you want reunions to be, they can still be a lot of work when you consider where it's going to be held, how much you're going to spend on the event, inviting people, food and music. So we've come up with some tips to help you pull off the perfect reunion.

1. Get Help

Each class should form a committee to work on the reunion, otherwise it can either overwhelm one person or become an unorganized, muddled mess of communication with a bunch of people. Elect a committee and have them be the point of focus for putting on the reunion.

Start planning your reunion as far in advance as possible, so your information can be found on the internet since classmates will start searching up to 1 year before the reunion.

2. Establish a budget

Keep in mind that the reunion will cost money, so you'll need to figure out what everyone will be willing to chip in to organize your event. The committee might consider opening up a bank account where money raised for the event can be used, signed off and tracked by the reunion organizers.

3. Location, Location, Location

Where do you want to hold the reunion? One popular choice is the high school itself, but sometimes those places are not set up as a venue for an event such as a class reunion. Also keep in mind that adult beverages may not be allowed on school grounds. Therefore, you may want to look at other places, and definitely check out plenty of options so you can find the most cost-effective way to hold the reunion. Keep the location as central as possible within easy reach of the closes Airport.

4. What kind of event?

This is something that is commonly overlooked and can sometimes lead to not only confusion among committee members, but ultimately a less-than-enjoyable reunion. Will it be a formal reunion? Relaxed? Are people's kids invited? Will there be dancing? How long will the event last? Are people coming into town and should the reunion last a couple days? These are things the committee must decide and make very apparent in the invitations.

Also, if there is going to be music, decide whether you want a DJ or a live band and keep in mind what experience each choice brings to the atmosphere of the reunion.

5. Find classmates
Use Google or Bing and ask friends to look through their e-mail and address books to find former classmates to invite to the reunion. Don't expect people to just come out of the woodwork, because if they don't know about it, how are they suppose to come? Make sure everyone on the committee works hard to track down classmates.

6. The early bird gets the worm

You should have a date set 12 months in advance, and you should publicize the event as early as possible so people can make travel plans and clear their schedule for it. The closer it gets to the reunion date, the harder it is for people to change their schedule.

7. Biographies

The Reunion Manager provides a Free online Yearbook that never expires so ask people to also their account information up to date.