DEAR ABBY: I am the treasurer for my high school's upcoming 50th reunion. My senior class was large -- more than 550 students. My problem is, 280 students have not responded to our monthly emails or newsletters.
It takes a lot of time and effort to put on a reunion. We have been working on it for two years. I realize some classmates hated their senior year. Not all of us had a perfect time. But would you remind people that a simple yes or no works well?
Frankly, I don't know why anyone would say no, unless medical or financial issues prevented them from attending. I don't look like I did at 18, and neither does anyone else. The clique clubs are gone, and the captain of the football team looks just like any other guy. Can you comment? -- READY FOR THE REUNION
DEAR READY: Yes. There may be other reasons why some graduates don't wish to attend their high school reunion. They live far away, or there is no one they particularly want to see.
Rather than work yourself into a lather, in your next communication to the graduates, specify that only those who have responded to the invitation can be accommodated "because the committee is making arrangements for which they need an exact head count." If you don't hear from someone, do not plan on seeing him or her.