The Lincoln High School Alumni Association will forgo the usual Homecoming Alumni Weekend, but are planning an expanded event for Friday and Saturday, June 3-4, 2016, this according to a press release from the association.
In the summer of 2015, a group of younger Alumni joined the existing Alumni Association Board, with hopes to increase membership and bring new activities with a summer alumni weekend.
“I feel that the changes will be good for the Alumni Association,” Lincoln Alumni Association vice president Janice Bryan said. “It is great to see the younger alumni get involved and bring fresh ideas to the organization. I am looking forward to working with the new people that have volunteered to serve, as well as those that have served in the past.”
In the past, the Alumni Weekend was traditionally held the same weekend as Lincoln High School Homecoming, but the group felt a change to the summer could provide an opportunity for even more Lincoln High School Alumni to attend the celebration.
“Many alumni who don’t live in the immediate area, said they had a hard time attending this event because they had kids who were attending their own sporting events and Homecoming weekends,” new board member, and recent LHS grad, Breanna Meier said. “It made sense to us to move the date to June so it gives everyone a better chance to try to attend.”
A current membership drive is intended, in part, to raise enough dues and revenue to effectively host a fun-filled weekend. If enough funds are raised in advance, some activities tentatively scheduled for the weekend include: a 5K Glow Run, Cruise Lincoln Avenue Event, Be a Tourist in Your Hometown Tour, Alumni Lunch/Annual Meeting, Golf Tournament, and a variety of activities downtown on Saturday evening, including a live band.
Several local non-profit organizations have joined the efforts for the weekend and are planning food booths, selling throwback/vintage alumni T-shirts, and games, such as LHS trivia.
This weekend will also provide a great opportunity for classes to plan their class reunions.
“The goal of the weekend is to bring together alumni of all ages and we are hoping the events we are planning will attract local alumni to join us, along with alumni who have moved away but would love to come home for the weekend. It’s a great chance to get together with friends to reminisce about the glory days,” said Lincoln Alumni Association President, Nikki Flinn.
There are several ways to pay the $7.50 Lincoln High School Alumni membership dues. There will be an alumni table set up at the Lincoln Homecoming game, Friday, October 16, where dues can be paid and contact information can also be updated as well. Dues may also be paid by mailing them to: Lincoln Alumni Association, PO Box 15, Lincoln, KS 67455. The association needs to have complete contact information, but particularly an email address for each LHS alum.
The Alumni Association has a Facebook page and they encourage Lincoln High School Graduates to “Like” their page so they can stay up to date not only with the upcoming weekend, but also for any other announcements that may pertain to those who attended LHS. The group is also looking for input and suggestions on what people would like to see at future Alumni Weekends.
“One of our goals is to keep things fresh with Alumni weekend so people don’t get bored and stop attending after the first year or two. That always seems to be the biggest obstacle with any event,” Board member Bree McReynolds-Baetz said. “We are implementing some new activities and after this first Alumni Weekend, we plan to phase out what doesn’t seem as popular with the attendees and rotate in fresh ideas. After one brainstorming session, we came up with a long list of ideas that I hope will keep people interested in attending for years to come.”
The Lincoln High School Alumni Association officers are: President, Nikki (Schwerdtfager) Flinn – Class of 2002; Vice President, Janice (Lyne) Bryan – Class of 1963; Secretary, Katie (Stegman) Good – Class of 1999; Treasurer, Connie (Judd) Liggett – Class of 1967. The board includes: Breanna Meier – Class of 2015; Allison (Aufdemberge) Johnson – Class of 2007; Jill (VonFange) Naasz – Class of 1999; Bree McReynolds-Baetz – Class of 1998; Rebecca (Stegman) Rathbun – Class of 1996; Colleen (Wirth) Biggs – Class of 1988; Dalen Rathbun – Class of 1970; Ethel (Harlow) Zachgo – Class of 1962; Rosemary (Wolting) Copeland – Class of 1962; and Blanche (Lyne) Rolph – Class of 1960.
