"REUNION 2003"
May 15 - May 18

Reunion fever is catching on fast. May 15 will be here before we know it. The City of Venice is excited about our arrival, I even have had e-mails from a couple of the gals that used to date a couple of the guys. What else could I do but invite them and their girlfriends to our beach party? We have surpassed 200 paid attendance, and I continue to return e-mail correspondence on a daily basis from cadets still planning to make the trip to Venice. Make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Click on this link: www.venicechamber.com/KMI_Reunion/KMI2003.html. There also is a bed n' breakfast out on the island called the Horse and Chase. It has vacancies and is run by John and Lois Steketee. The number is 941-488-2705. Make sure you tell the hotels that you are part of the reunion, because special off-season rates await you.

The Directory on the KMI website again has been updated. Daily additions, corrections, and deletions continue to entertain the keeper of the database, Jim Burrows, until the wee hours of the night. A final letter was sent to all the class reps asking them to make a concerted effort, over the remaining weeks, to locate lost classmates. Several of them have done outstanding work helping other classes as well as their own. They will be recognized during the reunion.

The reunion itinerary has changed just a bit. Here are the dates and times for registration: Wednesday, May 14, 1-5; Thursday, May 15, 1-5, Friday, May 16, 9-1, and Saturday, May 17, 9-12. The reason for the somewhat restricted hours is that the Venice Little Theater (formerly our gym, military department, and rifle range) has a live stage production going on that weekend. Since we have a free Friday evening, some of you may want to take in the performance.

There will be 90 minute air-conditioned bus tours of the greater Venice/Nokomis area available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. These tours will have a guide who will offer excellent narration on the history and growth of this region. You can sign up for these tours when you register. Golf will be plentiful, bridge games will be handy, the merchants will make it worth your while to go shopping, and the Gulf should be warm enough for a few dips. The one excursion outside the Venice area that I continue to recommend is the collection of Paul Rubens on display in Sarasota at the Ringling Museum of Art.

Thursday evening from 5-8 we will converge on our old Venice Building. It is now called Park Place and is a lovely retirement home. Administrator Jennifer Bruce will oversee our first official reunion function. A reception/cocktail party will be offered complete with a pianist, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar. The lobby looks the way we left it...only updated...and the courtyard is beautiful. Friday's beach party will take place at Nokomis Beach. Directions will be available at registration. It's really easy to get there. You'll be treated to grilled foods, a few kegs, and a live band (that knows our music) for your dancing pleasure. Friday evening is free for individual class functions or maybe that stage performance at the Little Theater. Saturday night's banquet will take place at the Plantation Country Club. It is located just south of town on the Tamiami Trail. Restaurant manager Kathleen Burk looks forward to hosting us, and she is overseeing the preparation of a real feast. Please plan to attend our alumni meeting on Sunday morning at the Little Theater. We'll talk about formalizing the organization, and we'll discuss the feasibility of a couple of projects and opportunities that have come our way.

Remember to bring any KMI film that has been transferred to VHS format. We'll show them continuously throughout the weekend. Your registration fee is $175.00 per cadet and $125.00 per adult non-cadet. Make your checks out to "KMI Reunion 2003" and send them to 1969 graduate Greg Rohrer, 9906 Glenda Ct., Louisville, Ky. 40223, 502-429-5217. greg@rohrer.win.net Greg can send you a list of the attendees upon request.  April 30th deadline!!!

Ken Harper, class of 1948, has some cool caps for sale. He can make up an embroidered KMI logo with scrambled eggs on the bill for only $8:30. Add your class or year on the back of the cap and add $2.70. The minimum order is 12. Place your orders through Harper Design, 10 West Southern Ave., Covington, Ky. 41015, 859-491-2150. 

Looking at the roster, I find several former faculty and staff members who will be joining us. The elder statesman of the group, of course, is Ben Hewes. He will be flying into Sarasota on Thursday afternoon and should reach the reception at Park Place by 7:00. I have arranged for local cadets to pick him up at the airport and return him on Sunday. We recently heard from Owen Pillans' daughter Susan. Owen was the Commandant prior to Charles A. Hodgin. Former staff member Marguerite Twyman will be in attendance. Teachers from the early sixties; Gary Martin, Yandell Martin, and Jay Creech, also will join us. SFC William Brand, a military department employee from the mid sixties is scheduled to be there. More will be attending...I am just looking at the "paid" group so far.

Keep our fighting forces in your prayers. Call me at 800-332-1411 or e-mail me at Lhirsh5049@aol.com if you have questions.