During their meeting late last month, the Zurich Association of Parents (ZAP) stuffed 382 envelopes with an information letter and registration form about the Zurich Elementary School's All-Class Reunion to be held this summer on June 13. The group was especially grateful to Keith Hanson, who donated envelopes and stamped them. Through that gesture of generosity, the group saved $100 in postage.

In other event-preparation business, Brandon Nissen reserved the Chamber of Commerce's big tent, tables, and chairs, and Louann Brabson and Kathi Molyneaux agreed to take charge of registration. The team will secure stick-on name tags and tickets for those who have paid for the meal. These materials will be in envelopes for everyone who has registered and paid.

The group is also exploring options for a Master or Mistress of Ceremony, looking into the possibility of having the Blaine County Cruise cars on display, and arranging for a t-shirt truck to be at the reunion. The owners will print t-shirts on site for anyone who wants them.

Betty Billmayer brought up the idea of having bouncy toys for the children to play on rather than having someone manage games. She spoke to the owner of Funforall.com in Billings, who said he could deliver and set up for a dollar a mile one way plus the cost of each toy.

Another committee member reported that bouncy toys are also available in Malta, so Billmayer called that area vendor and tentatively reserved a small bouncy house that someone would have to pick up and return. The Malta vendor also carries a liability policy.

Other entertainment ideas were discussed, such as having basketballs, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles available. Once registrations are in and the group has an idea of how many will attend, they can order some of those entertainment supplies.

After the April 10 registration due date, the group will also schedule another meeting to finalize plans since they will have preliminary numbers not only to give to the caterer but to determine their need for tables, pies, and other incidentals. They will also set a date at some point to gather and work on photos for the slide show, which they hope to have running in one of the school's rooms for people to view at their leisure.

ZAP additionally wishes to remind anyone who has memorabilia to be displayed that they can leave it with a ZAP member or even bring it the weekend of the reunion, as a site will be designated for such items.

Already, stories have been emerging about past school day memories in Zurich. One former student, Frank Sharples, who graduated from eighth grade at Zurich in 1934, recalls classmates Ron Swenson, Nina Norten, Allen Winerowd, and their teacher Harriett Grass. They usually walked to school and brought their own lunches. In that era, Zurich School had an enrollment of approximately forty and provided education to students through grade ten. Sharples' brother Everett was a freshman the year the high school closed.

Reunion organizers look forward to other such stories and to opportunities for reminiscing and memory-making.