How was YMCA Trout lodge Chosen
Why isn’t the reunion at Mo Ranch?
The Ozarks was chosen because it is pretty central in the US. Also, at least one of our members is planning to drive to the Reunion. Also, YMCA of the Ozarks Trout Lodge is near to many vacation spots. Our members may choose to see St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, Branson, or explore more of the Ozarks before or after the event. YMCA of the Please plan to stay in the lodges with the rest of the reunion group.
We are well aware that Mo-Ranch has a significant sentimental connection for members of Joyful Noise and Echo. It is a place with fond memories for many people in group. We did evaluate Mo-Ranch as one of the venues on our “long list” of sites.
One issue with Mo-Ranch is that there are not a lot of activities for spouses, when the Joyful Noise members are practicing. Other venues offer a much wider menu of options.
Mo-Ranch is also somewhat difficult to reach, particularly for those traveling from outside of the Houston area. As shown on the member map page, a large portion of the Joyful Noise members live outside Houston and Texas. Allen and Susan Pote live in Florida. Mark and Cheryl Goodman-Morris live in Oregon.
A member survey which was conducted several years ago included several questions regarding the venues for the reunions. Several respondents indicated that they liked a reunion destination which could also be a extended into a vacation. For example, a number of attendees at the Zephyr Point reunion vacationed in the Lake Tahoe area before and after the reunion. Quite a few of us vacationed in Colorado around the Estes Park reunion.
We have also heard from people who have attended recent events that there are concerns with the quality of the rooms and food service at Mo-Ranch.
Why is the reunion not being held on a holiday weekend (e.g. Labor Day weekend)?
The member survey respondents were divided on the timing of the reunion relative to holiday weekends. Some respondents indicated that we should avoid holiday weekends because they have family traditions associated with those weekends.
It is also difficult to find large blocks of rooms on holiday weekends at many of the venues. And the venues often charge higher lodging rates on those weekends.
Why is the reunion targeting Joyful Noise members from 1970 to 1975?
Allen Pote was music director at MDPC from 1970 to 1980. This covered a range of seniors graduating in 1970 to freshman graduating in 1984, a span of fourteen years. One of the early reunions included members from a wider range of the “Allen Pote” years. At the event, members naturally gravitated into two groups - an “early years” group and a “later years” group. There was not much interaction and synergy between the groups, so it was decided for the subsequent 2010 Mo Ranch and 2015 Zephyr Point reunions to focus on the 1970 to 1975 range. We have had members from outside the ‘70-’75 range attend the recent reunions.