Class of '73 heads back....with the future
By Dawn Neuses

QUAD-CITY TIMES -- June 19, 1998 - Page 1

The year 1973 was a time of love, not war, a time when Tony Orlando and Dawn sang about yellow ribbons. Thigh-high boots, headbands and beads were the fashion rage. Personal computers were still a futuristic dream.

The Bettendorf High School Class of '73 is taking a stroll down that memory lane using the technology of today. In preparation for its 25th class reunion next month, the class has created a Web site, one that has received more than 500 hits since it was posted in cyberspace more than two months ago. Reunions are going high-tech and for many reasons. The Internet can be used to help find classmates who have disappeared, to e-mail and post news about reunions -- at a cheaper cost than postage or long-distance telephone calls.

Creating a reunion Web site is not necessarily a new thing, said the site's creator and Bettendorf Class of '73 graduate Fred Light, who now lives in Massachusetts. "A lot of reunions are out there on the Web, but most are real basic. My guess is that, over the years, as this becomes more common, this will be one of the better uses of the Internet."

The site includes a class roster where graduates can leave news of their lives, a call for volunteers to help with the reunion plans and a page honoring students who have died. Classmates also can find information about getting a team together to run the Quad-City Times Bix 7, see a list of students who are "missing in action" and find details about the planned activities. On a more humorous note, Light also created a page devoted to memories, including pictures of classmates who had the biggest hair and wore the lowest hip-hugger pants.

It took him about three hours to create the site that he said has some great advantages, including the fact that former classmates can catch up via e-mail before the July 25 event. Acting as the contact person for the reunion, Pat Bereskin of Bettendorf receives e-mail daily from classmates wondering if this or that teacher will be invited or just what to wear to the dinner and dance.

The site has received more than 500 tags, and complete strangers are even forwarding comments. "What a very cool idea," wrote Allison Cromwell from California. "I've never been to Bettendorf (I don't even know what state it is in), but this is very innovative. I'm on my reunion committee and we will definitely have to copy this idea."

Banyan Production in Philadelphia also came upon the Web site. Later, they contacted Bereskin to see whether the class has any reunion stories it could film for a documentary series for The Learning Channel. While no one has offered a story so far, she is hoping someone will be willing to volunteer. Classmates are using the site to post news about the best airfares or even to find out who lives close by in other states so they can share a ride back to Bettendorf. They also are using it to post memories of favorite teachers -- like Frank Gorshe, who taught chemistry -- or to recall how then-Principal Robert Owen dared the class to graduate that very first day they walked through the high school doors.

Those not able to attend the reunion will be able to see what they have missed. Photographs of the weekend events will be posted on the Web site in August. Classmates learned of the site through the mailing of reunion plans. "We are hoping that people will continue to e-mail and check into the site so we won't have to send out a mailing for the next reunion," Bereskin said. The web site can be accessed at http://www.bhsclassof73.com