Reunion Guide
Once a Beaver, always a Beaver! There's no better time to reconnect with classmates, share stories, and celebrate the black and gold. Whether you're planning a casual evening, a milestone class reunion, or an entire weekend of fun—including dinner, local attractions, and even a round of golf—we've put together this guide to help make planning easy. Many of our alumni now call other places home, so we've gathered local resources to help you rediscover the Painesville area and create a reunion weekend to remember.
🖤💛 Bring Your Class Back Together
Everything You Need to Plan a Memorable Class Reunion
Your Riverside memories are worth celebrating and the Alumni Association is here to help you get started.
Planning a reunion takes teamwork, but it doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Our Reunion Planning Resource Series provides simple tools, helpful checklists, and practical guidance to help your class create an event filled with memories, laughter, and Beaver pride.
Whether you are celebrating 5 years or 50 years, your reunion is an opportunity to return to Beaver Country, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate the traditions that make each Riverside class unique.
Make It a Weekend to Remember
Your reunion can be more than one event. Consider adding activities that bring classmates together before and after your celebration:
🏈 Homecoming football game
🏫 Campus tour
⛳ Class golf outing
🎉 Alumni gathering or tailgate
📸 Class photo and memory displays
🍽 Dinner, dancing, or casual get-together
Celebrate Your Riverside Story
Every class has memories worth sharing. Consider including:
- Yearbook displays
- Favorite Riverside memories
- Classmate updates
- Photos from your school years
- Recognition of teachers and mentors
- A tribute honoring classmates who are no longer with us
Share Your Beaver Pride
After your reunion, we would love to celebrate your class with the Riverside alumni community. Email communication@riversidealumni.com with your:
📸 Reunion photos
💛 Special moments
🖤 Class memories
📖 Stories from your time at Riverside
Together, we continue the traditions and friendships that connect generations of Riverside Beavers.
🖤 Once a Beaver, Always a Beaver 💛 / Riverside Alumni Association
Celebrating the memories that connect us and the traditions that bring us home.
We hope these local options inspire your class to come together, celebrate your Riverside memories, and show your Beaver pride once again. While we're happy to share these resources, inclusion on this list does not imply an endorsement by the Riverside Alumni Association.
- Barrel House 9
- Firehouse Grill and Pub
- Hellriegel’s Inn
- Lake County Historical Society
- Old Firehouse Winery
- Painesville Country Club
- Painesville Township Park
- Pickle Bill’s Admiral Charlie’s
- Red, Wine and Brew – The Loft
- Redhawk Grille
- Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits
- The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake
- The Woods on 84
Locating classmates is often one of the most time-intensive parts of planning a reunion. To successfully reconnect with your class, you'll want to gather:
- 👤 Names
- 📬 Mailing (postal) addresses
- 📧 Email addresses
Plan to use a combination of outreach methods, including both email campaigns and traditional mail.
💡 Tips for Success
- 📊 Start building a class database as early as possible (Microsoft Excel works well).
- 🔄 Keep it updated after each reunion.
- 📝 Add contact details and any new information you gather.
- 🤝 Pass the database along to future organizers to maintain continuity.
A well-maintained database will make your outreach efforts far more effective.
🎓 How to Find Classmates for Your Reunion
Planning a reunion starts with reconnecting—and that begins with building a strong contact list. Follow these steps to get started:
📊 Step 1: Build Your Database
If you don't already have a class database, start by gathering names from yearbooks.
📚 Yearbook Resources
Morley Library
- Holds 12 Riverside yearbooks (1955–2011).
- Available for in-person viewing only.
Classmates.com
- Offers digital yearbooks from 1952–1987 (some years missing).
🌐 Step 2: Expand Your Search
Use online tools and alumni networks to locate classmates.
🏫 Riverside Alumni Website
- Share reunion dates and contact information.
- Allows classmates to find your reunion early.
👥 AlumniClass.com
- Paid membership.
- Organized by school and class year.
- May help identify classmates interested in reconnecting.
Note: AlumniClass.com is not affiliated with the RHS Alumni Association.
📘 Classmates.com
- Free to join, with optional paid features.
- Search by school and graduation year.
- View profiles, locations, and message classmates.
- Includes digital yearbooks.
📣 Facebook Ads
- A low-cost option to reach classmates.
- Direct people to your reunion page or contact form.
🤝 Step 3: Use Your Network
- 🌟 Explore Riverside alumni groups, websites, and Facebook pages.
- 👨👩👧 Reach out to relatives (siblings, cousins, and others) for updated contact information.
- 💬 Share any additional helpful resources with the Alumni Association.
📬 Step 4: Update Contact Information
If you have older contact lists, work to update them.
📖 Whitepages.com
- Free version offers limited information.
- Premium service can help locate updated addresses.
- Useful details may include spouse names, children, or past locations.
This step can be time-consuming, but it is essential for maintaining an accurate database. Once you find updated addresses, consider sending a letter or postcard.
💻 Step 5: Create a Class Website
A dedicated website helps organize information and share reunion updates.
🌐 ClassCreator.com
- Free version available (with ads) or paid ad-free option.
- No technical skills required—easy, click-to-build setup.
- Upload photos, yearbook images, and class databases.
✨ Features Include:
- 👤 Individual classmate profiles with photos and updates.
- 💬 Private and public messaging between classmates.
- 📧 Mass email capabilities.
- 🎉 Reunion event planning tools (dates, fees, menus, maps).
- 💳 Credit card payment integration for event tickets.
- 📊 Surveys and polls.
- 🕊️ “In Memory” section to honor deceased classmates.
