It has been said that many people fear public speaking even more than death. I don’t know if any statistics have ever been compiled on another subject, but I would be willing to bet that there is something that would be pretty high on most folk’s list of feared activities: class reunions.

When you get an invitation to one, what goes through your mind? Who will be there? What do they look like now? How do I measure up to the people I used to sit next to in class, pass in the halls, or see at football games? Am I successful enough, too fat, or have too many wrinkles? The list goes on and on about what we think are our shortcomings, and how we don’t dare risk rejection by attending an event where we might be perceived as less than perfect.

My class from Nutley High has found a simple way to avoid the jitters of attending reunions every ten years --have them more often. Former Nutleyite, Bob Penett (whose mother used to teach Social Studies in Franklin School), has been tenacious in organizing several activities per year that our classmates have been invited to attend when they can. Called “The Nutley Half Century Club,” we have gathered at hotels in Piscataway, East Rutherford, and Cape May. Attendance has varied with each event, but the core of people who have been coming to each activity have had a good enough time to make us all want to continue reaching out to expand the group. The distance of some gatherings has made it hard for some people to attend, but there is an activity next month that locals should find appealing because it is to be held in Nutley. Linda Lettieri Novack is hosting a barbecue on August 17th, and would like everyone who attended any Nutley school, and graduated from 1968-70 (whether or not it was from Nutley High) to know about it. Don’t worry about your looks or where you are in life--just come to have a bite to eat and catch up with people who are as old as you are. Here are some tips from Classmates.com that might help anyone who might be shy about these gatherings: flip through your yearbook to jog your memory about who’s who from your class; find a friend to go with so you are less nervous; have a positive outlook; be yourself--don’t try to put on airs or exaggerate about how well you’re doing; bring pen and paper so you can get contact information from those you would like to see again; talk to as many people as you can to make the most of the experience; go prepared to find out about other people, not just talk about yourself. For more information on this and other events, check out www.nutleyhalfcenturyclub.org. Until next time...