7926 Las Vegas Agenda











April 28 -- Jesse(Li Shuo Chuan) issued JUDGMENT for Summer Reunion:

 I can hear voices from the cyber corners "we are getting old waiting for the DATE". Well, the results are in -- after an extended and elaborate collecting process. Many of you had been bugged by my incessant phone calls to extract a response. I held to my commitment that this reunion should be a thoroughly enjoyable and stress free experience and gave everyone long enough notice and opportunity to contemplate and plan on their participation.

IT IS TOTALLY VOLUNTARY -- realizing that everyone is sustaining a different level of "freedom". We must follow where our hearts lead us. Remember, this is likely to be a U.S. based debut reunion -- small in scale for now, not a United Nations Consortium yet, which could be a project in the new century. Gosh! That will end the remainder of our life! Will we have enough time?

For me, this is such a just and noble cause that I was willing to put my life and career on hold to make sure it could happen in the best way possible. I am so grateful that many of you shared the same view, and even urged to do it anyway whatever the voting result may be. So here we go:

Respondents:             16 residing in U.S.
Yes on Las Vegas:      13
Yes on Shanghai:         3

Reunion in September:   10
Reunion in August:          5
Reunion in May:              1

JUDGMENT:

Date of Reunion: September 11 and 12 (non-Labor Day weekend)
Accompanying Family: Own Choice

 Gu Xiao Lu has graciously offered to make hotel reservation for those who wish to take advantage of group discounts, preferably with the same hotel. Air arrangements are your own responsibilities.

Please submit your detailed requests to Xiao Lu c/o me. Thank you all for taking the time, and always, any questions, please do call upon.



June 14 -- Lian Hui issues Las Vagas Reunion Agenda.
This letter covers five parts: explanation of our decision-making mechanism, information about the reunion, tentative agenda, survey, and closing notes.

I.     DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

 II.    TENTATIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE VEGAS REUNION
  • WHO: We extend our welcome to everyone everywhere in the world. We'll be happy to provide an invitation letter shown to the visa officer if our mainland comrades wish to join us.
  • WHEN: September 11 and September 12, 1999.
  • WHERE TO MEET THE GROUP: Bally's Hotel, Las Vegas
  • WHERE TO STAY: Gu Xiaolu has graciously offered to book rooms at Bally's Hotel for us at a group discount
  • WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL: Go to the Business Center, ask for room key for 7926 reservation and mention your name. If you check-in later than 2:00 PM, to locate the rest of the group, call Jesse's or GuXiao Lu's cell phone. The phone number will be provided later to those who confirm to come.
  • WHAT TO PACK: September is still pretty hot in Vegas according to Jesse (Don't blame me if it is cold because I've never been there :)).
  • We will stay indoor most of time. Swimming suits are probably not a bad idea if someone wants to swim.
  • Please bring some small bills of cash to take care of one-bill meal expenses. We'll save a lot of trees and waiter/waitress' work by paying one bill when we have group meals.
  • If you have any memorabilia, photos, jokes or whatever from Fudan era, please bring them to share with us. I personally will bring my graduation book.
  • For those of you wishing to distribute your name cards, please feel free to do so.
  • Anything as you wish.

    III.    TENTATIVE AGENDA

     The group will convene at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 11, 1999, at the main entrance lobby of Bally's Hotel.

    IV.     SURVEY

    15 questions, see following results of Survey on August 27.

    V.     Closing Notes:

     Concerning the deadline for the survey answers, I would appreciate if all of you can feedback to me by July 4th.

    Aug. 7 -- Li Shuo Chuan (Jesse) for 7926 Reunion:


    It is getting close to the exciting day when we will meet together after eighteen years!

    After extensive telephone calls, I have confirmed quite a lot of people made the commitment participating this event. The following are just a few things to remind us:

        1.When you are planning to buy airplane tickets, You can get better price if you reserve 21 days earlier.
        2. Currently major airlines are cutting their airfare 25% until August 13, 1999.
        3. You can check out the website -- www.priceline.com to search reasonable airfare.
        4. Please review Lian, Hui's e-mail on June 14,1999 which laid out all details of our reunion agenda. Then you can plan the date when you are arrival. (Many people will be there on 9/10, some will be on 9/11).
        5. If you can not find the place or anything happens, please call my cellular phone #510-612-1853.

    Aug. 27 -- Lian Hui for Survey Results:


    1: If you have to make only one choice, which theme do you like the best for our reunion?

    a. NOSTALGIA - want to have good time with old friends from bygone era; get our "battery" recharged for the next week. 5/8
    b. FUN - gamble, drink, karaokey,and do college-student-type of silly things with old friends; gets the stress completely released. 3/8
    c. BONDING - want to chat with old friends who can relate to me in this foreign land, share my joy and sorrow with them. 5/8
    d. EXPRESSION - look for attention from others; want others to know my current life, family, job, etc; it's simply a pleasure to have myself as the center of the attention and the subject of the topic. 1/8
    e. Other: Specify only one. 1/8, BUT NO SPECIFICATION.

    2. What is your favorite topic during the group time?

    a. Stories, jokes, memories, current going-ons, gossips about self, old friends, professors and anyone we know. 6/8
    b. Get into actions, drinking games, gamblings, dancing, laughing, performing and whatever just for the heck of a hearty laugh. 4/8
    c. Sharing the experiences of dealing with setbacks, heart-to-heart chat, clearing misunderstandings, comforting others and being comforted by others, and gaining new perspectives through the reunion to face our daily life. 1/8
    d. Everyone gives a five-minute commercial about his/herself and families. Show the pictures of his/her current life including kids, spouses/significant others, puppies, houses, travel destinations, cars, etc. 2/8

    3. Which style do you like the best in creating the atmosphere?

    a. FLAMBOYANT - Be exciting and have fun; we do not need real-life stuff at this precious moment. Let's be romantic, even crazy, and forget the reality for a while. By the end, we will all say:"BRAVO!" or "URAH!" 6/8
    b. HUMOROUS - We can relive our past by teasing each other and ourselves, starting from our best friends who will not be mad at what we do to them. We can even be a little bit naughty. By the end, we'll have closer relationship and less diplomatic languages. 4/8
    c. LOW-KEY - Let's be the salt of the earth. This is the low risk approach. There is no way we can offend anybody if we are modest and KE4QI4. By the end, we all feel pleasant but might be a little bit boring to some of us. Well, boring is better than anger or resentment. 1/8
    d. GOAL-SEEKING - Let's have an agenda! Overall after spending money and time coming here, we should at least achieve some goals. Since everyone might have different agenda, it could be quite a challenge to get what I want. Challenge is not something I am afraid of. Reunion provides a good opportunity to sharpen my political and negotiation skills to push my agenda. By the end, the group might or might not get something done, but at least it is a good start to turn 7926 into a great organization. It's just fun to envision the day when I am the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, giving speeches, joining the presidential candidate (Dan Quayle, Jr.) for fund raising…. Ha, ha, ha! What a wonderful world! 1/8

    4. How much time do you want to spend with the entire group?

    a. The whole period, of course 4/8
    b. Saturday all day and half day on Sunday 4/8
    c. Saturday only . NONE
    d. Half day on Saturday NONE
    e. One meal only, please NONE

    5. If you plan to come on Friday, September 10, do you wish to get together with others?

    a. Yes 6/8
    b. No. NONE
    c. Only part of the time 2/8

    6. What kind of group activities do you like after lunch on Saturday?

    a. Chat in someone's room. 4/8
    b. Be with my family or be alone. NONE
    c. Chat while have afternoon tea in one of the hotel lounges nearby. 5/8
    d. Visit the casino, town or any hot stuff around the town. NONE

    7. What kind of group activities do you like after dinner on Saturday?

    a. A night show. 6/8
    b. Visit Casino. 1/8
    c. Chat/discuss in hotel lounge or someone's room. 2/8
    d. Go to a pub for fun. 4/8
    e. Be with my family or be alone. NONE

    8. Do you believe we should talk about establishing a bank account for 7926 to fund future activities during the reunion?

    a. Yes, it's time to do that. We should write one check in the future for our activities rather than have everyone cut a check for anything we do. That would be terribly inefficient. Additionally, people who spend money, such like phone expense, for 7926 activities should get reimbursed. 2/8
    b. No, it's premature. With people contributing their money, the argument on how to spend the money would become an issue. This will increase the frequency and intensity of the current cyber argument among us. Do we really have time for all these? Also, what are we gonna do with the tax issue regarding the interest income earned? 4/8
    c. Maybe there is a midway. We can reimburse people while still get by without a bank account to save the administrative hassles. Come on, folks, be creative. 4/8

    9. If we were to open a bank account, what would be the most appropriate source for fund in your view?

    a. Donation from us. The nice aspect of it is that nobody will feel being exploited or forced to pay for something they don 't want. The not-so-good aspects are that it might encourage free riding and it adds a lot of workload for the folks who volunteer to solicit and administer the funds. NONE
    b. Per-head-charge. The virtual is that everyone pays equally for the benefit received. The vice is that it is very hard to determine who should pay and who should not. It's a little bit inconvenient for folks in China to send in a check in US$, and some of them may never benefit from what we are doing here. Remember how difficult it is when we had to send our money to pay for our TOFEL? 2/8
    c. We should wait and see what our needs are, then determine what we should do. We have no hurry to solve this issue during this reunion. 6/8
    d. Other: Specify 1/8, PER-HEAD-CHARGE SHOULD APPLY ONLY TO U.S. CLASSMATES.

    10. What kind of restaurants do you like to go for our group meal?

    a. Local fare 2/8
    b. Chinese restaurant 1/8
    c. Seafood 2/8
    d. Casual food in a café setting 3/8
    e. Other: Specify 3/8, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE IN A RESTAURANT WHERE WE CAN MAKE NOISE BUT OTHER NOISE SUCH AS DISCO BAND IS NOT GETTING IN THE WAY OF OUR TALKING.

    11. If the group's needs arise in the future for your help, shall we feel free to give you a call?

    a. Of course, my pleasure. 4/8
    b. Nah, don't bother me; I am too busy for this sort of stuff. NONE c. Yes, please call me, but I might not be available to take or return your call. NONE
    d. Yes, I will surely take/return your call but I might not be able to help out. NONE
    e. Yes, I'll do my best to be helpful. 4/8
    12. If you were to make some sort of contribution to 7926, which form?

    a. Both time and money 5/8
    b. Time mostly 2/8
    c. Money mostly 1/8
    d. None, NONE

    13. While we are gathering in Vegas, do you think it is a good idea to discuss the plan for the next reunion?

    a. Yes. It's much easier to talk about it face by face than through the web. We can get instant feedbacks of our ideas from others. 4/8
    b. No. This particular reunion involves too few people to talk about the next reunion, which should include more people. Let's wait. 2/8
    c. We can do some brainstorming but will make no decision or plan. 3/8
    d. Other: Specify

    14. What's your view on how to maintain and improve the 7926 Website?

    a. We need a site with scalability and sophistication even though we have to spend more money. Be visionary! Someday the 7926 site will grow into a XX26 site including all folks from the universe of the World Economy Department. 2/8
    b. We need some changes but we should find a more economic way to handle our website. Changes are needed since the current setting is too slow. However we don't believe this has to turn into a XX26 site because we hardly know these people. Do we have to incur high fixed cost right now for the future generations of XX26ers? 4/8
    c. We should keep the status quo. It works well so far. Those who experienced slow connection may want to check their modem or buy a faster computer. 2/8
    d. I don't care. I have no idea due to lack of technical knowledge. 2/8

    15. Other suggestions

    WE SHOULD NOT SPEND OUR PRECIOUS TIME ON ISSUES, WHICH WILL POSSIBLY LEAD TO ARGUMENT. THE IMPORTANT THING FOR THIS REUNION IS TO RELAX AND HAVE FUN.2/8

    Aug. 27 -- Lian Hui Comments for Survey:


    I. For issues affecting us in the future, such as opening a bank account, funding methods, and maintenance of 7926 website, majorities take a moderate/cautious approach, namely, more or less keeping the status quo. If the minorities wish to get these issues solved during the reunion, it is recommended that you use back-door approach to form alliance and to gain support for your agenda.

    II. For issues regarding group activities beyond this particular reunion, such as discussion of next reunion, contribution to the group, majorities demonstrated high degree of willingness. Thank you all for making the 7926 as a meaningful part of our life!

    III.For the Vegas reunion itself, majorities want to have fun and to maintain and develop our friendship further. Group togetherness rather than small subgroup activities seems to dominate the theme. Going to shows, chatting, wetting in a pub and spending most/whole period together in a nostalgic, relaxing, happy and humorous atmosphere all speak for it. Folks have varied preference with regard to the type of the restaurant we'll go. I'm sure those who have frequented Vegas will find us a fabulous place with above-mentioned atmosphere. A place where we can make noise is a good idea.

    IV. Based on the survey results, I don't see a need to make a big change on our agenda for Saturday, September 11th although a more detailed plan will be helpful. So far as Friday is concerned, something should be worked out among those who will arrive that day. According to Jesse's name list, the head counts are not large enough to warrant a group coordination. To help finalize our plan for Sunday, September 12th, it is important that each of you email your time of departure to Jesse so that we can time the brunch in a way to get the biggest turnout. Please do so as soon as you can. It would be even more helpful if you don't mind letting Jesse know your itinerary for the entire period.

    V. Special thanks to the survey respondents. You have made the Vegas reunion more interesting and meaningful. See you all in Las Vegas.

    Sept. 2 -- Li Shuo Chuan (Jesse) for Las Vegas Hotel reservation:

    Due to the short availability of Bally's hotel room, after discussion with Gu Xiao Lu and extensive researches, I have made room reservation, confirmed and put the deposits in MGM Grand Hotel. The following is the reservation detail:

    1. Per night rate for each room is $145.95+13.13(tax)=$159.08(It is a reasonable rate for the weekend).
    2. 5 rooms have been reserved.
    3. two queen beds for each room.
    4. 4 of 5 rooms are for two nights.
    5. 1 room is for one night.
    6. total deposits are $795.40 with Jesse Li's credit card.
    7. Cancellation can be made before the midnight of 9/8/99.(48 hours earlier).
    8. Names are tentatively registered as it is:

    *Hui Lian and Wei Hau Fu (9/10&9/11)(confirmation#wa0953)
    *Zhang Chu Shi and Guang Hua Wang (9/10&9/11)(confirmation#wa0955)
    *Xiao Lu Gu and Xing Cai Wang (9/10&9/11)(confirmation#wa0956)
    *Jesse Li and Zelin Jiang (9/10&9/11)(confirmation#wa0921)
    *Qi Qi and Chou Xing Qin with his son(9/11)(confirmation#0957)

    9. Wang Yu and Shu Hui Zhan will reserve hotel rooms for themselves.

    Please let me know your opinion of this reservation. If you would like making any changes or suggestions, please call me ASAP. Best regards!



    MGM Grand Hotel is largest hotel in the world


    Sept. 4 -- Li Shuo Chuan (Jesse) for Confirming Hotel reservation:

    I have confirmed with most of you on the phone for your fly itinerary and published as the following. If you find it is not correct, please let me know. If you find some arrival and depature times within the same schedule, we can meet in the airport and leave together and share the same cab. Also considering some girls arrival in the midnight, we will make sure to pick them up.

    Fu, Wei Hua
    TWA#0481 Arrival 12:30AM 9/11
    TWA Departure 1:30pm 9/12

    Lian, Hui
    America Wes#t249 Arrival 10:29pm 9/10
    America West#247 Departure 4:00pm 9/12

    Wang, Xing Cai
    National Air #14 Arrival 2:50pm 9/10
    National Air#304 Departure 12:30pm 9/12

    Wang, Guang Hua
    America West#136 Arrival 10:39pm 9/10
    America West#2137 Departure 11:08pm 9/12

    Jiang, Zelin
    United Airline#2314 Arrival 8:30pm 9/10
    United Airline Departure 12:20pm 9/12

    Wang, Yu
    America Airline#1271 Arrival LA 5:21pm 9/9
    Driving to LV with other people
    America Airline#1216 Departure LA 2:20pm 9/18

    Qi,Qi and Qin, Chou Xing and Wang, Yu
    Driving to LV together
    Arrival time to be confirmed

    Gu, Xiao Lu
    Fly or Driving to LV
    Arrival time to be confirmed

    Li, Shuo Chuan and Shi, Zhang Chu
    United Airline#931 Arrival 9:37pm 9/10
    United Airline#2272 Departure 6:45pm 9/12

    Sept. 5 -- Lian Hui for revising agenda for Vegas.

    9/10
    Arrival: Xingcai, Zelin, Jesse, Steve (Shi), Hui, Weihua, Susan and Mr. Young.

    9/11
    Breakfast: Those who can manage to get up shall gather in the lobby of MGM Grand near main entrance at 9:00 AM. We'll then head for one of the restaurant inside the MGM. Those who can't make it continue to enjoy your "trip to Soozhow."

    Arrival: Steve (Qi), James (Wang), Jason, Herman and Xiaolu.

    Lunch: This will be our first whole group gathering. We shall meet again in the lobby of MGM Grand near main entrance at 12:30PM. We'll eat again in one of the hotel restaurants. Please note there are several hotel entrances. Ours is the main one facing Las Vegas Blvd. If after fully exploited your navigation talent and still can't find us, please call Jesse at (510)331 3162.

    Group party: we'll spend the afternoon visiting each other and having fun.

    Dinner: The group will have dinner in Bellegio (hope I spell it right) at 6:30 PM. Our first choice would be the seafood buffet if we can get reservation.

    Night Show: Some of us will go to the famous white tiger show at the Mirage at 11:00 PM. It is supposed to be a nice LV experience. Those who prefer not will go elsewhere for fun.

    9/12

    Breakfast: We'll gather at 9:00 AM in the lobby for breakfast. This will be our last group gathering for the reunion. Please do your best to attend. We like to say goodbye to each other before we hit the road. Afterwards the folks who leave late can arrange other activities at everyone's own discretion.

    Bon Voyage! Finis!

    P.S. Some related issues:

    1. Those who have cell phone please email your number to Jesse ASAP.

    2. Please make a note of your hotel confirmation number (see Jesse's email regarding reservation).

    3. Payment during checkout. Jesse has guaranteed our reservation using his own credit card. We need to make sure our rooms are not charged against his card. Anyway ask the hotel about that.

    4. For show-goers, Jesse is making ticket reservation for us. He might have to pay for all the tickets for us in advance. The easiest thing for us to do is to pay Jesse in cash. The ticket costs about $89.35 including two drinks, gift program (don't know what it is, maybe some marketing gimmicks) and gratuity. We might have to pay tax and/or service charge. So please bring a little bit extra cash for the show.

    5. Please check email during the next few days. We'll post any changes via email.

    Among 17 U.S. classmates, 12 of us are gathering together again. Thank you all for your support and presence. Look forward to seeing you. Special thanks to Jesse whose numerous phone calls and hard work made this all possible. Have a nice and safe trip.

    Sept. 7 -- Steve Shi designed a Las Vegas Reunion Page, showed you MGM Grand Hotel info.

          Click: Reunion One










    © Steve Shi - 1999