Class of 1964 – 50th Reunion FAQ



|FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |

|(Updated as Needed – Check Class Website for Latest) |

|CONTENTS |

|Accessibility Needs – Are there provisions for those that have accessibility requirements? |

|Accessibility Needs – Will wheel chairs be available for use by Class? |

|Alumni Center & Gift Shop, Herbert Hall |

|Attendee List – How can I find out who is coming? |

|Attire. What is the Dress code? |

|Attractions/Tours – There are lot’s of things to do in the West Point area, will we be able to visit some attractions and do some tours? |

|Concierge – Is there a Class concierge? |

|Church Services – Near Hotel? |

|Church Services – West Point? |

|Contact Info – What is point of contact to get more info? |

|Costs – How much does it cost for the different reunion options? |

|Dancing – Will there be dancing at any of the dinners? |

|Featured Activities – What are these, how do I find out more about them, and how do I signup for them? |

|Golf – Will we be able to play golf and if so where and how do we sign up? |

|Hospitality Room – Do we have a hospitality room where we can relax and socialize? |

|Hotel – What is the class hotel for the reunion? |

|Hotel Reservation – Do I have to stay at the Class hotel to attend the reunion? |

|Hotel Reservation – How is my hotel reservation made? |

|Hotel Reservation – If I have two or more rooms for my group can the rooms be close together? |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I change my hotel reservation? |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I check in for my hotel room? |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I pay for my hotel room? |

|Hotel Reservation – Is there a penalty for cancelling my hotel reservation? |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I cancel my hotel reservation? |

|Mementos – Will there be some 61/West Point mementos available? |

|Registration. How soon do I need to register? |

|Registration. How do I register for the reunion? |

|Registration – Do I have to sign up for all days at the reunion? |

|Registration – Do each of my guests have to complete the survey? |

|Registration - Deposit – How much and what is it for? |

|Registration - Deposit – Can I make deposit and other payments by credit card? |

|Registration. How do I change my registration? |

|Registration. How do I cancel my registration? |

|Rooms – What type of rooms are available? |

|Rooms – Can I have additional guests in my room? |

|Transportation – Airport to Hotel? |

|Transportation – How do we travel to the events? |

|Transportation – Bus Cost. How much will it cost to ride the bus? |

|Transportation – Buses. What times will the busses be running? |

|Transportation – POV and parking at West Point? |

|West Point. What is required to get on post? |

|West Point. Sightseeing. How do we get around once we get on post? |

|West Point. Where can we park on post? |

|West Point. Where are visitors allowed to go on West Point? |

|Accessibility Needs – Are there provisions for those that have accessibility requirements? |

|Accessibility was one of the evaluation factors we used for the hotel selection, and in fact was one of the primary reasons we dropped the Thayer hotel from |

|consideration early in the process. |

|Our reunion hotel, the Park Ridge Marriott, is very accessibility friendly. All our meeting and banquet rooms are on the first floor with no steps, the bus loading |

|zone is immediately outside the hospitality room and there are no steps from hospitality room to bus, the patios are all on same level as hospitality room, again |

|with no steps, and there are handicap rooms, some with roll in showers. |

|A number of our buses will have wheel chair lifts – the number based on our needs. |

|The Reunion Survey will request input for all accessibility needs for both rooms and buses. |

|Accessibility Needs – Will wheel chairs be available for use by Class? |

|Yes. Advance request required. |

|Send request to 61reunion@cfl. |

|Alumni Center & Gift Shop, Herbert Hall |

|Monday-Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The gift shop will have selected items available 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday during the alumni events at Eisenhower Hall. |

|Reunion attendees will receive a 10% discount on gift shop items. |

|Show your reunion name badge to the cashier. |

|Attendee List – How can I find out who is coming? |

|An Attendee List will be available on the Class website (). |

|Go to the home page and use the Reunion link to get to reunion info. |

|List also included in the Welcome Packet and posted in the Main Hospitality Room. |

|Attire. What is the Dress code? |

|Dress code is “appropriate casual” for all events – no ties required. Shirt and shoes required for all. Comfortable walking shoes. Suggestions are: |

|Tours – appropriate casual with comfortable walking shoes. |

|Most Dinners – slacks and open collar shirt – black tie optional |

|Friday Dinner is the Aloha and Welcome dinner. Hawaiian shirt welcome. |

| |

|Monday West Point events – dress slacks and open collar shirt |

|Tuesday West Point events – blue blazer, white shirt, gray trou, ‘61 hat. |

|Tuesday dinner – sport coat, collared shirt. |

|Suggest ’61 golf hat from past reunion or purchase one while at 55th. |

|Attractions/Tours – There are lot’s of things to do in the West Point area, will we be able to visit some attractions and do some tours? |

|There are many attractions in the West Point area and there is a lot of open time available for you to visit several of these if you wish. |

|Descriptions of many of these attractions are included in the Attractions and Tours Info Sheet, the Featured Activities Info Sheet, and in Bob Hampton’s Tour Guides |

|that have been provided to you. |

|They are available for individual or group tours/visits and many are included in the optional package tours. |

|You can sign up for these in the Reunion Registration Survey. |

|We will form groups and arrange transportation based on your inputs in the registration survey. |

|If you want to join any of these groups while at the reunion contact the Class concierge in the Main Hospitality Room. |

|Concierge – Is there a Class concierge? |

|Class volunteers will staff the concierge table in the Main Hospitality Room. |

|They can provide assistance and answer questions. |

|Check in with the Concierge when you arrive at the hotel. |

|Church Services – Near Hotel? |

|We are planning a Catholic mass on Sunday morning at 0730 at the hotel. |

|There may also be a protestant service at the hotel at 0800 at the hotel, this TBA. |

|Contact front desk for latest church info about other services near the Marriott. |

|Church Services – West Point? |

|Gospel Service - Sun 1230 Post Chapel |

|Jewish - Fri 1900 Jewish Chapel |

|Lutheran - Sun 1030 Old Cadet Chapel |

|Protestant - Sun 1030 Post Chapel |

|Protestant - Sun 1030 Cadet Chapel |

|Roman Catholic - Sun 1000 Most Holy Trinity |

|Contact Info – What is point of contact to get more info? |

|For questions or comments, send email to 61reunion@cfl.. |

|At the Reunion, go to the Concierge desk in the Main Hospitality Room |

|Costs – How much does it cost for the different reunion options? |

|Here is some info as it stands at this point: |

|Room - $139.00 plus lodging tax only – no state sales tax |

|Buffet Breakfast – Complimentary |

|Wifi – Complimentary |

|Hospitality Rooms – Three complimentary |

|Hospitality Rooms Food & Beverages – supplied by Class at cost |

|Lunches – on your own – Lunch Monday in Ike Hall and Lunch Tues in Washington Hall are options. |

|Dinner Banquet Room – Complimentary |

|Class Dinners – 15% discount from published prices – estimated to be about $45.00 per – no sales tax |

|Dinner Wines – provided by the Class at cost |

|Other Dinner Drinks – Cash bars |

|Dinner Entertainment/Music – about $4.00 per person |

|Decorations – about $3.00 per person |

|Bus Transportation – estimated to be about $20-25 per person per trip – depends on trip. |

|Group Events – TBD based on signups and group discounts at various locations. |

|Mementos – all optional – items from AOG Gift Shop at 10% discount. |

|Admin Costs – about $12.00 per person |

|Dancing – Will there be dancing at any of the dinners? |

|Yes. |

|Entertainment, music, dancing for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday dinners. |

|Featured Activities – What are these, how do I find out more about them, and how do I signup for them? |

|Several events and attractions were mentioned by large numbers of folks, including alumni events at West Point, NYC tours, and attractions at Hyde Park.  |

|So we are offering an option each day that we call a “Featured Activity,” namely an activity that we anticipate a fairly good sized group will want to sign up for.  |

|Descriptions of these featured activities can be found in the reference material provided. |

|You can sign up for all or parts of any package. |

|Details on the events are in the Event Guides included in the Welcome Packet. |

|Golf – Will we be able to play golf and if so where and how do we sign up? |

|Yes, we are offering group golf on Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sunday. |

|You can sign up in the survey. |

|The West Point course is the venue. |

|Al Vanderbush is the Golf Event Coordinator. Contact him for details. |

|Hospitality Room – Do we have a hospitality room where we can relax and socialize? |

|Yes, we have Class hospitality rooms available 24 hours a day, stocked with our own food and beverages. |

|Our Main Hospitality Room: |

|Is smaller banquet room conveniently located across the hall from our main dinner banquet room and next door to the Memorial Room. |

|Is main meeting place and location for reunion reference material, such as tours, schedules, rosters, Concierge desk, etc. |

|Will be stocked with non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. |

|Available at all hours for informal socializing. |

|With adjacent foyer, can handle entire class for pre-dinner happy hours. |

|Auxiliary Hospitality Rooms |

|We have three additional smaller hospitality rooms located in guest room suites. |

|These are smaller suites complete with bar, bar sink, refrigerator, coffee maker, and soft furniture. |

|These will be stocked with all types of beverages (alcohol and non-alcohol) and snacks. |

|They are available for smaller groups to get together to socialize. |

|In addition to our hospitality rooms, the hotel has: |

|A very comfortable seating area adjacent to the lobby bar and dining area. |

|A patio with lawn furniture and fire pits overlooking the creek that runs thru the property. |

|A patio area with patio tables and chairs near the banquet rooms (we may use this for BBQ one night) |

|A lawn area and gazebo beside the outdoor pool and the pond. |

|In sum, many very good places to relax and enjoy old friends – and we have plenty of free time to do it. |

|Hotel – What is the class hotel for the reunion? |

|Park Ridge Marriott |

|300 Brae Boulevard |

|Park Ridge, NJ 07656 |

|201.307.0800 |

|Hotel Reservation – Do I have to stay at the Class hotel to attend the reunion? |

|You do not have to stay at the Class hotel to attend the reunion events. |

|The survey asks if you are staying at the Class hotel. |

|If you are not staying at the Class hotel, you indicate this in the survey, then sign up for whatever events you choose. |

|You will be billed for things you sign up for only. |

|You will not be billed for a hotel room. |

|Hotel Reservation – How is my hotel reservation made? |

|All hotel reservations will be made by our Reunion Hotel Reservations Team. |

|In the Survey, we will collect all the info needed to make your reservation. |

|We will confirm all reservations back to you as they are completed. |

|You should not contact the hotel or Marriott central reservations desk direct for any reservation. |

|Hotel Reservation – If I have two or more rooms for my group can the rooms be close together? |

|Yes, we will make every effort to have family group rooms adjacent to each other or as close as possible. |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I change my hotel reservation? |

|Prior to check in, any cancellations or changes to your reservation must be made thru the Reunion Hotel Reservations Team at 61reunion@cfl.. |

|You should not contact the hotel or Marriott central reservations desk direct, unless you have to cancel your room after 30 April 2016. In that case only, call the |

|hotel direct and cancel the room reservation and notify the Reservations Team at 61reunion@cfl. |

|Changes after you check-in should be made at the hotel desk. |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I check in for my hotel room? |

|You will check in for your room at the hotel check in desk just as you would do for any hotel reservation. |

|A credit card will be required at check in and will be kept on file to pay for any incidental items charged to your room. |

|Your room, wifi, breakfasts, and hotel dinners are all included in your reunion reservation payment you made to the Class and will be paid from the Class master |

|account. |

|You must also sign in with the Class when you arrive. There will be a sign in sheet at the Concierge table in the Main Hospitality room, which opens on Thursday 12 |

|May. |

|If you arrive before Thursday, 12 May ask hotel clerk for USMA 61 meeting room. |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I pay for my hotel room? |

|You will make payment for your room by check to the Class. |

|Room costs are included in the Reunion Invoice you will be provided prior to arrival. A copy will be available at the Concierge desk in the Main Hospitality Room |

|Full payment for your room is due upon arrival at the hotel and can be made when you sign-in with the Class in the Main Hospitality Room. |

|Payments must be made by check made payable to the USMA Class of 1961. Payment cannot be made by credit card. |

|The Class will pay for your room out of the Class master account direct to the hotel. |

|Room payments from the master account are sales tax exempt. |

|You will be responsible when you check out for any incidental costs at the hotel that are charged to your room. |

|Hotel Reservation – Is there a penalty for cancelling my hotel reservation? |

|You may cancel your hotel reservation without penalty up to 1800 on day of arrival. |

|If you cancel after that time you will be charged for one night. |

|Hotel Reservation – How do I cancel my hotel reservation? |

|To cancel your hotel reservation (and your reunion registration) you must notify the Reunion committee at 61reunion@cfl. as soon as possible after you decide |

|to cancel. |

|You should not and must not contact the hotel direct or the Marriott central reservations office to cancel your hotel reservation, except for the following |

|circumstance. |

|If you have to cancel within one week of your scheduled arrival time, you should notify the Reunion committee and call the Marriott hotel direct at 201-307-0800 and |

|cancel your reservation. |

|This ensures that the hotel finds out about the cancellation as soon as possible. |

|Mementos – Will there be some 61/West Point mementos available? |

|Yes, there will be several items available for purchase. |

|All are optional for you. |

|The memento items you ordered will be distributed at the hotel by the AOG gift shop. |

|Registration. How soon do I need to register? |

|You should register as soon as possible to allow us to accurately plan for the reunion and to ensure room availability. |

|You can always change or cancel later if necessary. |

|Generally speaking, there is no penalty for cancellation as long as the cancellation is made 72 hours prior to the start date of 13 May 2016. |

|However, you must register prior to 13 February 2016, in order to ensure that there is a room available. |

|This is the cutoff date for the Class room block at the hotel. |

|You may register at any time after that, however there is no guarantee of room availability at the Class group rate or for any room being available |

|Registration. How do I register for the reunion? |

|Complete the online registration survey to register for the reunion. |

|Use the link to the online survey provided to you in the Reunion Brochure to go to the online survey, answer all the questions, including the guest questions if you |

|have a guest, and submit the survey. |

|Your survey is automatically added to other registrations. |

|You will receive an immediate message saying that “Your response has been sent and will be recorded.” |

|You will not receive a separate email confirming your response. |

|Registration – Do I have to sign up for all days at the reunion? |

|You can attend as many days as you wish. |

|You can arrive when you want, including for early bird activities before Friday 13 May and you can depart whatever day you want, including after Tuesday 17 May. |

|The hotel has offered the same room rate and amenities for a few days both before and after our primary reunion dates. |

|Registration – Do each of my guests have to complete the survey? |

|Yes, it is important that we have input from each person that is attending so that we can generate accurate attendance lists for each event. |

|Your first guest should fill out Part 4 of the survey you submit. |

|For an additional guest you should log in to the survey, enter your name, skip the parts for your preferences, and have the additional guest complete Part 4 of this |

|survey. |

|Repeat this process for each additional guest you have. |

|It is not helpful for you to just make a comment that your guest or guests are doing the same thing you are doing, because if you do that, we will have to fill in |

|the survey info for your guest(s). |

|Registration - Deposit – How much and what is it for? |

|Registration deposit for classmates is $150.00 for each room reservation. |

|There is no registration deposit required for widows. |

|Your registration deposit is due by 15 March 2016. |

|The deposit covers admin costs and any cancellation fees should you have to cancel. |

|Deposits must be made by check payable to: USMA Class of 1961 |

|Mail to USMA Class of 1961, 112 Cherry Hill Circle, Longwood, FL 32779 |

|Registration - Deposit – Can I make deposit and other payments by credit card? |

|No. All payments to the Class account must be made by check. |

|We are unable to process credit cards and such transactions are too costly. |

|Registration. How do I change my registration? |

|Submit an updated registration survey indicating change per survey instructions. |

|Notify the reunion committee of the change by email to 61reunion@cfl. |

|Registration. How do I cancel my registration and is my deposit refundable? |

|Notify the reunion committee that you wish to cancel by email to 61reunion@cfl. |

|The reunion committee will cancel all your reservations, including the hotel reservation and confirm cancellations with you. |

|When you cancel we will determine how much of your deposit is refundable. |

|We anticipate that if you cancel NLT 72 hours prior to your check in date your deposit will be fully refundable. |

|If you cancel within 72 hours you may be charged for a dinner meal cost that has been incurred by the Class and is nonrefundable. |

|If you cancel prior to 1800 on day of arrival there is no penalty for your room cancellation. |

|If you cancel after 1800 on day of arrival there is a one night penalty for the room cancellation. |

|Rooms – What type of rooms are available? |

|Guest room have either a single king or two queens. |

|You can indicate your preference in the Registration Survey. |

|Rooms – Can I have additional guests in my room? |

|Guest rooms are standard hotel rooms designed for two persons. |

|A roll-away bed can be added for a third person only in a king bed room. |

|Smaller children could be accommodated, but they would have to bunk on the floor. |

|Free buffet breakfasts are included for additional guests in a room. |

|Transportation – What Airports are near the hotel? |

|The most convenient airport to the hotel is Newark. |

|LaGuardia and JFK are other NYC airports but travel to the hotel would require going cross town NYC. |

|Philadelphia is an option – some 3 hours from the hotel. |

|Transportation – Airport to Hotel? |

|There a number of options for transport from Newark Airport to the hotel. Here are a few |

|Uber – Best choice for taxi type travel. |

|Rental Car – One way car rental. The following car rental companies are reasonably close to the hotel |

|Avis – 565 Rt 17 South, Ridgewood, NJ |

|Budget – 833 Hwy 17, Paramus NJ |

|Enterprise – 255 Old Hook Rd, Westwood, NJ |

|Hertz – 228 Rte 17 North, Upper Saddle River, NJ |

|Taxi and Car Service |

|Montvale Taxi: 866-598-6767 |

|Westwood Taxi: 201-666-5666 |

|Airport Taxi Cab: 201-450-5265 |

|Rochelle Limo: 201-835-4302 |

|Rides by George: 917-885-5925 |

|My Limo: 1-800-624-6112 |

|Limo Service |

|Upscale Limos - offers flat fee of $89.00 per car from Newark to the hotel; tip not included. |

|Can handle up to 3 passengers with luggage. |

|Phone 888.548.1110. email: upscalelimos@. Website: |

|Transportation – How do we travel to the events? |

|Your choice for each event – POV or Bus. |

|You must select one or the other for each event so that accurate numbers are available for those that ride a bus. |

|We will provide a suggested mode for the main events. |

|Transportation – Bus Cost. How much will it cost to ride the bus? |

|Bus costs vary depending on the distance and time to/from destination. |

|We will not have firm cost data until we find out how many want to ride the buses. |

|Current estimate is that the cost will be about $20-25 per person, depending on the event. |

|Transportation – Buses. What times will the busses be running? |

|Bus schedules will be posted in the Main Hospitality room. Preliminary schedule is as follows: |

|Sunday – NYC. Depart hotel at 0830. Early return at 1630. Late return at 2100. |

|Monday – West Point I. Hotel departures and return times will depend on your preferences for events. |

|Tuesday – West Point II. Hotel departures and return times will depend on your preferences for events. |

|Transportation – POV and parking at West Point? |

|POV is an optional travel mode for all activities. |

|You do not have to have a car at the reunion to sign up for POV travel. We will pair folks up for carpooling. |

|Visitor Parking at West Point is limited. Preferred parking for those using POVs is in the old PX parking lot behind the cemetery. Class shuttle buses will be |

|running to and from this parking lot. |

|Visitor Parking is generally available in the following areas: Buffalo Soldier Field, old PX parking lot (near the cemetery, K Lot on the West Point Map), Visitors |

|Center (West Point Museum Parking), Most Holy Trinity Chapel, and in the vicinity of Eisenhower Hall. |

|Vehicles with Department of Defense (DoD) stickers may use any of the three gates to enter: Thayer, Stony Lonesome, and Washington. Military ID is needed for |

|Washington Gate |

|All other vehicles (no DoD sticker) must enter through Thayer or Stony Lonesome gates. |

|All vehicle occupants age 16 and over must have a photo ID. |

|West Point. What is required to get on post? |

|If you have person with military ID in the car |

|Vehicles with DoD stickers may use all gates: Thayer, Stony Lonesome, and Washington |

|Vehicles without DoD sticker may use Thayer or Stony Lonesome Gates |

|Without Military ID – use Thayer or Stony Lonesome Gates |

|All passengers over the age of 16 must have photo IDs. |

|NOTE – Recent DoD rules have disallowed certain states drivers licenses as valid ID’s. |

| |

|Effective Jan. 10, 2016, people using a driver's license from the states of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico or Washington will have to use another form of |

|identification in order to enter West Point and all other military installations. Enhanced driver's licenses from these states are acceptable. If you possess a valid|

|Department of Defense issued identification card this new requirement does not affect your ability to enter military installations. |

|Acceptable alternate forms of identification are a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card/Alien Registration Receipt (form 1-551), a foreign passport with a |

|temporary I-551 stamp or visa or an employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766). |

|Random vehicle inspections are conducted. |

|A member of AOG can get a vehicle pass on line, which might help somewhat when entering post.. |

|Go to this site and follow the directions. |

|Security requirements may change at any time. |

|The current security requirements are posted on the USMA homepage and are subject to change. |

|Check this page for updates as we get closer to the date of your reunion. See the link below. |

|The info/restrictions for certain state driver's licenses is also on the website. |

| |

|West Point. Sightseeing. How do we get around once we get on post? |

|Many have requested free time to do individual or small group sightseeing on post. |

|Our schedule has open time on both Monday and Tuesday for those that want to move around on their own pace. |

|To facilitate your travel, we are planning to run shuttle buses on a continuous loop to the main attractions and parking spots. |

|So whether you travel to post by bus or car, you will have a chance to move around while there by shuttle bus. |

|West Point. Where can we park on post? |

|Visitor parking on post is limited and restricted. |

|Handicapped parking spots are available in all parking lots with a permit or plates for people with disabilities. Spots are first-come, first-served. |

|Visitor Parking at West Point is limited. Preferred parking for those using POVs is in the old PX parking lot behind the cemetery. Class shuttle buses will be |

|running to and from this parking lot. |

|Visitor Parking is generally available in the following areas: Buffalo Soldier Field, old PX parking lot (near the cemetery, K Lot on the West Point Map), Visitors |

|Center (West Point Museum Parking), Most Holy Trinity Chapel, and in the vicinity of Eisenhower Hall. |

|Parking passes are not issued to visitors for Alumni Week. |

|West Point. Where are visitors allowed to go on West Point? |

|For those visiting earlier and/or on their own see USMA website for the current security requirements. |

|Note - there are extra security measures in the Cadet Area. To enter this area you must have a DoD card. |

|Reunion classes and their guests must wear their reunion ID badge/tag. |

|The only areas open to Graduates and their guests within the Cadet Area are: |

|Arvin Cadet Physical Development Cadet Store and Bookstore, Cullum Hall, Grant Hall, Jefferson Hall, West Point Club. |

|Ike Hall is open for visitors. |

|The Cadet Barracks, Cadet Mess, Academic Buildings, and Flirtation Walk are not open for tours. |

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