How Do Schools Find You for Class Reunions?
Schools themselves do not usually organize reunions. It takes the effort of some interested classmates to form a committee and do the work. The Internet has made it easier for school reunion organizers to find alumni. Tools include social networking sites and websites dedicated to connecting people with their former classmates and their school's reunion committees. The Internet has also made traditional sources, such as public records, easier to access.
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Class Website
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Many reunion organizers create a website where alumni can go to register for the reunion. The site lists class members about whom the organizers have no information -- the "missing." Visitors to the site can provide information on the whereabouts of individuals on the list.
Reunion Websites
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Even classmates who don't register on reunion websites may be in contact with someone who is Several websites are designed for those planning or inquiring about class reunions, such as Classmates.com and MyLife.com. Classmates.com says it has over 50 million people listed from over 200,000 schools. MyLife.com also claims to have over 50 million members. It gathers information about people from searches of public records, proprietary sources, social networks and the public domain. It claims to have profiles on over 750 million people. These sites have options to register for free or buy a subscription for advanced searches and enhanced capabilities. Committees that organize reunions sometimes buy a limited-time subscription to this type of website.
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Social Networking Sites
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Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace allow their members to post information on the schools they attended, and the sites notify members when people from the same school become members. They also allow you to search for members and filter the search by school name.
Networking
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Many people stay in touch with friends from school. Even if they've lost touch, they may know someone else who has kept in contact with a particular classmate -- or that person might know someone else who has. Networking is a powerful tool.
Search Engines
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Just entering someone's name in a search engine can be highly effective. Many alumni maintain a personal or business website. A search will also pick up on articles by or about a former classmate or a website that mentions the name of the person being sought. This works most efficiently with uncommon names.
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References
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