Party Time! 

While we are looking forward to a fun reunion boat cruise in July, we can also look back at what fun-loving party people summer interpreters always seem to be. Must be because we always had to work SO hard, and occasionally needed to blow off steam. Yesterday, Kate (Shaw) Gunn posted some great photos on Facebook, and we thought we'd share a few of them here, too, in case you missed them. 

Clowning around in Keating house.

It's important to stay hydrated when socializing. 

I really hope this was a costume party. 

Parties were always a good time to hang out with friends. 

Katherine McCracken has a few party pics she has shared, as well. 

See, hydration -- always important.

Your typical party scenario. 

Any place can be a party place: ready to head to the Pen for
a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  

Do you have any party memories or photos to share? You know how to do it -- Facebook, comments here, or the reunion email! 

Coming to Stay?

There were some great summer accommodations for non-local summer interpreters back in the day. Getting to know a local Penetang family, or living in a cottage by Little Lake, or perhaps discovering that living at the end of the 13th concession in Tiny Township didn't really put you within biking distance to work. 
But that was then... now you might need a place to stay for a night or two while you attend the reunion! Here are a few possibilities in the area:

Hotels & Motels:

http://bestwesternmidland.com/
924 King Street, Midland
705 526-9307

http://comfortinnmidland.com/
980 King Street, Midland
705 526-2090

http://midlandinn.com/
720 Prospect Boulevard, Midland
705 245-1166

http://www.knightsinn.com/
751 Yonge Street, Midland
705 526-2219

http://www.kingsinn.ca/
751 King Street, Midland
705 526-7744

http://www.super8.com/hotels/ontario/midland/super-8-midland/hotel-overview
1144 Hugel Avenue, Midland
705 526-8288

Bed & Breakfasts:

http://www.victorianinn.ca/
670 Hugel Avenue, Midland
705 526-4441

http://littlelakeinn.com/
669 Yonge Street, Midland
705 526-2750

http://chartersinn.com/
290 Second Street, Midland
705 527-1572

http://beaconshorebb.com/
128 Midland Point Road, Midland
705 526-5005

http://www.georgianterrace.ca/
14 Water Street, Penetang
705 549-2440

http://copelandwoodsbb.com/
47 Copeland Creek Drive, Penetang
705-549-1330


One place you won't be staying (even if you were feeling REALLY nostalgic) is the Brulé Hotel. Sadly, that summer institution is closed. It is for sale, though... ;)

It was a revelation after a summer live-in to discover...
the Brulé served breakfast!

And while we're on the topic, The Pass is no more, either.

Such a modern dance floor, too. 

Hope this accommodations list helps as you make your reunion plans. 

Will We See You?

Hard to believe that in a little over three months, many of us will once again be boarding the Georgian Queen for a staff boat cruise! 

And on the starboard side...

It's time for the reunion committee to get an idea of numbers for the reunion cruise on July 27th, so we can fix a definite price (likely in the $25-$30 range). If you are thinking of coming for the cruise, please email us at hnme2013@gmail.com with the number of tickets you plan to purchase. In early May, we can then send you an email with the definite cost of the boat cruise and how you can purchase tickets. We will include details about the evening, methods of payment, where to send cheques, what we will do with any surplus funds, etc. For privacy and security reasons, this information will only be available by email. Details will not be posted here or on the Facebook group page.

If you've been in touch with staff from your summers at HNME, please encourage them to email the reunion committee so we can add them to the master list too, ensuring everyone gets the most up-to-date information. 

Just to remind you of exactly how much fun those boat cruises could be, here are a couple of photos, again courtesy of Trish (Foley) Stack. 

A staff supervisor readying the troops, perhaps?

A toast to HNME as the Georgian Queen
cruises past the site.

Can't wait to see you this summer! 

Staff Banquets, Part II

Thanks to Trish (Foley) Stack, we have more staff banquet pictures to share, this time from 1988. First, check out the swanky invitation:

Aperitifs and everything!

This photo was accompanied by a somewhat cryptic note about a best legs award... 

Were these contenders, or winners?

Thanks for sending these, Trish! Any more banquet photos out there to share? 

Staff Banquets

Besides the annual summer boat cruise -- that we are going to faithfully recreate this July! -- another "officially" sanctioned gathering each year was the August staff banquet. It was a chance to get dressed up, share a meal with friends, and perhaps poke a little end-of-season fun at the summer past. Thanks to Karen (Markham) Short and Peter Mount, we have a few candid pics from both the 70s and 80s.

I think it will need someone who was there that night
to explain the significance of the signs.

While it would be easy to comment on the fashion styles of the 70s, I won't, since the 80s were not much better, and possibly worse. :P

The women could usually be counted on to put together
some kind of group presentation.

I believe the costumed gentleman in the middle
went on to a distinguished career in education.

And this gentleman on the right also went on
to a distinguished career in education.
(Not to mention the future doctor on the left!)

Do you have some memories -- or even better, perhaps, photographs -- of staff banquets?  If so, we'd love to hear about or see them! Let us know here on the blog by leaving a comment, post them to our Facebook page, or email us at hnme2013@gmail.com.