Eastside and NW Indiana ROMEO
I was having breakfast in a small restaurant in the South Loop of Chicago a few months back with three other Mendel Alums (Nick Ahrens (’63), Giacomo Mancuso (’66) and John Knoebel (’74)) when a “kid” (about 40 years old!) approached our table and said we reminded him of his father and his father’s friends. He said they would go out for a meal every once in a while, and they called themselves, “R-O-M-E-O” as in “Random Old Men Eating Out!” We laughed, and decided immediately to steal the “R-O-M-E-O” name, but to change it to “Random Old Monarchs Eating Ou
“R-O-M-E-O” Events are very informal gatherings that give Mendel Alumni a long overdue chance to share some memories with other Monarchs and to catch up on each other’s lives since their high school days. We held two “R-O-M-E-O” Events in 2023, one in the Beverly Area and one in the Southwest Suburbs in Orland Park, Illinois. They were both very enjoyable.
While all Mendel Alumni and their families and friends are invited to attend the Mendel “R-O-M-E-O” Events, this next “R-O-M-E-O” Event is designed to be convenient for Alumni in the Eastside of Chicago and in Northwest Indiana. Terry Lynch (’66) will be our host this time, and he is looking for a large turnout.
This “R-O-M-E-O” Event will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 11 AM to 1 PM at JJ Kelley’s Bar and Grill at 2455 Bernice Rd, in Lansing, Illinois. You are encouraged to attend with your Classmates, families and friends. Reach out to Mendel Classmates to make sure they are aware of the Event and use this opportunity to have a mini-reunion!
The cost for this “R-O-M-E-O” Event is $25. This “R-O-M-E-O” Event will feature an excellent buffet lunch, and we will be selling Mendel shirts, hats, and stickers. As this is an informal event, we will collect payment at the restaurant. A portion of these funds will be given to the Mendel Legacy Scholarship Program to provide funds for Legacy Scholarships this year. You can see details on this Event at www.mendelchs.org
We need to get an estimate for the number of attendees at this “R-O-M-E-O” Event so the staff at JJ Kelleys can be ready for us. Could you please respond to his message or call or text me on (707) 344-5878 to let me know if you plan to attend. This is not a binding commitment, just an indicator for possible attendance. This will be very helpful for the planning process.
By the way, if you are interested in hosting a Mendel “R-O-M-E-O” Event in your neighborhood, let me know. All you need to do is locate the restaurant and make the initial arrangements at the restaurant, the Alumni Board will handle everything else.
We look forward to seeing you on October 18!
