Updating a mailing list

[Tom7227]

Getting started on a class reunion and the list of class members we have is pretty old.  Anyone have any ideas on how to get updated info?  I have checked some of the search websites and it looks as if they want $2-3 to get info and you don't even know if they person they chose is the one you're looking for.  I need to find 150 folks so it could get pricey and there isn't a sugar daddy in sight.

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[nofishfisherman]

Have you contacted the school to see if they have a more recent list?  Some schools do an ok job keeping tabs on alum mostly to squeeze them for donations but it also works for reunions. 

Not sure there will be a better way of digging up all of the missing addresses beyond a phone book. You can never be sure how current any info you dig up may be or if you've got the right person if names are fairly common or if people have married or remarried.  I certainly wouldn't be paying to get any addresses, to me thats just creepy that they have all that data for sale.  

 

If you have a party planned there are other ways of sharing the info.  Share it with those you have addresses for and ask that they pass along the info to other class members that they have kept in touch with.  If your a facebook person set up a facebook event and invite people that way and then ask people to pass the invite on to others.  Hopefully the word spreads to most of the people on the list. Makes it tougher to plan a firm number of attendees though. 

 

 

[bobbymalone]

Yeah, I would start with Facebook and network outwards from there.

 

Seems like everybody and their grandma has a Facebook account, except for me.  I'm a conscientious objector.

Edited November 30, 2016 by bobbymalone

[delcecchi]

A facebook group page for the reunion is a start.   Switchboard or white pages works (free part) if you have some idea where the people live and their names aren't too common.  

 

If you have a start, with luck the facebook thing will get propagated.   Email works too, email anyone you have address for and ask about the ones you don't.   

 

How old is the list?   Does it have married names on it?  

[Tom7227]

The school closed but I got a list from them about 7 years ago.  They had recorded when they updated things and some were from 2002, some from 2010.  I have emails for about a third of the people and sending an email to them and asking them to help fill in the blanks should work fairly well.  Thanks for the suggestions.