Today, you can hardley see a television program or visit a website that does not make some reference to Facebook.  I've been reluctant to get involved in it and also I've not been hot on the idea of using it actively with our class activities.  I've had a Facebook account for 5 years but have done nothing with it... until yesterday.

I did a little research and found this bit if interesting information.  I found out how many Boulder High School alumni use Facebook for each class from 1945 to 2010.  Here is a summary of what I found.

Over 500 alumni from the Boulder High School class of 2010 are using Facebook!!!

352 from the class of 2005

314 from 2000

284 from 1995

274 from 1990

239 from 1985

202 from 1980

150 from 1975

108 from 1970

82 from 1965  this is our class

60 from 1960

26 from 1955

7 from 1950

6 from 1945

Do you see a pattern here? What do you make of it?

Facebook has a feature called Friends.  If two people who have a Facebook (FB for short) account agree, they can be designated as being a Facebook Friend to each other.  Being a FB Friend gives each person special priviledges regarding each other's FB screens.  For example, a Friend can post a comment on their Friend's Wall. A FB Wall might be best discribed as the home page for a person on Facebook.

When I re-signed up for my Facebook account yesterday, I asked all 81 bhs65 classmates to be my Friend.  Twenty Eight replied 'yes' and I now have 28 bhs65 Friendships.  The other's have not yet replied with a 'yes' to my request.

One thing I find particularly interesting is that most of my bhs65 Friends have, on averge, 2 mutual Friends with my group of bhs65 Friends.  What does that say about our social networking?   First, we remain close to a few of our high school classmates.  Second, we don't stay close to a large group of friends.  Da!  Just want we might expect.  

What I want to do over the next few months is to explore ways of using Facebook as my classmates would desire it.  Oh, there are some who think FB is the all and all of social networking.  Really? What ever happened to those who prefer to use the telephone and prefer to visit with classmates one on one at a Class Reunion.  Would heavy use of FB inhance or deminish participation in Class Reunions?  Is FB marking the end of Reunions or is it a tool that will increase the number who attend Class Reunions from this point on?  Will it mean that a few classmates become better connected and thereby establishing an elite class of friendships?  And another issue, how can the website www.bhs65.com and Facebook work together for a better alumni experience?

The website www.bhs65.com and Facebook each have a place within our alumni social networking.  The biggest plus for Facebook is that information on or about each classmate is updated and maintained by each person making it hugh in volume of information.  Contrast that with the website where only a few (Doug and myself) make all the updates.

We are in an ever changing world and this too will all change in a few years.  Trust me.  It will all change again.

Ronny Bush