Recently we have sent out thousands of emails asking people to update their data. Since it is 2008 some of you have pointed out that that it looks “fishy,” and that someone might be “phishing.”
Actually it is all legit. We have contracted with Harris Connect to publish a new SDSU Alumni Directory. Harris has a fine reputation, is the leader in this field nationally, and also published our Alumni Directories in 1994 and 1999.
When the dust clears on this effort we expect to have better, upgraded data and many more valid email addresses to work with.
This leads me to muse about the alumni business in the current day and age. Consider these two anecdotes:
A couple of years back I was trying to get one of our most illustrious donors to sign his pledge form. He had agreed to a dollar amount for our alumni center but had ignored my emails with attachments that required his signature. These, were follow-ups to my phone calls which were follow-ups to our meetings. Finally he suggested I fax him the paperwork. Within minutes he had faxed back a legal $500,000 commitment.
A colleague told me that he was frustrated that his own college aged son was ignoring his calls, text messages and emails. But he discovered he could get an immediate response by posting a message on his Facebook page.
It seems like that until recently we just had the big three: Face-to-face, phone calls and emails on the computer. Depending on the gravity of the circumstances you’d pick one or more of the above. But now the landscape has changed.
FaceBook. MySpace. Linked In.
Texting. Skyping.
Twitter.
All we really know is that within a couple of years or less these terms might be history and we’ll have new ones. Oh yeah, we also know that there is plenty we don’t know.
But we do know this: Content rules. Whether we are pushing or others are pulling we need good stuff.
Glad we have some.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
In the Company of Aztecs
Well, it is the Monday following Homecoming and I am compelled to churn a couple of thoughts. First of all, we should get the football angst dispensed with: Yes we would all prefer we were having a better season, but the ability to get together and simply enjoy each other's company in the context of major College Division 1 football is essential regardless. And its fun.
For instance, on Saturday night there were no jokes along the lines of "well at least we are saving on gunpowder this year." No, the Aztec cannon worked overtime and since it was Homecoming and we had a steady parade of celebrants to the field, our ears were constantly ringing.
Speaking of the steady parade, alumni president Adrienne Finley honored Bob and Darlene McCray with the Aztec Spirit Award. Bob McCray, hobbling on the foot he broke at Notre Dame, had the entire McCray enclave with him on the field to celebrate. And speaking of playing hurt, Buddy Black was there. He was the Homecoming Honorary Chair and Buddy managed to smile and wave perfectly despite the rotator cuff surgery. Meanwhile, Bob White and Kevin Falconer were seen huddling up on the Press Level.
Other noticeable Aztec Greats were on the field. Fred Dryer, having fulfilled his duties as Grand Booba of the Boo Parade, tossed the opening coin. And Akbar Gbajabilamilla looked good on the sidelines as the reporter for the Mountain Network.
While crowning the Queen and King, Dr. Jim Kitchen was looking good, but not as good as Lakeisha Nacoste and Nathaniel Donnelly. Nathaniel, as the past president of the Student Veterans Organization, had spent the morning at the alumni association's 12th annual War Memorial Ceremony. There, Bucky Peterson gave the keynote address as a packed crowd remembered fallen Aztecs and were treated to several stirring speeches, the annual wreath-laying, and a spectacular vintage plane flyover accompanied by an emotional echoing of "Taps." Shortly thereafter, 130 "Golden Aztecs" filed into Casa Real for some serious reminiscing, a hearty welcome from Ed Blessing, student body president in 1958, and a delightful San Diego State nostalgic romp from NBC 7/39's consummate pro and Aztec alumnus Ken Kramer.
So, yes, Aztec fans and faithful alumni all got to enjoy the reunions, the tailgating, the reminiscing, and each other. And even though one thing might make the experience a little better, the experience of being in each other's company is a real good one.
For instance, on Saturday night there were no jokes along the lines of "well at least we are saving on gunpowder this year." No, the Aztec cannon worked overtime and since it was Homecoming and we had a steady parade of celebrants to the field, our ears were constantly ringing.
Speaking of the steady parade, alumni president Adrienne Finley honored Bob and Darlene McCray with the Aztec Spirit Award. Bob McCray, hobbling on the foot he broke at Notre Dame, had the entire McCray enclave with him on the field to celebrate. And speaking of playing hurt, Buddy Black was there. He was the Homecoming Honorary Chair and Buddy managed to smile and wave perfectly despite the rotator cuff surgery. Meanwhile, Bob White and Kevin Falconer were seen huddling up on the Press Level.
Other noticeable Aztec Greats were on the field. Fred Dryer, having fulfilled his duties as Grand Booba of the Boo Parade, tossed the opening coin. And Akbar Gbajabilamilla looked good on the sidelines as the reporter for the Mountain Network.
While crowning the Queen and King, Dr. Jim Kitchen was looking good, but not as good as Lakeisha Nacoste and Nathaniel Donnelly. Nathaniel, as the past president of the Student Veterans Organization, had spent the morning at the alumni association's 12th annual War Memorial Ceremony. There, Bucky Peterson gave the keynote address as a packed crowd remembered fallen Aztecs and were treated to several stirring speeches, the annual wreath-laying, and a spectacular vintage plane flyover accompanied by an emotional echoing of "Taps." Shortly thereafter, 130 "Golden Aztecs" filed into Casa Real for some serious reminiscing, a hearty welcome from Ed Blessing, student body president in 1958, and a delightful San Diego State nostalgic romp from NBC 7/39's consummate pro and Aztec alumnus Ken Kramer.
So, yes, Aztec fans and faithful alumni all got to enjoy the reunions, the tailgating, the reminiscing, and each other. And even though one thing might make the experience a little better, the experience of being in each other's company is a real good one.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Buddy Black
Buddy Black is going to be the honorary chair of Homecoming this year. He has been an Alumni Association Lifetime Member since 1996.
When I contacted Bud a couple of years ago to congratulate him on becoming the Padres manager, he gave me his cell number and offered to help the Aztecs in any way he could. Ever since I met Buddy back in the nineties, I considered him to be the quintessential Aztec alumnus: accomplished yet humble. Buddy has World Series rings as both a player and a coach, yet he is phenomenally easygoing and levelheaded. He is an avid follower of San Diego State and can be found at plenty of Aztec basketball games during the winter.
Like any big league manager, he knows that even his closest friends and family members will sometimes challenge his daily decision making regarding whether to pull Peavey or pinch hit Hundley. But no one is going to second guess Bud Black’s loyalty to San Diego State.
So, come on out to the Q on October 25th and lend a cheer for a true gentleman who will always bleed Aztec red and black.
For information on SDSU Alumni Association Homecoming activities, visit alumni.sdsu.edu/homecoming.htm.
When I contacted Bud a couple of years ago to congratulate him on becoming the Padres manager, he gave me his cell number and offered to help the Aztecs in any way he could. Ever since I met Buddy back in the nineties, I considered him to be the quintessential Aztec alumnus: accomplished yet humble. Buddy has World Series rings as both a player and a coach, yet he is phenomenally easygoing and levelheaded. He is an avid follower of San Diego State and can be found at plenty of Aztec basketball games during the winter.
Like any big league manager, he knows that even his closest friends and family members will sometimes challenge his daily decision making regarding whether to pull Peavey or pinch hit Hundley. But no one is going to second guess Bud Black’s loyalty to San Diego State.
So, come on out to the Q on October 25th and lend a cheer for a true gentleman who will always bleed Aztec red and black.
For information on SDSU Alumni Association Homecoming activities, visit alumni.sdsu.edu/homecoming.htm.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
South Bend: Take Two
More than four thousand Aztec alumni and fans followed the football team to Notre Dame. The game was exciting, although the outcome disappointing for SDSU.
But what about the actual experience of the fans? Our royal Red and Black bleeders who braved modern commercial air travel and traded hard-earned green to be a part of this historic Aztec crusade?
The punch-line is: We had a blast!
From the Chicago-to-South-Bend train ride to the tailgate at the entrance of the College Football Hall of Fame, we enjoyed the quintessential college football experience. This was Aztec football in the heart of the greatest tradition of the game and we were a legitimate part of it.
But what about the actual experience of the fans? Our royal Red and Black bleeders who braved modern commercial air travel and traded hard-earned green to be a part of this historic Aztec crusade?
The punch-line is: We had a blast!
From the Chicago-to-South-Bend train ride to the tailgate at the entrance of the College Football Hall of Fame, we enjoyed the quintessential college football experience. This was Aztec football in the heart of the greatest tradition of the game and we were a legitimate part of it.
If the Red and Black evidence outside the Hall wasn’t proof enough, there was plenty more inside: displays featuring Aztec legends Marshall Faulk, Fred Dryer, and coach Don Coryell. Coach Chuck Long is enshrined there, albeit for his playing days at Iowa.
College Football is fun. Ergo, it was most satisfying to marvel at its Mecca. And that our team played well made the actual game portion of our journey a joyous holiday. Sitting in the stands with the fabled Golden Dome and “Touchdown Jesus” in full view was nothing short of a thrill.
Add in the incomparable politeness of the Domers, (“Welcome to Notre Dame. Welcome to Notre Dame. Welcome to Notre Dame!”) the throwback stadium atmosphere, which despite the absence of a Jumbotronic replay scoreboard also offered a complete absence of canned noise, blaring music and corporate intrusions which left us with pure football.
The experience was singular and unforgettable. And on top of it all, in an opportunity that occurs all too infrequently, SDSU was showcased before a national television audience. Our Aztecs - fans and football team - used that opportunity to shine.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Road Trip
I have been working here since 1986 and been to many football games. Basically, I have attended all of the home games and the ‘big’ away games. During the late ’80s and early ’90s that was mostly UCLA. In 1995 we went to Oklahoma and that began an impressive streak of games at Cal, Wisconsin, Washington, USC, Illinois, more UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Ohio State three times, Michigan, more UCLA, Wisconsin again, and Washington State. Of course I also attended a bunch of games in the WAC and Mountain West and sometimes we would win those games. Alas, I missed the games at Kansas in 1999 and at BYU in 2000, which we won.
So, as you may have surmised, our Aztecs are 0 for my big road game attendance. But we had our moments. Many, many times in those tradition-drenched stadia we had those goliaths on the ropes. The exhilaration was palpable but the subsequent bus ride sobering.
Maybe it’s me.
But I remain ever hopeful. Perhaps this is the year. Perhaps Notre Dame is the team.
Perhaps now is our time.
So, as you may have surmised, our Aztecs are 0 for my big road game attendance. But we had our moments. Many, many times in those tradition-drenched stadia we had those goliaths on the ropes. The exhilaration was palpable but the subsequent bus ride sobering.
Maybe it’s me.
But I remain ever hopeful. Perhaps this is the year. Perhaps Notre Dame is the team.
Perhaps now is our time.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Ideas
I have this recurring phobia that some day a decade or so from now I will leave this fascinating alumni business and that I will suddenly have an epiphany that would revolutionize the business and leave me slapping my head that I hadn’t thought of it sooner.
Fortunately I belong to a fairly esteemed group of alumni directors from around the country. They share their epiphanies. Most all of the directors of the large schools in the Big 10, Pac 10, ACC, SEC and Big 12 are outgoing, bullish on their institutions and definitely pro alumni. They believe in the power of alumni and university partnerships and they are pretty darn good at what they do.
For instance the LSU alumni association and their director Charles Roberts became the manager of the campus shelter subsequent to Hurricane Katrina. He and his staff became overnight hotel managers and did not go home for 2 weeks during the aftermath. Archie Griffin…yes that Archie Griffin is the alumni director at Ohio State. His Association hosted a party for 70,000 people the night before their championship football game. Finally, Howard Wolf—alumni president at Stanford lunches with Google and Yahoo CEOs and truly understands how to communicate in a technological world gone amuck. They all share their insights.
But let’s get back to some new ideas. Unlike rocket scientists (like Ellen Ochoa ’80, Deputy Director of NASA and former astronaut), but not quite as much as Baseball Managers (like Bud Black ’79), alumni directors are prone to being second guessed. So here is what I want you to do: Send me your ideas and suggestions for our Alumni Association. Here is my email: herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu I promise I will give them real scrutiny and consideration. Not only that I’ll share them with these other alumni directors at next month’s meeting.
Perhaps, together, we can evolve something significant for San Diego State and our alumni. Thanks.
Fortunately I belong to a fairly esteemed group of alumni directors from around the country. They share their epiphanies. Most all of the directors of the large schools in the Big 10, Pac 10, ACC, SEC and Big 12 are outgoing, bullish on their institutions and definitely pro alumni. They believe in the power of alumni and university partnerships and they are pretty darn good at what they do.
For instance the LSU alumni association and their director Charles Roberts became the manager of the campus shelter subsequent to Hurricane Katrina. He and his staff became overnight hotel managers and did not go home for 2 weeks during the aftermath. Archie Griffin…yes that Archie Griffin is the alumni director at Ohio State. His Association hosted a party for 70,000 people the night before their championship football game. Finally, Howard Wolf—alumni president at Stanford lunches with Google and Yahoo CEOs and truly understands how to communicate in a technological world gone amuck. They all share their insights.
But let’s get back to some new ideas. Unlike rocket scientists (like Ellen Ochoa ’80, Deputy Director of NASA and former astronaut), but not quite as much as Baseball Managers (like Bud Black ’79), alumni directors are prone to being second guessed. So here is what I want you to do: Send me your ideas and suggestions for our Alumni Association. Here is my email: herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu I promise I will give them real scrutiny and consideration. Not only that I’ll share them with these other alumni directors at next month’s meeting.
Perhaps, together, we can evolve something significant for San Diego State and our alumni. Thanks.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Old Guys Rule
Some weeks just happen to hit one demographic disproportionately. Such was this one where I got a healthy helping of our greatest generation.
I felt like I was in a marvelous time warp where civility and gratitude reigned; where family, country, service and alma mater mattered.
Now don’t worry, I am not going to start sermonizing. And I am sure I can find some nice things to say about 20 and 30 somethings and even teenagers if pressed. But to be in the company of these Aztec octogenarians this week leaves me compelled to brag some and to beam and tout.
Monday was a luncheon honoring the founders of the war memorial on campus. President Weber hosted them for lunch and spoke to the importance of the “obelisk’s solemnity,” and its historically essential affect on our current students. He emphasized our commitment to current veterans and reiterated State’s gratitude to the founding group of the memorial.
Then Ed Moore (’43) got up. He spoke of his pride in all of the people in the room and to his gratitude that the university (actually “college” to these guys) has embraced the memorial and the annual ceremony honoring fallen Aztecs. Then he went and said some beautiful things about everyone one of the founders including Anthony Ghio (’43), (Anthony has been a community icon via Anthony’s Restaurants. He has modestly and quietly been devoted to the community for 60 years) Harry Hodgetts (’41) and Bob Menke (’43). Harry played on the 1941 national championship Aztec Basketball team and from my well-positioned observation post has spent the intervening decades actively participating, supporting, and working on behalf of San Diego State. Bob Menke has a similar resume of unending service to the University. Along with their wives Pat and Pat, the Hodgetts and the Menkes have been an endlessly generous stream of volunteerism, good advice and financial support. Ed’s speech was laudatory and heartfelt. It was articulate, well-paced and contained an irrepressibly emotional underpinning that stopped 25 dessert forks in their tracks for 15 minutes.
On Tuesday I had an uplifting chat with Tom Ables. He and Nancy are about to celebrate their 60th. That is about the length of time Tom hasn’t missed an Aztecs game. Actually he has missed two, but we are talking home and away! During those decades Tom has had close relationships with every single football coach, basketball coach and athletic director. He has provided NCAA-legal employment for scores of players, designed Aztec logos, written hundreds of Aztec newsletters and felt the joy of victory and agony of defeat over and over. Beyond his pro bono work - yes it is all pro bono - Tom has contributed towards Aztec scholarships generously forever. A truly amazing guy. Even his recent hip replacement surgery was scheduled around Aztec football. Can any of us claim commitment on this magnitude?
Well, maybe Leon Parma can. I had the pleasure of meeting with Leon on Wednesday. Leon, class of ’51, has a mind-blowing resume which includes owning lots of companies, partly owning the Padres, quarterbacking the Aztecs, being president of Sigma Chi, bringing the first Super Bowl to San Diego, donating millions to SDSU and, oh yeah, being best buddies with President Gerald Ford. But there we were watching the video clip of his speech at our alumni center ground breaking where he said that “everything good that has ever happened to me and my family was a result of San Diego State.” Leon takes humility and grace to a heretofore unknown stratum.
Service. Commitment. Humility. Passion.
Aztecs.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Groundbreaking
This week's Alumni Center Groundbreaking turned out to be truly one of the most enjoyable events probably ever hosted on this campus. The mood was like that of a gathering of longtime friends.
For some reason I had been obsessing over this event for months but the past 2 weeks had been somewhat over the top. I found myself fiddling with the script and making lists on little pieces of scratch paper on planes, in my car, during meetings about other stuff; pretty much constantly.
I guess that is because I had been chipping away at this project for as long as I had been an alumni director which is going on 9 years.
Some years I thought I was the problem, sometimes the school, sometimes the prospects. Usually I just felt like it was a difficult and complicated assignment which we would eventually conquer if enough people kept trying. And eventually enough people did.
So the events leading up to the groundbreaking provided some nice opportunities for historical reflection, some nostalgia for the old building, and some real sense of gratitude for the individuals who stepped up.
What I was left with as the confetti faded away but not before providing us with timeless photos of the historical moment was simply this: Our Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center will exist because the University and the Alumni Community collectively willed it to happen. And soon we will have a building whose primary output will be the harvesting of good ideas and deeds that come from bringing the alumni community and the University together.
For some reason I had been obsessing over this event for months but the past 2 weeks had been somewhat over the top. I found myself fiddling with the script and making lists on little pieces of scratch paper on planes, in my car, during meetings about other stuff; pretty much constantly.
I guess that is because I had been chipping away at this project for as long as I had been an alumni director which is going on 9 years.
Some years I thought I was the problem, sometimes the school, sometimes the prospects. Usually I just felt like it was a difficult and complicated assignment which we would eventually conquer if enough people kept trying. And eventually enough people did.
So the events leading up to the groundbreaking provided some nice opportunities for historical reflection, some nostalgia for the old building, and some real sense of gratitude for the individuals who stepped up.
What I was left with as the confetti faded away but not before providing us with timeless photos of the historical moment was simply this: Our Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center will exist because the University and the Alumni Community collectively willed it to happen. And soon we will have a building whose primary output will be the harvesting of good ideas and deeds that come from bringing the alumni community and the University together.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Matt Dathe was editor of the Daily Aztec back in 1989. He became president of the Alumni Association in 2003. He is married to Stephanie who is a graduate of the class of 1995. They have a delightful baby daughter who will undoubtedly attend San Diego State. The reason I know this is that Matt and Stephanie live and breathe for SDSU. They are high-achieving, diehard Aztecs committed to the overall well being of their community and our university.
Matt is the type of guy whose compliments are sincere; (he regularly appreciates our monthly newsletter http://alumni.sdsu.edu/enews) and whose criticisms are well thought out and constructive. So recently when he told me about a day he spent with his grandfather-in-law I listened with great interest.
It seems that Matt had some issues surrounding his own grandfather whom he lost a while back. I got the impression that Matt regretted not going on a trip with him and then one day it was too late. Determined to keep his regrets in the “then again too few to mention” category, Matt asserted himself with his grandfather-in-law Jack. As you can see from the attached photologue, Matt persuaded Jack to make a one day, 15 hour foray to his Hometown in Oregon.
When I asked Matt how Stephanie had reacted to his trip with her grandfather he sloughed it off and said “the baby was sick, and it was difficult for her with me being gone.” When I asked Stephanie I got a much stronger reaction, which included some welling up. Made me proud to know him.
So if any of you were thinking about acting out on an impulse that keeps finding its way into your front burner conscious, I’d say go with it. So would Matt.
For photos, visit http://alumni.sdsu.edu/blog/jackbook.pdf.
Matt is the type of guy whose compliments are sincere; (he regularly appreciates our monthly newsletter http://alumni.sdsu.edu/enews) and whose criticisms are well thought out and constructive. So recently when he told me about a day he spent with his grandfather-in-law I listened with great interest.
It seems that Matt had some issues surrounding his own grandfather whom he lost a while back. I got the impression that Matt regretted not going on a trip with him and then one day it was too late. Determined to keep his regrets in the “then again too few to mention” category, Matt asserted himself with his grandfather-in-law Jack. As you can see from the attached photologue, Matt persuaded Jack to make a one day, 15 hour foray to his Hometown in Oregon.
When I asked Matt how Stephanie had reacted to his trip with her grandfather he sloughed it off and said “the baby was sick, and it was difficult for her with me being gone.” When I asked Stephanie I got a much stronger reaction, which included some welling up. Made me proud to know him.
So if any of you were thinking about acting out on an impulse that keeps finding its way into your front burner conscious, I’d say go with it. So would Matt.
For photos, visit http://alumni.sdsu.edu/blog/jackbook.pdf.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sandwich Alum
Jeff Goodall is a sandwich alum. His parents are SDSU grads and his son is a student. Jeff attended Point Loma Nazarene, but since he has attended hundreds of Aztec Basketball games he is entitled to some alumni status.
One thing that always struck me about Jeff was that his courage quotient was off the charts. I will never forget hearing, about ten years ago, that Jeff was about to undergo some life-threatening surgery in order to provide some critical body part for his son’s friend.
So, knowing where he lives in the winery area of north Poway, I asked him recently how he had fared during the fire season. I guess I wasn’t too surprised to hear he’d fought the fire all week. I think you will find the following photo-journalistic account of his and his neighborhood’s saga (Including Derek Cohen, SDSU ’85 and his son Zack) as fascinating as I did:
http://goodall.cc/firestorm_2007.htm
One thing that always struck me about Jeff was that his courage quotient was off the charts. I will never forget hearing, about ten years ago, that Jeff was about to undergo some life-threatening surgery in order to provide some critical body part for his son’s friend.
So, knowing where he lives in the winery area of north Poway, I asked him recently how he had fared during the fire season. I guess I wasn’t too surprised to hear he’d fought the fire all week. I think you will find the following photo-journalistic account of his and his neighborhood’s saga (Including Derek Cohen, SDSU ’85 and his son Zack) as fascinating as I did:
http://goodall.cc/firestorm_2007.htm
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