An Alumni Center for San Diego State. Why?
Having primarily focused my professional life for the past decade on this quest I thought I should be able to answer the question.
When we think about San Diego State what comes to mind? A university growing with the times and our region to produce the workforce we need in business, education and science? A massive State school which delivers quality education for bargain tuition? Perhaps an all grown up Cal State commuter school with a burgeoning research effort struggling for an identity in the shadow of the UCs? Or maybe a once proud football program attempting yet another return to glory with Brady Hoke as coach?
We have heard plenty of this and much more over here on the Mesa. Certainly there is much to be proud of in the product of SDSU. But there is much to be done to help elevate the university’s standing among institutions of higher learning and in the community we serve. A big part of that job is raising awareness of San Diego State and encouraging greater involvement among its alumni.
Increasing support for the university through strong alumni relations builds the foundation for a better institution. You can’t build a powerful organization without a strong base and at the Alumni Association, everything we do is directed toward strengthening the university’s base.
There are more than 200,000 SDSU alumni. Presently, fewer than 8,000 are Alumni Association members. Growing Alumni Association membership is the first step in a process that ultimately leads to enhancing the university’s prestige. The more engaged and involved the alumni are, the stronger the university becomes as a result.
So what, then, is the role of the new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center in helping to strengthen our base? First, it serves as a literal touchstone for Aztec alumni all over the world. If you want to reconnect with the university, this is the place to do it.
Want to come to campus, but you’re not quite sure where to go? Check in here. You’ll be welcome.
Do you have questions about university programs or events? This is the place to call if you don’t know exactly where to plug in. We’re happy to help you.
This is your home. It’s the one place on campus you will always belong no matter how the campus has changed or how long it’s been since your last visit.
The Alumni Center is also the physical location where our common experience as Aztecs may be shared and remembered. It’s where we’ll celebrate our collective triumphs and mourn our tragedies. Our traditions will be honored here.
And even as our rich history is revered in this place, so is our future planned and prepared for. Various boards and committees representing the university and its alumni will meet here. They will imagine, they’ll dream, and draw on their talents, educations and experiences for ideas to help make SDSU a stronger institution in the years to come.
In the end, what will this new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center mean for San Diego State? It’s hard to say exactly. We’ve never had anything quite like it before. But the possibilities are thrilling.
So we invite you to come check it out at 11:00 a.m. on October 17 or any time after that when you’re in the neighborhood. Ultimately, my fellow Aztecs, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center is all about you.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
“Mr. San Diego” Also “Mr. SDSU”
Our own Bob Payne has been named the San Diego Rotary Club’s “Mr. San Diego” for 2009. Mayor Jerry Sanders will present the award next week recognizing Bob for his humanitarian achievements and civic contributions.
Here on the Mesa, where he graduated in 1955, we’ve thought of Bob as a sort of unofficial “Mr. SDSU” for some time. He’s a member of the President’s Council and Chairman of the Board of The Campanile Foundation, of which he is a charter member. In 1988 he was honored by our organization as SDSU Alumnus of the Year.
A colleague asked me recently how I felt about Bob winning the Rotary's prestigious award.
Asking an alumni director's attitude regarding Bob Payne winning an award is kind of like asking how Leo Durocher about having Willie Mays in the lineup.
Bob Payne is the poster child for model alumnus. If Wikipedia allowed me to contribute a definition, then Bob's Picture would grace the entry “Model Aztec Alumnus.”
You could take a bevy of robotics engineers and they would never in a million years create a greater representative for your university.
Allow me to count the ways:
Leadership
Generosity
Wisdom
Involvement
Passion
Congratulations, Bob.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Dynamite Web Site
As a 50 something, I am somewhat “username/password” challenged. So when I got the email suggesting I register for the severely upgraded SDSU Alumni Web site I took a deep breath and began to fill out the form.
To my infinite delight, it only took 30 seconds and I was rewarded with a computer ding acknowledging my hi-tech prowess.
These days, of course, an alumni association Web site needs to have dynamic content, user friendly formats and pragmatic applications such as on-line registration and collecting memberships and donations securely and efficiently. Most importantly, the look, feel and ease of maneuvering have to be stellar.
I am very proud to say that your sdsualumni.org is all of that and more. With real time RSS feeds from the campus, athletic department and the Daily Aztec, our Aztec for Life site is a great portal to all things SDSU. Please give us a look at sdsualumni.org.
To my infinite delight, it only took 30 seconds and I was rewarded with a computer ding acknowledging my hi-tech prowess.
These days, of course, an alumni association Web site needs to have dynamic content, user friendly formats and pragmatic applications such as on-line registration and collecting memberships and donations securely and efficiently. Most importantly, the look, feel and ease of maneuvering have to be stellar.
I am very proud to say that your sdsualumni.org is all of that and more. With real time RSS feeds from the campus, athletic department and the Daily Aztec, our Aztec for Life site is a great portal to all things SDSU. Please give us a look at sdsualumni.org.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Student Veterans Organization
Looking out my window from our temporary Manchester Hall digs I get to take in some of the daily happenings which make working on a college campus so rewarding. Whether it is the Associated Student Council politicians holding fort, students debating zealots, or Greeks hawking baked goods for charities, the scene is always dynamic.
Today I am witness to a video production of one of our more celebrated students, Nick Popaditch. I have to duck outside to see what this is all about and discover that our marketing and communications department is creating a video designed to encourage support for SDSU. At least that is what Nick seems to be trying to do take after take.
What I marvel at is how anything can be considered daunting or even challenging to him given what life has already thrown at him. Nick Popaditch, as you may know, lost an eye, most of his vision and very nearly his life in 2004 during combat in Fallujah when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to his head. For his innovative combat tactics and leadership even when wounded, Popaditch received the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor. His subsequent book which describes his service and transition back into civilian life is absolutely a must read.
www.amazon.com/Once-Marine-Commanders-Inspirational-Recovery/dp/1932714472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240338475&sr=1-1
Now Nick is a student at San Diego State. He and some other dedicated veterans work with the Student Veterans Organization, which is an on-campus association dedicated to making the transition from soldier to college student more palatable. They do great work. Check them out at: http://universe.sdsu.edu/military President Steve Weber has fully embraced our “Troops to College” initiative and has recently returned from Washington where he was invited to share our veterans’ services as a national model. Our goal is to become the premiere university in the nation in providing services to our military students.
Just another way SDSU does what needs doing in the world.
Today I am witness to a video production of one of our more celebrated students, Nick Popaditch. I have to duck outside to see what this is all about and discover that our marketing and communications department is creating a video designed to encourage support for SDSU. At least that is what Nick seems to be trying to do take after take.
What I marvel at is how anything can be considered daunting or even challenging to him given what life has already thrown at him. Nick Popaditch, as you may know, lost an eye, most of his vision and very nearly his life in 2004 during combat in Fallujah when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to his head. For his innovative combat tactics and leadership even when wounded, Popaditch received the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor. His subsequent book which describes his service and transition back into civilian life is absolutely a must read.
www.amazon.com/Once-Marine-Commanders-Inspirational-Recovery/dp/1932714472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240338475&sr=1-1
Now Nick is a student at San Diego State. He and some other dedicated veterans work with the Student Veterans Organization, which is an on-campus association dedicated to making the transition from soldier to college student more palatable. They do great work. Check them out at: http://universe.sdsu.edu/military President Steve Weber has fully embraced our “Troops to College” initiative and has recently returned from Washington where he was invited to share our veterans’ services as a national model. Our goal is to become the premiere university in the nation in providing services to our military students.
Just another way SDSU does what needs doing in the world.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Montys
If this were twitter I would have only 140 characters and already spent half. But it isn’t. This is about the Montys - one of those classic timeless traditions where humans actually eschew thumb communication and enjoy the grandest and most satisfactory of all interactive options: The one where you are actually face-to-face.
There are so many ways I could go about this. I could provide a post-game recap with facts and statistics. I could ramble from my insider’s perspective about event anxiety and relief. I could mention all the Aztec celebrities sitting courtside (so to speak). I could glowingly describe the fabulous body of work by the awardees, which would inevitably instill much pride. I could enthusiastically brag about the venue, the vignettes, the musical theater singers, the songs and lyrics, the production values, the food, the wine, the decorations, the joyousness of the presentations, the uplifting personas of so many Aztec alumni and the overall collective assessment that the event bespoke class.
But I won’t. You had to be there. Hopefully, next time you will join us.
There are so many ways I could go about this. I could provide a post-game recap with facts and statistics. I could ramble from my insider’s perspective about event anxiety and relief. I could mention all the Aztec celebrities sitting courtside (so to speak). I could glowingly describe the fabulous body of work by the awardees, which would inevitably instill much pride. I could enthusiastically brag about the venue, the vignettes, the musical theater singers, the songs and lyrics, the production values, the food, the wine, the decorations, the joyousness of the presentations, the uplifting personas of so many Aztec alumni and the overall collective assessment that the event bespoke class.
But I won’t. You had to be there. Hopefully, next time you will join us.
Friday, March 27, 2009
NIT
It is often claimed that we are a bit obsessed with athletics in the alumni business. But there is just so much you can accomplish with Facebook and Twitter (Although this u-Tube video paints a decent picture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRXHQ-fgwIM)
But in the aftermath of our basketball team’s dramatic conquest Wednesday night, it is impossible to not marvel at the power of athletics.
I saw grown men cry. I shared the exultation with people in their 30s, 40s 50s, 60s, and 70s. I saw 12,000 Aztec fans will Steve Fisher’s fine squad to Gotham for the NIT Final Four.
But most of all, we saw the culmination of ten years of student zaniness known as "The Show." Recently featured on the cover of 360 Magazine, our wild and crazy student section has been honing its we-can-make-you-miss-a-critical-free-throw act for many seasons. With 42 seconds left, St. Mary’s NBA-bound point guard, Patty Mills, and his 86% foul shooting rate stepped to the line in a tie game. He was faced with 500 demonstrative, big-head-wielding, jumping up and down, screaming, banana suit wearing, and certified crazy students. Clang.
The subsequent court storming by the young, witnessed by the old, was a convergence of monumental emotion. Twelve minutes later, Ritchie, Lo, and Kyle - our three mega stars - who all prevailed over significant challenges to forge our fantastic season, finally emerged from the mob scene love fest.
Can’t find that on Linked-In!
But in the aftermath of our basketball team’s dramatic conquest Wednesday night, it is impossible to not marvel at the power of athletics.
I saw grown men cry. I shared the exultation with people in their 30s, 40s 50s, 60s, and 70s. I saw 12,000 Aztec fans will Steve Fisher’s fine squad to Gotham for the NIT Final Four.
But most of all, we saw the culmination of ten years of student zaniness known as "The Show." Recently featured on the cover of 360 Magazine, our wild and crazy student section has been honing its we-can-make-you-miss-a-critical-free-throw act for many seasons. With 42 seconds left, St. Mary’s NBA-bound point guard, Patty Mills, and his 86% foul shooting rate stepped to the line in a tie game. He was faced with 500 demonstrative, big-head-wielding, jumping up and down, screaming, banana suit wearing, and certified crazy students. Clang.
The subsequent court storming by the young, witnessed by the old, was a convergence of monumental emotion. Twelve minutes later, Ritchie, Lo, and Kyle - our three mega stars - who all prevailed over significant challenges to forge our fantastic season, finally emerged from the mob scene love fest.
Can’t find that on Linked-In!
Friday, February 27, 2009
We Need Stuff
As you may know we are building an alumni center. The Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center will open this summer. We certainly hope you come and visit.
What is an alumni center? Well, it will be a building for you, our alumni. A place to meet old friends, and to access faculty and students. A place for history and memories. A place to check in with cutting edge knowledge. A place to remind you of the power of San Diego State, and to enjoy the burgeoning relevance of your alma mater.
So today I am asking for your historical artifacts. We need Del Sudoestes, blue book ball posters, theater and musical programs from decades past, ticket stubs from Bob Dylan in Peterson Gym, Oingo Boingo at the Backdoor, Jimmy Buffet at the OAT and X-Fest in Aztec Bowl. We need your intramural trophies and your letters from Dean Peterson. We need the tangible evidence of your memories. And we need your books; books relevant to San Diego State and books by our alumni are to be featured—if we only had them. We need your photographs. In short, we need alumni artifacts.
If you have been packing these things around for 10 or fifty years you might as well give them to us. We expect the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, like San Diego State itself, will be around for at least another 112 years. We will take good care of your donations and avail them to generations of Aztecs to come so if you are so inclined please let me know at herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu.
Oh, there is one more thing. We need a Grand Piano. Can’t hurt to ask.
What is an alumni center? Well, it will be a building for you, our alumni. A place to meet old friends, and to access faculty and students. A place for history and memories. A place to check in with cutting edge knowledge. A place to remind you of the power of San Diego State, and to enjoy the burgeoning relevance of your alma mater.
So today I am asking for your historical artifacts. We need Del Sudoestes, blue book ball posters, theater and musical programs from decades past, ticket stubs from Bob Dylan in Peterson Gym, Oingo Boingo at the Backdoor, Jimmy Buffet at the OAT and X-Fest in Aztec Bowl. We need your intramural trophies and your letters from Dean Peterson. We need the tangible evidence of your memories. And we need your books; books relevant to San Diego State and books by our alumni are to be featured—if we only had them. We need your photographs. In short, we need alumni artifacts.
If you have been packing these things around for 10 or fifty years you might as well give them to us. We expect the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, like San Diego State itself, will be around for at least another 112 years. We will take good care of your donations and avail them to generations of Aztecs to come so if you are so inclined please let me know at herrick1@mail.sdsu.edu.
Oh, there is one more thing. We need a Grand Piano. Can’t hurt to ask.
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