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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Alumni Association
Post Info TOPIC: Alumni Association
Eagle in Cairo

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Alumni Association
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Is the Alumni Association going to keep quiet over this one just like they were silent about Gary and Frank??  Will they DO something this time?  Make a statement?  Take a stand?  Do some critical thinking?  Do those of us who are alums need to email them en masse??  And tell them to either fish or cut bait??


 



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truth4usm/AH

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The USM AA will stand by Thames until the bitter end, it seems.  But emails and letters couldn't hurt...let's make some noise!

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True Story

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I know a USM alumnus who was not on the Alumni Association's mailing list. That alumnus was informed that in order to get on the mailing list one has to pay their dues and join up. I got the distinct impression that the Association was more interested in a membership head count than in keeping alumni informed about the university. One would think that the Alumni Association would maintain a list of USM graduates if only for the purpose of soliciting membership. By the way, that alumnus could not afford even the modest membership fee, but did want to receive informational materal from that former student's only alma mater. No wonder the Almmni Association is so ineffective! Is it possible that they pay attention only to the BIG GIVERS? I'm sure grateful that my own Alumni Association doesn't operate like that.

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Me too

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quote:
Originally posted by: True Story
"I know a USM alumnus who was not on the Alumni Association's mailing list. That alumnus was informed that in order to get on the mailing list one has to pay their dues and join up. I got the distinct impression that the Association was more interested in a membership head count than in keeping alumni informed about the university. One would think that the Alumni Association would maintain a list of USM graduates if only for the purpose of soliciting membership. By the way, that alumnus could not afford even the modest membership fee, but did want to receive informational materal from that former student's only alma mater. No wonder the Almmni Association is so ineffective! Is it possible that they pay attention only to the BIG GIVERS? I'm sure grateful that my own Alumni Association doesn't operate like that."
My experience is that alumni directories list updated information about their graduates even if the former student is not a dues paying member. That is evidently not the policy at USM. They couldn't ask for unpdated information for a new alumni directory unless they maintained a list of their former students. Maybe USM doesn't even publish an alumni director. I am aware of at least two graduates not listed in such a director. They haven't even received a request for information.

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Invictus

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quote:
Originally posted by: True Story
"I know a USM alumnus who was not on the Alumni Association's mailing list. That alumnus was informed that in order to get on the mailing list one has to pay their dues and join up. I got the distinct impression that the Association was more interested in a membership head count than in keeping alumni informed about the university."


I envy your friend. We quit paying alumni dues 2 years ago & we can't seem to get off the mailing list! Last spring, we got one of the "won't you please re-up" mailings that seemed to be totally about making an annual membership quota. It wasn't tough dropping the alumni membership. I always got the impression that unless I took my contribution "to the next level," my input wasn't valued & my presence really wasn't desired at gatherings. I'm sure they don't miss my little membership fee a bit.


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Chronicler

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quote:
Originally posted by: True Story
"I know a USM alumnus who was not on the Alumni Association's mailing list. That alumnus was informed that in order to get on the mailing list one has to pay their dues and join up. I got the distinct impression that the Association was more interested in a membership head count than in keeping alumni informed about the university. One would think that the Alumni Association would maintain a list of USM graduates if only for the purpose of soliciting membership. By the way, that alumnus could not afford even the modest membership fee, but did want to receive informational materal from that former student's only alma mater. No wonder the Almmni Association is so ineffective! Is it possible that they pay attention only to the BIG GIVERS? I'm sure grateful that my own Alumni Association doesn't operate like that."
There are two interesting articles in the Chronicle today.  One of them touches on the distinction between alumni affairs and development.  The other one, unrelated to this thread, but a good read if you want to see what (given the best possible interpretation) USM might be trying to do with the office of R&D is to read about the technology transfer group at Kansas State.  I don't bother to link the articles b/c you can't get to them without a subscription - the monthly subscription deal is well worth the $7 bucks.

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not a usm alumna

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I have degrees from three different schools. I'm a member of only one of the three alumni associations. I make an occasional contribution to only one of them. It is always a very small amount. I receive regular information from all three. Those mailings make me feel like I am a valued graduate of their institution. I plan remember them in a much more meaningful way when I kick the bucket. If usm does not maintain regular contact with all of their graduates they are very shortsighted.

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Advocate

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I graduated from USM over 20 years ago.  I never received any information from the Alumni Association until three years ago when I joined.  I don't know if it still applies, but at one point, becoming a member affected the amount your children paid for out-of-state tuition.  This is a moot point currently because I refuse to let my children go to USM.


However, since joining, I receive mailings, e-mails, and a magazine, but never before.  I never even received information on how to join.


 



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Alum forever

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I did my undergraduate at USM, then a masters at Northwestern U.  It's interesting to see the different approaches to alumni relations between the two institutions.  Frankly, NU certainly doesn't need the money, but they see their alumni program much differently. 


At graduation, I recall the then university prez telling everyone that they were now official members of the alumni association -- by default.  And of course, everyone then receives various mailings and material during the year, including invites to local chapter meetings.  I believe that by separating fund raising from alumni relations, a college can foster a stronger bond with their former students.  (Obviously, this requires a strong fund-raising arm, which I don't think USM has).



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Semper Fideles

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quote:
Originally posted by: Alum forever
 At graduation, I recall the then university prez telling everyone that they were now official members of the alumni association -- by default.  And of course, everyone then receives various mailings and material during the year
I think USM gives a one year membership also. After that you're on your own. If the USM alumni office would be more fidelis we would be more semper.

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mace

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One of the SACS assessment requirements is surveying alumni. In the "strategic plan" so quickly posted on the new "IE Website," it claims that work is underway to completely survey alumni by 2005 or something to that affect (check it out for yourself). So USM should get its act together on this at least--where are they going to find their alumni to survey otherwise? Hand out surveys at football tailgates?

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Easy Sleezy

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quote:
Originally posted by: mace
"One of the SACS assessment requirements is surveying alumni. In the "strategic plan" so quickly posted on the new "IE Website," it claims that work is underway to completely survey alumni by 2005 or something to that affect (check it out for yourself). So USM should get its act together on this at least--where are they going to find their alumni to survey otherwise? Hand out surveys at football tailgates?"
If we were still having a summer graduation we could give all of them a survey form at the time we present their diploma; and take them up as the leave the coliseum. That ought to do it! We'd probably get a better return rate from the small number of summer graduates than we'd get from mailing a survey to all of our graduates

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