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A few weeks ago
while at Rotary, I noticed that the facility where we hold our weekly
meetings had a request. “Please jiggle handle” was neatly
printed on a card placed on the tank of the toilet in the ladies
restroom.
I am sure at
this point you are wondering WHAT this possibly has to do with the
alumni world of A&M-Commerce. Well, with my first glance at
the sign, my thoughts had actually gone to the alumni of A&M-Commerce,
and I knew I would have to share this analogy with you.
We offer a good
deal of great events for our alumni and their families. Normally
these are reduced-rate, top-quality programs. Soon after an event
is offered in a community, I will hear, from folks who did not attend,
that they had really wanted to go. Sometimes it is because the latest
episode of Ally McBeal had kept them home, it was Monday night football,
or possibly they had forgotten altogether. Ultimately, as the person
learns what happened at the event and who all attended, they REALLY
wished they could have made it.
Kind of like
the toilet that keeps running and may require a jiggle now and then,
we too may need to break out of our routine and try something different.
The next time you receive an invitation to an A&M-Commerce event,
why not stop your normal routine, phone a friend or invite a family
member, and actually come to the event? You will be pleasantly surprised
at the fun you will enjoy.
If you have
been wondering why you haven’t attended a University function,
well, consider yourself jiggled!
The Great Lion Beanie Baby Giveaway
The Alumni Office
is giving away 10 lion beanie babies. In order to win one, you must
locate the lion hidden somewhere in the text of this issue of The
Pride. The first 10 alumni to phone the Alumni Office at 903-886-5765
and correctly identify the location of the lion will win a Kingston
or Sahara Beanie Baby from Ty.
The rules:
- Only one
person per household is eligible to win.
- The caller
must be an alumnus of the University.
- Employees
of the University are not eligible.
- The caller
must correctly identify the location of the hidden lion by giving
page number, and exact location.
Only the first
t 10callers who meet the above criteria will win, so act fast!
Please have your copy of The Pride in front of you when you call.
Events Wrap-up
Commerce Area
Alumni Chapter Board of Directors Meeting, Sept. 20
Members of the Commerce Area Alumni Chapter Board of Director’s
conducted a business meeting with topics including homecoming, selling
clickers, and fall socials.
Alumni Association
Board of Directors Meeting, Sept. 23
Members of the Association Board of Director’s gathered on
campus for a business meeting and workshop. During the meeting,
new officers for 2001-2002 were elected. Gary Finney was elected
to continue to serve as president, Janet Estes Peek was elected
to continue to serve as vice president, and Dwight York was elected
to fill the position of secretary, which was vacated by Diane LaFerney
McDowell. Dr. Ron Huffstutler led a goal-setting workshop, continuing
the topic from the summer retreat. Following the meeting members
had a luncheon in the Heritage Room of the MSC.
Executive
Committee Meeting of the Association Board of Director’s, Oct.
11
Executive Board members Gary Finney, Janet Peek, Diane McDowell,
Dr. Rock Clinton, Dwight York, and Kayla Price were joined by Jack
Gray, vice president for marketing and resource development, for
a meeting at the Ranch House in Rockwall.
Commerce
Area Alumni Chapter Board of Director’s Meeting, Oct. 23
Board members met to discuss chapter business, including upcoming
events and election of new officers. Plans were finalized for the
night at the musical and the holiday celebration.
Wesleyan
Methodist Reunion, Oct. 28
Wesleyan Methodist alumni from the late ’40s met in the Heritage
Room of the MSC for their annual gathering. The group enjoyed social
time and lunch. Bobbie Day and Fred Allen organized the event. President
McFarland and his wife, Nancy, welcomed the group to campus and
joined them for lunch.
Homecoming,
Oct. 30-Nov. 4
The University’s 61st annual homecoming was celebrated with
events for students Monday through Saturday and for alumni Friday
and Saturday. The traditional festivities on Saturday were highlighted
with several departmental breakfasts and receptions. The annual
Homecoming Luncheon and Pep Rally recognized three alumni: Dr. Barry
B. Thompson as Distinguished Alumnus, and Bobbie Purdy and Gen.
Chris Adams as Gold Blazer Award recipients. The New Center for
Learning was the honored group. Special recognition was given to
President Emeritus F.H. “Bub” McDowell and his wife and
daughter, all of whom have received the Distinguished Alumnus Citation.
Also recognized at the event were Diane LaFerney McDowell, who retired
as secretary of the Board of Directors, and Kayla Price for her
service as executive director of The Association.
New Center
for Learning Reunion, Nov. 3-4
Dr. Jim Reynolds reports that approximately 50 students and faculty
members attended activities held during the New Center for Learning
reunion at Homecoming 2000. Friday night Jim Reynolds, founding
NCL director, and his wife, Claire, hosted a reception at their
home. Among those dropping in were F.H. “Bub” McDowell,
and Barry B. Thompson. NCL celebrants filled three tables at the
Saturday Homecoming Luncheon and later watched the Lions football
game. Saturday night, at the farmette of Bettina and David Zvanut
(NCL ‘75-’78), NCL exes enjoyed a dinner catered by Aramark,
then enjoyed a bonfire, fireworks, open-mike musical jam, and poetic
reminiscences.
Training
School Reunion and Marker Dedication, Nov. 4
Students of the Training School, the hands-on learning lab here
for student teachers from 1917 to 1948, returned for their annual
homecoming. This year their reunion was highlighted by the dedication
of a commemorative marker near the southeast corner of the Ferguson
Social Sciences Building where the school was located on the first
floor. Training School graduates and former students made contributions
to fund the attractive marker and base. Following the marker dedication,
the Training School group of approximately 100 people attended their
annual banquet in the MSC.
Rockwall
Happy Hour, Nov. 9
A group of alumni and members of the Student Alumni Association
met at the Chili’s in Rockwall for happy hour. The group enjoyed
several games of trivia against others in the bar, but never seemed
to win.
Night of
Comedy at Ad-Libs, Nov. 10
Alumni and their guests met at Ad-Libs in Dallas for an evening
of entertainment and laughs.
Kappa Alpha
Order Celebrates 40 Years on Campus, Nov. 11
More than 350 Paragons and Kappa Alphas met at the Reunion Arena
Dallas Hyatt Regency for dinner, dancing, and praise. The celebration
honored retired history professor Frank V. Barchard for his more
than 30 years of dedicated service as the faculty and alumni advisor
to the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. The reunion was
scheduled as the local chapter of KA celebrated its 40th year on
campus. With Russell Brown, esq., Province Commander, in attendance,
KA also inducted two brothers, Gene Casselberry (B.S. ’65,
M.S. ’66) and Thomas Freeman (B.B.A. ’67) into the prestigious
KA Court of Honor. Brothers and their wives enjoyed an evening of
fun and fellowship with the evening culminating in honoring “Doc”
Barchard, who flew into Dallas from his retirement home in Alabama
to be with us. “I sure miss Commerce and all of the wonderful
people in Northeast Texas,” Doc stated. Brothers came from
as far as Sydney, Australia and Singapore to reunite with old
please
see EVENTS WRAP-UP, page 9
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