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The Pride January 2001 Vol. 53, No. 1Alumni AssociationAlumni CalendarA&M Commerce FoundationContact Info.

Page 9

Continued from, page 3
friends. The reunion’s success was due to
the leadership of John Chenault (B.B.A. ’75), president of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter Alumni Association.

Longview Area Reception, Nov.14
Alumni from Gregg, Upshur, Wood, and Smith counties gathered at the Hampton Inn in Longview for a reception. Guests from the University included President McFarland and his wife, Nancy, Vice President Jack Gray, Alumni Director Kayla Price, Assistant Alumni Director Jonette Almon, Alumni Events Coordinator Toni McMillen, and Development Director Pat Taylor. Representing the Alumni Association was Janet Peek, vice president of the Board of Directors.

Commerce Area Alumni Chapter Business Meeting, Reception, & Musical, Nov. 18
Members of the Commerce Area Alumni Chapter convened on campus for a brief business meeting and announced officers for 2001. The new leadership team will consist of Hoyle Julian, president, Dr. Trezzie Pressley, vice president, Evonne Richards, secretary, and Kenneth Foust, treasurer. Following the business meeting, members gathered in the Leadership Lounge of the MSC for a wine and cheese social. The group then moved to the Performing Arts Center for the University’s production of Cabaret.

Dinner Dance Christmas Party, Dec. 2
Committee members of the First Last Dinner Dance met at the home of Richard Pruitt for a Christmas luncheon. Twenty-six guests enjoyed Richard’s gardens and home. A wonderful lunch highlighted the event.

Plano Happy Hour, Dec. 7
Alumni, former students, and guests met at the Plano On The Border for a social. Attendees enjoyed meeting new people and catching up with friends. Graduation dates for the 23 in attendance ranged from 1960-1997. Join us for the next happy hour to be held in Fort Worth Feb. 1.

Senior Disorientation, Dec. 8
Graduating seniors were celebrated at Senior Disorientation in the exclusive Heritage Room of the student center. Students were reminded of the responsibilities and opportunities associated with being an alumnus of A&M-Commerce. President McFarland expressed his well wishes, and Pat Taylor, executive director of the Foundation, and Kayla Price, executive director of the Alumni Association, passed on their words of wisdom. Serving as emcee for the event was Toni McMillen, events coordinator in Alumni Records and Services. A special appearance was made by jolly ol’ Saint Nick, complete with presents for all those in attendance. Dr. Jim Reynolds from the Department of Literature and Languages played Santa.

Commerce Chapter Christmas Party, Dec. 12
Members of the Commerce Area Alumni Chapter gathered at Guaranty Bank for their annual holiday social. Members brought their favorite party food and enjoyed a festive time!

Billionaire Mark Cuban
Says Success Is Simple

Billionaire Mark Cuban, Internet entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, told an Internet marketing class recently that there are just six steps to success. His rules?

  1. Have an exit strategy maximizing profitability.
  2. Ensure the business plan is solid but recognize that plans don’t run businesses, people do.
  3. Remember that “sales cures all.” Cuban emphasized this point by saying that building up an active sales force is always a better strategy than advertising and hoping business will come in. He also mentioned that in his three years of owning Broadcast.com he had an advertising budget of zero dollars. “Not a nickel,” he said.
  4. Find something that is compelling about the product. “If you know your idea will change people’s habits, it’s a good investment,” Cuban said.
  5. Make certain your business or service is always the path of least resistance for consumers. If the product is not easy for consumers to use or access, then it will fail, according to Cuban.
  6. Love what you do. According to Cuban, anyone starting a business that he or she is not passionate about can never truly succeed.
    Cuban said his motto is
“everybody’s got the will to win, but it’s those with the will to prepare who do.” He amassed his wealth through the sale of his and his partner’s Internet business, Broadcast.com, to Yahoo! for approximately $2 billion.
FOUNDER'S CIRCLE INDUCTEES
FOUNDER'S CIRCLE INDUCTEES
FOUNDER'S CIRCLE INDUCTEES
FOUNDER'S CIRCLE INDUCTEES

FOUNDER'S CIRCLE INDUCTEES—Brent and Susan Dyer (upper left) of Rockwall; Chip and Susan Harper (upper right) from Paris; Ann and Hoyle Julian (lower left) of Klondike Dr. William Carroll Adams (lower right) of Commerce. Also honored, but not present, were Fort Worth businessman J. Campbell Murrell and Chicota resident Robert K. Campbell and his late wife.