Alumni Chapters Leaders

ASU Alumni Chapters are organized, active groups of alumni and friends who promote Angelo State University throughout the world.

Chapter definition: a group of alumni and/or friends of Angelo State who coordinate events in their respective geographic area or for a specific alumni demographic (outlined below). A chapter supports our alma mater by encouraging connection with other alumni and the university. Each chapter is governed by a minimum of three volunteers.

Chapter Structure

• Chapter Leader
  • Plans and presides at chapter meetings.
  • Oversees programming sponsored by the chapter.
  • Maintains contact with the ASU Alumni Association.
  • Serves as a positive ambassador of ASU.
  • Commitment of 1-2 years (with option of continuing as leader).
• Plus, two of the following:
  • Co-Leader or Leader in Training
  • Alumni Volunteer

Chapter Leaders

Chapter leaders will work closely with a staff member of ASU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR) team. This staff member will act as a liaison between you and the university.

In collaboration with co-leader and chapter members, develop a chapter annual plan:

• Networking Events
• Involvement in Alumni Events
• Fundraising Efforts
• Student Recruitment Efforts

Encourage ASU Alumni Association membership.

Encourage chapter members to keep their contact information up to date.

How Alumni Chapters can help the university:

Provide information:

• About the alumni in your area – their promotions and businesses, community honors and awards, address changes, marriages, obituaries or any other information.
• About any of your great ideas to promote the university and its alumni.

Help with student recruitment:

• Representing Angelo State University at target high schools.
• Submitting names of outstanding high school students to the ASU Admissions Office.
• Representing Angelo State University at area high schools during official recruitment visits.
• Calling and sending cards to congratulate students who have been admitted to ASU.
• Encouraging campus visits.
• Hosting receptions and information nights for prospective students.

Career networking:

• Become familiar with career internship programs and suggest potential sponsors.

Running an ASU Alumni Chapter is a joint effort between chapter leaders, alumni volunteers and the ODAR. We will communicate with you on a regular basis to provide support in planning activities and events, as well as to offer expertise and guidance. If you have questions of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact us at 325-942-2122 or via email at alumni@angelo.edu.

Some ideas of assistance that we can provide:

• Social Media Set Up (see below)
• Coordination of Events
• Event Marketing
• Postage and Printing of Invitations (if needed)
• Online Event Registration and Payment Tools
• RSVP Tracking
• Payment Management for Event Costs
• Event Kits (name tags, attendance sheets, publications, decorations, etc.)

KEYS TO SUCCESS

1. Make your chapter dynamic: teamwork and delegation of responsibilities are key elements.
2. One person cannot and should not do it all.
3. Enthusiasm is contagious.
4. Use me or lose me. Keep volunteers busy, involved and appreciated.
5. Don’t waste the time that you spend together.
6. Most importantly, executive committee members should have a vision and be willing to work hard.

The most important work for alumni volunteers is engaging your personal network of alumni and friends. Word of mouth is a critical form of communication and ranks first as the way alumni hear about events in their area. The ODAR and ASU Alumni Association lean heavily on volunteers to engage in their circles. We can assist you in developing and executing a communication plan. When using these tools, remember that communication materials must meet Angelo State’s brand standards. We need our brand to be consistent. Refer to our Visual Identity Guidelines for guidelines and templates.

Social Media

Volunteers are invaluable when it comes to updating content and sparking engagement, as you know your audience best. Chapter leaders and volunteers are asked to post event photos, tag people, ask questions and generate virtual engagement.

Facebook: The main ASU Alumni Association page is managed by the ODAR liaison. Chapter events may be posted there and shared in each group. On Facebook, like and follow @angeloalumni.

Alumni Chapter Groups: A private Facebook group will be established by the ODAR liaison with administrative rights being given to the chapter leader.

Email

Lists are procured and email is managed by the ODAR liaison. Work with the ODAR liaison to develop and proof text.

Website

A listing for all chapters is available at angelo.edu/alumni-chapters. Changes should be suggested to your ODAR liaison. Events are posted to the alumni calendar, which feeds into the main Angelo State calendar.

Activities bring alumni together to learn, network and have fun! Below are examples of event ideas in categories related to various interests. Chapters should strive to have a balance of events and not all of one type.

Lifelong Learning

Events scheduled around community attractions or events:

• Local Event with ASU Leadership or Faculty Member (Work with ODAR Liaison to Schedule)
• Business Luncheon (with ASU Leadership and/or Civic Leader)
• Theater Event
• Winetasting
• Cooking Classes
• Museum Visit
• Featured Speakers for Breakfast Series and/or Luncheons
• Gathering in Conjunction with Local, Annual Event (Shakespeare in the Park, Symphony, etc.)

Community Service

• Service Project
• Toy Drive
• Adopt a Highway
• Help with Voter Registration
• Sponsor Local or Area Team
• Booth at Local Fair

Freshmen Send-off Party – work with your ODAR liaison and Office of Admissions

Family Events

• Family Day at the Zoo
• Family Picnics
• Family BBQs
• Chili Cook-Off

Athletic

• Pre-Game and Post-Game Parties
• Game-Watching Party
• Bus Trip to Athletic Event
• Tailgate Party
• Professional Sports Event (Rangers, Nationals, Spurs, Stars, etc.)

Social

• Happy Hour
• Holiday Party
• Fish Fry/Hamburger Cookout
• Gatherings in Conjunction with Local Events

Each year during Homecoming, the ASU Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni and friends through a number of awards that celebrate achievements in volunteerism, success and commitment to the university. ASU Alumni Chapters are encouraged to participate in nominations. For questions about any of these awards, contact your ODAR liaison.

Distinguished Alumnus

Awarded at Homecoming to an alumnus who has received significant recognition through career accomplishments and/or community service and leadership.

Distinguished Carr Scholar Alumnus

Awarded at Homecoming to an alumnus who attended ASU on a Carr Academic Scholarship and has received significant recognition through career accomplishments and/or community service and leadership.

Distinguished ROTC Alumnus

Awarded at Homecoming to an alumnus who attended ASU as part of the Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 and has received significant recognition through career accomplishments and/or community service and leadership.

Honorary Alumnus

Awarded at Homecoming to an individual who did not attend ASU, but has brought recognition to the university or has supported ASU and/or the ASU Alumni Association in a significant manner.

Outstanding Retired Faculty Member

Awarded at Homecoming to a former ASU faculty member who had a distinguished career at ASU.

Golden Ex of the Year

Awarded at Homecoming to an individual who has been an alumnus for 50 years or longer and who has brought recognition to ASU and/or the ASU Alumni Association.

Outstanding Staff

Awarded at Homecoming to a current ASU staff member who has demonstrated support and dedication for the development of ASU. Not required to be an alumnus.

Distinguished Faculty Achievement

Awarded at Homecoming to a current ASU faculty member who has had a profound effect on the lives and careers of ASU students. Not required to be an alumnus.

Distinguished Young Alumnus

Awarded at Homecoming to a young alumnus who has received significant recognition through career accomplishments and/or community service and leadership. Young alumnus is defined as 39 or younger.

ASU Outfitter
asuoutfitter.com
325-942-2122
alumni@angelo.edu
LeGrand Alumni and Visitors Center
1620 University Ave.
San Angelo, TX 76904

ASU Bookstore
bookstore.angelo.edu
325-942-2335
Houston Harte University Center
1910 Rosemont Drive
San Angelo, TX 76909

ASU’s original Fight Song was adapted by Paul Peck, a music instructor, and adopted in 1950 when the institution was known as San Angelo College. Unlike the lyrics of ASU’s Alma Mater, which have changed five times over the years, the Angelo State Fight Song has remained much the same except for replacing “San Angelo” with “ASU” in 1970 after the institution became a four-year, state-supported institution.

Lyrics:

You’ve got to do your best to stand the test
For old ASU.
Hang your name in halls of fame
For all the world to view.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Raise her banners high in the sky,
Praise her brave ones as they go by,
Hail Alma Mater Hail,
Blue and Gold of ASU.

Angelo State University’s Alma Mater has evolved with the school and with the times. The first Alma Mater was written in 1928 by R.R. Masterson, one of San Angelo College’s first faculty members, and called “Our College Song.”

Twenty-three years later, Paul Peck wrote a new Alma Mater that reflected the school’s West Texas heritage, beginning with “O’er the western prairie, ’Neath the Texas sky…”

Times changed and so did the Alma Mater when in 1970 it was decided to replace the early Alma Mater with one that would better reflect the institution’s new-found status as a four-year, state-supported institution. “In Time to Come” was written by Raymond Carver and Douglas Cornell, and remains to this day the Alma Mater of Angelo State, though not without a little tinkering to become politically correct. In 1995, the song was tweaked when “we” was substituted for “men” in the first line to read “In time to come when we shall speak of Angelo State University.”

Lyrics:

In time to come when we shall speak of Angelo State University,
Then let us raise our voices in praise of the truth we seek to set us free.
In time to come when our ideals shall become reality,
Then let us praise thee, Alma Mater, Angelo State University.