KRAM1

You make a good point here. One way UNT is trying to do that very thing is by getting folks to fill out the drawing cards at the Caravan events. They ask for contact info. But, if they don't really do much with them it doesn't do much good.

You can do that on the Alumni Association website...or you can PM me with the info and I will get it in for you...sending you a PM.

Even with the smaller crowd this year it was better attended than last year's evening event. It is hard to say what will get folks out, so various options are being tried. After seeing poor turnouts year after year at most every venue and time (other than Plano) it is hard to say what might work. But, Texas Tech got over 2500 for an lunchtime event in Dallas and Okie State got much the same for an evening event. Go figure. UNT has more grads in Dallas than both these schools combined.

Hey...don't forget the good hair. On a side note...I agree he had some decent teams.

Agree...they pay $160,000 to buy student attendance. UNT gets the current Governor of the State on its campus for free for several hours for a tour, for private chats with the President of the University and a sit down dinner with a group of significant donors. Then, those who cared to attend were treated to a very inspirational message from the Governor...a very non-political message I might add. I don't know, but I am thinking UNT wins! Edit: oh, I forgot...as much positive press as negative in local and metroplex papers, lots of TV news time. Sort of a bonus. In fact, the protesters sort of gave the thing a 60's campus feel and added a bit of unscripted comedy...all what, five of them that is. I really am thinking....win for UNT.

Tennessee? Iowa?

I too remember those crowds...well, calling them crowds is a bit rich. But, pretty quiet in the Super Pit during those days.

At a cost of about $100,000.00? At least that's what he wanted from us so the story goes.

Well...I do not have many more specifics than I posted. What we got was the "executive overview" not the detailed report, so really no dates, times, etc. or specific details more than I posted. As far as an ideal percentage of alumni giving...well, that's a good question and I wish I had thought to ask that one. What I do know is that is is well above 7%. But, even with the "identifiable" 170,000 alums it will take a good number of new donors to raise that number. And, in addition, new "identifiable" alums are being added each and every day ... In fact several thousand new added just this last week due to graduation. And many more as UNT systems and programs are combined, upgraded and coordinated across campus departments and units. A VERY big project in itself, but one on going for a couple of years now with significant progress made, but plenty of room to go to be able to declare victory. All alums can help by just calling the alumni association or the division of Advancement or their own college and just update their info or check to see if it is current. And, of course, by filling out that Alumni Association survey and sending it back in if you are one of the 55,000 receiving the survey via email.

Congratulations! Great news! Well done! Here's hoping she gets in TAMS and then actually does enroll at UNT upon TAMS graduation. Mean Green for life!

I am with Ben on this one.

Looks like the announcement on UAB will be made June 1st. RV has said it looks 50/50 right now. But, there are growing indications that they will, indeed, drop football. One reason...absolutely ZERO facilities for football with the cost to possibly develop those facilities extremely high. Hard to believe, isn't it? Feel bad for those players, staff and admins and really the entire UAB family.

Agree with you completely. Reggie is a "keeper".

So, admins can feel free to move this thread where they would like, but here goes.... At today's board meeting of the UNT Alumni Association we heard from guest speakers John Nitardy and Rick Villarreal from athletics and Eileen Moran, Interim VP for University Advancement. Each shared a few bits of good news that I thought folks might like to hear. First...the overall athletic teams GOA for the spring semester was 3.1. Twelve teams have GPA's over 3.0. This is, of course, fantastic news. Second...to the new golf practice facility. The BOR approved the construction in yesterday's meeting. Among other things it will include a practice tee, a 3-hole practice course, hitting bays, stretching and recruitment room, trophy room, locker room area and best of all...access to the course 6 days a year for tournament play! This is BIG and will allow UNT to host tournaments and draw name teams. Third.... Rick V. Verified a $1,000,000 pledge to athletics from a new donor with $500,000 paid and in hand. Yes, acquired by RV. Forth... Upgrades announced for softball (upgrade concessions and rest room facilities and bricking in the outfield walls), for soccer (bricking in the back end zone wall) and upgrades to the volleyball facility. Fifth....Eileen mentioned that this year's faculty/staff matching fund-raising campaign almost doubled last year's giving rate...well close going from about $450,000 to $716,000 including the match for both years) and that the number of donors doubled as well. This all in a one-month campaign. Why is this so significant you ask? Well, for one reason it shows the commitment on the part of those who are employed at UNT to make it even better and it shows a significant rise in employee morale (my opinion but shared by others as well). Sixth.... And I don't really know how positive this is, but I know it is an improvement over prior years...we now have about 170,000 "identifiable" alumni in our data base at the University. In this case "identifiable" means that we have a current and verifiable email address and current contact info. Obviously, work continues on increasing this number. Seventh... And this is not so good news, but again a higher number than last year...the percentage giving rate among alumni (alumni members and/or donors to the University) stands at 7%. Yep...only 7%, but that is being seen as "opportunity" as it should be. Eight.... Our new VP of Advancement, UNT grad Dr. David Wolf starts this coming May 27th, five new Advancement staff employees have been hired recently and the budget for Alumni engagement is being proposed for a significant increase. Yes, still "proposed" at this time as the budget process is still on going. Ninth... The UNT Law School has made a significant and prominent hire...described as a coup for the law school who will be named shortly. AND... Tenth.... Your Alumni Association through an outside vendor has developed and is now sending out through email to members and other alums some 55,000 surveys in the hopes of learning what our alumni members...and other alums want from their Alumni Association in the way of programming, engagement, etc. the surveys are going out in rolling batches, so not everyone who is on the list will receive a survey at the same time. BUT PLEASE PLEASE if you get a survey...fill it out and return it. Be honest in your reply but be professional as well. the Association truly wants to hear from you. This is the first every client survey your Alumni Association has ever attempted. So, if you want to be heard and want to help, PLEASE fill it out and return the survey. OK, that's probably all the Good News some of you folks can take at any one time. But, we had such a positive and forward looking board meeting today that I just felt the need to share.

Yes...RSVP's are encouraged...RSVP and it is free....just show up and it is supposed to be $10. Do not know if they are actually collecting, but they have a money box out...so...be aware an RSVP.

www.meangreensports.com But...here goes: Plano-Park Place Lexus - 6-8 pm Denton - Apogee Club Level 6-8 pm. Hope to see you at one...or both.

Preach on! You certainly have the right to your views. But, please show us all where anyone said anyone "owes" support. The word "owes" is the operative word here, so while you refuse to contemplate the point I try to make while railing upon any disagreement with your position, please find that "owes" word being used. I, for one, do not believe I have ever said that people "owe" anything. And, as much as you might not like them, my views are mine just as your views are yours. The "awful and entitled" concept is all yours. If my views hit you in some spot that causes such reaction and hyperbole you might just want to put me on ignore. It is a message board and opinion board as UNT90 likes to point out.

THIS is a prime example of why I support the Mean Green Club. It is not about winning or losing to me, it is about these great players, these great student-athletes. This video moved me in a very positive way and I am happy to see it posted. This, folks, is what it is all about...these student-athletes. Like Scott, I am proud to support these young athletes and students.

Glad Harry started this one. In deference to Emmitt, I was going to wait to see if Harry would since he was in attendance. As to the attendance...it was pegged to be at over 80 due to RSVP's and folks attending could see that due to the room set up for so many more folks than attended. The Ft. Worth folks might claim victory over Dallas this year in actual attendance. But, over half of the people who RSVP'd failed to show! Wow, seriously people? Sure, stuff happens and folks can be caught at the last second with something and not attend, but over half? Nope...that was not due to last second "things" coming up. Talk about frustrating for coaches, staff and others in attendance to see such happen. Quite shameful in fact for folks to pull such stunts. Venues are secured and food is purchased based on expected and actual RSVP's, and future such events depend upon how current events are supported. If you don't grasp this basic fact of event planning you should. Dallas should have had 100 plus all in with the RSVP's it had...instead there were about 60 in the room "all in". So, folks, does the actual support these events get warrant continuing to schedule them? Ask yourself if it isn't just throwing money away and wasting valuable time. There are two events left. One in Plano at Park Place Lexus ( always a great Jordan Case sponsored event) and one in Denton at Apogee. If you support UNT and can make one of these events, please RSVP and show up. This isn't like Facebook where everyone says they will attend some event and then doesn't. As to the Dallas event. Good location, decent venue good food and lots of it since folks did not show up. Heard pretty much the same from all the coaches who spoke and Harry captured the gist of it, so I will not dwell on that much more. But, I did get a chance to speak with RV about the new UNT golf practice facility now being constructed at the Honors Club in Carrolloton as opposed to the originally set location of the Trophy Club. Folks, this is going to be BIG for our men's and women's golf programs! This facility will allow us to host tournaments including the conference championship with no course costs for UNT. That is BIG! There will be practice areas for the team, workout space and recruiting space. And, the good news on top of all this is that the funds are pretty much in hand thanks to a few donors who stepped up during the "quiet phase" of the fund raising push. I am sure there will be opportunity for others to donate to the facility as well if they wish, but all that is needed to move forward is BOR approval which should come today...hopefully. Just to add to Harry's comments...well, you knew I would, right? Jalie also mentioned that her staff was now complete with the hire of her final assistant coach who will be announced soon. This young lady new HC of ours has been one busy young lady in her "First 44" for sure. She also told me that she has completed the purchase of a home which takes that little time consuming matter off her plate. OK...three down...two to go. If possible...please try to attend either the Plano event or Denton event or both. And, please, please, if you RSVP show up barring any unforeseen challenges that may come up which, of course, could not be avoided. I will give credit to UNT alums that Cerebus may not in believing that UNT alums do not need to be led by the hand in knowing what a legitimate "challenge" to attendance might be rather than just skipping it after RSVP'ing.

OK, the sky really is falling...Ben has agreed with Cerebus and me in the same post! The rapture is surely upon us! Thanks, Ben.

Indeed he thinks he is....I simply keep forgetting that point.

Your opinions and you are more than welcome to them. And, you should be commended for your support of UNT overall. Glad you also give to COBRA as I agree with every point you made regarding that college. I don't care where or how much one donates to any program...I only care "if" they donate. Where is their choice completely. But, There is a point to be made about Mean Green Club donations. They go to support student-athletes who span the reach of the colleges at UNT...many of whom are COBRA students by the way. So, you support COBRA as well as Arts and Sciences, Engineering, etc. when you donate to the Mean Green Club. Your stadium donation for your club seats did go to athletics, of course, Mean Green Club donations support students. So while you are "dumbfounded by the disconnect" perhaps you might not want to throw all athletic donations in the same pot. Some care to support COBRA and other College's at UNT through their MGC donations. One definitely has no "obligation" to donate to any cause of any kind much less their university. Question...is apathy and history still an excuse for our so-called fans? You hammer apathy that your perceive among others, but fail to grasp that it is a two-way street. Okie State did not start winning until it's donors had had enough of being a lower tier conference program and helped provide the funds and support necessary to move forward. And, it was in no way all Boone. Go to Stillwater and see for yourself on game day how many club seats and skybox seats are filled and then check what they cost. UNT has probably a forth the number of club seats as OSU and every club seat at OSU is full on game day as are the boxes and the bowl. The new indoor practice facility is not named for Boone either. Talk to Mike Holder and Mike Gundy and Coach Ford about how much the smaller donations have fueled OSU's rise. So, I ask, is it only your perceived apathy of other than the fans that needs to change? Is it in any sense a two-way street? Apathy...support...got it. Here's a fact for you...over one-half of the folks who RSVP'd for the Dallas Caravan event today failed to show up. How's that for apathy? Really sets the stage for folks wanting to keep beating their collective heads against the wall, right? So, after over 200 calls to local fans and Mean Green Club members by athletic department staff, after numerous Facebook posts and re-posts, along with MGC emails it appears that after RSVP's some 100+ folks will attend in Dallas. Less than half of the RSVP's show! Don't want to come, too busy, too far away, too apathetic...no problem. Don't come. But to RSVP and not show is pretty shameful. Sure there are legit reasons and "stuff happens", but not to 50% of an RSVP list. Shameful. Folks, you want change? Then make it happen. The way that is done is through support. Not through sitting around on some message board and finding every lame excuse and reason why you won't support.

That's right. I forgot that UNT alums need to be led by the hand to understand or see any of this. Geeezzzz...Only at North Texas do so many give so many cover for their lack of support. I guess I give our alums much more credit. Your post is a perfect example of "none so blind as they who will not see". I just too often forget it is Only at North Texas. Thanks for the reminder.

I know you understand, Tony, it's to those who are upset they get a sticker and that's all for their $25 donation....it's called a donation for a reason....that I am referring to in my post. It has ZERO to do with entertainment and 100% to do with support for UNT student-athletes. It's support for one's university, not a retail sale. Those of us, the few...the proud, who actually do try to help increase membership need to "sell" that...not the prize, not the retail value of the sticker or anything else other than the fact that it is your university and you are helping provide an education for some 300+ scholarship athletes...many of whom even in this day and age will be the first to graduate college in their entire families. You are providing support for many student-athletes who would not be in college without these scholarships in addition to helping some who would definitely otherwise be able to attend college without the help. Maybe it's a younger generation thing in making this very real and important distinction between "buying a retail product" and supporting one's university through a donation...not a purchase. I really don't know if it is a younger generation thing or just a North Texas thing, but I do not get that attitude when I raise funds for any of the other three universities I help volunteer with. It is "only at North Texas" that this attitude of "what's in it for me" and "what do I get" seems to manifest itself so often....even at an ask of $25. The other schools "targets" just seems to be happy that I am not hitting them up for multi-hundred dollar donations regularly. The benefits of membership are nice, of course, but the support for our students is THE point and the only important point in this whole Mean Green Club thing. The benefits to the university and to the student and, yes, to the athletic department go way beyond the "what do I get" thing. It I saddens me that so many of our so-called fans do not grasp this very basic of concepts. If folks who graduated from North Texas, have students attending North Texas, have student-athletes at North Texas, or who live in Denton and the surrounding area cannot "see" or understand what they are giving to, well, then the battle is lost before it even begins. As is said...there none so blind as they who will not see.

That would be Only at NORTH TEXAS not Nirth Texas. Sorry...bad typing skills. And, I use the "Only at North Texas" line in direct response to those who use it to deride UNT and anything they can. If you don't even know who are peers are, well, I simply can't help you. Honest answer.