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Why is our Alumni Association last in the SEC West in members?

Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:06 pm
Posted by c on z
Zamunda
Member since Mar 2009
127582 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:06 pm
I just happened to see where we were last in the current edition of the magazine and I was just curious as to why that is the case.
Posted by LSUtoOmaha
Nashville
Member since Apr 2004
26589 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:06 pm to
You have to graduate to be an alum
Posted by LouisianaLonghorn
Austin, Texas
Member since Jan 2006
14255 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:25 pm to
Did it say total members or paid members? I know that half of the members of the LSU alumni association here in Austin never pay their dues.
Posted by c on z
Zamunda
Member since Mar 2009
127582 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:26 pm to
It was paid members. I guess the other schools in our division know how to get their alums to pay their dues.
Posted by DaBeerz
Member since Sep 2004
17042 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:28 pm to
because TAF has all our money! TAF gives LSU money so I don't feel the need to pay for LSUAA without any benefits
Posted by Bandits
Lafayette
Member since Sep 2008
3170 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 4:30 pm to
That is right. TAF is killing everything.
Posted by Oyster
North Shore
Member since Feb 2009
10224 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 6:04 pm to
I think it's just the fact that being an LSU fan/supporter is
so all inclusive it is beyond being an alumni member. It's almost
cultural.
At least that's how my wife and I feel. I am an alum she
isn't. She loves LSU more than I do. Our kids grew up feeling that way and never considered another school.
Posted by JETigER
LSU 2011 National Champions
Member since Dec 2003
7081 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 6:51 pm to
didn't know this at the time but my then wife didn't put my name in but she put hers in when our applications came in the mail
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 7:36 pm to
The university has done a poor job of keeping its alumni connected to the campus in a way to donate/become a member.
Posted by Chazz Reinhold
Vegas
Member since Jun 2007
4486 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:00 pm to
Other schools are in craphole towns where nobody stays. The only way to get involved is to join the alumni association.
Posted by RushTigerLimbaugh
Member since Dec 2009
1284 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:22 pm to
Because LSU alums spend so much to be members of TAF...
Posted by Michigan Man1817
Member since Jun 2010
148 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:31 pm to
I don't think the dues really matter compared to donations people make to the school.
Posted by Barry Badrinath
MISS'IPPI
Member since Mar 2008
6294 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:46 pm to
quote:

The university has done a poor job of keeping its alumni connected to the campus in a way to donate/become a member.


This.

The only things I get from LSU other than letters asking for more money are the Alumni magazine and credit card applications.
Posted by Michael T. Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2004
8269 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:55 pm to
Besides the salaries of the association employees, which are ridiculously high, the association pays for professorships and scholarships. They don't really do anything for alumni anymore with the onset of TAF and the LSU Foundation. If it weren't for the Cook Hotel, the association would have likely gone under by now.

In the old days, the association used to be responsible for football tickets. They used to be responsible for keeping the alumni up to date about what was going on back "home" at LSU. The world has changed. In some ways, the association has too, but not necessarily for the better.

For a long time, the three fundraising arms of the university were at odds for themselves, each carving out a piece of the donor pie. TAF had a built-in group to go after, leaving the Foundation and the association to fight over the rest. The association has targeted select older donors to cater to and to lie in bed with until that donor rests in peace and hopefully gives most of what they earned during their lifetime to them. In the meantime, they are promised a hotel room on gamedays in the fall.

For the most part, the association has outlived its usefullness and is a dinosaur. Unlike some dinosaurs, it never really evolved. Part of that was the fault of the university, but part of it was also because it found a niche where power could be consolidated and exploited.

Other alumni associations are connected to their univeristies. Ours is self-sustaining and only operates because the university allows it to at its whim. LSU could shut the association down whenever it wants to and give it to the foundation to take over. It's probably about time for this to happen.
Posted by CharlesLSU
Member since Jan 2007
31957 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:57 pm to
LSU has a crazy amount of non-alum fans......
Posted by LSURussian
Member since Feb 2005
127152 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 8:57 pm to
quote:

Because LSU alums spend so much to be members of TAF...
So most LSU graduates can't come up with 50 bucks??? That's embarrassing.......
This post was edited on 6/19/10 at 8:58 pm
Posted by Michael T. Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2004
8269 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 9:03 pm to
quote:

So most LSU graduates can't come up with 50 bucks??? That's embarrassing.......


But why would you want to pay the $50? The association is basically a third party. LSU only sees that money in the form of a professorship or a scholarship. Why not just give it to the foundation instead?
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 9:31 pm to
Yea it has nothing to do with not having $50. Its simply a product of where the $$$ goes. The AA just doesn't compete well with the foundation and taf, despite a signigicant advantage, IMO.
Posted by lsuguy24
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2003
2419 posts
Posted on 6/19/10 at 11:44 pm to
Yes the LSU Alumni Association currently sits last in the number of members to the Association - but the LSUAA has the highest Average Donor Amount in the country. We average $155 per alumni contributor compared to Miss. State $35 dues per member.

We have been challenged by the University to increase the number of contributors to keep the Tier 1 Status that LSU is currently in.

The mission of the LSU Alumni Association is to protect, promote, and foster the welfare of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College and to create and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between the University and its alumni and friends. The Association, using the talents and resources of alumni and friends of Louisiana State University, supports the University in pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and public service to future and current alumni.

The LSUAA is more in FRIEND RAISING, rather than FUNDRAISING. The AA helps and supports current students through scholarships, on-campus events, senior celebrations and the student alumni association.

We also support Alumni through the Legacy Scholarship for those students whose parents live out of state who graduated from LSU - essentially getting the out of state fees waived.

As an employee of the Alumni Association, a graduate of LSU, and a member of both TAF and the Alumni Association, I take great pride in what we do as an organization. We currently have 125 chapters nationwide who rally to support the Tigers in their athletic endeavors (Example - Baseball in Los Angeles) as well supporting the academic side of the university in the form of scholarships and professorships.

All three fundraising organizations on campus (LSUAA, TAF and LSU Foundation) do a great job of supporting all facets of the university. LSU would not be where it is today without the support from its Alumni and Friends of the university (LSU Alumni By Choice (ABC's)).

Our chapter program in addition to scholarships and professiorships - also helps keep the alumni network together and the spirit of LSU alive through lasting friendships and relationships. Chapters are set up in every major city across the country and are listed on the LSU Alumni website at www.lsualumni.org

The Traveling Tigers Program (LSUAA sponsored Football Trips) allows Alumni and friends of the university the opportunity to travel the country while supporting the Tigers.

The Cook Hotel is the only on-campus hotel owned and operated in the country by an Alumni Association. We take pride in our accomplishments and hope that the LSU community does as well.

All money raised by the LSUAA goes to help and support the Forever LSU Campaign.
This post was edited on 6/20/10 at 10:08 am
Posted by sehbembuhnanananaAH
Member since Jun 2010
116 posts
Posted on 6/20/10 at 12:20 am to
quote:

FRIEND RAISING, rather than FUNDRAISING


lolz

but still
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