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

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I've yet to meet any damn college student that gave their University money for anything besides priority points or sports tickets.

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I'm not talking about LSU. Schools like Penn State's Blue and White Society have thousands of current members.

LINK

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Step up or shut up when it comes to giving back to LSU.

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But, but, but.....LSU fans and grads give to TAF!!!!

I am very impressed with what many of you think. Obviously our marketing is working... because it has started a conversation such as these. The Chart WORKED!

In response to the new alumn who was offended that we were asking for a donation 2 weeks after graduating... Thats our job. We are challenged by the University and the Chancellor to raise our numbers and raise money for the university. We do not require you to give money back - but asking is what we are paid to do.

In the past, recent graduates were given a 1 year free membership to the AA - but current students voted that down because the University was charging a Diploma Fee on their FEE bills of $10 per year- once that went away, so did the Free Alumni Association Membership.

We offer our current graduating seniors and those who have only been out 1 year a discounted rate of $25-$35 to become a member when it normally takes a minimum of a $50 contribution. If you give $10 to the Alumni Association - then essentially you are counted as a member. You will not receive the same benefits a $100 or a $1,000 contributor receives but you are still counted as a member.

Every little bit helps. I am 30 years old and I give $1,000 a year to LSUAA - because I work here for one, but because I believe in what I am selling and what we do for LSU. If I didnt work here would I give this much - probably not - but I would atleast give $50 to be a member.

Schools like Texas A&M have high contributions and high numbers of membership because it is instilled in those students the day they step on campus. We as an Alumni Association have to do a better job of creating a tradition of sorts so that everyone that walks on to campus feels that they should give back a little bit to the university that gave them the opportunity to succeed in life.

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I pay my dues yearly and I've never questioned where the money went, because I don't care. LSU is responsible for helping me realize my dreams and goals. Attending LSU were the happiest days of my life.

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This.

I wouldn't be here if it weren't for LSU. I wouldn't have had scholarships during school if it weren't for the donors who endowed those scholarships. Without the scholarships, I don't think I would have made it or at least I wouldn't have been able to do well enough to get the kinds of jobs I had since graduating. I am thankful to LSU and I give back to help LSU continue to do for others what it did for me.

I support LSU by giving to the alumni association, the law school, and the foundation. I buy athletic tickets through the TAF. I buy officially licensed LSU everything so that LSU gets a cut of what I spend. It would break my heart to see LSU lose Tier 1 status because its alumni don't feel any obligation to give back.

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Nope, at least for me, LSU is not even remotely responsible for helping me realize my dreams and goals. LSU didn't offer the major or even individual classes in the subjects I was interested in. I attended anyway out of historical loyalty and love for the school and to play in TGBFTL. The LSU degree I have has not opened one single door for me job wise. Any success I've had has been due to my own diligence and effort. AA donations. Forget about that. Aint happening.......

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But... you came to LSU to be in the Golden Band. Was that not a dream of yours realized through LSU?

Or... does it not matter that much? I can't believe that it doesn't, seeing how you claim your Tiger Band roots in your user name, no less.

LSU didn't open any doors for my job either, but it certainly didn't close them. I acknowledge that my college education has helped me in my life.

If you don't feel it has, then, I believe you. But maybe if you gave something back... just once... you might feel differently about it. I understand there's a new band hall under construction. Surely, you can get behind that project in some small way, right?

Now, my next statement isn't personally directed at you. I'm not calling you out. I respect that you disagree with me.

But I see all the time how people say that they practically educated themselves, and that LSU didn't do anything "for them." Folks, LSU doesn't owe you anything for the honor of hosting your brilliance for four years. If you came to LSU for four years and feel like you learned nothing, then you should have gone somewhere else. But don't "punish" LSU because you chose to come here. LSU isn't "using" you every day the way you use it. You can claim you have a degree from LSU every single day of your life, and it does mean something. For 99% of you, LSU can say, "(insert your name here) came to school here," and it doesn't mean anything to anyone. Get over yourselves.