Page 13 - Laker Connection Fall 2012

Loch, a familiar site to Clayton State alumni, debuted his new look at the 2012 Homecoming festivities.
to the late 1990s, and is currently celebrated early in the spring semester, while the Alumni Dinner is a 20-year event and has become the signature affair for the Alumni Association. The Alumni Dinner recognizes graduates with awards for their outstanding career and community accomplishments and has been held at many of the top venues in Atlanta, including the Ocean’s Ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium, the Fox Theatre and the Great Hall at Fernbank Mu- seum, to name a few.
Along with these two major events, the Alumni Office also supports many alumni socials and networking events throughout the year to connect with alumni and friends, along with hosting special events for several of the University’s alumni affinity groups.
The Alumni Office has also developed a membership program, which allows graduates the opportunity to support the University financially with a
tax-deductible gift and also receive some special perks. Some of the benefits for dues-paying alumni members include the opportunity to join the Fitness Center at the Student Activities Center, and discounts for classes at Clayton State’s Continuing Education Center and to alumni-sponsored events throughout the year.
Over the last couple of years, the Office imple- mented its first formal annual alumni-giving drive. The program consists of targeted communications though a postcard mailer, a call-a-thon, email correspondences and social media.
The Alumni Office also recently initiated the campaign to secure a Clayton State Specialty License plate with the State of Georgia. Alumni Relations is working hard to obtain enough commitments for the li- cense tag, which will feature the new Clayton State Athletics logo. In order to have them manufactured, the University needs 1,000 people to pay a one-time $25 manufacturing fee.
Other important duties of the office include: being the primary alumni contact for the University; providing support to the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association and working to maintain accurate contact information on the alumni base.
__ Gid Rowell
Homecoming is one of the largest events organized through the Office of Alumni Relations. Here Gid Rowell, Lanelle LaRue (‘85), Jamey Hicks (‘90) and Dina Swearngin (‘93, ‘97, ‘09) greet alumni at the homecoming welcome table.
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