Alumni associations enter membership challenge

The alumni associations at Northeastern State University and the University of Central Oklahoma will kick off a friendly competition to increase membership during the NSU-UCO football game at Doc Wadley Stadium on Oct 23 at 2 p.m.

The President's Cup Alumni Association Membership Challenge is named for the trophy NSU and UCO compete for each autumn on the gridiron.

Daniel Johnson, director of alumni services at NSU, said the associations were looking for a way to create an energetic membership drive and the challenge serves as kick-off to what will be a multi-year focus on Alumni Association membership growth.

"We've come to recognize that Alumni Association membership has tremendous value for the university," Johnson said. "It allows us to stay connected and engaged with our alumni and it keeps them interested in the direction of NSU. We are working to add members and enhance our suite of membership benefits."

The alumni associations decided to play on the long-standing sports rivalry between NSU and UCO to draw attention to respective alumni involvement with the universities.

"This is to be a mutually engaging challenge," Johnson said. "I'm working with my counterpart, Al Jones, at UCO. We've worked with our boards of directors and gotten approval and the presidents are involved."

The pre-game presentation will include a brief video introduction and UCO President W. Roger Webb, NSU President Don Betz and members of both alumni associations will ceremonially kick off the challenge as part of the coin toss.

"There will be members and staff on hand to answer questions and provide membership packages and we hope to add some members that day," Johnson said. "But this will be an ongoing campaign through the website, the alumni e-newsletter, Imprints magazine and we'll be pulling out all the stops to make sure NSU comes out on top."

The challenge was made retroactive to the start of the Oklahoma fiscal year on July 1 and continues until June 30, 2011. The alumni association with the largest percentage growth wins.

What is at stake is not yet finalized, but Johnson said the losers may have to cook food for the winners at next year's football meeting between NSU and UCO. While Oklahoma's regional universities are transitioning between conferences during the 2011 football season, there is a possibility they may play each other home-and-home to fill their schedules.

"Really, the increases we expect in alumni memberships will make both universities winners," said Johnson.

To join the NSU Alumni Association or for more information, visit www.nsualumni.com.