NOTES FROM THE ASUAA PRESIDENT
Sparky’s reach has jumped across the pond!  Congratulations to all the new connections, clubs and chapters — and to our London faithful.   Thanks so much for your ongoing commitment.

Quick updates from the University: ASU, like many universities across the United States, is actively addressing the downturn in the economy.  To date, we have taken $90M in state cuts.  Some of you have been following the news more closely, but for those of you who haven’t had the opportunity, we are undergoing major academic reorganization, taking furloughs to protect the core—teaching, and also seeking additional revenue streams.  

On the very upside, we just hosted the very best ASU Founders’ Day dinner ever.  Thanks to those who have built this over many years, we were able to advance this to another level this year.  We collaborated with the ASU Foundation and many other businesses and university partners to announce the new ASU Challenges Initiative where ASU is working on local problems to solve global issues.  Check out the website www.ASUChallenges.com.  We had more than 650 in a sold out event honoring faculty and alums who are exemplars in tackling these issues.

 Lastly, I wish you all individually the best as you tackle your own economic issues at your workplace and at home.  And thanks for showing across the nation that ASU CARES!
All the best as always,

NOTES FROM THE ASUAA ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS
Hello Sun Devils!

Our Sun Devil family is growing!  Let’s welcome:

• Houston Connection, Michael Barney ’08, Coordinator
• St. Louis Connection, Matt Schuh ’04, Coordinator
• London, England Connection,  Stephanie Clark ‘05, Coordinator
• Club Hockey, Michael  Barclay ’01, Coordinator

The Board of Directors unanimously approved these new Connections and Club at the February 20, 2009 meeting.  Congratulations to all of the groups and to Stephanie for leading us to our first international Connection!

ASU Cares is just around the corner, and we are thrilled to see so many of the chapters participating across the country.  On Saturday, March 21, hundreds of Sun Devils will be donating their time and efforts to making each community a better place.  ASU CARES is the University’s largest annual volunteer community service project. Be sure to send us the photos that we can share online and in other publications.  For a preview of all the projects throughout the country, click here http://www.asu.edu/alumni/rsvp/asucares.html.

Here in Tempe, we will be on Hayden Butte, our beloved “A” Mountain. Working with the City of Tempe Parks & Recreation Department, ASU Alumni volunteers will assist with plant removal along the trail system on the mountain. This will be an important project to help keep “A” Mountain beautiful for all future Sun Devils who hike its paths.

Also, be sure to save the dates for the Leadership Conference on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 as we have a very productive and fun agenda for you.  We are working hard planning the April 24-25 Leadership Conference and hope all of you will be able to attend.  More details are in this edition of Chapter Chat!

Go Devils!

UPCOMING DEADLINES AND MEETINGS

• Spring 2009 Alumni Constituencies Leadership Conference: Register by March 27, 2009
• Chapter End of the Year Report submission deadline: May 15, 2009

MARCH ALUMNI PROGRAMS AND CONSTITUENCY EVENTS
Chapter programs that occur in March include, but not limited to:

If you wish to share ideas or investigate possible synergies, please contact chapter leaders at the following link:  http://www.asu.edu/alumni/chapters/findchapter.shtml.  Also, please let us know if you would like your group’s special programs listed in the next edition by e-mailing Nicole Almond Tucker at Nicole.AlmondTucker@asu.edu.


ASU CARES – SATURDAY, MARCH 21st, 2009
Thank you to all the Chapters, Clubs and Connections who have put in great time and efforts to organize your volunteer projects for ASU CARES DAY on March 21st! We’re excited to have Sun Devils across the country helping their local communities and we can’t wait to see the photos and hear the stories you’ll have to share after your events. For everyone in the local Tempe area, please join your ASU Alumni Association staff for a special ASU CARES project at “A” Mountain on Saturday morning.  All of the ASU CARES projects and registration pages can be found at http://www.asu.edu/alumni/rsvp/asucares.html. We look forward to highlighting all the ASU CARES projects at the Spring Leadership Conference.


SPRING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR GEO, ACADEMIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST CHATPERS - APRIL 24 & 25
The Spring Leadership Conference for all ASU Alumni Constituency Leaders will take place April 24 & 25 at the ASU Tempe Campus. The Conference will run from 8am-5pm on Friday, April 24th, and 8:00am – 12:00pm on Saturday, April 25th. An agenda will be sent to registrants one week prior the Conference. 

All ASU Alumni Chapters, Clubs and Connections should be represented at the Spring Leadership Conference.
Geographic Leaders who will be traveling from outside the Phoenix-Metro area will be provided with hotel accommodations at the Twin Palms for Thursday, April 23rd & Friday, April 24th. See below for airfare allocations.

Register NOW online HERE to attend the Spring Leadership Conference! The Registration Deadline is FRIDAY, MARCH 27th!

FLIGHT INFORMATION:  The ASU Alumni Association will provide roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations for one (1) representative from each geographic Club and Sun Devil Connection and two (2) representatives from each geographic Chapter – provided that flights are purchased prior to March 27th.  For flights not arranged prior to this deadline, ASUAA will only cover the amount of the best fare on that date.  Therefore, you will not receive a full reimbursement.  Please submit your receipt/confirmation and flight itinerary to Trish at Trish.Thiele-Keating@asu.edu  by March 27th. 

In an effort to keep costs down, please consider flying Southwest Airlines.

Please see below for funding allocations for airfare (based on average airfare prices per departure location):
Atlanta - $250*
Austin - $275*
Chicago - $275*
Boston - $475*
Denver - $175*
Houston - $280*
Indianapolis - $275*
Kansas City - $275*
Las Vegas - $175*
Los Angeles - $175*
New York - $400*
Orange County - $175*
Philadelphia - $350*
Pittsburgh - $350*
Portland - $300*
San Diego - $175*
San Francisco - $250*
Seattle - $300*
St. Louis - $325*
Twin Cities - $325*
Washington, D.C. - $425*

* Any fare above this allocation must be approved by the ASUAA in advance of purchase in order to receive consideration for full reimbursement.
DON’T WAIT! Book your flight now to avoid a possible increase in airfare prices!


IS YOUR CHAPTER IN GOOD STANDING?
In accordance with the Board Policies for Chapters within the ASU Alumni Association, (found in the Online Toolkit - http://www.asu.edu/alumni/chapters/toolkit/board_policy_connections_0407.pdf), to be classified as a chapter in good standing, each chapter shall:

• Hold at least four (4) chapter board meetings per year and submit the draft version of the meeting minutes to ASUAA within 2 weeks of the meeting.
• Hold an election for chapter board members and officers annually. Officers must include as a minimum:
• President
• President-elect
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Past President
• Require all chapter officers and board members to be active (dues-paying) members of ASUAA during the duration of their terms.
• Submit a comprehensive report on each program or event that utilizes ASUAA funding support within 45 days of the activity. Reimbursements will not be approved until the program report is submitted.
• Support the mission and goals of the association and comply with all policies of the ASUAA and its Board of Directors. (Board Policy for Constituent Group Communications can also be found in the Online Toolkit - http://www.asu.edu/alumni/chapters/toolkit/constituent_group_communications_policy_adopted_june07.pdf).

If a chapter does not meet these standards, their status will be reviewed and measures to encourage compliance will be recommended. If a chapter is unable to maintain their good standing, this may affect their recognition as a chapter within ASUAA and in turn, their chapter funding with be affected.

Please contact your ASUAA Chapter Liaison with questions concerning good standing status.


EXCELLENT CHAPTER PARTICIPATION ON JANUARY 2009 CAC CALL
Thank you to everyone who called in for the CAC Teleconference on Tuesday, January 6th. We had 32 Alumni groups represented on the call. We discussed deadlines for communications submissions deadlines, new credit card processing fees and upcoming events including ASU Cares on March 21st – a time for ALL ASU Alumni to volunteer and help their local communities. The minutes from the call can be found here.  The next CAC call will take place in June 2009. More details will be given closer to the call date.


CONSTITUENCY COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE
Please utilize our broadcast email system, Harris.  We can pull a list of all alumni (in your geographic region, academic unit or special interest group) and email them directly.  This process allows us to capture the most recent alumni list and provide an efficient service to our alumni. 

Additionally, please remember to send FULL TEXT (and complete sentences) when you are requesting an email blast or e-newsletter to go out to your group. We are happy to do minor editing, but with the volume of e-mails we handle for all the groups, we are not able to compose effective messages in a timely manner. Keep in mind, every email that is sent to your group could be reaching someone new for the first time, so it’s a good idea to put as much detail and energy into the message as possible to get people excited about participating.

Be included!  Submit information about upcoming chapter events and recent news.  This information will be dropped into the national/local e-newsletters, as well as the ASU Magazine and Chapter Chat.  As always, we will send reminders to chapter leaders before each deadline date; please be aware of deadlines provided here: 
E-newsletter deadlines: Apr 6, May 4, June 8                                   
ASU Magazine deadlines: TBD

Be sure to visit our Online Tool Kit!  There is a lot of great information on the site – and we are always adding more documents! 

If applicable, always use our Online Registration for your events using this form: Online Event Registration Form (Harris).  Please note, it is NOT acceptable to use Evite for your events.

Don’t forget to submit a FY 2009 Chapter Program Report after each program.  Remember:  it is promptly due within 45 days AFTER the conclusion of the event.  In order to receive a reimbursement, a complete report (i.e. includes itemized receipts, list of attendees, etc.) must be submitted.


SPARKY'S MEMBERSHIP MANIA
The new year for Sparky’s Membership Mania has begun! The previous competition ended during Homecoming Weekend in November. The competition winners will be announced at the Spring Leadership Conference in April. Thank you all for your participation, we truly appreciate your efforts to increase membership! The new competition will go until next Homecoming in the fall.

SUN DEVIL GENERATIONS CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
Make ASU a family affair...sign up the children in your life for Sun Devil Generations!  Sun Devil Generations creates a lifelong ASU connection by involving children in various ASU traditions and programs catering specifically to youngsters. Aimed at children from birth to eighth grade, membership nurtures the relationship between a child and ASU.  Sun Devil Generations participants will become familiar with ASU, develop a love of learning and share your affection for all things maroon and gold. Additionally, a portion of the funds raised will help the ASU Alumni Association build a legacy scholarship endowment.  Any Alumni Association member may sponsor a child in the program.  Members who sponsor children in the program do not have to be related to the participants. In order for a child to participate, the Alumni Association member sponsoring them must stay current with their Alumni Association membership dues.  Sign up your future Sun Devil today and continue the ASU tradition in your family!  Click here to sign up your child for Sun Devil Generations.


ASU WOMEN IN BUSINESS PRESENTS AN EVENING OF WINE AND NETWORKING
Join fellow ASU Alumni for an evening of networking, fine wine, and fabulous food at one of downtown Tempe's hottest spots: La Bocca!

MAROON & GOLD PROFESSIONALS MIXER, IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES WHEN SUN DEVILS CONNECT...

An exciting business collaboration, a potential new client, a job opportunity or simply, making a new friend...many good things can come your way when you go out and meet new people, especially when they're also Sun Devils! The ASU Alumni Association's new Maroon & Gold Professionals is a network for ASU graduates in the working world, providing opportunities for Sun Devils to connect with Sun Devils! This is a great opportunity to meet other alums and expand your network. Bring plenty of business cards and be prepared for an evening of great food, fun and networking.

GRAD BLAST! THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD, 3:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M., OLD MAIN LAWN, TEMPE CAMPUS
The ASU Alumni Association is hosting a Grad Blast on April 23rd to celebrate the end of semester with the graduating seniors. This carnival event will feature food, games, prizes & a TRAPEZE! ASU Alumni Constituency Leaders will be given an interactive role in this unique event. This will be a great opportunity to connect with the soon-to-be alumni who will be looking to get involved in your Chapters, Clubs and Connections after Graduation. All Constituency Leaders who will be attending the Spring Leadership Conference are strongly encouraged to participate in this event. Please be sure to book your travel for a time that will allow you to participate in this exciting event.


GOLDEN REUNION - CLASS OF 1959
The Class of 1959 is celebrating their 50th reunion May 13 and 14!  ASU graduates of 1959 were THE FIRST class to have “University” printed on their diplomas.  If you are a graduate from 1959 or know of one please visit our registration page for more information.   Printed invitations will arrive within the next two weeks.  The reunion is a wonderful opportunity for graduates to reminisce, reconnect, and see how their University has grown over the past 50 years.  The reunion includes two days of campus tours, guest speakers, commencement, wonderful meals, and the Golden Circle.


SPARKY’S TOUCHDOWN TAILGATES
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting tailgates before the Georgia (Sept. 26), Stanford (Oct. 24), and UCLA (Nov. 21) football games.  Registration information for all three tailgates is being finalized.  Currently, we have an information page for the University of Georgia game.  Tell us what you’re interested in and you’ll be the first to know!  For the Georgia game, a host hotel has been selected.  It will act as Sun Devil Central!  More information coming soon!  If you know of a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Cindy Dick at cindy.dick@asu.edu, at 1-800-258-6687 or 480-965-0093.  Sponsoring Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgates is a great way to receive national exposure!


JOIN THE WEB 2.0 GENERATION WITH US!
The ASU Alumni Association has set up groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for graduates of ASU! Sign up today and see who you know from ASU, and who THEY know!

Join ASU's LinkedIn Group                          
Join ASU's Facebook Group                        
Tweet on ASU’s Twitter

STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (SAA) UPDATE
The Student Alumni Association (SAA) is prepping for its signature event, Oozeball, a mud volleyball tournament that combines ASU tradition, current students, and spirit!  This year’s Oozeball tournament will take place on Saturday, March 28, at the Alpha Drive Fields (SW corner of Sixth Street and Rural on the Tempe Campus).  Participants will receive a t-shirt, lunch, and priceless memories as they test their volleyball skills in 8” of mud!  SAA would like to thank Hunt Construction for helping to build this year’s Oozeball pits!  If you would like to support SAA and help keep ASU traditions alive, please visit www.asu.edu/saa or call 480.965.4078.

MEDALLION SCHOLARS PROGRAM UPDATE
 The Medallion Scholarship Program is currently in the final stages of selecting 27 new scholars that will start in fall of 2009.  Over 240 applications were received from around the state of Arizona and reviewed by more than 40 alumni volunteers from across the country!  Selected scholars will be recognized at a banquet on Monday, May 4, 2009, at Old Main.  The ASU Alumni Association would like to thank all who have volunteered their time and effort in helping to select this new cohort of scholars!!  The Medallion Scholarship Program is funded by sales of the Sparky license plates.  $17 of the $25 of each plate goes directly to support this signature scholarship of the Alumni Association.  Get more information on Sparky plates by visiting http://www.asu.edu/alumni/support/sparkyplates.shtml.    

HARDEN IS HUGE IN SUN DEVIL WIN
Arizona State extended its recent domination of Arizona on Thursday, putting the Wildcats' long NCAA tournament streak in jeopardy.  Pac-10 player of the year James Harden had 27 points and eight rebounds for the fourth-seeded Sun Devils (23-8), who won for just the second time in their last five games. Ty Abbott added 11 points and Jeff Pendergraph had 10 points and nine rebounds for ASU, which advanced to Friday night's semifinals.  Jordan Hill had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Nic Wise added 18 points for fifth-seeded Arizona (19-13), which has appeared in 24 straight NCAA tournaments, the longest active streak and second-longest behind the 27-year streak by North Carolina from 1975-2001.  The win gave ASU a three-game sweep of Arizona this season and was its fifth straight over the Wildcats--the Sun Devils' longest winning streak over their in-state rival since they won nine in a row from 1979-83…click for full story.

Next up:  The No. 23 (AP/ESPN Coaches' Poll) Arizona State's men's hoops team, meets league champion Washington in the Pac-10 Tournament in Staples Center Friday at 6 p.m. PT…click for full story.

RECORD-BREAKING ACADEMIC YEAR STRENGTHENS STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The 2007-2008 school year was a remarkable time to be a student at Arizona State University.  Being a Sun Devil meant attending a university that was on the international radar, along with a multitude of national “best universities” lists. It meant being a leader in research and university sustainability, and an innovator in 21st century academics. It meant being a supporter of the right to higher education and the goal to make an impact with that education.  Being a Sun Devil meant being part of an institution that is as robust as it is accessible, that is as engaged as it is receptive.

As the number of ASU students continued to grow last year, so did the university’s national rankings, further demonstrating Arizona State University’s ability to grow both in size and quality. ASU was ranked fourth best in “Up and Coming Schools” in the 2009 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. The new ranking highlighted 70 “schools to watch” in terms of promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus life, diversity and facilities.  Additionally, U.S. News & World Report placed ASU in the top tier for the second year in a row as one of the “Best National Universities” and positioned several of the university’s graduate programs among the top 25 in the nation…click for full story.