Scheduled Events for Upcoming 10 days

[Lord-Mustang]

Alumni Reunion/Irish Week
March 8-17, 2005

Schedule of Events

Date/Day Event

Event3-08-05
Tuesday

7:30pm Miss Shamrock/Mr. Leprechaun
Contest


3-11-05
Friday

4:00pm Check In: Alumni, Parents, and Friends Weekend

6:00pm Reception -Leadership Awards-

8:00pm Choral Masterworks Festival




3-12-05
Saturday

8:00am Costes-TB&M 5K/10K Race

8:30am Check In: Alumni, Parents, and Friends Weekend

9:00am Alumni Breakfast

10:00am Carnival of Care

12:00pm St. Paddy’s Day Parade

12:30pm Tailgating & Special Events

2:00pm T-Day Game

3:30pm Handel’s Messiah Performance/Honor Dr. Denison - Silent Auction

5:00pm Cocktail/Dr. Denison Retirement Reception

6:00pm Reunion Dinner/Dance -Awards Presentations-




3-14-05
Monday

9:00am Pot-of-Gold Search

7:00pm 3 Irish Sopranos




3-15-05
Tuesday

12:00pm Community Brown Bag Event
Doors of Troy winners announced


6:00pm Baseball game (DH)
Troy vs. Auburn




3-16-05
Wednesday

Kappa Delta Shamrock Project



3-17-05
Thursday

All day “Jeans & Greens”

11:00am Irish Cooking Contest



All I have ATM!

[BMarkey]

When was this information released?

How can you have an alumni reunion if the alumni don't know about it?

How can you have an alumni reunion if only the alumni within an hour or so's driving distance can attend? Obviously those of us farther than that way would have to do some advance planning ... and THAT WOULD TAKR NOTICE!

Has anyone found out what that alumni conference was about a month or so ago? None of us here seemed to know anything about it.

Is Troy giving the message that only the people who live in and around the campus are encouraged to participate in alumni events?

Does anyone else out there feel as frustrated with Troy's public relations as me?

[Lord-Mustang]

This message was sent out bye Alumni Affairs today through all Troy, Montgomery, Dothan, and Phenix City Faculty and Staff through email.

[BMarkey]

That is so typical and unacceptable - to send out a promotional e-mail on the day the event starts. Should the alumni just drop work, plans, family and rush right to Troy?

Maybe with a bit of notice, they might come (and write some checks).

I'm on the Troy-2-U list and got nothing.

This same lack of marketing occurs around Homecoming time.

Would anyone in any significant business keep his or her job if he first started promoting that business on the day of a major event?

It's time to get Troy's public relations into the 20th century, at least. Dr. Hawkins, are you reading this?

[Lord-Mustang]

Well...atleast I'm here to keep you informed right?

[BMarkey]

Yes, thanks. :)

But seriously, should major events like this rely on the marketing of ... no one?

[Lord-Mustang]

You're right. Sending out an event list the day events begin is bad enough...but to not even send it to Alumni when it is suppose to directly involve them is well...no comment.

[Sarahbelle]

Our alumni down here have heard nothing.

Hope they're not surprised when none of us show up.

[troymarkus]

That's the only word to describe it. I'm going down for T-Day but had NO idea about all the rest. Worst job of communication and marketing I've seen in a while. I assume they only want a few people to participate.

Who do I contact to complain??????

[Lord-Mustang]

I guess you could start here...

Name: Faith West Ward
Title: Director
Department: Alumni Affairs
Email Address: fward@troyst.edu
Phone: 670-3318
Room: 161
Building: Adams Administration
Campus: Troy

Or:

Name: Sandra Gouge
Title: Associate Vice Chancellor of Marketing
Department: Marketing & Communications
Email Address: sgouge@troyst.edu
Phone: 334-670-5856
Room: 161
Building: Adams Administration Building
Campus: Troy

[Hector]

In the interest of full disclosure, I have a spouse who works in the area of Alumni Affairs (as well as 56,345 other jobs that are given her to do, but that is for another day). If alums have heard nothing, then there may be a problem or not with University communications, depending on how procative that the alum was in seeking information. The following thoughts are my own opinions -- not necessarily those of my spouse or the University. I post them in the interest of giving a different point of view, especially given all the pot shots that have been taken in the direction of the Alumni Affairs Department in this thread. I will not, repeat not, get in a pissing war with anyone who disagrees with what I post. If you do disagree, all I can say is that I'm sorry you feel the way you do.

Mass mailings to each of the tens of thousands of Alums that TROY has are very expensive. I wouldn't expect them for every event for which you desire info. So, how do you know what's going on?

For starters, check out the Alumni Affairs website, and click on the "Upcoming Events" link. It will take you to:

http://www.troy.edu/alumni/events.htm

That is an excellent place to start.

Many of these events, such as Irish week activities, happen year after year. Just think of it! Now that you know there are events surrounding Irish week, you won't feel left out in years to come. Join us. Consider invited. Iyou are waiting for a gilt-edged invitation, don't hold your breath.

Many of the events during Irish week are sponsored by various organizations on and off campus. These organizations often have publicized their particular event on their own. Will a particular announcement appear in the Phoenix Gazette or the Palm Beach newspaper? Unlikely. Again, my suggestion would be to check out the website, or pick up the phone. better yet, when you attend an event, and meet an alum who has been coming for several years, ask him/her how he/she was aware of the event. I'm sure that person will share their information gathering strategy with you.

I'll close with this. Complaining is easy. That's why we all do it. Making a difference and stepping up to the plate is not as easy. That is why so relatively few take on that job. Sammie Carr is the wonderful president of the National Alumni Board. Why not call him and ask him how you can make a difference. I promise you that you will feel important and wanted. Ywill also not miss out on knowing about activities either. That's what happens when you get involved, rather than to expect featherbed and tea service. I better stop now.

[Lord-Mustang]

Also, I think a couple of you have asked about Giving to the University...well in light of that, I did see for the first time...not that I've looked much in the past mind you, a place to do just that.


http://www.troy.edu/foundation/gift.htm

Also on this page you can find more information to other useful items.

[Hector]

...not that I've looked much in the past mind you,

Seek and ye shall find, Lord Mustang.

:)

[BMarkey]

Hector:

I respect you and understand your position and argument.

That said, the alumni affairs director message page was blank just two days ago. The list of alumni events now found on the page (linked above) was not there. These events were obviously just posted, either days or hours before an event that would have to be publicizied many, many days earlier in order to draw a significant number of alumni.

People who do not live near or in Troy become detached from the university if they are not reminded frequently about what is going on. It is not sensible to assume or expect that alumni will check the Web site for updates when the Web site is infrquently updated and even the alumni chapter contacts are bad.

Expecting "customers" to come to you without any ligitimate form of marketing is just not prudent. You have to "sell" your product - and that including Homecoming and alumni events.

Alumni involvement (and the donations and volunteerism is creates) requires letters, newsletters (what happened to "Troy-4-U"?) advertising in at least the regional papers of Alabama/North Florida, quick-hit fliers mailed to alumni, sponsorships with TV and radion stations (which could be had for free in exchange for tickets, prizes, etc.), and more.

Even to draw local people to this weekend, the university should have sent out its calendar days if not weeks ahead of time.

A couple of days ago, there was no press release posted on the Troy Web site telling us about the St. Paddy's Day Parade or other associated events. Is it really wise to rely on people's memory and hope crowds show up?

I see there is a dinner, breakfast, etc. planned. Awards will be given. How could this information be kept quite for so long? Is this a secret club?

How could Troy have held that alumni leadership conference more than a month ago without at least informing the alumni chapter leaders we have here on this board?

Finally, I understand the staff charged with P.R. likely has many other jobs to do and is probably over worked. That is why I do not name names. I believe Dr. Hawkins and his upper staff must look into Troy's marketing and fix the problem. If that means replacing people, or hiring more people tasked only with P.R., then that is what must be done.

... if Troy is to continue growing and increasing alumni contributions.

How can you throw a party and invite the guests hours before the candles are lit?

Fibally, Troy's marketing also apears to beinadequate when it comes to student recruitment.

My 17-year-old daughter receives brochures, fliers and letters from state and private colleges almost every day. Not one has come from Troy. She is obviouisly on the prospective students database.

But they have (some very slick) come from almost every school Troy faces on sports fields and courts, including Mercer, UCF, Stetson, Miami, Miami of Ohio, St. Andrews of North Carolina, Virginia Intermont, South Carolina, and many, many others.

I even filled out a prospective student form online at troyst.edu a couple of times. Nada.

Troy has to better invest in its future if it wants to continue growing and competing against both smaller and larger colleges.

[Hector]

Just sombrief thoughts on your post:

The new website just went up, and it is still under construction and detailing. that might explain why details were just put up in it.

My daughter is a student at TROY. A recruiter visited her school on more than one occasion, as well as that of some of her friends, whoi are from places ranging from Mobile to Birmingham. I am sure that no recruiters are sent to your area. Again, cost-wise, that's just not in the cards fro TROY (although I wish it were otherwise). Brochures are sent out (I knoiw that they are) but I'm sure they are not mass-mailed (again, cost). I honestly do not know how they are targeted. That would be Buddy Starling's department (admissions). Give him a ring, and I'm sure he will listen to your suggestions, and answer your questions.

For what its worth, I agree in spirit with what you have to say about marketing. In a perfect world, with unlimited resources, TROY would do all those things, and more. But, the fact is that there is simply not the $$$ in the Advancement budget to support Wal-Mart scale marketing efforts (as much as we would like to). We have to depend more than we'd like on word of mouth and forums like this to spread the Gospel about events. But, word does get out. these event are pretty well attended. Somebody is getting the message from somewhere. Again, Irealize your distance adds a factor of difficulty to what you are able to get. But, once you get plugged into the year in and year out events, you will know when they are coming. And please use the phone. PS -- I hope your daughter choses TROY. I will personally get your child with mine, if it will help make connections easier for her. maybe they could meet and do lunch during a campus visit.

[SOTSAlumBigGuns]

Finally, I understand the staff charged with P.R. likely has many other jobs to do and is probably over worked. That is why I do not name names. I believe Dr. Hawkins and his upper staff must look into Troy's marketing and fix the problem. If that means replacing people, or hiring more people tasked only with P.R., then that is what must be done.

Did they not just hire a marketing firm last year? They designed the new logos and new printed materials, billboards, commercials, etc. They are the ones who should be taking care of marketing, and let the P.R. staff be able to get their own work done. I know money is an issue, but when it is, a good marketing firm finds ways of doing things, and introduces new ways of communication and getting peoples attention to their client. I work at a marketing and media firm. We do things like this everyday. Either TROY is not letting them do their job, or TROY is not getting their money's worth with this firm.

[TrojanFan2]

Markey is right.

Troy is woefully inadequate in this area. You can make all the excuses that you want but the job (or even a small part of it) just isn't getting done. I don't see one small area that things go well in to build on.

Pick something and do it right!

[faithintsu]

I agree with everyone here - which is one reason why this site is up and going and will never go away.

We got to have some type of communication between all of our alumni and obviously the university cannot handle it.

[BMarkey]

Thanks Hector.

Despite my prodding, my daughter is favoring Florida schools and those out of state which offer NCAA equestrian programs (strangely, no Florida schools have them).

She is also a swimmer, but of course, Troy has no swim team (despite a decent swim facility and the help of a national title-winning Auburn coach who personally told me he would help Troy start a swim program).

It is kind of embarrassing that my daughter sees mailers every day from much smaller schools than Troy, including liberal arts colleges in the South and smaller schools like Mercer and Jacksonville, some from Tennessee and North Carolina, smaller schools in Florida, and many schools with smaller enrollments and budgets than Troy. It can be done, these schools have proven.

She also gets phone calls from small and large schols alike. Actual students call to talk to her about the offerings and atmosphere of their very small and some large (including Florida State) institutions. No one from Troy has called.

Twice when my daughter and I were in Troy, I called to ask abut getting her a tour. Once I got no response and another time, I remember that a call-back came days later.

My daughter is obviously on some national database of prospective students (probably from something she filled out in high school). These other schools are obviously targeting South Florida; why not Troy? The other guys can afford it.

I knew there was some type of weekend in the spring when the T-Day game, St. Paddy's fest, etc. were held. I had talked to my daughter about going but then never could find anything about it on the Troy Web site or elsewhere - including the old (functioning) site, which should have been updated.

It is unfortunate for Troy that its marketing efforts - for whatever reason - are resultng in students going elsewhere.

I mention this publicly so that perhaps the powers that be will increase promitional budgets and learn from their mistakes.