Is SPORTS Wednesday, October 7, 1981 The Michigan Daily Page 8 A Alumni groups true Blue at heart By JOHN KERR Somewhere, scattered throughout the world, there are 213,000 people who have received a degree from the University of Michigan. This alumni population is not only one of the largest, but when it comes to remembering the University and the athletic department with financial con- tributions, one of the most generous. Each year, various alumni groups solicit, millions of dollars from Michigan graduates, much of it ear- marked for the athletic department, and much of it for the general student body. The most visible and 'well known alumni groups are such organizations~ as the Graduate'M' Club, (consisting of former Michigan letter-winners), the Maize and Blue Club, aiid' the Victors Club. These groups, all associated with the athletic department, help keep the Michigan athletic program one of the most successfulin the country. HOWEVER, UNBEKNOWNST to many people is that these groups do not support the athletic Drogram by purch- asing new equipment or directly aiding, certain Michigan teams. According to 'M' Club president, Dr. Ralph Gibson, the $7,000-$10,000 that the organization's 3,000 members con- tribute annually, is given to the tutorial fund. The tutorial fund is a service which provides tutors for student athletes.r "(Our purpose is) to make whatever contributions, tangible or intangible, we can to Michigan athletics," Gibson said. "The primary program we con- tribute to is the tutorial fund. We fell that for an athlete to really experience the University, he must be a student- athlete." The Victors andMaize and Blue clubs are somewhat different groups than the 'M'Club. Unlike the latter, these groups are not actually organized becomes a member of either club by simply contributing a given amount of money; $1,000 to the Victors Club or $100 *to the Maize and Blue Club. Currently, there are 692 members of the Maize and Blue Club and 522 people in the Victors Club. THESE TWO GROUPS were started in 1968 by then-football coach Bump Elliot. Elliot noticed other schools star- ting similar fund-raising organizations and decided it was a good idea for Michigan. Assistant Athletic Director, Don Lund, explained that, the money that has been raised by the Victors and Maize ard Blue clubs has gone into the athletic scholarship fund to help sup- plement the cost of athletic scholar- ships. However, different teams can also solicit money for the scholarship fund. IF, SAY, the tennis team wanted to contact ex-Michigan tennis players in an attempt to raise money," Lund said, "that cash would be used to supplement tennis scholarships." One sport, baseball, even has its own club. The Dugout Club, which is not associated with the University but is a private organization, was formed about four months ago by the captain of the 1942 Wolverine baseball team, George Harms. The organization has about 120 members right now, but more mem- berships are "coming in daily. President's Club are numerous. To become a member of this prestigous ,organization, one must contribute $10,0(0 to the University. The club has over 3,100 members and since its incep- tion in 1961, has contributed over 70 million to the University of Michigan. INSTEAD OF USING the mail for its fund-raising, the President's Club relies on current members to recruit new people. This process accounted for over 40% of the people that joined the club last year. The groups's functions.are numerous, and include sponsoring reunions, publishing the Michigan Alumnus magazine, running camps around the world for Michigan alumni, and the alumni tour program. "WE DON'T specifically contribute to the athletic program," Forman said. "We do no fund raising for them. But, grups such as the Michigan Alumni Club of Detroit have made contributions to Michigan athletics. In general, though, we are -aligned to the general 0 ;.:..::.. . -:. - : : iY:.,.. y ....:....:. vv ":.v:: :": v.v}v:::i x'4:2"".+}ii?:'"Y{.}; ":; .. ::: "{: q .Si'"t>:i is :i 3 .. . ".:. " . , Y }. ry. :>;.2sf\ "?:^1v..v is ' .": ", "' .v.'::. Lr: y.,J: vl t,.. .:.1,v: T..:"$",; } h 1 ti; 'Michigan has always academically compared with such institutions as Harvard, Yale and Stan- ford. The idea is that when you come to Michigan you have a lifetime commit- ment. The alumni are proud.' --Alumni Association President Bob Forman A Association k~v~1:Ib~I4Lund 516 E. Liberty 994-5350 ... favors scholarship clubs isn't just a Michigan cheer. Now it's. a Michigan magazine, jam-packed. with quality features and photos, statistics, quizzes, quotes and more on ALL U-M athletics. ......... ........ ....... .........,..:v::: n":.":::.^vv ...::...:. :::,::'.. ...'.. . ...; .:vrw:: :. :. .....;; ... ...: w v :v . ... . . . ... ... ..,. ....:"vrv.....r.r......::{v.h. .. .... ..v .v.S..... ..v::. .... . . . .......*..*... Y..4....-.*.4*........ . 4. . . { t4-1: };;w: :"'i'?i ?.. ....v. .vv. .:w::::........r..:.... .}...v h .... ........* ..,.**.....1. v..1L......::"::..:".:....vv........S. .~ ....".. 4. . .r.'i., .A^' } ,, + v... w .L.}...4 :r. v......:.w: .::. ........ ....:....:n.:.... :b....,.. .:.x".. ..... ...+4':.:. _.. ......... . . ...v 2: v tii}:' t4' "1.."'" For $25 a year you'll get 10 slick magazines and 20 newsletters. GO BLUE! Inside Wolverine Sports is endorsed by the U-M Athletic Department. To subscribe, just fill out the form below and return it today! PLEASE PRINT TO: ADDRESS Gift To: ADDRESS Total amt. enclosed for subscriptions NAME P1E Payment E STATE ZIP BANKCARD Gift From: NAME PHONE ADDRESS t STATE ZIP CITY Enclosed [] MasterCard Q Visa The club is not only for alumni but also for friends of, college baseball," said Harms. "We want people who like college baseball and like to watch it." AT THIS TIME, the Dugout Club is not involved with fund-raising for Michigan's badseball team. "We'd like to get. involved with raising money for the team if it isn't against NCAA rules," Harms said. "But right now we just sponsor an an- nual banquet for the baseball team at the end of the year. One similarity between the four organizations is their fund-raising, techniques. All four get most of their contributions by mail. A letter is sent Siiout to all prospective members asking for a donation to the given club. TWO OTHER MAJOR alumni groups include the President's Club and the Alumni Association. These organizations, although not actually, . 4 well-known, make very imprtant and sizeable contributions to the University and the athletic office. The purpose of the President's club, according to Wendell Lyons, who is in charge of development for the group, is "to enlist dedicated alumni and sup- port the University of Michigan with its resources."' And indeed, the resources of the The President's Club, however, is not primarily concerned with athletics.. In fact, it does not give any money directly to the athletic department unless the donor requests it. "A donor can designate where his contribution will go," said Lyons. "Some members do choose to give their contribution to athletics." DONATIONS TO the athletic depar- tment from President's Club members have, among other things, provided support for scholarships and needed equipment. Most of the donations, however, do not go to the athletic department. The money is used to aid all aspects of the university. The- club takes all the money that donors have not designated for a specific department and turns it over to the Office of Financial Affairs. From there the Regents and Officers of the University decide how to use the donations. "WE ARE AN organization of alumni brought together to serve the univer- sity," said Alumni Association President Bob Forman. The 52,000 member organization solicis money only from its own mem- bership and last year brought in $450,000. The money is used to run the Association's own functions. EXP DATE 1 NAME PHONE City Make Check Payable To Overseas -Add $5.00 STATE ZIP :GO BLUE! Magazine P.O. Box 21126 Lansing, MI 48910 PLEASE PRINT. FOR OFFICE USE s Pc F' I CN student body." However, it is without a doubt that many of the members of the various Alumni groups have 'remained close to the University because of the success of the Wolverine athletic teams. "Winning breeds winning," said assistant. AD Lund. "We have great alums that feel kindly (toward the University)., The guys in the (alumni) clubs just want to show that they ap- preciate the University." 'M'Club president Gibson agrees. "SO MANY OF our prominent alumni are athletes," he said. "(Athletic Direc- tor) Don (Canham) has maintained a good relationship with the 'M' Club the alumni are eager to contribute."W But a successful athletic program is not the only reason for the outstanding rapport between the alumni and the University. "Michigan is a very special in- stitution," said the Alumni Association's Forman. "Michigan always academically compares with such institutions as Harvard, Yale and Stanford. the idea is that when you come to Michigan you have lifetime commitment. The alumni'are proud." Also, as the President's Club Lyons points out, this relationship between the University and the alumni is not something that .just suddenly came, about. "The relationship has been developed over a number of years,"said Lyons. "-The executive director of the alumni Association and myself believe that by working together .the University profits and we work very close." And so it is, the 213;000 Michigan alumni and the University form a truly remarlable relationship. One that if continued, and it most certainly will be, can only keep on benefitting the University. Elliot ... club founder SI S IE CE AND POLICY: Cost-Benefit An- a SS -Its Uses & Limits, is an under-graduate level mini- course consisting of public lectures and debate by nationally- known experts from a broad range of disciplines-and fields. The class meetings will include attendance at the Sci- ence and Policy Colloquium on Cost-Benefit Analysis be- ing held on Friday & Saturday, November 13 & 14, 1981. in addition, four class sessions of lectures will be given. For more information, call 764-2553 (weekdays, 8:00-noon). 1632 Haven Hall. ONE.... TWO... The Naval Ship Weapon Systems Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, California 01 CIVIL SERVICE CAREER OPPORTUNITY working with experts in weapon systems technology involving in-service engineering and integrated logistics support for{ nearly 150 U.S. Navy ships - tactical software, digital computer, missile testing, launching systems, three- dimensional search radars, etc. GENEROUS CIVIL SERVICE BENEFITS. FLEXTIME. DELIGHTFUL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CQASTAL CLIMATE. Uncrowded community. Let's talk it over. REQUIREMENTS: BS OR MS IN ENGINEERIN (preferably electrical, electronics or mechanical). Our representative will be on your campus Mon., October 12 OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION AT NEARBY UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. Port Hueneme is on the scenic Pacific Coastline within a short drive to beautiful Santa Barbara and the cultural'and educational opportunities of Los Angeles. *I i i i i il LM' " s e e i o n e Or write or call for more information: