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Dear alumni and friends of Marshall, The sign out front says Erickson Alumni Center, Home of the Marshall University Alumni Association. The operative word here is “home.” Home is more than bricks and mortar. It really is “where the heart is.” I am very pleased to announce that we will soon start construction on a new Erickson Alumni Center home. Yes, it is bricks and mortar, but we are looking to each of you to bring the “heart” to the building and make it a home. Bringing the “heart” to our bricks and mortar starts as we break ground. On Friday, October 26, 2007, at 3 p.m. (during Homecoming weekend), we will hold the ground-breaking ceremony. Construction is expected to start by year’s end and next year, if all goes as planned, we will celebrate Homecoming in our new home. A special thank you to the Erickson family. As you may or may not know, until 1990, the MUAA had an office in the Student Memorial Center. It was then that Charles O. Erickson, a well-known business and civic leader from Parkersburg, donated funds that led to the purchase of our current location. It was Mr. Erickson’s understanding of the importance of alumni that lead him to donate funds to support alumni centers at West Virginia schools even though he never attended college and, in fact, never graduated from high school. His son, Charles F. Erickson, has continued the family tradition of supporting alumni associations throughout the state. The new facility will house our staff as well as provide meeting facilities for alumni and friends. We plan to have an Alumni Lounge for small events and a place just to hang out when you visit. There will also be a grand ballroom for bigger events. We continue to accept donations to this project and we have naming opportunities available. Please contact me to learn more about making a donation and the naming opportunities available. We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, October 26, in your Marshall green to begin the process of putting the heart into our new home. Come in to town a little early to begin your Homecoming celebration and join us at the site for the ground breaking ceremonies. The site is on Fifth Avenue across from Corbly Hall – the current site of a parking lot. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the Marshall-WVU game. The MUAA staff worked hard to bring you a great weekend and a special thank you goes out to Tish, Nancy, Kimberly and Jenny for all of their hard work. The Thursday night pep rally and Friday night concert were incredible and they would not have happened without the work of these women – our staff. I am proud of the events we were able to put on to welcome our alumni to town for this game. I am also proud of the welcome that was given to our rivals from the north. Southern hospitality was clearly evident. Despite the score, we all know that we gave them a scare and we were not the push over they expected. Mark your calendars now – Homecoming weekend October 26 & 27. See you there. Always wearing the green… |
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