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BHoover, were you involved with a "focus group" in the Detroit area?

In Grand Rapids we had a diverse group of people involved in "brain" sessions where various ideas were tossed around with the concept of creating an active local alumni club. Before this the only big active thing done in Grand Rapids was our WMU golf outing. I've been involved in that activity for over 30 years, and we get between 280 and 330 persons each year to that event. It is very well planned and very well attended. It is deemed to be the largest university golf outing in the nation outside of the college city.

There were about 25 ideas that were conceived in the focus group. Most of them were changed and or modified as "interest" in them were developed. The successful ones in addition to the golf outing are Bronco Epic, the mural that was done and exhibited around the "Art Prize" in Grand Rapids. A Bronco Bash, honoring Susan Geha, the local news woman from channel 8, with entertainment from the WMU Gold Company. The last event was a concert by the Bronco Brass at one of the local high schools. One event that was cancelled was a Whitecaps baseball game, there was a lack of interest.

Keep working with the school, come up with some ideas for the Detroit area that would attractive to alumni and more importantly talk with anyone and everyone about WMU in a positive light. You can see how long I've worked with the golf outing, when I started the turnout was only about 45 persons. You have to work your butt off, and stay positive selling WMU and its successes to some of the most obstinate and negative people in the world. One year at the golf outing we featured the championship basketball team, we were asked why that was happening in Grand Rapids, it is because we thought of it and we "made it happen". It was a great experience for those athletes, and the golfers all had a great time.

Always proud to be a Bronco.