The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(10-05-2018 11:53 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has never marketed well on the east side to prospective students.

I graduated a few years ago. Students were either from Chicago or Detroit.

(10-05-2018 04:28 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(10-05-2018 11:53 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has never marketed well on the east side to prospective students.

I graduated a few years ago. Students were either from Chicago or Detroit.

Eminem said it best. “Claimin Detroit when you live 20 miles away”

(10-05-2018 04:28 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(10-05-2018 11:53 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has never marketed well on the east side to prospective students.

I graduated a few years ago. Students were either from Chicago or Detroit.

Congratulations.

That doesn't change the fact that we are woefully out marketed in both areas.

Beginning.........

with a Membership Drive, nominal fees, issuing Membership Cards with chips,
to develop a more accurate, and up-to-date data base, would be a good initial step !

What do you think ?

Happy Homecoming !

(10-04-2018 08:25 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  We had 25,000 against EMU, fool. The Illinois game was not marketed well.

Just gonna ignore me as usual? "Fool"?

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Hopefully, the progress made under President Montgomery's leadership for
improving the Alumni Association outreach and involvement will continue !
It's a good start.

What do you think ?

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER..............

and hopefully, more "Meet and Greets" with President Montgomery, and perhaps an introduction
to the new Alumni Association Director, and plans for continued inclusion of WMU Alumni in the future.

Perhaps, from time to time, President Montgomery could introduce WMU Department Heads to the Alumni Groups,
with the WMU Departments future plans and activities.

Heads of the Medical School, Law School, Business School, Education Department, Health Services, etc, even the
Football Coach, presentations would be a good start.

What do you think ?

There have been over 4,000 visits to the thread since our last posting.

SUMMER IS REALLY HERE !
(and so is the HEAT !)

Where are the WMU Alumni Engagement Acrivities ?

If it wasn't for the fact that there were several popular, and well attended
"meet and greets" in the Meteopolition Detroit area one might conclude that there was
no interest on the part of Metro Detroit WMU Alumni.
But it appears, that the lack of interest is in Kalamazoo.

Since there seemed to be a sincere interest in WMU activities on the part of President Montgomery,
perhaps he should be in charge of directing these successful "Meet and Greets".

Ever since the Alumni Activities were joined with the "money seekers", everything seemed to go down hill.
This organization/reorganization put the WMU Alumni Activities on the LOW PRIORITY LIST.

Given the views of these postings, there seems to be an active interest by WMU Alumni n these meetings.
The lack of consistency of these activities might lead one to believe that WMU Alumni were of little interest
to those persons "hanging out" in Heritage Hall, which was partly funded with WMU Alumni Dues, rather than
be expended on WMU Alumni Activities.

Perhaps our concerns should be directed to President Montgomery, and he could "Champion the Cause" for
REGULAR WMU Alumni Gatherings in Metro Detroit (excluding athletic events) !

Since the last posting, there have been over 7,000 views to this thread !
Someone must be interested and concerned with what's going on,OR what's not going on !

What do you think ?

We think that our concerns should go directly to President Montgomery.

So... they put on several successful programs, but you're upset they aren't putting on any programs?

What exactly do you want to see the Alumni Association do on the East Side? I'm not necessarily picking their side, but you are talking out of both sides in your last post.

And like a big circle....

YEA !

Why did we rebrand? | WMU Alumni

https://wmualumni.org/rebrand

This may be a stupid question and if so I apologize -

But why did the university go away from an Alumni Association when it did?

This is the greatest thread ever. Most likely due to the OP

I was pretty Nervous when I read the white paper about our new alumni approach. The language was quite subtle but I detected a very strange dichotomy between “us” and “them”. I sensed the us is the employees and the them is the alumna.

Today I got a postcard from WMUalumni.org, letting me know about “giving day”. Their goal is to double last years donations.

Now I’m clear. The new alumni association is still about what “them” (alumni) can do for “us”. Same old double talk. It’s about what we can do for them, not what they can do for us.

Same ol same ol. Same ****, different day. Etc. you can change the packaging but it’s hard to change the culture. Gimme gimme gimme.

Money grubbers.

You can go to WMUalumni.org/Double to find out why “we” need “you”. They can’t help themselves! Who is the we?

Why can’t it be why “they” need “us”? Very strange.

Rebranding is always an effort to refactor. It’s all about shifting your focus from an original plan to the same plan hidden behind new fancy colors and shiny things.

I’ve never felt good about the WMU/Alumni relations. Going on nearly 20 years they come off as needy and desperate....

Need new blood in that department. Not a remarketing strategy based on same ideals

I think you guys are missing the point. The goal of the Alumn Associatioin isn't different from WMU, U of M, or and other higher educational alumni association. The core goal is to raise money for the university. I completely understand the counter argument, which is: I spent X amount of dollars at WMU, what can you do for me? The benefits of the Alumni Association are through the Concierge Program: https://wmualumni.org/alumnni-portal/con...ge-program -- if you don't have a WMU Concierge Card, get one now! Especially if you live in within the Kalamazoo metro area.

Now, to the point of "rebranding". I believe the entire goal of the rebranding process is to re-connect those long lost Broncos to the Alumni Association. People move. Things change. The WMU Alumni Association can spend time hunting down these folks (especially if they haven't checked back in years) and reach out through direct mail. What is the cheap alternative? Social Media. Remember the old suitemate you haven't spoke to in year but you're friends on social media? Bingo. They've found you and they're hoping you'll re-connect with the Alumni Association via social media. Once re-connected, they're hoping you'll contribute financially or maybe donate your time.

(09-11-2019 04:13 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  This may be a stupid question and if so I apologize -

But why did the university go away from an Alumni Association when it did?

MyWMU was started after the Alumni Association & the Development offices were merged. Alumni Association membership dues were also dropped.

There are 100’s of SIGNIFICANT supporters of WMU without a WMU degree. MyWMU made them part of the Bronco community.

BTW - WMU Med School has impressive glass panels in the lobby engraved with donor names.

I paid for a lifetime membership.

(09-29-2019 11:39 AM)Rasser Wrote:  I paid for a lifetime membership.

They are stuck with you forever!