The SPIRIT The voice of The Highland Lakes A&M Club/Foundation No. 87 - February 2020
The Highland Lakes A&M Club is chartered by the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
Howdy Ags! 2019 was another wonderful year for the Highland Lakes A&M Club! We once again made good on our promise to honor those Aggies who’ve gone before us and to spread the Aggie Spirit amongst our neighbors and the next generation. Take a look below at how your Club is Fostering Aggie Spirit in the Hill Country. Enjoy the newsletter and thank you for another successful year! Aggie Muster - April 25, 2019 Scholarship Presentation at Aggie Muster 2019 Quail Point - Horseshoe Bay
(pictured from left to right) Ross Bingham ‘13, Zach (left to right) Ashlyn Grace Wilson, Courtney Ray Burrows, Vercher ‘11, Bailey Vercher ‘12, & John Taylor ‘09 Taylor Marie Wright, Kyra Madison Starnes, Jon Rex Vanwagenen Congratulations 2019 Scholarship Winners!
Ashlyn Grace Wilson - Faith Academy Kyra Madison Starnes - Marble Falls HS
Courtney Rae Burrows - Faith Academy Kinley Rae Beyer - Burnet HS
Taylor Marie Wright - Marble Falls HS Jon Rex Vanwagenen - Burnet HS
2019 Aggie Social at Save the World Brewing - February 28, 2019
(left to right) Heather Metzger ‘95, Kay Stripling ‘82 & (left to right) Mike Hodge ‘87 & Dani Hodge ‘88 Amber Weems ‘97 *** View the 2020 Newsletter in COLOR at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. Click PDF on bottom right of homepage.*** Aggie Socials, Game Watch Party & Holiday Party
Left to right - Kim Linam, Les Fenter ‘67, Carol Left to right Terry Lee Stracke ‘79 and Barron, Bruce Barron ‘70 and Mike Linam ‘95 at Kim Shotts ‘76 @ Bear King Aggie Social Bear King Aggie Social on June 27th. on June 27th.
Jay Hilsher ‘76 and Mike Varner ‘88 at Bear King Jerry Gray ‘62 and Stennis Shotts ‘77 Aggie Social on June 27th May 23rd Aggie Social @ Whitewater 360
Left to right - Mark Stracke ‘75 awarded one of Left to right - Sam Morrison ‘76, Ross Bjork - the top prizes for sports trivia by Cash Linam at A&M Athletic Director & Mike Linam ‘95 at the the Clemson Gamewatch Party on Sept. 7, 2019. 2019 Holiday Party. Page 2 President’s Box
Howdy! My name is Mike Linam, and it’s my honor to again serve as President of the Highland Lakes A&M Club for 2020. Over the past year, our local Aggies have gathered together for Aggie Muster, several Aggie Social Happy Hours, the Clemson Tailgate Party and the Holiday Party!
Our Muster Speaker for 2019 was Barry Hendler ‘71. Barry is the President and CEO of American Lumber Inc. and was a recipient of the 2006 AGGIE 100 Award. Muster gave us an opportunity to reconnect to our Aggie roots and each other as we honored our Aggie brethren who’ve passed on before us. We also awarded five scholarships of $5,000 each to another impressive group of future Aggies. In addition, a rare Sixth Scholarship of $5,000 was also awarded this year in honor of R.M. Burnam, Sr. Class of ‘23. This scholarship was sponsored by Mr. Burnam’s children: Bobby Burnam, Alice Johnson and Sam Burnam ’65.
Of note, we increased the scholarship amount from $3,000 up to $5,000 per student in 2019. That’s a significant increase! You can help us ensure we’re able to continue helping these aspiring Aggies by becoming an Aggie Spirit Sponsor. See Page 6 to learn more about it and check out a Tax Smart Gifting Strategy some of you might employ for Qualified Charitable Distributions on Page 7 to get a little more mileage out of your gifting dollars.
Something new we added this year were monthly Aggie Socials! These happy hours have been a great way for Aggies to meet each other outside the typical Club events and get to know each other better. Take a look at our 2020 Social Calendar on Page 4 to see which events you may want to add to your calendar.
Speaking of events, the 2020 Aggie Classic Golf Tournament is just around the corner! Take a look at Page 9 for details and registration. It’s time to form your teams and begin thinking about how you can hit a Hole-in One! Why? Because Johnson Sewell - Lincoln will be sending the winner home with a Brand New Lincoln Aviator! Yes, a brand new car! Good luck players.
We as a Board thank you for your participation and support and hope you will help the Club by renewing your Annual $30 membership and consider becoming a Spirit Sponsor and/or Corporate/Golf Tournament Sponsor - See Page 8. Your generosity goes a long way in spreading Aggie Spirit in the Hill Country.
Finally, I want to thank Zach Vercher ‘11 & Bailey Vercher ‘12 for their Board Service last year and Whitney Clement ‘96 for her many years of dedicated service on the board as well. We also want to welcome Bailey Pippenger ‘18 to the board for 2020. She’s already making a big impact!
I’m looking forward to another great year! We have Muster and the Aggie Classic Golf Tournament just around the corner in April! Hope to see you there! Gig’em,
-Mike Linam ‘95, Club President Highland Lakes A&M Club Officers for 2020
● Mike Linam ‘95 - President ● Bailey Pippenger ‘18 - VP Membership ● Susan Herr - VP Finance ● Ross Bingham ‘13 - VP Records ● Stennis Shotts ‘77 - VP High School Relations ● Sam Morrison ‘76 - Club Advisor Page 3 Join us for Aggie Social Happy Hours Hors d’oeuvres provided by Club
A&M Club 2020 Event Calendar
Day Date Event Location Time
Thursday March 5th Aggie Social - Happy Hour R-Bar, Marble Falls 5:30 PM
Saturday March 21st Golf Tournament Delaware Springs Golf Club, Burnet 9:00 AM
Tuesday April 21st Aggie Muster Quail Point Lodge, HSB 6:00 PM
Home of Susan & Joey Herr ‘72 Hors d’oeuvres provided/BYOB 2815 RR 2831 Thursday May 7th Aggie Social - Happy Hour 5:30 PM Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 RSVP: [email protected] 210-843-8817
Thursday June 18th Aggie Social - Happy Hour Boat Town Burger Bar, Kingsland 5:30 PM
Thursday July 30th Aggie Social - Happy Hour Bear King, Marble Falls 5:30 PM
Thursday August 20th Aggie Social - Happy Hour Fiesta Winery, Marble Falls 5:30 PM
Home of Tony Pippenger Festive Food Provided/BYOB 124 Riverbend Lane Game Watching Party - Saturday October 3rd Kingsland, TX 78639 TBD Mississippi State RSVP: Bailey Pippenger ‘18 [email protected] or (512) 694-0701
Thursday November 19th Holiday Party Quail Point Lodge, HSB 6:00 PM
Page 4 The Highland Lakes A&M Club is chartered by the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
Please Join Us For
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Quail Point Lodge, HSB, Texas Featuring Guest Speaker - Cliff Dugosh ‘86
We are thankful to have Cliff Dugosh ‘86 as our Muster speaker this year. Cliff graduated Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Health Education in 1987 and a Masters in Adult Extension Education in 1989.
Cliff is a motivational speaker and author of “Lessons from the Rams” published in 2017. He’s a master story teller who draws on 29 years of working, and walking, with thousands of high school/college students. Approaching 1000 speeches with audiences at West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Stanford, A&M, UT and numerous corporate events. He’s also spoken at 32 Muster ceremonies, 70 A&M Clubs and Aggie Mother's Clubs and at over 20 Fish Camps. Cliff is also a recipient of the Buck Weirus Spirit Award.
We are sure you will enjoy Cliff’s talk and hope you can join us. In addition to hearing from Cliff, our program will include the awarding of the 2020 Highland Lakes A&M Foundation Scholarships to local Burnet County High School Students. Finally, we will conclude with the the solemn Muster Ceremony in which we acknowledge and honor those Aggies who have passed away over the last year.
We have a great program and meal planned for you this year. Attire is casual.
Please let us know you’re coming! Return RSVP form on back page by April 7th or buy your tickets online at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. Questions? Contact: Bailey Pippenger ‘18 - Muster Chair [email protected] or (512) 694-0701
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 SOCIAL TIME: 6:00 PM DINNER & PROGRAM: 6:45 PM Catered by Choccolatte’s
WHERE: QUAIL POINT LODGE 107 Twilight (off Red Sail) Horseshoe Bay, Texas 78657 Directions: Go to the main entrance of the Resort (Horseshoe Bay Blvd). Continue around the traffic circle and turn right on Hi Circle North (will take you past the Marriott). Go about 3 blocks to Red Sail; turn right on Red Sail; go about 2 blocks; turn left on Twilight. Quail Point is the white stucco building.
Page 5 SPIRIT SPONSOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Each year, the Highland Lakes A&M Foundation awards up to five scholarships to deserving young men and women who have been accepted to Texas A&M. With the ever increasing costs of higher education, scholarship programs such as this one truly make an impact on the lives of these young people.
To ensure this great tradition of awarding scholarships continues each year, we’ve established our Spirit Sponsor Program. Our Spirit Sponsors donate annually to the Foundation Scholarship Fund. Please consider making an annual contribution to this program.
12TH MAN LEVEL (FULL SPIRIT LEVEL TRADITIONS LEVEL GIG’EM LEVEL REVEILLE LEVEL SCHOLARSHIP)
$100 $500 $1000 $2500 $5000
Please help “Foster the Spirit” by enclosing your Tax Deductible 2020 Spirit Sponsorship using the form on the back of this newsletter or pay online at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. For questions about the scholarship program, please contact [email protected] or call 678-637-8367.
We want to extend a big THANK YOU to last year’s SPIRIT SPONSORS listed below.
● Ed '59 and Shirley Ayers ● Ladema Jones ‘59 ● Paul Brady ‘72 ● Dr. Frank ‘64 and Gwen Ligon ● Buddy ‘65 and Trudy Bullock ● Mike '95 and Kim Linam ● Sam ‘65 and Trina Burnam ● JT ‘56 and Ora Dell McMahon ● August ‘58 and Patricia Campbell ● Glenn Mitchell ‘55 ● James '68 and Doris Faubion ● Elvin Randell ‘77 ● Ron '78 and Sherrye Faulkenberry ● Stennis ‘77 and Kim ‘76 Shotts ● Robbie '64 and Suzanne Galaway ● Brent ‘04 and Kelley ‘01 Taylor ● Art '53 and Roma Heath ● Charlie '60 and Carolyn Thornton ● Jim ‘50 and Marilee Hiester ● Hayden ‘68 and Johanna Winkler ● Mike ‘72 & Jane Hunter ● Tommy '72 and Paula Wendel ● Ross ‘48 and Alice Johnson ● Gail ‘65 and Patricia Wood
*** View the 2020 Newsletter in COLOR at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. Click PDF on bottom right of homepage.***
Page 6 $$$ Tax Smart Giving $$$ Qualified Charitable Donations for 2020
Who should consider making a Qualified Charitable Donation?
Those who would like to donate to the Highland Lakes A&M Foundation Scholarship Fund as a Spirit Sponsor for 2020, would like to use pre-tax dollars for the donation, and are at least 70 ½ yrs old. What is a QCD?
A (QCD) or Qualified Charitable Distribution, is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity. The Highland Lakes A&M Foundation scholarship fund is such a qualifying 501(c)(3) eligible charity.
QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year, as long as certain rules are met.
In addition to the benefits of giving to charity, a QCD excludes the amount donated from taxable income, which is unlike regular withdrawals from an IRA. Keeping your taxable income lower may reduce the impact to certain tax credits and deductions, including Social Security and Medicare.
Also, QCDs don't require that you itemize, which due to the recent tax law changes, means you may decide to take advantage of the higher standard deduction, but still use a QCD for charitable giving. Can I make a QCD?
While many IRAs are eligible for QCDs—Traditional, Rollover, Inherited, SEP (inactive plans only), and SIMPLE (inactive plans only) —there are requirements:
● You must be 70½ or older to be eligible to make a QCD. This age did not change with the recent passing of the Secure Act.
● For a QCD to count towards your current year's RMD, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline, generally December 31.
● Any amount donated above your RMD does not count toward satisfying a future year's RMD.
● Funds distributed directly to you, the IRA owner, and which you then give to charity do not qualify as a QCD.
● Please consult your tax professional/CPA to ensure a QCD is right for you. Have additional questions on this topic?
● Contact: Mike Linam - Club President 830-693-2504 [email protected]
Page 7 CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Part of our mission as an organization is to bring local Aggies together at annual events such as Aggie Muster, Coach’s night and various other events. Corporate Sponsorships allow us to put on quality events that are fun to attend. These sponsors ensure that we have the funds needed to cover the additional operating costs of the club beyond what membership dues and event entry fees cover.
In years where we have enough funds on hand to cover the events for the club for the next year, we will devote the funds from Corp Sponsors directly to the scholarship foundation to help replenish the scholarship fund. 2020 will be such a year and consequently, your Corporate Sponsor donations will be tax deductible for the 2020 tax year.
Become a 2020 Corporate Sponsor Today! You don’t have to be a business owner to be a corporate sponsor. However, if you own a business, this is a great way to support the Club and promote your business to local Aggies.
What’s included in the Corporate Sponsorship package? · Your Logo on every page of the Club/Foundation Website (www.highlandlakesaggies.com) · Recognition in the Club Newsletter · Your Logo featured as a Table Centerpiece at all Club Events · Your Logo or Your Name prominently displayed on the Corp Sponsor Banner at all Club Events Your Logo displayed on a Hole Sign and the Corp Sponsor Banner at the 2020 Golf Tournament
To make your 2020 Corporate Sponsorship donation of $300, please use the form on the back of this newsletter or pay online at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. If you have additional questions about the program, please contact Mike Linam at [email protected] or 830-693-2504.
LAST YEAR’S CORPORATE SPONSOR RECOGNITION Thank you so much for making 2019 a huge success! Allen & Allen Gibralter Les Fenter ‘67 Buzz Miller ‘76 Ron Faulkenberry ‘78 Lake LBJ Yacht Club & Marina Bluebonnet Vet Clinic BancorpSouth Gib Shackleford Dr. Elizabeth DeFily ‘88 Susan Pierce ‘84 Whitney Clement ‘96 Paleface Vet Cain Orthodontics Dr. Matt ‘98 & Keren Schuessler Dr. Karin ‘96 & Jason ‘96 Cain HL Vet Dr.’s Donnie ‘82 & Margaret ‘84 Jung RE/MAX - Horseshoe Bay Chicken Express Dr. Kris Kasper ‘02 & Dr. Kelly Krobot ‘08 Chad Thibodeaux ‘91 Jack Allen ‘97 HRH Construction Schlotzsky’s Dale Brown Properties Joey Herr ‘72 Lance Massey ‘95 Bailey Vercher ‘12 HSB Vet State Farm Insurance Edward Jones Dr. Garrett Craig ‘00 & Tatum Craig ‘00 Shane ‘97 & Kara ‘98 Stewart Mike Linam ‘95 Johnson Sewell Ford Lincoln TTE, LLC First United Bank Ross '48 and Alice Johnson Brent Taylor ‘04 J. Don McAlpin Kelley Taylor ‘01 KBEY, The Picayune & Daily Tribune Galloway Insurance Amber Weems ‘97 Kay '82 & Kyle '81 Stripling Page 8 2020 Aggie Golf Classic Benefiting Highland Lakes A&M Scholarship Foundation Saturday, March 21st, 2020 • Delaware Springs Golf Club - Burnet, Texas 9:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START • FOUR-MAN SCRAMBLE
Registration Due by March 13th, 2020 ● Four Man Scramble ● Silent Auction ● 9:00 AM Shotgun Start ● Trophies to all Flight Winners ● $150 per player/$600 per team ● All proceeds go to fund Aggie scholarships ● Lunch Buffet included, $20 for non-players Lunch Buffet ● Complete & Return this form to register ● Hole-in-One Contest - Compete to win a 2020 Lincoln ● Questions? Call Don Liedtke ‘74 Aviator from Johnson Sewell Ford Lincoln!!! [email protected] or (214) 850-7271
PLAYER INFORMATION 1. Last Name: ______First Name: ______Company: ______\______Address: ______City:______State:______ZIP: ______Email Address:______Contact Telephone: ( ) ______Golf Club:______Handicap Index: ______# of Non-Player Lunch Tickets ______
IF YOU HAVE ARRANGED TO PLAY WITH OTHERS, PLEASE LIST THEM HERE.
PLAYER INFORMATION 2. Last Name: ______First Name: ______Company: ______Address: ______City:______State:______ZIP: ______Email Address:______Contact Telephone: ( ) ______Golf Club:______Handicap Index: ______# of Non-Player Lunch Tickets ______
PLAYER INFORMATION 3. Last Name: ______First Name: ______Company: ______Address: ______City:______State:______ZIP: ______Email Address:______Contact Telephone: ( ) ______Golf Club:______Handicap Index: ______# of Non-Player Lunch Tickets ______
PLAYER INFORMATION 4. Last Name: ______First Name: ______Company: ______Address: ______City:______State:______ZIP: ______Email Address:______Contact Telephone: ( ) ______Golf Club:______Handicap Index: ______# of Non-Player Lunch Tickets ______
Please mail this form & checks to: Highland Lakes A&M Club P.O. Box 1244, Marble Falls, Texas 78654 Page 9 Highland Lakes A&M Club/Foundation PRESORT STD. Post Office Box 1244 U.S. Postage Paid Marble Falls, Texas 78654 Marble Falls, TX 78654 PERMIT NO. 82 Return Service Requested
*** View the 2020 Newsletter in COLOR at www.highlandlakesaggies.com. Click PDF on bottom right of homepage.***
Please indicate selections and return by April 7th, 2020
[ ] 2020 Annual Membership Dues $30 per family
[ ] 2020 Spirit Sponsor __$100 Spirit __$500 Traditions __$1,000 Gig’em ___$2,500 Reveille __$5,000 12th Man
[ ] 2020 Corporate Sponsor _____$300 (please email Corp Logo to [email protected] if applicable)
[ ] 2020 Aggie Muster Tickets Adults $25.00, Children Age 12 & Under $12.00 #Adults___ # of Children____
[ ] 2020 Aggie Golf Classic $150.00 Per Player #Players _____ # of Non-Players (Lunch only) _____
Name(s) & Class Year(s) ______
Mailing Address ______
Email Address ______Phone ______
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: HIGHLAND LAKES A&M CLUB P.O. BOX 1244, MARBLE FALLS, TX 78654 Page 10