Tomorrow starts here.

ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005

A FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE

MISSION STATEMENT Alumni Association Officers The East Carolina Alumni Association will inform, involve, and serve members of the and Board of Directors ECU family throughout their lifelong relationship with the university.

Growth When comparing this year to last, we saw tripled growth in reunion participation, we doubled participation in the Pirate Alumni Network, we awarded $10,000 in scholarships, and we served as the catalyst for five new student traditions. In addition, we recommitted to building alumni chapters, enhancing Homecoming offerings, and sponsoring quality Layton Getsinger ’69, President award and recognition programs. Joe Jenkins ’72, Vice President Paul Clifford, Executive Partnerships Vice President We continued to build an extensive network of external corporate partners while reaching out Brenda Myrick ’92, Secretary to internal partners to forge relationships that Sabrina Bengel, Treasurer allow us to simultaneously accomplish the Margaret Ward ’61, Past President mission of the association and the university. Lisa Benton ’83 In particular, our progress with the Pirate Club is the beacon of our successes in this realm. Virgil Clark ’50 The association is now a corporate member Rick Conaway ’68 of the Pirate Club, and we have partnered on Jennifer Congleton ’81 several programs, including travel to away Tarrick Cox ’96 sporting events, pregame festivities in Charlotte, and freshman picnics, to name just Garry Dudley ’92 a few collaborations. Dale Engelbert ’82 Dear Friends of the East Carolina Dave Englert ’75 Communications Alumni Association, Bonnie Galloway ’71 Before we began to broaden our communica- Wayne Holloman ’66 The East Carolina Alumni Association is a tions, we first had to develop a cleaner and dynamic and growing organization that exists consistent look to our materials and standards John Hudson ’59 to inform, involve, and serve the members of to guide future efforts. Focus then shifted to Ernest Logemann ’68 the Pirate Nation throughout their lifelong the development of core communications Nancy Morgan ’86 tools to inform the over 115,000 alumni mem- relationship with East Carolina. For the Steve Morrisette ’69 association, the 2005 fiscal year has been a bers of the Pirate Nation. These tools include Reid Parrott Jr. ’60 year of change, planning, program growth, PirateAlumni.com (Web site), PiratePulse partnership, and a renewed commitment to (e-newsletter), “Pirate Connections” (page in Yvonne Pearce ’82 communicating with our alumni. East magazine), chapter or direct e-mails, and Robert Rippy ’75 The Last Blue Book, as well as various direct Change mail pieces and media relations activities. The most obvious evidence of change has been Paul J. Clifford in human resources. The association has been This year set a foundation for the future, and Associate Vice Chancellor for fortunate to attract several new staff members the future is bright. In 2005–2006, alumni will Alumni Relations whose combined skills and talents will advance enjoy more programs in their areas with the and grow programs to meet the needs of our growth of alumni chapters, freshmen/alumni Paul develops campus and com- diverse alumni constituency. As you read sendoffs, and the Chancellor’s Tour. In addition, munity partnerships and is through this report, you will learn a little bit we will continue to spread the good news by responsible for overseeing the about those of us who are committed to revamping the online community, increasing efforts of the Alumni Association. serving our alumni. radio and television programming, and He is active with the Council for launching A Pirate’s Life for Me!, the Alumni the Advancement and Support of Planning Association’s half-hour radio program. With Education (CASE). In his spare With the adoption of the strategic plan in the support of volunteers, we will continue to time, he is the vice chair for November by the board of directors and the celebrate our past while growing for the future. ’s Mothers Against approval of both a revision to our bylaws and the Drunk Driving (MADD) Board of Pirate Pride affiliate group plan, the leadership of Sincerely, Directors, and he coaches his this organization has put the plan in place to son’s T-ball team while pursuing strategically grow the program over the next five his master’s at ECU and spending years. I would like to thank our president, Layton time with his wife, Jenne, and Getsinger, for his leadership as chair of our their three children. strategic planning committee. Paul J. Clifford

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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Denise Walsh Associate Director for Alumni Communications Denise manages the marketing The Alumni Association’s marketing and and communications efforts of communications team works to keep alumni the East Carolina Alumni connected to East Carolina by informing them PiratePulse, Association, the association’s about upcoming alumni events both at home in the official online community, and the Greenville and throughout the Pirate Nation. e-newsletter of the Alumni monthly e-newsletter, PiratePulse. The team consists of two full-time staff Association, has been delivered to more In her spare time, she enjoys trav- members, Denise Walsh and Doug Smith, and than 86,000 in-boxes since September 1, 2004. eling, dancing, surfing, and a part-time student assistant, Marcus Coward. Direct e-mails allow us to reach select groups spending time with her husband, Through the following primary communications of alumni nationwide, keeping tens of J. P., and dog, Ernest. tools, we stay in regular contact with the thousands of East Carolina alumni up to 115,000 alumni members of the Pirate Nation. date with the latest events in their area. The Alumni Association developed and refined these vehicles during fiscal year 2005 to more “Pirate Connections” began appearing in East, actively engage the alumni community. the magazine of , in the Spring 2005 issue and features chapter events PirateAlumni.com, the Alumni Association’s and a volunteer spotlight. The magazine reach- newly redesigned Web site, includes event es 60,000 alumni three times a year. registration, address update and Class Note submission, Pirate spirit pages, and more. Print pieces are still the primary way we contact alumni about upcoming events such as chapter events, awards and scholarship ceremonies, and programs such as tailgate, reunions, and Homecoming.

The online community continues to be popular among our alumni. Doug Smith, ’00 As we expand our online offer- Assistant Director for ings and develop new partner- Alumni Communications ships, our online directory system Doug is a member of the Alumni will integrate with the alumni Association’s marketing and database so updates made online communications team, managing are done in real time. Web communications, producing layout and design for print pieces, Promoting Awareness and overseeing the annual scholar- Public relations help define the ship golf tournament. Doug lives in Alumni Association to the com- Winterville with his wife, Stephanie, munity. In the past year, press and their daughter, Hannah. He is releases to media in Greenville currently pursuing his master’s in and chapter communities result- English at ECU, and he enjoys ed in coverage of Alumni photography and officiating Association programs in print in his spare time. media, television, and radio.

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PROGRAMS

Elizabeth (Liz) Ellerbe, ’01 Alumni Center Coordinator Liz has been with the Alumni Association since the fall of 2002. She recently transitioned from her role as associate director for alumni programs to alumni center The Alumni Association has developed a variety the ECTC and ECC reunion dinner and dance, coordinator to allow time to pur- of programs to meet the needs of East Carolina an open house breakfast at the alumni center sue a master’s at ECU. She is alumni. From student programs created to during the Homecoming parade, and a tailgate responsible for greeting alumni welcome incoming freshmen to our Golden before the football game. center guests and working Alumni reunions for our graduates from the closely with the Alumni class of 1955 and earlier, we hope to be our Reunions at East Carolina allow alumni to Association board. Liz and her alumni’s lifetime connection to East Carolina. return to campus, reconnect with friends and husband, Jonathan, live in The association’s programs team is made up classmates, and rekindle memories, friendships, Greenville with their dog, Ellie. of two staff members, Karen Clough and and good feelings about East Carolina. During Lucretia King, and a part-time graduate Homecoming, eighty alumni returned to student, Lisa Crouse. campus for the annual ECTC and ECC Golden Alumni Society reunion, and seventy-five The Alumni Association hosts the following attended the Black Alumni Reunion. The class programs throughout the year. of 1955 celebrated its fiftieth reunion, and the Ambassador Emeriti celebrated the twenty-fifth Alumni tailgates offer Pirate fans an opportuni- anniversary of the ambassador program on ty to gather before home games, leaving the April 1 and 2. hassle of a grill and tailgate chairs at home. Last fall, the Alumni Association hosted five The Chancellor’s Tour, sponsored by the Alumni home tailgates, and we worked with the Pirate Association, brings Chancellor Steve Ballard to Club to offer tailgate and alumni socials prior alumni chapter areas throughout the country. to games in Tampa, Florida, and Charlotte, Chancellor Ballard traveled to Raleigh, Atlanta, North Carolina. and Beverly Hills in fiscal year 2005 and will continue with four stops scheduled in fall 2005. The East Carolina Alumni Scholarship Golf This is an excellent opportunity for alumni to Classic was held on Friday, October 8, at Brook meet the chancellor and learn of the many Valley Country Club in Greenville. Monies raised exciting developments at East Carolina and through player fees and sponsorships of this Dr. Ballard’s vision for the future. annual tournament go toward the East Carolina Karen Clough, ’98 Alumni Association scholarships. One hundred Tomorrow Starts Here…is a new program that Assistant Director for players participated in this superball competi- brings ECU faculty to chapter areas. Alumni Alumni Programs tion organized by the Alumni Association under have the opportunity to meet fellow alumni in Karen is responsible for all Alumni the direction of chair Louis Clark ’80 and hon- their area and hear a dean or ECU administra- Association events including orary chair George Koonce ’92, former ECU tor speak about the progress and accomplish- awards ceremonies, scholarships, Pirate and Green Bay Packers football player. ments of the university. and reunions, and she serves as advisor to the ECU Ambassadors. Homecoming, celebrated each fall, is a chance Karen has been an ambassador for the Pirate Nation to converge upon and served as president during Greenville. The Alumni Association celebrates her tenure at East Carolina. She Homecoming with a scholarship golf tourna- and her husband, Mark, enjoy time ment, the Outstanding Alumni Awards dinner, with their son, Samuel.

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STUDENT PROGRAMS

FUN FACTS #

ECU Ambassadors celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary in 2005.

ECU Ambassadors won the Homecoming 2004 Spirit Cup.

Fifty-five ECU students partic- ipated as ECU Ambassadors this year.

Ambassadors volunteered at more than 130 campus and community events.

ECU Ambassadors volunteered a collective total of 11,663 hours.

The Alumni Association offers student pro- Orientation, and the Student Involvement Team, grams to connect with students throughout takes place at the start of the academic year. their ECU experience. These programs help the This past year, more than 1,100 incoming fresh- Alumni Association start the foundation of a men were welcomed to campus. Members of lifelong relationship with East Carolina alumni. the East Carolina community shared historical facts, taught the , and led other ECU Several new student programs were created favorite chants and cheers. This free event for last year to complement old traditions, to incoming freshmen is a fun way to share the increase student awareness of the Alumni history and traditions of East Carolina. Association, and to augment students’ college Number of Pirate experience. The Alumni Association worked ECU’s ninety-eighth birthday party was hosted Plates on the roads in closely with many departments on campus to by the Alumni Association and ECU Ambass- North Carolina: 2,460. ensure that these programs will meet the needs adors along with several campus organizations . of our students and become traditional activi- including the Student Union, , ties at East Carolina. and the Student Government Association (SGA). The event took place during Founders Week on ECU Ambassadors serve as a link between stu- the campus mall, and more than 1,800 students dents, alumni, faculty, and the administration of enjoyed live music and free food to celebrate # East Carolina University. Last year, thirty-three the founding of East Carolina University. new members were inducted, bringing the total number of ambassadors to fifty-five. Senior Week events were part of our new stu- Ambassadors volunteer both on campus and in dent programs. These events were organized the community throughout the year. and sponsored by the East Carolina Alumni Ambassadors served at more than one hundred Association, the ECU Student Union, the SGA, East Carolina and Alumni Association events and the Parents Council. Events included the and at more than thirty community events dur- Candlelight Induction Ceremony, Senior ing fiscal year 2005, contributing a combined Celebration, and Celebrate Under the Stars, a total of 11,663 volunteer hours. senior tribute dinner and recognition of the Robert H. Wright Award recipients. Graduating The Freshman Sendoff is an opportunity for seniors enjoyed live music, food, prizes, and vis- 10,000 Mini Pirate Mascot incoming freshmen, their families, and alumni to its with ECU officials. stickers handed out. gather at fun parks, local games, pri- vate homes, restaurants, and museums prior to The Last Blue Book is a guide for graduating The Alumni Association sent the start of the school year. Alumni are encour- seniors, produced by the Alumni Association to more than 220,000 direct mail aged to attend and share their stories, study prepare graduates for life as East Carolina alum- pieces and more than 175,000 tips, and ECU traditions with incoming fresh- ni. The guide includes an overview of the Alumni e-mails in FY2005. men. Last year, the Alumni Association hosted Association, along with ways to become six sendoffs that were attended by three hun- involved with chapters and stay connected to The Alumni Association hosted dred students, families, and alumni. East Carolina. This guide was distributed at the 137 events with more than Student Stores’ Grad Expo and was mailed to 17,500 participants in FY2005. Walk the Plank, a new tradition sponsored by students’ permanent addresses. the Alumni Association, the Office of #

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AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2004–2005 Award Recipients

Outstanding Alumni William “Carl” Ealy ’76 William “Phil” Hodges ’79, ’84 R. Samuel Hunt ’65, ’66 Lucy Ervin Roberts ’65, ’73

Distinguished Service Col. Ellis F. Hall Jr. ’98 (honorary) Charles C. Martin Jr. ’69 Billy D. Mills Sr. ’54

Honorary Alumnus Keith A. LeClair ’05 (honorary)

Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Matthew S. Cook ’05 Meredith A. Hardison ’05 Zachary J. Harrison ’05 Kyle B. Nichols ’05 The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes Honorary alumni status is extended annually Brittany K. Wilkerson ’05 alumni who have at least five years of work to people who did not attend ECU but experience and show outstanding and uncom- have adopted the univer- mon achievement in their profession, civic sity as their own affairs, and/or politics. It is one of the most through uncom- prestigious awards offered by the university. mon and out- standing service, The following alumni were honored in 2004 substantial and during Homecoming weekend: continuing •William “Carl” Ealy ’76, of Charlotte, artist and commitment, and owner of Pathway Art Inc. loyalty. The 2005 honorary alumnus • William “Phil” Hodges ’79, ’84, of Greenville, was Keith A. LeClair founder of Metrics Inc., a successful pharma- of Greenville, ECU’s ceutical development and testing company highly successful former baseball • R. Samuel Hunt III ’65, ’66, owner of Hunt coach and an Electric Company in Burlington inspirational member • Lucy Ervin Roberts ’65, ’73, section chief, of our community. Early Childhood, Division of Instructional Services at the Department of Public The Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership Instruction in Raleigh Award was awarded to five graduating seniors in fiscal year 2005. The prestigious award, The Distinguished Service Award recognizes presented to undergraduate students during outstanding and uncommon service to the spring commencement, recognizes academic Alumni Association and the university. achievement, leadership, and service to East Scholarship Carolina and the community. This year’s five Recipients This past year, the Alumni Association recipients had a combined grade point average Miriam Abernethy, senior honored the following people: of 3.95. Anna-Lisa Bailey, sophomore • William “Billy” Mills Sr. ’54, of Jacksonville, Aadil Lodhi, sophomore Alumni scholarships in the amount of $1,000 North Carolina, a longtime volunteer for Kristen Farmer, junior each were awarded in fiscal year 2005 to ten the Pirate Club as well as an ardent ECU Carmen Pack, junior full-time, undergraduate students who excel in supporter while in the North Carolina Lauren Rood, sophomore the classroom and have distinguished them- General Assembly Jenna Salter, junior selves as leaders at East Carolina University. Elizabeth Schuler, junior • Charles Martin ’69, of Greenville, current The median grade point average of the 133 Elwyn Thompson III, junior president of the ECU Parents Council applicants was 3.54, and recipients had an average GPA of 3.72. Applicants were selected Layton Getsinger •Colonel Ellis F. Hall Jr. ’98 (H), an ECU staff based on academic performance, service to the Alumni Presidential member for more than twenty years and a East Carolina University community, and a let- Scholarship Recipient member of the ECU Medical Foundation ter of recommendation; legacy also was taken Melonie Norman, sophomore Board of Directors into consideration.

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CHAPTERS AND SOCIETIES

Lucretia King, ’00 Assistant Director for Alumni Programs Lucretia is a member of the programming team, managing chapters, societies, affinity Alumni chapters are the primary means by less than the required number of alumni to form groups, and our alumni student- which thousands of alumni are able to stay a chapter and is not required to plan events. recruiting program. Her previous connected to ECU wherever they are. The East There are alumni contacts in Birmingham, work experiences include Carolina Alumni Association supports thirty Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Hawaii; Las teaching English in South Korea, alumni chapters and contacts. Chapter func- Vegas, Nevada; and Albany, New York. serving in the AmeriCorps tions include social events such as ECU program, volunteering with Alumni societies help East Carolina alumni game watches or attending local sporting and Habitat for Humanity, and most maintain close ties with their schools and cultural events as a group. Chapters endow recently working as a travel departments. The association sponsors ten scholarships, act as local contacts for prospec- counselor at the visitors center in alumni societies and is striving to build that tive students, and perform service projects in Boone, North Carolina. Prior to number. In addition to creating networking the community. enrolling at East Carolina, she opportunities for alumni and students, the soci- served four years in the United Chapters in fiscal year 2005 became more eties support the activities of East Carolina and States Air Force as a weather active in three areas, and six new chapters were inform alumni of developments in their fields. specialist. Lucretia recently formed in areas from Wilmington to Miami. Five completed a master’s in higher new contacts were added this year as well. education at Appalachian There are ten in-state and eleven out-of-state State University. chapters, one affinity chapter, and seven con- tacts nationwide.

Below are some examples of chapters showing Pirate PRIDE:

Pirate Connections: Career programming, life networking, social gatherings, sports-related events, game watches, intramural activities

Responsibility: Address updates, student recruitment, scholarships

Image Enhancement: Community service, vol- unteer and alumni recognition

Discovery: Hosting an ECU faculty or staff speaker, cultural activities

Embrace Diversity: Academic-themed event, diversity lecture

A Pirate alumni contact is an individual who agrees to serve as a liaison for East Carolina University in his or her geographical area. Usually, a contact is chosen for an area that has

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CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS

The Alumni Association collaborates in many ways with on-campus Home-Field Advantage and community partners to promote the association and its works. The faced the NC State Wolfpack in Charlotte During fiscal year 2005, the Alumni Association worked closely with last November at Bank of America Stadium. A series of events took the Pirate Club, the Career Center, the Student Union, the Student place around the game as more than five thousand East Carolina Government Association, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of alumni live in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The East Carolina Orientation, and the Parents Council, among others, to hold events Alumni Association won a blood drive challenge versus the NC in chapter areas tied to athletics, the arts, and admissions events; State Alumni Association in the days leading up to the game. and to plan and execute student programs. ECU Today The Alumni Association also was a sponsor of the Freeboot Friday ECU Today events bring potential students face to face with orien- community event series. We will continue to build these partner- tation and admissions staff, as well as alumni. The Alumni ships in fiscal year 2006. Association worked with the Office of Admissions and invited alumni to be introduced to the many academic, personal, and Pirate Alumni Network (PAN) professional opportunities available at ECU. Six events were held The ECU Career Center and the Alumni Association partner to offer within the state of North Carolina, as well as events in Virginia, the Pirate Alumni Network (PAN) as an easy way for alumni to give Maryland, and New Jersey. More than seventy alumni attended back to East Carolina. By volunteering with PAN, alumni are able to these events to help recruit potential East Carolina students. offer guidance to current East Carolina students who are interested in learning more about their profession. In the past year, PAN partic- Pirate Partners ipation rose from 121 to more than 218 members. Pirate Partners are companies affiliated with the East Carolina Alumni Association to provide products, services, or discounts to Career Fairs the 115,000 alumni members of the Pirate Nation. They feature The Alumni Association partnered with the Career Center to have trusted names and customer-friendly service, and some offer alumni a presence at all five career fairs on campus and to promote the substantial savings thanks to their ECU connection. Pirate Partner fairs to alumni. The Alumni Association also created a quarter-page logos are listed on PirateAlumni.com and are included in PiratePulse ad about the series, and it appeared in local media during January t o drive traffic to their Web sites. and February.

Dr. Marilyn Sheerer ECU Alumni Association Board management Interim Vice Chancellor Board of Directors Budget University Advancement (Representing 115,000 alumni) East editorial board Evaluation and assessment Homecoming cochair Member benefits Revenue programs Paul J. Clifford Liz Ellerbe Staff management Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Alumni Center Coordinator Strategic planning 252-328-6072 252-328-6072 Travel University committees

Community relations Awards Media relations Homecoming East liaison Reunions E-news, content Karen Clough (’98) Denise Walsh SAA/student programs Marketing Assistant Director for Alumni Programs Associate Director for Marketing Scholarships Membership 252-328-0610 252-328-4902 Tailgate Online career networking Online community Affinity groups Lucretia King (’00) Annual report Alumni admission program Doug Smith (’00) Assistant Director for Alumni Programs Alumni chapters Assistant Director for Communications 252-328-1958 Career networking 252-328-1959 Event e-mails Community service Golf tournament Volunteer awards and training Lisa Crouse (’05) Online career networking Societies Marcus Coward (’06) Print design Graduate Assistant for Alumni Programs Student Assistant for Communications 252-328-5491 E-news, design and layout 252-328-0605 Web design

Fiscal Year 2005 Pirate Partners MBNA of America Pirate Radio 1250 AM (WGHB) University Book Exchange LTC Advisers Inc. Alumni Loan Consolidation Program Liberty Mutual East Carolina Alumni Insurance Program ECU Dowdy Student Stores

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East Carolina Alumni Association East Carolina University Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center 901 East Fifth Street Greenville, NC 27858 Phone: 252-328-6072, 800-ECU-GRAD Fax: 252-328-4369 E-mail: [email protected] PirateAlumni.com

PRAISE TO YOUR NAME SO FAIR, DEAR OLD EAST CAR’LINA YOUR JOYS WE’LL ALL SHARE, AND YOUR FRIENDS WE’LL EVER BE. WE PLEDGE OUR LOYALTY, AND OUR HEART’S DEVOTION, TO THEE, OUR ALMA MATER, LOVE AND PRAISE.

HAROLD MCDOUGLE

U.P. 05-309 Printed on recycled paper. 2,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $2,613.00, or $1.31 per copy.