Alumni Association to celebrate staff, faculty with U Devils events

Some organizations may celebrate their employees with a special day or week, but the Arizona State University Alumni Association will host nine events over a four-week period to recognize members of its U Devils group, which is comprised of all ASU faculty and staff members who are also members of the Alumni Association.

The group has enjoyed steady growth since its formation in 2007, and is one of the association’s greatest success stories in the membership acquisition area, according to Christine Wilkinson, Alumni Association president.

“We created the U Devils to celebrate and engage our faculty and staff,” she said. “Every spring, we host events that recognize this group of Sun Devils, who are so critical to the success of ASU’s mission and such a foundational part of the Alumni Association.”

This year, the calendar of appreciation events will stretch from the end of March through mid-April. Festivities kick off with a mixer from 4:30 to 6 p.m., March 26, in Carson Ballroom in Old Main. Current U Devils members may attend at no charge and are encouraged to bring their fellow colleagues. Light appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available, and attendees may participate in a prize giveaway. Participants must RSVP by March 23.

During the year, U Devils connect frequently with each other on the group’s Facebook page, and that social media platform will be the site of an online photo hunt contest, which will begin at 10 a.m., April 4. Potential contestants can visit the page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/143941132533.

On April 13, the “Lucky U Devils Day,” an email prize drawing contest, will be held.  U Devils will also welcome staff at the All-Staff BBQs on the Polytechnic and Tempe campuses, to be held on April 9 and April 17, respectively. Current U Devils at the West campus will be treated to a “lunch bunch” gathering on April 16, and U Devils at the Downtown Phoenix will celebrate with a happy-hour event on April 17.

The appreciation calendar wraps up with an invitation for U Devils to attend a Maroon & Gold Professionals networking mixer from 5:30 to 7 p.m., April 18. U Devils members can attend the mixer at no cost; the event is $10 for prospective members.

A major feature of the U Devils month is the encouragement of employee-to-employee recruitment. U Devils members who recruit two or more new members during the 2012 appreciation period will receive their choice of a free Sparky skin for their mobile phone or laptop, or a limited-edition U Devils polo shirt. They and their recruits also will be invited to a special invitation-only tea at the University Club on April 19.

To join the Alumni Association at the special employee rate ($25 annual/$300 life) and participate in the U Devils events, ASU faculty and staff may download a membership form at http://alumni.asu.edu/emails/udevils/Faculty_staff_form071211.pdf. Employees may use payroll deduction to pay for their life membership over the course of one year.  

For more information on the U Devils group, or RSVP for a U Devils event, visit http://alumni.asu.edu/groups/faculty-staff.