Alumni Association celebrates staff, faculty with U Devils events

<p>Some organizations may celebrate their employees with a special day or week, but the Arizona State University Alumni Association will host a dozen events over a six-week period for its U Devils group, which is comprised of all ASU faculty and staff members who are also members of the Alumni Association.</p><separator></separator><p>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.</p><separator></separator><p>“The U Devils group cements our connection with faculty and staff,” she said. “We strive to find enjoyable ways to 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.”</p><separator></separator><p>This year, the calendar of appreciation events will stretch from the end of March to the beginning of May, and will include a mix of exclusive U Devil events and special invitations to other Alumni Association and university functions. Festivities kick off with a mixer on Wednesday, March 30, 5-6:30 p.m. at Carson Ballroom in Old Main. Current U Devils members may attend at no charge and are encouraged to bring one guest. Light appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available. Participants must RSVP by March 25.</p><separator></separator><p>On April 8, an email prize drawing contest, the “Lucky U Devils Day,” will be held.&nbsp; U Devils will host booths at the All-Staff BBQs on the Tempe, Polytechnic and West campuses, to be held on April 12, April 14 and April 15, respectively. Additionally, current U Devils at the West and Downtown Phoenix campuses will be treated to “lunch bunch” gatherings on their campuses April 13 (West) and April 19 (Downtown Phoenix).</p><separator></separator><p>U Devils also are invited to Alumni Day events with ASU’s softball and baseball teams during the latter half of April. The group will gather at the Sun Devils baseball game against the Washington State Cougars on April 17 at 12:30 p.m., and at the softball game on May 1 at noon, when the ASU team takes on Oregon State. Complimentary tickets to the games will be available on a first-come, first served basis.</p><separator></separator><p>The appreciation calendar wraps up with an invitation to the unveiling of the ASU Legacy Wall at the Alumni Terrace behind Old Main, 4-5 p.m., Thursday, April 28. This event is free and open to the general public. It will be followed by a Maroon &amp; Gold Professionals networking mixer at Dave’s Electric Brewpub, which is just north of the Tempe campus, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. U Devils members can attend the mixer at no cost; the event is $10 for prospective members.</p><separator></separator><p>A major feature of the U Devils month is encouraging employee-to-employee recruitment. U Devils members who recruit two new members during the 2011 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. Those who have their referral members registered with the Alumni Association by April 29 will be invited to a special invitation-only tea at the University Club on Tuesday, May 10.</p><separator></separator><p>Those who are able to refer three or more members for U Devils will be entered into a drawing for a Tempe Entertainment Package, which includes a gift certificate to Monti’s La Casa Vieja, tickets to “Mamma Mia” at ASU Gammage and a two-night stay at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.</p><separator></separator><p>“We’re very excited to offer new incentives to encourage U Devils to share the fun of this group with their co-workers,” Wilkinson said. “Businesses in the community surrounding our campuses are an integral part of working at ASU, and we’ve leveraged these in selecting our prizes.”</p><separator></separator><p>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 <a href="http://alumni.asu.edu/sites/all/asu_images/programs/FSapplicationform70…; target="_blank">http://alumni.asu.edu/sites/all/asu_images/programs/FSapplicationform70…; Employees may use payroll deduction to pay for their life membership over the course of one year.&nbsp; For more information on the U Devils group, or to RSVP for a U Devils event, visit <a href="http://alumni.asu.edu/programs/u-devils&quot; target="_blank">http://alumni.asu.edu/programs/u-devils</a>.</p&gt;