Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Greetings, Lumberjacks!
I am happy to report the fall semester brought back in-person classes, tailgating, football, soccer and volleyball games, Homecoming, Alumni Awards and cooler weather. How nice it is to have the campus revive with excitement in the air!
If you want to know what is happening in your area, our regional chairs can keep you informed.
They are:
- East Texas - Sam Khoury '97 of Longview
- North Texas - Mark Friedman '91 of Allen
- Houston Area - Pamm Coleman '80 of Houston
- Central Texas Area - Alex Ranc '11 & '13 of Nacogdoches.
You also can always find information about on-campus and area events on the calendar included in each edition of Sawdust and on the Alumni Association's social media platforms.
Our social media is trending. A recent report from content discovery and social monitoring platform Crowd Tangle shows we were No. 3 in social media interactions — behind Texas A&M's The Association of Former Students and The Texas Exes — for a three-month period ending in September, and we were No. 2 in growth. Our interactions were up on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Let's keep engaging, Lumberjacks!
During the association's September board meeting, we approved the following resolution reaffirming our bylaws in an effort to be clear that the Alumni Association supports what is best for the institution.
The purpose of this resolution is to provide stakeholders (i.e., SFA students, alumni and friends) with the SFA Alumni Association's stance and overall support for the betterment and growth of SFA.
- Whereas, the SFA Alumni Association's mission is to engage students, alumni and friends to create an attitude of loyalty and support;
- Whereas, the SFA Alumni Association's role is to live out our action statement: “We grow Lumberjack pride!” among our 100,000-plus living alumni and friends;
- Whereas, the SFA Alumni Association encourages everyone at SFA to do the hard work and make the difficult, sometimes challenging decisions through open dialogue to ensure the best asset of the university — its people — are able to perform to their fullest potential in an effort to protect the future growth of SFA;
- Whereas, the SFA Alumni Association will support innovative university growth initiatives in the rapidly changing higher education climate to help elevate the institution and engagement in the communities in which we live and work;
Be it resolved that the SFA Alumni Association Board of Directors approves the aforementioned statements and fully supports the best interest of Stephen F. Austin State University as outlined in the bylaws.
As we think about the future, I know many of us have September 2023 on our minds, when SFA will celebrate its centennial anniversary. We continue to look forward to this celebration, and plans are already underway. A Centennial Committee has been formed, and Brian Dawson '03 is leading the charge, so look for exciting things to come.
In conjunction with the Centennial Celebration, we have launched a comprehensive alumni data verification project. Postcards have been mailed to verify your information. If you have corrections, please follow the directions on the postcard so you don't miss out on event notifications. We also are collecting stories to help memorialize the history and campus experiences through the years. So, please participate, and share your Lumberjack story.
If you are not a member of the Alumni Association, I invite you to join. Your involvement is vital to maintaining SFA's excellence and helps keep our valued traditions alive for future generations of Lumberjacks. You can join online at sfaalumni.com/join or call 936.468.3407 to speak with an Alumni Association representative. There are levels for annual or lifetime memberships.
As 2021 draws to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible donation as part of your end-of-year giving. We appreciate every donation and put them all to good use building Lumberjack pride.
Here's to a bright 2022, Lumberjacks. Axe 'em!
Axe 'em, Jacks!
Charlotte Ashcraft '80
Nacogdoches
President, SFA Alumni Association