Topic: Marshall calls no one.

[biggreenthunder]

You know, it's not just limited to Coaching vacancies.  I thought about it and realized I can count the number of times I have been approached by Marshall to give money to the athletic department.  Zero.  I'm a big Green Donor, I'm a season ticket holder.  They have my address and phone number and yet I've never been solicited to donate any more money.  The cincinnati alumni chapter seems to be almost non-existent as well.  I use to talk to them at a local bar in the area called Tickets and even gave them my name, phone number, and email address and haven't been contacted about any fundraising drives either.

How about the rest of you?

[carolinaherdfan]

There is a familar tone to your post. It has been my identical experience.
What is wrong with the department.  Our alumni chapter is fragmented as well.
             
We have fans getting together all over the area. Never anything consolidated, or planned. The fans that get together on their own have a great time, but when we attend the "chapter" game watching experience it is a bore, and dead!

GO THUNDERINGHERD!



 :grin:

[lovetheherd2]

I've lived in the Cincinnati area for 37 years. I too have season football tickets and support the Big Green. Since retiring a few years back have made many road trips for football away games.

I am aware of two or three alumni groups that have been very active. One in NorthEast Ohio had a president for a few years who worked his rear end off to keep it going. He had a LOT of support from many folks in the area. He has moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and will be active in that area. The NorthEast Ohio group had Akron and Kent games to get folks involved as well as the Gund for basketball.

Two groups in Florida in Tampa/St. Pete area and Ft. Myers have been pretty successful. Mainly due to a lot of work by coordinators and good support by others in the area. FHF, FloridaHerdFan who posts on here does a great job of keeping the spirit going. I'm moving to Florida next year and plan get involved in some of their activities.

I think there's a couple more alumni groups (Atlanta? and ??) that are also active. The group chapter presidents meet periodically in Huntington to try and drum up more ideas and ways to become more effective.

But make no mistake, it does take a lot of work to get the local group up and running and doing more than game watching.

For awhile we had a large group gathering at Tickets Sports Bar for football games. But we have never been successful at raising any funds for the teams or school. Football was the catalyst. In recent years a good portion of our group have had season tickets for football.

[carolinaherdfan]

Thanks for your post. I know the florida groups are great, but here I have never been able to shake the dust. Six months ago I contacted our MB leader. I told him that I had talked to the DMV here, and they were willing to make a Marshall alumni plate for alumni living in Carolina.  I couldn't even get a reply.  jn4thherd has been working on this since he moved here, nothing. He and I discuss ideas. We know other alumni, and friends who are willing to host pig roasts on game day etc.,etc.,etc., and nothing happens. Once again the AD will not make a move, and will not aid us at all in our effort. We will have a golf tournament for the coaches, alumni, and friends with the proceeds going to the Big Green Club, but still nothing.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :grin:

[yogiherd]

In this area I do not know of any alumni clubs/groups, but i have received calls from the BG for the last few years about my donation/season tickets. A couple of weeks ago they called and left a message and called back a few days later.

I'm not a big donor-i guess about average-- so it seems that someone in the BG does contact the average BG member.  The calls  did surpirse me because of all the posts the past several years about only the big donors being  contacted by the BG.      

They might not have enough people to contact everyone, but they should be able to contact alumni group leaders like carolinaherd, jn4thherd & others.
I know a couple of the FL alumni told me they were contacted several times each year.

[biggreenthunder]

I just can't get over the fact that if they aren't calling me, there is a HUGE market of fans out their that might give money if approached the right way.  I don't think a flyer in the mail is going to cut it.  I mean, I'm not a major donor but I don't give the minimum by any means either and never a call to ask for more.  Just can't get over it.

[carolinaherdfan]

Yogi, I meant that the local chapter leader will not do anything, but will not respond to any of our input etc. i.e., not the for AD at MU.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :grin:

[mutosufan]

aren't even getting called.  I was a M Club member and never received any type of information about events, games, or even renewing.  I have talked to other teammates/friends and they have never been called or been sent any info in the mail.   I have never been contacted by anyone to donate any type of money or services.  When I was living in the area I would have been more than happy to pitch in to help with some aspect.  I was bitter at first thinking of all of the time and effort that I put forth and I got nothing once I got my diploma.  Not that I wanted anything other than maybe a newsletter or some type of effort to get me to give money to the program.

[Garbanjo]

I was a M Club member and never received any type of information about events, games, or even renewing. I have talked to other teammates/friends and they have never been called or been sent any info in the mail. I have never been contacted by anyone to donate any type of money or services. When I was living in the area I would have been more than happy to pitch in to help with some aspect. I was bitter at first thinking of all of the time and effort that I put forth and I got nothing once I got my diploma. Not that I wanted anything other than maybe a newsletter or some type of effort to get me to give money to the program.

That is unbelievable. Please contact the new assistant AD David Cantor and let him know about this "policy". I am certain he will be open to new thinking to get $$$$$ flowing into Marshall athletics.........

[carolinaherdfan]

Just to clear this point up once and for all from my end. The University does not ever fail in phoning me about renewing my pledges, as well as, the alumni association. I am talking about our local chapter here. It is tanking.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :grin:

[yogiherd]

mutosufan,

With LAHerd on board as a BG official; you can bet with his background he will have a very good system and will be contacting all of the M Club members/former athletes. LAHerd was an excellent choice for the position and in the future all alumni will be  contacted about donating money or services for The Herd.

I think why you haven't been contacted is because some alumni names have been mis-placed or filed away and no one has taken the time or had the man power to check/find the mistakes. Remember a few years back how the ticket office never had enough people/hours to handle the ticket requests the proper way and a lot of Herd fans were upset about it. Since then the ticket office has improved and will be better because of hires like like LAHerd and etc..  

Sorry carolinaherdfan that i misunderstood your meaning about the Bg and  the local chapter leader  contacting you.

[carolinaherdfan]

Yogiherd, I just guessing now, but I believe we went to college together.  Anyhow, I hope that's you; if it is your loyalty is very solid, and you would know mine as well.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :grin:

[Blade]

I get calls.  I also get mail quite frequently from one club or another.

In March, I've received from Marshall:

Marshall Spring 2005 Magazine
Weekly Insider newspaper
Chadwick's newsletter
The Alumni Association about pledge
The Big Green for the dinner
E Mail from the QB club

There are 50,000 out of state alumni.  To contact all of them on the phone to ask for donations  would cost around $200,000, considering the cost of personnel to make the calls as well as the cost of of the call.

The cost of mailing all these folks would be around the same if not more taking into account the printing, envelope stuffing, postage and mailing, as well as opening the return mail.

Considering that only 3 percent of the alumni give, and the average casual donation is $50, I'd say it would be bad business to spend $200K for a return of $7500.

Even considering my assessment a pile of bunk (I just threw the numbers up other than the donation % and avg), I would have to be 25 TIMES too high just for the Big Green to break even.

If you really want to help Marshall, YOU will pick up the phone and help.

As for alumni clubs, I agree with you guys totally.  I have offered several times to help in fund raising events.  I've found that there are inner clicks in most clubs and if you're not in them, you don't get invited to help.  That's why I channel my resources towards specific clubs inside the athletics dept.

BGT if you are a Big Green supporter of substance and a season tix holder and don't get included in any BG mailings, or asked to renew you season tix, you need to get in touch with these people.  They are pretty good keeping in touch with me when they need money.  :???:

[2xBison]

excellent post Blade.

I think it would be easier for fans, alumni, and former players to find MU than the other way around.  If you really want to help or really want to increase your giving...pick up the phone.

[biggreenthunder]

If you really want to help Marshall, YOU will pick up the phone and help.

The thing is I DO pick up the phone and give.  I just find it unreal that, knowing that I will give, they don't call and ask for more.  I may or may not give it.  But it Kind of reminds me of a line from Christmas Vacation.

"In 13 years, Eddie couldn't find a job?"

"He was holding out for a management position."

If I saw a homeless guy on the street and said he needed money, I might ask him why he hasn't got a job.  If his reply is, "I've been waiting for someone to walk down the street and give me one but no one seems to do it" I might look at him pretty funny.  If you want something, you go get it.  You don't wait for someone to give it to you.  

I understand the logistics and costs associated with a calling plan but I think a targeted audience SHOULD be called.  Again, I already give.  I give what I can.  But how does Marshall know if that is all I can give or not?  Let's just say that the 3% of alumni giving is correct.  Well a good reason for that is probably because they've never been asked.  Even if a calling campaign only gets 6% of alumni to give, we'll double our money that we are already getting.

BGT if you are a Big Green supporter of substance and a season tix holder and don't get included in any BG mailings, or asked to renew you season tix, you need to get in touch with these people. They are pretty good keeping in touch with me when they need money

I get the letter postcards in the mail and renewal forms.  But a letter is a lot easier to chuck in the trash than it is to hang up on a real person asking for your support on the other end of the phone.  Heck, go for the cheap labor.  Go to the dorms and Fraternity houses.  Give them a script and a calling list.  I'll bet you could buy them off with pizza and a tour of the athletic facilities.

For a school that claims that they are bleeding in the red and seriously need money, they don't seem to me like they do much about it.  Maybe some of the people like Joan Edwards and Marshall Reynolds get solicited a lot.  But they need to look at the alumni that have been out of school like myself for 8-10 years, have stability in their income now, and may be able to give.  The reason they may not isn't because they won't.  They may not have been able to give earlier in life and now don't think about being able to give.  All it might take is asking for someone (not a mailing) to ask them the question.  If I was on a sinking ship, I wouldn't b!tch that no one is throwing me a life preserver as I go down with the boat.  I'd go find my own raft or life jacket myself.  If Marshall wants to better itself, Marshall better start doing seomething about it.

[Blade]

The thing is I DO pick up the phone and give. I just find it unreal that, knowing that I will give, they don't call and ask for more.

They do ask for more.  Ever heard of Herd10?  Marshall asks all givers to give 10% more this year than last.  Even on your yearly Big Green renewal, they do the math for you.

Last year's donation:  $100
This year's Herd10:  $110
Your pledge: $

Even if a calling campaign only gets 6% of alumni to give, we'll double our money that we are already getting.

It's not reasonable to assume that in the increased 3% you will find a Gibson, Reynolds or Edwards.  The fact is, you can probably get just as many "new" givers with a billboard or mass media than you can door-to-door so to speak.

But they need to look at the alumni that have been out of school like myself for 8-10 years, have stability in their income now, and may be able to give.

You are the only one that knows how stable your finances are.  Sadly, if you aren't giving now, nothing short of self revelation will cause you to give in the future.  Giving takes commitment.

If Marshall wants to better itself, Marshall better start doing seomething about it.

We are Marshall.

[biggreenthunder]

The fact is, you can probably get just as many "new" givers with a billboard or mass media than you can door-to-door so to speak.

Respectfully disagree with that.  I'm not a marketing major but I can guess that ad pitches from people (even on TV) make more affective sales than a cold piece of paper or static picture.  Much harder to turn down a person on the phone than it is to crinkle up a piece of mass mail and throw in the trash.

You are the only one that knows how stable your finances are. Sadly, if you aren't giving now, nothing short of self revelation will cause you to give in the future. Giving take commitment.

You're right.  I know.  Marshall doesn't.  In sales we have a saying.  "You don't get the sale if you never ask the question."  Only one way for Marshall to find that out.  (Short of doing a credit and background check on me.    :lol: )

I've talked to 3 different people in the last 3 years about giving money.  The reason they didn't before was because right out of college, when they were still very gung-ho about Marshall, they didn't have a lot of money and were trying to get their feet on the ground.  They developed a habit of not giving.  While their monetary picture improved, they had all other kinds of companies and products actively advertising for their dollars.  A decent portion of 8-12 year alumni that don't give probably don't give because it's not at the forefront of their minds.  While a post card may bring it forward a little bit, it can't handle objections or give a human element to the sales pitch that would make it easier to seal the deal.

[Mako]

There are 50,000 out of state alumni. To contact all of them on the phone to ask for donations would cost around $200,000, considering the cost of personnel to make the calls as well as the cost of of the call.

I'm going to dispute those figures somewhat.  Long distance is cheap.  With as many calls as Marshall makes, they should be able to get long distance service for around 2 cents per minute.  You can easily find students that would be willing to make the calls for $6.00 per hour.  (You can probably get them for minimum wage but this makes the math easy).  So, let's assume an average phone call of 3 minutes (obviously, some won't be home, some won't be interested, others will).  That's 6 cents per call or a total of $12,000 in phone expenses.  If a given student makes 20 calls per hour, at $6.00 per hour, employment expenses are 30 cents per call.  So, 36 cents per call x 50,000 = $18,000.  

The key here is to set up the ones that do donate with some type of repeating donation - say a certain amount per month.  If you got 5% of those you called to donate $10 per month, that's $2,500 per month or $30,000 per year.  Note the net profit of $12,000 in the first year but you don't have to make nearly the number of phone calls after the first go round but the money keeps coming in.

[Blade]

It would be interesting to see exact numbers.  I would imagine that they are somewhere between mine and MAKO's (60 cents/call LMSOTI is a bit unrealistic).  Also, with caller ID, I would assume that getting 5% to even answer the phone, let alone donate better than twice the average initial donation would be more realistic.

Regardless, folks donate their hard earned money only when they are passionate about something.  Of the 25,000 that attend our home games, less than 3000 donate.  Why would you think it would be more if you called them on the phone?

[carolinaherdfan]

Blade, BGT, from the positions you occupy you fellows know what we need to do. I, in like manner know what the AD needs to initiate. Are the people in the AD unassuming, ignorant, or generally inept.

GO THUNDERINGHERD!

 :)  :grin:

[Mako]

I made a big time math error and don't know for the life of me how I missed it at the time.  50,000 phone calls at 6 cents per call is $3,000 rather than $12,000.  Remember, that some calls, maybe the majority with caller ID, will be left messages.

[pokey]

Let me say this if i may.........I started giving a couple of years ago, like many when my income became more stable.   I wanted to renew last year, and i wanted to do it online, so i wouldnt have the hassle of a phone call, mailing, etc......plus it was about midnight when i was trying to do this and i knew nobody would be in the office.  Well, i went to the Herdzone website and clicked on the big green link, and clicked on donate.......and the link wouldnt work.............so i sent them an email saying the link didn't work.  Well, i heard back from them 3 months later via email.  That sent me a message that they didnt care about my money.  (I ended up giving by the way), but my problem with them is that they should treat the 50$ or 250$ donors the same as they treat the $25,000 donors, because one day this little donor will eventually want to give more........and there are many more like me.  If they act like they don't care now, why should i care later?   and do you think if a $25000/year donor sent them an email it wouldve been answered ALOT sooner?(hypothetical question)

[biggreenthunder]

Let me say this if i may.........I started giving a couple of years ago, like many when my income became more stable.   I wanted to renew last year, and i wanted to do it online, so i wouldnt have the hassle of a phone call, mailing, etc......plus it was about midnight when i was trying to do this and i knew nobody would be in the office.  Well, i went to the Herdzone website and clicked on the big green link, and clicked on donate.......and the link wouldnt work.............so i sent them an email saying the link didn't work.  Well, i heard back from them 3 months later via email.  That sent me a message that they didnt care about my money.  (I ended up giving by the way), but my problem with them is that they should treat the 50$ or 250$ donors the same as they treat the $25,000 donors, because one day this little donor will eventually want to give more........and there are many more like me.  If they act like they don't care now, why should i care later?   and do you think if a $25000/year donor sent them an email it wouldve been answered ALOT sooner?(hypothetical question)

My point exactly Pokey.  There are a much greater number of those that give $50-500 than there are for $501 and up.

[Garbanjo]

Great post pokey. Please make LA Herd Fan aware of this, as it is obvious that we have to start getting more $$$ in smaller bundles from many more donors.

Clemson is in the middle of nowhere, yet they have been able to build a football program that raised the profile of the university high enough that it is actually a better academic institution than South Carolina.

How did this happen? Steady growth via IPTAY (I Pay Ten A Year) and cheating like crazy. We need to build a bigger base of paying alumni. We have plenty of alumni and interested people around the prgram, but my guess is that many do nothing to support the program. Marketing to the $50-100 per year folks can add up, as Clemson has demonstrated.............

[Blade]

I would like to see the email where they said "they didn't care about your money".  Someone should have their a$$ handed to them for that statement.  Not doubting you pokey but do you have a copy of that email?