PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY perspective January 1981 'It's a Matter of Pride'seems to be making the difference in Al& Fund II: s January began, PSU's A Alumni Fund II campaign had only $7.000 more to be raised, in order to reach this year's goal of $35,000. Campaign chairman Lee Koehn ('64), terms both the alumni and student participation "fantastic." "I really enjoyed my role as chair- man this year," Koehn adds. "I have learned even more about Portland State, and also have had an oppor- tunity to be more involved with the PSU administration, of which I am very impressed." Donations generated from the campaign, with a goal which is $10,000 higher than last year's suc- cessful $25,000 campaign, will help fund: the library. student scholarships (five $1,000 scholarships renewed each year), faculty development. plus classroom and lab equipment, according to Karen Martini, PSU's fund drive director. "It's been a sood campaiqn, because we've had such outstanding volunteers," says Martini. "Lee Koehn has been a great leader because he's so enthusiastic - and it's contagious. Both alumni and students have been tops," she adds. "The volunteers are having a very high success rate in getting pledges this year, for several reasons," says Martini. "They care about the University, and that comes through when they talk to other alumni. They have also shown a lot of persistence. When seeking pledges, the volunteers have been following through until they get a definite response." That dedication could be seen in the PSU student phonathon, an important part of the campaign, which ended nine concentrated nights of calling on Nov. 20. with a total of $13,030 pledged to the University. Nearly 300 students volunteered to work one or more nights in th~s year's phonathon, which began Nov. 5. Now in its second year, it was again organized by the PSU Student Foundation, a University service group. Larry Brandt. Student Foundation member, served as phonathon chairman. "We've received an incredibly high percentage of pledges," says Martini."Twenty-eight percent of alumni contacted said they would pledge a donation to the University. Last year, that figure was just under 20 percent." "In last year's first-time effort, the phonathon received just over $12,000 in pledges in 12 nights. This year, callers received 803 pledges in nine evenings, with an average pledge of $16.09, compared to last year's average of $14." Beyond the phonathon. the campaign also includes a personal solicitations effort conducted by alumni volunteers. To date, these volunteers have generated $12,795 in cash and pledges. In addition, the Holly Hill Memorial Fund, established in memory of an entering freshman killed in a recent auto accident. has helped move the campaign $2,240 closer to the total goal. A direct mail campaign, which begins this month, together with the continuing effort in personal solicitations, are expected to bring in the $7,000 needed to meet this year's fund goal, says Martini. The sounds of excited students filled the air for nine evenings in Smith Memorial Center. PSU student phonathon volunteers were dialing alumni for pledges to the University.
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