Topeka Jayhawk  Club

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October 2007

TAILGATE RETURNS
After a one-year hiatus due to circumstances beyond TJC's control, the tailgate is back!  TJC will be partnering with Crown Beverage of Lawrence for a tailgate party October 13, 3 hrs prior to kickoff.  Cost is $15/person.  We would not be able to put on a tailgate of this size on the hill without a sponsor who picks up much of the cost.  So, if you see a representative of Crown Beverage at the party, please thank them--profusely.

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TJC FUNDS ENDOW CONFERENCE ROOM
Previous articles have focused on the golf tournament proceeds and what to do with them.  The original plan was to transfer the funds to the KU Endowment Association to eventually endow a full athletic scholarship.  That means donating enough money to establish a fund that is so large that the interest earned on it is equivalent to an athlete's needs for the year.  KU athletic officials approached TJC several years ago and indicated that it would be several decades until we'd endowed a full scholarship with the average proceeds of our golf tournaments.   Since then, current golf proceeds each year go directly to the athletic association to pay for one athletic scholarship outright for the following year.  However, the original account in excess of $100,000 in the endowment association was still sitting there earning interest.  The athletic association proposed having TJC transfer the endowment fund to the athletic department to underwrite the cost of part of the new football complex expansion.  After several meetings in which board representatives inquired as to what could be underwritten with that amount, the athletic department has proposed, and the board has agreed to transfer the funds with a large conference room just inside the main doors to be listed as donated by the Topeka Jayhawk Club.  Once the building is open, TJC will be looking at a way to offer our membership the opportunity to see "our" room.  In the meantime, each year our golf donation will continue to be applied to an athletic scholarship for that year.

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TRASH TALKIN' AMMO
Face it, we can't do much about how well our team does on the field October 6 in Manhattan (other than cheer if we're present), but we can be prepared for the usual trash talkin' usually initiated by those purple people.  We'll let the team do our talkin' when it comes to football, but here are some helpful facts when "discussing" some other items they like to bring up.  In 2006, KU enrolled 71 National Merit Scholars.  KSU enrolled 9.  Ever heard that myth that K-State has had more Rhodes scholars?  Not true! KU has had 25 Rhodes scholars. K-State has had 11.  KU has had more than all other Kansas universities combined.  The most recent Rhodes scholar was Ruth Ann French from KU in 2005.  KU student/faculty ratio is 13/1. KSU's is 21/1.  KU enrolls more Kansas students than KSU--20,508 to 18,428 (2006 figures).  Even if Johnson County students are taken out, KU STILL enrolls more Kansans than KSU.  KU enrolls more KSU transfer students than from any other 4-year institution. (Some apparently see the light.)  25 universities in the US have a Wildcat mascot.  There's only one Jayhawk.  Oh, and lest we forget--Football: KU leads KSU--62-37-5. Men's basketball: KU leads 173-89.

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TJC 2008 GIFT SELECTED
Look for a KU blue acrylic insulated mug as your TJC membership "gift" for 2008.  We're hoping to have them available in December if the Self luncheon is scheduled then.

LOCAL KU HONORS BANQUET SCHEDULED
On November 13, the KU Alumni Association will once again honor top area high school seniors at an banquet.  Lisa Pinamonti Kress, Director of KU Admissions, will speak, and KU music students will perform.  TJC volunteers will assist local alumni volunteers to welcome students and their families.

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Carry your card... It has benefits...TJC Friendly Merchants
Here is the link:

http://www.topekajayhawkclub.com/Merchants.shtml

If you own a business or know of a business that would like to participate in the TJC Friendly Merchant Campaign, let me know and I’ll contact them. Fans helping fans...Call 271-1224 or email me at pat@topekajayhawkclub.com. We will continually be adding to the list, so check out our website often! This is just starting to roll, so get in on the ground floor.

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MANGINO PICNIC ROUSING START FOR FOOTBALL
Sunday evening July 29 saw several hundred TJC members and guests gather to clap, sing and cheer on Coach Mark Mangino who updated the crowd on expectations and progress for the upcoming season.  As this is written, so far his predictions are right on schedule, and KU fans are football-excited!

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LOCAL ALUMNI CHAPTER CHARTERED
On September 19, local KU alumni members chartered the Topeka local chapter.  Executive committee members were chosen to serve until a formal board is put in place.  Members are Tracy Keegan, Tyler Johnson, Diane Bean and Larry Tenopir.  Most of those attending the organizational meeting have long been active in TJC activities.  TJC will continue to deal with support of KU athletics since especially athletics appeals to all kinds of Topeka area fans--many of whom are not members of the alumni association.  The alumni chapter will support other university activities in the Topeka area, beginning with the November honors banquet.

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KU GENERATIONS PICNIC HUGE SUCCESS
The KU Alumni Association sponsored a summer picnic for incoming area KU freshmen and their families on July 23 at Gage Park.  This year's crowd exceeded 100 and was easily triple the size of last year's initial event.  Next year's event is anticipated to be even larger, necessitating a move to the largest sheltherhouse available at Gage.  The picnic offers a friendly welcome from local alumni and association staff, establishing the kind of family feeling that we old alumni would have welcomed.  A warm, fuzzy feeling was had by all when alums and freshmen sang the alma mater, arm-in-arm.

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