October 2005 Development Newsletter

Article Body: On a scale of 1 - 10 the weather was a perfect 11 for Homecoming 2005.

It felt more like the merry month of May instead of the sometimes damp and nippy October. For those of you who could not make the trip back to "the hill" this year, this edition of the Development Office newsletter is top heavy with homecoming photos. We want you to feel like you were here!

The annual Tug of War between the various student houses was fun for alumni and friends who arrived in Lamoni early. This year Shalom and Cheville houses proved to be an unbeatable combination. The competition left many of the students pledging to hit the weight room to be better prepared for the next "tug" in 2006.

Homecoming Friday was another smashing success with the "Alumni College" presentations and the Emeriti and Awards banquet. This year's Distinguished Service Award winners were Norm Swails (class of 1950) and Bill Higdon (class of 1949). Jack and Phillis Davison became honorary Graceland alumni...they were beaming...and Don Compier was honored with the Graceland Award of Recognition. The Alumni Silent auction was another event that raised funds for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship.

For many the highlight of any homecoming is the football game and once again the Cris Welch led Yellowjackets did not disappoint. Graceland manhandled conference rival William Jewell 47-26! During halftime the Mineral Water Bowl Team of 1975 was inducted into the Yellowjacket Wall of Fame. The guys received a special plaque commemorating the day and a reception was held right after the game. Of all of the fellas who came back Dave Rittman of Des Moines looked like he could best still put on a uniform and play. Thankfully the Yellowjackets didn't need him.

Wow! You should have seen the Homecoming play. "Bye Bye Birdie" played before a nearly packed house each and every night. And Homecoming 2005 wrapped up perfectly Sunday morning with the annual Heritage Club and Presidential Societies brunch. The Heritage Club is for alumni and friends who plan to leave a gift to Graceland at their passing.

And joining the Heritage Club is just one of the many ways you can become part of the ongoing Graceland Forever Capital Campaign Phase II...by now you should know that our top priority is building a state-of-the-art Science and Technology Center. This month's Donor Spotlight shines brightly on Ken and Cindy McClain of Independence, Missouri. Ken is the Co-Chairman of the campaign and stepped up to the plate with a $500,000 pledge. Quoting Ken, "we have been greatly blessed after making this gift and you will be blessed also if you choose to do the same." Why not take the McClains' challenge by making a gift today!

If you plan to make a gift to Graceland before the end of the year and aren't quite sure which assets would be best, you need to know that the United States Congress has just created a significant temporary tax break with regards to using funds in IRA accounts. This exciting news is what our Director of Development, Todd Sturgis, wants to bring you in Todd's Tip of the Month.

The "buzz" from the Graceland sports beats: The Women's Soccer team has earned the 2nd seed in the 2005 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship that will be held November 16-22 in Olathe, Kansas. Coach Ivan Joseph and Associate Head Coach Fred Wagenaar coached the Women's squad to a 14-2-2 regular season record. The Men's Soccer team won the Heart of America Conference Championship, their second title in the last 18 years! Congratulations to Coach Joseph and both teams! The Men's Cross Country team will send four runners to the National meet while the ladies have three qualifiers. The Women's Volleyball team ended their regular season with a stellar 22-9 record and has advanced to the HAAC Conference Championship match.

Before we call it a wrap, here's a heads up to those of you who would be interested in getting an early jump on your summer golf games. The Yellowjacket Club is putting together another fundraising outing slated for Arizona in April. If you'd like to have some fun and make a difference at Graceland in the process then contact our resident scratch golfer, Todd Sturgis. Fore!

That's it for now, thanks for listening, you've been great! Here's hoping you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here on "the hill" we are thankful for the extended Graceland family that spans the globe.
Event Date: 10/31/2005 2:05 PM