MSU Red Cedar Message Board

It's a commitment to maintain official ties to the university. Since you're so young, suck it up and sign up for the lifetime membership and you'll save hundreds (thousands?) of dollars of annual dues.

I was renewing every year for a while but decided about 7 years ago to just do the lifetime membership. I have no idea if I'm saving any money at all, but I figured at the time, that I had the extra money to do the lifetime that it was probably worth it.

Where do you live, JMC? I've been doing stuff with the Mid-Michigan chapter and they're great.

Things are definitely improving under the new leadership - Scott has been barnstorming around the country to re-engage with local groups.

I'll have to check out the lifetime membership.

Washington, DC.

It's a semi-active chapter.

I suppose I should keep on keeping on. I try to fly back and go to games a couple times a year and my aunt and uncle still live in the area so I try to stay engaged on my own and frankly this website as good of an alumni association as anything-- thanks to Trevor for that.

Semi-active?

From what I understand it is fully active.

Lol Wut? Semi-active?

Plus the Gala and the various sports. They also just had the Pistons thing.

It's got to be top ten among the alumni clubs in terms of activity.

I am a student employee of the MSUAA, and they are currently conducting tons of research on this exact topic. What kinds of things would make the membership worth your while?

If I had one big one that would be it. The AA needs to do a better job of connecting job seekers with jobs creators, etc.

Also I think it needs to do a better job of getting our alumni in high places to hype up MSU and stuff the way the Harvards of the world do. Though that's prolly not something the AA has as much control over, I guess I just wish our alumni did it more.

Like I said I'm already a member so I'm not sure there is anything they could do to "make it worth it." I guess I'm just not clear on the additionall value added that justifies any price hike, although I'm sure like everything else it just needs periodical adjustments.

Has MSUAA ever thought of creating kind of a message board that would allow for alumni to connect a little bit over the internet in more specific MSUAA ways, so not like FTW and the shit on here but more like for job seekers or contact info for Local Chapters and information about them (I know most have websites, but if they're like the DC Spartans then it sucks). I just remember when I was job searching here in DC, neither the national nor local club was helpful at all for that because there wasn't any good way to connect with other alumni except at game watches etc. which aren't really the best time to talk about job openings, etc.

This is some great insight and I will pass it along to the ones who are working on this.

On your thought of connection over the internet, it's funny you mention that! A 'pipeline' of sorts is in the works to connect sudents with alum, and also alum with fellow alum, all via one portal that members would be able to log into. Its aim is to help connect Spartans who are job hunting, looking for relocation, trying to find people to hang out with, etc. all through one site instead of having to place tons of phone calls or cold call. Based upon the criteria a member selects, it will be dumped into the inbox of the appropriate person--whether that be a regional alumni club president, or a young alumni chair, or a given Spartan that may be seeking a certain type of employee.

The idea has gotten rave reviews in focus groups and discussions, and a lot of the technical work is being done now. As a current student, I think a membership will be worth it just for this reason.

I only give my donate to tRCMB..

The MSUAA uses social media very effectively...LinkedIN, Facebook and Twitter. I recommend that you check them out. These sites have built in discussion boards.

The MSUAA does a great job of connecting job seekers with job creators...MSUAA has helped place thousands of Spartans in jobs across the state of Michigan and the United States.

Also, the MSUAlum.com website lists information for each local club out there.

Really, it seems like you just don't know where to look. Everything you mentioned is already being done.