Connecting former students around the globe

From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Sun City, Ariz., and everywhere in between, the IU Alumni Association connects former students worldwide.\nJohn Hobson, IU Alumni Association senior vice president, said more than 100 IU alumni clubs exist worldwide. About 100,000 members currently belong to the association -- a large percentage of the 454,000 living alumni, he said.\n"It's among the five largest alumni associations in the United States. It serves graduates of all eight campuses," Hobson said.\nIU Alumni Clubs span every U.S. state as well as 15 other countries. There are groups organized in Taiwan, Turkey and Egypt, as well as throughout Europe and the southeast Asia.\nHobson said half of the members attended the Bloomington campus, the rest attended the other seven regional campuses.\nMike McCurry, president of the Chicago IU Alumni Club, said more than 4,000 dues-paying alumni belong to the Chicago chapter, making it the second largest group. Only the Indianapolis branch, with 12,000 members, is larger.\n"It's one of the largest alumni clubs. We have a lot of fun here in Chicago," McCurry said.\nIt has also received the IUAA Circle of Excellence Award for the past four years, which is given in recognition of the club's dedication and service to its alumni.\nThe group has eight meetings per year, and plays host to about one event per month, McCurry said.\nHe said the club's activities include charity work and events to bring alumni together. These include throwing parties for alumni during Big Ten football games and hosting IU student groups such as Union Board. McCurry said 150 members recently met at Wrigley Field for a Chicago Cubs game and attended a party afterward. \nThe club also awarded two scholarships for area students attending IU.\n"We do a bunch of small things, as well as big events," he said. "Our primary charity is the Chicago Food Depository."\nMcCurry, now in his third year of leadership, graduated in 1986 with a degree in Physical Education. He is now a Re/Max agent in metropolitan Chicago. Now, the organization is how he celebrates his college years.\n"I played football at IU. I wouldn't think of not being involved," he said.\nAlthough Bloomington is the traditional home of IU, Indianapolis is the biggest market for IU alumni, said Doug Buday, an Indianapolis board member.\n"From the magnitude of the Indianapolis market and the importance of the fan base, you could say that we are the standard bearer for IU alumni," Buday said. He is busy organizing one of the Indianapolis club's biggest events, the Pigskin Preview, featuring football coach Cam Cameron.\nThe luncheon is Wednesday, Aug. 29, and Buday said 400 alumni are expected to attend. IU President Myles Brand and Athletics Director Michael McNeely are expected to attend the pre-season football luncheon, Buday said.\nThe Indianapolis club also holds a Tipoff luncheon for the men's basketball team and a golf outing in the summer. \nThough more than 1,700 miles away from Bloomington, Nancy Bossert, president of the Sun Cities and Northwest Valley region of Arizona, said 250 active members belong to the club and 450 alumni receive mailings.\nShe said the Sun Cities area is a retirement community for residents age 55 and over, and that the club has tried to recruit working-age alumni as well.\n"We're hoping that we can interest some people who are not retired," said Bossert, a 1951 Education graduate.\nThe Sun Cities group meets twice yearly, but has to accommodate the schedules of the members, who though retired, have busy schedules.\n"Because we're retirement-age, the group is influenced by the fact that people only live here seven months out of the year -- they live elsewhere in the summer months," she said. "I've tried to interest the group in doing more."\nDuring the biannual meetings, members usually listen to a speaker or performer and enjoy "heavy hors d'oeuvres."\n"Last year, we had a delightful meeting with Ladies First (performing)," said Bossert, talking about the IU a cappella group . "But every time (we meet), we remember our roots from Bloomington and maybe sing the fight song"