December 2007
Happy Holidays from the University of Memphis
Downtown Post Office Changes Hands
Make a Year-End Gift to Your University
Give the Gift of Membership This Holiday Season
Alumni News and Events
 Each year, the Campus School at the University
of Memphis has a holiday card contest with
students in grades one through six participating.
The winning design is then used as an electronic
holiday greeting which is sent to students,
faculty, staff, alumni, friends and supporters.
Congratulations
to first place winner, Ann Nash, grade 5;
second place winner, Vita Frazer, grade 4;
and third place winner, Austin Blanton, grade
2. Each received a commemorative certificate
and a savings bond.
Happy Holidays
from your friends at the University of Memphis!
 Possession of the former U.S. Customs House/Post
Office building in downtown Memphis has been
formally transferred from the federal government
to state government for its use as the new
law school for the University of Memphis.
The transfer took place December 3.
Renovation
of the historic building, which sits at the
intersection of Front Street and Monroe Avenue
in Memphis, overlooking the Mississippi River,
will begin immediately, with occupation by
the 500 students and faculty of the University's
Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law expected
in the fall of 2009. Converting the building
from its former use to a classroom building
will cost approximately $42 million, funded
by Tennessee as a capital outlay project.
A
$12 million private development campaign has
thus far raised commitments of $9.8 million
from the legal and business communities of
Memphis, as well as local foundations. That
money will cover the cost of the move of the
U.S. Postal Service operations from the old
Post Office to different facilities in Memphis
and will increase the law school's endowment
fund.
During this time of year, our campus is abuzz
with students finishing final exams and everyone
preparing for the beginning of a new semester
and a new year. We know December is a busy
month for you as well. In the midst of the
excitement that surrounds this time of year,
we hope you will consider making a gift to
the University of Memphis. Contributions provide
students with the opportunity to achieve success
here and beyond. Gifts of any size make a
difference.
While cash gifts are as
simple as writing a check, donors have many
options. To make a gift online using a credit
card, visit www.memphis.edu/give.htm.
The University requires that all gifts made
by credit card be submitted by midnight December
28 to be processed in the 2007 calendar year.
Donors who make gifts using appreciated
securities receive two benefits. First, they
avoid paying capital gains tax. Secondly,
they are entitled to a charitable deduction
equal to the fair market value of the securities.
Also, the Pension Protection Act of
2006 allows individuals who have reached the
age of 70 ½ to contribute as much as $100,000
tax-free from their IRAs and exclude the gift
amount from gross income.
For additional
information about making a gift, please contact
Marianne Minton, Director of Annual Giving
at 901-678-3955 or mrminton@memphis.edu.
Looking for a gift for someone who has everything?
Or do you need something special for that
new graduate or Tiger fan? Consider the gift
of membership in the Alumni Association. Your
$35 annual dues go a long way. They are used
to help sponsor activities like the Homecoming
parade, class reunions, pre-game Barn Bashes
and other Association activities. Dues are
also used to fund as many as 34 student scholarships,
as well as four Excellence in Teaching Awards,
five Excellence in Research Awards and two
Excellence in Advising Awards to University
faculty and staff. Members receive many benefits,
including invitations to events, discounts
at area businesses and more. Purchase a membership
today by contacting the Alumni Office at 901/678-ALUM.
Please visit our Holiday Message from the
University of Memphis Alumni Association by
going to www.memphis.edu/alumni/flash_holiday07/.
We invite you to pass along this great presentation
to all University of Memphis friends, fans
and supporters!
Join the Nashville
Club on December 15, as it cheers
on OUR Tiger basketball team when we take
on MTSU in Nashville. The Alumni Association
will host a party and Pep Rally from 4:00
to 6:00 p.m. at the Big Bang on 411 Broadway,
across from The Stage and The Sommet Center!
For more information, please contact Holly
Beuke at habeuke@memphis.edu
or 901/678-1782.
Join the Alumni Association
for New Orleans Bowl Fun! Tiger Fans are invited
to a True Blue Celebration on Thursday,
December 20, at 8:00 p.m. at Jackson
Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Our Mighty Sound of the South band and cheerleaders
will lead us in True Blue Spirit! Then get
your game face on and join us for a TRUE BLUE
Pep Rally on Game Day, Friday, December
21, at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Superdome.
Our event, sponsored by the Alumni Association
and Tiger Scholarship Fund, will get you ready
to fight like TIGERS! For more information
about Bowl activities, including local and
out of town game watches, please visit www.memphis.edu/releases/dec07/bowl.htm.
Save
the date: Distinguished Alumni Awards,
"Once in a Blue Moon," will be held at the
Peabody in downtown Memphis on Friday,
Feb. 29, 2008. Look for more details in
next month's e-news!
Join the Alumni
Association for fun pep rallies as the doors
open at the FedExForum for each home conference
game. Our pep squads will join our Mighty
Sound of the South, and the Alumni Association
will pass out True Blue giveaways!
Join
the University of Memphis Alumni Association
at the Daily Grill before each home basketball
game. Get ready to cheer on the Tigers
with Daily Grill Tiger Blue Margaritas all
season long. Members of the Alumni Association
will receive half-price Tiger Blue Margaritas
when they show their membership card.
The
Engineering Alumni Chapter will host
its Student Alumni Mixer on January 31,
2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Alumni Center.
Students can network with alumni at a casual
reception. If you are an alum of the College
of Engineering and you would like to participate,
please RSVP by calling (901) 678-3119 or email
alumnievents@memphis.edu.
Get
prepared for OUT OF TOWN WATCH PARTIES!
Looking for fellow alumni in the area to be
TRUE BLUE with?
• Atlanta Alumni Club
meets at Barnacles on 6365 Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard in Doraville
• Chicago Club
meets at Junior's Sports Lounge on 724 W.
Maxwell Street (one block east (of Halsted,
just south of Roosevelt)
Check out
www.memphis.edu/alumniclub
to see what's happening at the club or chapter
closest to where you live!
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