JMU - Alumni - On the Road - May
RECENT EVENTS
Check out photos and recaps from JMU alumni events around the country!
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MAY
5.22, Tidewater, Va.
What started as a quick trip to Tidewater for pre-event planning turned into a gorgeous night on the Pier that made working from the beach seem like a wonderful idea....
In all seriousness, things are looking AMAZING for the upcoming Tidewater Beach Party (register today!). With a beautiful view, some great new ideas (Dukes Dance-off?), and the usual JMU spirit and fun, this promises to be the biggest and best beach party yet!! Special thanks to Kelly Stefanko, Chapter President Alison Cooper, Ronnie Boone and Buddy Gadams for their hard work!
Helpful hint: Don't forget to wear your flip flops to the beach party. Gina's heels are still tracking sand into the office....
Next Tidewater Chapter event: 6/14, 5th Annual Beach Party
Our next stop: 6/6-6/7, Harrisonburg, Va.
Total miles traveled this summer: 2,918
5.17, Baltimore, Md.
Baltimore Alumni Chapter
Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals
An INCREDIBLE showing for the Baltimore/Annapolis Alumni Chapter, with 77 JMU alumni in attendance for the event!! The crowd enjoyed beautiful weather, a delicious all-you-can-eat picnic, and even got to see the Preakness (and a JMU shout-out) from the big screen!! Special thanks to Kevin Grunkemeyer and Chapter President Rebekah Porter for their hard work in planning such a successful event.
Seriously, word must be out about the Duke Dog's reign as the ultimate mascot. The Orioles Bird was kind enough to make an appearance, but couldn't hold a candle to our royal pooch!!
Next Baltimore Chapter event: 6/22, Group Sail
Our next stop: 5/22, Tidewater, Va.
Total miles traveled this summer: 2,488
5.16 - 5.17, Atlanta, Ga.
Friday, May 16: We picked up some more frequent flier miles with a trip to Hotlanta for the weekend! Would you believe that after arriving in (the astoundingly busy and large) Atlanta airport, our assigned rental car was PURPLE? Talk about a good omen for spreading the "Purple Pride" down south!! A special shout out to our Atlanta alumni for a fun night at Fox Sports Grill, including Andrew Whiteman ('99), Paul Brightbill ('91), Chapter President Melissa Roberts ('98) and future Duke Kylie Roberts!
Saturday, May 17: Jen Leonard ('02) and Jon Altizer ('06) braved the Atlanta traffic (which was apparently crazier than usual, even by ATL standards...yikes) for an afternoon meeting at Starbucks. As the caffeine flowed, so did the great ideas for new alumni events in Atlanta! Jon will be planning a happy hour this summer and Jen will be arranging JMU game-watching parties for the Atlanta Dukes faithful this fall!! Be on the lookout for details coming soon!! And, if you'd like to be part of the Atlanta leadership team, email Gina at dowellgc@jmu.edu.
Airport Sightings: JMU football shirt (Gina didn't want to scare anyone, so we hope you got the mental "Go Dukes" sent your way)!!
Next Atlanta Chapter Event: July 20, Atlanta Braves Outing
Our next stop: 5/17, Baltimore, Md.
Total miles traveled this summer: 2,156
5.13, Haymarket, Va.
No events this time around, but a great time meeting with MetroDukes
volunteers Shannon McQuary ('03) and Anna Tremblay ('02, '05M) to finalize details for the 16th Annual Madison Masters Scholarship Golf Tournament. A beautiful May evening with the gorgeous Piedmont Club as the setting? Things could certainly be a lot worse....
These ladies have done a fantastic job as tournament co-chairs and this year's tournament (June 9) is certainly on par (pun definitely intended) for success!
Next MetroDukes Chapter Event: May 17-18, Relay for Life Vienna 2008
Our next stop: 5/16-17, Atlanta, Ga.
Total miles traveled this summer: 1,072
5.12, Pennsylvania
Stop #1: Cranberry, Pa.
Despite the rain, Gina had a chance to sit down with Pittsburgh Alumni Chapter President Kimberly Witkowski ('05). Talk about a dedicated leader with a vision for connecting the purple and gold! All you Pittsburgh folks, be on the lookout for the chapter kick-off event this summer - a happy hour downtown.
Stop #2: Harrisburg, Pa. 
Three hours and about 200 miles later found Gina at Molly Brannigans for a traditional Irish dinner in the company of some stellar Dukes! Ready to make their mark amidst the Penn State craze of the area, Central Pennsylvania Chapter President Natalie Einsig ('99), VP of Outreach and Volunteer Management Abbigail Schubert ('04) and President-Elect Jennifer Tocks ('00) represented this brand-new chapter and finalized plans for its inaugural event.
Next Central PA Alumni Chapter event: 6/26, Dockside Willie's
Special kudos to:
Jennifer and Abbey, who, in typical JMU fashion, are taking multi-tasking to a new level by starting a chapter and planning its events while also coordinating their own weddings!!
The kind citizens of Harrisburg, who helped a lost native Ohian navigate her way between 2nd and 3rd street back to the parking deck. In the rain.
And from the road:
Three hours from Harrisburg back to Harrisonburg on Interstate 81 - always an adventure! But proud to see at least five JMU stickers en route!
Our next stop: 5/13, Washington, D.C.
Total miles traveled this summer: 880
5.8, Harrisonburg, Va.
JMU Alumni-Employee Appreciation Barbecue
After a fun-filled JM-U Appreciation Day, we continued the festivities with food, music and giveaways for the alumni employees of the university. More than 200 alumni, family and friends came out to the Festival Lawn to enjoy the celebration. Mother nature was even on our side, as the rain held out until just after the staff finished packing up! Thanks to everyone who made it out; we'll see you next year!
Biggest Hits of the Evening 
5. The beach music
4. The food
3. The alumni cell phone holder giveaways
2. The gold Hawaiian staff shirts worn by the Office of Alumni Relations
1. The mass quantity of JMU spirit!
Our next stop: 5/12, Pennsylvania
Total miles traveled this summer: 220
5.4, Roanoke, Va.
Roanoke Alumni Chapter Event
Salem Avalanche Baseball Game
Is there really a better way to spend a beautiful spring day, than at the ballpark with JMU alumni and friends?
We kicked off our summer on the road and the Roanoke Alumni Chapter celebrated its first event on Sunday, supporting the Salem Avalanche through a 10-6 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. More than 25 JMU alumni and friends turned out to enjoy the game and share their JMU spirit, including special guest and Director of the JMU Duke Club, Jeff Hill. 
Special shout outs go to our JMU alumni in-attendance, including Jeff Smith, chapter president, Andrew Holben, April Wilson, Stephanie Pritt, Susan Larkin, Liz Rorrer, Brian and Donna Hopkins-Britt and Beckie Spaid.
Kudos to the Roanoke Alumni Chapter for a successful first event since their relaunch in December! With a full leadership team in place and a successful first event, we know there are big things ahead for this group. If you’d like to get involved in the Roanoke Alumni Chapter, email roanokechpt@alumni.jmu.edu.
P.S. We’ll cut Mugsy (the Avalanche's St. Bernard) a little slack since Sunday was apparently his birthday, but we all know that our beloved Duke Dog takes the cake when it comes to mascots...
Next Roanoke Alumni Chapter event: 6/19, Social at 419 West
Our next stop: 5/8, Harrisonburg, Va.
Miles traveled: 220
- Oct. 11:
- Away Game Tailgate: JMU @ Richmond
- Oct 16.
- Harrisonburg APN Happy Hour
- Oct 16.
- Houston Professional Networking Social
- Oct. 18:
- Roanoke Alumni Service Projet
- Oct. 21:
- Nashville Happy Hour
David Ellis, Treasurer of the Black Alumni Chapter, is leading the BAC's newest student scholarship campaign, "$100 for the 100th." The goal is to raise $20,000 by Homecoming 2008.
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Last Modified: 9/16/2008
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