The organizational full membership “Annual Meeting” of The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County successfully kicked-off the 2013-14 club year Thursday, August 1, at VFW Post 1058 in Zanesville. Several Muskingum County Ohio State students and their families were in attendance for the special Student Send-Off and Recognition program. President Terry Kopchak presented gifts to OSUACMC 2013 scholarship winners and other OSU bound freshmen students, who introduced themselves to the crowd. Photos were taken of the students by parents and club members, and guest speaker Dan Pohl (OSU Admissions Counselor) provided an official welcome to Ohio State and described some of the activities to which the new students could look forward. Dan provided some facts and figures regarding the entering OSU class and stated that they had an average ACT score of 28.4 and that OSU has a freshman retention rate of 93 percent, which is well above the national average.
Secretary Rick Bunner read the minutes from the 2012 Annual Meeting, which were promptly approved by the members. Treasurer Donna Cole reported that the Club balance at the time of the meeting was $8,301.08. She also reminded club members that they could make donations to our account with the Muskingum County Community Foundation, which supports our scholarship program along with our other fundraising activities.
Terry Kopchak reviewed the activities of the club from the previous membership year, which included: purchase and sale of 40 tickets to the OSU/California football game; Terry’s attendance of the OSU Alumni Association Volunteer Appreciation meeting; the selection of our club as an Outstanding Alumni Club for 2012; five club executive board meetings were held: the sale of 30 tickets for the OSU/Savannah men’s basketball game; participation in the Muskingum County Community Foundation Groundhog Day event; representation at the College Night; the awarding of scholarships to 14 Muskingum County students; mailing of newsletters and maintenance of our website and FaceBook page; and the holding of our annual scholarship auction on 6/20/13 during which we recognized Dick (posthumous) and Joyce Dittmar as OSUACMC Outstanding Alumni and recognized John Ridneour (auctioneer who has assisted free of charge for all of our auctions) as Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC. The featured auction speaker was Jonathan Waters, Director of the OSU Marching Band.
A slate of candidates for the OSUACMC elected offices was presented by Nominating Committee Chair Rick Bunner to include: Terry Kopchak (president), Jean Bell (vice-president), Rick Bunner (secretary) and Donna Cole (treasurer). Nominations from the floor were requested, but none were offered and the slate of 2013-14 officers was approved by the members.
President Kopchak presented a look ahead to future club events to include: block of tickets for qualifying OSUACMC members to the OSU/San Diego State football game September 7; OSU Alumni Night at the Steak ‘n Shake in September or October; attendance of club representative to the OSUAA Club and Society Leadership Symposium on October 18, 2013; a football watch party at The Barn for the OSU/Purdue game November 2; OSUACMC ticket block for an upcoming men’s basketball game; participating in the MCCF Groundhog Day fundraiser; Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast for March 1, 2014; College Night representation (date to be determined); and our annual scholarship auction to be held sometime between April and June, 2014.
Club business then moved to the distribution and sale of season tickets for the upcoming football season. Names were drawn for the opportunity to purchase the tickets: Ben Whitacre – Wisconsin; Rick Bunner – Penn State; Susie Bunner – Indiana; Van Hoyt – Iowa; Terry Kopchak – Buffalo; Joyce Dittmar – Florida A&M and Judy Tyson – San Diego State.
“Jewelry by Judy” was available for purchase throughout the event, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the local OSU Alumni Club.
All in all, it was a great turnout for an enjoyable evening of The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County!