OSUSD Newsletter


November, 2000 
Volume  7   Number 3

Published quarterly by: 
The Ohio State Alumni Club of San Diego 
245 E Street 
Chula Vista, CA.  91910
For up-to-date information call the Buckeye Hotline (619) 685-2056. 

For Information Contact One of Our 2000 Club Officers


President:

  • Gary Rectenwald (858) 454-4758 sdbucki@pacbell.net
    • Vice President:
  • Jera Ratliff  (858) 689-9577  jlr4osu@hotmail.com
    • Secretary: Treasurer:

    Back To The Big Ten Party

    By Joyce Burchfield

     It was party time at Characters Bar and Grill at the La Jolla Marriott on Thursday, September 14th.  The spirit of the Big Ten was at its peak as San Diegan "Big Ten'rs" gathered together to kick off the football season with the 16th annual Back to the Big Ten Party.  A great buffet was provided and the desserts were yummy!  Each Big Ten school got to decorate their eating area with their favorite Big Ten school memorabilia.  This year a stuffed Brutus Buckeye caught everyone's attention as football fans viewed our display area.  Ohio State had a small but mighty showing, more folks than last year, but we would like to see more Buckeye spirited fans at next year's Big Ten party.  Lots of door prizes were given away.  The OSU Alumni Club of San Diego donated a $25.00 gift certificate from Blockbuster Video, which was won by our own club member, Joyce Burchfield. By the way, she also won a door prize last year, too!!  See how lucky you can be when you're a loyal fan and share that Buckeye enthusiasm?  The Back to the Big Ten Party is a great way to wear your school colors, have some friendly rivalry, and celebrate the kickoff of the Big Ten football season.  Help support the Buckeyes and show your team spirit at next years party, which will be held in September 2001. Call the Buckeye hotline for details.

    Danbury Mint Collectible OSU

    Stadium Raffle

     The Danbury Mint collectible OSU Stadium raffle drawing will be held on November 18, 2000.  The winning ticket will be drawn during the halftime of the OSU vs. Michigan football game at Moondoggies.  The lucky winner does not have to be present to win.  Raffle tickets are on sale NOW!!  If you have not already purchased your tickets, it is not too late.  Raffle tickets can be purchased at Moondoggies on football Saturdays or if you are not able to be at Moondoggies, you can call Joyce Burchfield at 858-456-7190 for ticket information.  Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.  This replica is done in cold cast porcelain, hand-painted and mounted on a wooden base.  The collectible stadium comes with a certificate of authenticity.  Remember, the horseshoe will never look like this again.  Don't delay, buy your tickets today!  All proceeds go to the Scholarship Fund.

    WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

     Have you been wanting to do something special for the OSU Alumni Club but you have been so busy and just haven't had enough time to volunteer or sign up for anything?  WELL...Have we got an offer for you!!  We need your help!  If you are interested or you know of anyone who would like to donate a nice item to our OSU vs. Michigan raffle, please let us know.  It doesn't have to be expensive (for instance, movie passes, gift baskets, gift certificates or a Buckeye craft).  Something thoughtful or creative will do.  Remember all proceeds go towards our OSU Scholarship Fund.  If you can help in any way, please contact Joyce Burchfield at 858-456-7190.  Thanks for your help!  GO-OOOOOO  BUCKS!

    Jera Ratliff awarded “Best Buckeye” award

     Our own Jera Ratliff was awarded the “Best Buckeye Award”, The Ohio State Alumni Association’s top club officer award, in September.  Jera has provided more than 10 years of leadership to our club and has continuously demonstrated her commitment and devotion to The Ohio State University.
     For the past 10 years, she has served as the club’s Vice President.  She has worn many hats, including overseeing membership, club events and organizing volunteers.
     After many years of not having a club in San Diego, Jera helped re-institutionalize, reinvigorate and reorganize the club in early 1990.  A survey was sent out to all 1,600 local alumni to determine (a) if they wanted a local alumni club in San Diego and, if so, what kind of club they would like to have.  After receiving a large number of responses, the club was reorganized consistent with the survey results.
     Due in a large part to Jera’s leadership, the Ohio State Alumni Club has received 7 “Outstanding Club” awards and 2 “Gold Star” awards.  Jera has chaired the membership committee since 1990.  The membership grew from 0 to 325 alumni within 3 years, about twice the national % in terms of active alumni for an out-of-state local alumni club.  Jera has also organized a wide variety of club events and fundraisers over the past 10 years.  She organized many community events including Toys For Tots, Habitat for Humanity and other events, which communicated to the San Diego community that Ohio State was well-represented and helping San Diego to become an even better place to live and work.
     Every local event requires (a) recruiting an event chairperson and (b) a list of committee members to work on the event.  Jera’s highly personal and always friendly relationship with the club membership has resulted in our ability to increase the quantity and quality of events offered each year.
     Jera has also enthusiastically participated in many student recruitment college fairs each year.  Her love of Ohio State is strongly evident.  Jera received the national association’s “Rising Star” award in 1994 and their “Community Service” award in 1996

    Message From The President

     Once again, Congratulations to the San Diego Alumni Club for being awarded The Ohio State Alumni Association’s highest award for the 2nd year in a row!  “We’re On A Roll!”
     We offer a wide variety of activities to our membership.  We have an outstanding student recruitment committee – probably the most active of any club in the country.  We also have outstanding club officers and committee chairs.
     A heartfelt congratulations to Jera Ratliff for achieving the “Best Buckeye Award” for 2000.  Jera’s been serving as Vice President of our club for 10 years.  Her positive attitude, dedication, sacrifice and overall excellence in everything she does has had a significant impact on our club.   CONGRATULATIONS JERA!!   Well deserved and long overdue!!
     We are planning some great activities in the coming months, including our annual Michigan bonfire, the Parade of Lights and holiday party in December, a tour of the Stennis, the largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the world in February, a theatre party and our annual meeting in the spring.  Any suggestions for additional club activities are enthusiastically welcomed.
     A special thanks to
     · Carl Best, Newsletter Editor
     · Don Zatyko, website creation and maintenance
     · Nate Dorsey, Buckeye Hotline
     · Dave Fenner and his entire scholarship
      committee
     · Tim Wilson, football TV party chair
     · Joyce Burchfield, football TV party reception
     · Ed Olander, who volunteers anywhere the club  needs help throughout the year
     In the event that the Ohio State football team travels to the Fiesta Bowl in late December, our club will plan a bowl trip.  Please check the Buckeye Hotline and club website for details.
             Gary Rectenwald

    San Diego Alumni Club Wins 2nd Gold Star Award In A Row!

     For the 2nd year in a row and for the 3rd time in the past 5 years, the San Diego Alumni Club was presented with The Ohio State University’s top award for alumni clubs:  The Gold Star Award.  This award is a result of a nomination process and then voted on by our peer alumni clubs across the nation.  The award is based on creating a leadership position in each of the following categories:
    · Fellowship and Networking · Student Recruiting · Community Activities
     We truly have an outstanding alumni club here in San Diego.  Thank you to all of our members for your enthusiastic participation and for volunteering to help us.  The San Diego community, our fellow local Big Ten alumni clubs and our peer alumni clubs across the country know that “Ohio’s here.”

    Feb tour of the USS Stennis

     We are (tentatively) planning a tour of the Stennis, the largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the Navy on a Saturday morning in February, 2001.  Our hope is to have the tour conducted by sailors from Ohio.  We are also hoping to be able to eat some Navy grub with the Stennis crew in the mess hall at lunchtime.  We are requesting a donation to our local scholarship fund.  We will post more information as it becomes available on our local website (www.osusandiego.com).

    National Alumni Magazine Features Gary Rectenwald’s Kosovo Family

     Gary Rectenwald’s Kosovo family was featured in the September Alumni Magazine published by The Ohio State University Alumni Association.  The article chronicles how Gary came to put his career and personal life on hold in order to host this family of 8 Albanian refugees in July, 1999.   The Ramnabaja family is still living with Gary and he is continuing to provide shelter and help the family adjust to living, working and gaining an education in America.  The article asks for anyone wanting to help with ongoing family expenses and special needs to contact Gary at sdbucki@pacbell.net.  “Gary is a very, very nice person,” says the family’s father.  “Gary is not my friend, he is my brother.”
     If you would like to help the family, tax deductible contributions made payable to the All Hollows Parish may be sent c/o Gary Rectenwald at 2067 Caminito Capa, La Jolla, CA  92037

    Buckeyes Journey to Arizona

     About 100 local San Diego alums toured over to the Tucson, Arizona in early September to watch Ohio State defeat the Arizona Wildcats in a classic Big Ten – Pac 10 football game.  Local hotel arrangements were made at the Doubletree Hotel where the Ohio State Alumni Band and Ohio State cheerleaders performed.  The accommodations were terrific and everyone had a great time.
     Our club is planning a similar trip to watch Ohio State beat UCLA in the Rose Bowl on September 22, 2001.  Stay tuned for more details.

    OSU Moves to #20 in US News' Rankings of Public Universities

    by Vickie Stone

     While attending the alumni leadership conference in Columbus, this September I was proud to hear Mable Freeman, PhD, AVP for the First Year Experience & interim Dir, of Undergraduate Admissions, announce the just released US News rankings of universities, which has OSU now ranked 20th in the nation, for public universities.  The announcement was met with resounding applause.  No other university moved up as much as OSU, which moved  from 28 to the 20th spot.
     US News overall ranking system rests on two pillars.  First, it relies on quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality.  Second, the rankings are based on US News nonpartisan views of what matters in education.
     The method that U.S. News uses to rank colleges and universities consists of three basic steps.  The colleges are categorized by mission and region, and they gather data from each on up to 16 indicators of academic excellence.  Each factor is assigned a weight that reflects their judgment about how much each measure matters.  Finally, the colleges in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score.
     Most of the data come from the colleges, although U.S. News takes pains to ensure their accuracy.  The 228 "national universities" offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. degrees, and emphasize faculty research.  The indicators US News uses to capture academic quality fall into seven categories: academic reputation, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and (for national universities and liberal arts colleges) "graduation rate performance" the difference between the proportion of students expected to graduate and the proportion who actually do.  The indicators include "input" measures that reflect a school's student body, its faculty, and its financial resources, and outcome measures that signal how well the institution does its job of educating students.
     Mable also shared some interesting information about the recent incoming Freshman class of OSU.  This years’ Freshmen class consisted of 5800 students.  31% ranked in the top 10% of their high school’s senior class.  Two thirds were in the top 25% of their high school graduating class.  The average ACT score was 25, where in 1995 the average was 23.  This is actually a remarkable increase for a school the size of Ohio State.  There were 1330 students enrolled in the Honors program, the largest ever for OSU, this program requires an ACT of 29, an SAT of 1300.  There were 245 valedictorians and 113 National Merit Scholarship recipients.  A new program was developed this year to recruit and attract those students just below the Honors level.  The program is called the Scholars Programs.
     The demographics of freshmen classes has changed significantly in the last 30 years.  In 1960, 18 year olds wanted to leave home and be independent.  Then in the 1990’s colleges noticed 18 year olds were more interested in community and staying in touch with their local friends, families and even parents.  This is increasingly possible due to the advent of internet email, of course.  They can stay at home and go to college yet feel connected to the world, via computer.  A new phenomena on college campuses has been witnessed, that of, “internet addictions”, where students experience excessive anxiety when they are separated from their computers!

    Kudos' Column

    by Vickie Stone

     This column is new, and will be a reoccurring column included in each newsletter, to acknowledge those alumni members that have gone out of their way to demonstrate true Buckeye spirit.  This quarter we gratefully acknowledge:
     Joyce Burchfield for the awesome job she does each Saturday at Moondoggies.  Each week Joyce sets up and mans the welcome table/gift shop.  She also, makes and shares her delicious chocolate and peanut butter buckeyes each week.
     Kudos to Joyce Burchfield and Betty Langer, for co-chairing, the clubs portion of the Back to the Big Ten Party in September.
     Kudos to our treasurer Jim Biddle for donating the “I Brake For All Animals Except Wolverines” bumper stickers to the clubs gift shop.
     Kudos to Kim Best who although just starting a brand new job, generously volunteered to create and maintain a new and improved membership database by inputting all recently received 100+ member applications for year 2000.
     Kudos to Dave Fenner, Bob Bates, Ed Olander, Shelley Zimmerman, Jera Ratliff, Jim Biddle, Roger Musgrave, David Happ, Debra Kisner and Vickie Stone who have tirelessly attended numerous college fairs this fall at San Diego area high schools, to spread the OSU gospel to curious high school juniors and seniors.
     Lastly, a special big Buckeye bonus kudos to the following San Diego alumni members that contributed to our San Diego scholarship fund this year. Our scholarship fund has increased by $600 thanks to these folks’ generous contributions.  Hats off to:
    Stan Bliss, Randy Brown, Jerome Brodish, Gary & Joyce Burchfield, James Davis, Ralph Frank, Ronald Haas, Dan Henderson, Doug Hoeck, Jack Hopkins, Betty Langer, Barbara Levine, Robert Maurer, Carol Miller, Ken Mountain, Gail Pliner, Ray & Bonnie Stewart, Tom and Charlotte Wilson.
     It’s not too late. Feel free to give your scholarship donation to Jim Biddle, our Club Treasurer.  Be sure to earmark your check to the SD OSU Alumni Scholarship fund.  Our goal is to eventually have $15,000 for an endowed scholarship fund.

    Upcoming Calendar for Buckeye Alumni Events

    (Call the Buckeye Hotline to confirm all times and dates.)

    Date   Event   Location  Time
    Nov. 11  Football OSU -Vs- Illinois Univ. Moondoggies  1:10 pm

    Nov. 17  Buckeye Bonfire Potluck  Mission Bay   5:00 - 9:00 (see article on
     page 5)

    Nov. 18  Football OSU -Vs- Michigan  Moondoggies  9:00 am
      (Brunch & Raffle)

    Dec. 17  Holiday Parade of Lights on SD Bay TBA  5:00 - 9:00 pm

    Jan. 28  Superbowl Party   Cardiff by the Sea TBA (Call Hotline)

    Feb.   Tour of the USS Stennis  NASNI    TBA

    Mar.   Theater Event   (we need a coordinator for this call one of the officers if you
      would like to help)

    Apr.   Annual Meeting w/ University Speaker

    Name Our Newsletter Contest!

     The officers of the alumni club have decided it’s time to have a name for our quarterly alumni club newsletter.  What better way to do this than with a contest?  So put on your thinking cap and submit your entries to the Buckeye hotline at 619-685-2056, or our web site at www.osusandiego.com or mail your entry to the club at:
       The Ohio State Alumni Club of San Diego
       245 “E” Street
       El Cajon, CA  91910
     The winning entry will receive a San Diego Alumni t-shirt and paid member dues for year 2001.  Duplicate entries will judged by who first submitted the name suggestion.  Try to think of ideas that incorporate OSU, Buckeyes, Alumni and San Diego, such as “Beach Buckeye Bulletin” or “SD OSU Alumni Waves”.  Have fun and submit those entries today.  Deadline is December 1st.

    Buckeyes Give Back to the Community

    by Vickie Stone

     In July, several Buckeye alumni turned out to contribute their time for our clubs’ community event.  We helped stuff invitations to be mailed to over six thousand invitees for CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) black-tie Funny Bone Ball.  This is the local CCI’s main fundraiser and they depend highly on volunteers contributing to this worthy cause.  CCI trains assistance dogs for the disabled.  If you want to feel inspired, feel free to witness the next graduation ceremony.  This is where the recipients graduate with their new, highly trained service dogs.  The next graduation is to be held November 11, 3:00 pm at the Mission San Luis Rey Parrish at 4070 Mission Ave. Hwy 76 in Oceanside.

    2nd Annual Buckeye Bonfire!!!

    By Joyce Burchfield

     Join the San Diego OSU Alumni club for our second annual pep-rally against Michigan.  OK, so it's an excuse to have a fun fall party. Come on out and join us California style. 5:00 PM - 9ish, Friday, November 17, at the De Anza Cove, in Mission Bay
     Other important info:  bring your own food & drink (no glass), service ware, firewood/palettes, beach chair, blanket, sweatshirt, s’mores, marshmallows or weenies for the fire, wire hangers, lanterns, camera.
     Directions: I-5 to Mission Bay exits Grand/Garnet from the north or Clairemont/Seaworld from the south.  Proceed to the far north end of Mission Bay, near the golf driving range and campground/trailer park.  De Anza Cove is north of the Visitor Center.  From the perimeter road on the Bay, head north, turn left into the first drive after the sign for De Anza Cove.  (This is the 2nd to last parking lot prior to the campground entrance.)  Look for our “O” sign & perhaps some balloons.  We will be down near the water, at one of the fire-rings in the sand, close to the restrooms.  Look for our banner and listen for our boom box playing the OSU fight song!
     RSVP to the Buckeye Hotline or for questions.  619-685-2056

    Let’s Earn Our Alumni Club a Longaberger Brick

    by Vickie Stone

     If you haven’t had the privilege of visiting YOUR new $10 million alumni house on the banks of the scenic Olentangy River on campus, you don’t know what you’re missing.  I attended the alumni leadership conference in September, held at the stunning Longaberger Alumni House.  While on break from the conference, I was able to walk around the patio areas with the intriguing engraved bricks.  I noticed our San Diego club wasn’t represented.  Do any other San Diego members think our first rate, top notch, multiple Gold Stars recipient club, deserves recognition at OUR alumni house?  Well, for as little as $500, our club can support the alumni house and have our own engraved brick.  Let me know what you think.  If you’re committed to this idea, please earmark any Buckeye brick bucks (donations you are able to give) to our treasurer, Jim Biddle.  Once we have the needed $500 (or more for a larger brick) we will route the money to Columbus.  See www.ohiostatealumni.org for more information.  Go bucks for bricks!

    Buckeye Football Post Season Bowl Bids

     After the disappointing and surprising Buckeye loss to Minnesota at Homecoming, it’s anybody’s guess where our Bucks could end up come Bowl time this season.  So stay tuned to the Buckeye Hotline and our web site for the latest information on any possible trips and/or bowl destinations.

    T’was the Night Before Game Day

    By Jill Morelli
    T’was the night before game day and all through the ‘Shoe
    Not a creature was stirring, except the grounds crew.
    The scoreboard was hung by the south stands with care,
    In hopes that the Bucks would soon post scores there.

    The field had been lowered in the month of December
    And the old scoreboard dropped.  Ah, I remember!
    In ’98 it began and in ’01 completes,
    Including the sitework and the rest of the seats.

    The field is all striped, the green grass is mowed.
    The seats are all numbered and ordered by row.
    I sit at my desk wondering what we’ve forgotten
    For should I have done so, my job will be gotten.

    When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
    I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
    And what to my wondering eyes should appear
    But a cantankerous coach with a legend at the rear.

    His voice carried over the field yet so green,
    “Chic, what do you think?  How does it seem?”
    “It’s a bit larger than mine, coach, what dreamers you were,
    But I think we can win here, its passions will stir.”

    They spoke not a word but went straight to their task,
    Blessing first all the fan’s seats and then the football field last.
    And with a “thumbs up” that was visible for onlookers to see
    Hayes and Harley disappeared simultaneously.

    And, I am left wondering what magic I’ve seen.
    As I retreat to my desk, it must be a dream.
    But tomorrow is game day and work still continues
    And there is much more to do on this sacred venue.

    The boxes are empty, not all seats are like new.
    No change to the pressbox, and the restrooms are few.
    But tomorrow is game day.  You’ll be welcomed there.
    It’s still under construction, please, do not despair.

    Let’s win it for Woody, for Chic and the rest,
    For Archie, for Eddie, for Rex.  They’re the best.
    But the ones that we cheer for are the athletes to come
    We built it for the future, the Buckeyes to come.
     

    Editors Note:  The Author, Jill Morelli is the universities architect for the new stadium renovations.

    RAFFLE..RAFFLE..RAFFLE

    It's that time again...time to take your chances and give it up for our growing scholarship fund.  Yup!  It's Raffle time...held each year during half-time for OSU vs. Michigan game (Nov. 18th am) at Moondoggies in Pacific Beach.   Tickets will still be the best Buckeye value @ 3/$5 and $10 each if you're a Wolverine. Let's make it the best $$ year yet!!!!

    Alumni Club Leaders' Conference

    By Jera Ratliff

     In the beautiful new Longaberger Alumni House many ardent OSU club leaders gathered in September to celebrate and to brainstorm for their clubs.  Vickie Stone (secretary) and Jera Ratliff (vice-president) attended this 49th annual event and were able to not only bring home some great new ideas for the club but also were presented with the "Gold Star" club award, reserved for only the top alumni clubs in the country. (See related article page 1)
     Speakers at the conference were full of information about the many great things happening at the university involving students and the changes on campus.  Among them were Jill Morelli, university architect for the stadium and other projects. She spoke of the challenges faced with keeping the history of a landmark intact while meeting updated codes and needs.  Good thing she is a TRUE Buckeye, it looks as though she has done a great job.  Way to go Jill!  Andy Geiger, Athletic Director for OSU, also spoke while crews feverishly cleared rubbish for the opening game.  Final completion of the 95K seat facility should be by this season's end.  The next projects for OSU include a new Jesse Owens track stadium and a remodel of Larkins Hall.
     One thing is very evident after attending this year's conference.  The "Changing Face of Ohio State" is real!  New structures, better students and higher rankings make The Ohio State University a moving force into the next millennium.  I am very proud to be a Buckeye!

    4 Sale 4 You!

    Just in case you haven't visited the awesome "Buckeye Gift Shoppe" during games at Moondoggies you should really get that gift list going and stop in during the last game, Nov. 18th.  There are local T-shirts, polos, and other items for gift giving.  But a special mention needs to be made of the following items:
     1)  "TBDBITL" 1999 Half-time Shows Videotapes (2 volume set) for $25.  Please order before the end of the year directly with member and band "king", Gary Rectenwald.
     2)  Bumper Stickers for $3 that proclaim our very strong feeling against Wolverines made for scholarship donation by our very own, Jim Biddle.  Get yours at the game or contact Jim.

    Join Us For the Parade of Lights

     Sunday, December 17th from 5-9pm we will once again be celebrating the Christmas holidays in San Diego style by viewing the Holiday Parade of Lights from a suite at either the Hilton (formerly the Travelodge) or the Holiday Inn On the Harbor hotel.  Mark your calendars now as this is a great event to start the holiday season off right, meeting with your fellow Buckeyes!  Cost will be around $10 for members and guests and $15 for Non-members (this is to cover the cost of the hotel suite and soft drinks).  Wear your warm, fuzzy OSU apparel or red and green as it can get cold on the hotel balcony over looking the bay.  Also bring a favorite dish to share.  More details will follow check the Buckeye Hotline as the date nears.

    Vote For the BUCKEYE Cactus!

     Just when you thought the elections were over, you have one more important task to vote for.  Vote for the NUTTIEST Buckeye through the National Alumni Club.  This year our very own George Lefebvre is competing with his "scholarship-earning" cacti designs. Find the pictures of all the competitors in the Nat'l magazine last issue (page 3) and then vote for the best (you can vote by emailing or calling the Columbus alumni club office).  Go, "buggling" George!

    Ohio Stadium Quick Facts

    • Built 1922
    • First Game Ohio Wesleyan, Oct. 7, 1922
    • Dedication Michigan, Oct. 21, 1922
    • Cost $1,341,000
    • Original Capacity 66,210
    • Present Capacity 89,841
    • First Artificial Turf 1971
    • Prescription Athletic Turf Installed 1990
    • Scoreboard Added 1984
    • Largest Crowd 95,537 (Notre Dame, 1995)
    • A Deck Seating 34,525  B Deck Seating 17,303
    • C Deck Seating 21,478  South Stands 13,960
    • Field Seats 2,575