Ohio State grads continue to move to San Diego - we've added many new members this past year. Welcome to all of our new members and thanks to all grads for continuing your membership and supporting our club again this year.

1997-98 included many exciting activities for our club. Once again, we packed Moondoggies every Saturday for our weekly football TV parties - we received every Ohio State game by satellite last fall. Our "Parade of Lights" party was truly memorable. Our annual theatre party continues to be a successful event as do our Angels-Indians and Reds-Padres games. This year's annual meeting with Archie Griffin as our speaker was very exciting. Robert Caldwell, editor of the Sunday Insight Section of the Union-Tribune, shared the highlights of his career from his days of writing for The Lantern to his current position of providing an outstanding weekly perspective of world events and issues. Moonlight kayaking continues to be a popular event as well. The spring, 1997 visit of the OSU Men's Volleyball team was terrific. Their local win over San Diego State was certainly exciting and their win 2 days later over #1 ranked Pepperdine was outstanding.

Our club's goals for 1998-99 are to:

1. Significantly Increase Local Scholarship Fund - we need a Scholarship Chairperson(!!)
2. Significantly increase Student Recruitment Activities
3. Increase Membership
4. Be responsive to our membership
5. Get more people involved as committee members and increase participation in club events
6. Recruit future alumni club leaders

We're looking for an energetic volunteer to head our Scholarship Committee this year. Please call me if you're interested. We're looking for new and innovative ways to increase local alumni contributions to our Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from our events go directly into the scholarship fund. Direct contributions to our local scholarship fund are tax-deductible when the check is made out to The Ohio State Alumni Association and sent to us. To be very candid, we've fallen significantly behind the majority of alumni clubs around the country in this important area. There is a box on the form to make a pledge this year - please consider making a donation. Thanks, in advance, for your support in this area - we really need EVERYONE's help!

We're hoping to get Bobby Hoying to speak to our club during the Minnesota game (Homecoming) at our gathering place, Moondoggies in Pacific Beach, on October 17th. Bobby is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles - who will be playing the Chargers on October 18th in Qualcomm Stadium. We're also planning a club event, including a tailgate party, for that game.

A special Buckeye "Thank You" goes out to Susan Holko, our outstanding club secretary for the past several years. Susan was presented with a recognition plaque at our recent annual meeting. Congratulations to Kim Best on being elected club secretary for 1998-99. Kim is already making significant contributions to our club. Thank you, Kim, for stepping forward to fill this very important position with our club!!

In order to increase membership and participation in club events, we're again asking for your ideas for adding new and different club events. We're trying new things every year and we'd like to continue to add events to our annual calendar. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Gary Rectenwald
 
 

The program began with Robert J. Caldwell, Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune Sunday Insight Section, speaking to fellow alumni about his days at OSU working for the student newspaper, The Lantern, and his many travels and experiences since that time (a few years ago). We thank Robert for his time, insight and enthusiasm.

The featured speaker, Archie Griffin, entertained us with football stories from his remarkable four years at OSU as well as details about his years in Cincinnati as a pro-football player. Currently an Associate Athletic Director at OSU, Archie reviewed his days at Ohio State playing for Coach Hayes and he also provided us with an excellent perspective of the inner workings and challenges in college athletics today. Archie's talk, scheduled for 30 minutes, lasted nearly 90 minutes and the crowd still didn't want to stop.

George and Rebecca Lefebvre created a cake representing the North Atlantic. Cruising at full speed on the ocean was a large vessel which replicated the Titanic - only that it was named "Michigan Wolverines" ... a few inches from the ship were 2 large icebergs with "Ohio State Buckeyes" inscribed on each. The cake was delicious too! Thank you George and Rebecca for another creative and yummy work of art.

Mark Basford presided over the election of officers for 1998-1999; the following local alumni were elected: President, Gary Rectenwald; Vice President, Jera Ratliff; Secretary, Kim Best; Treasurer, Ted Reiff. Gary presented a certificate of appreciation to Susan Holko for serving two years as Secretary.

The Club wishes to thank Kristine Entwhistle for arranging to have the event at the Hyatt Islandia and for taking care of last minute details.
 
 

You will notice a block on the membership form that asks you to pledge an amount per point that the Buckeyes score this year (The Buckeyes scored 380 points during the 1997 season). We will be keeping track of the growth of the fund on a weekly basis and will post the results at Moondoggies each week, so whatever you can contribute will be greatly appreciated! We will send each of the contributors an invoice in December so that it will be easy for you to write those checks. Your contributions are tax-deductible in 1998.
 
 

After Coach Pete Hanson’s team arrived in Los Angeles, they headed down the 5 to San Diego. They were met by club president Gary Rectenwald and event chairman Mark Basford, who escorted them to the Point Loma Naval Base. There they were greeted by Ohio State grad Commander Tom Ross, Captain of the USS Coronado. Following a group photo taken on the ship’s flight deck, Commander Ross treated the team members to a luncheon served in the officer’s dining room followed by a guided tour of his ship. The USS Coronado served as the communications nerve center during the Persian Gulf War. After the tour, the Bucks received an extra treat; a tour of the nuclear submarine USS Salt Lake City.

Then it was on to the main event, a volleyball match against San Diego State University. After overcoming a slow start, the Buckeyes proved why they are one of the nation’s volleyball powers by defeating the Aztecs 3-2 in a dramatic game five tie-breaker. Following the exciting match, Buckeye fans in attendance had the opportunity to meet the players and coaches at a special post-game reception in Peterson Gym. The volleyball team concluded their very successful west coast swing by defeating Loyola Marymount and upsetting then number one ranked Pepperdine in Malibu before returning to Columbus.

Only a disappointing loss in their league tournament prevented the team from qualifying for the NCAA Final Four in Hawaii. Coach Pete Hanson was selected national coach of the year by Volleyball Magazine, and players Angel Aja, Jeff Koterba, and Rene Esteves were elected to the All-American teams.

Team members are already anticipating their next visit to soak up the warm California sun and enjoy more Ohio State San Diego alumni hospitality.
 
 

We need your help. There are many ways to contribute to reaching our goal. A direct contribution to the fund is always greatly appreciated. We’re also asking club members to consider making an annual pledge of your age and/or making a pledge for every point scored by the Ohio State football team this fall.

As always, we'll be conducting a BIG RAFFLE at the Ohio State - Michigan football game on November 21, 1998.

Proceeds from all events go directly to our scholarship fund. To date, we've collected $3,000. To those who have contributed in the past, we respectfully thank you!!
 
 

On the website, you'll find a listing of upcoming club events, our Buckeye hotline number, club resources, links to many areas of interest around the University and about the University, including the football team. For example, you'll find links to other Ohio State Alumni Clubs, to The Ohio State University or you can take a tour of the Ohio State campus. You can even read copies of The Lantern or the Columbus Dispatch daily. There are also "Buckeye Fanatic" sites like OZONE .

Thanks Don for your great leadership in creating this wonderful resource for our club.
 
 

If you're a secondary high school teacher and would be interested in helping our alumni club in our student recruitment efforts, please contact Dave Fenner. It has been our experience that clubs with significant involvement from the secondary high school teacher ranks produce much greater results in their recruiting efforts. This is especially true for out-of-state clubs like ours.

We need to get the word out to more local students about Ohio State’s great programs. This means more contact with them directly in the high schools. The student recruitment committee appreciates any and all help that volunteers can provide. The primary focus this fall is to present the Ohio State picture at College Nights at the various high schools and convention centers. I need assistance in some of these events but the real need is for Alumni volunteers to appear for an hour or two at a high school visit. This means that, in September and October, our goal is to schedule one hour at each high school in the county and at the appointed time, the school counselor sends students who have indicated interest in Ohio State to your display to ask questions. This time is all pre-arranged and lots of informational materials are available for hand-outs. If you can help with these high school visits or personal contacts, even if you would be available for just one half day or a few hours, please let Dave Fenner know by phone at 575-1543 or e-mail at dfenn@sdcoe.k12.ca.us.

Gary Rectenwald has contacted the Philadelphia Eagles’ Public Relations Office and invited Bobby to join us on Saturday, October 17th, to watch our Buckeyes take on Minnesota. Providing his practice schedule works out, etc., Bobby is going to try to make it. Please join us for this year’s homecoming game and to help us make Bobby feel welcome. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.. PST. For further gameday information please call the Buckeye Hotline at 685-2056.

The Ohio State Alumni Association of San Diego is planning on attending the Chargers-Eagles game on Sunday as well. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start-time and the tickets are $45 each. The tickets are located on the 10 yard line at the top of the Field Level. We will have a full view of the scoreboard. If you are interested in attending, please include the number of tickets desired along with payment on the application form. For additional questions, contact Gary Rectenwald at 454-4758 or the Buckeye Hotline at 685-2056.

The Buckeye Sports Bulletin provides the hottest sports information year-round with 30 issues including weekly publications during the football season. The price you pay is the normal subscription rate of $45/year for 2nd-class delivery or $74/year for first-class mail. However, $15 of either subscription fee will be returned to our club and deposited in our Scholarship Endowment fund. Call 1-800-760-2862 (24 hours/7 days) to order. PLEASE tell them you are a member of the Ohio State Alumni Club of San Diego. Those of you who already subscribe, please remember to state your affiliation to our club when you renew your subscription each year!

College Traditions (located next to the Varsity Club on Lane Avenue) has generously offered to donate 15% from all sales to San Diego club members back to the club. Catalogs are available by leaving your name and address on the Buckeye Hotline (685-2056). Current members should be receiving their catalogs soon. To order, you must call 1-800-628-4678. Please use our group account #AL9524 which will also be located on your catalog.

If you're interested, please mark the box on the Membership Form and call Gary Rectenwald at 454-4758. Thank you!!!
 
 

However, IF you still are an OSU Football Fan you will want to remember the date..September 30th. Do you hear me? SEPTEMBER 30!!! That will be the cut off date to postmark your membership application so that it will be eligible in the lottery for Bowl tickets (maybe even the National Championship Fiesta Bowl!). In years past we have given significant latitude in this date, but it makes it much simpler if you just send it in NOW and leave the rest to us.

Of course, ONLY local dues-paying members will receive the quarterly newsletter that is our lifeline for events, be eligible for special events such as the Bowl ticket lottery, and be able to share in the true Buckeye spirit that has rebuilt this club to one of the finest in the nation! Please do not confuse your local membership with that of the OSU Alumni Association in Columbus. Although we share goals and a unified philosophy for Ohio State we are certainly separate organizations.

In addition to all of these great items, we are running an incentive program for new members for the 1998-1999 membership year. If you have never been a member of our great club before, here is your chance to get an added bonus. For every new membership paid this year (single or family) we will offer you a club t-shirt for free. Sign up now to take advantage of this great offer!

And one last thought...anyone out there who is interested in helping with club events, has ideas or magical skills PLEASE do not hesitate to step forward and claim YOUR club and get involved. Just leave a message on the Hotline directly and we'll be glad to have you aboard. Remember this is your club and the more Buckeye Brains we have the better we will be!

We're very hopeful to be able to watch the first eleven games from Moondoggies this year and to watch our team live at the national championship game (January 4th, 1999) at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe! Hope to see you at Moondoggies on September 5th!!

Published quarterly by

The Ohio State Alumni Club of San Diego

P. O. Box 16102

San Diego, CA 92176