BOISE
As former Baseball Coach Steve Hertz has always quipped, “Once a Zag, always a Zag.” This ideology has helped the Boise Chapter in its growth by continuing to expand its community reach, fit in numerous game watches for the dedicated hoop fans, and educate our local Zag base on how important it is to “give back.” We continue to look forward to helping the Treasure Valley area on behalf of Gonzaga and appreciate the efforts of our alumni who make this happen. Here is to a successful 2012 for everyone. Contact: Geoffrey Goss, geoff@gggattorneys.com.
PHOENIX
The Phoenix Chapter has been pretty quiet as we all hunker down from an especially hot and dusty summer. We’re looking forward to a break in the temperatures and more events for fall including game watches and our first service activity. If you’re interested in getting involved with the Phoenix Chapter as we ramp up for the end of 2011, please send us an email at gonzagaphoenixalumni@gmail.com or visit us on our Facebook page.
PORTLAND
The Portland Chapter has been busy cultivating student fellowship, a regional scholarship opportunity, and alumni service and events. Late this summer we hosted the GU Student Send-off Party for the Class of 2015. The event gathered 138 students and their parents and offered incoming freshmen a chance to get to know some of their future classmates. Chapter alumni were on hand to provide students with tips on campus life and career opportunities and to help calm the separation anxiety felt by parents. The students enjoyed the bulldog cake and limited edition Oregon “GNZAGA” license plate T-shirts they received, as well as the opportunity to network with future business contacts in the area.
The Portland Chapter has recruited sports and athletic wear guru Greg Bui of Nike to help GU establish a Portland/Vancouver/Oregon area scholarship. He is assisting with fundraising efforts in anticipation of the first scholarship awards for the 2012-2013 academic year. Greg also proved instrumental in creating a launch video to entice donors for the scholarship. Also the chapter is promoting volunteer service for St. Andrew Nativity School. The Jesuit middle school’s president is GU alumna Loretta Wiltgen. Our alumni will do clean-up, fix-up and paint-up tasks to make the school more comfortable for students and dedicated faculty. GU Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Graves entertained and educated alumni and friends on October 15 with a sneak peek at the upcoming season. A hall of fame event, the GU Alumni Night at the Nike Employee Store will return on Jan. 27, just in time to get prime Zag gear for the GU v. UP Pilots game in Portland on Jan. 28. Contact: John Timm at john@timmco.com.
SEATTLE
The Seattle Chapter concluded the summer by helping to welcome the Class of 2015 at a New Student BBQ for Puget Sound area incoming students and their families. On September 11th, the Seattle Chapter hosted a special basketball game watch and post game meet and greet with former Zag standout Courtney Vandersloot as her new professional team, the Chicago Sky took on the Seattle Storm.
The following week, Sept. 17, marked the first Seattle Chapter wine tasting event at Tefft Cellars in Woodinville. In November, the Puget Sound Business forum hosted the annual Vintner’s Dinner and Auction to raise funds for the Gonzaga Business School. Director Timothy Westerhaus and the Gonzaga Choir returned to the Daniels Recital Hall in late November for their second annual Seattle Chapter performance. The Seattle Chapter also helped to organize pre-game activities for the Battle in Seattle against Arizona on Dec. 17.
The Gonzaga Alumni Mentoring Program and Seattle Chapter will hold the 11th annual GAMP Seattle Trek and Networking Dinner on Jan. 13 and 14, respectively. To register, visit zagsonline.org/gamp. Stay tuned for more details on 2012 events, including our sixth annual Spring Service Project with Rebuilding Together in April. To learn more about the Seattle Chapter or help plan events to bring parents, alumni, and friends of GU together, contact Matt Sullivan at mattsul@amazon.com.
SPOKANE
There’s nothing like early preparation when starting a new project. And the early mode is what Chair Amy Walker, Alumni Association staffer Kara Hertz and the rest of the Little Zag Committee are in as they’re setting up for a charitable fund-raising SpringFair on March 31. A recipient of the proceeds already has been selected. The Alumni Association holds an Easter Egg hunt each spring on Saturday, a week before Easter. So they have a captive audience of about 250 little tykes who, along with parents and friends, made perfect attendees at a carnival-type fund raiser, with proceeds going to a needy Spokane charity. And fun for the young ones too. The selected charity is Alexandria’s House, a 20-year operation of Volunteers of America, which provides shelter for homeless pregnant young women ages 16-20. Only six women at a time can be cared for in Alexandria’s House (named after the first baby born there). They attend classes on parenting and independent living skills and may stay until their babies are 18 months to 2 years old. All the members of the Chapter Committee are Gonzaga grads or friends. So, not only are the Little Zags going to grow up to be big Zags, community service already will be a part of their ethic. Contact Rol Herriges at sqrgr@comcast.net.
