| Website And Database Highlight Lettermen's Leap To New Level |
The Carolina Lettermen's Association has made excellent strides in its first year of an expanded operation. Now it needs to continue to build on the momentum as it compliments its current activities and moves toward a self-sustaining financial operation.
"We've taken a good step," says Tar Heel Coach John Bunting. "Things are in place. Follow through is needed at this point. We need to build on the energy and enthusiasm we have and make this a more viable and productive organization."
Three important components of the Carolina Lettermen are its website, directory and the Playbook newsletter. Each of these communications and connection tools are elements the group did not have one year ago.
The website (www.carolinalettermen.com) is updated regularly (weekly during the football season) with news about the association, its members and the current Tar Heel program. A message from Bunting is posted frequently. There is a section called "The Huddle" that encourages lettermen to submit personal news and items of interest and post messages germane to fellow lettermen. The site had nearly 20,000 unique visitors in its first 10 months of operation, with 4,200 unique visitors in its highest month of October.
The directory includes home and work addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and other pertinent data points. Nearly 1,000 lettermen are listed in the directory.
"We've gotten a lot of attention with our website and database from schools across the country," says Corey Holliday, an associate athletic director on the Tar Heel football staff. "Notre Dame has called us. Kansas has called us. They are interested in what we're doing, how we're doing it. They have more established lettermen or monogram clubs, but they don't have a database or website anything like what we have.
"It's nice that our association is setting the standard."
The association is working to fine-tune the directory with current addresses and information. Members are asked to help us keep your address current. You can change it yourself on-line or send the information to the Carolina Football Office, Box 2126, Chapel Hill, NC, 27515-2126. All lettermen were sent usernames and passwords in mid-2005 to access the directory.
One of the highlights from 2005 was a Silver Anniversary Reunion of the 1980 Carolina ACC championship team held Nov. 11-12 around the Maryland football game. Some 50 members of that team that went 11-1 and beat Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl convened for a reception at the DuBose House on Friday night and halftime recognition ceremony at the game on Saturday. The event was funded by the Rams Club, the Carolina Lettermen and reception tickets purchased by attendees.
"There were a lot of smiles that night," Bunting says of the Friday night function. "There were a bunch of happy guys. It showed they cared about Carolina and about seeing each other."
That event went so well that a 35-year reunion for the 1971-72 ACC championship teams is planned this year in conjunction with the fall Lettermen's Reunion. The Furman game on Sept. 16 has been designated for the reunions. More details will follow.
The Lettermen's Association's expanded activities have been funded by the Carolina Football Family Endowment, a fund administered by the Rams Club. That endowment provided some seed money to establish the website and directory and provide administrative support. The Lettermen's Association will need to move toward a self-sufficient stature in the coming years with a dues structure. The Carolina Football Office will continue to support the Lettermen's Association with staff and administrative help.
"The things we are doing cost money," Bunting says. "We are very close to needing to collect dues from our members to support our activities. We put on our spring golf event, dinner and picnic and charge a fraction of the actual cost. We offer half-price tickets to one football game each fall. We have a website and database. We have a lounge for halftime at home games. I hope our lettermen will help when the time comes with a modest annual dues payment."
Lee Pace continues to serve as the Lettermen's Coordinator and editor of the website. He is particularly interested in news and notes from lettermen that can be used on the website. Email him at leepace@nc.rr.com, call 919/933-2082 or write him in care of the Carolina Football Office.
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Volume I | Issue No. 02 | April 01, 2006 |
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