BCA Constituent Alumni Chapter of the College of Communications & Fine Arts - Central Michigan University

Hey Troops!

Well folks, here we are, less than four months until the 9th Annual WHMW-FM Alumni Takeover on October 10th and 11th, and I’ve found out a few more things since my last update … and have made a few adjustments in the attached schedule times.

But, before I get to that I want to thank everyone who showed up last week and helped me achieve and celebrate my Alumni Commitment Award. It has found a very special place on my wall unit. Most of all, thanks to Pete Orlik for the nomination and the after-party. My eyes are still trying to recover from all of the pictures taken.
I also want to welcome Joe and Darlene Thomas from the BCA Class of 1973, who dropped in to see Pete and Jerry recently, and wanted to be included in the Takeover updates. Some of you “more seasoned” Alums may remember them.

That said, I have received confirmation that the Homecoming game against the Temple Owls will begin at 4 p-m on Saturday. The Alumni Village Tailgate will be extended one hour, running from 1-4 p-m, and that the parade will most likely be sometime in the late morning, with an Alumni Brunch instead of a Breakfast.

As a result of these changes, I thought we’d just run regular air shifts during the the Tailgate…and simply do periodic cut-in’s instead of three hours straight on-site.

I have calculated that allows us to have 16, two-hour time slots on both Friday and Saturday, so check the schedule and let me know if you want to join us. Some of you already have, but lots of space remaining.
As for the Tailgate, I’m still open to any ideas for making it a more interactive event, and the Alumni Association will help us with “prizes” for contests, or other activities. It will feature Tim Jackson’s Tailgate Kazoo Band, who is hoping for at least 100 players. BTW check out this link to view some Maroon/Gold Kazoos http://www.kazoos.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KK&Product_Code=SMKO2&Category_Code=SK Not sure what Tim is doing with this, but you can at least look at them.

Tim has also suggested those of us interested in helping at the tailgate remote to meet to discuss details. (a production-style meeting) Stay tuned for a time.

I also wanted to mention that Craig Allen Munn will be handling the set up of the proposed “networking forum(s).” Contact Craig at www.craig.allen@citcomm.com if you’re interested in helping out…but it probably won’t be until late summer or early fall that those can be finalized since we want to involve student leaders from SBEC as to how best to proceed to get the most student attendance during a busy weekend.
For the benefit of Joe and Darlene, the Takeover is an opportunity for BCA Alums to return to campus once a year and re-create shows that were part of their college experience, and to be part of our now infamous live remote from the Alumni Association’s Alumni Village at Rose Ponds on Saturday.
The Takeover is a fundraiser for the Broadcast and Cinematic Arts Constituent Alumni Chapter, and we’re again asking for a minimum 30-dollar donation per person for a two-hour shift, which helps us fund numerous Chapter activities, including the Al Painter Scholarship Award that provides 100-dollars to the Outstanding BCA Freshman each year.

As always, if you have any ideas for the Takeover or have anyone that needs to be added to my list please send them to wmhwtakeover@bcaalumni.org

Hope everyone is having a good summer and avoiding the storms. Talk to again soon, or when I have more to tell you.

Bill Thompson
Takeover Coordinator

As the school year draws to a close, and I’ve survived another busy month, I thought it was about time to bring you up-to-date as we head toward October 10th and 11th and the 9th Annual WMHW-FM Alumni Takeover.

The biggest news is there are strong indications the Athletic Department is moving the start time for the Homecoming game against Temple back to 4 p-m on October 11th, for ESPN. But, just like last year, we’ll adjust. Not sure how that will impact the BCA reception or Jerry’s party, but I’ll let everyone know once I find out.

I’ve included the schedule times for the 13, two-hour time slots, and already have a couple of entries, so just let me know who and when once you decide, and I’ll add them. Keep in mind the Saturday times will change because of the game-time change.

I’m also guessing that the Alumni Village Tailgate Remote will be sometime in the early to mid-afternoon. The Alumni Breakfast/Parade times are also unknown.

There’s still a long way to go yet, so I’ll keep you posted once times are finalized.
Also, in terms of the Tailgate Remote, I continue to toss around ideas about making it a more interactive event for us, and the Alumni Association will help us with “prizes” for contests, or other activities. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks to Tom Moore we have located some Maroon and Gold Kazoo’s for Tim Jackson’s Tailgate Kazoo Band, which hopes to feature at least 100 players this fall. But we’re still working on finding out how to acquire them.

Jason and Jeff continue to work on the redesign of the B-C-A Alumni Chapter website, at www.bcaalumni.org . Check it out, and offer them suggestions.
I continue to get feedback on the 1-2 hour, interactive forums between BCA Alums and students sometime during the weekend…but the plan now appears to be to wait until SBEC gets formed this fall and have the students help us set (it/them) up. Again the success of the forums will depend SOLEY on participation from many of you, ‘cause that’s who students want to hear from … so I hope to hear from you.
As always, if you have any ideas for the Takeover or have anyone that needs to be added to my list please send them to wmhwtakeover@bcaalumni.org
Oh yeah, before I wrap up, I wanted to let everyone know (again) about a new WMHW-FM Yahoo Group…that’s already had a lot of activity.

Bill Thompson
Takeover Coordinator

Now that I’ve had time to fully recover from another delightful weekend of fun and interaction with students, faculty and alumni in Mt. Pleasant, which included the 35th Annual BCA Banquet (hardly seems there has been that many) and a pair of very informative meetings, I should give you all some idea of what was discussed.

Not much different for the structure of the 9th Annual Takeover compared to last year, with 13, two-hour time slots from 6 a-m Friday, October 10th through Midnight on Saturday, October 11th … or the Alumni Village Tailgate Remote on Saturday. As last year, we will have to wait for a game time to determine when we will need people.

Also, in terms of the Tailgate Remote, we tossed around ideas about making it a more interactive event, and the Alumni Association will help us with “prizes” if we can develop any ideas for contests, or other activities. BTW Tim Jackson says he’s working to get 100 Kazoo’s and players for his Tailgate Kazoo Band, which opened to rave reviews last fall.

Once again, I’ll be lining up special guests and interviews with C-M-U dignitaries for Friday visits over the next few months, so be ready if they come during your shift.

Jerry did inform me that WMHW-FM will undergo major equipment changes all summer long, including an updated audio board in Master Control, and by this fall there will be two H-D channels operating. But, never fear Alums, he promises me there will be little change in the operation of the updated board. If fact, it he says it will have the facilities to use more outside music sources. But, the decades-old floor will remain!!

Jason Dinkelmann has also redesigned the B-C-A Alumni Chapter website, at www.bcaalumni.org and it looks great! Check it out when you can. He and Jeff Kimble will be working in the next few months about getting a Blog up and running for Alumni to interact with each other and students, and Jason continues to update Alumni and Takeover information, so feel free to refer the site for details. We hope to also have a new way for Alums to “register” or “sign up” for the Takeover online, if that’s easier for you, I’m hoping it will make it easier for me.

Another new suggestion that I have received VERY positive feedback so far from students and Alums is the creation of one, or possibly more, 1-2 hour, interactive forums between B-C-A Alums and students during Homecoming weekend. It will obviously depend SOLEY on participation from many of you. I’m thinking informal meetings where students can network and maybe have Alums critique tapes or videos. Please let me know if this is something you might be interested in, or even helping to “set up.”
I know there’s something I’ve forgotten, but there are many months – and updates – to come.
As always, if you have any ideas for the Takeover please send them along to me at wmhwtakeover@bcaalumni.org.

I’m open to taking names for shifts now, if you know what your schedule is…but again, it will be a while before I will “publish” a schedule. You may want to “book” your hotel now (like I have) because they fill up fast even in Mt. Pleasant.

If you’ve never been part of a “Takeover,” talk to someone who has, and you’ll want to join us.
Be sure to check www.bcaalumni.org periodically for BCA Alumni and Takeover information, or let me know your E-Mail address and I’ll try to stay in touch with you.

Let’s keep CMU’s newest Homecoming Tradition going for many years to come.

Bill Thompson
Takeover Coordinator