HOWDY FROM OUR PRESIDENT
How did it get to be February already! One twelfth of the year already gone and I still can’t write “2005”! As Aggie Mom’s we are all going through withdrawal from our college students all over again. Hang on girls, Spring Break is only 6 weeks away!
If you did not go to Sonora with us for the January meeting, you really missed a great time. We had the chance to be with several members who can’t make the monthly drive to San Angelo, eat their WONDERFUL food, gather in Nancy Brockman’s inviting home, hear a memorable story of the early days of Reveille, and conduct some very important business matters. I have rarely had a more pleasant time. Thank you Sonora Aggie Moms!
This is an important time of year for our club, so please plan to come to the next few monthly meetings:
- Applications for the $1000 Memorial Scholarship(s) that our club awards annually will be available starting at the February meeting, on February 17th. Volunteers will be accepted for both the Nominations Committee and the Scholarship Committee that same night. A very special GUEST SPEAKER will be present to educate and inform us!
- The March meeting will be held a week earlier than usual due to Spring Break (March 10), and we will be preparing for the District Meeting of the Federation of A&M University Mothers’ Clubs that we will be hosting on March 19, as well as doing Goodie Bags!
- On April 21 we will have the opportunity to attend Muster with the local A&M University Club. It will be a memorable evening as we participate in a deep rooted A&M tradition of honoring Aggies who have fallen during the past year, as well as share a meal. Our current students will be simultaneously attending Muster on campus. Details on how we can attend our local Muster will be in the next newsletter.
Hoping to see each of you very soon,
Gig’em
Judy D. Turner
2004-2005 President
FEBRUARY MEETING - Thursday, February 17
Trinity Lutheran Church - 3536 YMCA Drive in San Angelo at 6:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY HOSTESSES
Hostesses for the February meeting are Sue Engdahl, Lynn Decker, Janice Escue, Kay Young, Sharon Hayden and Nevy Lacy.
AGGIE MOM SLEEPOVER - Friday, Feb. 25 - 5:30 p.m.
The annual Aggie Mom Sleepover is scheduled for Friday, February 25 at J. Ann Lange’s hunting lodge (map shown below). If you will be attending you need to let J. Ann (835-6891) know by Wednesday, Feb 23 so that she will have enough supplies on hand for the Aggie Mom Keepsakes that you will be making. In addition everyone will need to bring a covered dish or snack (along with the recipe) and $5 to help cover the expense of the supplies. If you can’t stay all night, that’s ok too. We always have several that come out and stay for just a few hours!
MARCH MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2ND WEEK -“Good Bags”
Please remember that the March meeting is scheduled earlier in the month (Thursday, March 10) because of Spring Break. This will also be the “Goody Bag” meeting.
SONORA AGGIE MOMS - Thanks Again!
The Sonora Aggie Moms want to thank all of the ladies who were able to attend the January meeting that was held in Sonora.
DISTRICT FEDERATION MEETING - Saturday, March 19
San Angelo Aggie Moms’ will host the District Federation Meeting on Saturday, March 19 at Miss Hattie’s.
Time: 10 a.m. for coffee; meeting begins at 10:30 until around 1:30
Cost: $20.00 - includes lunch
Please RSVP to either Paula Sweeten (pdsweeten@wcc.net) or Judie Williams (judie_williams@hotmail.com) by March 10.
TUTORIAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION - Reapply for Spring Semester
• We have several tutorial scholarships available on a first come, first serve basis.
• It is necessary for the scholarship to be requested (by the student) in advance by e-mail to Paula Sweeten at pdsweeten@wcc.net. Please put “Tutorial Scholarship” in the subject line area of the email.
• Any student from our area enrolled at Texas A&M University may apply.
• The tutorial scholarship will be valid from the day issued until May 2005.
• It will be advertised by publishing it on the web, e-mail, newsletter, distributed with the food coupons and area newspaper.
• We must have the student’s name, mailing address, parent’s address and student id for the tutorial coupon.
• The student can only use tutorial sources listed on the coupon
San Angelo Aggie Moms’ Memorial Scholarship
Application and general information for the scholarship is attached. Please notify your Aggie that the scholarship forms are now available. They can download the forms from the San Angelo Aggie Moms’ website at http://sanangeloaggiemoms.org/assets/scholarshipapp.pdf
TX A&M SINGING CADETS - Performing in Fredericksburg
Sunday, March 6, 2005 at 2:00 p.m.
Fredericksburg High School Auditorium.
Tickets $10 Adults and $5 students under 18.
Order tickets by sending your checks to:
Jerrie Dooley
411 Nimitz Circle
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
You can also E-mail jemdooley@austin.rr.com for more info.
Come early and enjoy services in one of the beautiful churches and dine at one of their many fine restaurants. You could even make it a Fredericksburg weekend and enjoy shopping in downtown Fredericksburg. The Hill Country Aggie Moms guarantee a wonderful time for all.
TUITION LIKELY TO INCREASE IN THE FALL
The following article appeared in The Battalion on Wednesday, March 2 and was written by Saray Foley.
Tuition is likely to rise in the fall, though the amount by which it will increase ranges from $3 to $19 per credit hour and will depend on how much financial support the Texas Legislature gives Texas A&M in its upcoming session, said University President Robert M. Gates at a tuition hearing Monday night.
Gates said it is probable that tuition will increase.
"I'd never say never," he said. "But no increase at all-- it's not likely."
Student Body President Jack Hildebrand, who is a member of the Tuition Policy Advisory Council, said tuition adjustments were a measure taken after much consideration.
"We're not being taken advantage of as far as tuition," he said. "It's not a first resort, it's a last resort."
Gates said tuition increases are the only options after cutting administrative costs, eliminating unprofitable vendors such as Graphics Services and laying off 32 employees.
"A&M is in the middle of a continuing effort to cut costs, to keep minimal tuition increases," he said. "It's clearly going to take additional funding to meet needs parents and students expect."
Weston Balch, a sophomore history major, said he took out three student loans and an emergency loan to pay for his books this semester.
"How many of y'all are paying your own way through school?" Balch said, looking at the Tuition Policy Advisory Council. "(Administrators) assume that someone will be willing to pay. If I can't, it's my problem. I fall through the cracks. You can tell me $144 isn't much, but that's a month's groceries."
The Tuition Policy Advisory Council, which includes six student leaders, presented recommendations to change the way tuition is charged. The council recommended a flat tuition plan that would charge students for 15 credit hours if they take 12 or more credit hours. The average student takes about 13 hours each semester resulting in slower graduation rates, Gates said.
The plan would penalize students, beginning with freshmen entering next fall, who take longer than five years to graduate with a fine of $500 to $1000 each semester.
Student Senate speaker Logan Renfrow said that this plan was the result of pressure from the state legislature to improve A&M's four-year graduation rates. Gates said students should be able to graduate in five years, even for those with more difficult majors or extra-curricular commitments, because other students graduate in four years.
"It's hard to say it can't be done if others are doing it," Gates said.
He said that it is common practice for universities to charge flat rates for tuition.
"It's not like we're taking a dive into unknown territory as far as this goes," Gates said.
He said the council will continue to explore options and take concerns into account before a final recommendation is made to the Board of Regents in March.
GARAGE SALE – IT’S HERE! - Saturday, March 5, 2005
The annual Garage Sale has been set for Saturday, March 5. Now is the time to start saving items to be sold. Several very generous donations have been received to date, but there is always room for more! If you have items you wish to get out of your way before that time, please give Shelley a call at 374-4640 and arrangements can be made to pick up and store your donation.
RAFFLE TIME!
A signed Benjamin Knox print entitled “Aggie Mom Mum” has been donated to the club by Judie Williams as a raffle prize. Tickets will sell for $1 each OR 6 for $5. Club members are encouraged to pick up a packet of tickets to sell to family and friends. Drawing will be held at the March general membership meeting. Please contact Shelley Gregg at 374-4640 for more information. A prize will also be given to the person who sells the winning ticket!
COOKBOOKS
Cookbooks are still available for $20 each. The cookbooks will be available at the monthly club meetings, or you may also contact Shelley Gregg at 374-4640 and she will be glad to reserve a cookbook for you. We only have approximately 30 cookbooks left.
DOOR PRIZES ALWAYS NEEDED
Everyone loves door prizes – and we need donations! If you are in Aggieland and see something that you would like to receive (in the $5 range), please bring it to Candyce Gregston at the next meeting.
SPRING BOUTIQUE
Spring Boutique in Aggieland will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 8-9 in the Reed Arena during Parents’ Weekend. This event will help raise additional revenue for the club’s scholarship fund. Anyone wishing to help with the two-day sales event is encouraged to call Shelley at 374-4640.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR LOCAL AG
Brad Jackson ’07 (Aggie Mom, Cyndy Jackson) was found unconscious in College Station and rushed to Temple – Scott & White for emergency brain surgery Thursday, January 28. Brad came through the surgery. He had had epileptic censure and not an aneurysm as they first thought. He cracked his skull from hitting it during the censure and in that process he severed the artery. It is called an epidural hematoma. The blood clot was removed and the pressure was relieved from the brain area. Brad is now home and is doing fine, but will have to take it easy for a while. He is going to take the semester off, but said he is trying to do some classes online. Please continue to keep Brad in your prayers.
CONTINUED PRAYER REQUEST
Please continue to pray for Kelle Ammerman. Kelle has been diagnosed with cancer all throughout her body, including in her bones, lungs, kidneys, spine, and brain. To find the latest update on Kelle Ammerman, go to http://www.donationsforkelle.com
AGGIE MOM BRAGS
If any of you have Aggie Mom Brags, please call Lanee Warrick at 484-3005 and leave a message or you can email her at: laneewarrick@aggienetwork.com
Our Webmaster, Christopher Hunter and wife Tara (Aggie Mom, Chris Hunter) will be having a boy hopefully around May 7 - Whoop!
Cameron Sims (Aggie Mom, Mary Jean Sims) has a summer intern job with Chevron-Phillips in Borger, Texas.
MAY & AUGUST 2005 GRADUATES
If you have an Aggie graduating in May or August, please call Judy Turner at 465 4332.If you are leaving a message, please be sure to include your Aggie’s name and class year (which is not necessarily the year they graduated!)
NEVIE’S NEWS - Aggie Mom Endowed Scholarship
We have received $5560 in "New Money" which, the club will match, the Health club will match both - so right now endowment is at $22,240. However, we are still shooting for $40,000. We still hope to receive additional "New Money" contributions to bring that total to $10,000. Any additional contributions are still most welcome and appreciated!
If you made a contribution before January 1, that donation will be for your 2004 tax return. You can make an additional donation to be used on your 2005 tax return!
AGGIE TRADITIONS
Texas A&M University, the state’s oldest public institution of higher learning, was established in 1876. Through the years and changes, A&M has held fast to what has made it so great—it’s traditions. Nowhere else can a school so rich in tradition be found. these traditions make A&M different and better than all the rest. The traditions provide a foundation upon which greatness can be built and upon which leadership can flourish. We continue this month sharing some of these traditions with the San Angelo Aggie Moms.
GIG ‘EM
A closed fist with a thumb up is a sign of approval and of winning just about everywhere. When Aggies give each other this sign (which they frequently do), they accompany it with a hearty “Gig ‘em!” To Aggies, this is encouragement to go out and do your best at whatever you are doing. So when you see some Aggies, give them a “Gig ‘em” and they will be proud to give you one right back.
AGGIE RING
One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day that they receive their Aggie Ring. This moment began with the Class of 1889. The original ring is very different from the ring worn today. At that time several companies made several different versions of the Aggie Ring. It wasn't until E.C. Jonas, class of 1894, designed a ring for his class that the ring we know today came into existence. It has remained exactly as Jonas designed it, with one exception; in 1963 the Legislature of the State of Texas changed the university's name from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas to Texas A&M University, and the name on the ring was changed accordingly.
The ring worn by all Aggie graduates is the same except for the class year. This serves as a common link for former students. When an Aggie sees the ring on another Aggie's hand, a spontaneous reunion occurs.
The Aggie Ring is one of the most symbolic of our traditions. Everything seen on the ring represents a value that an Aggie should hold. On the top is a large shield, which symbolizes the desire to protect the reputation of the university. The 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original states of America. The five stars on the shield refer to the phases of development of any Aggie: mind or intellect; body; spiritual attainment; emotional poise; and integrity of character. The eagle symbolizes agility and power, and the ability to reach great heights.
The large star on the side of the ring symbolizes the Seal of Texas. The five-pointed star is encircled with a wreath of olive and laurel leaves symbolizing achievement and a desire for peace. The live oak leaves symbolize the strength to fight for our country and our state. The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these two traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.
An ancient cannon, a saber, and a rifle are on the other side of the ring and symbolize how citizens of Texas fought for their land and are determined to defend it. The saber stands for valor and confidence, while the rifle and cannon stand for a preparedness and defense. The crossed flags of the United States and Texas recognize an Aggie's dual allegiance to both nation and state.
Traditionally, students wear their ring with the class year facing them to signify the fact that their time at A&M is not yet complete. During Senior Weekend at the annual Ring Dance, the student's ring is turned around to face the world proudly, just as the Aggie graduate will be ready to face the world.
Fun Fact: How many stars are there on the Aggie Ring?
Answer: 31, if you count the person wearing it.
Ring Dance
Each year Ring Dance is held for the Senior Class. The name reflects a milestone at the end of the Senior year. Although Seniors have been privileged to wear the cherished Senior Ring ever since they attained 95 credit hours, as of Ring Dance they may wear it differently. Up to this point, Seniors have worn the ring so that it faces them when their hand is palm down with fingers pointed away from them. Ring Dance represents the end of their senior year when they can turn the ring around to be readable by others.
This tradition began with one room of entertainment. Now there are an average of seven rooms of entertainment with a variety of music from swing and big band to piano bar and country western.
AGGIE JARGON – Know What Your Aggie Is Talking About
Across the Tracks - Where you go if you have a class on the West side of campus.
ExCel - A freshman orientation program designed for ethnic minority students held the weekend before classes begin in the Fall.
Highway Six Runs Both Ways - A phrase meaning that if you are unhappy with any aspect of Texas A&M life, you are free to leave. An equivalent phrase is “Texas A&M – love it or leave it.”
Association of Former Students - The alumni association – there really is no such thing as an ex-Aggie... there are only former students. You don’t even have to graduate to join. Once an Aggie, always and Aggie!
Humping It - Position taken by an Aggie when giving a yell. To do this, put your hand on your knees and bend forward at the waist.
Shuttle Bus - The only way to travel to Texas A&M from off campus – besides where would you park?
Serge-Butt - A junior in the Corps of Cadets or any junior student.
2004 - 2005 DATES TO REMEMBER - Remember to Mark Your Calendar
Officer Board Meetings
all at 6 p.m. @ Sierra Vista Methodist Church
Monday, February 7
Monday, February 28
Monday, April 4
Monday, May 4
Membership Meetings
all at 6:30 PM @ Trinity Lutheran Church
Thursday, February 17
Thursday, March 10
Thursday, April 21 (attend Muster)
Thursday, May 19
Additional Dates of Interest
March 14 - 18 (Monday - Friday)
Spring break.
April 8 - 10 (Friday & Sunday)
Spring Federation Meetings & Parents Weekend*
at Reed Arena
April 21 (Thursday)
Muster. Campus ceremony
April 27 (Wednesday)
Ring of Honor – 11 a.m. at Johnnie Carino’s
May 6, 9 - 11 (Friday, Monday - Wednesday)
Spring semester final examinations for all students.
May 13 (Friday)
Last day for May undergraduate degree candidates to apply for Tuition Rebate, 5 p.m.
http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/records/rebate.htm
May 13 - 14 (Friday - Saturday)
Commencement, Commissioning, and Final Review.
• The San Angelo A&M Mother’s Club has a sales booth at these functions to raise money for scholarships.
A Big Thanks!
A big thanks goes to Christopher Hunter (son of Aggie Mom, Chris Hunter) for the upkeep of the San Angelo Aggie Moms website and for notifying the members when the newsletter is ready as well as sending out reminders when needed. We sincerely appreciate all of your help! |
