S U U T H U N D E R B I R D C L U B M E M B E R S H I P G U I D E 2 012 – 13
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT These are exciting times for Southern Utah University Athletics. The much-anticipated move into the Big Sky Conference, coupled with improvements to many of our sport facilities, has elevated the level of excitement for our student-athletes, coaches, fans and the community. This is truly a great time to be a Thunderbird! The recent advancements in our athletics programs are directly linked to the increasing support the Thunderbird Club has received over the past few years. Your generous support of the Thunderbird Club has assisted in providing a high-quality educational experience for our student-athletes and enabled us to provide the necessary amenities to help each of them achieve their academic and athletic goals. The future is bright and I look forward to working with you to advance the mission of the University through a strong and viable athletics program. —Ken Beazer, SUU Athletic Director
NOW IS THE TIME There appears to be a storm coming! Yes, the Thunderbirds are bringing some good ol’ Thunder to the Big Sky Conference starting July of 2012. It’s going to be a great opportunity for all of our studentathletes, as well as our Thunderbird Club to compete at this high level. If you look at the facilities and booster clubs of the Big Sky Conference, our work is cut out for us. However, just like the pioneers that founded Cedar City and Southern Utah University long ago, we too can step up and help lead the Thunderbirds into competition with our new Big Sky opponents. I urge you to accept the challenge to support the Thunderbirds and join other Thunderbird Club members to help our studentathletes achieve success in the classroom and on the playing fields or courts. Excitement is rising because conditions are right for “Thunder in the Big Sky” in 2012! —Len Badertscher, Thunderbird Club President
BUILDING A TRADITION There are so many different facets to an athletics program and many of them are made possible by the generous contributions made by our fans and the Thunderbird Club. We sincerely appreciate everyone who chooses to be part of Thunderbird Athletics! —J.R. Payne, SUU Women’s Basketball Head Coach
STEPPING UP THE GAME The excitement of joining the Big Sky is also accompanied by the realization of the need to step up and meet the new challenges our athletic programs now face. To this end, Thunderbird Athletics will be implementing many new components that will enhance game day experiences for our fans, while helping to generate the necessary funds required for our student-athletes’ continued success.
MOMENTUM IS KEY The Thunderbird Club is integral to our current and future success. When people decide to support our athletic teams at SUU, the resulting momentum has an exponentially positive effect on our players, coaches, and support staff. —Ed Lamb, SUU Football Head Coach
PRIORITY SEATING FOR THE THUNDERBIRD CLUB The Athletics Department is introducing a priority seating program for football and men’s basketball, which will be implemented beginning this fall. This type of plan has long been identified as a “best practice” for NCAA Division I programs throughout the nation, as well as in the state. This priority seating program was created to most effectively allocate the quantity and quality of tickets to athletic events that are anticipated to have a high demand, allowing us to reward individuals and organizations for their investment in the University through the Thunderbird Club. In addition, this seating program will help us in our efforts as we look to further our athletic teams. We are excited about the changes and improvements this will bring to your athletic experience.
FIRST IN LINE The best seating is reserved forThunderbird Club members and in addition to the many Thunderbird Club benefits, members are given the first opportunity to select preferred season tickets in their chosen location. Your opportunity to purchase priority seating is available, starting with an annual $100 monetary contribution to theThunderbird Club. You can purchase your season tickets and sign up to be a member of the Thunderbird Club at tbirdtickets.com, or through the Centrum Ticket Office by calling (435) 5867872. As always, there are ticketing options available without a Thunderbird Club Membership as well.
QUESTIONS We appreciate your support and involvement with SUU Athletics. We understand that our transition into priority seating will raise many questions. Feel free to visit our frequently asked page at suutbirdclub.com/questions, or contact us with any questions you may have. Below is a short list of our most often frequently asked questions. What is the Thunderbird Club? The Thunderbird club is the “Team Behind the Teams” at SUU Athletics! As such, we promote positive awareness and help to raise necessary funding for scholarships and to the advancement of our programs. Is there a deadline to reserve my tickets? Your previous seats will roll over to the 201213 season. However, these seats must be purchased before July 15th. All unreserved seats will be released to the public at this time. What is the difference between general seating and priority seating? All seating will be reserved beginning with the 2012-13 season. However, the priority seating is the premium areas that are reserved for Thunderbird Club members. Can I keep or improve my seats each year? Yes, Thunderbird Club members who make the minimum contribution and meet the deadlines each year will have the first opportunity to renew their seats each year. During the renewal process Thunderbird Club members will also have the opportunity to request an improvement in their seating. Do the contributions I make for football seats count for my basketball seats too? Yes, your yearly seating obligation will apply to both football and men’s basketball. For more information on Priority Points, contact theThunderbird Club Office at 435-865-8585.
THE TEAM BEHIND OUR TEAM We truly appreciate the support from the Thunderbird Club on behalf of our student-athletes. Not only do your contributions make a difference to our program, but more importantly they impact the college experience of each individual member of our team. Thank you for becoming a part of our team through your generous contributions. Go T-Birds! —Nick Robinson, SUU Men’s Basketball Head Coach
THANK YOU “I’m so grateful for my time here at SUU. The scholarship has afforded me the opportunity to study toward my career goals, while playing the sport that I love.” —Brad Sorenson, SUU Student-Athlete
THANK YOU “SUU has been really good for me academically and athletically. I feel like I can do whatever I want to do after I graduate from college. I would like to thank the Athletics staff for believing in me and supporting me even through the tough times.” —Cam Levins, SUU Student-Athlete
THANK YOU “My athletic scholarship has given me the experience of a lifetime. Growing up it was always my goal to earn a scholarship to compete in gymnastics at a university. SUU made that dream come true. The University has been a perfect fit for me. I have wonderful teammates and supportive coaches, and it is the best feeling in the world competing in front of a crowd that supports our team so much. Most of all, in a little over a year I will leave with a four-year college degree. I will be forever thankful to SUU for this experience and opportunity.” —Alyssa Click, SUU Student-Athlete
Methods of Giving Annual Gifts
Annual cash, checks or credit card payment gifts are the most direct means of supporting Thunderbird Athletics.
Matching Gifts
You or your spouse may have an affiliation with one of the 600 matching gift companies in the U.S. Through such a program, your firm may match the value of your gift to the Thunderbird Club, increasing your level of benefit.
Gifts-In-Kind
Thunderbird Club benefits are available to individuals or companies for goods or services provided in lieu of cash gifts if such gifts represent a direct savings to the athletic department’s annual budget.
Gifts of Investment
Securities, real property and tangible personal property are all special gifts accepted by SUU that often provide significant tax savings.
Planned Gifts
Planned gifts for the future benefit of SUU Athletics can be made through wills, bequests, gifts of real estate, life insurance and pooled income funds.
Endowed Funds
Endowment funds are held in perpetuity, using the interest to fund scholarships according to the donor’s wishes. Endowed scholarships are created with a suggested minimum contribution of $25,000.
Naming Opportunities
A number of venues which may be named after a family member or friend are available within the SUU Athletics facilities and grounds.
Additional Gifts to Facilities
Funds to benefit athletic facilities are vital to the success of Thunderbird Athletics. Members can make a one-time gift for facility enhancement in addition to their Thunderbird Club contribution.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION SUUThunderbirdClubwillnotdiscloseyourinformationtoanypartyoutsideofSUUAthletics. Yourinformationwillonlybeusedincontactingyouaboutupcomingeventsandpromotions.If you have any questions about our privacy policy, don’t hesitate to ask.
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COMPANY Please check the box on how you would like to be recognized through out the year:
o Your Name
o As a Couple
o Your Company’s Name
MAILING AddRESS CITY dAYTIME PHONE
STATE
ZIP COdE
MOBILE PHONE
EMAIL AddRESS
GIFT AMOUNT
PAYMENT OPTIONS
o o o o o o o o o o
o Check or money order Payable to SUU Thunderbird Club
Starter $100 Captain $250 Scarlet $500 Gold $1,000 Platinum $3,000 Td Club $5,000 Res. Scholarship $10,000 Nat. Scholarship $15,000 director’s Club $25,000 Other $____________
o Waive Benefits To Receive 100% Tax deduction o SUU Employee Payroll deduction o Credit Card Please call SUU’s Ticket Office at (435) 586-7872, mention you are donating to the Thunderbird Club.
Committed to athletics and academic excellence, the Thunderbird Club provides scholarships and academic support for student-athletes at Southern Utah University.
Southern Utah University 351 W. University Blvd. Cedar City, Utah 84720 435-865-8385 www.suutbirds.com