Messenger - Vol. 4, No. 3, Page 5 1995 Calling it a success Karen Roushey, Delaware '96, has logged over 200 hours on the phone this past year-not talking to classmates, teachers and family-but speaking with UD alumni from coast to coast. "The best part is that a lot of them are so excited to hear from a Delaware student," Roushey, a phonathon caller for the Delaware Annual Fund for two years, says. Roushey recalls a particularly enthusiastic alumnus who even wanted her to say hello to his kids. "He screamed, 'It's my school!' I probably spent 15-20 minutes on the phone with him, talking about Delaware." Michael T. Jester, Delaware '81, of Hanford, Calif., says he appreciated being reconnected with the University through Jackie Spetter, Delaware '97. "She was extremely friendly. I considered the call more of a connection with a University student than a solicitation call." The phone call prompted Jester to make a generous gift. "Hearing from a student makes a big difference over getting a request in the mail," he says. Anne Kinderwater Border, Delaware '92, agrees, noting the convenience of the phonathon. "As much as I support the school, I wouldn't get around to taking the initiative [to responding to a mailing]," says the Lancaster, Pa., resident. Border's gift came after receiving a call from Todd Tenenbaum, Delaware '95. After explaining to Tenenbaum that she's newly married, she pledged $25. "He was very appreciative of my pledge," she says. "I remember thinking, 'This [gift] is worth something.' I told him that's what I could do this year and I hope to do more in the future." During the 1994-95 academic year, alumni pledged nearly $430,000 through the phonathon, the second highest total since calling began in 1982. Gifts support colleges, academic departments, scholarship funds, athletic teams, student programs, the library and hundreds of other designations, according to Charles M. Forbes, vice president for development and alumni relations. "One hundred percent of each and every contribution supports the area the donor has chosen," he says. The phonathon, according to Joseph W. Bradley, Delaware '79, '87M, director of annual giving, also brings in hundreds of address and employment updates. "The phonathon is an excellent way to update records. From the alumni perspective, it saves them from taking the time to mail us their new address," he says. Callers know their role is more than fund raising. "We stress to the students that they are University ambassadors," Bradley says. "They serve an extremely important public relations role for the University." "You're not just conveying a need," Roushey says. "You're conveying a sense of the University community and what's going on." Bradley says students are trained to listen carefully to alumni concerns so proper follow-up action will be taken. "We pride ourselves on responding to concerns in a timely fashion," he says. "I like to think I've changed a couple people's minds," Roushey says. "When they tell me they've had a negative experience, I try not to just let it go. I try to find out why they had a problem and see if we can help." Nicole Hollis, Delaware '98, a caller since last September, says she quickly learned that alumni questions and concerns, which are handled confidentially, vary widely. Hollis recalls the conversation with an alumnus who had attended other universities in addition to Delaware. "Since he has several allegiances, he didn't understand why we should ask him for an increased gift," says the Brookhaven, Pa., resident. "When he indicated he would decrease his support to Delaware, I think he thought I'd be angry. But, I told him that it was generous of him to still consider the University of Delaware. He answered, 'Thank you for being so understanding,' and said he'd continue to contribute at the same level." Roushey, whose parents are Curtis E. Roushey, Delaware '71, and Susan Corkran Roushey, Delaware '70, points out that alumni support directly helps students. "I'm here on an Alumni Merit Scholarship. It helps out my family immensely," she says. "I see the everyday benefit of alumni supporting this University. The bottom line is every cent that alumni give goes to the students. And, a lot of people wouldn't be able to be here if it weren't for that money." -Bill Clark, Delaware '82, '94M