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Fifth Alumni Member Appreciation Night takes place at Shryock Auditorium Friday
Members of the SIU Alumni Association will have the opportunity to socialize and attend a holiday program as part of the fifth Alumni Association Member Appreciation Night.
Member Appreciation Night begins with an eggnog reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner in the Old Main Room in the Student Center. Members will be treated to a dinner menu that includes a chicken rice dinner, vegetable salad, sugar snap peas, apple dumplings and tea.
Alumni members also have the opportunity to attend the holiday program, Christmas With The Mantovani Orchestra And Chorus, at Shryock Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Robert Cherchio, director of Shryock Auditorium, said the Mantovani Orchestra is always well received and uses a technique that creates an interesting ripple sound through their strings.
"We try to vary our Christmas program, and we couldn't have found a better orchestra than Mantovani for this type of seasonal event," Cherchio said.
Edward Buerger, assistant director of the Alumni Association, said the association sponsors cultural events to reach out to those alumni who have a variety of interests and to encourage alumni and their families to return to campus.
The Alumni Association sponsors member appreciation events in conjunction with home football and basketball games but began offering a offering member appreciation nights in conjunction with holiday programs in 1998 to increase its variety.
Greg Scott, director of alumni public relations, said it is important to provide activities for its members other than sporting events.
"You need to have diverse activities," Scott said. "A lot of times you see people at that event that you don't see at the basketball event, and then again you may see both."
Alumni members had the opportunity to purchase tickets for the dinner and concert for $32. Concert tickets were $22, and dinner-only tickets were $10, which included a $6 discount for Alumni Association members. Buerger said the allotment of tickets available to members for the dinner and the concert have sold out.
Scott said Alumni Member Appreciation Nights are well received by those who attend.
"I've always had people come up to me and say, 'Thanks for offering this,'" Scott said. "When our alumni enjoy this event, I do as well. It's the holiday season, and it's an opportunity for everyone to come together for a holiday meal. It's kind of a nice way of getting you in the spirit of things."
Doris Rottschalk, alumni association member and former president of the board of directors, said the main purpose of the event is to give alumni an opportunity to socialize with other alumni in the area.
"Alumni support our University in many ways. We want to show them they are appreciated," Rottschalk said.
