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A-Club merges with AWAC to make stronger Augsburg athletic alumni organization Story by Becky Welle '05 (written in May 2004) When we hear the word merger, we usually associate it with two organizations coming together to achieve a higher goal. This is precisely what the new A-Club is planning to accomplish. Two Augsburg alumni organizations -- A-Club and the Augsburg Women’s Athletic Club (AWAC) -- have been dedicated to supporting Auggie athletes and have merged to provide an even stronger foundation and organization. The first official meeting of the new A-Club was on Nov. 4, 2003, and those involved are prepared for the challenge. The Executive Committee of six men and six women have already updated the constitution and put in place a critical structure of committees to move the organization forward. Those committees include: Athletic Hall of Fame, golf tournament, membership, special events, communications, and finance/fundraising. Augsburg staff liaisons to the A-Club will be Jeff Swenson, Dean of Athletics and Recreation and Amy Sutton, director of Alumni/Parent Relations. Dick Thompson, president of the former A-Club, will serve as interim chair until next summer. The first A-Club Executive Committee includes: Kathie Erbes, Dustin Froyum, John Harden, Jane Helmke, Mark Hultgren, Dick Kelley, Ron Main, Lisa Nos, Tracy Tomforde, Lisa Trainer, and Tim Wendt. Senior softball player Melissa Lee is serving as an assistant to the A-Club Executive Committee. "We are very pleased that this is taking place and will be more pleased with the results," said Thompson. The original A-Club for athletic letterwinners was started in 1937 by four of Augsburg's top student athletes -- Ken Schmit, Jerry Person, Hoyt Messerer and faculty adviser Dick Pautz. It is one of the oldest athletic alumni organizations in the state. Over the years the organization kept close ties with the college and its athletes through social, athletic and fundraising events. The A-Club was instrumental in raising money for most major athletic facility improvements, like Edor Nelson Field, as well as sponsoring the annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and program. AWAC was started as an alumni group in 1983 by Helmke to provide female athletes with the same opportunity to stay connected to Augsburg athletics. In 1989, AWAC honored the first women inductees in the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. “This new joint venture is truly the best future for both organizations. It unites all resources, talent and passion into a single cause directed at supporting the success of Augsburg athletics,” Helmke said. Thompson, Helmke, and all members involved said they are excited this merger has finally taken place and are anxious to make a positive impact. On the immediate horizon, the new A-Club will be a major fundraising force for the proposed south wing expansion of Si Melby Hall. The project is an important and necessary step in upgrading facilities for all students, staff, physical education majors and intercollegiate athletes. "This merger will combine all 18 of Augsburg’s sports alumni into a single advocate, dedicated to the successful tradition of excellence in education, recreation and athletics at Augsburg,” said Swenson. To return to Augsburg A-Club, click here To return to Augsburg Athletics, click here Augsburg College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. This is the official web site for Augsburg
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