Paul Clifford steps down as CEO of Penn State Alumni Association

[Big_O]

I was pretty much done with the Alumni Association when they started asking me to pay for a subscription each year for a lifetime membership when I sacrificed paying the one time lifetime price of $500 when I was making $20k gross per year working 100 hours a week, 40 years ago. That was pretty big money back then. And their support of what was right (i.e. their non-support of JoePa and alumni) in 2011 didn’t help.

 

[Erial_Lion]

I was pretty much done with the Alumni Association when they started asking me to pay for a subscription each year for a lifetime membership when I sacrificed paying the one time lifetime price of $500 when I was making $20k gross per year working 100 hours a week, 40 years ago. That was pretty big money back then. And their support of what was right (i.e. their non-support of JoePa and alumni) in 2011 didn’t help.

It's disappointing that they sit idly by as the BOT changes the rules to reduce the voice of the Alumni...really shows you who the Alumni Association is answering to and/or benefiting (and it's not me).

 

[NittPicker]

It's disappointing that they sit idly by as the BOT changes the rules to reduce the voice of the Alumni...really shows you who the Alumni Association is answering to and/or benefiting (and it's not me).

Mission Statement: To connect alumni of The Pennsylvania State University (hereinafter, “University” and “Alumni”) to the University and to each other, to provide valued service to members of the Association (each, an “Association Member”), and to support the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service.

Unfortunately, many of us (me included) were under the impression one purpose of the PSAA was to be an advocate for the alumni at large. The above mission statement proves that isn't true. Nowhere does it claim it has any interest in the concerns of the alumni. PSAA is essentially a marketing arm of the university. It does make me chuckle to read one goal is "to provide valued service to members of the Association". Insignificant as it may have seemed, the calendar was a service which did in fact help connect alumni to the university. But the calendar cost too much, so it was shitcanned. The PSAA takes its marching orders from Old Main, not the alumni.

 

[AvgUser]

Updated response:
Hello,
We are happy to hear that you enjoy the calendar. Due to the cost associated with production, shipping, and feedback we have received that people are no longer using print calendars, unfortunately the decision was made to scale back and we are no longer automatically sending them to all life members.
The Fall Sustaining Pride appeal sent out in late August included the opportunity to request a calendar. Please watch for communication from us in August/September 2025 on how to order your calendar for 2026.
We do value you as a member and thank you for reaching out to us.
Thank for you being a Life-Time Member.

I am a 1969 graduate. They designate me as a Pioneer. I guess that means that if they surveying alumni members about the use of printed calendars, they don’t need to survey me.

Further update I received today. What a crock. I have to believe a very small minority said they don't use paper calendars. And they buried the oppy to request in a note I never read.

I sent back a reply to this email i received asking why they don't quickly print and mail out calendars to those who requested them. Apparently there are "many" of them/us in this same boat. F you is what i am sure i will receive back.

Thank you for being a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

For many years, we sent calendars to our life members. Each year, more and more alumni were contacting us to say they no longer used paper calendars. In response to that feedback, and to minimize expense and waste, this year we asked life members to confirm they wanted a 2025 calendar in advance of printing and mailing them.

Our goal was well-intentioned, but in the last few weeks, we have heard from many of you who missed the chance to request a calendar and were surprised to not receive one. Unfortunately, we have no calendars remaining from our reduced printing.

We recognize that we fell short in our effort to reach all members who wished to receive a calendar this year. If you are among them, please accept our heartfelt apology. We deeply regret causing any disappointment or inconvenience.

We also are grateful to everyone who reached out to let us know how much they have appreciated the calendar in prior years; your feedback will help us plan for the future. We look forward to applying the lessons we’ve learned to better serve you and the entire Penn State alumni community in the months and years ahead.

For the Glory,
Liz King

 

[Lionville]

Further update I received today. What a crock. I have to believe a very small minority said they don't use paper calendars. And they buried the oppy to request in a note I never read.

I sent back a reply to this email i received asking why they don't quickly print and mail out calendars to those who requested them. Apparently there are "many" of them/us in this same boat. F you is what i am sure i will receive back.

Thank you for being a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

For many years, we sent calendars to our life members. Each year, more and more alumni were contacting us to say they no longer used paper calendars. In response to that feedback, and to minimize expense and waste, this year we asked life members to confirm they wanted a 2025 calendar in advance of printing and mailing them.

Our goal was well-intentioned, but in the last few weeks, we have heard from many of you who missed the chance to request a calendar and were surprised to not receive one. Unfortunately, we have no calendars remaining from our reduced printing.

We recognize that we fell short in our effort to reach all members who wished to receive a calendar this year. If you are among them, please accept our heartfelt apology. We deeply regret causing any disappointment or inconvenience.

We also are grateful to everyone who reached out to let us know how much they have appreciated the calendar in prior years; your feedback will help us plan for the future. We look forward to applying the lessons we’ve learned to better serve you and the entire Penn State alumni community in the months and years ahead.

For the Glory,
Liz King

I’ll be calling tomorrow to find out where my calendar is and give them an earful when I get this BS answer

 

[Achowalogan]

So when I first became a lifetime member 45 years ago..or when ever anyone became a lifetime member…and the marketing spiel was a benefit of lifetime membership was a new annual calendar…isn’t there an obligation on the part of the university to deliver the benefits promised when the life time membership fee was accepted?

 

[Achowalogan]

So when I first became a lifetime member 45 years ago..or when ever anyone became a lifetime member…and the marketing spiel was a benefit of lifetime membership was a new annual calendar…isn’t there an obligation on the part of the university to deliver the benefits promised when the life time membership fee was accepted?

…oh, I guess I missed the small print at the bottom of the membership solicitation…

 

[AvgUser]

I’ll be calling tomorrow to find out where my calendar is and give them an earful when I get this BS answer

Let us know how you make out.

I replied to the email and said: “Why not print calendars for all that requested them?“

I’m not sure I’ll get a response.

 

[Psumatt85]

Further update I received today. What a crock. I have to believe a very small minority said they don't use paper calendars. And they buried the oppy to request in a note I never read.

I sent back a reply to this email i received asking why they don't quickly print and mail out calendars to those who requested them. Apparently there are "many" of them/us in this same boat. F you is what i am sure i will receive back.

Thank you for being a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

For many years, we sent calendars to our life members. Each year, more and more alumni were contacting us to say they no longer used paper calendars. In response to that feedback, and to minimize expense and waste, this year we asked life members to confirm they wanted a 2025 calendar in advance of printing and mailing them.

Our goal was well-intentioned, but in the last few weeks, we have heard from many of you who missed the chance to request a calendar and were surprised to not receive one. Unfortunately, we have no calendars remaining from our reduced printing.

We recognize that we fell short in our effort to reach all members who wished to receive a calendar this year. If you are among them, please accept our heartfelt apology. We deeply regret causing any disappointment or inconvenience.

We also are grateful to everyone who reached out to let us know how much they have appreciated the calendar in prior years; your feedback will help us plan for the future. We look forward to applying the lessons we’ve learned to better serve you and the entire Penn State alumni community in the months and years ahead.

For the Glory,
Liz King

As in, sorry, but we don’t care

 

[MacNit]

He was insufferable. Tried to tell me one time that Comprehensive Excellence was the same as saying Success With Honor! LOL Woke!

Are you a PSU graduate Marshall?

 

[Marshall2323]

Are you a PSU graduate Marshall?

No. I was at a bowl pep rally with my family. Daughter in Law is an alum. Eric Onion Dip spoke about how much he and his wife loved PSU football. Incidentally they were dancing before this and I got nausea watching. So Barron and AD both use the Comprehensive excellence in their short "pep talk." The clown happens to be standing next to me and I said why doesn't anyone have the courage to say Success With Honor. Paul says we use it all the time. I said I've never heard it. He stormed away muttering that Comprehensive Excellence is the same thing .

 

[MacNit]

No. I was at a bowl pep rally with my family. Daughter in Law is an alum. Eric Onion Dip spoke about how much he and his wife loved PSU football. Incidentally they were dancing before this and I got nausea watching. So Barron and AD both use the Comprehensive excellence in their short "pep talk." The clown happens to be standing next to me and I said why doesn't anyone have the courage to say Success With Honor. Paul says we use it all the time. I said I've never heard it. He stormed away muttering that Comprehensive Excellence is the same thing .

Got it.

Paul C was not in touch with Alums…not a Penn Stater in spirit…just A running mouth of platitudes. But if I think about it, maybe the perfect rep for post-Joe era.

 

[BobPSU92]

INTERIM.

Penn State Alumni Association names Ryan Jones, class of 1995, as interim leader | Penn State University

Ryan Jones, editor of the Penn Stater magazine, has been named interim leader of the Penn State Alumni Association following the departure of Paul J. Clifford in January.

www.psu.edu

Just give him the job already, but pay the search firm first. For f*ck’s sake.

 

[Nitt1300]

Hey, at least we are the largest group of dues paying suckers, that's something.