Happy October!!!  The months are flying by . . . it’s hard to believe that it’s already fall.  We’ve got a great lineup of events for the rest of the year and I hope you’ll find time in your schedule to join us out for at least one of them.  In addition we’re beginning to start game watches for Illini football and basketball games.  If you’re interested in leading a game watch, please contact me and I’ll arrange for that. 

 

Our first BIG club event will be happening next week.  Have you RSVP’d yet?  If not, make sure to shoot me an email.  We’ve love to have you join.  Currently we have about 50 people joining us for a luncheon with our guest speaker Loren Taylor who will be joined by his family.  Please try and make the luncheon if you are available.

 

Lastly, you may notice our new logo at the top of this newsletter.  It hasn’t been finalized, but it’s the most current working version.  Once we get our website up and running, our database complete and our logo finalized, we’ll be on track to solidify ourselves as a Illini Club.  Thanks for everyone’s participation!

 

- Ben

 

CLUB STATISTICS (as of 10/01/07)

 

The Las Vegas Illini Club has been able to increase its email list by 17 members this month giving us a total of 263.  In addition we now have 115 confirmed members which is up 32 members from September.  We have a total of 465 Illini graduates in the Las Vegas Valley that we know of. 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

 

Happy Birthday to William Stockdale on the 1st, Jan Bergantino on the 12th, Alvin Langer on the 20th, Linda Winslow on the 24th, Shirley Fannin on the 25th and Mark Cherry on the 31st,

 

Happy Anniversary to Bill and Judith Stone on the 8th, Dave Courvoisier and his wife on the 15th, Roger and Lin Jones on the 24th and Lucien Cravens Jr. and his wife on the 31st,

 

If you have a birthday or anniversary that you’d like us to know about, please fill hit respond and update me with your information.

 

LAS VEGAS ILLINI ONLINE

 

We now have possession of www.lasvegasillini.com and www.lasvegasillini.org.  You’ll be able to check that website in the future for club photos and other information on upcoming events.  It’s up and running now, however it will be going thru some MASSIVE renovations.  In addition we have groups on Facebook, MySpace and alwaysillinois.org (just search for Las Vegas Illini Club).  Please join . . . if you’re online!  J

 

UPCOMING LAS VEGAS ILLINI CLUB EVENTS

 

Put the following dates on your calendar:

 

*** October Guest Speaker Luncheon ***

Guest Speaker:  President of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, Loren Taylor

I hope you can join us in welcoming Loren Taylor to Las Vegas.  He’ll be speaking about the University and will be available to answer questions.

Date:  10/09/07, Tuesday

Time:  12:00pm

Location:  DAV Productions Office, 711 Pilot Road, Suite F, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Contact:  Ben Brownback, 702.429.5594, ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com

Cost:  $20 which includes buffet lunch catered by Soirees Catering (also a U of I Alumni run company) *$20 payment can be paid the day of the event*

 

Join us at the Las Vegas Illini Happy Hour located right across from Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip!!!

Dates:  10/11/07, 11/8/07, Thursday

Time:  6pm - 8pm

Location:  Laughing Jackalope Bar, 3969 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, NV, 89119-1047

Contact:  Ben Brownback, 702.429.5594, ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com

Cost:  $10 Minimum Donation towards the scholarship fund

 

*** November Guest Speaker Luncheon ***

Guest Speaker:  Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs Robin Kaler

Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler will test your Illini IQ with an interactive quiz about the latest news of the campus.  She’ll be available to field questions about her job, the campus and the University of Illinois.

Date:  11/20/07, Tuesday

Time:  12:00pm

Location:  DAV Productions Office, 711 Pilot Road, Suite F, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Contact:  Ben Brownback, 702.429.5594, ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com

Cost:  $22 which includes buffet lunch catered by Soirees Catering (also a U of I Alumni run company) 

 

DAV Productions 2007 Holiday Bash; “Snowed In At the DAV Lodge”

Although this isn’t an official Las Vegas Illini Club Event, my company’s holiday bash has always open to Illinois Alumni and is a great way to bring in the holiday season.  Come join us for this event . . . we’re expecting over 900 people this year so bring your business cards and network.

Date:  12/06/07, Thursday

Time:  5:00pm – 11:00pm

Location:  DAV Productions Office, 711 Pilot Road, Suite F, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Contact:  Ben Brownback, 702.429.5594, ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com

Cost:  No Charge for Las Vegas Illini Club Members

 

In addition to these two speakers, I’ve been in contact with the Dean of the College of Communications, Ron Yates and the President of the University of Illinois Foundation, Sidney Micek and am in the process if solidifying dates for them to visit our club.  Stay tuned!!!

 

I'd really welcome your feedback if you've got an idea for an event.  Please email me at ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com.

 

FIGHTING ILLINI FOOTBALL

 

Here’s the Football Schedule for Fall 2007:

 

10/06/07 vs. WISCONSIN (Dad's Day), MEMORIAL STADIUM 11:00 a.m. CT, ESPN

10/13/07 at Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 11:00 a.m. CT, ESPN2

10/20/07 vs. MICHIGAN (Varsity 'I' Day), MEMORIAL STADIUM 7:00 p.m. CT, ABC/ESPN, ESPN2

10/27/07 vs. BALL STATE (Homecoming), MEMORIAL STADIUM 11:00 a.m. CT, ESPN/espn2/Big Ten Network

11/03/07 at Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. 7:00 p.m. CT, Big Ten Network

11/10/07 at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio TBA

11/17/07 vs. NORTHWESTERN (Senior Day), MEMORIAL STADIUM TBA

 

No west coast games this year.  I’ll try and organize some game watching events also.

 

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL

 

Hot off the presses . . . here’s the 2007-08 ILLINOIS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

 

Monday Nov. 5 Quincy (Exh.) Assembly Hall

Wednesday Nov. 7 (Tent.) Kentucky Wesleyan (Exh.) Assembly Hall

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Nov. 11 Northeastern Assembly Hall

Friday Nov. 16 at Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii

Nov. 19-21 EA Sports Maui Invitational, Lahaina Civic Center (Arizona State, Chaminade, Duke, Illinois, LSU, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Princeton)

Monday Nov. 19 vs. Arizona State Lahaina, Hawaii 10:30 pm ESPN2

Tuesday Nov. 20 vs. Duke/Princeton Lahaina, Hawaii 8:30 pm/3 pm ESPN/ESPNU

Wednesday Nov. 21 vs. TBA Lahaina, Hawaii

Wednesday Nov. 28 at Maryland (Big Ten/ACC Challenge) College Park, Md. 6:30 pm ESPN2

Saturday Dec. 1 Weber State Assembly Hall

Saturday Dec. 8 vs. Arizona (Lexus December to Remember Classic) Chicago, Ill. (United Center)

Monday Dec. 17 Western Carolina Assembly Hall

Thursday Dec. 20 Miami (OH) Assembly Hall

Saturday Dec. 22 vs. Missouri (Busch Braggin’ Rights) St. Louis, Mo. (Scottrade Center)

Friday Dec. 28 Loyola (MD) Assembly Hall

Sunday Dec. 30 Tennessee State Assembly Hall

Thursday Jan. 3 Ohio State Assembly Hall 7 pm ESPN

Sunday Jan. 6 Penn State Assembly Hall 1 pm BTN

Thursday Jan. 10 at Wisconsin Madison, Wis. 8 pm ESPN/ESPN2

Sunday Jan. 13 at Indiana Bloomington, Ind. Noon/3:30 pm CBS

Wednesday Jan. 16 Michigan Assembly Hall 8 pm BTN

Saturday Jan. 19 at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 1 pm ESPN

Tuesday Jan. 22 at Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 8 pm BTN

Sunday Jan. 27 Northwestern Assembly Hall 7 pm BTN

Wednesday Jan. 30 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 8 pm BTN

Saturday Feb. 2 Purdue Assembly Hall 2:30 pm BTN

Thursday Feb. 7 Indiana Assembly Hall 8 pm ESPN/ESPN2

Tuesday Feb. 12 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. 8 pm BTN

Saturday Feb. 16 at Penn State University Park, Pa. 6 pm BTN

Wednesday Feb. 20 Wisconsin Assembly Hall 8 pm BTN

Sat./Sun. Feb. 23/24 at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 1 pm/3 pm TBA

Sat./Sun. March 1/2 at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 1 pm/3 pm/5 pm TBA

Tue./Wed./Thu. March 4/5/6 Michigan State Assembly Hall TBA TBA

Saturday March 8 Minnesota Assembly Hall Noon BTN

Thu.-Sun. March 13-16 Big Ten Tournament Indianapolis, Ind. (Conseco Fieldhouse) TBA TBA

Thu.-Sun. March 20-23 NCAA First & Second Rounds TBA TBA CBS

Thu.-Sun. March 27-30 NCAA Regionals TBA TBA CBS

Sat. & Mon. April 5 & 7 NCAA Final Four San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome) TBA CBS

 

All times listed are Central.  All dates and times subject to change.  Remaining times and TV information will be released when available.

 

THE END . . .

 

As always, please let me know if you meet any other Illini that live in the valley that might want to participate in our events.  Go IllinI!!!!

 

Ben

 

Ben Brownback, '99 LAS
Club Leader, Las Vegas Illini Club
ben.brownback@lasvegasillini.com
Mobile:  702.429.5594