MOST OUTSTANDING Social Event NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU)
Alumni Tailgate
Provide a detailed description of the event and the population it served. Details MUST include: date of event, number of participants, program purpose (goals, objectives, etc.), use of resources (finances, community support, etc.), and marketing techniques.
Date: Saturday, November 9th
Participants: Around 100-120 people came out to the tailgate. The event was especially popular with alumni, as the LSU vs. Alabama game is a big deal and only happens every other year. The alumni love coming down to LSU for this, and it’s a great way to reconnect. Some alumni came to hang out, while other VSA members showed up for free food and fun.
Program Purpose: The goal of the tailgate was pretty simple: socialize, have a great time, and build stronger connections with the alumni, since we haven’t had much direct interaction with them in the past. It was all about bringing people together and making the event memorable. The alumni handled the cooking and prepping, while the e-board’s main role was to keep things calm, act as mediators between the alumni and the general body, and make sure things didn’t get too wild.
Use of Resources: Financial: E-board members helped by purchasing ingredients and supplies for the alumni IF they needed. The alumni bought all the food and took care of all the food prep and cooking, which included burgers, hot dogs, meatballs, gumbo, fruits, banh mi, and more. The food was all free, which definitely drew people in, especially since it was on-campus and people attending the game could stop by for a bite.
Marketing: The event was posted on all our social media channels to get the word out. We made sure to advertise the free food and the fun socializing aspect, which really helped attract a large crowd.
What efforts were used to motivate and involve the organization's members?
The e-board made sure to stay involved with everyone and act as a bridge between the alumni and the general members. We didn’t do much with the cooking, but we helped with anything that needed attention, like making sure people stayed respectful and didn’t get too carried away. We also ensured the alumni were comfortable and appreciated. Our historian took photos of everyone to capture the memories.
Did the organization overcome any challenges that arose while planning and implementing the event? How?
Yes, we did run into a bit of trouble, but we managed to work it out:
Overconsumption of alcohol: Some members got a little too drunk, which led to a few people throwing up in the grass. The alumni weren’t happy about this, since it could potentially make LSU blame them and force them to take down the tent. To address this, we made sure to keep an eye on things and remind people to drink responsibly.
Logistics and tech setup: We helped the alumni with the setup, including getting their Wi-Fi and tech stuff in place, which kept everything running smoothly.
