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FAQQ. What is the Hokie Club? Q. Why contribute to the Hokie Club? Q. Why are contributions needed? Q. Following a string of major bowl appearances, why is support still needed? Q. What are the more tangible benefits of joining the Hokie Club? Q. How does my Hokie Club membership affect my purchase of season tickets and the location of my seats? Q. What are the parking privileges associated with Hokie Club membership? Q. What are the forms of payment the Hokie Club will accept? Q. What is Hokie-Matic? Q. Are there any special programs for kids? Q. Can I make a one-time contribution to support a specific programmatic area or capital project? Q. In what ways can I make gifts? Q. Are there major giving opportunities available? Q. Are there cumulative giving levels available? Q. What are some of the ways to make planned gifts? Q. Where can I get tickets to Virginia Tech sporting events? Q. As a member of the Hokie Club, what rules limit my contact with
Q. What is the Hokie Club?
A.
The Hokie Club (i.e. the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, Inc., or VTAF) is a university-affiliated support organization consisting of donors to the intercollegiate athletic program. There are several club levels based on the amount contributed on an annual basis. The funds raised are used to provide scholarship aid for student-athletes, to make capital improvements to the athletic facilities at Virginia Tech, and to support programmatic needs.
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Q. Why contribute to the Hokie Club?
A. -
So we can have a better athletic program at Virginia Tech!
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Because you have a personal concern for the university and its image on both a local and national level.
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Because you have a strong conviction about Virginia Tech and the Hokie
Club and the opportunity which is being provided to over 500 athletes.
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For civic pride, knowing that an effective support organization and
thus a successful athletic program is a needed community activity.
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Because an investment in the Hokie Club is an investment, not only in
the youth of the nation, but in all aspects of the university as well.
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For the satisfaction of knowing you contributed to the success of an
outstanding collegiate athletic program through your involvement.
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For the social benefits of belonging to the Hokie Club, including
special travel, meeting new friends, keeping in touch with old friends,
and making possible business contacts.
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Q. Why are contributions needed?
A. Because of Virginia Law, no tax money whatsoever goes to athletics at
Virginia Tech (unlike West Virginia and Maryland). We currently sponsor
21 varsity sports and have approximately 500 participants, not
including managers and student trainers. Of those 21 sports, only
football and basketball operate at a profit. Virginia Tech depends on
the funds generated by football and men's basketball to pay for not
only football and basketball, but also for the coaches, secretaries,
travel, equipment, uniforms, medical attention, and publicity for the
19 other sports, and to pay the administrative staff and upkeep of all
facilities. The program does all that - however, it cannot also meet
all its needs in terms of scholarships and facilities improvements. The
Hokie Club and all its contributors provide scholarship aid and build
new facilities. This requires the support of all friends of Virginia
Tech athletics to meet this obligation. Over the years, the Hokie Club
has helped build Lane Stadium, Cassell Coliseum, Rector Fieldhouse,
English Baseball Field, Burrows-Burleson Tennis Complex, the Merryman
Center, and Cochrane Hall (athletic dorm).
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Q. Following a string of major bowl appearances, why is support still needed?
A. The cost of athletic scholarships is on the rise. With gender equity
being a central topic in intercollegiate athletics, money must be there
to field competitive teams in both men's and women's sports. With our
athletic endowment and annual support, we still do not fully fund all
athletic teams with the maximum number of scholarships as allowed by
the NCAA. We continually need to expand and modernize facilities. Part
of the proceeds from the Alliance Bowls were used to complete the
following capital projects: outdoor track and soccer complex, English
Field Press Box, indoor track, and Astroturf for Rector Fieldhouse. New
facility needs are being identified such as expansion and renovation of
Lane Stadium.
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Q. What are the more tangible benefits of joining the Hokie Club?
A. As a Hokie Club contributor, you will receive the Hokie Huddler (four
times a year), a decal for your car, Hokie sports schedules, and
special travel and motel arrangements through your local Hokie Club.
And, depending upon your level of giving, benefits such as parking, and
home/away game ticket priorities are available. A complete description
of the various levels of contribution and the benefits associated with
them can be found here.
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Q. How does my Hokie Club membership affect my purchase of season tickets and the location of my seats?
A. In order to get priority seating you must be a member of the Hokie
Club, at the Hokie Club level as a minimum. Beyond that, exact seat
locations are based on a complicated points system. For a complete
description of the point system, please see the Priority Point System
description page. However, your general seat location is largely
determined by your level of contribution. This map of Lane Stadium
delineates the sections reserved for the contributors to the Hokie Club.
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Q. What are the parking privileges associated with Hokie Club membership?
A. You will be offered a pass which allows you to park in one of the
eighteen areas reserved for Hokie Club members. The cost of this pass
is $30 per year ($105 for an RV) in 2002. The specific lot is based on
your level of contribution. All Hokie Club reserved lots are licensed
by the State of Virginia to allow tailgating (i.e. open containers of
alcoholic beverages). Note: this is NOT the case with lots open to the
general public. Tailgating in general public parking areas are subject
to all VA open container laws. See the parking maps for 2002.
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Q. What are the forms of payment the Hokie Club will accept?
A. The Hokie Club will accept cash, check, MasterCard, and Visa. You may
join online by using the VTAF secure membership form. You can make your
gift annually, quarterly (due the first day of January, April, July,
and October), or via Hokie-Matic.
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Q. What is Hokie-Matic?
A. Hokie-Matic is the easiest way to give money to the VTAF. The Hokie
Club drafts money from the donors account every month. This spreads the
total yearly contribution level over 12 months. Drafts occur
automatically on either the 15th or 30th of each month, specified by
the donor. Full Hokie Club privileges start when the VTAF receives the
first payment. The Hokie Club will automatically renew the membership.
You can download an online form for printing here, to start the process
immediately. Directions for completing and submitting the form are
found on the form itself.
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Q. Are there any special programs for kids?
A. Yes! The Virginia Tech Hokie Kids' Club was started to get kids under
the age of 14 excited about Virginia Tech Athletics and give them the
opportunity to gain some awesome privileges and opportunities to attend
special events, just for Kids Club members, all for just $20. For
complete details check out the form on the forms page.
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Q. Can I make a one-time contribution to support a specific programmatic area or capital project?
A. Yes. A campaign to raise $15M for the West Side expansion of Lane Stadium is currently going on.
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Q. In what ways can I make gifts?
A. Gifts may be made outright, or pledged over a period of years. Gifts
may be made in several forms: cash, real estate, life income plans
(trusts and annuities), securities, tangible personal property, or
bequests.
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Q. Are there major giving opportunities available?
A. Yes. The VTAF has now established levels as follows:
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$25,000 - Silver Champion
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$50,000 - Golden Champion
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$100,000 - Endowed Scholarship
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$150,000 - Endowed Position Scholarship
All levels are payable within a five-year period. The money can be
pledged not only to scholarships, but also to facilities, or it can be
placed in the general fund.
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Q. Are there cumulative giving levels available?
A. Yes, as of January 1, 2002 we have established cumulative giving levels as follows:
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$100,000 - Hokie Benefactor
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$250,000 - Orange & Maroon Benefactor
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$500,000 - Bronze Benefactor
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$1,000,000 - Silver Benefactor
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$2,000,000 - Golden Benefactor
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Q. What are some of the ways to make planned gifts?
A. There are Life Income Gifts such as gift annuities and charitable
remainder trusts. We would irrevocably receive control over the gift,
but owe the donor (or someone else) a stream of income over a certain
period. There are also Testamentary gifts or gifts after life. These
gifts are made through wills, revocable living trusts, retirement
benefits and life insurance. The VTAF has three attorneys on staff who
handle planned giving. If you would like to make a planned gift please
contact the VTAF staff at (540)231-6618.
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Q. Where can I get tickets to Virginia Tech sporting events?
A. The best way to get tickets to Virginia Tech sporting events is to join the Hokie Club. Depending on the amount of your annual contribution, you will be eligible for season tickets to all VT sporting events. To join the Hokie Club go here. The MD Hokie Club does not provide or have access to additional single game tickets. On occasion, some of our club members may have tickets available to events. We welcome them to contact the MD Hokie Club at mdhokie@mdhokieclub.com about available tickets. When tickets are available to us, we will send a message out on our mailing list to let everyone know. To subscribe to the mailing list, email list-subscribe@mdhokieclub.com.
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Q. As a member of the Hokie Club, what rules limit my contact with
A. As a member of the Hokie Club, your contact with student-athletes is limited to the rules of the NCAA. For a basic set of guidelines, see the guidelines provided by the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. These regulations apply to Hokie Club members, alumni, season-ticket holders (past or current) and anyone who has ever donated money to the Tech athletics program. For more information about contact with student-athletes, contact the Virginia Tech Compliance Office if you have any questions. Inquires should be addressed to:
Tim Parker Virginia Tech Assistant Athletics Director 365 Jamerson Athletic Center Blacksburg, VA 24061 tparker@vt.edu (540)231-2937 or 231-5497.
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