Now that the CWS has come to a successful conclusion for all of us, the activities of your Dallas Chapter pick up big time. In the next 5 weeks, we have 6 events planned which you'll want to mark on your calendar. And speaking of calendars, check out our Geauxings On page on our website for dates and times throughout the year for Happy Hours, Going Away Receptions, Watch Parties, etc. to keep up to date .

Beginning next Wed., July 8th, Nate's Seafood on Midway in Addison will host our 1st of 3 Happy Hours from 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM. Our host will have hors d'oeurves and a meal special for diners. Nate's has been a consistent sponsor of LSU Alumni and let's show up en masse to celebrate with them.

On Thursday, July 16th, Alabama will be hosting this month's SEC Mixer at Blackfinn Restaurant & Saloon in Addison.  Join other SEC Fans at Blackfinn for an evening of fun & spirits, and escalating trash talk as football season approaches!

Our 2nd Happy Hour will be held on Wed., July 22nd at Sherlock's at Park Lane & Central by North Park Mall from 6:30-8:30 also. At this Happy Hour, we will begin the auctioning off of a signed Les Miles Football and 2 game tickets for 3 home games. The games are 9/12 (Vandy,) 9/19 (UL-Lafayette) and 10/10 (Florida.) With the defending National Champion included in this group, you'll want to be there to bid on each of these. All proceeds for all auction items go toward our newest LSUAA Top 100 Scholarship which now stands at $6100 toward our $40,000 requirement.

During the week of July 27th-31st, our Dallas and Tarrant Chapters will host two Freshmen "Send Off Receptions" for incoming DFW students heading off this fall to Baton Rouge. Our watch party host , Sherlock's Baker St Pub, has generously offered to not only contribute the food for our receptions but also will host our Dallas Reception on Tuesday, July 28th from 7-9 PM at their location on Park Lane and Central Expressway. The following Thursday, July 30th, Tarrant Tigers will hold their send off at River Legacy Living Science Center at NW Green Oaks & Cooper St. in Arlington from 7-9 PM. If you know of any freshmen or their families, please invite them to pick whichever date is most convenient and come join us as they give them a taste of LSU hospitality.

The 3rd Happy Hour will be held on Wed., Aug. 5th, at Fox & Hound on Midway Rd. & George Bush from 6:30-8:30 PM. Two game tickets will be auctioned for the remaining 4 home games- 10/24 (Auburn,) 10/31 (Tulane,) 11/14 (LA Tech) and 11/28 (Arkansas.) All games are currently scheduled for 7:05 kickoff and the tickets will be mailed to the winning bidders upon receipt from TAF. Last year we added over $4000 to our scholarships with this auction. Let's see if we can't do even better this year. (I promise you our team will be better!) Remember- your contributions over the ticket value are tax deductible!

Two quick updates- we have successfully completed the sale of the LSU specialty license plates as we are sitting on 2000 sets at the end of June. Our 1900 requirement was met on 6/2 and the appreciation of all of us who worked to bring this to completion was excelled only by the support of all of our alumni and fans. Thanks from the bottom of our heart for your support. And I know that many of you will be glad to know that I won't be bringing that up anymore!  We will continue to have the link for on line ordering of plates on both the Dallas and Houston Chapter websites.

Lastly, membership is always important and we are 2 months into our fiscal year. With over 545 members, if you have not remitted your renewal, please do so as we want to print as many membership cards as possible prior to the start of the football season. This gives you a more permanent card which is valid till 4/30/2010 and affords you the 20% discounts at both Sherlock's and Fox & Hound during that time period. It also affords us the opportunity to contribute more toward our scholarship fund as 80% of your dues are used in that respect. Think of it as a way to give back to LSU and pass it forward to the DFW students in years to come. We're recruiting them- we need more scholarships for the added number. You can help.

If you have not joined, go to our website, www.lsualumnidallas.com, click on the membership link and utilize either the on line application with PayPal payment or download the application and mail with your credit card info or check to our Preston Rd. mailing address on the application. You'll enjoy the friendship of hundreds of alums who share the same passion for LSU that you do. This is the time to become a part of the fastest growing chapter outside of the state of LA.

Geaux Tigers!