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Record Q C l u b Gift Tota l H e l ps Stud ents And strengthens u niversity Progra m s By John Aakre Associate Director Of Development
Q Club gift income for 1 983 totaled a record $492,000 - an increase of 7 percent overthe previous year. These unrestricted gifts, which come from friends, alumni, businesses and churches who support the University's Annual Fund, help underwrite the cost of education for every student who attends PLU. This support is particularly crucial today when many people are concerned about the rising costs of higher education. The Q Club was founded 1 2 years ago in anticipation of this continuing concern . Since that time, the organization has received gifts which will pass the $3'% million mark in accumulated contributions sometime this month . All of those gifts have been used to help the University maintain quality prog rams while at the same time remaining within the financial reach of most students. One of the reasons for the growth and success of the Q Club over the years has been the dedication a nd commitment of its volunteer leadership. If you are already a member of the Q Club, I would like to than k you for your concern and your support. If you are not a member, but would like to join us in our efforts, you are encouraged to call or write for further information. There are four giving levels in the Q Club: Member: $240 a year or $20 a month Associate Fellow: $480 a year or $40 a month Fellow: $1 ,000 a year or $83.33 a month Senior Fellow: $2.400 a year or $200 a month
Our phone number is (206) 535-7429, and the address is Q Club, Nesvig Alumni Center, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447. The following Q Club additions have been made since the last issue of Scene: NEW FELLOWS: MlM Douglas Ely InCreases to Fellow: Dllie Boe, DIM Davis Carvey, M/M qeorge Fisher, DIM David Haaland, M/M George Kilen, M/M Jon Olson, M/M Michael Towers and DIM Philip Wigen. NEW ASSOCIATE FELLOWS: Central Lutheran Ch urch - Everett, M/M How ard Christianson, M/M Leighton Kalapa, Dr. Donald Krantz, Stephen Shed roff, Alice Tobiason and Marie Tobiason . Increases to Associate Fellows: M/M Francis Edlund, MlM Gerald Faaren, David Giles, M/M David Hamry, MlM Earl Hildahl, MlM Cl iff Korsmo, M/M Stener Kvinsland, DIM John Petersen, Roman Meal, M/M Jeffry Smith and TAM Engineering . NEW MEMBERS: Dr. Arthur Dean Anderson, M/M David Beam, DIM C hristopher Clarke, M/M John Collins, Rebec ca Dierker, Louise Ehret, Robert Ellis, M/M Walter Grande, Nina Haagen, M/M Donald Hall and M/M steve Hammerquist. In addition, Dennis Haugen , M/M M ilton Hefty, DIM Bruce Hille, MlM James F. Jacobson , DIM Ronald C. Johnson, RIM William Kees, Raymond Knutzen, CAPT1M Thomas Lorentzsen , M/M Jay Mensonides, M/M J effrey Monsen, Kenneth Mur ray, Gary Lee Olson, John W. Ogao, Sr. and M/M Gene Pankey. Also, M/M Dwayne Rose, DIM Thom Sepic, M/M Morton Shusta, M/M Robert Siburg, Mark Staffo rd, st. Mark's Lutheran Church - Taco ma, St. Mark's Lutheran Ch urch - Hayden Lake, MlM Don Sturdivant, DIM Marvin S. Tommervik, Jr., Dr. Arnold Towe, M/M Jack Tsa pralis, MlM Howard Willis and M/M Brian Youngquist.
A Ta l e Of TWO Freeways: The Key Word Is Ca re By Harvey Neufeld Exec. Director, Collegium/Church Relations
My mind takes me to Germany to find the lead-in to this column. Several years ago my family and I were motoring over the gentle hills south of Stuttgart looking for the "ausfahrt" (exit) that would take us to Sindelfingen, the home of Mercedes Benz cars. I'd always wanted to see the assembly of this, my favorite car, engineered for every occasion. My trusty four cylinder diesel back in Tacoma had such pedigree. The insane speeds of the autobahns proved the car talk to be true - obviously the best. And the autobahns attracted Benzes like honey does flies. Back home in America, last week, on Interstate 90 in the big sky Montana I motored back from a conference convention in my trusty diesel. Diesels are durable. That's another way of saying they can 't go fast. But when the incredibly long, tedious ribbons of cement stretch "forever and a mile" ahead, one tends to speed just a wee bit? Fortunate ly my four banger has a very low upper limit. Even so, what happened next startled me. Montana's highways have more deer per mile than most. Now, sadly, there is one less. Running over anything at highway speeds is alarming. Hitting a deer comes close to driver panic. I'm writing this, so you know I came out OK. The deer is gone. It was night, a nd the mortally wounded animal could not be
found. Of course it would die in a few hours. Such was the way of the Interstate. I often sing when I drive. Hymns. Cowboy songs. It passes time and keeps one awake. But I didn't feel like singing the rest of the way home. At first my grateful prayer was to than k God for safety. I was reminded that besides God I had German engineering on my side, "built for any emergency." Actually, first I slowed down, then I prayed. Naturally, when I got home I bragged about how good my reflexes were and how well my car handled! But in my more pensive moments I think about that deer. She was no match for the research labs of Sindelfingen! The human element finally enters in. That would be me. For a moment I rejoiced in the beauty of my machine! But, the animal was dead. Now it seems, upon further reflection, the car is a beast and beauty is dead. Of course it was an accident. It could not have been prevented, even at 30 mph . Yet in some way I am personally responsible to the system of nature which surrounds me. After all, it is God's world. And I, as the crown of creation, should some way accommodate the rest of creation. Maybe technology saved my life. That would be good. But the deer is dead. That makes me sad . I'll drive more carefully - that's the key word - care. Take care, my friend.
Ca pita l Gai ns: Th ere IS An Al l · Wi n ner Sol uti o n By Edgar Larson Director, Planned Olvlng
"I can't afford to sell it, but I can't afford to keep it, either! " How often I have heard that comment from someone who bought real estate some time ago a nd who has watched that property grow in value over the years. Today, with the increased value, the prospect of a consider able capital gains tax is present on a sale of the property. At the same time, if the property is not sold, real estate taxes seem to increase with regularity, which causes a financial burden to many. Recently, a friend of the University estab lished a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, fund ing it with real estate. He immediately received a charitable contribution deduction equal to about 60 percent of the value of the property placed in the trust. This provided income tax savings.
Even though the property had appreciated in value over the years, there was no capital gains tax to be paid when the trustsold the property. This meant capita/gains tax savings.
Lastly, the asset was removed from his estate, offering possible estate tax savings. The amount of such savings would depend on the size of the estate. In addition to receiving these significant tax benefits, this PLU friend will be getting income from the trust. at over a 10 percent figure. This continues for as long as he lives. Not too bad a deal when you think about it! The next time you think: "I Can't afford to sell it, but. I can't afford to keep it, either," also think of PLU. Maybe we can help you turn that asset that has g rown in value into lifetime income and significant tax savings. For more information, call or write: EdUr Lanon, Director Of Planned Olvlna OffICe Of Development - Nesvla Alumni Center J PaclflC Lutheran Unlvenlty Tacoma, waShington 98447 (206) 555-7420
Matt Heads Q C l u b S late Of Offi cers Donald Mott, M . D., an orthopedic surgeon from Puyallup and a member of Mountai n View Lutheran Church, has been elected to serve as president of the PLU Q Club duri ng 1 984. The Q Club is an organization of over 1 ,1 50 friends, alumni, businesses and churches who provide unrestricted gifts and scholar ships to the U niversity's Annual Fund. Last year its members raised nearly $500,000 to help students attend PLU . Dr. Mott, who like almost half of the Q Club membership is not a PLU alumnus, is joined by Charles Curtis, Gerald Benson and Mrs . Inez Wier o n the executive committee. Chuck Curtis, who is i n sales at Puyallup Lincoln Mercury, was elected first vice president. Gerald Benson, a farmer from Burlington, will serve as second vice-president. M rs. Wier, a recently retired business woman from Tacoma - Wiers Appliances was re-elected to serve as secretary-treasur er.