Auto Dues Renewal Takes Off

The Maryland Alumni Association is offering university graduates an opportunity to put their membership dues payments on autopilot through the Auto Dues Renewal Program.

Under the program, launched in March, alumni can have their annual dues automatically deducted from credit card or bank accounts by filling out enrollment forms available on the association’s Web site.

Then, shortly before their membership renewal dates approach, they will receive withdrawal notifications rather than invoices. “Our members are busy people,” says Sonia Huntley ’92, director of membership and marketing. “Auto Dues Renewal cuts down on paperwork and makes it easier for them to ‘Carry the Card’.”

Student's Maryland Tree Has Many Branches

You might just need a master’s in genealogy to keep track of Caitlin Ervin’s ancestors. The soon-to-be sophomore is a fifth-generation Terp, continuing a family tradition to attend the University of Maryland.

All in the family: Caitlin Ervin and her father, Bob Ervin, hold photos of Terp relatives.

“It’s awesome,” Caitlin says. “I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.”

That is good news to her father, Bob Ervin ’81, who was hoping that Caitlin would choose Maryland. “It was almost like it was pre-ordained,” he says.

He might be right. Caitlin is a descendant of the Veitch Family, who owned acres of land near the campus back in the 1930s when the university started to expand. Her great-great grandfather F.P. Veitch attended the Maryland Agricultural College.

Still, Bob does admit that bringing Caitlin to basketball games with him since she was a little girl may have encouraged her “destiny.”

Like Caitlin, Bob’s devotion to Maryland got an early start and came from both sides of the family. He frequently visited his maternal grandfather, Theo Bissell ’20, an entomology professor at the university and an extension agent. “There were a lot more barns and animals back then,” recalls Bob of the visits. He also attended countless football and basketball games with his father, Harry Ervin ’51. “My father had a big loyalty to Maryland, because he went on the GI Bill,” says Bob.

Harry chose a different path than his father-in-law’s agricultural one, becoming an FBI agent. Legendary Maryland president Curly Byrd ’08 encouraged Harry and several of his fraternity brothers to talk to FBI representatives who were looking for new recruits to fight the Cold War. Meanwhile, Harry’s brother-in-law, William Bissell ’52, focused on engineering.

In 1981, Bob Ervin graduated with a business degree. Today, he owns three Slush Puppie franchises in Maryland, Delaware and northern Virginia. His brother, Richard, is a 1977 graduate.

Now the Terrapin torch has passed to Caitlin who hopes to pursue a business major like her father. She is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, the same sorority as her grandmother, Sally Bissell Ervin, who is thrilled at the choice. Caitlin is also interested in becoming an orientation advisor. Perhaps one day soon she will be advising her sister and brother, now in high school, and add even more branches to her family tree at Maryland. —BAM

Great-great Grandfather (pictured front left)

F.P. Veitch 1899, (Hon. Doctorate) '20
 

Great-grandfather (pictured front center)

Theo Bissell '20
 

Grandfather (pictured front right)

Harry Ervin '51
 

Great uncles

William Bissell '52

Robert Bissell '52
 

Father

Bob Ervin '81
 

Uncles/Aunts

Richard Ervin '77

Kathleen Connors Laguna '81

Daniel Connors '82

Steve Conors '84

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