Here is a response I received from COSC regarding the sale of COSC school items. ----- Original Message ----- From: Merle Harris To: Abner Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 9:11 AM Subject: RE: Charter Oak School giftware I never responded to you because we were in the process of reviewing RFPs for a new Book Vendor. We have done this and will use the vendor to sell school apparel and other things with our logo. This should be happening early next year. Thanks for your interest! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Harris: I have noticed the Charter Oak State College website does not have a gift shop section on its website. This would be a great feature for COSC to sell/market school products and also promote pride at the same time. Please consider adding this feature. It would be a good opportunity to sell school sweaters, mugs, stickers, pens, etc. Thank you, Abner
Abner, I appreciate your finding out about this and posting it here, with numerous COSC alumni and students. I've often wondered about this myself. Was there any indication that this would be available for purchase online? Thanks, Peace, Matt
About two months ago I decided that there ought to be logo stuff available, so I set up a nice store through Cafe Press, directected that the proceeds go to the Charter Oak Alumni Association, then told them what I'd done to see their reaction (it only took me an hour to set up; Cafe Press makes it very easy). They asked me to take it down immediately, of course. Seems they have a vendor process. They added that logo merchandise ought to be available in a limited fashion in about six months. Ah well. -=Steve=-
Hi Matt, It looks like Steve may have addressed the question about selling these items online. However, I will e-mail Dr. Harris and ask him just to see what he says. I will post his reply once I get it. I am presently getting ready to apply at COSC for a B.A. in Liberal Studies. It is kind of strange that an RA State school would not have more school stuff for sale, but at least they are working on it. The funny thing is about seven months ago I e-mailed California Coast University about the same issue. Since then, they have several school items you can view online in the "Giftware" section. Anyway, If I get a response from Dr. Haris, I will post it here. Steve, do you think now that the RFP vendor process is done, Dr. Harris will let you build an on-line shopping feature in the COSC website? Take care gentleman!!! Have a good weekend! Abner
Hi Steve & Abner, Sigh....oh well. But on the bright side, it is Charter Oak, and if their admin on this is anything like the folks who interact with prospective and current students, then I think their prediction of availability in about 6 months should hold true. Just cant wait to get my caffeine-addicted hand around a shiny new COSC coffee mug, presumably in white and forest green! Peace, Matt
I think the only college giftware thing I have, besides a college ring that is never worn, is a BYU Christmas ornament my wife and I bought many years ago. I have a Michigan hat(although I never attended Michigan). I don't want any money, above tuition, going to any school.
Oh, I wasn't trying to become a vendor. I'm sure they'll end up paying someone to do what they told me I couldn't do for them for free. And maybe they'll come up with something where more money ends up in the Alumni Association's account, which would be great. I just wish they'd do it already! While I didn't actually do this, I suppose anyone who really wants Charter Oak logo merchandise could always use Cafe Press to set up a store just for himself/herself, order the desired items, then delete the store. The problem is getting a high quality image of the logo, as there really isn't one on the site. Well, the other problem is that they probably wouldn't want you to do it. -=Steve=-
Hi Steve and Matt: I got a reply from Dr. Harris regarding the logo school items. Yes, he stated the items would be available through an online link at the COSC website. I think this was already known, but I told Matt I would ask again just to see what was said. Take care guys! Abner
The July 2005 issue of Connections, COSC's newsletter had an order form on page 8 (the back page) for a Charter Oak logo T-Shirt (the cost was $12 for shipping and handling). I sent in an order a few weeks ago and got the T-Shirt a few days ago. Very snazzy. I'm wearing it right now. Perhaps you could contact the COSC Alumi Association and see if they have any left.
