For Eddie DeVall '93, Arizona State University and the ASU Alumni Association comprise much of his life. A cynic who knows him might say all of his life. Because every time an ASU football or basketball team makes a visit to Southern California, or even anything involving ASU, Eddie is there. He and the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter are responsible for arranging pregame events, like selling tickets, planning social and networking opportunities and assisting with high school recruiting.

"I began helping out in the ASU Foundation/Alumni office in L.A. around 1996," said DeVall, President of the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter, "and I've been involved since."

So much so, that since he took over as president in 1998, through programs and ticket sales, he has upped the chapter's e-mail list from 50 to 1,200 and increased the chapter's budget and scholarship programs.

"There has been a lot of time and effort put forth," said this consummate volunteer, "but all of our board members feel it's been worth it. We try and stage as many diversified events as we can and always look out for new ideas."

One of those events occurred in Los Angeles the night before the ASU-Southern California football game last fall when a reception was held for President Michael Crow to welcome him to ASU and spread the word of his vision for ASU.

"It was one of the best-attended non-athletic events we've had in terms of number of people and diversity of alumni who attended," said DeVall. "We are hoping events like this become annual programs where we're able to get ASU in front of our alumni in our own backyard and show the pride our L.A. alumni have."

Another major event for this chapter includes "L.A. Stories", an alumni networking and career panel. Staged annually, it's an event where alumni panelists speak about career themes and issues relevant to Los Angeles, including entertainment, tourism, engineering, education, etc. Last year's theme was entertainment, with many L.A. area alumni speaking on their careers. Another year it was industry and tourism, with alumni business leaders explaining how they reached their positions.

Other signature events have included annual trips to the Hollywood Bowl, where a wine and cheese tasting event preceded a concert, and a Dodger Stadium event, where alumni were invited to the field last summer to meet and greet ASU alums Paul LoDuca of the Dodgers and Rick Monday, one of the team's radio broadcasters. Also, a bowling match against University of Arizona alumni is held a week before the Big Game.

"We really want to give all our alumni a choice," said DeVall, "and convince them to join the Alumni Association. They really are great networking events."

DeVall is also on several boards and committees, including the Alumni Association's Board of Directors, Cal Devils plus the Marketing and Membership and Awards and Recognition committees. What motivates him to volunteer?

"It's a great opportunity to interact and give something back to our alma mater and our alumni," he said. "I enjoy meeting our alumni and helping them connect to ASU and other alums in Los Angeles."

With over 5,000 ASU alumni in L.A., and working with the Orange County and San Diego chapters to cross promote events, that's a lot of meeting and greeting. Sports seem to draw the easiest and most alumni interest, but there is strong interest for cultural, community service and networking events as well.

After graduation he moved back to California and worked for his fraternity Delta Sigma Phi at UCLA. "I was a live-in adviser hired to re-colonize the chapter," he said. At the same time he was working on his master's from USC in education administration. It was during that period when he began working with the ASU Foundation/Alumni office in L.A.

"I remember working on the Mike Haynes Golf Tournament and a lot of pre-Rose Bowl activities in 1996," he said. The next year he got the job he holds today -- a retail marketing manager for MGM Studios Home Entertainment Division.

"When I first attended the L.A. Chapter board meetings, I liked what I saw," he said. "But I also saw where this chapter could do a lot more, given how many ASU alumni live in Los Angeles. We had the opportunity to step up our programs, so I ran for president my second year in 1998."

Today DeVall and his board have their duties down to a science -- call it autopilot. This chapter is bigger and better than ever, extremely organized, and not only sends out consistent newsletters but has weekly e-mail bursts.

He said he and the board also work with the college alumni offices when the respective deans or alumni staff come to town.

"Sometimes I wonder when I might get tired of this," said DeVall, now 31. "But when events are well-attended and alumni get excited at events, it fires you up to keep going. The people at ASU are great to work with."

"It's all very positive for me, and hopefully our alums as well."

ASU Alumni Association L.A. Chapter President Eddie DeVall stands with ASU President Michael Crow at an event in L.A.

Los Angeles Chapter of the ASU Alumni Association

Web site: www.lasundevils.com
No. of alumni: 5,500
Dues-paying alumni: 630
Signature events: tailgates for USC and UCLA football games; ticket sales for football, basketball and baseball; Hollywood Bowl; LA Stories Career Panel and Networking Event.
Region: includes Long Beach to Malibu to Pasadena and everywhere in between.
Alumni meetings: monthly to plan events, socialize and network. Open to all alumni.