Renewing the Muster call of 1923: Gather together in 2023

One hundred years ago, in the April 15, 1923, Texas Aggie, The Association of Former Students printed the famous call:

“If there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, sup a little and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.”

Today, The Association calls on all Aggies to renew this bond in April 2023.

Find the Aggie Muster nearest to you (tx.ag/FindAMuster) and mark the date on your calendar. It might be in a barn or on a battleship, in a restaurant or a backyard. You'll meet the other Aggies in your area and renew your ties to the Aggie Network. Many local Musters are kid-friendly. Sing the Aggie War Hymn together, perhaps share a meal, and listen to the Roll Call.

Volunteer if you can: Local Muster chairs often need help setting up chairs, bringing food or arranging candles. Muster chairs' contact information is listed at tx.ag/FindAMuster.

Spread the word on social media: Invite fellow Aggies, and take photos that show how each Aggie Muster has its own character. The Association collects these for Texas Aggie magazine and @AggieNetwork social media at tx.ag/2023MusterPhotos.

Help Aggie family or friends with information: It can be very distressing for a family to learn their loved one's name may not be called at the campus Muster, because the belief is widely held that all Aggie names are called there. But in fact every Muster calls its own roll — primarily local names. A family or group of friends will very likely be able to find a Muster near them at which to gather together and answer "Here" for their Aggie loved one. Please share as much helpful information as you can, when appropriate:

• Most local Musters will be glad to add a name to their Roll Call if they know you want to answer for a specific person, and may offer you a candle to hold for them. As early as you can, contact the chair of a Muster that is close to you or close to family members to confirm and learn more: tx.ag/FindAMuster
• Local Musters can be large or small, formal or informal. Almost all of them will include some Aggie camaraderie, poems and songs, plus a Roll Call. Some include a potluck meal or are held at a restaurant. The Muster chair can help you prepare for what to expect.
• Criteria for names called at campus Muster in Reed Arena: tx.ag/Criteria
• Names currently on Reed Arena Roll Call: tx.ag/CampusMusterRoll
• On April 21, there is an online reading of all names on the Worldwide Roll by The Association. This begins at 6:51 a.m., lasts several hours and is livestreamed at MusterLive.AggieNetwork.com. This website also offers the opportunity to upload photos and memories and post a virtual "Here" for Aggies on the Worldwide Roll.

Help The Association make sure all names are on the Worldwide Roll: Please check to make sure that any Aggies you know of who have passed away since the 2022 Muster are listed at tx.ag/RollCall. The Association relies heavily on reports that Aggies send to us in order to compile the Worldwide Muster Roll, which all Musters worldwide draw from. We sincerely appreciate all Aggies' assistance in this critical effort. All names added before mid-April will be read in the April 21 online Worldwide Roll call on MusterLive.AggieNetwork.com.

Hold your own Muster: Any gathering of two Aggies is a Muster! If you want to hold a public Muster and invite other Aggies, you can register your Muster to put it on the worldwide map, and The Association will help you with hosting resources. Register at tx.ag/HostAMuster. If you are holding a private Muster with just you and a friend or small gathering, The Association would love to include that in the official count of 2023 Musters, too! Go through the same registration process but simply mark your Muster as "private." Be sure to send us photos afterward.

More Muster information and help: Call The Association at 979-845-7514 or visit the frequently asked questions at tx.ag/MusterFAQ.

As The Association wrote back in 1923: "Forget business, forget other social duties you may be expected to perform; put everything aside that will in any way interfere.” Answer the call in 2023!

Association support for Aggie Muster:

Thanks to your annual gifts, The Association provides this support every year:
• Maintaining and updating worldwide Muster roll: tx.ag/RollCall.
• Support and services to local Musters, such as invitations, guidance and checklists.
• Worldwide Roll Call reading of all names and Muster Live website.
• $16,000 per year to student Muster Committee.
• Designing and creating campus Muster poster and printed programs.
• Muster songs, poems and videos online: tx.ag/MusterMedia.
• Database of Muster speakers: AggieNetwork.com/SpeakersBureau.
• Aggie Ring Remembrance event for family of current students who pass away.
• 50 Year Reunion held in conjunction with campus Muster.