No more dues!

All graduates of UWM are now members of the UWM Alumni Association

In going "dues -free," the UWMAA follows a growing trend among universities around the country. UWM Alumni Association President Joe Czarnezki explains that this new policy will transform the association from a group that concentrated on gaining and maintaining membership to an organization with a new vision.

"It will focus on raising money for scholarships for current and future students," Czarnezki says. "It will focus on programming that provides alumni with professional services for networking and career counseling. And, it will focus on making our graduates across the state powerful advocates for the work of the university."

How will the UWMAA operate without dues income?

In recent years, the UWMAA has been generating income through affinity programs with corporate partners. Sponsorships, advertising and special-event programming now account for the majority of the association's income. The new "dues-free" model eliminates the enormous expenses associated with the processing of thousands of invoices and reminder letters each year.

Perhaps most important, the UWM Foundation has made a very generous commitment to help support the work of the UWMAA and guarantee its long-term financial viability.

What benefits will I receive as a member?

• Access to child care at UWM's Children's Center *
• Discounted men's and women's Panther basketball tickets
• Special pricing at Peck School of the Arts events
• Discounts on auto and health insurance, car rentals and Internet access
• Access and discounts at: UWM Union Theatre; Craft Center; Recreation Center; Sailing Club
• US Bank/UWM Visa credit card
• Career counseling and networking events
• UWM Today alumni magazine (published three times a year)
• *Service is subject to availability

Detailed information about all of the benefits is available online at the UWM Alumni Association website, http://www.alumni.uwm.edu.

What about discounts at the Klotsche Center and borrowing privileges at the Golda Meir Library?

Because the UWMAA has just increased from 10,000 members to more than 111,000 members, there are two benefits that it is unable to offer to everyone. The Klotsche Center and Golda Meir Library do not have the budgets or capacity to accommodate the enormous number of new, lifetime members, and therefore the association is unable to offer membership discounts and borrowing privileges to everyone. These two benefits are reserved for individuals who purchased the original Life Memberships that had been available for a one-time dues payment of up to $400, and to new "Sustaining Contributors."

Who is a 'Sustaining Contributor'?

Sustaining Contributors make a one-time $500 donation to the Alumni Association's Student Scholarship Fund. In addition to Klotsche Center discounts, library borrowing privileges, and the other UWMAA membership benefits, these contributors also receive an invitation to an annual UWMAA VIP reception hosted by Chancellor Carlos Santiago.

All ORIGINAL Life Members and existing Life Installment Plan Members automatically become Sustaining Contributors and remain eligible for the Klotsche Center and Library benefits as well as the annual VIP reception with the Chancellor.

To become a Sustaining Contributor, call the Alumni Association at 414-906-4640 or toll-free at 1-877-564-6896.

'No more dues,' much more opportunity

"It's an exciting time for the UWM Alumni Association," says Tom Luljak ('95), vice chancellor for university relations and communication. "The association's new focus not only strengthens the ties of alumni to the university and to each other, but also strengthens the future of UWM through advocacy and scholarships. Scholarships make a difference. When the UWM Alumni Association was incorporated 40 years ago, tuition was under $600. Today, it is approaching $6,000. It is no longer possible to pay for college with a summer job.

"'No more dues' means much more opportunity for current and future alumni."