Why did we eliminate dues for membership in the CEAA?

(7.2.09)

In 2007 the Board of Directors of the Cornell Engineering Alumni Association (CEAA) voted to eliminate dues for membership in the CEAA. Between 1995 and 2007, paid annual membership in the CEAA dropped 18%, from 1410 to 1156 members. The Board spent a great deal of time and energy trying to stem this trend and boost membership numbers, with little success. Also, our analysis revealed that the expenses of postage, materials, and staff time spent to manage paid membership amounted to over 40% of the annual revenue from dues.

With these facts in mind, the Board voted unanimously to eliminate dues to better implement the mission of the CEAA - to engage alumni in the life of the college. The dean of the College of Engineering agreed to supplement the CEAA budget with money from the Cornell Fund for Engineering. The Cornell Fund for Engineering consists of unrestricted contributions to the college made by alumni and friends each year. College leaders are convinced that by putting resources previously dedicated to marketing, soliciting, and administering dues to use in raising additional gifts for the Cornell Fund for Engineering, the budget shortfall resulting from not charging CEAA membership dues can be more than made up.

The Board of Directors of the CEAA would like to thank our lifetime and past paying members for their support of the college and the CEAA. We hope this change in membership will encourage more alumni to become active participants in the College of Engineering community. For example, alumni can help recruit outstanding students and faculty, speak at a class on campus, become a mentor, and assist with student job placements. 

We also hope members, past and present, will continue their support of the college by considering making an annual gift to the Cornell Fund for Engineering. To find out how you can make a gift, visit Ways to Give or contact Barbara Batley, of Alumni Affairs and Development in the College of Engineering.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors
of the Cornell Engineering
Alumni Association