What Your Association Does and Doesn’t Do

Posted on Aug. 21, 1990

From the University Report (published by the GAA 1970-94)

Is the General Alumni Association the same as the Educational Foundation, the Ram’s Club, Alumni Annual Giving, Carolina Annual Giving or the Carolina Fund?

No, although we are convinced that many alumni think this is the case. Alumni Annual Giving, later Carolina Annual Giving and now the Carolina Fund, in the University’s development office, which solicits much needed private gifts from alumni, foundations, corporations, and friends.  The Educational Foundation, better known as the Ram’s Club, solicits private gifts to provide scholarships for student athletes.  The General Alumni Association finances its many publications, programs and activities from dues paid by alumni.  Presently we have 52,000 members over 21,000 of whom are lifetime members.

Is the General Alumni Association funded by the University?

No.  While the University supports our Association and relies upon our programs, publications and activities to foster understanding and to maintain continuing contact between the University and our alumni, funding for the Association comes mainly from dues paid by Carolina alumni.  The Association does maintain alumni records for the University and is now reimbursed for this service.

Does the University govern the General Alumni Association?

No.  The GAA is a 501(c.3) non-profit organization.  While we work very closely with the University, the policies of the Association are set by our officers and Board of Directors, most of whom are elected annually by the dues-paying members of the Association.  They are guided by our Constitution and By-Laws.

Does the University exercise editorial control over alumni publications such as the Carolina Alumni Review magazine and The University Alumni Report newspaper?

No.  Alumni publications, which go to members of the Association, are intended to reflect the achievements and challenges facing the University as well as news about alumni and University faculty and staff.  They are published by the Association.  We invite University administrators to share their thoughts with our alumni through our publications, and we welcome thoughtful expressions of concern and even “loving criticism” regarding University matters.

Isn’t the Alumni Association’s real purpose to generate financial support from alumni to the University? 

No, not at all.  While we are hopeful that alumni will support the University financially, the Association feels strongly that there are many other equally important ways that alumni can support the University.  All of what the GAA does is intended to involve and inform Carolina alumni.

How can I become more active in the Alumni Association?

If you are not a member, please join.  If you are a Carolina Alumni member already, encourage other alumni and friends of the University to join.  Become active with your local Carolina Club.  Local Clubs sponsor many projects.

Besides publications and club meetings, what else does the Alumni Association do?

Much more.  We have a series of alumni programs – seminars, tours abroad, class reunions, a homecoming barbecue, a student alumni association, awards, career placement assistance, enrichment opportunities, alumni admissions program, and many other member benefits including group life insurance, membership directories, the Carolina Alumni Visa Card and more.  In addition, the Association maintains current mailing addresses and biographic information on more than 183,000 living alumni.

After eight years as Executive Director of the GAA, what significant accomplishments have you achieved?

As anyone who has led an organization knows, the organization’s success is the result of team work.  I have been fortunate these eight years to have received the full support of Chancellors Fordham and Hardin and their administrative colleagues.  The Association has selected outstanding and hardworking officers and directors to set Association policies.  My predecessor, Clarence Whitefield, provided me with a strong, talented and conscientious staff upon which to build.  Working together, much has been accomplished.

• Membership Growth – Membership has grown by 24,000 from 28000 to 52,000, an 86 percent increase.  Life members have grown by 11,000, from 10,700 to 21,700, a 103 percent increase.
• Alumni Center Progress – Nearly $12.5 million in gifts and pledges from 18,000 Carolina alumni, faculty, and friends have been received. Construction has begun and completion is anticipated in late 1991.
• Publications Enhanced – Both the Carolina Alumni Review magazine and the University Alumni Report newspaper have benefited from redesign, expanded and improved content and continue to be recognized nationally for their excellence.
• Programs Expanded — We’ve produced an award-winning Charles Kuralt-narrated slide show entitled “On the Road in Chapel Hill,” added faculty to many of our alumni tours, conducted on- and off-campus seminars in cooperation with University departments, including the Program in Humanities, the Marine Sciences Institute, and the Botanical Gardens, and expanded our alumni reunion programming by adding “Saturday Morning in Chapel Hill.”
• Strengthened Alumni Clubs – We have added an Assistant Director for Club Development and are devoting more Association resources to increase alumni involvement at the local level. Alumni Club-sponsored scholarships have been funded, and local clubs are now assisting the University with admissions.
• Publication of Alumni Directories – The most extensive directory ever was published in 1984, and a membership directory followed in 1988. A Bicentennial Alumni Directory is now being prepared and will be available in the spring.  It will include a listing of every Carolina alumnus starting with Hinton James!  The Association’s records staff, during these eight years, has processed over 250,000 address changes and 500,000 other records changes.
• Strengthened Relationships With the General Assembly – Relationships with members of the General Assembly have been established and strengthened to the benefit of the University. A GAA Task Force prepared a thoughtful programmatic report suggesting needed reforms if Carolina’s excellence is to be preserved and enhanced.  Alumni, University officers and Trustees, and UNC System officials have embraced many of these suggestions and are pursuing these changes with state government and the General Assembly.
• Long-Range Planning Process Established — Our Association has developed three Long-Range Plans which chart an ambitious future course for the Association.

P.S.  DO you have a question about the General Alumni Association or the University?  I’d be delighted to try to provide an answer. Just write me at P.O. Box 660, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Yours at Carolina,

 

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70