Hello and welcome! Thank you so much for being a part of our U-M Alumni network here in the great Seattle Area. We have just over 10,000 alums making their homes in this region and almost 6,000 of you receive our emails. Our weekly newsletter is a great source to keep you informed about the club’s activities and events. If you haven’t already joined us for one, we hope that you will soon. If you have an idea for an activity or event, we would love to hear from you.
With so many alums in the area there is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Wolverines. I love seeing new faces at our many functions. As much as I love our football watch parties (my UW family and friends just don’t “get me” on Saturdays!) I also enjoy so many of our other offerings. One can volunteer, join a docent-led museum tour, see a wonderful National Geographic show, golf, hike, play Euchre and so much more. All are wonderful avenues to meet other alums and build your Seattle community.
As president of our local U-M Alumni Club, I want to make it clear that I consider all of you to be members. In fact, if you’re a University of Michigan grad or current student and find yourself in the greater Seattle area for any length of time then you’re a “member” of our club. We welcome you to attend all of our events.
With that being said, there is a distinction to be made. Our local club is an affiliate of the Alumni Association of the Unversity of Michigan (AAUM). We rely on the National Association for a great deal of communication infrastructure and for most of our funding. In terms of finances, our income is based on the number of Alumni Association members we have in the area.
While we’re here to serve all of you, and you all enrich our network by being part of it, I think of our AAUM members as our “contributing members.” Whether you’re a lifetime member, or someone who renews your membership annually, or every 3 – 5 years, you provide the necessary resources to make our local club as great as it is, and so all of you get an extra “Thanks!” from me and our other board members for your contributions.
If you’re not yet a member, then you have an opportunity to make our club even stronger by joining today! In addition to all the other benefits of membership – including discounts on local club events that require paid registration – you’ll get that warm feeling of knowing you’re not just part of the Michigan network, you’re a member who’s actively contributing to increasing the strength and reach of that network.
I encourage all of you to stay involved with our local U-M Alumni Club. There’s often a natural ebb and flow to alumni participation in local clubs, depending on other events going on in people’s lives, and that’s only natural. Just remember that no matter what’s going on in your life now, there’s only one organization that’s working tirelessly, year in and year out, to maintain and strengthen the reach and quality of our U-M Alumni network, and that’s the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. So, if you’re not already a “contributing member,” then join today!
We also welcome participation in club leadership. If you are interested in getting more involved with us we would love to hear from you.
On behalf of myself and the board we are glad you are here and look forward to meeting you.
GO BLUE!
Kathy Preston Ehrlich
BBA ‘85
President
University of Michigan Club of Seattle