Member Benefits
How Dues Are Used
Where do your dues go? UCLARA spending falls into five major categories. Only about 3% of expensed are considered "miscellaneous" or uncategorized.
40% Member Communications
This is the biggest category of expense, much of it related to the UCLARA website. Our board members and other volunteers rely on a robust software package that's used to process event registrations, manage membership (including member passwords and on-line payment of dues), update the website, and keep www.retirees.ucla up and running. Most members get the newsletter in PDF format via email, but we do print and mail a small number of copies.
24% Advocacy/Affiliate Support
Unfortunately, retirees sometimes encounter problems with faulty university systems or other widespread issues. An individual retiree doesn't have much leverage in that kind of situation. That's why UCLARA bands together with other UC campuses to make the administration aware of recurrent problems, and to press for solutions. UCLARA is affiliated with the Council of University of California Retiree Associations (CUCRA) and the Association of Retiree Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE). UCLARA pays dues to these organizations and supports attendance at conferences so that our voice is heard in Oakland and Sacramento.
17% Member Programs/Events
UCLARA subsidizes programs and events so that they are available free or at modest cost to members. Some of this is venue expense - for instance, the use of the Faculty Center for the After Lunch Programs and other activities. Sometimes program fees are subsidized: for example, in-person and virtual programs from L.A. Conservancy, Art Muse Los Angeles, and other groups.
8% Member Outreach
Information packets and refreshments at receptions are some of the expenses related to reaching out to new retirees.
8% Staff Scholarships and Campus Support
UCLARA provides career staff development scholarships, enabling current staff to attend conferences, classes or staff enrichment activities. We also support campus programs such as the Emergency Crisis Response Team, Student Technology Campaign, and Food Closet.
This spending analysis is based on the 2018-19 fiscal year. Subsequent fiscal years were disrupted by the pandemic. UCLARA spent more on virtual programs and less on in-person programs and conferences.
