Life Memberships for the Retired

Background

It has been suggested by some retired members and others that the AWSA should establish a life membership category which would be offered to regular members at the time they retire from active service as a school administrator in Wisconsin. At the April 28, 1994 meeting of the AWSA Board of Directors, a life membership plan was approved by the board after consultation with the AWSA Retired Members Commission Advisory Committee.

 Advantages of Life Membership

• Life memberships could be given as gifts to administrators upon their retirements by school boards, parent organizations, teacher organizations, service clubs, family members, etc.

• Retired members may take advantage of the ease and convenience of life memberships since they do not have to be renewed annually. Life membership eliminates the inconvenience of forgotten or past due membership invoices...check writing...checking fees...and, running the risk of having AWSA membership lapse.

• Because the life membership fee is based on ten-year cost projections, in many cases, members will be a part of the association much longer than ten years and this will result in real dollar savings in the long run.

Policies Governing Life Memberships

1. The life membership fee for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $603.00. Future increases will equal the percentage increase of regular membership dues each year (rounded to the nearest dollar).

2. In order to be eligible for a life membership, the administrator must have been a member of AWSA for at least five years immediately prior to retirement.

3. Life membership dues may be pre-paid during the period beginning 12 months prior to one's official retirement date.

4. Life memberships may be paid in one lump sum (check or credit card) or in quarterly payments of $150.75 each.

5. Life members are eligible for all benefits of regular members except legal services.

6. In the event of the death of a life member during the first ten years after retirement, dues will be refunded on a pro-rata basis, if requested by his or her heirs.

7. Current retired members may purchase life memberships with a credit of $25.00 for each year of membership since retirement to a maximum of $200.00.