Cal Alumni Association ("CAA") aka Alumni House is located near Haas Pavilion and across from Zellerbach Playhouse, near Zellerbach Hall. I came to CAA/Alumni House with The Mother when she came to renew her alumni membership several years ago. I was attending Berkeley City College at the time and was raving about the University Library. She got me a six-month library card to afford me admission for history and film history class research projects and reports. When I graduated from UC Berkeley/Cal this past summer, The Mother got me the best graduation present ever--my very own California Alumni Association Lifetime Membership.
The process to sign up for membership was very easy peasy at the membership office. In my case, all I had to do was give them my student identification number. They enter it into the database. Upon making sure current contact information is correct and current, all it takes is one click and that's it! My plastic membership card is printed on the spot and placed in my hot little hands! Whoo hoooeee, I am a CAA Lifetime member! Since I was a newly minted graduate, I got CAA gift swag grad present along with my membership kit and card: a key fob and an CAA alumni license plate frame. I asked The Mother if it would be all right with her to put it on our car and she gave me her blessing. (Still have yet to do it!)
I mentioned in my first review of UC Berkeley that it was the family alma mater. The Mother and The Sibling are Cal Bears and CAA Lifetime members. The Mother commented that back in her day, the membership cost $50, which was considered a lot of money. When The Sib graduated a few decades later, it was twice as much and it was at the recent graduate rate back in their day. Flash forward to present time, the recent graduate rate, all I will say it is three figures in the millennium.
The membership rates vary depending on the type. If one is a recent graduate within three years (Classes of 2013-2016), getting a lifetime membership is quite a good deal. Here is a link:
http://alumni.berkeley.edu/membership/types-and-rates
I hope to update to a Golden Bear Lifetime membership in the future.
Being a member of CAA has its privileges. Discounts on car rentals, insurance, hotels, home games, amongst other vendors. Connected to the CAA Alumni Network. And my favourite perk/privilege of all, lifetime access to the UC Libraries!
Alumni House is available to host conferences, events, parties, receptions and seminars. I have been to events held here at l'Alumni House. Events relating to Homecoming, Cal Day, Graduation, and other student-related events. I attended the Queer Games Conference. Being a film & media student, a couple of GSIs I was acquainted with were organisers of the conference and I went there to support them. I attended a couple of graduation celebration events this past spring when I graduated. And I can see many more visits to CAA/Alumni House in my future for alumni events and tailgate parties. And of course, there is always Cal Day!
The Mother and The Sibling commented about their lifetime membership cards when they saw mine. When they got theirs, they were paper cards. Since I was taking summer classes, I had two separate occasions to stop by the CAA and get them updated cards of their own, it was convenient to stop by and obtain them. The membership coordinator remembered me, looked up their information, and printed them. I appreciated the coordinator's trusting me to give me my family members' cards to them. I got The Sib a current membership information packet along with their fresh card, and think about getting their spouse their own membership. Membership has its privileges after all.
Cal Bear for Life Roarin' Out!
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