Seems the Alumni Association needs some more money, so they've started offering an "upgrade" life membership. $250 for existing life members, which gets you a special membership card and a custom lapel pin. And, of course, the satisfaction of supporting CAA.

http://alumni.berkeley.edu/membership/membership-rates/golden-bear-life-membership

Serious question: What does the special membership card and lapel pin look like? Can anyone who has already signed up post a photo? If they look high-end enough, I'd maybe consider joining (probably not, but maybe). I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.

FWIW, I was very disappointed in the standard Life Membership card. Very cheap looking. The BofA Cal Credit Card looks way better.

Interesting question on the membership card - I just noticed that the CAA has changed their logo and name from 'California Alumni Association' to 'Cal Alumni Association', with a different campanile and "UC Berkeley' prominently. I know I'm opening up a can of worms here - I'm actually OK with using Berkeley is some fashion just to facilitate easy communication (try saying Cal or University of California, or particularly just California to someone out of state... will get you blank looks... gets old really quickly). Not liking just 'Cal' because it seems like we are giving up our original name AND fools often pair Cal with State which unfortunately makes me want to punch someone. If we could have 'California' on all our uniforms and athletic markings, even if it replaced Cal, I think we'd have a lot less branding issues. Script Cal is a beautiful logo, but the branding confusion remains. I'd be for a Block C on our helmets for that reason.

As for the credit card, is it still the big gaudy gold one with the big Cal script? I dropped that BofA card soon after they put that design out there. It used to be a nice shot of sather gate/ campanile that wasn't so much of an eyesore. (Though honestly, I'm not using any CC that doesn't give 2-3% back in benefits). But to compare Alumni CC's, my friend has a Michigan one, looks great, blue background, very understated, but that's what I like... because the school name really says it all.

Anyway, I've thought about the Life Golden Bear Upgrade, but a pin and a card isn't that great of a benefit. I know, it's an organization that needs support, but maybe if they spent $2 on some cool swag instead of 10 cents, it would be better. I guess there really is no difference. But long story short, an appealing card would be worth it to the CAA for sure.

It is the betrayal of the promise Cal Alumni made when they offered a set price for life membership when I graduated. I donate already. I find this offensive and irritating. Did anyone ever take an ethics course?

XXXBEAR;842282216 said:

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It is the betrayal of the promise Cal Alumni made when they offered a set price for life membership when I graduated. I donate already. I find this offensive and irritating. Did anyone ever take an ethics course?

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It's voluntary. You still have your set price life membership. Keep donating, and all will be well.

ColoradoBear1;842282200 said:

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Interesting question on the membership card - I just noticed that the CAA has changed their logo and name from 'California Alumni Association' to 'Cal Alumni Association', with a different campanile and "UC Berkeley' prominently. I know I'm opening up a can of worms here - I'm actually OK with using Berkeley is some fashion just to facilitate easy communication (try saying Cal or University of California, or particularly just California to someone out of state... will get you blank looks... gets old really quickly). Not liking just 'Cal' because it seems like we are giving up our original name AND fools often pair Cal with State which unfortunately makes me want to punch someone. If we could have 'California' on all our uniforms and athletic markings, even if it replaced Cal, I think we'd have a lot less branding issues. Script Cal is a beautiful logo, but the branding confusion remains. I'd be for a Block C on our helmets for that reason.

As for the credit card, is it still the big gaudy gold one with the big Cal script? I dropped that BofA card soon after they put that design out there. It used to be a nice shot of sather gate/ campanile that wasn't so much of an eyesore. (Though honestly, I'm not using any CC that doesn't give 2-3% back in benefits). But to compare Alumni CC's, my friend has a Michigan one, looks great, blue background, very understated, but that's what I like... because the school name really says it all.

Anyway, I've thought about the Life Golden Bear Upgrade, but a pin and a card isn't that great of a benefit. I know, it's an organization that needs support, but maybe if they spent $2 on some cool swag instead of 10 cents, it would be better. I guess there really is no difference. But long story short, an appealing card would be worth it to the CAA for sure.

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could be this card ....

I've been a Life Member since my Dad gifted it to me when I graduated (sure glad I asked for it). Can't see upgrading for a fancier card and a pin. I CAN see donating $250, but who wants some stupid card and pin? There must be SOME benefits they could throw in that would add some value... How about some extra points on the next basketball season tickets reseating?

OldenBear;842282229 said:

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could be this card ....

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I think it's a membership card, not a VISA card.

CalAlumnus13;842282122 said:

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Seems the Alumni Association needs some more money, so they've started offering an "upgrade" life membership. $250 for existing life members, which gets you a special membership card and a custom lapel pin. And, of course, the satisfaction of supporting CAA.

http://alumni.berkeley.edu/membership/membership-rates/golden-bear-life-membership

Serious question: What does the special membership card and lapel pin look like? Can anyone who has already signed up post a photo? If they look high-end enough, I'd maybe consider joining (probably not, but maybe). I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.

FWIW, I was very disappointed in the standard Life Membership card. Very cheap looking. The BofA Cal Credit Card looks way better.

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Cheap looking? I think I still have a very plain paper one.

Is this what the current card looks like?

buster99;842282267 said:

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Cheap looking? I think I still have a very plain paper one.

Is this what the current card looks like?

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Yes. The problem is that it's printed on a low-end card printer (the sort a business might use to print it's own company ID cards in-house). The photo and text are fuzzy, and the colors are muted. They used a full-bleed design, but their printer isn't capable of printing all the way to the edges.

Cal Geek;842282252 said:

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I think it's a membership card, not a VISA card.

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The current Cal credit card (or, at least, the one I have and the one shown on the application website) is a blue Cal script on a gold background. The logo is nice and sharp.

I don't like photo backgrounds on credit cards. Makes it hard to read the numbers. Our only well-known logo is Cal script, so we're stuck with it. I, too, would prefer something Berkeley related.

I you have kids and you want them to get into cal, this is just one more thing to point to on the application. Can't hurt.

CalAlumnus13;842282122 said:

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FWIW, I was very disappointed in the standard Life Membership card.

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Gets you into the stacks...

To me, the benefits don't mean as much as the idea of supporting the CAA. But then again, I'm a former Lair Camp Blue staffer, and the director of the CAA (Jefferson Coombs) worked up there with me. This way I can support my friends and the University at the same time.

Steam67;842282329 said:

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To me, the benefits don't mean as much as the idea of supporting the CAA. But then again, I'm a former Lair Camp Blue staffer, and the director of the CAA (Jefferson Coombs) worked up there with me. This way I can support my friends and the University at the same time.

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I agree. Back when I got the lifetime membership, I received 3 items: 1) a very flimsy, paper membership card, 2) a yellow Cal license plate frame, and 3) a key chain. I have gotten good use out of the key chain, and I have gotten discounts when purchasing Cal stuff at the student store when I visit. But more than anything, I liked the idea of supporting CAA. If I do decide to pony up an extra $250, it won't be because of the card and pin.

I was surprised to learn that many alumni associations are stand-alone entities from the mother institution, which is true of CAA as well: "CAA is a self-funded nonprofit organization that relies on donations to provide programs and services that support students, alumni, and the University."

I think the Yosemite fire last summer did a number on the CAA financials, as not only was there some damage, but the lost revenue stream from the Lair of the Golden Bear Camps hurt the income statement. CAA only has so many ways to generate the self-funding it needs to survive, hence this Life Membership upgrade program.

By the way, I was very surprised to see the CAA hire Debra Gore-Mann, the former USF AD. She has a lot of controversy behind her, plus she's a Furd.

I like the key chain with the drop in any mailbox thing. Give me four or five of those for $250 bucks, plus a nice license plate holder, and I am in. Would also be nice to get to the front of the line at the Lair - you do not have to wait at the burger shack, or something like that...

I'm on board with the license frame idea. Stanford's Alumni Association has a nice one, iirc.

20 years ago when I became a life member, the membership cards were laminated, as pictured. I carry mine in my wallet. I also got a "drop lost keys in a mailbox" keychain. I don't know if I ever registered the keychain, but I'm not using it anyway. I do still have it somewhere.

That thing is freaking bad***. I'd trade mine for one of those in a second.

I upgraded to Golden Bear Life Membership recently. I got a small pin and a new card with the golden bear statue on it. The packaging also plays the fight song and Go Bears in a recording. I just wanted to support the CAA as it supported me while at Cal. Best benefit is student store discount. Second best is Claremont discount. No extra benefit for Golden Bear Life Membership. I agree sports points would be nice

Bumped to bury hockey thread.

seems to be a trend to get cheaper and cheaper cards, with some cards now just tear out paper cards (some with and some without a plastic coating)

not sure how much a good quality card is, but it's disappointing

My Cal Alumni Membership card is just a tear out paper card, so instead of carrying it in my wallet, I scanned it into my iPhone (and it's been accepted when I've used it)

By the way, the Sports Store "Sports Basement" gives 10% discounts to Cal Alumni members

eliu01;842282524 said:

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20 years ago when I became a life member, the membership cards were laminated, as pictured. I carry mine in my wallet. I also got a "drop lost keys in a mailbox" keychain. I don't know if I ever registered the keychain, but I'm not using it anyway. I do still have it somewhere.

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Elwitty;842282663 said:

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I upgraded to Golden Bear Life Membership recently. I got a small pin and a new card with the golden bear statue on it. The packaging also plays the fight song and Go Bears in a recording. I just wanted to support the CAA as it supported me while at Cal. Best benefit is student store discount. Second best is Claremont discount. No extra benefit for Golden Bear Life Membership. I agree sports points would be nice

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Any chance you could post a picture of the pin and card? Very curious.

My wife, a Texas grad, got a life membership to CAA for simply paying the $.
She did it a number of years ago when she first moved to Berkeley.....before she ever met me. She said it allowed her local discounts and access to a housing service. Now we get the mag and travel brochures.

I made the donation. I don't have any problem with the CAA asking for more money. It's a small amount (given that it's for life) and it's completely voluntary. It's akin the brick wall that they're doing in Memorial. I'm not made of money (don't have ESP seating), but I understand the need for funds and Cal asks for MUCH less than any major private university does (ask your friends from Stanford or Princeton how much they ask for all the time).

CalAlumnus13;842282293 said:

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The current Cal credit card (or, at least, the one I have and the one shown on the application website) is a blue Cal script on a gold background. The logo is nice and sharp.

I don't like photo backgrounds on credit cards. Makes it hard to read the numbers. Our only well-known logo is Cal script, so we're stuck with it. I, too, would prefer something Berkeley related.

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Will my profligate and meaningless consumerism benefit the alumni association if I use this credit card?