Changing Times

The Baylor Alumni Association (BAA) implemented several significant changes to online and phone contact systems this summer that have had an immediate effect on how BAA members and other Baylor alumni and friends reach the BAA and access its resources.

These changes resulted from a formal request by Baylor University. The university informed the BAA that it would be removed from the university’s 1-800-BAYLOR-U toll-free phone line and that BAA staff would be disabled from using the baylor.edu e-mail addresses they have always had. The timing of these developments came as a surprise to the BAA, as only a year prior the university had specifically requested that the BAA continue to use these same communication services in the best interests of both the university and alumni.

As a result, the BAA took steps to ensure its ability to communicate with and serve alumni. The association’s toll-free phone number is now 1-888-710-1859.

In addition, the BAA was required by the university to change its website address from bayloralumni.com. The website’s new address is BaylorAlumniAssociation.com. Staff e-mail addresses can be found at “Who We Are."

These recent developments occurred simultaneously with the discovery that, without warning, links to the BAA’s website had been removed from the “Alumni & Friends” page on Baylor’s website. The BAA had formerly appeared on the page alongside other alumni-related entities such as the Baylor Bear Foundation and Baylor “B” Association.

“The BAA is celebrating the recent completion of a record-setting year in terms of membership and fundraising, which is a strong vote of confidence in your BAA in such a tight economic climate,” said David Lacy, president of the BAA for 2009. “We are also pleased to have achieved a balanced operations budget for the fiscal year ended May 31, which was our first year to receive no funds from the university for contracted services. We continue to be committed to earning and deserving your confidence and support in the historic traditions of your trusted Baylor Alumni Association.”

Jeff Kilgore, executive vice president and CEO of the BAA, said, “It is vital that we maintain close touch with both our new members and the longstanding members whom we serve. Web links and other types of service arrangements are commonplace between universities and their alumni associations, regardless of such associations’ self-governing status. Such arrangements make good sense since they serve the best interests of both organizations.”

Kilgore added, “Despite these recent actions by the university, the BAA is unwavering in our support of Baylor, committed to serving each of you, and most grateful for the continued encouragement of fellow alumni and friends of the BAA. Our members also need to remember that we rely heavily on the gifts we receive from Baylor alumni and friends. We need our members to renew their memberships and get their friends to join as well. The thousands of alumni who partake of our services also should consider financially supporting their alumni association. We look forward to another record-breaking year, during which we will launch our five-year plan with a major focus on increasing the BAA’s support of scholarships for children of alumni.”

The quick and easy way to join BAA is online at BaylorAlumniAssociation.com.