The Emeritus Club

The Emeritus Club

About the Emeritus Club

ADMISSION: Each year, all members of the university-wide 50-year class — graduates and non-graduates — are honored by being automatically inducted as de facto members of the Emeritus Club during ceremonies for the 50th reunion of that Tulane/Newcomb class. In addition, faculty members named to Emeritus status by the Board of Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund also automatically become Emeritus Club members. No fees are charged for membership.

GOVERNANCE: A volunteer Board of Governors conducts the Club’s business. Board members serve one-year terms, July 1 - June 30. Membership on the board is limited by by-laws to 26 persons plus non-voting persons, such as the Athletic Liaison, the Newcomb Board Liaison and Honorary Board members. All schools are represented on the board, as are Emeritus Faculty. Suggestions for new board members are welcome from any source. Selection of nominees is by a nominating committee (See list of Standing Committees) and election is by a majority vote of the twenty-six member Board of Governors.

MEMBER COUNTS: The Emeritus Club has a national membership of over 5,500 people. Each new 50-year class adds about 1,000 alumni yearly. Mailings for travel programs may be mailed nationwide to the full membership and mailings for reunions for each class at five-year intervals are mailed to class members nation-wide. The Emeritus Club locally consists of over 3,000 alumni addresses in the Greater New Orleans area. Other cities with large Emeritus populations are, in order, Baton Rouge, Houston and New York. One hundred-fifty Emeritus faculty also receive Emeritus Club mailings.

HISTORY: Once a flagging “50 year club", the Emeritus Club was re-invigorated by the creation of its Board of Governors. Under the auspices of the Tulane Alumni Association, when Rutledge Clement was its president, the late Moise Bloch (A&S’29) was asked to bring together and head a board. Work was begun on securing board members in the fall of 1987: creation of the board was announced at the Emeritus Club 1987 Homecoming luncheon. By January 1988, meetings of the Emeritus Club Board of Governors began.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER TULANE DEPARTMENTS: The Tulane Office of Alumni Affairs supports the Club. The Club coordinates with the Board of the Tulane Alumni Association via two board members who are past Presidents of TAA and the Emeritus Club chairman, all three of whom serve as conduits between the two boards. The Club also cooperates with the Tulane University Women’s Association, and the New Orleans Club of the Tulane Alumni Association, especially regarding the annual Tulane Educational Conference. The Club supports the Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, the Summer Lyric Theatre and the Athletics programs by hosting yearly group events. The Club uses the Student Alumni Ambassadors at events, offers a forum for the Tulane offices of Planned Giving, Career Services and the Annual Fund at events, publicizes a reduced rate membership for Emeritus Club members at the Reily Recreation Center; and holds two annual events jointly with the Tulane Associates. The Club coordinates with other alumni groups, including the Naval ROTC Alumni Association and alumni groups of social fraternities. A dean, department head, program chair or athletics authority is invited to speak at most Emeritus Club events. Literature from other departments and programs is distributed at Club events. Deans and other school personnel often reserve and staff tables for their constituents at full-membership events.

AWARD PRESENTED: The Emeritus Club presents an award at the Induction Luncheon to the Out-Standing Alumnus of the 50-Year Class. Nominees must be in the current 50-Year Class, and their name submitted in writing, with some substantiation. The nomination may not be done anonymously and the nominee must be present at the luncheon to receive the award. Nominations are sought from class members, major gift officers, school alumni officers and deans.

INDUCTION OF THE 50 YEAR CLASS: Each May, members of the 50 year Class present at the Commencement Induction lunch take the Induction Oath as representatives of their class: “We, the Class of ____, willingly accept membership… Into the Tulane Alumni Association’s Emeritus Club... We pledge to do all within our power... To promote and attend the special events... Designed for us by the club... Thus allowing us to truly enjoy the fruits... Of our many years as Tulane/Newcomb Alumni."