IBM Alumni Membership Eligibility and Membership Rights

General Principles

1. Current and former employees of IBM or Kyndryl, or subsidiaries of those companies, or an IBM-related Entity are welcome to join IBM Alumni Australia Inc. regardless of your place of residence.
2. We will ask members to provide the minimum amount of data about themselves which is needed to meet our regulatory obligations.  Members may choose to include additional biographical data.
3. Members with 25+ years of service with IBM/Kyndryl or an IBM-related Entity will also be recognised as members of the IBM Quarter Century Club.

The Constitution

The Constitution defines who is eligible to be a member of IBM Alumni Australia Inc.  The applicable Rule is Rule 2 – Purposes:

“The purposes of the association are—to foster communication, companionship, and friendship among the community of current and former employees of the IBM Corporation or its subsidiaries who have been employed by those entities as well as surviving partners.”

The complete Constitution can be viewed here:  IBM Alumni Australia Inc. Constitution

FAQs

1. Question: What are the eligibility requirements for membership of IBM Alumni Australia Inc.?
   Answer: Membership of IBM Alumni Australia Inc. is open to any past or present employee of IBM or Kyndryl or subsidiaries of those companies, or an IBM-related Entity in Australia, New Zealand or other countries.
2. Question: What is an IBM subsidiary?
   Answer: A company which is wholly owned by IBM or partly owned by IBM at a level of 51% or more. 
3. Question: Is there a minimum length of service with IBM/Kyndryl or an IBM-related Entity to qualify for membership of IBM Alumni Australia Inc.?
   Answer:  No, but the Committee may choose to set a limit in future years should there be a need to do so. 
4. Question: Will there still be a Victorian Chapter of the IBM Quarter Century Club?
   Answer: The Victorian Chapter of the IBM Quarter Century Club remains an important sub-group within IBM Alumni Australia Inc.  Other QCC chapters may in time choose to be affiliated as sub-groups of IBM Alumni Australia Inc. and use their own mailing lists to support their local community events.
5. Question: Will IBM Alumni Australia Inc. accept membership applications from those who live outside of Australia?
   Answer: Yes.  There is no residency requirement for membership of IBM Alumni Australia Inc. 

Membership Applications

Applicants for membership will be asked to provide information such as:

• First Name and Last Name.
• Email Address.
• Year and location of initial IBM employment.
• Current place of residence (postal address).
• Current employment status e.g. Retired, Employer, Job Role.

Additional information may be provided at the Applicant’s discretion e.g.

• Other work locations e.g. AU states, NZ, overseas.
• IBM Division/Branch/Industry.
• Job roles, specialisations.
• Photograph.
• LinkedIn profile.

Applicants will not be required to provide personal details such as age, date of birth, gender, or ethnicity.

All applications for membership of IBM Alumni Australia Inc. will be recognised by:

• Automatic acknowledgement of receipt of the application and payment of annual subscription fee.
• Creation of membership record and profile.
• Email confirmation of membership.
• Listing of new members in the next edition of IBM Alumni newsletter.

Should any concerns or objections be raised by other members, the matter should be referred to the Committee.  If deemed necessary, any further investigation should be handled as per Rules 22 to 29 of our Constitution:  IBM Alumni Australia Inc. Constitution

Annual Subscription Rates

• The annual membership subscription for an IBM Alumni Member is $20.00.
• The annual membership subscription for an IBM Alumni Partner (the surviving partner of a deceased member) is $10.00.
• The annual membership subscription for an IBM Alumni Member covers the member AND the member’s partner.
• However, if there are multiple IBM Alumni Members in the same household, you will need to pay for multiple subscriptions.

Membership Categories

There are 3 membership categories:

1. Paying Members.
2. Associate Members.
3. IBM Alumni Partners.

Paying Members

A Paying Member is a person who is eligible to be an IBM Alumni member and is prepared to pay the annual membership subscription:

1. The membership year is the same as the financial year which is 1 July to 30 June.
2. When the membership subscription has been paid, the member becomes Financial.
3. Members will be given a 3-month period of grace to become Financial. During this period of grace the membership becomes Overdue.  This means that if a Paying Member pays their membership subscription before 1 July, they will remain Financial.  If a Paying Member fails to pay their membership subscription before 1 July, they will become Overdue.  If an Overdue member pays their membership subscription, they will then become Financial again.
4. If a member’s annual subscription is more than 12 months in arrears, the member is taken to have resigned. (Rule 17(2)).  In this case, the member will become an Associate Member.

Associate Members

An Associate Member is a person who is eligible to be an IBM Alumni member and has decided not to pay the annual membership subscription, or has previously paid the annual membership subscription and is more than 12 months in arrears.

IBM Alumni Partners

An IBM Alumni Partner is the surviving partner of an IBM Alumni Paying Member or Associate Member.

Membership Rights

Financial Members

A Financial Member:

1. Will receive invitations to attend Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.
2. Will receive invitations to attend functions organised by the Club.
3. Has the right to vote.
4. May receive discounts for attending functions organised by the Club.

Overdue Members

An Overdue Member:

1. Will receive invitations to attend Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.
2. Will receive invitations to attend functions organised by the Club.
3. Does not have any voting rights.
4. Will not be eligible to receive discounts for attending functions organised by the Club.

Associate Members

An Associate Member:

1. Will receive invitations to attend Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.
2. Will receive invitations to attend functions organised by the Club.
3. Does not have any voting rights.
4. Will not be eligible to receive discounts for attending functions organised by the Club.

IBM Alumni Partners

An IBM Alumni Partner:

1. Will receive invitations to attend Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings.
2. Will receive invitations to attend functions organised by the Club.
3. Does not have any voting rights.
4. May receive discounts for attending functions organised by the Club.