Members may include faculty, A/P staff, and civil service staff who are retired or who are currently working at SIUC. Current employees should be as interested in the Association as are emeritus faculty and staff because the EAA works to protect all university health benefits and pensions. To encourage our state legislators to honor their commitments to us, I urge all eligible people to join the Association.

Numbers count when we lobby legislators about our issues. If we represent 1600 members and voters from SIUC, we send a much stronger message than if we represent 800 members as we currently do. Please help us protect your rights and privileges by joining the Association. Our webpage has instructions on how to join.

The local chapter offers political, social, and service opportunities. We have two business meetings (fall and spring) with speakers from SURS, SUAA, or others relevant to the university community. A luncheon follows the business and general meetings. The Association keeps us informed about legislative issues and trends; our political action committee, SUAaction, works directly with legislators and raises money for political work; and members contact legislators through letters or phone calls asking them to fully fund our pension fund. We have a holiday luncheon, two golf tournaments a year, and an annual theatre/cultural trip. Some of the service activities are staffing blood drives each year, serving as greeters at the Bookstore the first week of each semester, and reading to elementary school children. The chapter provides four $1000 scholarships to outstanding SIUC students each year.

You choose which activities interest you, or suggest other activities you would like to help us start. Attending the local chapter events is a good way to stay in touch with friends from your SIUC days. Please join us and make us stronger and your benefits safer.