UniForum New Zealand is the first UniForum affiliate group to take advantage of a reduced-fee dual membership plan being offered to UniForum international affiliates.
Under the dual membership program, the affiliate pays UniForum a reduced membership fee-about $33 for New Zealand-for each local member that signs up, instead of the usual $125 for a general membership. The affiliate charges an additional amount for its own membership. In return, the dual members get most of the benefits of regular UniForum membership. UniForum Monthly and technical publications are bulk-shipped to the affiliate for redistribution, saving on overseas mailing costs. The members can receive UniNews via e-mail and have free access to the annual Open Systems Products Directory on the World-Wide Web, but will not receive the printed directory. All other association benefits, such as conference discounts, will be provided except that these dual members will not vote in the annual UniForum Board of Directors election.
UniForum Executive Director Richard Jaross said he expects this dual membership program to be especially attractive to international affiliates because of the effect of exchange rates on their normal fee for general membership.