Oct.29, 2005:Saying that the new facility will help "to build the University and build community," University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson and other UMass officials today officially opened the University of Massachusetts Club.
The new dining club is located on the 33rd floor of the State Street Bank Building at 225 Franklin Street in downtown Boston. The club's first official day of operation will be October 31st and already more than 300 people have signed up for membership.
Speaking at a black-tie reception attended by several hundred guests, President Wilson said: "The University of Massachusetts Club will enhance the sense of community among University of Massachusetts graduates, friends and supporters by providing a convenient meeting place in downtown Boston with spectacular views of Boston Harbor and the surrounding area. We expect that members will visit the club and its various meeting spaces for both business and social events for years to come. It's an idea whose time has come."
James J. Karam, chairman of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees, said: "There are more than 200,000 University of Massachusetts alumni living in Massachusetts, and they are emerging as leaders in virtually every segment of our economy and our society. They are the leaders of today and will be the leaders of tomorrow, and the University of Massachusetts Club will be a very important meeting place for the members of our alumni network and for the University's many friends."
The club will offer formal and informal dining on a daily basis and will have six private meeting rooms available, named for the University of Massachusetts campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester, as well as a President's room.
The club will be able to accommodate 280 people at maximum capacity. The University has more than 300,000 alumni, more than 200,000 of whom live in Massachusetts.
The club's Founding Life Members and Board of Governors include a "Who's Who" of business, government and educational leaders in the state, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini and former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, all of whom are UMass graduates. It will be operated by Dallas-based ClubCorp, a national leader in private club management. Membership funds will provide the financing for club operations. Initiation fees and monthly fees will be on a sliding scale. No state or University funds will be spent in connection with the Club.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073