Dear Faculty or Senior Staff Member,

For the past year, a group of faculty members from UAB, Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University and Miles College have discussed establishing a University Club at The Veranda on Highland. We approached the owner of the restaurant, Ed Hardin, to discuss whether The Veranda could become a home base for social and intellectual interaction among and between our various academic communities.

Since then, we held focus groups and surveyed our faculties in order to first ascertain whether there is a market for such a Club. The results were very positive, and to that end, we have established a small advisory group to determine what benefits and events would be most appealing to our members. This group plans to expand in order to extend invitations to other colleges and universities in the community. The concept of the Club is inclusive ~ all faculty members and senior staff (active and retired) from Birmingham’s higher education community are invited to join. Centrally located on Birmingham’s Southside, we see The Veranda on Highland as the perfect gathering place for a wide variety of “members-only” events, our very own University Club, where you will always be recognized, welcomed and comfortable, where you can network, meet and greet colleagues, new and old, from your institution and all of Birmingham’s excellent academic institutions. Whenever possible, the Veranda on Highland will be happy to accommodate University Club members for any occasion, from lunch with colleagues to a small, private family gathering.

The founding annual membership fee, if you join before December 31, 2010, is $100 for senior faculty and senior staff and $60 for junior faculty; thereafter, the fees are $125 and $85, respectively.

Benefits for members include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • 10% discount on member’s restaurant food bill at The Veranda on Highland
• • Priority seating and a dedicated phone line at The Veranda on Highland
• • Ten members-only events throughout the year, including the welcoming party, luncheons with invited speakers, retiree parties, and book-signings
• • Members-only section on website as a source for Club events
• • Friday members-only specially prepared lunch at The Veranda on Highland
• • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Happy Hour, 4:30-6:30 p.m., with special pricing
• • Complimentary valet parking during regular dining hours

The Veranda on Highland has agreed to consider making other services and benefits available to the membership, depending upon the level of participation and level of interest.

We invite you and your spouse/guest to attend a Welcoming Reception at The Veranda on Highland on August 19, 2010. The restaurant will open at 4:30 p.m. with complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a brief presentation about the benefits of membership at 5:45 p.m. Dress is business casual. Please RSVP to Stan at 939-5551 or stanreynolds@verandaonhighland.com by August 18th. For question concerning club membership, please call Nancy at 936-1719.

Fill out the online form to become a member. You may also download the application and either fax it to 939-5542 or mail it to The Veranda 2220 Highland Ave Birmingham, AL 35205. Become a founding member of this new and exciting venture for Birmingham’s academic community, and immediately begin to enjoy Club benefits. We look forward to seeing you soon and adding you to our list of valued members.

Sincerely,
Natalie M. Davis, Birmingham-Southern College
Joshua Klapow, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Janie Spencer, Birmingham-Southern College
Vince Gawronski, Birmingham-Southern College
Virginia Gilbert Loftin, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Digambar Mishra, Miles College
Jim Lewis, Samford University
Nancy Biggio, Samford University