University Mail Managers Association (UMMA)

The first "Big 10 Conference" of Mail Service Managers was held
at the University of Michigan in 1979. The idea was to meet as an
informal group without elected officers or annual dues. The annual
meetings were scheduled at various member campuses to view
first hand how their Mail Service operated.

A few formal presentations were scheduled, round-table
discussions were key and the variety of topics seemed to further
stimulate surveys and follow-up correspondence.

"The Big 10 Association of Mail Service Managers" has
undergone an obvious name change to more accurately reflect the
institutions that have attended (and hosted) the meetings. Right
from the very beginning, schools not in the Big 10 Conference
were included. Midwest College/University Mail Managers was
tried, but the conference was drawing schools outside the
midwest.

In 1990 at The Ohio State University conference there was a
consensus that the association had reached a point of maturity
and it was agreed to develop a formal association. The
organization was named the "University Mail Managers
Association" to avoid excluding any institution that might want to
join UMMA.

The purpose of the organization was:

  1. To enhance the image of college and university mailing and
    shipping professionals;
  2. To network with our peers;
  3. To exchange ideas for the benefit of our institutions and our
    personal and professional growth;
  4. To primarily, but not exclusively, serve the midwestern states
    which are serviced by the Big Ten Universities.
  5. Actually, not much of that early "informal" premise has
    changed. UMMA has stayed with the informal group concept

UMMA has a Core Group that consists of the schools that have
hosted these conferences and the host of the next conference
automatically becomes President. At the 1995 conference it was
decided that the President would also represent UMMA at
NACUMS. At the 1996 conference at Ball State University, it was
decided that representing UMMA at NACUMS would become a
responsibility of the Past President.

For more information about NACUMS,
click here to view their
website.

The text above is based on copy found on the NACUMS web site. Thank you for
their assistance.
University Mail Manager's
Association