Focus on Benefits: RGD Emeritus and Emeritus+ Memberships

The RGD Membership has its privileges! As co-chair of the Membership Committee, I want to share some of the amazing resources and benefits that Membership provides and encourage all RGD Members to take advantage of them. If you’re not an RGD Member yet, now’s the time to join! 

Are you an RGD Member who’s thinking about retiring soon? You can still be part of the RGD and benefit from being part of the community. It’s not a goodbye, but an au revoir!

The RGD offers its retired Members two types of Membership: RGD Emeritus and RGD Emeritus+. If you’ve been a Certified RGD for 10 or more years and are fully retired from active practice (with a signed verification letter), you can transition to either type of Membership. Emeritus Membership is free. For Emeritus+ Membership, you will also need to pay a one-time fee. The rate depends on your age range: $200 for RGDs 65 or older, $250 for RGDs 56 to 64 or $300 for RGDs 55 or younger.

The RGD Emeritus and Emeritus+ Membership initiative came out of a study on how other professional organizations approach Membership after retirement. It was researched and developed by Noah Ortmann RGD and Rod Nash, who is now an RGD Emeritus+ Member:

“As an RGD Emeritus+ Member I am able to be on the Membership Committee.

My suggestions and questions at Membership Committee meetings seem to be appreciated and I appreciate the good I gain personally from attending these meetings.

As one of the Founders of the RGD I’m pleased to still be somewhat actively involved. It gives me more of an inside view re: the evolution of the Association. At the same time, I get a better glimpse of the industry itself – which seems to be changing so quickly.

Changes like the high level of qualifications in new areas brought by some of the new RGDs now becoming directly involved with the RGD committees. Some of these qualifications were unheard of in our industry not that long ago. 

As a retired Member I enjoy being able to meet with other Emeritus Members from time to time. I also like using some of my time to access and watch the creative and other pursuits of Emeritus Members. Their painting, writing, photography etc. and community work. Some of this creative and other work I’ve accessed from their contact pages on the RGD website.  

In time, I look forward to seeing more Emeritus Members putting links to personal websites they set up re: the creative and other projects they are doing in retirement when they realize they can now add these links to their contact page on the RGD website. I encourage them to do this. Here are just a few existing sites you can link to… 

Creative and community work sites by Michel Viau, Peter Gabany, Bob Hambly, and Nick Shinn. Archive sites by Robin Honey and yours truly.” says Rod Nash RGD.

Emeritus and Emeritus+ are not just labels. Once you’ve established your Emeritus Membership, you have access to benefits. Not only will you be able to use the RGD Emeritus designation, but you will receive a nifty RGD Emeritus Sticker that you can affix to your favourite travel mug, because now you can take your time drinking that morning coffee and you’ll want to keep it hot. Switching to Emeritus status means you don’t lose precious access to those Member discounts and the RGD’s amazing video library. You also have a listing in the RGD directory.

If you choose Emeritus+, you’ll have additional benefits. You’ll still have free access to those amazing RGD webinars. To stay connected to the community you know and love, you can participate in the RGD Slack and get the lowest Member rates to RGD conferences and events. It’s a great time to volunteer, and you have the chance to sit on RGD committees, to help shape the organization and make things better for your fellow Members. You also get discounted rates on RGD award submissions (as appropriate).

If you’re finding a new outlet for your creativity, link to your website and social media on your RGD directory listing and show people that there is life and creative freedom after retirement. Discontinuing your design practice doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from this supportive design community. The RGD connects designers…and that doesn’t stop after you retire.