Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about YWA? We have the answers!

Jump to the section you are curious about, or skim through them all to learn more about the Young Women's Alliance.

 

• Membership
• YWA Foundation
• YWABuzz
• Committees
• Billing
• Events
• Web Site

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS

Who are your members?

Our membership is comprised of more than 350 female professionals ranging in age from their early 20s to late 30s.YWA seeks a diverse group of women with regards to race, background and industries, who are active in their communities and possess a strong commitment to advancing and supporting other women. For more information, see Who We Are.

What do Membership Fees cover?

The $100 annual Membership Fee covers your membership for an entire year from the date that you join. As a member, you have access to the "Members Area" of our Web site, the YWABuzz, our monthly newsletter and YWA social networking groups. The membership fee also covers registration for the majority of our events, including monthly General Meetings, Networking Happy Hours and Community Service events, among others. For more information, see Member Benefits.

Can I join at any time?

Yes. While YWA operates on a fiscal year beginning in June and ending in May, your membership will last for exactly a year from the date that you join. Example: If you join on March 12, 2008, your membership will expire on March 11, 2009.

How do I join?

There are three ways to join:

1. Online: Click here to join now!
2. Through the mail: Print and mail the Membership Application along with a check payable to YWA for the $100 to cover membership fees. (Mail to Young Women's Alliance, P.O. Box 684612, Austin, TX 78701)
3. In person at any YWA event.
   

I have joined the Young Women's Alliance. What do I do now?

As with any organization, you will get out of YWA what you put into it. We highly suggest that you get involved once you have joined, and we offer many ways to do so, including getting a YWA Buddy, attending an event, or joining a committee. For more information, see Get Involved.

YWA FOUNDATION

What is the YWA Foundation?

The YWA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Young Women’s Alliance. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by YWA in 1997 to empower and support women in the pursuit of their educational and career goals. The YWA Foundation awards annual $2,500 scholarships to women enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs and has recently expanded to provide grants to organizations dedicated to empowering, educating, and enriching the lives of girls in our community.

Yes and no. The YWA Foundation is a part of YWA, but serves as the philanthropic arm of YWA. It is the entity through which the YWA supports women and children in our community.


I already pay dues, why should I donate to the YWA Foundation?

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BUZZ QUESTIONS

What is the YWABuzz?

The YWABuzz is a Yahoo! Group used to promote networking between our members. Our members use this site to post recommended vendors, share information about local events, search for a roommate, etc. On average, between 4 and 10 postings go out each day through The Buzz.

Only YWA members and Advisory Council members can join The Buzz. Others will be rejected if they try to join our group.


How do I join now that I'm a YWA member?

Please email YWABuzz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Once we have verified your membership, we will gladly accept you into the group. Once we have verified your membership, we will gladly accept you into the group.

If you experience problems, contact us at administrator@youngwomensalliance.org.

Visit our YWABuzz Guidelines to read about our policies.

Prior to sending a message to The Buzz, please review the YWABuzz Guidelines and make sure that your message is in line with the policies we have set.

Create your message in an email format; exactly how you would like it to appear when it is distributed (please note that messages larger than 1MB will be automatically rejected by Yahoo). Please allow up to one day for messages to be approved and posted.

Send this message to ywabuzz@yahoogroups.com.

How do I respond to messages posted to The Buzz?

If you are responding to a message, please make sure to hit “Reply” and not “Reply to All.”

Why am I not getting The Buzz?

COMMITTEE QUESTIONS

What are Committees?

YWA is an organization run entirely by its members. There are no paid positions associated with YWA, the YWA Foundation, or its Board of Directors. YWA and the YWA Foundation depend on committees to plan and execute events and handle all administrative duties.

Committees are an excellent way to get involved in YWA in a more intimate setting. Committee meetings are held monthly and led by VPs who serve on the Board of Directors of YWA and the YWA Foundation.

It is recommended that all members join a committee and attend committee meetings regularly. Joining a committee is a great way to give back to the organization, feel more connected, and meet some amazing women along the way. For more information, see Join a Committee.

Yes. Committee meetings are restricted to YWA members. Once you have joined, feel free to attend any or all committee meetings to find the one that fits you best. Visit our Calendar to sign up to attend a future meeting.

How do I join a committee?

Start first by visiting a few committees until you find the one that fits you best. Once you have found the right committee, express your interest in joining to the VP of that committee. Attend committee meetings on a regular basis, and get involved!

To meet other women in the organization, help support YWA and the YWA Foundation, and to feel connected to YWA and its mission.

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BILLING QUESTIONS

How do I cancel my membership?

We value each and every one of our members, but we do understand that there are circumstances that would cause you to cancel your membership. To cancel, please send an email to our VP of Finance.

If you do not receive a response within one week or feel that you need further assistance, please contact the VP of Membership, VP of Operations or the YWA President directly.

I canceled my membership but I am still being charged Membership Fees. What do I do?

Contact our VP of Finance to resolve this issue.

Can I get my Membership Fee reimbursed if I’m not satisfied with my membership?

We do not offer reimbursement of annual Membership Fees. To minimize this risk, we encourage prospective members to attend an Informational Session or General Meeting (both of which are posted on our Calendar and open to the public) to learn more about our organization prior to joining. Our Web site is also a great resource for learning about YWA, the YWA Foundation, and what we are all about.

The $100 annual Membership Fee covers your membership for an entire year from the date that you join. As a member, you have access to the "Members Area" of our Web site, the YWABuzz, our monthly newsletter, and YWA social networking groups. The membership fee also covers registration for the majority of our events, including monthly General Meetings, Networking Happy Hours and Community Service events, among others. For more information, see Member Benefits.

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EVENT QUESTIONS

What events can members attend?

As a member, you can attend any event on the YWA Calendar. (Member-only events are visible only when logged into the site.) For more information, see Programs & Events.

YWA Informational Sessions, General Meetings and networking happy hours are generally open to the public. For more information, see Programs & Events.

How much does it cost to attend an event?

While most events on the YWA Calendar are free for members, some events will have an additional cost. If there is a cost, it will be noted in the event description.

WEB SITE QUESTIONS

• Visit www.youngwomensalliance.org.
• Look for the login fields on the left side of the web page.
• Enter your User name and Password.
• Choose Remember Login if this is your normal PC.
• This will automatically log you in to the site every time you visit.
• Click Log In.

• Log in to www.youngwomensalliance.org.
• Go to your user profile by clicking your user name from the mini links under the tabs.
• Once at your User Profile you will need to click edit to edit your profile.
• From the edit screen you will have the option to change things such as contact information, usernames and passwords.
• Once you have made your updates Click Submit Changes and your User Record will be updated!

• Visit the YWA Calendar
• Click on the Event you would like to attend.
• Click the maroon Register button in the top right corner
• Complete all information fields. (If you are logged in, these fields will be completed for you).
• Click Continue
• Review information and, if correct, click Confirm Registration
• You may now proceed to checkout, or if you would like to add (and pay for) additional registrants, click Add Another Registrant.
  • If you need to delete a registrant, you may click the trash can icon at any time.
  • When you have added all registrants, click Confirm Registrants.
• Choose Pay at Event or Pay Online Now.
  • Enter your credit card information (name must be entered exactly as it appears on the card, or the transaction will not be processed).
  • You will receive a confirmation payment e-mail within 30 minutes of entering your credit card information.
• A confirmation page will display that you can print and file or bring to the event.
• If the event is full or the online deadline registration is passed, you will receive a notice to this effect and online registration will be blocked. Call the event coordinator for more information.
• Event email reminders are sent 18, 7, and 1 day before the event.

• Under the Member Area tab of the website, click Search Members.
• When the page titled Memberships Search View appears, type in what criteria you’d like to search.
• Click Submit and you should receive a list of members who fit the criteria you’ve entered.
• If you didn’t receive the results you hoped for, try again with more specific search terms.