Membership

There are 2 approaches to membership– you as an individual or family member, and your company as a Corporate (Mission) Partner. All Upstate International Memberships include the benefits listed below.

Please note that Upstate International Memberships are non-refundable, but we’re here to ensure you have a wonderful experience with us!

Membership Benefits

All memberships receive the following opportunities

Learn a new Language

Or improve the skills you have!

Connect Socially

Through Events & Cultural Groups

Find new connections through UI’s International Women’s Club, International Book Club, Retired and Semi-Retired Expats Group, and Conversation Clubs.
Members receive Invitations to unique events like our International Murder Mystery Night, Taste of the World Dinners, and Amazing Upstate Race.
Enjoy free admission to UI member programs like our anniversary parties, annual members meetings, Humanitarian Outreach Luncheons, and Cultural traditions.
Receive reduced member prices for certain ticketed events, including the Global Upstate Conference on International Business and World Affairs, Global Business Connection Receptions, and Distinguished Speaker events.

Local & Global Benefits

With all membership levels

As a member, you can have your business cards or brochures on display at the UI Information Table, located at the UI building.
UI members automatically become members of the World Affairs Council Upstate and can enjoy the benefits of being associated with World Affairs Councils of America.
As a member of the World Affair Council, enjoy discounts from Foreign Affairs, World Politics Review, Project Syndicate, and more to come.
Corporate Sponsors receive a special reduced or free membership rate for their employees.
Monthly Newsletter and weekly e-blasts detailing internationally-related events across the Upstate.

Through Your Support, Upstate International is Broadening Horizons Every Day

Membership support provides a hub of resources and connections that helps our region thrive.

Supporting economic development and job skills (Global Fluency Training, language classes, resource listings for incoming businesses)

Education (teaching underserved students about global careers, and helping universities ready their students for visa interviews, speakers to universities)

Living a mission of Diversity and Inclusion (removing barriers to programming, celebrating cultural diversity, offering cross cultural training, interpretation and translation support, making sure our UI Board of Directors is reflecting diversity of age, gender, race, religion, economics, and culture)

Supporting the efforts of other nonprofits with free marketing and promotions of all internationally related events and initiatives in the Upstate

The U&I Experience

There is no Upstate International without U&I

By supporting UI, you’re supporting our mission of global education, cultural acceptance, and celebration of diversity. In the end we all benefit from a more open and loving community — not just our members, but our neighbors and our children, too.

S. Reinhardt

I am thankful not only for the terrific instruction given in class but also for the congenial classmates. Although several no longer attend classes, we developed a friendship and are still in touch.

Janis B.

For 25 years UI has been a leading driver of diversity and inclusion in our region by laying a foundation of people meeting people, of people helping people.

T. Smoak

Monica is an outstanding teacher and created a pleasant and fun ambience which contributed to my learning so much and improving my conversational Spanish!

Janis B.

If the first time didn’t work, she found another way to tell us what we needed to know – the mark of a true teacher!

UI Class Participant

A better community. At UI’s base is the desire to make the world a better place, starting here in the Upstate.

S Reinhardt

Mr. Rivera tried to create a class atmosphere where it was very informal, inclusive and conversation- oriented which made it very effective for me as a student learning a foreign language as an adult.

Saku G.

Atsuko was so patient! I loved that the class was so small, so we all got very individualized instruction!

Mary F.

An important organization for our ever-growing international community in the Upstate with many different clubs/groups/events with which to get involved.

Member

UI is a great way to learn without the pressure of college classes with tests and weighted grades.

UI Class Participant

Randy is very enthusiastic about Spanish and it was catching! He gave me the courage to get out at speak it in public. Thanks Randy!!

Julianne Summer

UI responds to the needs of a community growing rapidly in opportunities to engage in international business, education, and connectivity by providing a platform for services, events, and educational initiatives.

T. Smoak

A very positive experience for those who took languages early in life and want to refresh and relearn them.

Barbara B.

Countries Represented by UI Members

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Volunteers Lending a Hand Annually

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Hours of Volunteering

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