The Utility District Employees Association

What it reported doing in 2024

2024 UDEA Annual ReportThe Utility District Employees Association (UDEA) promotes a spirit of friendship, unity, and mutual support among District employees through: Sponsorship of social and recreational activities; Expressions of sympathy or goodwill to members who experience illness or hardship; Acknowledgment of members at retirement; andPromotion of community-based recreational opportunities by negotiating group rates and extending special discounts to UDEA members.UDEA negotiates discounted group pricing for eligible activities and uses revenue from membership dues to further reduce costs for participants. UDEA discounts are available to current members, their families, and former lifetime members (retired employees who were members of UDEA for at least five years during active service). All functions are planned and staffed by UDEA volunteers. Membership dues represent the primary source of revenue and are used almost entirely to subsidize activities. The principal activities for calendar year 2024 are summarized below: Employee Bi-Annual PicnicHistorically, the biennial summer picnic has been UDEAs most resource- intensive event and the largest single expenditure. The picnic brings together employees, retirees, and families in a social, non-work setting. Because the most recent picnic occurred in July 2024 planning for the next biennial picnic, which is scheduled for Summer 2026, began in January 2025. The District has indicated it intends to provide a $20,000 contribution toward this joint UDEA/EBMUD event. Childrens Holiday PartyIn December 2024, UDEA held its Annual Childrens Holiday Party for employees children and grandchildren between the ages of 1 and 12. Each child received a small gift. The party is a major highlight of the year and supports fellowship and connection among families. Volunteers selected toys, wrapped gifts, decorated the venue, and facilitated entertainment and activities. Toys were purchased in bulk at discounted rates. Additional toys were made available for purchase at cost (no markup) to UDEA families. All proceeds are retained solely to fund the following years toy purchases. Sympathy, Get Well & CongratulationsWhen a member experiences a hardship such as extended illness or a death in the family, UDEA sends a sympathy or goodwill card on behalf of the membership. This effort is coordinated by a volunteer. Year-Round Member DiscountsThroughout the year, UDEA arranges family-oriented discount ticket opportunities. These activities are sold to members at cost, with no profit to UDEA. Common offerings include Discovery Kingdom, Great America, Legoland, Universal Studios, Water World, Winchester Mystery House, monthly Employee Appreciation events, and movie ticket programs. Corporate Discount ProgramsFor certain vendor partnerships, UDEA distributes discount codes or purchasing links that allow members to work directly with the provider. These discounts do not require subsidy. Examples include UC Berkeley Athletics, participating ski resorts, Disneyland, California Academy of Sciences, and discounted rates for cell phone service, vehicles, and Dell Computers. Special EventsUDEA also coordinates special event access and reserved seating blocks for unique entertainment or sporting events. These are volunteer-coordinated and made available at discounted group rates. In 2024, these offerings included professional sports games, the Breeders Cup event at Golden Gate Fields, theatre productions, circuses, Monster Jam, and Academy of Sciences programming. Sponsored Athletic & Wellness ActivitiesUDEA sponsored golf tournaments and reestablished a co-ed softball team in a local Oakland league. UDEA also subsidized participation in the East Bay Municipal Utility Districts September coastal clean-up event, promoting community involvement and environmental stewardship. UDEA provided branded hats to participating members. In 2025 and onwards, UDEA intends to subsidize the EBMUD Mudragons Dragon Boat team wh

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 99.2%; rating input score 99

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -22.3%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.53; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1% per year; rating input score 0; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -3.1% per year; rating input score 0; 28th percentile among comparable filings