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August showers (maybe a bit more than showers) bring spring flowers? The old poops at Boyce Thompson Arboretum say no but we will see. In any event these showers have brought on a surge of cheery late summer flowers on the desert.
September Board Meeting
The board held its second hybrid Board meeting. In person attendance rocketed up 33% with the addition of Jeannette Robson. There were several interesting reports.
- Larry Edmonds, our President, discussed the efforts he is making to better publicize the existence of ASURA to university employees. For starters he is focusing on getting copies of our three decades of success history books into department libraries.
- Connie McNeill reported that the membership report showed a growth in membership, always a good sign. She also mentioned that we had an unusually large number of members who did not renew until they got an August US mail delivered message that they had not renewed and were being put on the lapsed list. This letter, which included a paper renewal form, resulted in over 100 renewals in the latter part of August and early September. It is not clear why those of you who waited for the paper form did so, but it is good to get you back in the fold.
- The Treasurer, Barry McNeill (me!), presented a proposed budget for this year and reported that the association was in sound financial shape and that we can easily afford to continue offering the $10,000 scholarship. The scholarship endowment is currently over $80,000.
- Connie McNeill, Website and Database Committee chair, reported that the committee of Connie, Carolyn Minner, Pat Schneider, Jeannette Robson, Mark Henderson, Paul Harper and me has been diligently working all summer to get our website moved, a move dictated by ASU. She reported that we are getting close to done and hopefully the new site will be available in early October. Stay tuned.
Video History Project Award
Larry Edmonds reported that our Video History Project has been awarded an Innovation Award by AROHE – Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education. The award recognized the importance of the project and the long term efforts of Dave Scheatzle, Linda Van Scoy, John McIntosh, Roger Carter, and many others, to make this project successful.
Working with HR
Following up on Larry’s efforts to better advertise us, it turns out our Pre-retirement Seminar folks are doing just that. Sue Henderson, committee co-chair told me that “HR and ASURA are partnering. The committee had received a number of requests for a seminar on specific HR information about what HR steps are needed to prepare for retirement. Rather than the committee creating what might soon become an out-of-date seminar, the HR department generously agreed to give their regularly scheduled workshop during the ASURA Pre-retirement Seminar time (third Monday of each month at noon). The first joint seminar was held in August with over 35 participants. In addition, HR is making an announcement at the beginning of all their "preparing to retire" workshops about the many advantages of becoming an ASURA member.”
Coming Back to Life
We were so hopeful that when vaccinations became available we could get back to a more normal life, one where we felt comfortable living with the virus much as we do with the flu. This transition is taking longer than we hoped; we had to cancel our fall Meet and Greet Pizza Party. But I think things are beginning to happen and there are a number of events that are in the works that you will want to consider attending.
- Carol Tassone, Special Events and Luncheons, reported that while indoor events still seem pretty iffy, the committee is working on a proposal for a December, outdoor event - a Picnic in the Park, specifically Papago Park, Tempe. This is a nice little grass park at the intersection of Curry and College. The details are still being worked out but it sounds like a fun event. The committee was asked to prepare a proposal for the event, which they will present at the October Board meeting.
- Pat Schneider, Seminar chair, reported a good return on the survey they created and the committee will be meeting next week to review the results and plan the spring seminar season. The annual October Open Enrollment seminar is set up and is now accepting registrations. The seminar will again be virtual.
- John Brock, Travel chair, reported the travel committee has sketched out plans for several international trips - Costa Rica and Iceland - and at least one regional trip to visit some of the Native American sites in Arizona and New Mexico. Tovrea Castle is sold out for this year but they hope to get tickets for next year.
- Sue Henderson, Pre-retirement Seminar co-chair, reported that the committee had selected topics for the seminars through next spring. Sue pointed out that the cancelled Meet and Greet pre-party panel will be held as the September Pre-retirement seminar, so you don’t have to miss out on this popular panel.
- I reported on several affiliated events. The ASU Book Group is back in action with some interesting books for the year and they always have the author present. The other event is an invitation from our colleagues at NAU to attend their webinar on climate change. We in turn will offer our seminars to members of the UofA and NAU retirees associations.
All these events are published on our website
Calendar of Events
Following are links to the events currently advertised on our website.
ASU Organized Events
Affiliated Events
Barry McNeill, editor
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