January 2007 Board Minutes

January 2007 Board Minutes Wick Alumni Center

Members Present: Jim Kendrick, Dick Boohar, Delivee Wright, Rose Marie Tondl, Irv Omtvedt, Howard W. Ottoson, Bob Fuller, Walter E. Mientka, Dan Lutz
President Howard Ottoson called the meeting to order at 12:30 pm.

Ed Paquette, Executive Director of the UNL Alumni Association, welcomed the board and praised the contributions and professionalism of Emeriti faculty to enhance the scholastic success of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and its students. He described in detail the mission and programs of the Alumni Association.

He invited the UNL Emeriti Association to become an affiliate of the Alumni Association. This arrangement would include a venue for board meetings, generous office space in the garden (lower) level for records, computer access, some clerical assistance and a long-sought after space for Emeriti Association archives. Other membership services which would be extended to the Emeriti Assn. on an optional basis include health insurance supplements and web banking services.

(Extracted from business session held later): After considerable discussion and questions, it was moved by Fuller, seconded by Mientka, that the Emeriti Association become an affiliate of the Alumni Association along the lines of discussion by Paquette, and monthly board meetings be held at the Wick Center.. Carried.

It was moved by Fuller, seconded by Wright, that Association officers Ottoson, Mientka and Lutz meet with Paquette to discuss specified services, examine and assign space in the office area and agree to terms of the proposed arrangement, which would be on the agenda for approval by the Alumni Association board on January 19. Motion carried.

A question was raised as to whether Emeriti are eligible to park their vehicles in the UNL parking garage at the corner of 17th & R Sts., close to the Wick Center. Moved by Fuller, seconded by Tondl, that Mientka check to see if Emeriti can park in this facility. Carried.

The business portion of the meeting convened at 1:45 p.m.

Omtvedt moved, seconded by Boohar, that the minutes of the December 5 board meeting be approved. Carried. Kendrick suggested that the secretary, when transmitting the first draft of board meeting minutes to the Administrative group, stipulate that comments, changes, suggestions, etc. be e-mailed back to the secretary no later than 7 days after the minutes are transmitted. Suggestion adopted.

Treasurer’s report: Assets, income and expenses for December 1-December 31, 2006; Breakdown of income and expenses for calendar year 2006. (Full reports posted on website). Motion for acceptance of report by Omtvedt, second by Boohar; carried Omtvedt reported receiving a letter of thanks from Earl Barnawell, Emeritus Professor, School of Biological Sciences, for approval of a grant from the Wisherd Fund to support research using transplanted frog pituitaries to study the control of color in frogs. Another Emerita sent a letter of thanks to Mientka for a $1,000 grant from the Wisherd Fund to assist with health care expenses.

Omtvedt commended Mientka on the excellent job he is doing as treasurer and for his thorough reporting and moved that the Emeriti Assn. Board extend its sincere appreciation. Motion was approved unanimously with appreciation extended by a round of applause.

Omtvedt summarized the response to a letter sent to 137 spouses of deceased Emeriti; recipients are considered honorary members of the Emeriti Assn. Recipients of the letter were given the choice of being considered an honorary member of the Association, or requesting that their name/s be removed from the Association master roster. Thirty-five recipients had responded by January 8, with 10 requesting removal from the list. Eleven honorary members contributed a total of $220 as of January 8.

Most comments were positive; some individuals noted spending part of a calendar year out of the state. No negative notes were received. It was recommended that a letter be sent annually to widows and widowers of Emeriti.

Agenda item - followup on Brinkerhoff report on Emeriti membership. Ottoson said “a chain of inquiry” is underway regarding the membership issue. Ottoson said he had talked to a number of persons in Academic Affairs and the UNL Business Office about identifying recent Emeriti. He (Ottoson) received several referrals until Mark Chauche, UNL Business and Finance, said he would call back with a report

Comments on draft of Emeriti Assn. brochure: Add sentence to contact treasurer regarding dues, contributions. Address of Wick Alumni Center—Emeriti Association to become an Affiliate. Note that luncheons sponsored by the NU President and the NU Foundation are complimentary to Emeriti and spouses. Possibility of changing photo on front cover of brochure.

It was suggested that 700 copies of the revised brochure be printed and sent to those individuals who have not paid Emeriti Assn. dues and inviting them to become members. Moved by Fuller, seconded by Tondl, carried..

Fuller announced the January 16 membership meeting program title as “Guarding Your Retirement Assets.” Presenter will be Courtney K. Eastlack, Wealth Management Advisor for the Wealth Management Group, a division of TIAA-CREF Individual and Institutional Services. Snack and chat, 11:30 a.m., program begins at 12:00 noon, followed by business meeting.

.Moved by Omtvedt, seconded by Mientka, that the secretary arrange with UNL printing/copying center to mail a postcard announcing date, location and program title for January Emeriti Assn. membership meeting. Carried.

Because a meeting venue is not available at the East Campus Union for the March membership meeting, Fuller was asked to check on the availability of a room in the Dental College.

President calls on committee chairs for reports:

Benefits--Goebel, chair: no report.

Membership--Boohar, chair. Updated report will be made as soon as possible; need to await further results of letter contact with spouses of deceased members. Individual contacts will be made with delinquent members.

Member Relations--Efforts underway to determine committee chair. Joe Aguilar is being contacted by Mientka to fill this post. Delivee Wright has agreed to continue to serve as the Courtesy Coordinator.

Website--Kendrick, chair. Summary for 2006: Visitors from 23 countries were noted during the year. Mondays were the busiest day, and early afternoon was the favorite time to visit the Website. A total of 2,640 visits to the website were recorded for the year, with the largest numbers during the final quarter of the year (October, November, December—most in one month, 708. A total of 25,981 tabs were clicked during the year, with the most recorded in April, October and December.

The deaths of Emeriti Laura Casari and Lois Collings were noted.

There being no further old, new or unfinished business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

Submitted By: Dan B. Lutz, Secretary