May 2007 Board Minutes Wick Center
Members Present: Bob Fuller, Delivee Wright, Walter Mientka, Dan Lutz, Jim McShane, Peter Bleed.
Meeting convened by President Howard Ottoson at 12:30pm.Peter Bleed, Professor of Anthropology and Geography at UNL, was present to offer suggestions and answer questions regarding the challenge of preserving collections of historic scientific instruments, those telescopes and other types at UNL first used by Prof. Brace in the early 1900s as well as the personal collections of magnification equipment assembled by UNL emeriti Duane Jaecks and Eugene Rudd . Bleed said the possible destruction of Brace Laboratory appears to not be in jeopardy at the present. However, the use of Brace Lab to preserve the collections appears to be doubtful. Sheldon Gallery is coping with overflow. He said it would be appropriate for the Emeriti Assn. to support plans for a new physics building to include the instruments from the two private collections.
Stating that the collections be considered as “art” would not ensure their survival, Bleed said. He recommended that the Emeriti Assn. support an effort to provide an endowment, which would include funding for a curator to ensure preservation of the collections. As a last resort, the instruments would be put in boxes and stored in Nebraska Hall pending a permanent location in the future.
After some discussion, it was suggested that the Emeriti Association take the lead in forming an ad hoc group including the NU Foundation and UNL administration to formulate a plan to preserve the collections. An Emeriti Assn. task force might be composed of former academic deans and department heads.
It was moved by McShane, seconded by Fuller, that president Ottoson appoint a committee of knowledgeable persons to explore the possibility for UNL to obtain, protect and display the collections of historic scientific instruments owned by UNL and equipment assembled by professors Rudd and Jaecks. The goal would be to actively engage in the process of sustaining UNL’s cultural heritage so that it will be available to others for aesthetic and educational purposes. Carried. President Ottoson asked that others in the Association nominate individuals suitable to the task. Possibilities would be those with some understanding of physics, instruments, curator needs and physical plant requirements, and perhaps, fundraising.
Board member Fuller left the meeting after this discussion to meet other commitments.
The next items on the agenda were presentations by Ed Paquette, Executive Director of the Nebraska Alumni Assn., Ernie Giambre, Chief Marketing Officer of Great American Financial Resources, Inc., and Ken Grubb, President and CEO of the Endowment Trust Program.
Ed Paquette began the discussion by sharing a vision of a retirement village located within the proposed business-residential development in downtown Lincoln. The complex would be similar to one developed by Pennsylvania State University. During the next 5-6 years, it is hoped that an 18-story complex would be constructed on 14th St., which would include 200 independent living units and 25 skilled nursing units. The structure would be connected to a new hotel, and include spa facilities with Condos would be located on top of the hotel.
The context of the following presentations for the Emeriti Assn. was that the Association has the opportunity to utilize these programs by virtue of its recent affiliation with the Alumni Association..
Ken Grubb discussed the program of Pay IT Forward. This program works with non-profit organizations to help them find new funding sources and financial stability. An ETP Program—a life insurance trust--if adopted by the Emeriti Assn., would utilize a “sleeping asset—a person’s unused insurability. Assets in the Trust would only be used for the benefit of the Emeriti. Assets also may be split between non-profit organizations. The Trust would grow in years to come. There is no cost to the Emeriti and 100 percent of money raised would go to the Emeriti Assn.
Ernie Giambra followed by outlining Medicare supplement programs offered by his company. He distributed material describing these options. He indicated that he would be happy to discuss these at an Association meeting.
Also adding to the discussion and answering questions was Jeffrey Scoular, Vice President, Business Development for Pay It Forward. Also present during the discussion was Bob Stelter, Director for Development, and Kersi Pajniger, Chief Financial Officer, Nebraska Alumni Assn.
One business item was considered following the above presentation. After some discussion, Jim McShane took the chair. It was moved by Ottoson, seconded by Mientka, that the UNL Emeriti Association, by prior approval, hereby send for deposit $1,600 to the OLLI organization to support the initial membership fee for those 2006 and thereafter Emeriti who wish to become members of OLLI. Approved by board members present. Delivee Wright departed the meeting before this motion was offered.
Lutz reported that Jack Botts, who served as substitute secretary for the April membership meeting when Lutz was out of town, had e-mailed a draft of the minutes of the business portion of the meeting.
Ottoson said that while the current board meeting would ordinarily be the final one until fall, it would be necessary to schedule another board meeting to deal with unfinished business. He will check board members’ schedules and announce a date.