December 2008 Board Minutes Wick Alumni Center

Members Present: Jim McShane, Robert Fuller, Lowell Moser, Tice Miller, spouse Carren Miller, Kay Rockwell, Howard Ottoson, Jim Kendrick, Delivee Wright, Mel Thornton, Max Clegg, John Goebel, Herb Howe, Jim Carr, Dan Lutz.

Fuller presided over the meeting for the final time of his term, he will become past president and Moser will assume the presidency for the January board and membership meetings.

Diane Mendenhall, newly named Executive Director of the UNL Alumni Assn., was present and addressed the group and answered questions.

The Alumni Association has made available a room on the third floor of the Wick Center (east end of hallway on south side) for use by the Emeriti Assn. Access to the office is available for the use of any Emeriti Assn. board members who need an office space on the UNL City Campus. Emeriti are urged to make use of the room, not just for storage, but also for committee meetings. It is suggested that the room be named the Maude and Zelma Wisherd room. The office has a working telephone and computer for our use. To access the office, request the key from the receptionist. Max Clegg has offered to make a sign to hang in the window.

Beginning of the Retreat agenda: Max Clegg agreed upon request to fill the vacancy of director, with one year remaining, resulting from the death of Rose Marie Tondl. Moved by Kendrick, seconded by McShane, carried.

Extensive discussion ensued regarding the multiple proposals aimed at “Re-Energizing the UNL Emeriti Assn.”

Concern has been expressed regarding the departure of many attendees at membership meetings following the program presentation, thus lessening attendance at the business session. Suggestions included distributing the business meeting agenda when members arrive. Make announcements and key points briefly before introducing the program speaker; shortened business session after the program. The luncheon, provided by the Union and subsidized by the Emeriti Assn is popular with attendees.

Lessened attendance at Association meetings, partly attributable to holding all meetings on Tuesdays, was discussed. It was moved by Rockwell, seconded by Howe, to alternate Association meetings between Tuesdays and Thursdays, carried. The January Association meeting welcoming newly designated Emeriti will be held January 22 at the Champions Club; cost -- $5 at the door.

Board meetings for 2009 will be held at the Wick Center from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, Sept 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, and Dec 1.

Possible touring of UNL campus facilities was discussed. A question was raised as to whether tours would be held separately or count as monthly membership meetings. The question as to whether tours would be conducted separately from meetings, or a tour count as a meeting, will be flexible—at the discretion of the program committee and the board. It was noted that a tour of the International Quilt Study Center attracted one of the largest number of attendees. (A short business meeting was held in conjunction with the tour). There is a need to improve the visibility of the Emeriti Assn. Articles need to be submitted to the Scarlet.

Promotion of increased accessing the Emeriti Assn. website is needed. The postcards sent out in advance of monthly meetings have reminded members of the website.

Providing transportation when needed for members to attend monthly meetings was discussed. It was noted that most care centers, i.e., Eastmont, the Landing, Savannah Pines, etc. provide some transportation services for residents. Emeriti are urged to contact acquaintances who might attend meetings if transportation were available and possibly make arrangements.

In examining posted issues, the board identified the highest priority as the creation of a Program Committee, chaired by the president-elect (vice president). The committee would consist of 3-4 other members and would deal with all aspects of monthly meetings, beyond contacting potential speakers or presenters. A question was raised as to the possibility of a meeting to be held at the Hardin Center. A successful meeting was held in the past at the College of Dentistry on East Campus.

Regarding the need to increase the visibility and presence of the Emeriti Assn., it was suggested that the board should consider developing a “Marketing Committee” which would pursue ways to make the Association more visible.

Report on attendance by Fuller and Moser at the International Conference of the Association for Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) at University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Ideas from AROHE that continue to be discussed within the UNL Emeriti Assn.:

---Associate membership for retired faculty from other universities or other emeriti associations.

---Retiree organization for staff (other than faculty) perhaps help UNOPA start a retiree organization.

---Willingness to assist, if desired, in establishing Emeriti associations for UNK, UNO and/or UNMC.

Among other ideas from the conference that present a challenge to the officers and board members to explore and possibly implement:

---Closer relationship with OLLI.

---Living history interviews and videos.

---Tours, travel, field trips.

Considerable attention was given to Emeriti Assn. membership status as of Dec. 2, 2008, reported by Mel Thornton:

Annual members – 226 (148 current with dues).

Life members – 142.

New (2009) members – 22

Surviving spouse – 120

Inactive – 260

Total – 770

Questions were raised as to how to deal with inactive members. Why inactive and what could be done?

Thornton, on behalf of the membership committee, presented four motions:

Motion 1 – seconded by Herb Howe.: Collegial membership. Any person holding Emeritus or Emerita status from any university may be invited by the board to join the Association as dues-paying collegial members. The motion was amended to state that this procedure would be tried for two calendar years—2009 and 2010. Carried.

Motion 2 –Special Membership:: A person with substantial service rendered to the University in teaching, research, Extension, or administration in a professional field may apply for invitational membership. The application must be endorsed by the appropriate UNL department. It is expected that applicants would be at least 55 years of age, retired, and have been employed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for at least 10 years. Motion by Goebel, second by Rockwell, to table. Sustained.

Motion 3 – Invitational Membership. The board may invite any person with substantial interest in and experience with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to join the Association. Move for approval by Thornton, second by Goebel, defeated.

Motion 4 – Courtesy Membership: Membership (dues-paying, non-voting) is granted to a person who is invited to join the Association by at least one regular member of the Association. It is expected that a Courtesy Member will be at least 55 years of age, retied, and have an interest in higher education.

Moved by Thornton, seconded by Goebel, Defeated.

With the passage of Motion #1 (Collegial membership), the board needs to decide what benefits would be enjoyed: voting rights, complimentary first year membership, dues-paying, holding office. It is clear that Wisherd funds are available only to UNL Emeriti. There is a need to be explicit about these benefits with regard to surviving spouses.

Questions remain regarding officer and director election procedure Jack Goebel and Jim Kendrick were designated to develop and report on a proposed procedure.

There being no further discussion, the retreat was adjourned at 3 p.m

Submitted By: