May 2017 Board Minutes

May 2017 Board Minutes

Members Present: John Bernthal, John Comer, Pat Crews, Jim Griesen, Julie Johnson, Doug Jose, Jeff Keown, Roger Kirby, Kay Rockwell, Vi Schroeder, Doug Zatechka

President Julie Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30pm.

1. Memory Moments

  • Frank Eldridge, Animal Science
  • Jean Holtzclaw (spouse of Henry, Chemistry, Dean of Graduate Studies)
  • Helen L. Hiatt, Multicultural Affairs

2. Collegial Membership

Potential new members

  • June Crockett, Agricultural Communications
  • John Kelty, Physics

Moved by Jim Griesen, seconded by John Bernthal that new collegial members be approved; motion carried.

3. Meetings with Chancellor Green and President Bounds

  • Meeting with Chancellor Green scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 9:30am. President Julie Johnson, Vice President Rita Kean, and Past President Jim Griesen will attend. President Johnson asked for suggested topics for discussion with Chancellor Green.
    • Possible parking and continued university email after retirement for collegial members of UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association.
    • Partnership discussion with Nebraska Alumni Association
    • Summary results of recent survey of members, especially regarding volunteerism within the university and the community
    • Use of students from Jacht to develop brochure
    • Possibility of using Innovation Campus conference facility for meetings without charge
  • Meeting with President Bounds has not been scheduled due to budget meetings and decisions. President Johnson will contact his office to schedule a meeting once budget decisions have been concluded.

4. Treasurer’s Report/Budget

Treasurer Jack Goebel has asked the association to replace him as treasurer. Earl Hawke has shown interest and will meet with Jack to discuss the position.

5. Programs

President Johnson reported for Vice President who was out of town. Schedule has not changed since last month, but the following list not includes locations for all meetings.

  • September –Foundation Luncheon, Thursday, September 28, 2017, Cornhusker Marriott
  • October – Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and University of Nebraska vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nebraska East Union
  • November -- John Woollam, Why would a professor start a business? Nebraska East Union
  • December Board Retreat—December 12, Nebraska East Union

6. Survey Progress

Past president Jim Griesen reported the final count of respondents to the UNL Emeriti and Retiree Association Survey. There were 182 usable responses out of 450 sent out. The final report shows the same analysis trends as reported earlier with a few questions still be to analyzed. Good response, excellent information gathered.

7. Committee Reports

  • Newsletter.
  • o Doug Jose reported he has received speaker reports with photos from the recent general membership meetings, and Charlyne Berens is editing. Twyla is still the only profile. Newsletter will be published in October.
  • o President Johnson reported the ad hoc brochure committee met at Jacht Ad Club with Amy Struthers (faculty responsible for Jacht students) and a young man who was willing to try to get a second proof of the brochure finished before graduation (he was graduating that week). Unfortunately school is now finished and we have yet to hear from Amy or the student. Jeff Keown will contact Amy again to see if there is any way we can see progress over the summer.
  • Awards
  • Pat Crews reported for the committee (she and Al Seagren). Pat looked online at the other Big 10 and additional universities to see how many had award programs. It appears only a few photo contests and scholarships for students exist on websites, although Pat did not go to all newsletters to see if more information was available.
  • The proposal from the committee suggested continuing the awarding of Wisherd Awards for Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity for members of the association. Additionally, three letters of support from colleagues, including a letter of support from the academic department chair or support unit director.

Additionally, no additional awards were suggested. Attached is the Awards Committee Report and recommendations.

  • Board discussion showed an interest in doing new things such as awards for university and/or community service that would provide opportunity to collegial as well as faculty members to receive awards. There also was interest in scholarships for students and possibly to support the cost of the luncheons.
  • Discussion also showed some lack of support for giving awards to faculty to continue research after retirement as that might conflict with research decision making on the part of the faculty member’s department chair.
  • A decision on awards will be delayed until fall when both Alan and Pat might be present, and more information available regarding the partnership proposal with NAA (to know whether Wisherd funds might be needed to support meetings).
  • The association board expressed thanks to Pat Crews for the work done to present the awards committee report.

  • Member Relations

Kay Rockwell reported there will be a tour of Prairie Pines Nature Center on June 21 at 9:30am. An email with information about the tour will be sent out as preregistration will be necessary. There will be no fee for the tour, but there will be an opportunity to make a donation to Prairie Pines.

  • Membership
    • Roger Kirby reported the association now has 22 collegial members.
    • Julie Johnson indicated the association is ready to mail membership information to the 400+ retirees within a 30 mile radius of Lincoln. They will be sent out bulk mail.
  • Coffee House Chats

Kay Rockwell reported there were approximately 30 people in attendance at the home of Don and Rita Weeks for this month’s Coffee House Chat. There will be no Coffee House Chat in June. Kay will contact Weeks to see if one will be scheduled for July.

  • Senate

No report.

  • Website

John Comer discussed adding an event dropdown and/or an event page to the association website. He will touch base this summer with the person who might make that addition.

8. Alumni Collaboration

Shelley Zaborowski, Executive Director of the Nebraska Alumni Association, and Carrie Myers, Director of Alumni Engagement for NAA presented a partnership proposal for the UNL Emeriti and Retiree Association (UNL ERA) and the Nebraska Alumni Association (NAA). Attached is the proposal document Shelley and Carrie provided to board members. General summary of the proposal:

  • Each group would promote connection and involvement with UNL and members of one group would be members of the other.
  • Annual or life membership in NAA would provide an “opt in” option to the UNL ERA at no additional cost (annual membership NAA $40 individual/$50 couple and life NAA membership $450 individual/$550 couple). NAA would honor current Emeriti Life Members.
  • Members of UNL ERA would receive all benefits and university engagement opportunities as other members of NAA plus UNL ERA communications and special events and programs.
  • NAA would provide:
    • Staff liaison, marking/communications support
    • Complimentary meeting space and conference call line at the Wick Center
    • Complimentary use of Wick Center or Champions Club for up to four events per year based on availability
    • Event support including online registration and payment processing up to four events annually, staff support to coordinate food orders, piggy-back on existing events and Nebraska-themed decorations.
    • Membership/marketing including quarterly membership lists, four emails a year (co-branded with NAA), one printed/mailed newsletter annually, inclusion in NAA publications, calendar, etc., webpage, identity, renewal reminder letter.
    • Financial support of $500 annually.
  • · UNL ERA provide:
    • Regular meetings to determine activities
    • Planning and staffing events
    • Development of content for communications.

Discussion about the proposal and the impact on the association followed the presentation.

  • No free membership for first-year members. If UNL ERA wants to continue this, it would have to be on its own.
  • Currently UNL ERA receives approximately $3,000 annually from dues. NAA is offering only $500. Shelley will discuss possibility of changing membership cost from $40/$50 to $50/$60 so association could have $10 of each membership to help cover expenses.
  • Up to four events means there would be cost if UNL ERA wanted more meetings or the president or chancellor would stop sponsoring their annual events.
  • Can UNL ERA maintain autonomy and identity if all communications are dual ventures with NAA?

Members of the board are to review the proposal over the summer and be prepared to discuss at the next meeting in the fall.

9. Other Items of Interest

Parking is an issue for board meetings held at the Wick Alumni Center. President Johnson will research whether board meetings might be held at the Nebraska East Union.

President Johnson adjourned the meeting at 3:20.

Submitted By: Vi Schroeder