September 2005 Board Minutes Sunrise Coffee Shop – Piedmont Shopping Center
Members Present: Wilma Crumley, Walter Mientka, Jerry Petr, Francis Haskins, Delivee Wright, Dick Boohar, Jim Kendrick, Irv Omtvedt, Dan Lutz.
Meeting called to order at 1:30 p.m. by president Don Edwards.
Minutes of the May 2, 2005 board meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s report: A question directed to Mientka regarding Emeriti funds deposited in a bank account will be clarified. In response to a question, Mientka defined market value of Emeriti funds alluded to in the report. Listed expenses related to the UNL Alumni Assn. were questioned. A clarification will be sought on this item.
Wilma Crumley handed out a summary of the survey results, including all Emeriti on the master list—paid, unpaid and all zip codes. Thirty-one Emeriti responded to the survey, with most residing in the Lincoln area. While the number of returns was very small compared to the total surveyed, Wilma said the survey was still useful. In regard to speakers for association monthly meetings, some respondents urged that speakers from outside of NU be contacted to broaden the circle of acquaintances and subject matter beyond academia. Survey responses also urged more socialization at the meetings. The survey did not identify whether transportation might be a factor in attending meetings, i.e., possible need for carpooling. Some respondents termed the business session of the monthly meeting “cold.” Board members were requested to come to the October board meeting with ideas and suggestions regarding points raised by the survey.
Formation of a new UNL Emeriti Assn. Fund: A memo distributed by Mientka to board members in July contained a clarification by Tracy Edgerton of the NU Foundation as to how the spendable earnings of the Wisherd Fund may be handled by the Emeriti Assn. “Spendable earnings may be utilized for any purposes that benefit the Association and its members…The Association may pass a resolution articulating other uses for the funds other than those currently in place as long as those uses will provide benefit to the association’s members. However, the earnings may not be transferred to another fund because the initial fund was not established by the Emeriti Assn., but rather by Maude Wisherd. Thus, although the Association has the discretion to spend the earnings, they do not have the authority over the fund to co-mingle the earnings with another fund.”
Moved by Mientka, seconded by Omtvedt, that $500 be transferred from the Cornhusker Bank to open the UNL Emeriti Association bank account. Motion approved.
Kendrick said the work of the Emeriti On-Line Communications ad hoc committee is completed with the activation of the website. After considerable discussion, moved by Crumley, seconded by Omtvedt, to discontinue the Website ad hoc committee and establish a standing committee as of January 1, 2006. Motion carried. This action will be placed before the membership for approval at the October general meeting. Crumley suggested that the board recommend to the incoming Association president that Kendrick be approved as Chair of the newly-constituted Emeriti Web Committee. Kendrick suggested that each standing committee contain one member residing outside of Lincoln.
The proposal to change the title and mission of the Courtesy Committee from ad hoc to standing committee status was discussed. The possibility was raised of re-naming the committee to reflect a public relations thrust as well as courtesy. After some discussion relating to a broader approach by the committee, it was agreed that Omtvedt and Delivee Wright consider, among other options, “Member Relationships and Recognition Committee” as a possible new title suggested during the business session of the October membership meeting. Omtvedt said another title possibility might be “Membership Courtesies and Contact Committee.” The charge includes consideration of a broader scope of responsibilities for the committee, as well as a name change.
Motion by Mientka, seconded by Crumley, to change the committee from an ad hoc committee to a standing committee and report such action to the membership for final approval. Carried. Wright noted that Hazel Anthony is the only other member of the existing committee. Because of privacy issues, it is sometimes difficult to hear about situations which would warrant a courtesy basket. The need to report Emeriti with health issues and birthdays 70 and above should be publicized. It was suggested that department and unit heads be urged to report any eligible recipients to the Courtesy Committee.
Benefits Committee: Francis Haskins, chair. Haskins cited an article in the 8/25/05 edition of the Scarlet which was an account of the reconstitution of the System-wide Fringe Benefits Committee. The Emeriti Assn. has no representative on the reconstituted committee, although in the past, was represented on a comparable committee. Haskins suggested that President Edwards request at least the Emeriti Assn. receive a copy of the minutes of committee meetings. It was reiterated that Emeriti need a voice on the committee. It was recommended that President Edwards write a letter to NU President Milliken requesting that the Emeriti Assn. be represented on the committee.
Maude Wisherd Fund Committee: Chair Lee Jones was not present at the meeting, but submitted a detailed recommendation on behalf of the committee, requesting that the board approve the request. Requests for assistance with health care costs ($1,000 each), were submitted by Helen Kreymborg, Leora Horning and Judy Cole. Request for $1,000 to carry out a research project whose purpose is to identify former Home Economics faculty members and identify their major contributions, submitted by Hazel Anthony. Moved by Boohar, seconded by Haskins, that the request be approved. Carried.
Membership Committee: Chair Richard Boohar. Emeriti roster up to date through efforts of Boohar, with cooperation/assistance from secretary Dan Lutz and treasurer Walter Mientka. Lutz mentioned receiving a question from two Emeriti who did not receive an invitation from the NU Foundation to attend the Foundation-sponsored luncheon on September 15. There can be slipups when changes/information is sent to Louise deNovellis, who maintains the Emeriti master roster for UNL mailing services, the list that is used for Emeriti mailings.
Nominations Committee: Chair Ted Hartung not present at board meeting. Nominations needed to be announced at October membership meeting.
Edwards announced upcoming board meeting dates: October 6, November 3 and December 1, all convening at 1:30 p.m. Because of the noise problem at the Piedmont site, the October meeting will be held at the East Union.
Mientka suggested the possibility of the Association hosting a dinner for new members. He asserted that a copy of his treasurer’s report—that would include an account of the Wisherd Fund, and the Association’s income and expenses—would be posted on the Web. He also suggested that an Emeriti Assn. brochure be developed for distribution to current and new members of the Association. Dick Boohar and Mientka “volunteered” to produce a mock-up copy.
There being no further old, unfinished or new business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.