September 2012 Board Minutes

September 2012 Board Minutes Wick Alumni Center

Members Present: Allen Blezek, Jack Goebel, Doug Jose, Jim Kendrick, Bob Kuzelka, Jerry Petr, Al Seagren, Mel Thornton, Dan Wheeler, Delivee Wright, and Doug Zatechka and Andrea Cranford.

Jack Goebel, President, called meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

1. Andrea Cranford, Alumni Association, reported that Football Fridays are now to be located in the Champions’ Club at 5:15 pm on home game weekends. She will also be checking people in at the Foundation/Emeriti Luncheon next week (Sept. 19, 2012). She was asked if Emeriti were included in the opportunity to use the Nebraska Club as are Alumni Association members. She will check on this.

ISSUES DISCUSSED

1. Those who should be recognized with Memory Moments were identified as follows: 
Oliver Grace, Veterinary Science; Mary Doak, Libraries; Richard Harnsberger , Law; Richard Kafonek, Construction Management; and George Maglitz, Entomology.

2. The nominees for the fall election are: President-Elect (VP and Program Chair) John Comer, Political Science; and Board Member Kay Rockwell, AGLEC. With the realization that John Comer would also be vacating the second Board Member position, Al Seagren moved and Bob Kuzelka seconded a motion for the Executive Committee to nominate a second person for this position before the meeting next week. Several names were suggested to consider.

3. Big Ten Conference Report. Al Seagren reported that he and Jack Goebel attended the annual Big Ten Retiree Association Conference at Ohio State University, and shared folders of information on Big Ten programs. Some combine Emeriti and other retirees in a single organization. He also shared activities and issues discussed including: Enhancing Membership, Programming, Financial and University Support, and Effective Communication with retirees. A future idea was suggested that Purdue’s negotiated Supplemental Insurance be expanded to include the whole Big Ten Retirees. Several topics were brought back to consider for future activities.

4. Jack Goebel reported that the UNL Emeriti will host the 2016 Big Ten Retiree Association conference. With only three years lead-time, we need to begin work soon on planning and identifying resources for this event. Needs include; establishing a date, locations, finance, Chancellor’s involvement, length of time, housing, bus tour of campus, high-lights at UNL, volunteers for committees, and relationships (OLLI, Alumni, etc.)

5. New Members. Jack Goebel identified the need to have some systematic time and process for inviting new Emeriti to membership. Now they are coming in all year long at various times; shouldn’t we have a regular cut-off time for new groups of emeriti. Presently we wait for notice from accounting. Bob Kuzelka moved that we invite anyone being appointed since January 2012 now and then figure out better procedures before January 1, 2013. The motion died for lack of a second. Do we provide a free lunch and/or OLLI membership? It was suggested that free lunches be put on hold until this is resolved. We now have 86 new 2012 members plus two new 2013 members. Three people will be invited as guests who have not officially been appointed as emeriti, but will be eligible soon.

A discussion of OLLI free memberships for first-year emeriti was discussed. It was noted that the original commitment was until special funds set aside for this purpose were totally utilized. Funds remain in this allocation.

6. Operating Guidelines. Two documents were distributed relating to “Operating Guidelines” for this Association. Bob Kuzelka and Del Wright reviewed minutes for the past seven years to gather motions or implied operating processes. One document is concise for organizational purposes and the other had a little more detail to clarify some areas. Please review these documents and suggest adjustments or clarifications for future use in the Association’s operations. It is clear that our “affiliation” with the Alumni Association is different from our memberships in AROHE and the Big Ten Association.

7. Organization Status. Jack Goebel reported we officially have an IRS number, account with checks, and remain an unincorporated association. The UNL Emeriti Association appears to be covered in Alumni Association liability policy. We have no federal tax issues, and are ineligible for NE tax exemptions.

Committee Reports

a. Membership. A new membership chair is needed soon to relieve Mel Thornton. Mel reported the following membership numbers: Annual (112); Life (181: New 2012 (86); New 2013 (2); and spousal (149) for a total of 530 members and 354 others who are eligible but unpaid.

b. Wisherd Fund. Al Seagren, Chair, reported a message is ready to send to eligible emeriti to apply for small grants in the fall of 2012. Electronic format of these will be posted on the web site. A question arose concerning whether it should be sent by USPO mail and it was agreed to do so.

c. Member Relations Committee. Chair, Bob Kuzelka, reported the following:

     1. The International Discussion Group is continuing their programs. The next meeting is on Thursday, September 26th. Steve Hill from the NU Foundation will speak in 207 Hardin Hall,
     2. Coffee Chats are scheduled for Tuesday, October 9th, , a field trip to Walt Bagley’s Prairie Pines Farm; Wednesday, October 31, a Halloween Party at Kay and Lee Rockwell’s home; and Wednesday, December 12th at the home of Gail and Jeff Keown. Details will be announced.
      3. Doug Jose is proceeding on the Oral History Project with interviews with Robert Hillestad, Jim Goeke, and Harriet Turner.

The next Emeriti Board Meeting will be Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 1:00 pm at the Wick Alumni Center.

The September Emeriti Meeting is Tuesday, September 18, 2012, in the East Campus Union. The Program is “Lincoln’s Urban Areas and Developing Future” with David Landis, Director of Urban Development, City of Lincoln.

The Foundation Emeriti Luncheon for NU Emeriti will be 11:30 am, Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at the Champions Club.

Meeting adjourned at 2:55 pm.

Submitted By: Delivee L. Wright, Secretary