OSU Emeriti Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, November 1, 2021
2:00 Zoom
Executive Committee Members Present: Mike Lorenz, Kent Sampson, Priscilla Gerfen, Kay Keys, Ron Elliott
Council Members Present: Bob Wettemann, Tana Rutan, Gladeen Allred, Barbara Miller, Rick Beier, Francis Epplin, Gary Sheerer,
Committee Chairs Present: Glade Presnal
Emeriti Support Present: Sofia Gustafson
Guests (Councilors beginning terms in January) Present: Gerald Stangl, Ray Huhnke
Minutes: It was moved (Barbara) and seconded (Gary) that the minutes of the September 17 meeting be approved. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report: The September treasurer’s report was shared with the Council. There has been little financial activity in recent months because Monday night dinners did not resume until October. The Association remains in strong financial condition. A $10,000 CD at the Credit Union will mature on February 1, 2022. In coming months, the Council may want to consider how best to utilize or reinvest the cash balance associated with our general endowed fund at the OSU Foundation.
Programs: Priscilla reported that she had chatted with Chad Weiberg and that he was looking forward to speaking at the November meeting. She reminded the group that there would be no dinner meeting in January and said that she hoped to have the person in charge of long-range planning speak at the February meeting. Oher potential speakers include President Schrum, Lou Anella, and Todd Misener, the chief wellness officer.
Membership: Mike announced that Regina Henry and Mary Malaska had joined the group on an annual basis and that Dr. Karen Jobe had joined as a life member. It was moved (Kent) and seconded (Priscilla) that Carol Schmitz be approved for membership. The motion passed.
Officers: Mike reported that he was continuing his search to fill the position of treasurer and that Kent was still searching for someone to fill the position of president-elect. Two additional councilors are also needed. Carol Schmitz and Carolyn Gang were suggested as possibilities to fill these positions.
Committee Appointments: Mike informed the group that Anne Matoy had declined to serve as chair of the Retirement and Fringe Benefits Committee as she is still traveling with her husband on Lions Club business. She has indicated interest in serving again in some capacity once her husband’s term is completed. Mike suggested that in the future the person heading the Membership Committee be in charge of New Member Hospitality.
Faculty Council Report: See report submitted by Barbara below.
Athletics Committee Report: Glade declined to report in order to allow members to hear the latest directly from Chad at the November dinner meeting.
New Business: The following announcements were made:
- Kent reminded the group that someone would need to replace him as chair of the Learning Resources/Student Affairs Committee when he begins his term as president in January.
- Given the number of Afghan refugees coming to Stillwater, Barbara made the suggestion that OLLI offer a class on the history of Afghanistan.
- Ron stated that a three-percent average merit-based raise program would be implemented on December 1.
- Mike informed the group that larger wine glasses would be available at future Meet and Greet events. He also mentioned that red was preferred over white.
- Glade announced that the Technology Interest Group, which stopped meeting during COVID, planned to resume activities in January. Meetings will most likely be held at Legacy Village.
- Mike indicated that he intended to continue to hold Council meetings via Zoom. The next Council meeting will be December 6 at 2:00.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:43.
Submitted by Kay W. Keys
*****************************************************
Faculty Council Report submitted by Barbara Miller:
Dr. Rae Ann Kruse , Associate Director of First Year Success reported that there is a National First Generation Student Day now, which is November 8. Ostate TV will have a broadcast celebrating this on that day at 11:30 AM.
Steve Spradling, Director of Parking and Transportation Services, reported on Faculty and Staff Parking: While the new Ag Hall Building took away 151 spaces, the Power Plant will soon be raised, adding 273 spaces, so a net gain of 176 spaces. The Cost of parking permits are near the bottom of the Big 12. A question was raised whether permits could be billed “until further notice” since many forget to renew each year. This will be taken under consideration.
Todd Misener, Chief Wellness Officer, presented a long range plan for what the wellness facilities will look like in the future. (The plan is on the faculty council website with the Fac. Council minutes ). They are planning to add more artificial turf to many practice areas and are working on facilities for kinesiology studies. They are working with the Stillwater YMCA for a possible shared aquatics complex, which could run up to $15 million. They are also offering to host more tournaments in the summer months for the Stillwater community.
President Shrumm reported a Strategic Plan Committee is being formed. She also reported that there were only 24 active Covid cases on Campus, down from 300 at the start of the semester . She also indicated that the University is committed to a raise program for this year.
The Provost reported that the proposed Juneteenth Holiday has passed Deans Council and will have toe approved by the Regents. She reported that they are forming a working group on Pandemic planning, and noted that there were only 24 active Covid cases on Campus, down from 300 at the start of the semester. The University will house about 25 Afghan families in graduate housing. Dean Kluver is in charge of this.
Finally the results of the recent Faculty Survey on the pandemic were reported. Many faculty wanted OSU to INSIST on masks and vaccines for students. Contact tracing was reported as difficult in most cases, but the biggest challenge was students not wearing masks. Over 60 percent of faculty also reported social distancing was not being practiced.
If anyone would like more details they may access the minutes on the Faculty Council Website.