OSU Emeriti Council Meeting Minutes

Monday, April 29, 2019 1:30 p.m.

Emeriti Council Room, Alumni Center

Executive Committee Members Present: Sharon Nivens, Mike Lorenz, Anne Matoy, Faye Ann Presnal, Kay Keys, Ron Elliott

Council Members Present: Jack Dillwith, Althea Wright, Doug Aichele, Bob Wetteman, Tana Rutan, Gladeen Allred, Barbara Miller, Jim Halligan

Committee Chairs Present: Glade Presnal, Zane Quible, Clem Ward

Agenda: With one minor correction, the agenda was approved.

Council Minutes: The March minutes were approved as distributed.

Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer’s report was received as presented. Ron noted that no income or expenses were shown for last month’s dinner because it was canceled due to bad weather. He called attention to the transfer of $1455 from the cash portion of the general endowment fund (#20-72400) to the checking account, which was reflected in this report. Finally, he reported that one new couple had paid life dues to join the association.

Emeriti Activity Survey

Clem reported that there is hard evidence that retirees continue to support the university in many ways and posed the question of what to do with the information gathered in the survey. Ideas suggested by Clem and others in attendance follow:

Send a report to the provost (in light of the fact that he pays for our membership in AROHE)
Put the information on the Emeriti website
Convert information to articles for press release by campus communications people as well as the NewPress
Ask the NewsPress to send a reporter, who can then write articles
Share information with the University of California (since they did the initial study)
Send the information to those retiring this year to demonstrate ways in which they can be involved
Share with Faculty Council

Following considerable discussion, it was decided that Sharon would draft a cover letter to send to the provost and president (with copies to the deans and Joe Weaver) along with the entire document and an Emeriti brochure. Sharon will share the letter via email so board members can have input. Ron requested that the minutes reflect the board’s appreciation for Clem’s excellent work on this survey.

In other business, Sharon reported that she had learned from JoAnne Callaway, event planner in Willham House, that President and Mrs. Hargis wished to host those in campus leadership positions during the coming year and that they had included the Emeriti group on their list. Following much discussion, it was decided to accept their invitation to host the board and also continue to pursue an opportunity to reciprocate by hosting the Hargises at one of our dinner meetings, either in September or later in the year.

Reports and Updates:

President-elect Update

Mike reported that there had been 23 membership renewals and 6 new members since December, 2018. Fifteen of last year’s members have not yet paid 2019 dues; Mike plans to call these people.

Vice-president Activities Update

Faye Ann reported that the May 6 dinner would be held at Meditations. The program is being planned by OLLI, with (more than usual) help from the Emeriti leadership. The program will include a celebration of past successes and leadership along with special surprise recognition for Ruthann. Zane will host new members at 2 reserved tables.

The June 3 dinner will be held at the Alumni Center. Clem has selected a Hawaiian luau theme; table decorations will reflect the theme. Guest speaker Jamey Jacob, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, will present “The Future of Drones.” An international graduate student who is working on the creation of a drone that will dive under water will also speak. Faye Ann indicated that Cathy Shuffield, the new travel coordinator, would be in attendance at the dinner and should be introduced.

President and Mrs. Hargis may be out of the country and unable to attend the September meeting. Faye Ann reported that she might reschedule the picnic at the Botanical Garden for that meeting if indeed the Hargises are unable to attend. She indicated that she would do so only if the room is available.

Finally, Faye Ann reported that the NewPress had printed the article that she submitted about the association’s last dinner meeting. She expressed a desire to submit pictures along with an article about the winners of the Emeriti scholarships.

Faculty Council

Barbara conveyed the following information:

Ron Tarbutton, chief facilities officer, reported that OSU had moved from 8% to 17% sustainability since 2007. Eighty tons of non-food organic material has been collected; twenty-five tons of cardboard was collected during “moving week” alone. People were encouraged to save egg cartons for Our Daily Bread.
Hargis reported on the Purdue Settlement. An amount of $102M has been transferred to an escrow account for OSU and an additional $75M will be given to OSU over a period of 5 years. The university is going to spend $4.5M a year for a center to research opiate addiction. It is hoped that this seed money will lead to additional grants.
President Hargis announced a flat budget, but indicated that salary increases would be a priority.
The Graduate Faculty Council has approved a policy whereby graduate students must maintain a 3.0 average to remain in school.

On another matter, Barbara moved and Mike seconded that the university library be allowed to archive the Emeriti newsletter, with frequency left to the discretion of the newsletter editor. The motion carried.

Athletic Council

Glade noted that the baseball stadium is 73 days behind schedule. Since the original completion date for the facility was October, the delay should not create any problems. In other news, Glade reported that OSU would host 2 NCAA Championships, tennis and cross country, next year. He also reminded the board of the $3.1M cross-country course and the $1M covered, open-sided arena being built for the equestrian team. Finally, he noted that he had attended the academic awards banquet for athletes and had been quite impressed with the achievements of our student athletes. Doug noted that 2 OSU wrestlers are very close to qualifying for the Olympics.

New Programming Idea

Zane noted that, in updating the website and looking at websites of other similar groups, he had seen a possible opportunity for more involvement by Emeriti members. Those interested in his idea of forming small groups around topics of interest (quilting, bridge, antiques, books, etc.) were asked to remain after the meeting for further discussion. Zane also reported that the May newsletter had been uploaded to the server.

Other

Emeriti/OLLI May 6 Meeting Sharon reported on plans for the meeting. She may open the meeting and greet those in attendance. While she won’t introduce new members individually, she will call attention to the two tables at which they are seated. Following discussion, it was decided that we would use the dinner as a recruitment opportunity. Mike will say a few words in that regard, and several brochures and newsletters will be placed on each table. In addition, board members are asked to invite any non-members at their table to join the association. In other meeting-related business, it was moved (Mike) and seconded (Gladeen) that the Emeriti Association contribute $100 toward Ruthann’s gift. The motion carried.

Sharon reported that she and 4 others had met with Alumni Association personnel, who agreed that a revision of the current cooperative agreement is needed. Work will continue on this matter.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30.

Respectfully submitted by Kay W. Keys,
Secretary