OSU Emeriti Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 9, 2021
1:30 Zoom
Executive Committee Members Present: Mike Lorenz, Kay Keys, Ron Elliott
Council Members Present: Doug Aichele, Bob Wettemann, Tana Rutan, Gladeen Allred, Barbara Miller, Rick Beier, Francis Epplin, Gary Sherrer
Committee Chairs Present: Clem Ward
Others Present: Kent Sampson, Priscilla Gerfen, Sofia Gustafson
Agenda:
The agenda was approved with no additions or modifications.
Minutes:
Minutes of the February 24, 2020, meeting were received as were those of the June 7, 2021, Executive Committee meeting on Zoom.
Treasurer’s Report:
No formal report was made; however, Ron reminded the group that the May report had been previously distributed. He also stated that the organization remains in good financial shape.
Barbara asked whether scholarships had been awarded in 2020 and received an affirmative response.
Committee Reports:
Membership Update: Mike stated that he will soon be sending letters to those who have retired between January 2 and June 1, 2021. He indicated his desire to remain as membership chair once his term as president has ended. He hopes that Becky Schlais will help him with this task. The following are new members to date:
- Grant Rezabek 1/24/2020 Life
- Cheryl Berkland 1/24/2020 Annual
- Bill Ivy 1/24/2020 Annual
- Mike and Mary Woods 4/21/2020 Life
- Janet and William Cole 4/21/2020 Annual
- Carol Bender 12/17/2020 Annual
- John and Barbara Mintmire 3/23/2021 Life
- Bill and Penny Weeks 3/23/2021 Life
- Ray and Sandy Huhnke 5/5/2021 Life
Vice-president Activities Update:
Reservations and Catering: Clem Ward announced that the September 20, October 18, and November 8 meetings were all scheduled at the Alumni Center with Hello Catering, Mexico Joe’s, and Clines respectively catering the events. There was considerable discussion regarding the date, location, and caterer for the December meeting, which has in the past been held at Meditations. Due to a decline in business during the pandemic, however, Meditations has not only increased meal costs and added a hefty $1500 room charge for the event, but has also instituted a $500 prepayment, which would be forfeited in the event of cancellation. While the Council has been subsidizing the costs of the Monday night dinners to the tune of approximately $2500/year, it was felt that the increased costs at Meditations are prohibitive. It was decided that Clem would check the availability of the ballroom at Legacy Village for December 13, but could schedule December 7, 8, 9, or 15 if necessary. Priscilla will check with Ms. Ayers to see if her high school choral group can perform. The caterer will be determined at a later date.
Monthly Programs: Priscilla announced that Men’s Basketball would agree to send a speaker, but could not guarantee Coach Boynton. If he is called away on the scheduled date, they might send an assistant coach or even someone else. Council members brought up the new athletic director as a possibility as well. Other suggestions were Deb Engle to speak about the new art center or the director of long-range planning, who might speak about the new president’s home or other future plans. The only speaker firmed up for the fall at this point is the new president of the Alumni Association for the October meeting.
Meet and Greet: Mike announced that he and Velda would work on the pre-dinner happy hour along with Kent and Shelia Sampson and Kent and Carol Olson. Sofia will accept responsibility for making new name tags as necessary, and the couples named above will be responsible for setting out the name tags at each meeting.
Tours and Travel: Cathy Shuffield will remain in charge.
Interest Groups: Mike announced that the photography and travel interest groups will be dropped.
Officers for 2022:
- President: Kent Sampson
- Past President: Mike Lorenz
- Vice-president for Activities: Priscilla Gerfen
- Secretary: Kay Keys (her fourth and final year)
- Treasurer: To Be Determined (Ron will serve until the end of 2021.)
Councilors for 2022:
Individuals will need to be identified to fill the positions currently held by Doug, Tana, and Bob, whose terms were to end in December, 2020, but who extended to serve in 2021 due to the pandemic. Those selected will serve only two-year terms.
Barbara, Gladeen, and Jim will complete their terms in December of this year. Barbara has agreed to serve another three-year term. Gladeen and Jim, however, have declined to serve again. Therefore, two individuals will have to be identified to fill their positions and serve three-year terms.
Rick, Frank, and Gary will end their terms in December, 2022.
Closing:
Mike asked that all members give some thought as to whether we need all of the committees. He will send out a list.
Ron said that he will not be able to attend the September meeting, so someone will need to serve at the registration/payment table in his place.
Given the uptick in COVID cases and the new Delta variant, it was decided to send a survey to determine the willingness of members to attend a meeting as early as September. Sofia will create a draft survey, which Mike will distribute to Council members for possible modifications.
Mike may call for a Zoom meeting at the end of August.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:42.