University of Southern California
Retired Faculty Association
Board of Directors' Meeting Minutes
April 10, 2009

Agenda Item 1:  Opening the Meeting

The University of Southern California Retired Faculty Association Board of Directors meeting was called to order by Steb Chandor, Immediate Past President, in the absence of the President, Dagmar Halamka, at 10:10 a.m. on April 10, 2009, in Room 224 of the Andrus Gerontology Center, University Park Campus.  Members present were Steb Chandor, Janette Brown, Carole Gustin, Bob Cole, Bob Biller, Kaaren Hoffman, Art Donovan, Natalie Cohen, Milli Milgrom, Bob Stallings, Phoebe Liebig, Jack Sanders, Larry Greiner, Bill Petak, Jack Wills, and Ken Williams.  Bob Coffey, Board Advisor and former Board President, attended the meeting.  Preceding the meeting, many members of the Board met in the same partitioned portion of Room 224 to personalize dues notices to the RFA membership.  The agenda for the meeting was approved as presented.  The minutes of the Board meeting of March 13, 2009, were approved as presented.

Bill Petak gave the treasurer's report.  It had been sent out online to the Board members late the previous evening.  Petak reported that there were no expenditures or receipts the preceding month.  On that basis, the treasurer's report was approved.  It is appended to these minutes as Appendix 1C.  Petak said that he would have a preliminary budget for 2009-2010 prepared for the May Board meeting.

Agenda Item 2:  Final Election Results and Certification

Phoebe Liebig reported that the online election returns selected the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee by a large majority.  There were 37 ballots cast.  Liebig felt that it would be important to obtain more votes next year.  She introduced newly elected Board member, Larry Greiner.  Bob Coffey spoke about Greiner's record in the Marshall School of Business.  Ken Williams, also newly elected Board member, was present and had been introduced to the Board last month.

Agenda Item 3:  Review of RFA Stationery Masthead

Steb Chandor presented the new RFA stationery with its masthead.  Down its left margin is a list of the Board officers and members.  A sample is attached to these minutes as Appendix 3.  Milli Milgrom remarked that her first name was misspelled.  She agreed to let it remain until new stationery is ordered.

Agenda Item 4:  Update of Faculty Handbook/Emeritus Issues

Art Donovan presented an approved draft by the USC Faculty Handbook Committee.  It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 4.  The second of the three paragraphs in the Emeriti Status section addresses favorably the Board's concerns about the granting of emeritus status to retirees, especially in the first sentence.  Donovan further reported that the University Senate passed a resolution asking the Emeriti Center to track down every department in the University as to each department's criterion for awarding emeritus status and to find out what other universities do in this matter.  Janette Brown said that 33 percent of the responding universities in the AROHE survey grant emeritus status automatically on retirement.  Bob Biller said that the Emeriti Center does not have the staff or capability to perform this task.  The Provost's office should do this sort of thing.  There appeared to be general agreement on this, and Donovan and Steb Chandor will respond thusly at the next University Senate meeting.

It came up that some clinical faculty and volunteers in the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry have received emeritus appointments on retiring.  They are also eligible for faculty season football tickets.  There was a consensus of the Board that it would be better to ignore the rights of volunteer faculty for the moment.

Agenda Item 5:  Dues for 2009–2010 Update

Steb Chandor announced that the annual dues letter which was written by Bob Biller was finalized and is ready for mailing to the members of the RFA.  The letter was appended to these minutes as Appendix 5.  Many Board members arrived before the Board meeting today to personalize the dues letter.  Board members were asked to remain after the Board meeting to finish up the letters.  Chandor authorized the treasurer to pay for lunches for the Board members and the Emeriti Center staff participating in the sending of the letters.  Chandor paid a warm tribute to Eric Ambler and other Emeriti Center staff members participating in this endeavor.

Agenda Item 6:  Memorandum of Understanding between the RFA, SRA, and the Emeriti Center

Bob Biller presented the draft copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the USC Emeriti Center and the RFA and SRA.  It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 6.  The draft was assembled by Bob Biller, Howard Saperston, Bill Petak, and Carole Gustin.  Board members were asked to study the document and send in comments so that the document can be presented to the Board for approval at the May meeting.

Agenda Item 7:  MOU between the RFA and Caldwell Scholarship Program: Names of Possible Student Recipients

Kaaren Hoffman reported that she has been in correspondence with Barbara Solomon and that Solomon is pleased with the MOU.  This was reported by Solomon and recorded in the March Board meeting minutes.  Select students from the 10 high schools covered by the Neighborhood Initiative and who are accepted by the Admissions Office will be awarded Caldwell scholarships in their admissions packet.  This may not be a good idea as some of the students selected may not enroll at USC.  The scholarship must then be awarded to another student who would be a second choice, not a happy situation.  Natalie Cohen asked who would write the congratulatory letters called for in the MOU and how the writer was to be informed of the award decisions.  It was proposed that the letter should be more than just a routine congratulatory letter.  Bill Petak proposed the forming of a committee of the Board to implement the resolution of the congratulatory letters.  Hoffman replied that such a committee is not needed but that she may want to form a committee later.  Bob Biller felt that the Board should expand support for the Caldwell Program.  He recalled that it was once a possible payroll deduction for University employees and should be reinstituted.  Janette Brown said that a committee should be formed and that Barbara Solomon should be asked to sit on that committee even if she is no longer a Board member.

Agenda Item 8:  Brain Fitness Program Update

Jack Wills reported that a meeting has been scheduled for May 19, 2009, to discuss the Brain Fitness Program.  Phoebe Liebig, Professor Zelinski, Janette Brown, John Orr, Ken Williams, and Natalie Cohen will attend that meeting.  Janette Brown reported that she had recently attended an American Society on Aging conference where the Cognifit brain fitness program was discussed.  Cognifit is one of the many companies that have online brain fitness programs.

Agenda Item 9:  Updates on Committees and Activities

Information/Communication — Bob Stallings said that he was looking into the feasibility of investing in a camcorder for the Living History Project.  He claimed that this would be better and cheaper than renting USC studios for this purpose.  Bob Biller proposed having micro-interviews with retirees who may be coming to the campus for other reasons.  Janette Brown suggested that the interviews and Living History Project might be a vehicle for students from the Annenberg Communications School to gain experience.  This would be a good example of cross-departmental activity.

At this point in the meeting, Eric Ambler, a student employee of the Emeriti Center, entered the meeting room to receive a card of thanks and a gift.  He opened the gift to display a USC frame for his graduation diploma.  He was visibly pleased with the gift and the thanks from the Board.  He was given a round of applause by the Board.  Steb Chandor thanked Gloria Reyes and Jerry Walker for arranging the little ceremony and the gift.

Intergenerational Forum — Jack Wills reported that the student turnout had increased at the April 9, 2009 meeting of the Forum.  The meeting time may be changed to late afternoon so that there would be less chance of a conflict with student schedules.  Steb Chandor and Natalie Cohen will mention the Forum in the RFA column in the Retiree Community Newsletter, and Wills will write a separate Newsletter article.

Widows/Widowers Outreach —  Bob Coffey explained the program and its purposes for the new Board members.  He said that the Center for Work and Family Life at USC provides help and resources for widows and widowers.  Coffey said that a social occasion for all USC retirees, including widows and widowers, has been proposed for the South Bay area.  This will be a trial and, if successful, can be expanded.  Ken Williams said that this was a sensible issue and that the quality of the support from the Emeriti Center is important.  Jack Wills suggested that new widows and widowers be placed in contact with the Emeriti Center.  Janette Brown stated that this already occurs.  Further, when she learns of these people, she immediately sends a card of condolence with a card enclosed telling of the services available to them through the USC Center for Work and Family Life.  It was suggested that car pooling services be arranged for transporting these people and others in need to University events.

Emeriti Center College — Janette Brown reported that the Emeriti Center College is alive and well, with over 100 presentations this year.  She thanked the Board for its good turnout at the concluding event of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Emeriti Center on April 3, 2009.  Bob Biller offered commendations on the panel format of the event for the morning and afternoon presentations.  Phoebe Liebig said that the tape of the panels would be of value to many departments in the University.  It should be publicized.  Brown said that she is looking for articles about the Emeriti Centyer for inclusion in the USC Chronicle.  She also said that there is a need for a promotional brochure to give to interested persons.

Agenda Item 10:  Announcements/Updates

Staff Retirement Association Developments — Carole Gustin reported that the SRA retirement luncheon in March was successful as was the SRA "Brigadoon" party.  Officers for the coming year will be elected in June, but no one has volunteered to be president.  Gustin thought that a three party presidency to do the work of the president may be the solution.

Emeriti Center Developments — Bob Coffey volunteered to do the RFA information brochure.  Janette Brown said that the RFA brochure could be edited by a professional writer and the Emeriti Center's graphic designer could be hired to do the layout, if desired.  Also, the SRA brochure could serve as a model, if desired.  Bob Biller called attention to all of the work that Janette Brown has done this past year, particularly the 30th anniversary celebration event.  It was suggested to have more Emeriti Center events during the summer when the campus is less crowded.  Natalie Cohen reported that Room 224 Gero is secure through the August meeting.  It is not certain about the room after that time.  Janette Brown will try to obtain 219 Gero for September and beyond.  The room needs to be cleared of items being stored there.  Phoebe Liebig will help in contacting those storing these items.  Steb Chandor was assigned the responsibility of updating the Board roster, and Natalie Cohen was assigned to update the length of service of Board members list.

Agenda Item 11:  RFA Actions to Report to Emeriti Center Staff

Bob Stallings will report to the Emeriti Center staff to work on sending out the dues letter and the follow up letter later.  The Emeriti Center staff will be asked to order the new RFA stationery.

Art Donovan announced that the University is sending out a letter to the parents of all of the students inquiring of them if they expect any financial difficulties that might reflect on the student's continued enrollment at USC.  The letter asks the parents to notify USC if so; there is the possibility of help in these distressed times.  Donovan said that endowment funds are down but that is not affecting USC operations.

Agenda Item 12:  Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.  Members were invited to remain and help personalize dues letters.  Lunch would be provided.  The next meeting of the RFA Board of Directors will be on Friday, May 8, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 224, Gerontology.

These minutes were taken and transcribed by Jack Sanders, RFA Board Secretary.