University of Southern California
Retired Faculty Association
Board Meeting Minutes
September 12, 2008
Agenda Item 1: Opening the Meeting
The University of Southern California Retired Faculty Association Board of Directors meeting was called to order by Bob Stallings at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2008, in Room 224 in the Andrus Gerontology Center on the University Park Campus. Stallings was presiding in the absence of the president, Dagmar Halamka. Members present were Bob Stallings, Carole Gustin, Art Donovan, Jack Wills, Millie Milgrom, Bob Cole, Phoebe Liebig, Bob Biller, Jerry Walker, Nancy Warner, Ruberta Weaver, Jack Sanders, Howard Hansen, and Janette Brown. Members excused were Dagmar Halamka, Steb Chandor, Frances Feldman, Bill Petak, John Orr, and Natalie Cohen. Stallings reported that Steb Chandor, immediate past president, was recovering well from eye surgery and expected to be back at the Board's October meeting. A get-well card was passed around for the members present to sign and will be sent to Chandor.
The agenda for the meeting was presented. Bob Biller asked to amend the agenda to include in New Business a discussion on a memorandum from the Provost about a mentoring program for faculty on their way to tenure. It was accepted and the agenda was approved as amended. The minutes of the August 8, 2008, Board meeting were approved as presented. Jack Sanders gave a brief explanation of how the handouts at the meeting were attached to the minutes as appendices. The treasurer's report sent out to members by e-mail was presented by Bob Stallings in the absence of Bill Petak, the treasurer. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 1C. There was a brief discussion about the good quality of the report and the robust financial condition of the Board.
Agenda Item 2: Contributions
Bob Biller reported on the members' dues renewals for the 2008–09 year. He said that dues payments increased slightly over last year to 594 members and contributions increased by $949 for a total of $29,167.00. The dues pool was won by Natalie Cohen who said 625 members would pay dues and Bill Petak won the contributions pool estimate by predicting $29,000. These contributions and dues payments more than guarantee the operating budget and include significant contributions to the Caldwell Fund and the RFA Endowment. Biller's report is attached to these minutes as Appendix 2.
Bob Biller then made a proposal for Board members to send a personal thank you to the 67 RFA members who have made substantial contributions to the Board. Each Board member would write about four notes to contributors from their units. An approval consensus was quickly reached and a discussion followed on implementing the proposal. It was decided that the amounts of the gifts would not be mentioned. Carole Gustin suggested that USC note cards could be obtained from the book store for this purpose. Bob Biller will develop a protocol for writing the notes, suggest an assignment of members for the proposal and have the recipients' addresses ready at the October meeting. The proposal was accepted in principle by the Board.
Agenda Item 3: Absences of Officers during 2008–09
Bob Biller spoke to the problem of the president and vice-president absent so far this year, stating that the Board is in an awkward situation and is muddling through. He felt that this may be all right. President Dagmar Halamka is on leave until January 2009, and Vice-President Natalie Cohen will return for the October Board meeting.
Agenda Item 4: AROHE Conference Update, Role of RFA
Postponed until later in the meeting when Janette Brown arrives.
Agenda Item 5: Faculty Senate Retreat Report
Art Donovan reported on the faculty senate retreat held August 20, 2008, at the Huntington Library in Pasadena. His report is attached to these minutes as Appendix 5. Donovan is assisting Steb Chandor as RFA delegate to the USC Faculty Senate. Donovan called attention to the main areas of interest in the summary report of the retreat.
Bob Biller called attention to the Provost's address about the increasing residential component of campus life. This will be highly advantageous for the USC community. Faculty housing is also a possibility. There are five areas surrounding the campus that have been identified as possible purchases for increasing residential facilities. Phoebe Liebig suggested that parking should be consideration in any land use plan.
Agenda Item 11: Announcements/Updates
The Staff Retirement Association report was given by Carole Gustin, SRA president, at this time because she must leave the meeting. She asked members to sign up for the RFA-SRA booth at the Homecoming tent in November. Bob Stallings said that Steb Chandor would be there if his health permits. It was suggested that Phil Manning, past RFA president, should be contacted because he has helped with the booth in past years. Gustin said that there were still open spaces in the SRA tour of the Egyptian Theater in October. RFA Board members are welcome. The joint Holiday meeting will be on December 10, 2008.
Agenda Item 6: Caldwell Scholars Program
There was no report on the Caldwell Scholars program due to the absence of Barbara Solomon. Bob Biller did say that Solomon's work on this program is bringing coherence to the program in terms of relation to the University at large.
Agenda Item 7: Board Liaison to the Emeriti Center Update
Bob Stallings had no report. He did ask that members of the Board with assigned duties begin writing their job descriptions and the time lines required to perform the duties. This information will be of value to the Board and to the EC in its work with the Board.
Agenda Item 8: Provost's Luncheon Update
Ruberta Weaver reported that plans for the Provost's luncheon were moving along and fairly well complete. Natalie Cohen has been doing most of the work in preparing this event through e-mail. The date is November 20, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Town and Gown. Board members will be assigned to tables as hosts at the luncheon. Some Board members will be asked to do specific things, to be assigned later.
Ruberta Weaver further proposed a Board party to attend the student performance of Brigadoon preceded by dinner at the University Club and attendance at the performance as a group. This will be in April 2009 so details will be announced later.
Agenda Item 9: Assignment of RFA Members to University Committees
Jerry Walker presented a list of University committees that would like to have an RFA member serving on a committee and possible nominees from the RFA. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 9. Walker generated this list in response to a request from Beth Garrett, University Vice President for Academic Planning and Budget. The nominees were discussed and suggestions made for appointment. Bob Biller suggested that it would be easier if Walker has an RFA list by departments. This is easily taken from the data base by Emeriti Center staff.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards Committee needs a chairman since the resignation of Bob Coffey from that committee. Several prominent RFA members were suggested, one being Doyce Nunis.
Agenda Item 10: Announcements/Updates
Bob Stallings on Information/Communication asked members to let him know if they notice any corrections or additions that are needed on the RFA web page.
Agenda Item 4: AROHE Conference Update, Role of RFA
This agenda item scheduled earlier on the Agenda was delayed until the arrival of Janette Brown. She spoke to the coming AROHE Conference on October 24–26, 2008, on the USC campus. Brown passed out a copy of the four-page printed draft schedule for the conference. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 4. There are already 100 persons registered, a satisfactory early response. She asked that Board members act as hosts and she will ask members to do specific tasks as the need is anticipated or arises. Of particular need is for hosts to drive out of town delegates to the various restaurants and entertainments off Campus. Bob Stallings attended the AROHE Conference two years ago and said that the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of the conference were the chances to talk to other delegates about common experiences, i.e., Retired Faculty Associations and their Universities. Brown showed pictures of a canvas bag with Emeriti Center and AROHE logos that will be used by delegates at the conference and at the 30th Anniversary Emeriti Center luncheon. It may be a collector's item so well designed it is. Brown will present data from the AROHE survey of over 150 institutions regarding the state of retirement affairs at universities in North America. This will be an important presentation at the conference. She gave thanks to Bob Stallings for his help in designing the AROHE Web site.
Agenda Item 11: Announcements/Updates (Continued)
Part of this item was reported by Carole Gustin earlier in the meeting.
Janette Brown reported that the Emeriti Center executive committee and staff are working on a document to brand the Emeriti Center as to who and what the Emeriti Center is. The Emeriti Center data base is constantly revised as new information is available and more information can be taken from it. The Emeriti Center web now has a link for USC retirees to update their contact information for the USC Directory, to update contact information for Emeriti Center files, and to provide the Emeriti Center with emergency contact information. Brown would like Board members to provide emergency information and their short life biographies of Board members to post on the Emeriti Center Web site. This can be done by clicking on the new link on the Emeriti Center main Web page entitled "Update Your Retiree Directory and Emergency Contact Information." Plans are progressing for the Emeriti Center Annual Giving Campaign. The Center continues to update its accounting procedures for smoother operation and is trying to determine ways to become more efficient. One way may be to consider changing the times during which the Emeriti Center and RFA collect donations. Brown stated that the Emeriti Center has 16 separate accounts to handle and that becomes complicated, especially during the end and beginning of the fiscal year.
Jerry Walker thanked Jack Wills for originally proposing a program for intergenerational activities on campus. Walker said that he is working on a program to facilitate the beginning of such a program and that it is going to happen.
Agenda Item 12: New Business
Bob Biller reported that there is a memorandum from the Provost concerning the development of mentoring programs for faculty on their way to tenure. Academic units are strongly urged to develop such programs for their faculty. Biller went on to say that the RFA can make a major contribution to these programs because they are at some distance from the process and can be relied on to handle delicate matters with discretion. A further discussion of this will be placed on a future agenda.
Bob Stallings had three USC football schedule posters to give away.
Agenda Item 13: Adjourment
There being no further business for the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 Noon. The next meeting of the RFA Board of Directors will be on Friday, October 10, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon in Room 224, Gerontology Building.
These minutes were taken and transcribed by Jack Sanders, RFA Board secretary. Corrections and additions may still be made at the October 10 Board meeting.