University of Southern California
Retired Faculty Association
Board Meeting Minutes
October 10, 2008
Agenda Item 1: Opening the Meeting
The University of Southern California Retired Faculty Association Board of Directors meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2008, by Natalie Cohen, Vice President-President Elect in the absence of the Board President, Dagmar Halamka. The meeting was held in Room 224 in the Andrus Gerontology Center on the University Park Campus. Members present were Natalie Cohen, Jack Wills, Kaaren Hoffman, Nancy Warner, Carole Gustin, Janette Brown, Millie Milgrom, Jerry Walker, Jack Sanders, Steb Chandor, Ruberta Weaver, Bob Biller, Bob Stallings, Phoebe Liebig, John Orr, Bill Petak, and Barbara Solomon.
The agenda for the meeting was approved as presented. The minutes of the September 12, 2008, Board meeting were approved as presented. Bill Petak gave the treasurer's report. He explained that the RFA contribution to the Good Neighbors Program has not been made as it is not yet certain that the Caldwell Scholars Program contribution will be counted as a contribution from the RFA to the Good Neighbors Program. Bob Biller suggested that the RFA contribution be deferred until next month, giving time to determine if the Caldwell contribution will be counted toward the Good Neighbors drive. He said that Kristen Soares, Interim USC Vice President, Civic Affairs and Community Relations, was the person to consult on this matter. Petak said he knows Soares and will check the matter out with her. There was some discussion about the RFA Endowment Account spendable funds of $1,20l.00 and what should be done with them. The consensus was either to spend them or leave them alone for a later decision. The treasurer's report was approved as presented.
Agenda Item 2: Remembering Frances Feldman and Helen Coffey
Bob Biller reported that the memorial service for Frances Feldman earlier in the week captured the essence of Frances Feldman perfectly with the message of elegance, optimism, and hope. Many personal stories about Mrs. Feldman were presented. Barbara Solomon said that there will be a memorial service for Frances in the School of Social Work. Jack Sanders, Nancy Warner, Janette Brown, Carole Gustin, and Jerry Walker spoke about how Frances touched their lives. John Orr told of her love of camellias, and Phoebe Liebig called attention to Frances's well-known fondness for chocolate.
Bob Biller said that Helen Coffey was very much involved in community affairs in Rancho Palos Verdes where she and Bob lived. Biller stated that Bob became very much involved in Helen's world after his retirement from the university. Janette Brown reported that all of the presidents of the organizations with which Mrs. Coffey was involved attended the memorial service. Bill Petak spoke along these same lines and said that the memorial for Helen was a family service with invited guests due to space limitations.
Agenda Item 3: Update on RFA Dues
At the September board meeting, Bob Biller presented a proposal for board members to write thank-you letters to the RFA members who made significant contributions above and beyond what was asked for active member dues. At this meeting he offered a written proposal to proceed with the letters and the list of those contributors. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 3A. In the next few days, Biller will send to each board member six names and addresses as well as the thank-you cards and stamps for completion and mailing. There were 92 RFA members who made significant contributions along with their dues.
Agenda Item 4: AROHE Conference Update — RFA Role
Janette Brown spoke about the coming AROHE conference and the role of RFA Board members in making the conference a success. She passed around a draft of the conference brochure and a tentative schedule of the conference sessions and panels. Mitzi Tsujimoto of the Emeriti Center will be in charge of volunteers. Brown asked that RFA members attending to:
1. Be there, communicate, network, and try to determine who among the attendees would be suitable as prospective AROHE board members,
2. If present at sessions and panels, write a short summary and give to Brown,
3. Provide transportation for out of town delegates to restaurants and other entertainments for Friday evening and the Saturday excursion to Disney Hall.
Brown further asked that Board members attending the Emeriti Center 30th Anniversary celebration luncheon spread themselves out among the out of town delegates and act as hosts. The luncheon will be on Saturday, October 25. After the luncheon, all attending are invited to attend the Saturday afternoon session that will deal with the topics of retiree housing, Guided Autobiography, and Brain Health Ambassadors Program. She also passed around a letter from Dr. Sample congratulating the Emeriti Center on its 30th Anniversary.
Agenda Item 5: Provost's Luncheon Update
Natalie Cohen reported that the plans for the Provost's luncheon next month are proceeding well. She passed around a sign-up sheet for board members to sign if they will attend and another asking members to be there at specific times and to help with the arrangements before the luncheon. Board members should be at Town and Gown at 11:00 a.m. unless assigned earlier. Cohen presented a draft of a letter to be given to the new retirees welcoming them to the USC retired community and the Retired Faculty Association. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 5. The letter will contain a sign-up card for the new retirees to join the active RFA by making the dues payment. Those new retirees who have already signed up as active members will not get the dues solicitation, but will receive a thank you note for having already joined. There will be a pianist there to provide a musical background and a photographer will be present. Ruberta Weaver will do the table decorations, and she and Cohen will do the table assignments. There will be one or two board members at each table to act as hosts. Bob Biller was asked to look out for the VIP guests.
Agenda Item 6: Provost's New Program — Helping Faculty Colleagues Succeed
Bob Biller presented a letter from the Provost to the Faculty asking for its participation in an effort to help junior faculty colleagues succeed. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 6. The letter targets elements of the junior faculty and asks the deans to initiate steps to help these faculty, probably mainly on issues of achieving tenure. Biller proposed a panel of RFA members to help faculty obtain tenure. Suggested members were Kaaren Hoffman, Barbara Solomon, and Bob Biller. Such a panel must be careful not to overstep its bounds. Jack Wills said such a group can steer junior faculty toward help, especially when none would be forthcoming from their own departments. It was brought up that there are pitfalls when engaged in interdisciplinary studies, even though promoted by the Provost. Barbara Solomon said that such studies should be defined and specifically explain what faculty concerned need to know in seeking tenure. Jerry Walker called attention to the mentoring facilities mentioned in the Provost's letter and said that it would be better for RFA members to serve on the existing panels rather than creating another panel of RFA members. A consensus seemed to appear around this point and the board Executive Committee was asked to discuss this matter in its meeting immediately after the Board meeting.
Jack Wills stated that this whole issue was a politically charged matter. He felt that many of the problems in the university involving tenure centered on this matter. Phoebe Liebig pointed out that not all faculty seeking tenure are young persons.
Agenda Item 7: Caldwell Scholars Update
Barbara Solomon reported that after much effort and difficulty all of the key university administrators involved in the Caldwell Scholars Program will meet on November 21, 2008. It is expected that many of the problems in the administration of the Caldwell Program may be alleviated as a result of this meeting. Kaaren Hoffman and Solomon from the RFA Board will attend the November meeting. The meeting was called by Laura Apisakkul, Office of College Admission. Other participants will be Karen Rowan-Badger, Assistant Dean for College Admission; Steve Bryant, Senior Associate Director, Financial Aid; Susan Ikerd, Director, Financial Aid; and Tom McWhorter, Associate Dean, Enrollment Services. Ms. Apisakkul's letter is attached to these minutes as Appendix 7. Bob Biller suggested that there should be a repeat meeting of the Caldwell Scholars and select board members at a breakfast or lunch in the near future.
Agenda Item 8: Board Liaison to the Emeriti Center Update
Bob Stallings repeated his request to the board members to establish a timeline of their activities so that the Emeriti Center staff can plan their activities in order to provide the help needed by the board. The timeline would require more than listing a date or time, but activities leading up to and sometimes away from that date. This should facilitate a smoother working relation between the Emeriti Center staff and the board.
Agenda Item 9: Assignment of RFA Members to University Committees
Jerry Walker reported that he has placed RFA members on six of the seven university committees seeking RFA members. Bob Stallings offered congratulations to Walker for this achievement, explaining the difficulties Walker faced and the time it took. A RFA member is still needed on the General Education Committee. Bob Stellwagen, Medicine, was suggested for this appointment.
Agenda Item 10: Updates on Information/Communication and Intergenerational Forum
Bob Stallings announced that he has created a Web site called <colleaguesforlife.org> as suggested by Bob Scales. On this Web site, users can do things not possible on the USC Web site. They have also created <colleaguesforlife.blogspot.com> on which persons can put up short notes or answers to questions. This site also contains instructional videos. Persons are authorized to use the site simply by posting their e-mail addresses. Janette Brown said that Stallings and Scales deserve much credit for capturing these sites keeping their names exclusively for USC. Stallings went on to explain how the colleaguesforlife sites are different from usc.edu, mainly security reasons.
Jack Wills reported on the first two Intergenerational Forums on Global Change held on campus with the help of Bob Biller. There was a good and enthusiastic turnout of students, but no active faculty attended. Wills had a prepared column about the forum to be published in the next Retiree Community Newsletter. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 10. John Orr stated that there was little opportunity to attend forums like this in the Los Angles area, and the few that do exist are quite costly. He gave as an example the World Affairs Council.
Agenda Item 11: Announcements/Updates
Emeriti Center Developments — Janette Brown prefaced her remarks by pointing out that the Intergenerational Forum (Agenda Item 10) was an example of the RFA contribution to the mission of USC. She announced that the USC licensing department has approved the Emeriti Center logo. Brown said that the video shown to new USC employees might mention the value of the Emeriti Center; this achieved since she has connected with the communications person responsible for the video.
Staff Retirement Association Developments — Carole Gustin reported that the SRA trip to the Egyptian Theater last month was successful. She asked that RFA members stop by the RFA-SRA booth at the homecoming football game later in the month. Individuals wanting to bring cookies or other nibbles to the booth are invited to do so. Steb Chandor and Phil Manning have volunteered to stay at the booth. Gustin said that the plans for the joint Holiday Celebration on December 10, 2008, are progressing well.
Agenda Item 12: New Business
Steb Chandor thanked the Board for the encouragement given to him during the period of his recovery from eye surgery. He also reported that Art Donovan is down with the flu. Chandor called the attention of the board members to practice good health procedures during this flu season, e.g., frequent hand-washing and flu immunization. Also, on behalf of the board, he thanked Jerry Walker for bringing the breakfast rolls and Janette Brown for the pieces of dark chocolate, both of which helped get the volunteers through the postcard labeling preceding the board meeting.
Agenda Item 13: Adjourment
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 Noon. The next board meeting will be at 10:00 a.m., November 14, 2008, in GER 224.
These minutes taken and transcribed by Jack Sanders.