University of Southern California
Retired Faculty Association
Board Meeting Minutes
November 14, 2008
Agenda Item 1: Opening the Meeting
The University of Southern California Retired Faculty Association Board of Directors meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 14, 2008, by Bob Stallings presiding in the absence of the Board president, Dagmar Halamka. The meeting was held in Room 224 of the Andrus Gerontology Center on the University Park Campus. Members present were Bob Stallings, Natalie Cohen, Jack Wills, Jerry Walker, Carole Gustin, Bill Petak, Jack Sanders, Howard Hansen, Ruberta Weaver, John Orr, Bob Biller, Bob Cole, Art Donovan, and Kaaren Hoffman. Members excused were Steb Chandor, Phoebe Liebig, and Janette Brown. Stallings informed the board through Carole Gustin that Steb Chandor called earlier in the morning to say that his home was not involved in the Montecito fire but that he would remain at his home until all danger had passed. Stallings thanked Jerry Walker for providing the cake for the Board.
The agenda was approved as presented. The secretary presented the provisional minutes of the October 10, 2008, board meeting. There were no additions or corrections so the secretary moved that the minutes be approved as written. The motion was seconded and passed. Jack Sanders, board secretary, spoke for a few minutes about his recent trip to China and Tibet. He answered several questions from the board about China. The treasurer's report was presented by the treasurer, Bill Petak. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 1C. Petak pointed out that the paid memberships in the RFA were about the same as the previous year, not increasing. It was determined that the greatest growth ever had occurred in the 2007–08 year and that paid membership had reached a benchmark. That may be the case, but efforts should be continued to increase active membership. Natalie Cohen gave the latest official count that there were 1,169 members in the RFA. Fifty-four percent of the RFA members are active dues paying members. The treasurer's report was approved as presented.
Agenda Item 5: USC Good Neighbors/Caldwell Scholars Program
Since Bill Petak already held the floor, the chairman permitted Agenda Item 5 to be considered out of order. Petak reported on his meeting with Kristen Soares, Interim USC Vice President, Civic Affairs and Community Affairs. Soares was delighted with the contributions of the RFA to the Good Neighbors Campaign and to the Caldwell Scholars Program. (See treasurer's report, October 10, 2008, for background on this meeting.) She said that the RFA will be given full credit for these contributions and that someone from the RFA will be invited to the university president's reception honoring donors to the Good Neighbors Campaign. She also stated that in no way could the contributions to the Caldwell Scholars Program be counted as a contribution to the Good Neighbors Campaign. They are separate items. Petak said that the checks for the campaign need to be written soon in order to be counted in this year's tally. Bob Biller moved that the RFA make a contribution of $1,000 to the Good Neighbors Campaign. Kaaren Hoffman offered an amendment to make the amount $1,200. Biller accepted this as a friendly amendment. The amended motion was seconded and passed. Soares was invited to the SRA-RFA Holiday Celebration at the Galen Center on December 10, 2008.
Agenda Item 2: Charitable Contributions in Honor of Helen Coffey
The chair initiated a discussion of the best way to make contributions in honor of Mrs. Helen Coffey. Bill Petak said that her interests were in children's reading and literacy. Petak said that he would ascertain the best way to support these interests and report back to the board in December. Bob Biller suggested that the board not make a contribution but each member can send a contribution either with a condolence card from the board or separately. Art Donovan made the point that all revolved around the board's condolences to Bob Coffey, former board president. It was decided to hold off until the December meeting.
Agenda Item 3: Provost's Luncheon
Ruberta Weaver reported that Natalie Cohen was doing the greatest part of the work in preparing the provost's luncheon honoring the USC 2008 retirees scheduled for November 20, 2008. Weaver will do the table decorations on Wednesday and Thursday before the luncheon. Natalie Cohen reported that the speaker at the luncheon will be Elizabeth Garrett, USC Vice-President for Academic Planning and Budget, sitting in for the Provost, Max Nikias. Cohen passed out a sheet giving the table assignments for Board members and the names of those who will be seated at each table. Board members are asked to be hosts at their assigned tables making certain that all are introduced and to help keep conversation flowing at the table. It is necessary for assigned board members to show up at 10:00 a.m. to carry out their duties and for all other board members to be present at 11:00 a.m. to talk with the guests who arrive early. Table numbers will be on the name tags and on the tent cards for both board members and guests. Cohen reported that two deans and six designates from other deans would be in attendance.
Agenda Item 4: Provost's Mentoring Program
Natalie Cohen passed around a copy of a proposed letter to the provost and others regarding the provost's call for a mentoring program for faculty in their quest for university tenure. (See Agenda Item 6, board meeting October 10, 2008.) The proposed letter is attached to these minutes as Appendix 4. Major revisions to the letter were suggested, and Cohen will make the changes and circulate to the board the new letter before it is sent. A motion to accept the letter with revisions was seconded and passed. Jerry Walker suggested that RFA members can offer help on an individual basis. Attention was called to a Survivors' Manual for women faculty that was produced by the Medical Faculty Women's Association, a group of women faculty from the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, and other units at the Health Sciences Campus. This manual was written by Nancy Warner and others and published some time ago. It should not be mentioned in the letter to the provost.
Agenda Item 6: Jim Warf—In Memoriam/Recognizing Retired Faculty
Bob Biller called attention to the recent death of Jim Warf, former RFA Board member and the obituary appearing in the Los Angeles Times. He stated that Warf spent a large part of his professional life trying to get nuclear energy and wastes under control, endeavors not well known in the USC community. Biller felt that this illustrated the issue of obtaining publicity for the university about these outstanding faculty members. It was suggested that the Oral History and the Mini-Bio Projects are a way to elicit these kinds of facts. Jerry Walker suggested that new retirees should be asked to do their biographies. Jack Wills suggested that the University Archivist could help in such a project. He thought Claude Zachary should be invited to come to the board to explain what is needed in the biographies. In doing the biographies, faculty should not be specifically selected to do them but should be open to all who wish to participate. Jerry Walker thought the board should decide on a template for the biographies.
Agenda Item 8: Procedures for Emerita/Emeritus Status
This item was taken out of order because the presenter, John Orr, would have to leave the meeting before the item came up in the agenda order.
John Orr brought up the matter of emerita/emeritus status at USC. There is confusion about this status; some faculty members think it is automatic on retirement; some retirees use the status when in fact they have not been appointed; and the procedures for appointment are not clear. There was a large reaction to this issue from the board members. Bob Biller said that there are no known criteria for appointment, and many deans are unaware of their responsibilities in this matter. Jack Wills said that a checklist for appointment needs to be developed. Bill Petak said a review of the Faculty Handbook about this matter should be made. No action was taken.
Agenda Item 7: Confirming RFA Membership of the Emeriti Center Executive Director
Bob Biller gave the background for this matter and wrote a letter to be sent by Natalie Cohen to Janette Brown. It is attached to these minutes as Appendix 7. The letter states unequivocally that Janette Brown is ex officio a member of the RFA Board of Directors and has full voting rights on matters that come up before the board. Biller said that this is also true for Carole Gustin, President of the SRA, and for Jerry Walker, Director of the Emeriti College.
Agenda Item 9: Updates on Other Committees and Activities
Intergenerational Forum — Jack Wills reported that the first two meetings of the Intergenerational Forum have been remarkably successful. There has been a good response from the students but little interest from the active faculty. The next meeting of the Forum will be on November 25, 2008. Interested board members are invited to attend. An item that has come up in the forums is the impact of the current economic crisis on the student body. Student members plan to draft a letter to President Sample informing him of their concerns. Bob Biller suggested that students in economic difficulty should let their own units know about the problems they may have. It will be up to the individual units if any aid will be forthcoming.
Agenda Item 10: Announcements/Updates
Staff Retirement Association Developments — Carole Gustin reported that planning is on schedule for the joint SRA-RFA Holiday Celebration on December 10, 2008, at the Galen Center. She has sent out announcements on the Internet regarding time, place, parking, program, and requests for a response from those planning to attend. She said that the RFA-SRA tent at the homecoming football game last month was visited by large numbers of retirees and others. Plans are underway for a joint SRA-RFA basketball game in 2009. It will be on a week night when the University Club will be open for those wishing to dine together.
A request to Judy Diaz, Emeriti Center staff, will be made to look into a ride share program for the RFA. This will be discussed at the December meeting.
Jerry Walker reported that Carl Christol, life member RFA Board, has been awarded a $1,200 grant from the Norris Fund to promote his new book. The Norris Fund provides grants to RFA members to help them in finishing their research.
Agenda Item 11: New Business
There was no new business.
Agenda Item 12: Adjourment
There being no further business, the board meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m. The next RFA Board of Directors meeting will be on Friday, December 142, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 224, Gerontology, UPC.
These minutes were taken and transcribed by Jack Sanders, board secretary. Corrections and additions may be made by reply or at the December board meeting.