UCI  EMERITAE/I  ASSOCIATION  MINUTES

 

MEETING:   MAY 3, 2004

 

 

 

                Present                  David Easton, Eldon Foltz, Ann Heiney, Judd and Renée Hubert. Sam McCulloch,
                                               Ron Miller, Kivie Moldave, Lorie Reed, and John Swett

 

 

                                                In the absence of the chair, Lyman Porter, the meeting was called to order by

                                                Vice Chair, Kivie Moldave at 9:15 am.

     

 

 

 

I.   Minutes of the April meeting:  The minutes of the April meeting were approved as mailed and distributed except for the spelling correction of Sam Woo’s Restaurant.

 

II. Treasurer's Report:  Lorie Reed reported a balance of $1372 in the foundation account.  The academic affairs account, which is used for salary, will be depleted very soon.

 

III.   Program Committee Report:  John Swett reported that costs for luncheons at the University Club cost $10 per person plus room charge, tip and tax on each item.  Alternative meeting sites were considered.  Sam Woo’s charges are $30-$100 depending on the meal.  A Mandarin restaurant on 19th St. in Costa Mesa, and Yen Ching’s on Glassell just north of the 22 freeway in Orange were also suggested

 

IV.  Newsletter: Bob Montgomery was absent, but Audrey Wicks reported the newsletter is ready to go as soon as the Chair’s column is submitted.  The formatter, however, will be absent for a period after tomorrow.  Kivie Moldave hopes to insert a reminder that UC Benefits is now online and that all faculty and emeriti should check their information, especially beneficiaries, since a number of mistakes have been observed.

 

V.  Retiree's Committee Report:   Bobbie Brown was absent.

 

VI.  Award Committee Report:   Jerry Tobis was absent, but the letter he drafted to the Chair of the Academic Senate was reviewed and approved though one member expressed concern regarding the word “specifically” in the term “specifically compensated financially for mentoring service”, and another member expressed concern about the emphasis upon “seeking gender equity and ethnic diversity”. Despite the concerns, changes were not recommended.

 

VII. New Business: Faculty Welfare Committee Kivie Moldave reported that the Federal Privacy (Patriots) Act has substantial implication for privacy of faculty and emeritae/i. The Faculty Welfare Committee received a proposal recommending that the Chancellor delegate the responsibility for handling requests for information, etc. A number of other campuses may be considering similar proposals. A gender equity salary survey, prepared by Pauline Yahr, was presented and discussed; the Committee voted to forward the material to the Senate Executive Committee. An administration proposal was discussed, to award full-time positions in the General campus of which only a fraction (50%) is a state-funded FTE eligible for tenure, but would carry all the normal obligations of the professorial series. Concerns regarding partial retirement benefits, full departmental responsibilities, etc., were expressed., The pros and cons of this possible proposal may differ for the campus and for the College of Medicine.  At the system-wide Faculty Welfare Committee it was reported there will be an additional 3% cut in the University budget. Concern was expressed regarding faculty salaries which are about 6% lower than in comparable universities. There was also concern about the University’s control over student fees.

                            

 CUCEA: A representative of the Office of the President reported that there would be no information concerning benefits and costs until June.  Scheduled increases in premiums are programmed, and those with incomes greater than $80,000 may pay higher premiums..  In view of the current budgetary situation, it is possible that the mandatory contributions to retirement will have to be reinstituted within a few years.  In addition, to be eligible for retirement health benefits, all will need to subscribe to Medicare part B..  . The  potential disparity in purchasing power of annuitants that retired many years ago, as compared to more recent retirees, was discussed and will be reviewed by the UCOP.    Apparently only a small minority of emeritae/i have submitted bibliographies and bios as requested. The Panunzio award was given to   Robert M. Stevenson (UCLA musicologist) and Eugene A. Hammel (UCB demographer).

                               

Meeting of Officers: Porter, Moldave, and Reed met and agreed that our finances are in “ reasonably good shape”.  Miller, however, appreciated this was the case only if we continue to receive the $2000 from the Chancellor’s office annually.  He recommended the operating reserve recommended by David Easton at our last meeting be reconsidered, and Easton recommended that 10% of dues be put aside annually as a financial reserve. Porter, Moldave, and Reed hoped that the $1500 given some years ago by Academic Affairs for a housing survey might be put aside as an emergency reserve. For the moment, dues are not to be increased ($25) and it is appreciated that we might save some money by having two socials per year rather than quarterly luncheon meetings.  Moldave also recommended that the Executive Committee meet only every other month as in the past, rather than monthly as in the recent past.  Audrey Wicks reported that of 273 known UCI emeritae/i (many whose addresses are unknown) dues are paid by 106 individuals. Reed suggested that we might invite a generally non-attending emerita/us to attend each of our meetings gratis, hoping that overtime we could increase the number who attend and who pay dues.

 

 

      

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted by

 Ronald B. Miller, M.D., Secretary