MSU Faculty Emeriti Association Steering Committee Meeting
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
1:30-3:30 p.m.
302 International Center

The monthly meeting of the MSU Faculty Emeriti Association Steering Committee was called to order at 1:30 in Room 302 in the International Center by Vice Chairperson Charles Gliozzo. Attendees: Adams, Birdwell. Ferris, Fischer, Gliozzo, Greenbaum, G. Hudson, R. Hudson, Ishino, Mather, Nelson, Rivera, Rovner, Sparrow, Stone, and Brent Bowditch, Assistant Vice President from Human Resources., who was an invited guest.

  1. The minutes of the meeting of 19 August 2009 were approved.
  2. Stone invited Bowditch to speak about the plans for the Generic Prescription Drug Program. Bowditch provided a four page draft for each attendee to read at leisure and to offer comments by email. He described the program as it had been described to us by Stone in the August meeting with the useful addition of specific generic drug names which substitute for brand name drugs. MSU plans to initiate the program on 1 March 2010 providing time for MSU covered personnel to discuss with their physicians the possibility of using the less expensive generics. If no generic is available the brand name drug will continue to be available in the health plan, however, if a generic is available and not used the patient will need to pay the difference between the brand name and the least expensive generic. There will be an appeal process at MSU’s cost if your physician thinks a brand is essential even if a generic is available. Bowditch graciously answered a variety of questions. The steering committee members thanked Stone for inviting Bowditch.
  3. Gliozzo will contact John Shaw at the Voice Library to determine when and how we can access the oral histories which have been completed. Members were encouraged to contact Shaw to complete any oral histories which they have not yet done.
  4. Gliozzo will contact Funk to send out the email regarding the fall magazine collection which will take place from 19-23 October at the Student Services Building.
  5. People are encouraged to enroll for one or more of the fall sessions at the library for Emeriti Faculty.
  6. Stone reported that at their September meetings both Academic and Faculty Councils passed motions to allow FEA voice without vote at their meetings. It is hoped that these annual motions will no longer be needed when the new bylaws are passed. Budgeting matters filled most of the agenda at these meetings.
  7. Adams reported on the Board of Trustees meeting indicating the increase in fall enrollments, the protests concerning the Director of the Chicano-Latino program, and the loss of 18% on MSU’s investments which is lower than the loss of 20% reported for the Big 10 in general.
  8. Since Forsyth was absent, there was no report regarding the MSU Retiree Association or the email lists.
  9. Fischer reported on plans for seminars which are not yet confirmed. The 10 November presentation by Carri Guittard will be in the International Center because the Radiology Auditorium is occupied every Tuesday. Funk will be sending out the announcement.
  10. The meeting was adjourned at 2:55.

Submitted by Linda Nelson