MSU Faculty Emeriti Association Steering Committee Meeting
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
1:30-3:30 p.m.
302 International Center

The meeting of the MSU Faculty Emeriti Association Steering Committee was called to order at 1:30 in Room 302 in the International Center by Chairperson John Forsyth.

Attendees: Adams, Fischer, Forsyth, Gliozzo, Greenbaum, G. Hudson, R. Hudson, Mather, Nelson, Sparrow, Stapleton, Stone.

  1. The minutes of the meeting of 23 September 2009 were approved as corrected.
  2. G. Hudson requested follow up information about item 6 from the minutes of 23 September, therefore, the Academic and Faculty Council concerns were discussed first. Stone clarified that the new bylaws for these groups should be approved this year and thenceforth it would not be necessary to request FEA voice without vote at the meetings of these two groups. Stone said that the recent Faculty Council meeting dealt mainly with the 10% budget cuts. G. Hudson said President Simon reported at Academic Council that increased revenue is needed and will probably occur. The music therapy program was deleted.
  3. Stone reported on the continuing dilemmas of the Health Care Task Force. Some of the possible drug classes are so difficult to classify that for certain illnesses those drugs which are “almost alike”, but apparently not generic equivalents will not be required. Stone also reported that Faculty Affairs is sending a questionnaire to active faculty asking for anonymous opinions regarding preferences under possible future conditions. When the question was raised about whether or not our group should do something similar with retirees, Forsyth commented that we would need to coordinate with the MSU Retiree Association and Stone commented that some reluctance to alarm retirees about uncertain choices should be considered.
  4. Gliozzo reported that John Shaw at the Voice Library says all the completed oral history interviews are on the web site. Forsyth reported that Ghering , Archives Director, has sent thank you notes to all the interviewees.
  5. Gliozzo reported that the fall magazine collection was again a success.
  6. Those who have attended sessions of the Library Program for Emeriti were very complimentary.
  7. Adams reported that there has not been a Board of Trustees meeting since her previous report. Adams is a member of the Advisory Board for the Evening College and reported that Evening College has had serious budget cuts and has been moved from Kellogg Center to Spartan Way.
  8. Forsyth reported that the next Spartan Senior, the newsletter of the MSU Retiree Association, will be available next week. He also reported that the MSU Retirees Association is working on Articles of Incorporation because they must be a legal entity to obtain liability insurance.
  9. There was some discussion about how to update and maintain email lists of retirees.
  10. Stone reminded the group that early in 2010 we need to establish the committees for awards, nominations, and by-laws. This was suggested as an agenda item for the next meeting.
  11. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45.

Submitted by Linda Nelson