MSU Faculty Emeriti Association
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
209 Olds Hall
August 22, 2006 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Attendees: Stone, Reid, Wickert, Ishino, Funk, Gliozzo, Rovner, Harper-Jones, Shaw and Kimball

I. Chair Stone welcomed the group and noted that the next two meetings of the Steering Committee will be on September 20, 2006 and October 18. He noted that the group should be aware of the next two seminars on September 13 (Tanner) and October 16 Beemer).

It was noted that as of today, Mary McCartney had not had any word from Faculty Affairs on her appointment to the committee to study health care. It was determined that the Steering Committee needed to discuss our positions, if any, on retiree medical care and to have our voice heard.

II. The minutes of the July 26, 2006 meeting were approved with approved changes noted.

III. Updates:

A. MSU Retiree Association

Professor Wickert updated the Committee on The Retiree Association meeting. He indicated that the next Board meeting of the Association would be on September 9 and a general meeting would be on September 11. It is open to all interested parties.

B. Representation on University Committees

It was decided that the best way to approach the issue of FEA representation was to meet with key individuals on Faculty Affairs and Academic Council and get their input on how to seek representation. Professors Rovner and Stone will set up a meeting and get their opinions.

IV. Health Care Issues

The Steering Committee has had no response from Faculty Affairs on the status of the Committee on Health Care. Health care is one of the most important issues facing faculty emeriti. We will follow up on that committee and report back to the Steering Committee.

The group decided not to take a stand on health issues until we had a better idea of how the University planned on addressing them in the upcoming months.

V. MSU FEA Organization Structure
Professor Stone presented another draft of the Guidelines for review. He indicated that a subcommittee looking at the Guidelines decided to only address the issue of Steering Committee succession in their meeting. The critical issue of voting and selection will be discussed in future meetings. Stone said that the actual voting will be critical to our future success and so it will take time to set up procedures

The Steering Committee approved the suggestion of the subcommittee on how members will be selected in the future. All interested members of the Steering Committee will be on the Committee for the academic year 2006-2007. Four members will be selected to three year terms, 4 members will be selected for two year terms and the reminder of the group will have one year terms. All of those with one year terms will end their membership on the Committee in the fall of 2007. Starting in fall of 2007 an election will be held to select three new members for the Committee. The schedule is for four to be selected in 2007, four for 2008 and 3 for 2009. At that point in time, the Committee will be on schedule to keep the Steering committee fully operational with 11 members.

The Steering Committee approved a motion to set this schedule in place.

VI. Current Events
Professor Ishino led an interesting discussion on an issue of importance to the group.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.