About Us

PURPOSE

Our stated purpose is “To invigorate and sustain the sense of community established among colleagues during their careers at California State University, Sacramento.” In other words - To keep in touch and enjoy each other's company.

ORGANIZATION

Membership is open to all Sacramento State retirees. Leadership for the association is vested in the 10-member Board, elected by the membership in an annual meeting. We have a representative on the Faculty Senate, a means of keeping the campus aware of our interests. We are affiliated with the statewide California State University Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association, CSU-ERFA, which works to protect retiree benefits. Our constitution is available HERE.

HISTORY

We were founded 26 years ago as the CSUS Emeritus Association, with the endorsement of then President Don Gerth, who is currently a member of the association. Initially a faculty group, we now welcome both faculty and staff retirees. The association originated campus policies for retiree rights and privileges that are still in effect today.

BOARD MEMBERS

	Tom Griffith	President	Email Tom
	Linda Martin	Vice President	Email Linda
	Larry Glasmire	Secretary	Email Larry
	Jean Torcom	Treasurer	Email Jean
	Dick Kornweibel	Past President	Email Dick
	Nancy Tooker	Alumni Rep.	Email Nancy
	Alan Wade	CSU-ERFA Rep.	Email Alan
	Cindy Collins	Member At-Large	Email Cindy
	Nancy Fox	Member At-Large	Email Nancy
	Karen Peterson	Member At Large	Email Karen
	Felicenne Ramey	Member At-Large	Email Fel
	David Wagner	Member At-Large	Email David

 

CAMPUS LIAISONS

	Mike Lee	Senior Administrative Liaison (VP for Administration and Business Affairs)
	Sheree Meyer	Academic Liaison (Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies)

 

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS

 

2013 BOARD ACTIONS

JANUARY 31 MEETING
Report from Treasurer (Torcom) shows approximately $17,000 in accounts.
Report on the RA scholarship: it is built into the campus scholarship application process with a question for all scholarship applicants to identify those who have parents working on campus. Additional discussion needed at next meeting on definition of "faculty and staff employees."
Report on new activities: third luncheon, at Zinfandel Grille, was well attended; planning for Apple users groups an book groups is in progress.
Spring Brunch committe established with Kornweibel and Wagner as co-chairs; Alumni Center reserved, Dante Club also under consideration.
Initiative to offer lectures by junior faculty and purposes of program discussed; Wagner will research and recommend options
Agreed on 5:00 PM April 18 for a reception for retirees in the University Library Gallery, followed by a 6:30 performance of "Cabaret" in the University Theater.
Agreed to distribute a CSU-ERFA survey regarding volunteering to support the campus to faculty.
Had initial discussion on possible donations to campus for 2013 - in addition to $3100 for two scholarships - and total amount to donate.

2012 BOARD ACTIONS

JANUARY 10 MEETING:
Approved At-Large members Cindy Collins, Karen Peterson and Dave Raske
Discontinued publication of Silver Bulletin, will publish articles on website on ongoing basis
Established and prioritized goals and objectives for the year. Progress on these is listed below.

MARCH 28 MEETING:
Allocated $400 to support hospitality for speaker events on campus for the remainder of the calendar year.
Decided to establish $1500 Retiree Association scholarships to be awarded annually to children of current staff and faculty.

MAY 14 MEETING:
Allocated $5000 to campus programs...
$1000 to the University Staff Assembly
$1000 to the Festival of the Arts
$1000 to the University Gallery
$1000 to The Friends of the Library
$1000 to be determined

AUGUST 9 MEETING:
Retiree Association scholarship is funded ($3100) for selection of two recipients this academic year.
Agreed to co-sponsor semiannual Faculty Colloquia with Faculty Senate (high interest in survey).
Based on survey results, also agreed to initiate occasional lunches at area restaurants and discounted September event at the Sacramento Philharmonic. Also exploring support activities for elderly colleagues and group attendance at "Cabaret" on campus.
Agreed to add a "Donate" link to website during upcoming reorganization of the website.
Agreed to recognize a significant contributing member at this year's Fall Dinner.
Agreed to publicize availability of Emeritus Faculty and Retired Staff Room in Library to all retirees.

DECEMBER 4 MEETING
Approved new At-Large members, Nancy Fox, Felicenne Ramey, and David Wagner.
Report on Fall Dinner with 125 attending and profit of $500.
Set dates for next year's Spring Brunch (May 5) and Fall Dinner (November 1).
Report on new activities, including two luncheons, attendance at a Sacramento Philharmonic performance, attandance at a B Street Theater performance, and attendance at a "Procession of Carols" concert at Sacred Heart Church.

2012 RETIREE SURVEY RESULTS

All retirees on our email list, approximately 850, were invited to participate in an online survey in April and May. We received 209 responses, including 97 from members, 80 from non-members, and 32 from prior members. (The board heartily thanks you for your input!) The survey addressed satisfaction with current offerings and interest in possible new activities.

SATISFACTION. The monthly emails are viewed as a valuable source of information and are read regularly by two thirds of respondents. Three fourths gave favorable ratings, with 31% Excellent and 35% Good overall rating for the emails. The majority of respondents (68%) prefer receiving our emails monthly.
The website also received favorable ratings from three fourths of respondents, with 40% rating it Excellent and 33% Good. Use of the website, however, is low, with only 10% using it regularly.
The fall dinner and spring brunch were highly rated with 50% Excellent and 37% Good.

NEW ACTIVITIES. Respondents expressed considerable interest in some of the new activities the board is considering implementing. The five occasional activities that had the highest frequency of Very Interested and Interested ratings were speakers on campus, Crocker Art Museum, B Street Theater, occasional lunches in Sacramento area restaurants, and Sacramento Philharmonic concert.
The four highest rated topics for "interest groups" that would meet regularly are using iPads, iPhones, iMacs; supporting our elder colleagues; discussion of current issues; and reading and discussing books.

FOLLOW UP. As promised, 15 randomly selected respondents received a $20 Trader Joe's gift card. Those are listed HERE. Retired Institutional Research Analyst Vickii Castillon, who spearheaded the survey, wrote a comprehensive analysis of survey findings, conclusions, and recommendations which can be read HERE. The Board has acted to implement some of the high-interest new activities and is considering others. These are reported in the above section, "2012 Board Actions."

PROGRESS ON 2012/13 BOARD OBJECTIVES

A. Develop Interest Groups
Discussed participation with potential additional committee members.
Surveyed members and non members on interest in possible interest groups.
Initiated three lunches in local restaurants.
Organized group attendance to the Sacramento Philharmonic, B Street Theater, and Procession of Carols.
Board agreed to initiate work on creating first two interest groups.
Conducted survey to determine interest in Apple users groups.
Developed survey to determine interest in book groups.

B. Establish Retiree Association Scholarship
Had initial meeting with Advancement; explored placement of scholarship and related options; discussed of awarding scholarship to children of current employees.
Discussed status of Faculty Scholarship Endowment with Faculty Senate Chair, office staff, and a member of scholarchip committee.
Documented history of Emeritus/Retiree Association donations made to provide context.
Board acted to create annual scholarships of $1500 to be awarded to two students who are children of current faculty and staff.
Filed paperwork to create scholarship.
Deposited money for first two scholarships.
Verified listing of scholarship on Financial Aid website
Verified inclusion of scholarship in scholarship application system.

C. Present Speakers on Campus
Committee met and discussed types of speakers and topics. We agreed on goals, identified first two speakers for Spring Semester, adn decided to also investigate town/gown speakers.
Scheduled first speaker.
Larry Glasmire presented talk and photos of his trip to Holland and Belgium; gave same presentation to Rennaissance Society.

D. Mail Recruitment Letters to Recent Retirees
Made initial request to Employment for names and addresses of recent retirees.

E. Update Recent Retirees Contact Information

F. Increase Benefits of Membership
Gained access to Emeritus Faculty Room in Library for members and approval to re-name room "Emeritus Faculty and Retired Staff Room."

G. Establish Liaisons With Key Campus Leaders
Committee met with VP for Admin & Business Mike Lee who agreed to serve as Senior Administrative Liaison.
Committee also met with Arts & Letters Assoc Dean Nick Burnett who agreed to coordinate our access to Associate Deans in all colleges. We also explored with other plans and initiatives, including listing of emeritus faculty and utilizing dept secretaries to promote RA.
Had second meeting with Nick Burnett to invite him to serve as Academic Liaison; he agreed.
Posted both liaisons on website; invited them to March 28 lunch with board members; they accepted.
Surveyed department website llistings of emeritus.
Learned that campus emeritus policy shows provision for listing emeritus faculty with current faculty in catalog.
Scheduled to attend meeting of Associate Deans.
Met with Associate Deans.
Recruited Sheree Meyers as replacement for retiring Nick Burnett.

H. Increase Staff Membership

I. Conduct Board Meetings on Campus
Determined we have access to Union rooms at no charge; inquired about campus rooms.
Conducted March Board meeting in Retired Faculty and Staff room in Library.
Gained approval to reserve rooms on campus without charge.

J. Poll Members' Satisfaction and Interest
Contacted retired Analyst from Institutional Research re survey; she agreed to oversee survey.
Met and developed plan, timeline and survey framework; framework sent to board members for input.
Requested use of Student Voice, online assessment service the campus has a contract with.
Vice President of Student Affairs Lori Varlotta approved use of Student Voice.
First survey draft done; board provided feedback; second draft done.
Survey completed, 209 retired faculty and staff responded.
Survey incentives, $20 Trader Joe gift cards, sent to 15 randomly selected resoondents.
Analyzed data, prepared report.