MSU RETIREES ASSOCIATION

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

September 7, 2011 – 10:00am

The meeting of the MSU Retirees Association was held on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 10:00am in room 250 of the Nisbet Building.

Present: Gale Arent, Stephanie Barch, Brent Bowditch, Nancy Craig, John Forsyth, Gale Gower, Jerry Hull, Andy Johanson, Al LeBlanc, Marilyn Rothert, Patrick Scheetz, Ron Smith, Brenda Spackman, Bob and Darlene Wenner.

Bob Wenner moved that the August 10, 2011, meeting minutes be approved with the following substitution: near the end of the minutes, in the e-Notices Report paragraph, delete the entire sentence about mini-surveys and substitute the following three paragraphs: (1.) In the 8/10/11 Board meeting, Gordon Williams volunteered to put a mini-survey together using HR’s Survey Monkey or similar software, based on items submitted by Board members and/or items deduced from Board discussions. (2.) The mini-survey items need to relate to actionable issues and/or to issues under consideration by the Board or committees. It is best that members be able to see how providing input (via our surveys) guides or influences MSURA (i.e., if we’re going to survey members, then be prepared to make use of the input provided… typically providing some kind of feedback or report to members). (3.) Gordon will accumulate items, then send a mini-survey invitation out as appropriate (i.e., not on a predetermined schedule). Motion was seconded and approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Bob Wenner presented a financial statement for July-August, 2011. A copy is on file in the MSURA office with the minutes from this meeting. John Forsyth moved that this report be accepted. Motion was seconded and approved. Bob reported that he filed Form 990 with the IRS and it was accepted.

Website: Andy Johanson, who is working on the web site, was introduced. He reviewed the new Website which is compatible with the University Website. It is accessible and easy to navigate. Bob Wenner moved and Ron Smith seconded that the new proposed Website be activated. Motion carried. The website is located at retirees.msu.edu.

Budget and Finance: Ron Smith is working on this and will report further in October.

President’s Report: Pat Scheetz thanked Andy Johanson for his work on the website.

Pat asked that, in the interest of time, that proposals be brought in writing to the Board meetings.

Vice President’s Report: Ron Smith reported that the Annual Meeting date has been changed to Monday, May 7, 2012. The Lincoln Hall in Kellogg Center can be reserved on that date.

Speakers have been set for October (Dr. Richard Merritt, MSU Entomology) and November (Bob Bao, Editor, MSU Alumni Magazine). The December speaker will be the MSU Hockey coach (location to be determined). Brent Bowditch will be the speaker in March. A tour of the new Brody Hall food operation is set for October 26^th.

Ron also announced that the Big 10 Conference of retiree organizations will be held every year. Joan Smith has submitted a report on the 2011 conference for the newsletter. Next year, the conference will be held at Ohio State University; in 2013, at the University of Michigan. MSU will be the host in 2015.

Human Resources: Brent Bowditch reported that changes are going to be made to the University’s retirement plan choices. This will have little or no impact on current retirees. The next newsletter will have an article on this. Brent also reported that “Best Doctors” – a second opinion service – will be available in October or November.

Health Benefits: Marilyn Rothert reported that the committee needs to know what type of articles retirees want in the newsletter.

Office Staff: The staff is working on the new data base. There is still a need for more volunteers to cover the office. Brenda Spackman is working on letters to go to new retirees.

Membership Development: The committee is working on a new brochure.

Newsletter: The University offers a class on new publishing software, Microsoft Publisher, which the editor is going to take. When sending e-mails to the editor, in the subject line, please use “Report from xx, retiree” or “Photo sent by…” The subject needs

to indicate exactly what is being sent to help the editor keep track of the many emails he receives. Attachments should be in a PDF file. We need to have a list of the newsletter deadline dates.

Facebook is not being used very often. We need an article in the newsletter on this.

United Way: Darlene Wenner has 15 volunteers for mailings on September 16 and 23.

Old Newsboys, December 1st: Brenda Spackman will have an article in the next newsletter.

Meeting adjourned at 11:00am. Next meeting is October 5, 10am, in room 250.

Submitted by Nancy Craig