President Report
Sharon Nivens
Association President, 2018
Association activities and accomplishments during 2018 continued much the same as years past. Officers, council members, committee chairs, and other volunteers strived to keep our Association relevant to our membership. Without the willingness of member volunteers to devote time and effort to ongoing activities, the Association would be hard put to continue. Names of those who have participated in this effort are listed in preceding pages of this report.
Membership numbers remained at a level comparable to years past. New members were welcomed; and we urge them, along with current members, to check out how to become involved in Association activities. We are saddened to report that we lost 30 members, who are listed in our Memoriam section of the Emeriti Association Directory as well as on the Emeriti Web site.
The financial condition remains strong with $27,492 in total spendable assets at year’s end. This amount is less than was reported last year because some funds were moved to our endowed scholarship fund at the OSU Foundation. In 2017, the Association received a generous monetary gift from Kathryn McCollom with a request that the funds be used in a manner most appropriate to needs of the Association. In accordance with that request, in 2018 the Council recommended and implemented spending the gift to create another undergraduate scholarship. This means that in Fall 2019, the Association will award two undergraduate scholarships. The 2018-19 Emeriti scholarship was awarded to Marie Spillman, a junior from Perry, Oklahoma, who is majoring in Accounting.
To remain relevant to our membership, in 2018 initiatives were developed and implemented beginning January 1, 2019. A new communications document has been launched that combines the semi-annual Newsletter and the Update (distributed at Monday night dinners). The revamped 4-page Newsletter is electronically distributed ten times a year via e-mail. It is hoped members will enjoy the expanded and much more current information contained therein. In addition, the Association launched the first comprehensive survey of members. The purpose is to document how OSU retirees stay active and involved in retirement, which will help in serving our members.
The Emeriti Special Interest Groups (Technology, Investment Club, Making the Most of Retirement) continue to be popular. The Making the Most of Retirement special interest group, co-sponsored by the OSU Emeriti Association and the Stillwater Public Library, had 10 meetings during 2018. Seven were speaker programs, two were armchair traveler series programs, and one was a moderated discussion program, which was the first time such a program was offered by Making the Most of Retirement. The Technology group continued to draw attendance from Emeriti members. The Investment Club, which meets twice a month in the Emeriti Suite, also continues to elicit ongoing participation.
The Emeriti Ambassadors, a group of volunteers from within the Emeriti membership, represents the Association by assisting with OSU Commencement ceremonies twice a year. As in the past, Ambassadors are available to assist with Alumni events if needed. The Alumni Center, in partnership with the Emeriti Council, provides office space and a conference room to support Emeriti activities. We are very grateful for this partnership.
Monday Night Dinner meetings continued to be one of the most valued activities according to members. Nine dinners were held with an average attendance of 83. In addition to dinners held in the Alumni Center, dinners were also held in the Student Union and at Meditations. The May meeting, held at Meditations, is offered in conjunction with the Stillwater Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and is attended by both Emeriti and OLLI members.
The Emeriti Association is extremely grateful for the support we receive from the OSU Provost’s Office. It is because of this support that we are able to provide this directory. The Provost also covers the cost of a quarter-time employee who assists us with our mailing list, dinner reservations, printing needs, etc. Without this assistance, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to continue member services.