UIC Chapter of SUAA Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting December 15, 2004

Members present: Marsha Borders, Kathleen Crittenden, Merrill Gassman, Roslyn Hoffman, Richard Johnson, Irving Miller, Geraldine Piorkowski, Jacob Starks, Frank Tachau, and Ralph Westfall .

President Tachau called the meeting to order at 9:45am. Secretary Susan Levy was unable to attend. Richard Johnson volunteered to take minutes.

1. Minutes of the November 9th meeting were not available for review.

2. Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Walter Wadycki was unable to attend. The report was given by President Tachau. $33,000 is in the savings account and $475 in checking. Additional checks are outstanding, and some are forthcoming. The availability of higher interest-bearing accounts is being investigated. It was suggested that we inquire into the PAYPAL^® program, which would allow members to make payments for expenses using personal credit cards. Treasurer Wadycki was asked to investigate various alternatives.

Members asked that an annual budget for the organization be submitted to the Board for discussion.

3. Membership Report, Chairman Piorkowski: Membership now stands at 1,166. There are 158 new members, but we lost 41: 28 nonrenewals and 13 deaths. 1,700 letters and 12,000 e-mails were sent in the Fall to entice new members. UIC ranks 2nd in the State in new members.

Problems have been encountered concerning the continuation of survivors as SUAA members. Individual problems have been worked out. Considerable discussion ensued concerning the desirability of a "Family Membership" category for two-member couples. Dr. Piorkowski was asked to inquire from SUAA if such a category exists or if it would be possible. As a membership inducement, a reduced fee (e.g., $45) might be offered to such couples. A motion to authorize Dr. Piorkowski to investigate this option was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

4. Legislative Report, Prof. Johnson: Four members (Crittenden, Johnson, Mike Lieber, and Miller) attended the December 10th hearing of the Governor's Pension Commission which is currently looking for avenues to deal with the chronic underfunding of the State's various pension systems. It was deemed promising that the Commission sought to reassure the public that retirement benefits were constitutionally protected and that it was in unanimity that no consideration was being given to reduction of various benefits for members now in the systems. The Commission will continue to examine the possibility of reducing benefits for new members. It is looking at various scenarios for such reductions, but the fiscal savings achieved through these reductions would in no way generate the funds needed. It was suggested that we seek to enlist our own university's economics experts to analyze any proposals that may be forthcoming. Probably SUAA's strongest resource in protecting our interests in this matter lie with Jim Hacking and SURS.

5. Plans for upcoming events: President Stukel's reception will be held on January 13, 2005, in the Cardinal Room of CCC from 2 to 4pm. Invitations are "in the mail." An honorary SUAA membership will be extended to Stukel. A $5 fee has been established for attendance.

Volunteers were solicited for the Retirement Planning Conference. This Conference will be held on March 19, 2005, from 8:30am to mid-afternoon. A representative of UICSUAA will speak on the advantages of membership in our organization. It was suggested that UICSUAA seek to co-sponsor this event in the coming years. It was moved, seconded, and passed (unanimously) that the organization fund a professionally produced poster for use at such meetings.

The annual spring meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 21, 2005. It was learned that our desired speaker, President-designate Joseph White, is unavailable for that date. Roz Hoffman will explore possible alternatives with his office, including moving the meeting to May. If nothing seems feasible in this academic year, he will be invited to meet with us in the Fall.

The next Brown Bag seminar will be held on January 25, 2005. Frank Tachau will present on "After Arafat: Prospects for Peace in the Middle East." In March, Kelvin Rodolfo will present his research on volcanoes in the Philippines. Suggestions were elicited for future seminars, to be scheduled about every other month. An effort will be made to develop a year-long program schedule.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25am, allowing members to depart for the annual Holiday luncheon.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Johnson, Acting Secretary

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