Happy Holidays!
TUARA wishes all our members and friends a joyous holiday season! We are looking forward to an exciting and productive year in 2023. Please watch for news of upcoming events in January.
Volunteer Opportunities
TUARA member Dr. Terri Boman, executive director of the Tuscaloosa Education Foundation, spoke about Reading Allies and the Tuscaloosa Education Foundation at the TUARA membership meeting in November. Many TUARA members already volunteer with Reading Allies, helping local elementary school students improve their reading skills. Many more are needed to work with students in both the Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County schools. You can sign up to volunteer by visiting www.readingallies.org and clicking the heading ‘Volunteer.’ In addition, donors can provide individual assistance to K-12 students in area schools through the Neighborhood Bridges program. Go to www.neighborhoodbridges.org and search for Tuscaloosa for more information and to sign up to help. More information on both these programs is available at https://www.tuscaloosaeducationfoundation.org/.
AERA Offers Scholarships to Public Education Employees
The AERA Foundation is offering ten $2,000 scholarships to public education employees, who are employed in a state public school system (K-12) or state public postsecondary institution. Among other requirements, an eligible educator must be a current Alabama Education Association (AEA) member. The application deadline is Feb. 17, 2023. Recipients have two years to use their scholarship. For more information and the application form, visit https://www.aerainc.org/scholarships. Information about joining AEA is available here. Please share this information with current UA employees or others who may be interested in applying.
United Way Update
TUARA was recognized at the UA United Way campaign celebration on Dec. 1 as one of 12 units that exceeded their 2022 United Way goal. While final numbers are not available yet, UA retirees gave more than $24,000, more than double their goal of $10,944! The University’s campaign has reached 95 percent of its goal of $405,000.
As a reminder, completed pledge cards may be mailed to:
Office of Finance
Attn: Caroline Railsback
The University of Alabama
Box 870136
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0136
Welcome New Members!
TUARA is pleased to welcome new members:
William Andreen
John & Kathleen Barnard
Dwight Cammeron
Kathy Chang
Thomas & Denise Downs
Danny & Tina DuBose
Sharon & Curtis Evans
Janet Foster
David & Paula Heggem, Jr.
Paula & Miles Marques
Daniel Meissner
Gregory Singleton
Warren & Adrienne Spruill
Cynthia & Dennis Sunal
C.J. Tarter
Connect with TUARA
TUARA has a new FaceBook page! Follow us at facebook.com/tuara.ua.
Volunteer Hours
Whether you volunteer weekly or just occasionally, please report your volunteer hours to TUARA. We share reported hours with AERA. AERA, in turn, uses retirees’ volunteer hours statewide to demonstrate the value that retirees bring to Alabama’s economy and quality of life. It’s easy! Just email your hours, broken down by the categories in the chart below, to tuara.ua@gmail.com. Please report any previously unreported hours from Jan. 1, 2022 through the present.
Service hours should include activities in Alabama for which you have not received financial reimbursement. Hours should also not include 1) Sunday school and church attendance, 2) Caring for family members, and 3) Participation in AERA activities on state committees or the Board of Directors. You may include hours spent on TUARA activities, except for attending board meetings.
| Categories | Examples | # of Service Hours |
| Arts | Children’s Hands-On Museum, theater, opera, arts | |
| Church | Church related service projects (not attendance for worship services) | |
| Civic | Organizational projects, civic and special interest | |
| Health | Bloodmobile, clinics, nursing home, nutrition, home care | |
| Education | Mentoring, literacy projects | |
| Transportation | Shopping, errands, escort services | |
| RSVP/Volunteer Programs | Shut-Ins, telephone, etc. | |
| Youth Work | Big Brothers Big Sisters, work related to youth programs | |
| TUARA | TUARA volunteer activities, administrative work, communications, etc. | |
| Other (specify) | ||
| Total Hours |
Renew Your Membership Today
TUARA’s membership year runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, you may print the attached form and send it with your $25 annual membership dues to Box 861493, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0013. If you prefer, you can pay your dues by PayPal or credit card by clicking here. Click on “Check out as guest” to pay by credit card. Invite retired friends and colleagues to join as well!