TUARA Night at Wheelchair Basketball
Join TUARA friends and colleagues in cheering on The University of Alabama Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team as they take on Arizona Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Stran-Hardin Arena. The arena is located at 410 Peter Bryce Boulevard next to the UA Rec Center. We will meet at 6 p.m. for snacks and fellowship in the mezzanine. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available in the Rec Center parking lot and in the tennis and softball lot across Peter Bryce Boulevard.
Mark Your Calendar for “Meet Your Legislators” Program Feb. 23
The League of Women Voters of Greater Tuscaloosa plans to host a virtual “Meet Your Legislators” program to discuss proposed actions of the 2023 Alabama legislative session at 6 p.m., Feb. 23. TUARA will co-sponsor the event. Watch for more details coming soon.
Final Call for 2022 Volunteer Hours
Please report any unreported volunteer hours for 2022 as soon as possible so we can share them with AERA. AERA 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.
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 |
Volunteer Opportunities
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.
Connect with TUARA
TUARA has a new FaceBook page! Follow us at facebook.com/tuara.ua.