Special Presentation on Legal Matters Affecting Older Adults
Taylor Goodall, staff attorney with the Tuscaloosa office of Legal Services Alabama, will join us on Wednesday, May 22, at 10 am at the Bonner Child Development Center to speak on legal issues particularly pertinent to older adults, e.g., wills, health directives, etc. If you would like to submit questions or areas of interest for our speaker to address, please send those to tuara.ua@gmail.com.
At the May 22 meeting, we will also hear from special guest Grace Horne of Bon Appetit. Ms. Horne will present information about Bon Appetit’s meal pick-up program. Monthly menus include a meal each week for 4 (or 2) people including a main entree, 2 sides, and a dessert. Pick-up is Monday from 5pm-7pm.
Report on TUARA Spring Luncheon and Business Meeting
Over 100 TUARA members attended our spring luncheon and business meeting on April 24. Members heard reports from Kevin Whitaker, TUARA president, and Dr. Stuart Bell, president of The University of Alabama. Annual TUARA awards were presented, and new executive board members elected (see below). As always, members enjoyed catching up with old and new friends and hearing the latest news about the University.
TUARA Awards Presented
Judy Bonner Award
This award is presented annually to a TUARA member who exemplifies the leadership and service characteristics set forth during Dr. Judy Bonner’s tenure at The University of Alabama. This year’s award was presented to Pamela Pruitt. Pam has served on the TUARA executive board for six years, first as community service chair, then as Vice President for Membership. She is also involved with numerous community service organizations. Pam’s commitment to education and community development is inspiring.
TUARA Community Service Award
This award recognizes outstanding service to the West Alabama community. This year’s award was presented to Pamela Parker. Pam is deeply involved in several community organizations such as the Reading Allies program, the Boys and Girls Club, the United way VAT team, and many others. Pam uses her time, knowledge, and attention to make Tuscaloosa a better place for all our citizens.
TUARA Partnership Award
This award recognizes an individual (or two) who is not a TUARA member but who has provided exceptional service to TUARA and its operation. This year’s award is presented to members of The University of Alabama’s President’s office: Jackson Boyd, Casey Youngbluth, Allison Payne, Elizabeth Hartley, and in loving memory of Beverly Baker. This talented and dedicated group is responsible for planning our annual luncheon, and they do a superb job. They make UA retirees feel welcome and valued and at home.
Board Members Elected
The following TUARA members were elected to serve three-year terms as Members-at-Large on the TUARA Executive Board:
Bill McDonald
Cynthia Sunal
Dennis Sunal
We continue to have vacancies on the TUARA Executive Board. If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate someone, please contact us at tuara.ua@gmail.com. Available positions are:
Board Member-at-Large
Vice President for Programming
Vice President for Membership
Recording Secretary
Books for the Black Belt
Many thanks to the Theta Chi fraternity for assisting us with our fundraiser for Books for the Black Belt by collecting books at their chapter house. Thanks also to Pi Kappa Alpha for staffing the Books for the Black Belt table at our recent luncheon and business meeting. So far we have collected almost 150 books and more than $400.
Car Wash for Retirees
Thanks again to Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for offering a free car wash for University of Alabama retirees! More than 30 cars were washed at the event.
Other May Events
May 7: Alabama Education Retirees Association Annual Meeting/Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, Montgomery. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the General Assembly convening at 9:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon at noon.
May 14: OLLI’s Summer Open House will be held on Tuesday, May 14, from 1-3 p.m. in the Rast Room at the Bryant Conference Center. Learn more about course offerings and events sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Connect with TUARA
Follow TUARA on Facebook 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 January 1, 2024 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. | |
| OLLI | Taking a class or a trip, teaching a course | |
| Other (specify) | ||
| Total Hours |
TUARA
• Advocates for retiree benefits on campus and in Montgomery
• Promotes retirees’ volunteer service
• Awards the Robert E. Witt First-Generation Scholarship
• Provides networking and fun with colleagues and friends
Annual membership is only $25! Visit www.tuara.ua.edu for more information.