Upcoming Events
Wednesday, December 11, 4 pm, Bonner Child Development Research Center
Holiday reception
Past Events
Thomas Presentation, November 19, 2024
Erica Thomas, PEEHIP assistant director, addressed the group on November 19, 2024, about our United Healthcare insurance plan. She reviewed several elements of the plan and distributed a brochure listing lesser-known benefits of our coverage, such as the annual wellness visits and hearing aid benefits. She also reminded attendees that persons who work directly with United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield (for non-Medicare retirees) are housed in her office and available to help us work through any issues. She urged attendees to call her office for assistance at 334-517-7000 and reminded us that valuable information can be found at the PEEHIP website at http://www.rsa-al.gov and the United Healthcare website at http://retiree.uhc.com/peehip.
Meet Us at the Deck!, October 31, 2024
Our annual Meet Us at the Deck! event on October 31, 2024, was a great success, with many of our TUARA friends and colleagues arriving at the Transportation Hub to renew their membership and update their hangtag. Several display tables were set up by offices that provide University services to retirees, and Transportation Services provided refreshments. Members also dropped off their contributions to the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger campaign.
Friend Presentation, October 16, 2024
Dr. Richard Friend, professor and dean of The University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Services, spoke to TUARA members on October 16, 2024. His particular focus was adult immunizations, and he also spoke about services for retirees offered at the Faculty Staff Clinic. Two important takeaways are the tool at the website of the Center for Disease Control that offers advice on what immunizations are needed for individuals based on a brief health questionnaire (https://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched/) and the assurance that retirees are able to take advantage of the services of the Faculty Staff Clinic operated by the University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa (see https://umc.ua.edu/umc-wellness-clinic/).
Shumate Presentation, September 23, 2024
Erica Shumate, Executive Director, Benefits and Wellness, University of Alabama, spoke to TUARA members about recent changes in the vision and dental insurance plans for retirees. The University of Alabama will not provide these plans for retirees after December 31, 2024. Retirees are encouraged to consider enrolling in plans offered through PEEHIP or select a plan from the insurance marketplace. After the presentation, Ms. Shumate answered multiple questions from the floor. Retirees with additional questions can contact the HR Service Center at 205-348-7732.
Goodall Presentation, May 22, 2024
Taylor Goodall, Elder Law Attorney with the Tuscaloosa office of Legal Services Alabama, gave a presentation on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 10 am at the Bonner Child Development Center on legal issues particularly pertinent to older adults. Mr. Goodall gave the basics about wills and trusts, health directives, power of attorney documents, etc., and he reminded attendees to be alert to fraud attempts. He reminded the audience that his services for creating simple wills are free to all Alabama citizens over the age of 60. He can be reached at tgoodall@alsp.org. An audio file of the presentation is available at https://bit.ly/TUARALegalMattersPresentation.
Special guest Grace Horne of Bon Appetit joined us following Mr. Goodall’s presentation to tell the group about From Our House to Yours, Bon Appetit’s meal pickup program. Monthly menus include a meal each week for 4 (or 2) people, including a main entree, 2 sides, and a dessert. Pick-up during the regular school year is Monday from 5pm-7pm. You can reach Ms. Horne at gracehorne@cafebonappetit.com.
President’s Luncheon, April 24, 2024
TUARA’s annual spring luncheon and business meeting was held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Hotel Capstone. As usual, the luncheon was sponsored by The University of Alabama President’s Office, and President Stuart R. Bell was the featured speaker. Dr. Bell gave an informative talk about recent advancements and future directions of The University of Alabama. He was followed by TUARA president Dr. Kevin Whitaker, who delivered the TUARA president’s report and the financial report. This was followed by the membership report and the presentation of awards. (Read more about the award recipients elsewhere in this newsletter.) Finally, the members present at the luncheon voted on TUARA Executive Board members for the upcoming year. (For more details about the newly elected board members, see the report elsewhere in this newsletter.) One of our Witt scholarship recipients, Ahmed Alshariki was able to join us at the luncheon as a special guest, and he was introduced to the attendees. In addition, several attendees received door prizes presented by OLLI (the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), which also had an information table at the luncheon.
Car Wash, April 14, 2024
A free car wash was offered to UA retirees by members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at their house on University Boulevard on the afternoon of April 14, 2024. Donations to Books for the Black Belt were accepted at the event. Over thirty retirees came by to have their cars washed. The TUARA leadership was very grateful for this service and hopes to make the car wash an annual event.