TUARA News

President’s Report: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Looking back another busy, interesting, and unique year has passed for TUARA. There were changes to our usual program format and partnerships that provided fresh new experiences. Opting to join with UA’s Health Fair gave TUARA members broader opportunities for health check-ups and information gathering. Obviously a winner, therefore calling for a repeat this year. Along these same lines, thanks to our three panel members, the Health Care Forum provided a bountiful source of information, far beyond expectations. While the forum can be considered a success because of the interest of attendees the shortfall was low attendance. With the lovely weather we have had lately it is hard to remember our terrible winter days, one of which reduced turnout for the Health Care Forum. Look for a repeat and update among 2015-16 programs. Our most lucrative and rewarding undertaking this past year was TUARA’s venture into providing bus rides to out of town football games. This highly successful endeavor made it possible to substantially increase our contributions to the Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarships. Definitely this is a keeper project. Whether you ride or simply pass the word along, your support results in great rewards with many more students benefiting from this program.

Moving Forward attendees at the TUARA Annual Meeting/President’s Luncheon had the opportunity to vote for and meet our new Officers and Board Members. It is important to recognize and acknowledge that these individuals are making a commitment of time and talents to protect your needs as a UA retiree, educate the public (including our legislators) about your problems and needs, and promote continuing support of UA’s scholarly and professional objectives. The fact is, however, the TUARA Board needs your support to accomplish these goals. First, your support is needed to aid in continuous recruitment of members. Come to meetings; participate in functions; and, always bring a friend and future  UARA member. Past history has shown our best recruitment source is YOU! Why is it so important that we keep our membership roster high, alive and well? Numbers speak loudly. TUARA’s role as your advocate is greatly enhanced by our strength in members. This number is a major tool used to gain, manage, and keep attention. This brings us to the second reason why we need your support. TUARA is only as good as the information we receive from our members. To assure TUARA is meeting the needs of our membership we must hear from you. You can always speak to any member of the TUARA Board with your concern, suggestion, advice, or criticism. Board members and their contact information is listed in this newsletter. We represent you on the following UA committees: Safety and Security, Professional Staff Assembly, Faculty and Staff Benefits, Parking and Traffic, Intercollegiate Athletics, and the United Fund. If these connections are not appropriate, as your representative, TUARA will seek out and track down an answer.

TUARA also has a charge to serve as your advocate on matters that go beyond UA and Tuscaloosa, particularly in the areas of pay and health care. Our partner on the state level, AERA, has upped our representation by adding a new
Higher Ed Director to the AERA Board. This newly elected Director, Dr. Gerald Johnson, has expressed a commitment to assure that higher ed’s voice is heard. Our responsibility in return will be to communicate our interest and concerns
and provide support when and where needed. As in any new undertaking, an interactive link must be built. You will be hearing more as this system becomes a reality. TUARA has much to look forward to during the 2015- 16 year. With your help and involvement, TUARA will continue to strive to meet our purposes as outlined in our constitution:

Constitution and Bylaws Changes Approved at Annual Meeting TUARA Members Vote to Add President-Elect Position to Executive Board

Rationale

The Nominating Committee requested that the membership approve a change to the TUARA Constitution and Bylaws at the recent Annual Meeting. TUARA has become a much more active and involved organization since its founding in
2003. Procedures have grown more complex. Activities and responsibilities of Board members, especially the President, also have increased. In order to insure that the incoming President of the organization is familiar with responsibilities
and procedures of the office of President, the Board is asking that the office of President Elect be added to the membership of the Board. This person would then have two years to become familiar with the responsibilities of the office of President.

Election Procedures

The President Elect will be nominated by the Board’s Nominating Committee and approved by the membership prior to assuming the office. Nominations for this position also will be accepted from the membership prior to and from the floor at the Annual Meeting; voting for the nominee(s) will take place at the Annual Meeting along with nominees for other Board positions. The President-Elect would assume the position one term (two years) prior to assuming the office of President of TUARA.

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TUARA Forum: A Glimpse into the Future of Health Care for Seniors
March 10, 2015

Uncertainty breeds concern and often leads to misconceptions and mistruths. This is the premise upon which three health care experts were assembled for “The Future of Health Care for Seniors” forum held on Tuesday, March 10th, at the Bryant Conference Center. TUARA partnered with OLLI and TERA (Tuscaloosa Education Retirees Association) to provide members and the public with true facts and answers to questions pertaining to current health care service for seniors.

Ashley Adcox, Aging Service Supervisor, Area Agency on Aging for West Alabama, explained that her agency serves as a primary source of information about, and helps, with state and federal benefits as well as local programs and services. The objective of this service is to enable older people to maintain their independence as long as possible. One of the most used programs is Senior Rx which provides prescription drug assistance for qualified individuals who meet age, income and medical criteria. Another major source of assistance is the Senior Health Insurance and Assistance Program (SHIP) which provides insurance counseling to help individuals make informed decisions regarding their insurance benefits.
Donna Joyner, CPA, PEEHIP Director, informed attendees that October 1, 2010, was the start of changes that will continue to come. So far, PEEHIP has added these benefits with “0” additional cost to the recipient by absorbing the added expense. Several of these changes include:

•  Extended family coverage: Adult children, up to 26 years of age, may be covered by PEEHIP. This includes independent children living out of the state of Alabama.
• Expansion of preventive services, provided without any copay requirement.

• •  Expanded services for women for contraceptives
  • Removal of exclusion for preexisting conditions for anyone
  • Added provision of nondiscrimination among health care providers allowing individual choice of any licensed physician. Additionally the services of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are allowable.

A particular important provision of PEEHIP for those with catastrophe illness is that out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $6,600 for an individual or $13,200 for a family are covered. To head off the need for this type of coverage, anyone not on Medicare is required to participate in the TEAM-UP for Health program requiring regular physical check-ups. Fifty-one per cent of PEEHIP members are currently participating.

And, it is noteworthy that while the trend in insurance coverage is to discontinue spousal cover, PEEHIP continues to offer this benefit.

PEEHIP strives to provide coverage without additional cost to recipients. Measures taken to accomplish this include:

• PEEHIP pays the federally mandatory transitional fee aimed at stabilizing medical insurance fees.
• PEEHIP supports research to identify the benefits of having health insurance.
• PEEHIP performs monthly eligibility and divorce audits to eliminate abuse; and coordination of benefits audits to reduce cost.
• To verify compliance with the mandate that all persons must carry health insurance PEEHIP
  • Identifies individuals who have and use PEEHIP.
  • Assures that insurance is provided to all individuals who work 30+ hours per week.

Possibly the most reassuring words provided during the evening was that with all the changes and additional requirements “there is no discussion at this time to discontinue PEEHIP coverage for education retirees.”

The third member of the panel, Rick Watts, Business Manager, DCH Regional Medical Center, painted a picture of the effect current and new requirements are having upon hospital payment systems. Without a doubt, the greatest impact is felt by small rural hospitals. Currently payment charges are based upon coding submitted to Medicare. This system fails to take into consideration individual patient differences such as length of stay. Payments can be appealed, however, it is a lengthy and time consuming process that could stretch over 2 years.

The chief response by the medical industry in handling increased cost is to shift how services are classified. Many
procedures are being reclassified from the higher reimbursed in-house care to possibly a lower reimbursed out-patient classification. In order to be coded as in-house, the physician must certify that the patient will stay past two midnights.
Watts pointed out that while government mandate requires all individuals to carry insurance many chose to pay the penalty rather than pay the monthly cost of coverage. Because of the negative impact, particularly upon emergency
room care, there is a great need for educational counseling to change this mindset.

When our able panel moderator, Sammy Watson, Director of Community Relations, DCH Regional Medical Center, indicated that our scheduled time for questions had run out and the meeting was adjourned, it was apparent that everyone was not willing to leave. Rather, many audience members converged upon the panelist continuing to press for answers well into the following hour. It was mutually agreed by the sponsors, TUARA, OLLI, and TERA, that coverage of health care issues for seniors will hold a spot in future programming.

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TUARA Members Volunteer at the West Alabama Food Bank

On the second Thursday of each month from 7:30 am until 9:00 am, TUARA members assemble the “Secret Meals” packets at the West Alabama Food Bank. Other TUARA Members choose to go at different times Monday – Friday, between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm. The Secret Meals are packets filled with nourished goodies that are placed ‘secretly’ in a child’s book bag by a teacher. This gives the child food over the weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The members showed above are: (left to right) : Carol Lammon, Gwen Little, Priscilla Davis, CJ Daane, Dwight Lammon

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TUARA Awards Additional First Generation Scholarships for Spring 2015

Thanks to the continued generosity of our TUARA membership and the extraordinary success of the TUARA sponsored bus trips to several football games last year, the following students were each awarded a $250.00 book scholarship at the University Supply Store for the 2015 Spring semester. Each student is a sophomore at The University of Alabama. Congratulations to all these deserving students!
• Austin Tyler Dement is a Mechanical Engineering major from Thomasville, Alabama and has a 3.863 GPA.
• Donielle Eslick comes to UA from Decatur, Alabama and is a Political Science major with a 3.518 GPA.
• Jamil Hannah is in Pre-Major Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences where he has a 3.413 GPA. He is from Talladega, Alabama.
• Tiffany Hildreth is from Cordova, Alabama and is in the Nursing program at UA. Her GPA is 3.476.
• Tori Vines is an Advertising and Public Relations major from Jasper, Alabama. Tori has a 3.593 GPA.
To date, TUARA has awarded 40 Robert E. Witt First-Generation Book Scholarships. More TUARA-sponsored bus trips are planned for the upcoming football season Make your plans now. Join us on the bus for an easy, fun ride to and from the game. You will be making many young people at The University of Alabama very grateful for your continued presence in their lives.

Diane Teague, Scholarship Committee Chair and Member at Large

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TUARA Membership Report
Spring 2015

Active Members – 685

Inactive Members – 310

Total Membership – 995

Betty Wedgeworth, Database Secretary

Mildred Switzer nominated by TUARA for Area District 10 Director 

At TUARA’s Fall Membership Meeting, Mildred Switzer was nominated and voted upon as a candidate for the office of District 10 Director of the Alabama Education Retirees Association (AERA). The District 10 Director position which has a two-year term represents retirees from all Alabama higher education campuses. Currently there are seven active units: AL A & M University Retiree Association, Athens State University Retiree Association, Auburn Retiree Association, Jacksonville State University Retiree Association, University of AL Birmingham Retirees Association, University of AL Huntsville Retiree Association, and TUARA. Mildred is being opposed by Dr. Tom Vocino from AURA. Ballots for all AERA positions will be mailed to all current dues-paying members no later than January 6, 2017. For your convenience, a return envelope will be included. Return you Ballot by February 3, 2017 at the close of business (4 p.m.) and VOTE for Mildred Switzer as your representative as District 10 Director.

Request for Nomination for Judy Bonner Award 

At the Fall, General Membership Meeting held on October 21st, TUARA announced the establishment of the JUDY BONNER AWARD, by presenting Dr. Judy Bonner a Proclamation in her honor. The JUDY BONNER AWARD is to be presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the leadership and service characteristics set forth during Dr. Bonner’s tenure at the University of Alabama. The completed nomination form, shown below, and a letter of support is due by March 1, 2017. The letter should include leadership attributes and various service activities. In addition, this letter of support should provide a summarizing statement qualifying why this individual is being nominated for the JUDY BONNER AWARD. The first JUDY BONNER AWARD receipt will be announced at our Spring Membership Meeting – President’s Luncheon. 

FINANCIAL REPORT – Maintaining a Balance

2016 has been a year of changes for the financial management of TUARA. A major change was to establish a fiscal year operating budget to align with the calendar year membership dues, January 1 – December 31. This realignment makes it easier to track expenses to assure moneys spent is moneys collected and budgeted within the same period.

Several changes have been the result of reduced income. A decrease in membership resulted in a reduction of $2,000 in projected income from dues from the previous year. Another $2,000 loss in supplemental money from bus trips to out-of-town football games also went away. The scarcity of football tickets for away games decreased demand for this service. Therefore it was no longer feasible to run a bus to out-of-town football games. These losses resulted in a $4,000 reduction in TUARA’s operating budget.

Budget cuts were made with the objective of reducing costs without reducing member events. Two major expenses, printing and postage for the newsletter and event notices, were substantially reduced by utilizing email, a telephone calling service, and posting notices on our UA web site and Facebook account. TUARA dues have remained at $20 per year since the inception of our organization. With a general membership vote at our Spring 2016 meeting, membership dues have been increased to $25 per calendar year. These changes have brought our budget in line with our income.

The following is a summary of the financial condition of TUARA as on December 1, 2016.

Total income for 2016:                         $5,940

Total 2016 expenses to date:                $3,873

Checking account balance:                  $5,436 (includes 2017 dues)

Savings account balance:                     $5,436

Total Cash on Hand:                            $10,622

2017 membership dues paid to date: $3,515

After paying for events during December, expenses for 2016 are anticipated to be approximately $600 less than income.

Submitted by Marvin McKinley, Treasurer

Building a Village to Support “Aging in Place”

Who among us do not want to continue to stay in our own homes, remain independent and keep connected to the wider community as we age? At the first meeting of TUARA’s reinstated small meeting series, “Ironing Out the Wrinkles”, Susan Benke most convincingly presented what seems to be a viable option, Tuscaloosa Village for Aging in Place. Susan, spokesperson for the local group, introduced the Village concept, explained its history, answered questions and created a great deal of support and interest among TUARA members in attendance.

The first Village began in Boston in 2002. The residents in the Beacon Hill neighborhood formed a non-profit group to offer access to services such as transportation, home repairs, home visits and social activities for a reasonable annual fee. Since then each successive organization has tailored its services to meet the needs of its members widening its scope to include social and cultural opportunities to cultivate friendships among members. While all Village organizations are run by its members, some have paid employees to manage requests and coordinate volunteer services. There are currently over 200 Village organizations in the US, Canada and Australia.

The idea for creating a Village in Tuscaloosa was introduced in November, 2015. With a growing list of 100+ potential members, the vision is to create a Tuscaloosa-area non-profit Village patterned after the groups currently in Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn. For example, the Auburn group, Village Friends Village Values, Inc., offers volunteer services such as check-in phone calls, transportation to medical appointments, delivery of groceries, basic home maintenance, yard care and technology assistance with plans to develop a list of approved fee-based local service providers to refer to its members. These services are available for an annual fee of approximately $600. Currently the Tuscaloosa Village building group is making “get-acquainted visits” to local agencies who can inform potential Village partners, working on a preliminary committee structure that will serve as an organizing body, and constructing and distributing a short interest survey to provide data upon which to build the Villages amenities. For questions about the Village concept, call 205-349-4046 or email village.2be@gmail.com.

Transition to United Healthcare Begins 

(Reprinted in part from Alabama School Journal, The Official Publication of the Alabama Education Association, Volume 133, Number 14, November 21, 2016)

JUDY BONNER AWARD

January 2017 is fast approaching. In less than 60 days, retirees will transition to the UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan. This transition will affect PEEHIP Medicare eligible retirees and Medicare-eligible dependents covered on retiree contracts.

In an effort to make the transition as smooth as possible, PEEHIP has a few suggestions for those affected.

Do not drop Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Retirees must continue to be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B in order to be eligible for this plan. If you do not have both Part A and Part B, you will not be eligible for the new Medicare Advantage plan and you will not be enrolled in the plan. This means that you will not have hospital medical or prescription drug coverage with PEEHIP. You also must continue to pay your monthly Part B premium to Social Security.

Retirees should receive a new ID card and welcome packet in early December. Start using the UnitedHealthcare® ID card on January 1, 2017, for all medical and prescription drug services. You will no longer need to use the red, white, and blue Medicare card after December 31, 2016.

Call UnitedHealthcare® if your doctor has questions about the UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage plan or is unsure about accepting the plan. They will be happy to take your doctor’s information and then contact the doctor to discuss the plan.

If you have questions about your UnitedHealthcare® coverage or need additional cards, call UnitedHealthcare® at 877-298-2341 and a customer Service Representative will be happy to help you. This number will also be printed on the back of your new ID card.

Why Your TUARA Membership is Important 

Have you asked the questions? “Why am I a member of TUARA?” – “What’s in it for me?”
The NUMBER 1 reason to belong to TUARA is: TUARA works to maintain, protect, and enrich retiree benefits and programs for its members both on campus and with the State Legislature.
On Campus:
• TUARA advocates on behalf of retirees by maintaining a presence on campus committees to monitor proposed policy changes and provide advice on how such changes impact retirees
• TUARA fosters a strong working relationship with The University of Alabama & The UA Office of the President as an officially recognized campus affiliate
With the State Legislature:
• TUARA partners with the Alabama Education Retirees Association (AERA) to represent and protect retiree fiscal and well-being benefits controlled by the AL legislature
• TUARA communicates retiree benefit updates such as health and prescription plan changes, income adjustments and more on a regular basis

Then there are convivial reasons for being a member of TUARA:
• TUARA offers a variety of informational, educational, and social programs for awareness, understanding and sometimes just for fun
• TUARA provides networking with colleagues and friends to maintain, refresh, and develop professional relationships and personal friendships
• TUARA publishes an informative newsletter semi-annually at www.hr.ua.edu/tuara that recaps and projects news and activities
• TUARA promotes and monitors member services contributed within the community.
• Beginning this year, TUARA will annually honor an outstanding retiree for their service with the Judy Bonner Award
TUARA needs your membership and TUARA needs your friends and colleague to join as well. TUARA membership categories include:
• Retired University of Alabama employees and their spouses, widows, and widowers
• Persons presently employed by The University of Alabama retiring in five years or less, and their spouses
• Associate membership is also available to non-education state retirees

If you have not already done so, return the membership application today. Not sure about your membership status; email tuara.ua@gmail.com for confirmation.

Membership Update: Welcome New Members (2017) 

Benjamin & Pam Adams
Jimmie & Catherine Blansett
David Boles
Gina Johnson
Molly Lawrence
Joseph & Yasmin Neggers
Courtney Oglesby
Michael Webb

In Memoriam 

This memoriam is dedicated to honoring the memories of members who have died, and to express our sympathy to their families. Please notify Betty Wedgeworth at tuara.ua@gmail.com if you know names of deceased who should be added to the list.
Margaret Corriher
Norman Singer

Campus Parking News 

Anyone who enters the University of AL campus will agree, the view is transforming at a rapid pace. There are many more students resulting in more faculty and staff, new and larger buildings, and even new and different roadways. While it is exciting to participate in growth, it is the subsequent changes to which we must adapt that are the problem. For many retirees, the issue of parking is of paramount importance – where to park and more importantly how far must we walk to that meeting, event, or class. TUARA is appreciative that Parking Services keeps us updated, listens to our request, and is willing to provide assistance when there is a justifiable need. One of the most active and hard-working committees on campus reports the following activity:
• At TUARA’s request, access to information on parking for retirees on the UA campus has been improved on the Parking Services website. Information on parking regulations on campus for retirees and for obtaining hangtags is prominently located at the top of the Parking Services web page. (http://bamaparking.ua.edu/regulations/#Retired) or (http://bamaparking.ua.edu/permits/)
• Parking Services is working on a GPS to help those not familiar with campus to locate buildings and parking areas.
• Pay hubs at the Bus Parking hub and at the Recreation Center seem to be working. The first 30 minutes are free; 1 hour is $1; over 1 hour is $2. Parking Services is considering placing them in other locations.
Recap of Remarks presented by Chris D’Esposito, Director, Transportations Services, at TUARA Fall Membership Meeting, October 20th.
• Tutwiler Parking Deck: The Tutwiler Parking Deck will begin construction January 2017 with some initial utility work. This parking deck will be constructed directly behind Tutwiler Residential Hall. Construction will take between 14-18 months. During this period of construction persons that have this residential parking designation will be asked to utilize the large Tutwiler Parking lot to the west of the construction site or an alternate Orange Residential parking area.
• Capstone Parking Deck: The Capstone Parking Deck will begin construction May 2017. This parking deck will be constructed in the area which currently is referred to as the Moody East Surface Lot. Construction will take between 12-14 months. During this period of construction persons that had the Moody East Surface Lot designation will be asked to utilize an alternative Southeast Commuter Parking area. This would either be the large Coleman Coliseum Surface Lot or the newer Coleman Expansion Surface lot. The Coleman Expansion Surface Lot is the parking area directly East of Sewell-Thomas Baseball Stadium.

Submitted by Betty Wedgeworth, TUARA representative, Parking Services Committee

Dr. Robert Witt: Let’s Stand Together to Protect Education Funding 

(Reprinted from Alabama School Journal, The Official Publication of the Alabama Education Association, Volume 133, Number 14, November 21, 2016)

I have been blessed to call Alabama home for more than 13 years, first as a campus president and then as chancellor of The University of Alabama System. The growth and success of The University of Alabama (UA), UAB, and UAH prove to me that we can achieve unprecedented heights when we invest in solutions.

Research by some of the most respected minds in the country into problems that plague both our great state and our nation – poverty, poor health, incarceration, substance abuse, and many others – reveals one consistent truth: education has the greatest potential to address these societal ills.

Unfortunately, education is now under attack in Alabama. As a result, although my time as chancellor of the UA System ended on September 1, my efforts to support education in our state at all levels – from Pre-K to Ph.D. – are ramping up to the next level.

I am now dedicating a large portion of my time and energy to the work of Alabama Unites for Education. Alabama Unites is the grassroots advocacy group that was launched last winter with a single, critical objective: to protect the Education Trust Fund (ETF). Alabama Unites is a unique coalition involving The University of Alabama System, the state’s other universities, the K-12 System under the leadership of Superintendent Michael Sentence, and the Community College System under the leadership of Interim Chancellor Jimmy Baker.

Created in the mid-1920s and approved by a statewide vote of the people, the Education Trust Fund was established to ensure there would be a dedicated stream of tax revenues used solely for the support of public education. Likewise, dollars in the General Fund would pay for prisons, social services, roads, government operations and the like.

As we all know, the Great Recession took a heavy toll on the state’s ability to adequately fund both education and social services. In fact, since 2008, state funding for higher education in Alabama has dropped more than every other state in the country except for Louisiana – meaning that an increasing percentage of the costs of educating students in our colleges and universities are borne by students and their families, driving up student debt. Our K-12 classrooms have suffered greatly as well, as those of us with children and grandchildren are made aware when we purchase and equip them with basic necessities because their schools cannot afford to provide them.

However, rather than attempting to raise the state’s investment in our children to pre-recession levels, some politicians have attempted to raid the ETF and take already scarce dollars. In 2015, the Education Trust Fund came under serious attack. First, $80 million in education funding was taken from the ETF and diverted to the General Fund. Emboldened, some elected officials threatened to raid education funding further – and even eliminate the Education Trust Fund altogether by collapsing it into the General Fund. We knew the impact on students, teachers, families and the economy would be catastrophic for generations to come, which led to the creation of Alabama Unites for Education.

As we approach its first anniversary, Alabama Unites is proving its value. The voices of our members have been heard loud and clear in Montgomery with a persuasive and unified message about the need to protect the Education Trust Fund from further raids. Subsequently, we were pleased with passage of the education budget for fiscal 2017, which contains the biggest increase since 2008. We are grateful to elected officials who stood tall in support of Alabama’s young people and we believe this signals a positive shift in momentum.

Our mission is to continue growing the grassroots network of supporters who share a commitment to protect education funding. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my career and invite you to join me in this effort by visiting the Alabama Unites for Education website for more information: www.alabamaunites.org.

Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship – Good Works Continue

TUARA is happy to report that the Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship Fund is well, healthy and continuing to help and assist eligible and worthy students. For the 2016 Fall semester four outstanding sophomores were each awarded $250 scholarships. Congratulations to these students:
• Yu Zheng, an Accounting major from Oxford
• Ashley Stinson, a Human Development and Family Studies major from Centre
• Burton Malone, a Music Performance major from Tuscumbia
• Elizabeth Epperson, a Human Development and Family Studies major from Montevallo

Please help continue providing this assistance for UA students by making a contribution to the Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship Fund. Make your check payable to The University of Alabama with “Robert E. Witt Book Scholarship” in the memo line. Mail your donation to: TUARA, Box 861493, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0013. You will receive a tax-deductible statement from the University. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated by TUARA. – Submitted by Dianne Teague

 

Two Students awarded Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship

University of Alabama sophomores Sophia Nasrat and Nicquavious Craig have been awarded TUARA’s Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship for the 2018 fall semester. The scholarships, funded by TUARA  members’ donations, provided $500 for each student for the purchase of textbooks. Sophia Nasrat is a sophomore from Northport, majoring in nursing. She has a 4.0 grade point average and her goal is to
become a nurse practitioner. “I’m so honored and grateful to be receiving this scholarship,” Nasrat wrote.

Nicquavious Craig is a sophomore from Aliceville, majoring in mechanical engineering. He has a 3.63 grade
point average and describes himself as “a very outgoing person who loves a challenge.” Craig also expressed his thanks for the scholarship. “Receiving the Robert E. Witt Book Scholarship is such a major accomplishment. I am extremely grateful to have this scholarship to help me further my education,” he wrote.

For many students, the unmet financial need – the difference between the cost of attendance and the amount
a student receives in financial aid – is great. Supporting the Robert E. Witt First Generation Book Scholarship is one way to make a difference for students in need. Please help by making a contribution. Make your check payable to The University of Alabama with “Robert E. Witt Book Scholarship” in the memo line. Mail your donation to TUARA, Box 861493, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0013. You will receive a tax-deductible statement from the University.

Judy Bonner Plaque Unveiled 

TUARA and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) unveiled a plaque listing the winners of The Judy Bonner Award for Leadership and Service (TUARA) and The Judy Bonner Excellence in Teaching Award (OLLI) on Aug. 13. Former UA President Judy Bonner joined TUARA award winners Martha Rogers (2017) and Mildred Switzer (2018), along with OLLI winners, at the ceremony. The plaque is displayed outside the OLLI office at the Bryant Conference Center.

Bell, Jackson Speak at Spring Luncheon 

More than 100 TUARA members gathered for the annual luncheon and general membership meeting on April 17 to hear an institutional update from University of Alabama President Stuart Bell and comments from AERA Executive Director Jill Jackson, participate in the TUARA business meeting and enjoy food and fellowship with friends and colleagues. In addition, the Judy Bonner Award was presented to Mildred Switzer (see page 3). For many of the facts Bell presented visit https://www.ua.edu/about/quickfacts.

Mildred Switzer Honored with Judy Bonner Award 

Mildred Switzer, past president and dedicated TUARA executive board member, was honored with The Judy Bonner Award for Leadership and Service at the general membership meeting at the Embassy Suites in April. The award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the leadership and service characteristics set forth during Dr. Judy Bonner’s tenure at The University of Alabama.

Bonner served as UA president from 2012-2015. Her career at UA spanned decades and included serving as dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and executive vice president and provost.

TUARA executive board member Mathew Winston presented the award to Switzer with this tribute:

“It is my honor and privilege to name Mildred Switzer as the recipient of this year’s Judy Bonner Award. She has spent both her career and her free time helping others professionally and personally. Even before she joined the department of human nutrition and hospitality management in the College of Human Environmental Services at UA in 1992, she worked to teach and implement sound nutrition and food management to schools and to hospitals in both Mississippi and Texas.

“Once here, in addition to fulfilling her academic responsibilities, which continue, she developed and taught workshops on child nutrition to schools in Tuscaloosa and other parts of the state. She has served to monitor registered dietitians. She joined the community board of the Alabama Institute on Aging.
“Mildred worked tirelessly for TUARA, serving two terms as president, guiding us through our tasks, editing our newsletter, and even now, as past president, monitoring our community service activities and helping us to stay on track.

“Last year she was elected to be this area’s representative to AERA, the Alabama Education Retirees’ Association, where she continues to work on behalf of all of us in this room.”

Switzer called the award a particular honor because “Judy Bonner continues to be my professional mentor and personal model.

“To be recognized for my efforts to reach the standards she exemplified is a personal reward,” she said. “The services rendered in working with TUARA have simply been a labor of love. The people I have met and the individuals I continue to work with in transacting TUARA business, fill my life with joy.”

New Leadership 

The TUARA executive board includes several new faces followingelectionsandappointmentsforthe 2018-2019 year. In elections at the general membership meeting in April, current board member Barry Mason was elected vice-president/ president-elect and Cathy Andreen was re-elected recording secretary. Newly-elected members-at-large are Ron Dulek, Benton Gup, Deborah Lane and Ruth Roberts. Mason’s election as an officer opened a member-at-large position, and that position was filled by the board’s appointment of Pam Pruitt in May. Current officers and board members also include Kathleen Cramer, president; Molly Lawrence, vice- president for membership; Voni Brown Wyatt, vice-president for programs; Betty Wedgeworth, database secretary; Marvin McKinley, treasurer, and members-at-large Phil Crunk, Glenda Guyton, Gina Johnson, Carlene Jones, Mary Bess Paluzzi, Rod Roth and Mildred Switzer.

The membership also approved an amendment to the TUARA constitution changing the officer position of database secretary from an elected position to an appointed one.

TUARA Volunteers Give Back to Community

 TUARA members make significant contributions of time and energy to the West Alabama community. From January through August 2018, some 35 TUARA members reported more than 3,400 hours of volunteer service and there are many more unreported hours. Reported volunteer hours include the following:

Arts (CHOM, theater, museum) 49.50 Church service projects 1,305.50 Civic 981.00 Local Unit projects 0 Health (Blood drives, clinics, nursing homes, home care) 310.25 Education 587.00 Transportation (Errands and driving for elderly) 41.00 RSVP/Volunteer (Shut-ins, telephone) 40.00 Youth 55.00 Government (State, county, city, school) 36.50 Other 5.00 Total hours (January-August 2018) 3,410.75

Each year, TUARA reports community service hours to AERA. AERA identifies the economic impact Alabama Education Retirees continue to make on our state’s economy by converting our community service hours to a monetary value at the rate of

$24.00 per hour. Watch for the monthly e-mail message requesting community service hours and be sure to report yours! It’s not too late to report hours from January 2018 to the present. Thank you, TUARA volunteers, for all you do!

Opportunities t o Help STREAM, West Alabama Food Bank 

 

As reported above, TUARA members volunteer regularly in the West Alabama community. Pam Pruitt, volunteer committee chair, is seeking out volunteer opportunities:

Dear TUARA Members,

Southview Elementary School’s STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Art, and Math) Program needs your support. The children will be participating in educational hands on activities for the 2018-2019 school year that will expose them to concepts needed to gain 21st Century jobs. Please see the attached list of items needed to support this outstanding program. Many of these items are things that are normally thrown away in our homes. Please save them and support STREAM. Supplies can be dropped off at Southview Elementary School in the front office on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. in an effort to avoid the traffic.

If you are interested in volunteering on one of the monthly “STREAM” days please contact Jeannie Largin at JeannieLargin@ yahoo.com. Let’s make a difference in the lives of the children in our community.

I have contacted the West Alabama Food Bank (WAFB)

– Secret Meals/Backpack Meals to discuss potential volunteer opportunities. Our organization can help bridge the nutritional gap for children in Tuscaloosa and surrounding counties on weekends by volunteering to pack food items for school aged children. Currently the WAFB packs 1,800 meals per week for children and teachers discreetly place the bags of food in the children’s backpacks. Details regarding dates and times for us to volunteer will be shared at our upcoming meetings and in e-mail updates.

Thank you,

Pam Pruitt, Volunteer Committee Chairman

Supply List 

News From AERA District 10 

The Alabama Education Retirees Association and District 10 have been busy over the summer months and we have exciting plans for the fall. As the higher education representative, I attended three of the nine district meetings held throughout the state. These opportunities were informative, energizing and motivating. The most exciting outcome resulting from contact at one of the district meetings is that work has begun on establishing a new District 10 local unit for Central Community College retirees. Hang on for updates!

District meetings provide the opportunity for local retirees to congregate with retired associates, to meet state officials and spokespersons and to stay abreast of issues, particularly those concerning our retirement funding and health benefits. It is exciting that on Thursday, Nov. 1, higher ed colleagues throughout the state will meet in Tuscaloosa, at the Child Development Research Center on the UA campus for our first AERA District 10 meeting. The agenda will be filled with news from AERA, legislative topics, information concerning TRS, healthcare updates and more. Mark your calendars!

AERA District 10 will also have a local presence by sharing a table with TUARA at the UA Work-Life and Wellness Expo, Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum. Bring your UA identification card and join us for this event. 

Summer Events 

Summer programs provided TUARA members with an update on changes on The University of Alabama campus and a chance to express their creativity.

Newbuildings, parkingdecksunderconstruction: Tim Leopard, associate vice-president for planning, design and management at UA, presented an update on current campus construction and a look toward the future at the McAbee Center in June. Projects include a new residence hall across from Paty Hall and the new Tutwiler parking deck, both scheduled to open this fall. The Capstone parking deck is under construction across from the Moody Music Building. The Bryce Main building stabilization project is under way. Once complete, the building will house Admissions and a new University welcome center. The new performing arts center will be located north of Bryce Main (see rendering). Future plans include a new Tutwiler residence hall, a new building for the College of Commerce, a new alumni building, an addition to the College of Nursing, a total renovation of the Aquatic Center and other projects. For more information, visit http://universitylands.ua.edu/campus-master-plan/.

Art class! Several TUARA members were artists for a day at an acrylic paint class held at the McAbee Center in July. Led by instructor Sandy Krueger, participants created some impressive paintings.

Parking Changes Will Not Affect Retirees 

The Universityof Alabama’s planstoimplement new evening parking permits in January 2019 for faculty/staff and students whose work or class schedules begin late in the day will not affect retired faculty and staff. Our permits will continue to be free and valid on surface lots during both day and evening hours.

Retiree permits are issued for two years and expire in October. Be sure to check your hangtag to see if you need to renew this October.

Here is the official information about retired faculty and staff permits from the Parking Services website:

Retired Faculty and Staff Permits

Retired faculty and staff are eligible to receive a Retired University parking permit free of charge. Two-year permits, which expire bi-annually in October, are issued when a registration form is completed and retirement is verified. Registration forms are available in the Parking Services office located at 451 Campus Drive East. License plate information is required when completing the registration form. Retired faculty and staff permits are valid in any surface lot on campus except reserve lots. These permits are not valid in any state-designated space, area coordinator spaces, handicap spaces (unless a state issued plate or placard is displayed on the vehicle), or in parking decks. Retired faculty/staff permits are issued as a privilege and should only be used by the retiree. Abuse of this privilege may result in the deactivation of the permit.

TUARA Welcomes New Members 

Samory & Pam Pruitt Jackie & Curtis Taylor

For information about joining TUARA or renewing your membership, visit hr.ua.edu/tuara today and click on TUARA Membership Application. Invite your retired and soon-to-be-retired friends and colleagues to join as well!

The University of Alabama is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Work-Life & Wellness Expo. The event will be held October 9, 2019 from 7:30 am – 1:00 pm at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. We expect approximately 2,000 employees, spouses and retirees to attend.

The Work-Life & Wellness Expo expands upon the 20-year legacy of the UA Employee Health Fair. The Expo will provide employees with tools and resources to help them develop a healthy work-life balance. Featuring unique experts in the areas of wellness, healthcare, recreation, finance, childcare and more, the Expo will be a “must attend” event this fall!

Planning to attend? Make sure you review these Frequently Asked Questions!

Volunteer at West Alabama Food Bank on October 18, 2019 from 8-10 a.m.