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PURA History: 2008-2009

YEAR IN REVIEW

Officers and Advisor:
President: W. Scott Rumble
Vice President: Lois K. Wark
Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia J. Lawson
Historian: Mary Alice Nebold
Past President: Betty M. Suddarth
Advisor: Murray M. Blackwelder

Committee Chairpersons:
Benefits: Martha O. Chiscon
Communications: Richard C. Nelson
Endowment: Betty M. Nelson
Hospitality: Larry Ogburn and Eldon Fredericks
Program: Dale R. McHenry
Trips and Tours: Truman G. Martin

Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons:
Campus and Community: Sue Graham
Kickoff Luncheon: Carolyn T. Jones
Purposeful Living in Retirement: Lowell Landrum

Activities:

Annual Meeting:
Provost Randy Woodson was featured speaker at the annual meeting on May 26, 2009.

Award Recipients:
Arthur G. Hansen Recognition Award: The Hansen Award was presented to University Residences for their exemplary work in maintaining meaningful relationships with their retirees. On behalf of the Residences, Director Barbara Frazee accepted this award and a $2,500 stipend funded by TIAA-CREF.
 
Betty M. Nelson Special Recognition Award: The Office of Special Events was presented The Nelson Award for its outstanding work in support of PURA and Purdue retirees. Catharine Adair, Director, and Janelle Musch and Gini Griener, Event Planners, accepted the award.

Benefits:
The Senior Supplemental Health and Prescription Plan was negotiated for the fourth year with PacifiCare and United Health Rx for 2009.

Big Ten Retirees Association Conference:
W. Scott Rumble, Lois K. Wark, and Martha O. Chiscon represented PURA at the Big Ten Retirees Association held on the campus of the University of Illinois in August.

Calendar of Events:
PURA events will be posted on the University Calendar through the Purdue Alumni Association. An organizational calendar incorporating all activities/meetings of PURA was initiated for the board. The calendar, distributed by e-mail, is updated as activities are added.

Campus and Community Tours:
Throughout the year, approximately 100 persons enjoyed the campus and community tours of the Beck Agricultural Center and the Agronomy Center for Research and Education, Caterpillar’s Large Engine Center, the Food Science Building, Veterinary Medicine’s Large Animal Clinic and the Purdue University Greenhouses, and the Purdue Women’s Basketball Game outing. 

Endowments:
PURA Activities and Opportunities Fund (PAO):  The PURA PAO was established through the Purdue Foundation with the monies from the penalty for unmet performance guarantees from PacifiCare. Currently the PAO has a book value of $80,000. The earnings generated by the  endowment will benefit Purdue retirees. Brochures, first distributed in 2008-09, describe the PAO Fund in detail.

PURA Jischke Purdue Opportunity Award (POA): The PURA POA was established to honor President Martin C. and Patty Jischke at his retirement. Currently the POA has a book value of $17,013.  The agreement requires that at least $20,000 must be accumulated before a scholarship can be awarded. The POA must be fully funded by September 2012 or the agreement will be terminated. The Purdue Opportunity Award is granted to students who have high financial need, personal hardship(s), and/or other extenuating circumstances. One award is designated for each of Indiana’s 92 counties.

Financial Forum:
PURA, in partnership with Purdue University Human Resource Services, invited Purdue retirees to a forum, "The Economy and Your Retirement Income," December 5, 2008. The panel discussion on how the changing economy affects pension benefits for retirees of Purdue University was led by Dr. Frederick R. Ford, Executive Vice President and Treasurer Emeritus. Expert panelists included: Dr. Richard Cosier, Krannert School Dean and Leeds Professor Management who presented an verview of economic considerations that affect everyone; Mr. Terry Magid, Executive Director, Public Employees’ Retirement Fund (PERF), who discussed the impacts on benefits provided through PERF and the fund’s financial
stability; and Mr. Adam Polacek, director of client portfolio management, and Mr. Chris Day, director of individual client services, both representing TIAA-CREF. Polacek and Day discussed impacts on benefits provided through TIAA-CREF and comments on the financial stability of TIAA-CREF.

Handbook:
The updated tri-fold handbook for retirees will be sent to members with the July 2009 PURA Newsletter. 5,000 copies will be produced to cover distribution for two years.

Kickoff Luncheon:
286 Purdue retirees and friends attended the luncheon at University Plaza on September 8, 2008.  Dr. France Cordova, Purdue’s president, was the featured speaker.

Newsletter:
The PURA Newsletter, to be printed four times each year, was distributed to all Purdue retirees in January, March, July, and November. Development of the new web site for PURA was introduced and continues to be improved.

Pre-Retirement Meetings:
PURA representatives were invited to participate in pre-retirement meetings, including those set up for employees of Cary, Shreve, and Tarkington Residence Halls.

Programs:
Varied topics, presented by engaging speakers, were the programs for the monthly meetings held at MCL.  A listing of program titles and the presenters is included with the archival materials.

Purposeful Living in Retirement:
140 attended the fifth retirement conference (formerly Living to 100) held April 29, 2009, at University Plaza.  The presentations focused on things remembered, planning to die, gardening is exercise, and finances in today’s economy.

Spring Fling:
The Hospitality Committee again hosted a PURA tent at Spring Fling on May 21, 2009.

Trips and Tours:
One hundred twenty-nine (129) members and friends participated in enjoyable and entertaining trips around Indiana (French Lick and West Baden, the Indianapolis Museum of Art to view the Ming Dynasty treasures, and Crawfordsville).  A new direction for the committee is being considered.

United Way:
As pacesetters, Purdue retirees gave $87,027.46 to the United Way Campaign, far surpassing the $84,000 goal.

Comprehensive reports regarding PURA activities and accomplishments during the year, June 2008 through May 2009, are filed in the Purdue University Library Archives and Special Collections. A guide to the PURA records can be accessed on the web at http://www.lib.purdue.edu/  


May 2009
Mary Alice Nebold, Historian