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PURA History: 2009-2010

YEAR IN REVIEW

Officers and Advisor:
President: Lois K. Wark
Vice President: Christian J. Johannsen
Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia J. Lawson
Historian: Mary Alice Nebold
Past President: W. Scott Rumble
Advisor: Robin G. Bellinger

Committee Chairpersons:
Benefits: Martha O. Chiscon
Communications: Richard C. Nelson
Endowment: Betty M. Nelson
Hospitality: Eldon E. Fredericks and E. Suzanne Hiser
Program: Eldon E. Ortman
Trips and Tours: N. Sue Abney and James R. Marciniak

Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons:
Campus and Community: Sue Hume Graham
Kickoff Luncheon: Ann C. Pickett and Marilyn M. Yoder
Purposeful Living in Retirement: Billy R. Baumgardt

Activities:

Annual Meeting:
President France A. Córdova was the featured speaker at the annual planning meeting on June 4, 2010.

Award Recipients:
Arthur G. Hansen Recognition Award: In June, the Hansen Award was presented to the Cooperative Extension Service, Colleges of Agriculture and Consumer and Family Sciences, for outstanding efforts of maintaining meaningful relationships with CES retirees. Charles Hibberd, Director, accepted the award and a $2,500 stipend funded by TIAA-CREF.
 
Betty M. Nelson Special Recognition Award: The Nelson Award was presented to the Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) for its sponsorship of paying for the mailing of the Purdue Telephone Directory to retirees.  Bob Falk, president and CEO of PEFCU, and Jackie Hoffman, vice president of human resources and marketing, accepted the award.

Benefits:
The Senior Supplemental Health and Prescription Plan was negotiated for the fifth year with UnitedHealthcare (formerly PacifiCare) for 2010. Beginning Nov. 1, 2009, all official retirees became eligible to retain their Purdue e-mail account or apply to activate one. Free flu shots and "A" parking passes continue to be made available to retirees by the University.

Big Ten Retirees Association Conference:
Lois K. Wark and Martha O. Chiscon represented PURA at the meeting of the Big Ten Retirees Association held on the campus of the University of Iowa in mid-August.

By-law changes:
Proposed changes in the by-laws, last amended in 2002, are to be voted on by the PURA membership at the June 7, 2010, luncheon meeting. Changes regarding the addition of standing committees and solely for clarification are included in the proposal.

Calendar of Events:
PURA events continue to be placed on the University Calendar and can now be accessed through a link on the Purdue Web page. A calendar developed to alert board members to activities/meetings of PURA is continually updated and distributed by e-mail.

Campus and Community Tours:
During the fall and spring semesters, 114 people enjoyed the campus and community tours of the Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center and the Purdue Village Community Center, the Wabash Center, Purdue Research Park, Inspired Fire, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, and Purdue University Food Stores (Purdue's Pantry). 

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 UnitedHealthcare (formerly PacifiCare).  Currently the PAO has a book value of $80,000. Earnings generated by the endowment will benefit Purdue retirees. Brochures, first distributed a year ago, 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 $18,063. 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.

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

Kickoff Luncheon:
258 Purdue retirees and friends attended the luncheon at University Plaza on Sept. 14, 2009. Teri Lucie Thompson, vice president for marketing and media, was the featured speaker with remarks by President France A. Córdova.

Newsletter:
The PURA Newsletter was sent to all Purdue retirees in January, March, July, and November. The new website has produced great results and is constantly being upgraded.

Pre-Retirement Meetings:
PURA representatives continue to participate in pre-retirement meetings each semester at the invitation of the Office of Human Resources. In addition, PURA was invited to present at the Windsor Hall Retiree luncheon.

Programs:
Engaging speakers presented a variety of topics for the programs at the monthly meetings held at MCL. A listing of program titles and the presenters has been placed with the archival materials.

Purposeful Living in Retirement:
Approximately 175 attended the sixth annual conference focusing on topics of interest to retirees on April 28, 2010, at University Plaza. Topics included ways of challenging one's mind, active aging improves health and vitality, organizational tips to simplify ones life, estate tax changes, and preventing fraud.

Retirees' Giving to Purdue:
In the decade 2000-2009, Purdue retirees generously gave $40,925,103 to the University. The number of donors each year averaged 1845 over the 10-year period.

Spring Fling:
New cards about planning for retirement and zip letter openers were handed out at the May 20, 2010, Spring Fling. PURA again sponsored the collection for Food Finders Bank.

Trips and Tours:
In collaboration with Imperial Travel and Top Notch Travel, the Trips and Tours Committee arranged for Purdue retirees to travel as a group on three trips this year. Forty-seven (47) enjoyed the Octoberfest on the Belle of Louisville and the Cincinnati Flower Show and Jungle Jim's International Market. Twenty-eight (28) have made reservations for the upcoming Amtrak trip to Chicago in June that includes an architectural cruise and tour of the Sears Tower and Navy Pier.

United Way:
In 2009, Purdue retirees were again designated as Pacesetters for the United Way Campaign. Their gifts totaling $89,855 far surpassed the $84,000 goal.

Comprehensive reports regarding PURA activities and accomplishments during the year, June 2009 through May 2010, are filed in the Purdue University Library Archives and Special Collections. A guide to the PURA records can be accessed on the library's website at http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol. The direct link to the inventory from that website is http://www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol/fa/pdf/pura.pdf.


May 2010
Mary Alice Nebold, Historian