PURA History: 2011-2012
YEAR IN REVIEW
Officers and Advisor:
President: Charles O. Rutledge
Vice President: E. Suzanne Hiser
Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia J. Lawson
Historian: Mary Alice Nebold
Advisor: Robert A. Ford
Committee Chairpersons:
Benefits: Don K. Gentry
Campus and Community: **
Communications: Richard C. Nelson
Endowment: Betty M. Nelson
Hospitality: Jane W. Brown and Jeris G. Eikenberry
Kickoff Luncheon: Sarah A. Johnson and Ann C. Pickett
Program: Eldon E. Ortman and Reuben Peterson
Retiree Seminar: (No chair was designated for 2011-12)
Trips and Tours: James R. Marciniak
** Ann C. Pickett and Diane Stevenson, members of the Campus and Community Committee worked with other committee members to plan the year’s tours, but did not accept the chairperson title.
Activities:
Annual Meeting:
John C. Hertig, Director of the Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development at Purdue was the featured speaker at the annual transition meeting, May 24, 2012.
Award Recipients:
Arthur G. Hansen Recognition Award: The Hansen Award was not presented in 2011.
Betty M. Nelson Special Recognition Award: The Nelson Award was presented to Martha Chiscon, the former chairperson of the Benefits Committee. For seven years Martha served as a tenacious advocate working to achieve the best possible healthcare benefits for retirees.
Benefits:
The Senior Supplemental Health and Prescription Plan was negotiated for the seventh year (2012).with UnitedHealthcare. Other benefits made available by the University for official Purdue retirees include their eligibility to retain their Purdue e-mail account or apply to activate one, free flu shots and “A” parking passes.
Big Ten Retirees Association Conference:
Chip Rutledge, Sue Hiser, and Don Gentry represented PURA at the meeting of the Big Ten Retirees Association held on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, August 12-14, 2011.
Calendar of Events:
PURA events continue to be placed on the University Calendar and cannow be accessed through a link on the Purdue Web page.
Campus and Community Tours:
During the fall semester approximately 50 retirees enjoyed tours of Bioanalytical Systems in Purdue Research Park and the Tippecanoe Battlefield on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of 1811. Nearly 100 Participated in spring semester tours of the renovated Mackey Arena Complex and two of the newest buildings on campus, Hanley and Mariott Halls.
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). The vendor for Purdue’s retirement program, Fidelity Investments, contributed $5,000 to the PAO fund. As of December 31, 2011, the PAO has a book value of $136,000. Earnings generated by the endowment will benefit Purdue retirees. Brochures, first distributed in 2009, 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. At the end of 2011, its book value was $25,958.44. 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.
Kickoff Luncheon:
Two hundred forty-three (243) Purdue retirees and friends attended the luncheon at University Plaza September 12, 2011. Dr. Richard Buckius, Vice President for Research, was the featured speaker.
Newsletter:
The “PURA Newsletter” was sent to all Purdue retirees in July and November 2011 and January and March 2012. 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.
Programs:
The monthly meetings held at MCL provided retirees the opportunity to visit with former colleagues and friends and to hear about a wide variety of topics presented by engaging speakers. A listing of program titles and the presenters has been placed with the archival materials.
Retirees’ Giving to Purdue:
Purdue retirees gave the University slightly more than $3.4 million in 2011.
Retiree Information Brochure (formerly Handbook):
A new brochure containing valuable information for retirees has been developed by the Communications Committee. Five thousand (5000) copies have been printed for distribution.
Retiree Seminar:
Because the board was unable to identify a retiree willing to assume leadership for the 2012 retiree seminar, it was recessed for this year. The seminar will resume in 2013.
Spring Fling:
New cards about planning for retirement and green tote bags provided by Fidelity Investments were handed out at the May 17, 2012 Spring Fling on Memorial Mall. Rather than carrying donations for Food Finders to Spring Fling, donations were collected in each campus building.
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 to interesting destinations including the Underground Railroad, baseball at Victory Field in Indianapolis, and the Park County Covered Bridge Festival. Retirees also had the opportunity to enjoy two local events: the Red Hot and Cole production at Lafayette’s Civic Theater and a 50’s party at Pappy’s Sweet Shop. Nearly 275 retirees enjoyed these trips and events.
United Way:
Purdue retirees were again designated as Pacesetters for the 2011 United Way Campaign. Their generous gifts totaled $103,451.00 or 114.9% of the $90,000 goal.
Comprehensive reports regarding PURA activities and accomplishments during the year, June 2011 through May 2012, 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 2012
Mary Alice Nebold, Historian
