January 2024 Minutes
President’s Council of Retired Employees
Friday 12 Jan 2024 at 8:15 am
Foster Board Room, 2nd Floor, Buchanan Alumni House and Zoom
Members: Louis Bassano, Richard Borgman (Vice Chair), Richard Judd (Secretary), Richard Kent, Thomas Sandford (Chair), Claire Strickland, Cindy Eves-Thomas. Ex Officio Members: Diane Dunn.
Approval of 3 Nov 2023 Minutes and 1 Dec 2023 Minutes: Tom Sandford suggested revisions in the November minutes: item 2, “outside the academic areas” should read: “Hourly.” In Silver Tracks, change to Richard Borgman. Approved with corrections. In the December minutes, Tom changed “will work on the newsletter” to “will work on reformatting the minutes.”
PCRE Membership (Classified Nominee): Diane Dunn has been appointed to head the Maine National Guard and will retire from the PCRE. Claire Strickland reached out to Stewart Harvey and Geremy Chubbuck in Facilities Management. Geremy suggested Dave Ricker and Denny Grant, both recently retired, or Rocky Robichaud. Claire will begin with Denny Grant and contact the others if necessary. In the past, the President asked for a biography to accompany the nomination. Council will ask for a biography and present the nominee to the Present. Council will ask for copies of letters from the President to the candidate. Claire will cc Tom in her correspondence. Tom will contact the non-Facilities people.
Hikel Award Recommendation: Rich Kent is waiting on David Bagley before presenting the nomination. Council approved the nominee and will send a recommendation to the President.
Oral History: Tom Sandford listed this year’s four interviewees: Maxine Harrow (educational field experience, College of Education); William Dalton (Catering at Wells); Catherine Elliott (Cooperative Extension); and Michael Scott (lecturer, New Media). Tom passed the list on the All Maine Women, along with recommendations for an additional question: “What kind of changes did you find during your employment period?” Tom suggested AMW send the interviewee the major questions before the interview, and ending with an open-ended question: “Would you like to say something else?” Interviews will be on February 10 with a reception in Buchanan. PCRE is usually invited. Interviews usually last about 40 minutes each. Tom will see if the longer interviews are archived, since the 40 minute interviews are reduced to about 4 minutes on the website.
Website (umaine.edu/retirees): Cindy Eves-Thomas noted that work on the website is going well. Cindy is checking on the interviews. The site contains minutes from 2021 onward. It is now ADA compliant and is accessible by cell phone. The site will contain an online gold card application.
Newsletter: Rick Borgman sent out an email inviting any Council member to help with the Newsletter. Rick will work on the Newsletter this month, and it will go out in March or by April 1. Claire suggested recruiting PCRE candidates in the newsletter with an explanation of the unfilled categories. Rick suggested a section on retiree announcements and resources.
2024 Retiree Homecoming Speakers: Names previously mentioned were Paul Mayewski, Jacquelyn Gil, Cynthia Isenhour, and Jude Killy. Rick noted that climate change generates interest and suggested Steve Norton. Rick proposed that we start with Mayewski and if he declines ask him for other names. Louis Bassano suggested Sean Birkel at Climate Change Institute who is also State Climatologist. Cindy has worked with Birkel and described him as personable and knowledgeable, but suggested he probably had a full schedule. Tom will talk with Mayewski, suggesting a talk of about a half hour on Homecoming (June 14).
Tours for Homecoming: Council should firm this up by February. Tours previously suggested were the University gardens and the hotels. Cindy suggested that Rogers Farm on Bennoch Road could probably handle a large group. She suggested contacting Kate Garland. This tour would require vans and drivers. Council would also need a guide for the campus gardens (perhaps someone from Plants and Soils). Claire will look into finding someone to guide the campus gardens tour. Cindy will contact Kate Garland. Cindy suggested that the planetarium might be able to tie into the climate change theme. Council would then have four tours. The Planetarium tour would be nice if the weather is bad. Rick will talk with Shawn Laatsch at the Planetarium.
Fall Outing Ideas: Tom suggested a trip to Monhegan Island, which could include hiking, visits to art galleries, and dining. He also suggested a Puffin tour, but this would have to take place during the puffin season, May 15-August 15 (rather than September). Council could invite Bob Duchesne from the Fields Pond Nature Center to attend as guide.
February Guest to PCRE: Rick suggested inviting a guest to the February meeting, possibly President Ferrini-Mundy. Tom will see what he can do.
Adjourn: moved seconded.