UC Irvine Retirees' Association
October 2020 Report
Submitted by Emil Nguyen, Operations and Programs Analyst, Center for Emeriti and Retirees
Association Activities: The UCIRA continues to work closely with our UCI Center for Emeriti & Retirees (CER) on all programming and activities. All activities which could not be safely achieved were cancelled. We have continued with socially distanced activities including monthly hikes, walks and bike rides.
A number of programs have been held via ZOOM and Webinar such as Medicare Basics, Fidelity Workshops and Eye Institute lectures. We have most recently partnered with CER and the UCIEA on a four part series: Maximizing Health Care Later in Life.
The Fall Annual Reception Honoring all UCI Emeriti & Retirees with Chancellor as keynote speaker has been restructured to an online format in which Chancellor Gillman will provide a live campus/medical center update to all retirees. The first 300 RSVP's will each be mailed a specially branded UCI Emeriti & Retirees mask.
We awarded two incoming students (one freshman and one transfer) a UCI Retirees Association Legacy Scholarship in the amount of $3,000.00 each. UCIRA still maintains support for an annual Staff Assembly Scholarship, assisting current staff to continue their education.
CUCRA Survey Support: Each board member created a list of their UCI retired friends and are contacting them to encourage participation in the CUCRA survey.
Association Member Benefits: To assist retirees during this pandemic time, CER created a website page entitled "Virtual Retiree Engagement & COVID-10 Resources" which includes information about UCI's responses to COVID-19, zoom access and Information, basic and essential needs; financial & retirement systems updates; online wellness, free online classes; free virtual entertainment and a variety of other topics and information.
Status of UCIRA Board Meetings: Board meetings have been held via Zoom. We are considering socially distanced meeting in UCI's Aldrich Park.
CER: This October we celebrate the 15th anniversary of our Center. Beginning with no budget, no office space and no staff. Our founding director along with Volunteers and the UCI Emeriti and UCI Retiree Association Board members joined forces and successfully began the creation of our CER.
Association Volunteer Programs: The UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge Walk/Run/Bike event took place October 3, 2020 in Aldrich Park at UCI. The event included virtual participation. Despite the pandemic and the challenges faced, the event exceeded the total from 2019. Over $700,000.00 was raised with the UCI's Retirees and Friends team raising $6,465.00.
In June retirees participated in UCI Giving Day 2020.
Plans for next two years: To aid our retirees in dealing with the struggles associated with COVID-19 restrictions by providing services online and virtually. To resume our "normal" programming as soon as safe to do so.
We plan to do all we can not to go crazy and rip our hair out!