UC Santa Cruz Retirement Association Report
October 2020 Report
Submitted by Frank Trueba, UC Santa Cruz CUCRA Representative
The UCSC Retirees Association (RA) Board meets bimonthly and in conjunction with the Retiree and Emeriti Center focuses on providing social and educational programs for all UCSC retirees (according to UCOP figures, just under 2000 retirees) as well as fund-raising for scholarships on behalf of veteran & staff undergraduates. RA Board representatives in conjunction with Emeriti representatives jointly advise the Retiree and Emeriti Center (REC). The RA Board publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Silver Slug Newsletter and maintains a website UCSC Retirees' Association.
Due to the COVID pandemic we have had no in-person events since April. However, we continue to communicate with our members through on-line newsletters and direct e-mails.
Scholarships:
The Retirees Association Retirees Association continues to sponsor two scholarships, the Bruce Lane Memorial Scholarship for UCSC students who are Military Veterans and the "Silver Slug Award" for current and retired staff and their dependents studying at UCSC who need financial assistance.
Since the May the Scholarship Awards Luncheon was canceled, we used e-mail/newsletters to recognize each recipient.
During the recent UCSC Giving Day in September, almost $4,000 was raised.
In lieu of recognizing the awardees at the luncheon, our quarterly newsletter will recognize each recipient in print over the next few issues.
Programs/Events:
Of the Association's four annual events, a Fall Picnic, a Winter Holiday Luncheon (often with the Chancellor speaking), a Spring Speaker's Luncheon, and a May Scholarship Awards Luncheon, two were cancelled due to the pandemic (May Scholarshiparship and the Fall Picnic). And it doesn't look good for the Winter Holiday Luncheon
Events Co-Sponsored with the Retiree & Emeriti Center (REC):
In May, a new event called "Bridge to Retirement" was held, via Zoom, allowing upcoming retirees to ask questions from current retirees to a very positive response.
Our annual "Welcome to Retirement" in June was held on-line via Zoom.
Other Notables:
Our Fall Board meeting and newsletter were canceled because of the evacuations of the campus, as well as multiple Board members and staff, due to the CZU Complex Fire (which burned 80,000+ acres and destroyed almost 1000 homes).
Since the pandemic and Stay-at-Home orders caused the cancellation of multiple events, we have used the savings of Association funds (rental fees, travel funds, etc.) towards suspending Membership Dues through February 2021. We have even added 21 new members.