PARRA Report
April 2022 Report
Submitted by Jim Dolgonas, President, PARRA
PARRA, the President's and Regents Retirement Association, representing retirees of Office of the President and the offices of the Regents, has adjusted and reduced activities because of the pandemic.
Membership and Recruitment
PARRA continues to struggle to obtain from UCOP timely and correct information about new retirees. The new UCRP system was supposed to improve the flow of information but instead up until now the flow of information from the UCRP has essentially stopped. The President of PARRA has raised this issue to the VP of HR and will continue to press this issue, though support from CUCRA will be appreciated as well. PARRA has managed to obtain the Universitywide death lists from UCOP however. PARRA received these for years and then a year or two ago we only received notices of deaths from those who retired from UCOP. Many of UCOP's executives come to from campuses and returned to campuses from which they retire and therefore were not appearing on the death reports supplied to PARRA.
Association Activities
PARRA's held two zoom sessions since the last CUCRA meeting, instead of in-person luncheons with speakers. Our April 2022 luncheon will be in person, held at an outdoor location. Previously conducted food bank volunteer activities have not yet resumed.
PARRA has changed the terms of members at large and officers from July 1 to June 30 fiscal year to calendar year.
Association Member Benefits
The Berkeley Retirement Center has extended to UCOP/Regents retirees benefits available to campus retirees, except for access to some library privileges.
A major benefit PARRA provides to retirees is advocacy on their behalf. Since the last report there have been several instances where PARRA was asked to advocate for a retiree and in other cases PARRA has raised issues to UCOP on behalf all retirees.
Plans for the Future
UCOP retirees receive health care facilitator support from the RASC, unlike other locations which have dedicated staff. Based on concerns that the RASC is not able to fulfill this responsibility to the level desired, PARRA has requested that UCOP provide dedicated health care facilitator support. Apparently this will be provided by a dedicated UCOP staff member beginning in the next UC fiscal year.
PARRA expects to be able to resume semi annual in person luncheons with speakers. Discussions have also occurred about offering less formal in person lunches, without speakers, but these sessions are only in the discussion phase at this point.