UC Irvine Retirees' Association
October 2023 Report
Submitted by Pat Price, UCI CUCRA Representative
During this period, UCIRA has offered various ways to reach out to our members by featuring a variety of activities and events, both online and in person. We are continuing to grow the board. Earlier this year we created and passed by-laws, and will hold our first election this fall. We hope to fill vacant positions and establish new standing committees.
Fundraising and Scholarships
Due to our fund raising efforts on Giving Day, we were able to continue awarding two Legacy Scholarships to incoming freshmen and to transfer students who are related to UCI staff, faculty, emeriti, retirees and alumni . These were awards of $3,000 each for two individuals and $2,000 each for two others for a total of $10,000. We also donated $2,500 to the Mike Puritz Staff Assembly Scholarship which benefits current staff. In addition, we used the CUCRA travel funds given to UCI to give two emergency fund donations to the Basic Needs Hub and to the LGTB Resource Center.
Events and Activities
The UCIRA continues to work closely with the UCI Center for Emeriti and Retirees (CER) on all programming. The board president regularly attends the UCI Emeriti Association Executive Committee meetings, and in April the two boards held their first joint meeting. Various in-person and zoom presentations were offered by CER which included multiple presentations over the summer by Fidelity Investments on financial wellness updates.
Our walks, hikes and bikes rides continue to be enjoyed by our members. The UCI Emeriti/Retirees fighting cancer and multiple Sclerosis also held a series of wellness activities and training rides over the summer and in early Fall in preparation for the UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge held in October.
A tour of the new Orange County Museum of Art was a highlight in April. Another early Spring activity included a walking tour in Laguna Beach that featured history, art and nature.
May brought an in-person lecture featuring an UCI Alumnus who spoke about his recent book "Transforming the Irvine Ranch". CER offered information about the Introduction to Life Resources Program for Emeriti, retirees and their families about many of life's demands. It included segments on work-life solutions, emotional support, legal guidance and financial resources. We also offered a webinar about the UC Retirees Travel Program, Overseas Adventure Travel's 2024 Adventures.
In June we featured a lecture on Glaucoma that provided information about the latest treatments. Also offered was the UC Retirees webinar on the Collette Trip Preview. This month, we participated in an annual call to seek volunteers for various commencement activities.
The new UCI Hospital and Medical Complex was the topic of a well-attended event in July.
August also featured an in-person lecture on Medicare Basics and UC information for those turning 65. We sponsored a tour of the Langson Museum's exhibit titled "Indefinitely Wild" about how early history of environmental conservation in California might have influenced the state's impressionist painters. Summer also brought online Tuesday/Thursday Yoga sessions. UCIRA also hosted a meeting of the Southern California campuses which had representatives from each of these locations plus CUCRA President John Meyer. It featured time for campuses to share ideas, helpful guidance and suggestions to further support one another.
In September we hosted the New Retirees Social at the UCI Pub for the newest retirees and emeriti. Volunteers were solicited to assist with freshmen move-in day. We also added a Kayaking Excursion around Newport Back Bay in collaboration with UCI Campus Recreation.