UC Retirees'
Association at Berkeley
Fall 2025 Report
Submitted by Elise Woods, UCRAB President and CUCRA Executive Committee Secretary
UCRAB Board Activities and Member Engagement
Leadership Updates: New Board Members Elected
We are excited to announce the results of our recent elections for the UCRAB Board of Directors! Six new members have been elected, filling the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and four at-large positions. These dedicated individuals will begin their two-year terms on July 1, 2025, running through June 30, 2027.
The Board's primary focus remains on advocacy for staff and non-senate academic appointees at the UC Office of the President and within the California legislature. Additionally, in partnership with the UC Berkeley Retirement Center and other UC Retiree organizations, we continue to champion retiree benefits and provide information on retiree events, travel opportunities, and activities that foster continued engagement with the campus community.
The new board members were welcomed and provided with a comprehensive Orientation on July 15, 2025, where they reviewed the history, mission, vision, and goals of the association and contributed new ideas for events, marketing, and publications.
Member Activities: Highlights from Spring and Summer 2025
Our board members have been busy organizing a vibrant array of community-building and social events. Here are some of the highlights since the April 2025 report:
- Cal Baseball Game Outing – May 10, 2025: Our first-ever outing to an Evans Diamond baseball game was a smashing success! On a mild, sunny Saturday, approximately 50 retirees cheered the Golden Bears on to a 5-0 victory over ACC rival Florida State. The event was so popular that we had to increase our initial block of 40 tickets to accommodate 10 more attendees.
- Community Service at the Food Bank – May 29, 2025: Thirteen dedicated UCB retirees volunteered their time at the Contra Costa/Solano County Food Bank, helping pack essential food boxes. This was a wonderful opportunity to support those in need during challenging times.
- New Retiree Celebration – June 17, 2025: Held at the Women’s Faculty Club, this event allowed UCRAB and other associations to engage with current and newly retired employees. We provided information on membership, distributed magnets for the popular UC Retirees Travel program, and connected with many new faces.
- Chancellor Emerita Carol Christ Talk – June 26, 2025: Originally scheduled as a reflection on her work and retirement, Chancellor Emerita Christ changed her topic to "What's Happening in Higher Education," a subject she noted was far more interesting than her own, nascent retirement. The insightful talk was well received by attendees.
- NorCal Campus CUCRA Summer conference hosted by UC Berkeley Retirement Center – July 22, 2025: The CUCRA Northern Summer Meeting, hosted by the Berkeley campus, focused on internal association structures, shared best practices, and future meeting formats. Key discussions addressed the Via Benefits allowance, with a consensus to pursue an increase, and access to the CONNEXXUS travel program for retirees with a .edu email. The meetings also worked on filling a Joint Benefits Committee position and the Treasurer vacancy. A significant part of the agenda covered the 2024 CUCRA Retiree Survey Report, including how to utilize the findings for greater visibility and the need to improve retiree data capture for future surveys. Finally, associations shared ideas for increasing collaboration and participation, and the dates and format for the upcoming Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 meetings were announced.
- Annual Renegade Retirees Picnic – July 23, 2025: Co-hosted by Lawrence Berkeley Lab and PARRA, this event was a warm and well-attended celebration. The potluck-style meal created a personal, family-gathering atmosphere. After lunch, the day was filled with drawing and collecting gifts, storytelling, and catching up with old colleagues. It was a beautiful reminder of the lasting connections and community that retirement fosters.
- Golden Bear Orientation & Move-In Volunteers – August 19-20, 2025: Retirees played a vital role in welcoming new and returning students and their families to campus. Volunteers enthusiastically issued keys, IDs, and transit passes, provided directions and parking tips, and offered hearty cheers of "Welcome" and "Go Bears!" to kick off the fall semester.
- Retiree Open House & Resource Fair – September 15, 2025: We had a record-breaking attendance of 117 current and future retirees at the UC Retirement Center Open House! Hosted by The UC Berkeley Retirement center and joined by our fellow UC retiree associations, we staffed tables to share information on all the programs and services available to retirees. It was a highly successful event for members to learn how to maximize their retirement benefits and stay engaged with the campus community.