UCLA Retirees Association
Fall 2025 Report
Submitted by Judith Tuch, UCLARA President and CUCRA Representative
UCLARA is a standalone organization committed to focusing on ways for its members to stay connected with UCLA and each other. UCLARA works closely with the UCLA Emeriti Association at the Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center (ERRC).
Membership: The Association continues to offer a first-year free trial membership and an automated renewal process. We recorded a high membership number of 1,180 as September 30, 2025.
Supporting Current UCLA Staff: Through a focused strategic initiative to fund campus programs and promote closer partnerships with campus departments, the Board awarded grants to four campus departments totaling $11,000 for 2025.
Four departments within UCLA Student Affairs received $11,000 to support specific programs that work with transfer students, undocumented students, and a mental health fair for all students.
UCLA Campus Human Resources received $4,200 to support leadership training for two staff.
UCLA Advising Communities of Excellence, Center for Academic Advising in the College, received $5,000 to support a one-day retreat for campus staff on October 23, 2025.
The UCLA Administrative Management Group (AMG) received $1,000 to support an annual Pro-Share book program.
Over the summer, the Board President and the Campus and Community Relations Chair met with each of the recipient departments. We are planning to organize an opportunity for Board members to visit each center in person to see the great work they do for the campus and its students.
In partnership with the Emeriti Association, UCLARA continues to offer conversations on campus including a conversation with the UCLA Woman’s Head Basketball Coach in October 2025 and a conversation with the UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor last May. In partnership with the Campus Book group and the Emeriti Association, UCLARA hosted a conversation about the artist Mary Cassatt. The author was invited to campus to present a lecture and a book signing. These sessions are recorded and posted to the ERRC’s YouTube channel which receives quite a number of viewings.
For the second year, UCLARA, the Emeriti Association and the ERRC, held a campus shredding event to help members safely dispose of unwanted documents and materials.
Special Interest Groups continue to provide close connections within the membership community. Four book groups continue along with Mah Jongg, bridge, Scrabble and Play Reading groups.
In May, the Emeriti and Retiree Associations along with the ERRC partnered to present the annual Sylvia Winstein Arts and Craft Show. At this one-day event, 26 member artists participated in sharing work in a variety of media.
The quarterly newsletter Connections helps keep members connected and aware of activities and events. We still have approximately 30 members without email access who receive a hard copy of the newsletter. The Marketing and Membership Committee is testing mailing a one-page flyer on upcoming events to keep them in the loop.
The ERRC offered free tickets to three Los Angeles Opera programs to retirees and Emeriti as well as, a campus tour of the “Birthplace of the Internet” and the UCLA Fowler Museum.
Committee work continues: The Membership and Marketing Committee is working on a signature event scheduled for June 2025. The goal of the event is to welcome members, new retirees, and active staff nearing retirement to a fun event during the later afternoon to be followed by a reception. The IT Committee focuses on software related issues. Member participation in the UC Travel Program remains strong thanks to virtual sessions and our pro-active Travel Chair who keeps retirees connected. Two mentorship programs with campus departments are in their third year.
Board recruitment: The Nominating Committee will begin meeting in November following the extension of Board service for 2025-26.