UCI Retirees
Association Report to CUCRA
Spring 2026 Report
Submitted by Jill Vidas, UCI CUCRA Representative
Activities and Programs:
The UC Irvine Center for Emeriti and Retirees (UCIRA) continues to work closely with our Center for Emeriti and Retirees (CER) on all programming and activities. Our board president regularly attends UCIEA Executive Committee meetings.
Online Zoom and Webinar sessions (Medicare, Fidelity, workshops) along with monthly in-person walks, hikes, and bike rides continue.
In January, UCIRA hosted a webinar, Tech Tips, how to manage technology, which focused on the topic of tech travel.
In November, our retirees had an opportunity for golfing at “A Day of Golf” at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo.
Also in November, we toured the Hilbert Museum. Located in the city of Orange, the museum focuses on the history of California from the 1900s to the present through works by leading California artists and Hollywood studio artists and animators.
April 16 – UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art tour - The University of California, Irvine completed its acquisition of the Orange County Museum of Art in 2025, thus bringing the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art and the Orange County Museum of Art together. This is an exciting collaboration and we look forward to the tour.
April 22 – Lawn Bowling Open House – retirees will have an opportunity for lessons and then game time at the Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club in Newport Beach.
Meetings and Conferences:
October 9 – The Annual Reception honoring UC Irvine emeriti and retirees was held. Hal Stern, our Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, gave the keynote address. We had a full house, with almost 200 people in attendance.
New Programs and Partnerships:
Center for Emeriti & Retirees continues to host a monthly Coffee & Conversations for retired emeriti and staff on the last Tuesday of the month at the University Hills Clubhouse. Some of the meetings have featured guest speakers on various topics such as financial security in retirement, UCI Founding Emeriti, and Faculty Retirement Liaison tips. Members from the Retiree Board continue to attend regularly.
On February 10, emeriti and retirees boarded a bus to attend the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. This event filled up fast and a waiting list was created in an effort to accommodate everyone who wished to attend.
April 20 – Pickle ball Open Play for Emeriti and Retirees
Volunteering and Giving Back:
UC Irvine Retirees and Friends Anti-Cancer Challenge Team – 50 participants and over $17,000 raised proceeds go directly to help fund cancer research at the UC Irvine Chao Cancer Center at the UC Irvine Medical Center.
January 25 – We hosted our first scholarship fundraiser at Left Coast Brewing Distillery Smokehouse in Irvine and raised $2,500.