UCLA Retiree
Association (UCLARA) Report

Spring 2026 Report

Submitted by Jack Powazek, UCLARA Vice President and incoming President
on behalf of Judith Tuch, President

UCALRA is a standalone organization committed to focusing on ways its members can stay connected to UCLA and each other. UCLARA works closely with the UCLA Emeriti Association and the Emeriti/Retiree Relations Center (ERRC).

Membership: UCLARA membership continues to be north of 1100 and in FY 2025/26 a record number of members are signed up for automatic annual membership renewal.

Supporting UCLA Staff and Campus Programs: The Board has systematized the process for awarding funds to campus staff and student programs by establishing a formal application submission process, the review of the applications by the newly formed Strategic Funding Committee (a subset of the Board), and the final award decisions by a vote of the full Board. The Board is also developing a follow-up process to determine how the funds are spent. This month the Board awarded the FY 2025/26 funds for nine programs (awards ranged from $1000 to $3000) to the following organizations:

• Campus Human Resources
• Staff Assembly
• Administrative Management Group
• Student Affairs

UCLARA also continues to fund annually, via its established endowment, and in partnership with the UCLA Staff Assembly, four staff scholarships at $750 each. These scholarships will be awarded later this spring at the annual Staff Assembly awards program.

Programs and Events:

UCLARA organized and executed various in-person and zoom events for members which included:

• Hikes to King Gillette Ranch, Tree People/Coldwater Canyon Park, Caballero Canyon, and Los Lioness Park.
• Tour of the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City.
• A zoom tour of the Broad Museum with Lee Rubenstein of the Getty Foundation.
• A virtual lecture by ArtMuseLA on “Collecting Impressionism” reflecting the LACMA collection of Impressionistic arts.
• The Annual Holiday Luncheon was held in early December for about 60 members and guests. Members brought gift cards totaling around $1000 for the UCLA Food Closet which provides food for UCLA staff and students in need.
• In partnership with the Emeriti Association, UCLARA held a music recital in February at the University Club featuring Alessio Santori with Hongbo Cai on piano. Another joint UCLARA/EA program was a conversation on US Healthcare for seniors with Fernando Torres-Gil and Daniel Mitchell.

For the first time in several years UCLARA is sponsoring a Signature Event on June 17 honoring recent and soon-to-be retirees at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus. The program will include a reception with music and a presentation by Paley Archive on the “Greatest Moments in Television”.

Organizational Update: UCLARA continues to evolve and adapt to the changing environment as exemplified by the following actions:

• Two new standing committees were established: the Mentorship Committee and the Strategic Funding Committee.
• The Bylaws were thoroughly reviewed initially by the Nominating Committee and then by the whole Board and the updated Bylaws were approved at the March Board meeting.
• In keeping with standing protocol, there will be a Board leadership transition effective July 1, 2026. Jack Powazek will assume the role of President and Stephanie Bradford the role of Vice President/President Elect. Judith Tuch will become Past President/Nominating Chair.
• Additionally, two new members will join the Board, effective July 1, 2026.

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