George Mason University
Minutes of the Retired Faculty Association – Officers Meeting and May event
May 11, 2016, 10:15-10:40 AM mtg. 10:45-11:30 AM Presentation followed by lunch/social time at
Aa’bee Persian & Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant, Fairfax, VA
Present: Don Boileau, Esther Elstun, Joseph Lieb, Julianne Mahler, Jim Sanford, Janice Sutera, Veronique Klimonda (HR Liaison)
I. The meeting began at 10:15 AM. Jim Sanford presided as newly elected President in Bob Ehrlich’s absence.
II. Mason Retirement Seminar – report (Janice Sutera)
- 15-minute announcement/overview of RFA to approximately 30 faculty and staff attendees including a “show and tell” of the RFA website. Brief discussion ensued.
- Handouts and Links: Janice shared handouts/info (e.g., Social security, Medicare, Senior citizen tuition waiver info, OLLI summer catalog) provided by HR and the speakers at the Mason HR-sponsored event “Next Steps: Plan for your Retirement.”
- Action: Janice will update RFA website with relevant info and links, e.g., Senior Citizen Waiver program.
- Future RFA Discussion Topics:
- Lori Roth, HR Director of Training & OD, shared info with Janice about an ACE Working Group on Forming Retiree Associations and provided a contact for follow up.
- Dave Ryan, Outreach Chair, OLLI requested RFA contact him
III. Website Maintenance (Janice S.)
- Action: Janice will update website with latest info on events and minutes for April and May by end of May 2016.
- Future RFA discussion: identify a webmaster.
IV. Programming (Julie Mahler)
- Spring 2016 Event attendance:
- May 11 event: Jack Censer, Professor Emeritus of History, The evolution of revolutionary ideas. His new book, Debating Modern Revolution, was presented and discussed. Attendance = 16
- April 13 event: David Keegan, State Department Foreign Service Institute, The Chinese economy: Opportunities and challenges.
- March 9 event: Rebecca Goldin, Professor, Mathematics, Statistical slips in the media: How numbers make the news. Attendance = 16
- February 10 event: Lecture by Michael Summers, professor of Physics, The ‘New Horizons’ mission to Pluto: What have we learned? See link: https://cos.gmu.edu/blog/2015/07/keep-watch-pluto-bound-spacecraft-flies-by-the-icy-planet-on-tuesday/ Attendance = 10
- January 13 event: S. Botanic Garden (next to U.S. Capitol.) Guided tour lasting about an hour. Lunch afterwards for 9 folks at the American Indian Museum. Attendance = 9
- Upcoming events were not confirmed: See website for any updates: https://rfa.gmu.edu/activities/featured-events/
- June 2016 – planning a night sky viewing. Will be held 30 minutes on Rt. 66W from Mason. Details to follow as they unfold.
- 2016-17 Event Plans:
- Sept 2016 – Chris Jones – Potomac tour – repeat of a popular outing
- Oct 2016 – Tour of Gunston Hall
- Nov 9, 2016 – Tom Davis, current BOV Rector, former Congressman – his ‘take’ on the 2016 election results
- Dec 2016 – Tour of Luray Caverns with Doug Mose
- A tour of Mason’s Rooftop Greenhouse was suggested and will be pursued as an event
V. 2015-17 Executive Committee Meetings
- ACTION: No meeting June 2016.
- Meeting space for next year’s Officer’s meetings and events will be reserved in Fairfax County Libraries, preferably Fairfax City branch or Oakton branch.
- Executive Committee Meetings precede monthly programs/events.
VI. Adjournment: About 10:40 AM
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Sutera Wolfe, Ph.D.
2012 Retiree