Board Meeting Minutes

Special BOD Meeting
July 5, 2007

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Meeting was called to order by President Jo Behymer. Those in attendance were: Behymer, Parker, Smith, Ross, Freeman, Gelatt, Marshall, Hilderbrand, Stewart, Schneeberger, Groshong, Yarwood, Cramer, Dowdy, and Bradfield.

President Behymer distributed a list of current members of the MURA BOD with their position and terms of office for corrections and updates.

Minutes of the February 7, 2007 meeting were approved with the addition of three items from Rod Gelatt.

Treasurer report was distributed by Bob Marshall which was approved. It was approved to reimburse Bob Stewart for mileage for his trip to Rolla to attend the Board of Curator’s meeting. It was agreed that there is a need for an audit.

Program – MURA Calendar for Summer 2007-2008 was distributed by Kee Groshong. The Fall Information meeting will be Saturday, November 17th with a presentation by MU Flagship Council; Coach Anderson on basketball; and possibly Ken Hutchinson.

Membership status was given by Ernest Hilderbrand. There are 1,356 paid members with 567 of those being life members. There are 198 members who last paid dues in 2004-2006 and who are still receiving the newsletter and 323 members from 2003 or earlier who have not paid dues and are not receiving the newsletter.

UM Retiree Benefits – Bob Stewart. Attendance at Curator’s meeting was beneficial since MURA members had a meeting with the Curator’s chairman. MURA representation at Board of Curators meetings, twice-yearly meetings with president, and spring meeting with president of the board all helped establish retirees’ continuing involvement in University activities and their income needs.

University Liaison – Gary Smith. Two meetings each with UM President and Columbia Chancellor for next year have been put on the calendar.  Would like to get a meeting with the Curator’s Chairman scheduled for the next year. The next Curator’s meeting will be July 26 and 27 in Marceline.

Government Affairs – Ken Schneeberger. Information sheet on HB444 was distributed which is for Ending Senior Tax Injustice. This would include University retirees. HB444 phases out state income tax on social security income for most Missourians.

Communications – Tom Freeman. August newsletter will be sent around the third week in August. Inclusion in this newsletter will be MURA calendar, letter from President, usual columns and a service announcement on United Way. John Bauman has resigned from doing regular columns and it was suggested to get Al Hahn to replace him.
It is time for an updated directory (paper) – Tom would like to use MU Printing Services as they will use better paper than used in the past and the cost would be a little cheaper.

Staff Council – Loretta Ross. Ken Hutchinson met with the council with discussion of having the ability of transferring sick leave to other employees, which would be very difficult. Tim Rooney discussed the budget.

Faculty Council – Dean Yarwood. They haven’t met.

Past-President’s – Charles Cramer. All MURA Past-Presidents meet whenever possible, with no agenda, no minutes, at the Rendevouz Coffee House. They usually have good attendance. Jo Behymer is the 13th President to serve MURA.

OLD BUSINESS:

• MU Standing Committees – yearly appointed, names submitted for about 6-7 committees; Nominating committee/lecture committee – Mitchell may need to be replaced.
• MURA Brochures – Jo Behymer and Gary Smith have been working on a new brochure – would like to have it 3 fold and need to get the cost of printing
• MURA Goals for 2007-2008 were distributed by President Behymer.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Jo Behymer appointed Charles Cramer as Historian. Groshong/Parker
• Rod Gelatt suggested new avenues to serve MU – teaching or other services to include staff members. It was suggested that he contact Dick Hessler and they work on a survey.
• Committee Changes – President Behymer will appoint standing committee chairman and members with the MURA BOD approval, by email, or approval by the MURA Executive Committee
• United Way – Jo Behymer will have a letter sent to all retiree’s
• Breakfast/Lunch Program – Motion was made, seconded and passed by the BOD for John Parker to chair a program for about 3 programs per semester – Committee will meet to decide on what topic(s); open to MURA members which would pay for their meal only; Held at the old Alumni Center with free room rental.
• Approved by BOD - Memory and Cognitive Aging Laboratory (Psychology Department) will have to purchase the MURA address labels to be used for their mailing. Ernest Hilderbrand will handle. Gelatt/Kroshong
• Sinclair Home Care offered to administer flu vaccines to MURA members – Maybe have this at Fall Information meeting – Kee Groshong will handle.
• Security Breach – There has been a request from Marge Meredith and Susan Burns to have MURA help in their effort to get UM to pay for the ID theft insurance for those individuals affected. It was agreed it would not be in MURA’s best interest to pursue. Gary Smith will handle.
• Jo Behymer has been appointed as a member of the Presidential Search Committee.
• Charles Cramer is chair of a committee on MURA’s Constitutional changes.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Sylvia Bradfield
MURA Secretary