We had a well-attended Board meeting this week; the only hiccup was our video projector took a walkabout and has failed to come home. We muddled through with only Zoom audio. If any of you see our projector wondering around, could you please direct it back to our office, we miss the little fella.

Board meeting snippets

• Jan Shore, chair of the Scholarship committee, reported that ASU is using a new scholarship program and while she is not sure if it is the new program, the number of applicants this early is unprecedented. If this keeps up her committee will have a busy spring.
• Don Doerres, chair of the Video History Project, reported that all is in place and interviews can commence. Don mentioned that he had called a meeting with Carl Cross, Paul Skiera, and Chris LaMont a colleague of Paul’s who is a Clinical Associate Professor in all things video at ASU. The meeting addressed the feasibility of using students to help with the editing backlog and maybe interviewing. This was an initial meeting and there are a number of details that need to be worked out, but the idea appears to be feasible. Dave Scheatzle, past chair of the committee, tried for years to get something like this started.
• Kay Faris, chair of the Luncheons and Special Events committee, reported that registration for the Holiday Potluck and Bake Sale is now open. This event is our longest running event, the first taking place in 2003. We missed the COVID year but you are not going to want to miss this year’s offering (Potluck registration)

Board Member nominations

We are beginning the process of finding a fresh crop of Board members who could be you! Each year ASURA holds a February election for five new Board members. The Board manages the affairs of the Association and establishes policies as needed to carry out its mission. Board members are elected for a term of three years. The Board meets monthly during the academic year.

I encourage you to offer the names of current ASURA members or yourself as a potential Board member by notifying the Nominating Committee chair, Kay Faris, of your nomination(s). To be sure that your nominee’s name gets on the ballot, you can (as mandated by ASURA Bylaws) submit a Petition of Nomination bearing the signatures of at least ten current ASURA members. All nominating petitions must be received by January 6, 2025.

Send your suggestions or self-nomination to:
Kay Faris, chair of 2025 Nominating committee

Jack Burns’ November Social Security newsletter

Jack Burns, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Arizona, prepares a monthly report on SSA and other items of interest for those on Social Security. This month’s newsletter contains the following stories:

• Veterans and active-duty military members social security has your back
• Why it’s important to check your earnings history
• Social Security can help you start or return to work
• Will remarrying affect my social security benefits?

Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Be sure to periodically check out the Upcoming Events  and Affiliated Events pages on our website for new events. Two you might be interested in are:

• ASURA Holiday Potluck and Bake Sale
• The ASU Book Group – the November book is “Elvis and the Colonel” by Greg McDonald and Marshall Terrill (who will be present)

I hope that you all have a pleasant and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Barry McNeill
E-News Editor