From the Board Meeting

As the E-News editor I'd like to thank Barry McNeill who edited this newsletter for several years before me and who has been remarkably patient showing me the ropes. Learning from a really good teacher is a lucky thing.  Obvious struggles are my own.

If there was a theme from this board meeting it was renewed and creative ways for ASURA to reach and be useful to members.

New Board President Paul Skiera suggested and the board agreed that ASURA should operate a booth at Homecoming, Saturday, November 21, to introduce the retirees' association to prospective members.  Plans are being made to prepare materials and staffing at the booth.

Paul also proposed that ASURA formalize collaboration with OLLI (the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and further collaborate with the Emeritus College.  Both organizations offer continuing educational opportunities.  To that end we had  two guest speakers at the board meeting and at the meet and greet the following day, Jared Swerzinski, Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at ASU, and Helene Ossipov, Vice Dean of the Emeritus College.

What would be offered?

(Information on how to access these offers will be detailed on our website and in communications to our members soon.)

• OLLI:   The arrangement is that introductory ASURA will get free membership to OLLI either fall or spring depending on when their ASURA membership starts. The timing of the free membership to OLLI  coincides with their first "semester" with ASURA.
• Regular ASURA members will be offered a set of three free classes each semester in which they can participate. We will have input into which classes are offered ASURA members. You can access the OLLI catalog here.
• Emeritus College:   The College has its own catalog of lectures, courses, and workshops.  We routinely publish information on some of these educational opportunities in our communications. This year's catalog is here. The pdf is at the bottom of the page.

Greg Broberg and Paul Skiera will work on improving pre-retirement information, especially concerning health insurance. This is to augment content of current pre-retirement seminars already offered. At our meeting Greg discussed some serious difficulties he had regarding insurance when he first retired. This work will be ongoing.

Last spring past President Karen Moses worked with a small committee to develop localized, informal get togethers in communities within the Valley. The idea is that members meet one another over coffee and get acquainted. Karen is planning the first get together in the Ahwatukee Foothills area in October. If you live nearby come and meet us.  Information is coming soon.

Committee News:   The Scholarship Committee led by Jan Shore will contact interested volunteers to join the committee. There will be plenty of work as the selection for 2027-2028 finalist candidates will begin in February. 

Upcoming Events

Monday, September 28, 2026

jASURA Pre-Retirement Seminar: ASRS Route 3
Noon-1 PM MST

Via Zoom:  https://asu.zoom.us/j/84181815561

FREE

Monday, October 26, 2026

ASURA Pre-Retirement: OHR

Noon-1PM

Via Zoom:    https://asu.zoom.us/j/841

FREE

For more information about these events visit the ASURA website, http://asura.asu.edu, and click on the Events menu.

Karen Dwyer, Editor