Summer 2015 President’s Message Inside This Issue President’s Message 1 Board Officers/Members, Committees, liaisons & Volunteer Staff 2 ASURA Needs Your Old Books 3 HELP WANTED! 3-4 Fall 2015 Meet & Greet Pizza Party with Preparty Seminar for Recent Retirees 4 ADOA & ASRS Health Insurances Overview 5 Alzheimer Brain Seminar - Spring 2015 5-6 Spring 2015 Volunteer Luncheon 6 It’s Time to Renew Your ASURA Membership 7 ASU Day at the Capitol—February 17, 2015 7 Video History Summer 2015 Report 8 ASURA Annual Meeting - April 18, 2015 8-9 Taxing Matters Seminar - March 19, 2015 10 2015 Spring Luncheon 11 Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon Trip - Spring 2015 11 ASURA Travel Committee Report 12 Fall 2015 ASURA Events Schedule 12 Obituaries 13-15 In Memory of … Marilyn Wahl 15 Welcome New ASURA Members 16 ASURA Summer Office Hours Monday & Tuesday: 9-12 & 1-4 Wednesday & Thursday: 9-12 2nd Wednesday each month: 1-4 Fridays: CLOSED Jim Fordemwalt, 2015-2016 ASURA President Well, another great year for ASURA! We are well started into ASURA’s “Third Decade of Success”. Thank you, Jo Madonna , for a year well done! And a special “thank you” to the outgoing members of the Board of Directors —- Elmer Gooding, Gary Kleemann, Barry McNeill, Connie McNeill and Bill Stasi. You have contributed a great deal of time, effort and hard work to ASURA, and I am looking forward to working with you as volunteer committee members and chairpersons this coming year. Also, welcome to our incoming Board Members —- Barry Bruns, Bev Buddee, Bob Francis, Larry Mankin and Barbara White. I am also looking forward to working with you this coming year on our membership and finance challenges, while we focus on having fun! While this past year has definitely been a success, we continue to have challenges. Membership declined again, in spite of efforts to increase it. Barry McNeill did an excellent study and questionnaire about what things ASURA should do to make the organization more attractive to new retirees. We have had a deficit in our finances this past year and had hoped that the Human Resources department at ASU would be able to increase their allotment for this coming year. But, the budget cuts to ASU seem to have adversely affected that. ASURA has so much to offer its retirees. We need to continue to work to make ASU retirees aware of the benefits of membership in ASURA. I won’t go into them but I’m sure all of you reading this are aware of those benefits and I encourage you to point them out to your friends who are ASU retirees but not yet members of ASURA. One last word of encouragement to those of you who are members but not presently volunteering in one of ASURA’s committees or ex-officio commissions. We would welcome you and appreciate your help and inputs. ASURA is a totally volunteer organization, from the office staff to the Board of Directors and committee members. It’s a great way to meet people and make new friends! ASURA Board Officers President Jim Fordemwalt Past President Jo Madonna Vice President Secretary Bev Buddee Treasurer Barry Bruns to be announced ASURA Board of Directors & Ex-Officio Members Terms Expire April 2016 Terms Expire April 2017 Terms Expire April 2018 Karen Hammann Glenn Irvin Jo Madonna Jan Thompson Hal White Larry Carlson Joyce Hartman Diaz Jim Fordemwalt Ruth Kingsley Trudy Perez Jeannette Robson Barry Bruns Bev Buddee Bob Francis Larry Mankin Barbara White Committees & Liaisons Phone: Fax: Website: Location: Membership: David Schwalm Book Donations: Mary Stevens Obituaries: Becky Reiss Events Coordinator: Barry McNeill Prime Times Newsletter: Jeannette Robson (Designer) Wilma Mathews (Editor) Government Liaison (ASRS): Larry Carlson Government Liaison (State Legislature): Hal White Health Insurance Liaisons (ASRS/ADOA): Larry Carlson, Joyce Hartman Diaz Luncheons/Special Events: Barbara Bradford Eschbach Joyce Hartman Diaz Alumni Association - Rhonda McClintock Emeritus College Liaison - Elmer Gooding Human Resources - Sheree Barron/designee University Liaison - Barbara Shaw-Snyder & Abby Polito University Club Liaison - Jim Fordemwalt University Senate - to be announced University Staff Council - to be announced ASURA Office Staff Adopt-A-Family: Joan Leard Finance: Barry Bruns Ex-Officio Members Scholarship: Sue Blumer, Joy Shearman Seminars: Jan Thompson ** Best to call beforehand Business Operations Mgr. - Carolyn Minner Coordinators, Office Staff - Linda Van Scoy, Nancy Lesko Monday: Seminars (pre-retirement): Trudy Perez Travel: John Brock Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Video History Project: David Scheatzle Website & Data Base: Connie McNeill Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times (480) 965-7668 ** (480) 965-7807 http://asura.asu.edu/ Community Services Building 200 East Curry Road, Room 201B Tempe, Arizona Subs: 2 9am-noon 1pm-4pm 9am-noon 1pm-4pm 9am-noon 1pm-4pm 9am-noon 1pm-4pm am & pm Joan Leard Helen Seaton Carol Berg Jeannette Robson Carol Moore Linda Van Scoy Nancy Lesko Bev Buddee Bonnie Scheall Help Wanted Help Wanted, (Sept.-June) Dorothy Meunier Maxine LaRoux Summer 2015 ASURA Needs Your Old Books! Are your bookshelves too full? Are you downsizing your office or your home and don't have space for all of your books? Donate your used books to us, and we will work with our partner, Friends of the Phoenix Public Library, to sell them. We'll use proceeds of the sale to support our programs. The ASU Foundation, a separate nonprofit organization that exists to support ASU, will provide you with a gift receipt for tax purposes. Half of the proceeds will be invested in our endowed scholarship fund, and half will be used for our Video History project. Earnings from the endowed scholarship fund are earmarked for our ASURA Scholarship. If you have books you can donate, please visit our web site at https://asura.asu.edu/BookDrive and print our donation form. Complete the form and either scan and fax or email to Mary Stevens, chair of the Book Drive project or mail it directly to the ASURA office. For more information contact: Mary Stevens, (602) 758-3750, marystevens0@gmail.com Bill Moor, (480) 838-8348, william.moor@asu.edu HELP WANTED Help Wanted For Luncheons & Special Events Committee! Do you enjoy going out for lunch? Do you enjoy planning events? Do you enjoy socializing among long-time and new friends? Do you have creative ideas for events other than luncheons? If any or all of these questions sound like a ‘yes’ to you …. ASURA is looking for folks to join and participate on the Luncheons & Special Events Committee! This committee plans a Fall pizza party to re-connect with former friends/colleagues and to meet and welcome new members. There is an established December Holiday Potluck, and a Spring luncheon. Events other than luncheons are fun to plan too. For example, fashion shows and musical jam sessions and wine tastings. We truly welcome new ideas! If you would be interested in planning these events with others, or have further questions, please contact Barbara Bradford Eschbach at barbara.eschbach@asu.edu or Joyce Hartman Diaz at joyceh_diaz@hotmail.com. Or call the ASURA office (480) 965-7668 and leave your name, email and/or phone number. We will contact you. Office Volunteers Needed We are in need of a few more volunteers … permanent or temporary … to staff the ASURA office. Unfortunately, several of our regular volunteer office staff, or a family member, are recovering from various health issues leaving us without coverage on Friday mornings and afternoons. Shifts are 9-noon and 1-4 p.m. If you can help out or know of someone who might lend a hand, let us know. Please contact Linda Van Scoy at lvs@asu.edu. Call for Conference Volunteers - ASU Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity (CSDC) CSDC is hosting the Conference on Complex Systems (CCS'15), September 28 – October 2, 2015 at the Fiesta Inn in Tempe (http://ccs2015.org) . This is the first time that the conference has been held in North America … and only one other time held outside Europe in 15 years. (Continued on page 4) Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 3 Summer 2015 (Continued from page 3) The conference has a full schedule, 8:00am – 5:30pm, Monday-Friday and is expected to attract around 800 visitors worldwide. The Event Coordinator, Lyn Mowafy, hopes that ASU Retirees would be interested in "working" the conference with them. Most of the positions are on a volunteer basis but if someone would like to be paid, special arrangements could be made, but the salary would be at the basic student wages … i.e., $8.50-$10.00 per hour. Please contact Lyn Mowafy at (480) 727-9746 or lyn.mowafy@asu.edu for further information. Seeking a Few for On-Call Assistance ASURA has an agreement with the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library (“Friends”) and per this agreement their organization sells books donated by our members, other ASU retirees and anyone else who donates their books to ASURA. “Friends” retains a 15% commission and splits the sales proceeds with ASURA. ASURA uses the proceeds to support our Scholarship program and the Living History Video Project. On occasion, individuals who wish to donate books for this program need someone to transport their books to the ASURA office. We are now looking for members who would be willing to help out. If you are willing to pick up the books and bring them to the ASURA office, please contact the program coordinator, Mary Stevens, at (602) 758-3750 or marystevens0@gmail.com. Did you know that non-fiction books, especially academic-type books, have a much greater value than the most popular fiction books? Fall 2015 Meet & Greet Pizza Party with Pre-party Seminar for Recent Retirees submitted by Barry McNeill The first event of the ASURA year, co-hosted by the Luncheon & Special Events and Seminar Committees, is our annual Meet & Greet Party with Free Pizza! It is a chance to welcome our New Retirees and reconnect with former colleagues and long-time friends. Members of the ASURA Board, Committee Chairs, and Liaisons will be present and will announce events that are already planned for 2015/2016. This is also an opportunity to express your interest in volunteering to participate on one of the various committees. The party program starts with a panel of recently retired ASURA members discussing “Things I Wish I Had Known When I Retired”. While this panel is intended to help the very recently retired, all members are invited to attend and share their experiences with the attendees. Past sessions have been lively, interactive and very helpful. The informal setting provides good opportunities for networking and meeting new friends. Spouses/partners/friends are welcome. If you know of retirees who have not yet joined ASURA please invite them; the more the merrier! Meet and Greet Pizza Party & Seminar Program - Wednesday, September 9, 2015  10:45 - 11:30 Panel of ASURA Members discussing: “Things I Wish I had Known When I Retired”;  11:30 - 12:40 Socializing and eating pizza;  12:40 - 1:00 Welcome by ASURA President, Jim Fordemwalt, followed by short presentations of events and activities that have been scheduled for the remainder of the 2014-2015 year. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 4 Summer 2015 ADOA & ASRS Health Insurances Overview submitted by Larry Carlson & Joyce Hartman Diaz, ASRS/ADOA Health Insurance Liaisons ASURA retirees have options when it comes to retirement health care coverage. Two of these options are offered by state agencies: the Department of Administration (ADOA) and Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Both offer retirees comprehensive medical and dental coverage. Retirees may change plans during the annual open enrollment which takes place late October, early November each year. To help you decide which plan best meets your needs, ADOA provides information fairs and ASRS sets up meetings to present the information to you. Study the open enrollment materials provided to you by ADOA and ASRS and/or attend the ASURA October Health Seminar. After you review and compare the retiree insurance information options and decide which plan best meets your needs, you will then need to follow the enrollment procedures as described in the enrollment packet of the plan(s) that you select. Should you opt to change from an ADOA plan to an ASRS plan, or vice versa, you will also need to notify the plan that you want to discontinue and include the effective date of the change. Please keep in mind that once you elect to enroll in ASRS vs ADOA benefit plans, you may no longer be eligible for ADOA coverage in the future unless you continue in the ADOA dental plan. Once enrolled with ASRS, if you leave after a year or after many years, you may return to ASRS coverage in the future. Retirees can choose medical coverage with one agency and dental coverage with a different agency. Both ADOA and ASRS open enrollment starts and ends on the same dates. If you are Medicare eligible, in addition to those insurance plans offered by ASRS and ADOA, other Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplements are available from a number of sources. Costs for these plans vary and it is advantageous to begin researching plans early and thinking about your needs so that when open enrollment begins in the fall decision making will be easier. Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and a new case develops every 67 seconds. In 2013, 15.5 million caregivers provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $220 Billion. Alzheimer Brain Seminar - Spring 2015 submitted by Barry McNeill This is a report based on a talk given by Dr. Woodruff of the Mayo Clinic; the slides for the entire talk are available at: https://asura.asu.edu/sites/default/files/ alzheimerseminarslides.pdf Establishing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease requires a multi-prong approach. Since memory loss is involved it is critical to have a reliable informant. The clinical history of a patient would include looking at: Memory is not perfect and memory lapses are a normal part of life. Forgetting why you entered a room or the name of the actor are not by themselves red flags for dementia. More concerning would be:        Cognitive symptoms – memory language, etc., Functional status – hygiene, finance errors, medication management, etc.,  Behavioral symptoms – impaired insight & judgment, agitation & irritability, etc.,  Safety concerns – medication errors, driving, wandering, etc., and  Contributing medical factors – psychiatric illness, sleep disturbance, etc. Frequent repetition, not just for emphasis, Lack of awareness of memory difficulties, Medication errors, Disorientation in familiar areas, and Trouble doing cognitively demanding tasks that were previously done without difficulty. The examination might also include a variety of neuroThe cognitive spectrum ranges from “sharp as a tack” to logical examinations, mental as well as physical along with age-associated cognitive changes to mild cognitive impairsome diagnostic studies, e.g., thyroid, B12, brain imaging ment (MCI), and finally to dementia. using a variety of scanning technologies. There are a number of dementia subtypes but Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent. More than 5 million (Continued on page 6) Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 5 Summer 2015 into nerve cells. That leads to disruption and death of cells. These antagonists may protect cells against excess glutamate by partial blocking NMDA receptors.”1 (Continued from page 5) Two current treatments are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and glutamate antagonists Alzheimer's drugs offer one strategy to help manage memory loss, thinking and reasoning problems, and day-today function. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's drugs don't work “Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing for everyone, and they can't cure the disease or stop its prolevels of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger involved gression. Over time, their effects wear off. Further while in memory, judgment and other thought processes. any of the three FDA approve acetylcholinesterase inhibiHere's how they work: Certain brain cells release ace- tors, on average, work about equally well, in individuals, tylcholine, which helps deliver messages to other cells. one acetylcholinesterase inhibitor may work better or proAfter a message reaches the receiving cell, various oth- duce fewer side effects than does another er chemicals, including an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, break acetylcholine down so it can be recyAlzheimer’s pathophysiology i.e., understanding what is cled. going on to create the brain pathology observed is an ongoing research area. Studies of Alzheimer’s brains reveal sevAlzheimer's disease damages or destroys cells that pro- eral pathological problems including: accumulation of abduce and use acetylcholine, thereby reducing the normal proteins so called plaques and tangles, gliosis, imamount available to carry messages. An acetylcholines- paired synaptic transmission, neuronal loss, and abnormal terase Inhibitor slows the breakdown of acetylcholine brain metabolism. Initiating treatment at the MCI stage by blocking the activity of acetylcholinesterase. By may be too late; there is evidence to suggest that there is maintaining acetylcholine levels, the drug may help already e significant neurological damage especially the compensate for the loss of functioning brain cells.” creation of plaques. Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors Glutamate Antagonist “Glutamate antagonists appears to work by regulating the activity of glutamate, a chemical involved in information processing, storage, and retrieval. Glutamate plays an essential role in learning and memory by triggering NMDA receptors to let a controlled amount of calcium into a verve cell. The calcium helps create the chemical environment required for information storage. Excess glutamate, on the other hand, overstimulates NMDA receptors so that they allow too much calcium The best advice is to have a healthy diet and keep physically, socially, and mental active. _______________ FDA-Approve Treatments for Alzheimer’s, 2012 Alzheimer’s Association at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/ topicsheet_treatments.pdf 1 Spring 2015 Volunteer Luncheon Jo Madonna presents an appreciation gift to Carol Moore who stepped down as Office Staff Coordinator. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Dave Schwalm, Gary Anderson, Bill Moor, Larry Carlson, Jim Fordemwalt. 6 Summer 2015 It’s Time to Renew Your ASURA Membership While renewal has the obvious benefit of allowing you to continue receiving Prime Times, ASU-related obituary notifications and event notifications, if you so choose, renewal also gives the Association negotiating power. The recent member survey showed that working to further the welfare of retirees by advocating with the university, the legislature, the Arizona State Retirement System, and with health insurance groups was the most important thing ASURA does. The more members we have the greater our influence. Membership dues are $30 and will cover the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. To renew visit our web site at https://asura.asu.edu/MembershipRenewals and do one of the following:    Pay with your credit card on-line. If you choose this method, you will receive e-mail confirmation both from the ASU Foundation (our banker) and from the Association itself. Your confirmation notice from ASURA will list the information we have on file for you, and will provide instructions for making any updates to your contact information and your volunteer interests. If you wish to pay by check, print and complete the Membership Renewal & Update form. Instructions for making out the check and for mailing are on the form. Please look at the back of the form closely to see whether there are volunteer areas that might interest you. We would welcome your participation. If you do not have access to a computer please phone the ASURA office at (480) 965-7668 to enroll by phone. Your enrollment also offers the opportunity for you to provide extra financial support for our projects and for our operational costs. The projects include: the ASURA Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded annually to an ASU student; our Video History project, which captures interviews with people who’ve had a significant impact on ASU; our Adopt-a-Family project, which helps out needy ASU and Tempe School District families. Please visit https:// asura.asu.edu for more information on these projects. ASU Day at the Capitol February 17, 2015 above: Hal White, Sparky, Jeri Meeks, Brenda Shears, Bob Mings, John Brock. below: State Senator Ed Ableser Dist. 26, Bob Mings, Hal White above: Bob Mings, John Brock, Jeri Meeks, Hal White, Sparky, Brenda Shears. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 7 Summer 2015 Video History Summer 2015 Report submitted by Dave Scheatzle, Chair At the end of the 2014/15 interview season we can count 15 new interviews bringing the overall total to 111. Interviews since our last Prime Times Report are Doug Anderson, Vladimir Borovansky, Susan Clouse Dolbert, Bob Francis, Sam Kirkpatrick, Jim Odenkirk and Dick Peck. The Video History Crew consists of Roger Clark, John McIntosh, Becky Reiss, Dave Scheatzle and Linda Van Scoy. Gary Krahenbuhl has become a “fixture” as an interviewer, doing three of the last seven interviews. Linda Van Scoy continues to develop YouTube clips for the ASURA website. You might find these entertaining and provide trivia for your conversations about ASU history. Go to https://asura.asu.edu/VideoHistoryInterviews Here you will find a complete list of the 111 interviews to date. At the end of a person’s name, if you see the words “(video clip)” underlined and in red, you can put your curser on this red underlined phrase and left click with your mouse. The video clip will start to play. Dick Peck (left in photo)being interviewed by Gary Krahenbuhl. We have upgraded our small interview studio, which is located adjacent to the ASURA offices in the Community Services Building. Crew member Roger Carter, our BBC and Channel 8 trained video and audio technician, suggested that the lighting of the “talent” being interviewed should be upgraded with the purchase of LED lamps. Our original light fixtures used halogen lamps and produced considerable heat. They over-taxed the capacity of the air conditioning system. LED lamps produce the same amount of light for 20% of the power (and heat output). The committee hopes to use the summertime to catch up on editing and file management. It is time to start using the server capacity of the Library Repository to store our interviews and make interviews available on-line. Susan Clouse Dolbert was our last interview of the 2014-15 season. Leon Shell was her interviewer. Tara, a senior in the School of Sustainability, thanked the Association for providing the scholarship, which she feels privileged to receive. Tara is from a small town in Southern Oregon. When she was 22 years old, she left a successful career in retail and came to Arizona, studying at Scottsdale Community College. While there, she determined to change from her initial study in interior design to sustainability. Tara explained the nature and structure of Sustainability as an academic discipline, it’s importance to the environment, and her commitment to its principles. She is looking forward to beginning her career in sustainability, with particular interest in cities, in designing sustainable products, and implementing sustainable urban policies. ASURA Annual Meeting - April 18, 2015 Prior to the beginning of the formal meeting, members in attendance enjoyed time for casual conversation and light refreshments. Welcome and Association Overview – Jo Madonna President Jo Madonna opened the formal meeting at 1:15 by welcoming everyone and recognizing and thanking Board officers and members, committee chairs, and the many volunteers who support the Association and carry out its functions. Remarks by Scholarship Recipient Tara Pryts Video History Project Interview Clips Scholarship Committee Chair Sue Blumer thanked the organization and the members of the Scholarship Committee for making the scholarship possible. Sue introduced Tara Pryts, 2014-15 Scholarship recipient. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Project Committee Chair Dave Scheatzle noted that the Video History Project began as an effort to record the (Continued on page 9) 8 Summer 2015 Introduction of New Board Members and Officers by 2015-16 ASURA President Jim Fordemwalt (Continued from page 8) history of ASU’s development through the people who were part of it and has continued that process. He showed clips from recent interviews to give the audience a sense of the Project and the interview process. Jo Madonna introduced the new Board officers and members and continuing members, and introduced Jim Fordemwalt, the incoming President of the Association. Jim welcomed the new and continuing Board members and remarked on issues to be addressed in the coming year, particularly membership and finances. He noted events that the Association is sponsoring, for example, travel opportunities and seminars. Jim concluded the meeting and invited participants to spend a few minutes visiting with one another and partaking of the refreshments. Remarks by Ray Anderson, ASU Vice President for University Athletics and Athletic Director Jo Madonna introduced Ray Anderson and noted that when she asked the Board for suggestions for speakers, they indicated that they wanted Ray Anderson, and when she contacted him about the possibility of his speaking at the Annual Meeting, he quickly indicated his enthusiasm for doing so. Anderson discussed the process that brought him to ASU, and the critical role of President Crow and his vision for the university and the Athletic Department. He indicated the enthusiasm and energy of the student athletes and the opportunity to work with them has been tremendously rewarding. Anderson offered several examples of how the athletic program is forwarding the mission that President Crow has established for ASU. For example, the football stadium is being reconfigured into a resource accessible to the community for a range of activities, rather than being used only for a few games each year. ASU Athletics is going to be run more like a business so it can achieve financial independence and sustainability. At the same time, the mission of the student-athlete will be at the forefront. The commitments are to have student athletes graduate, to compete for championships, to compete within the rules, and to bring the athletic mission into the community. Anderson indicated that ASU wants to compete in every sport – he noted recent additions of men’s hockey and women’s lacrosse, and the lack of a men’s soccer team and a men’s tennis team, sports the Athletic Department will be pursuing. New people have been joining the Athletic Department in order to form staff that can move forward in a creative and energetic way. In addition, the coaching staff is being upgraded so the student athletes receive the finest training from enthusiastic and competitive coaches. They are trying to build student-athletes who are champions while here and champions in life when they leave ASU. The Athletic Department is seeking partners who value the ASU brand and will support its development and advancement. Questions from the audience included inquiries about the commitment to the athletes’ education, academic support, and the move to pay student-athletes. Anderson indicated that the athletic programs ASU are interested in emulating are Stanford and Wisconsin, where athletes come to participate until they graduate. At ASU, academic support is being strengthened. He believes that athletes should be supported more fully but in a reasonable manner. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times left: Tara Pryts, ASURA 2014-2015 Scholarship Recipient right: Marilyn Wurzburger, Joyce Hartman Diaz, Joan Leard left: Bev Buddee, Glenn Irvin, Matt Madonna right: Larry Mankin, Gary Swaty 9 Summer 2015 Taxing Matters Seminar - March 19, 2015 submitted by Barry McNeill The final seminar for Spring 2015, “Taxing Matters – strategies for effective estate and tax planning”, was presented by Christine Kolm, Director Wealth Planning Strategies, TIAA CREF in front of 40 attendees. Following is a cliff notes version of the talk; if you want you can review the presentation slides at https://asura.asu.edu/sites/default/files/ PDF_Files/asurataxingseminar.pdf Christine began with a disclaimer: “the material is for educational benefit only and should not be relied on as tax or legal advice.” She then moved on with an overview of the presentation and right into the first topic. Income tax planning: Christine reviewed with examples the variety of taxes that come into play, including taxes associated with the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, unearned income, personal exemptions, and the 2015 tax brackets. Estate tax planning and considerations: The talk gave a quick overview of estate taxes and then discussed at length the impact of portability1. The current federal estate tax exemption is $5,430,000 per taxpayer. While portability simplifies planning and provides flexibility for married couples there are some caveats – remarrying may impact portability. Basic estate planning considerations.    The final part of the seminar addressed planning for incapacity: what would happen to you and/or your assets, medical matters money matters Christine reviewed several documents that everyone should consider. At the conclusion of the talk Christine took a number of questions from the audience. The evaluations completed by the seminar participants indicated that they found the seminar very valuable and helpful. We wish to thank Nestor Montoya, Christine Kolm and TIAA-CREF for putting on this seminar for us. ______________________ 1 “In simple terms, portability of the federal estate tax exemption between married couples means that if the first spouse dies and the value of the estate does not require the use of all the deceased spouse's federal exemption from estate taxes, then the amount of the exemption that was not used for the deceased spouse's estate may be transferred to the surviving spouse's exemption so that he or she can use the deceased spouse's unused exemption plus his or her own exemption when the surviving spouse later dies”. (taken from http://wills.about.com/od/understandingestatetaxes/qt/What-Is-Portability-Of-The-Estate-Tax-Exemption.htm). Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 10 Summer 2015 2015 Spring Luncheon story by Barbara Bradford Eschbach; pictures by Joyce Hartman Diaz The final luncheon for 2014/15 was a luncheon and wine tasting with a professional sommelier provided by our host venue: Dvine Bistro & Wine Bar in Chandler. This event was held on Thursday, March 5, 2015, and was attended by 18 members and their guests. Because this second wine tasting event was held in March vs. May (prior year event was held Thursday, May 15, 2014, which was late in the year and conflicted with other ASURA travel events), the attendance improved by 50 percent! The wine tasting portion of this luncheon was very well received and definitely educational! above: Joy Shearman, Phyllis Heltsley; below: Joann DeMassa, Larry Kentura Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon Trip - Spring 2015 submitted by John Brock Twenty-three people left the Tempe Public Library parking lot at about 8 am on Wednesday the 22nd of April. That day we had lunch at Romo’s Café in Holbrook and later viewed Canyon de Chelly from the south canyon walls. The primary views include Spider Rock and the Whitehouse overlook. Our overnight accommodations were at the Canyon de Chelly Inn (Best Western). On Thursday morning we left Chinle, AZ and headed to Monument Valley. There we visited a typical Navajo hogan, and boarded small trucks for a tour of the Valley. We enjoyed the views (and the little dust storm) and had lunch at Goulding’s. We arrived in the late afternoon at Page, where we did a short visit to Glenn Canyon Dam and looked at Lake Powell (yes it is low in water). That evening our hotel was the Courtyard by Marriott. above: Canyon de Chelly - below: Monument Valley Friday morning we were treated to a Navajo hoop dance and then headed out for Antelope Canyon. This is one of the famous slot canyons of the Colorado Plateau. After viewing the canyon we stopped for a photo opportunity at Horseshoe bend of the Colorado River. Our next stop included some shopping at the Cameron Trading Post. We arrived in Flagstaff amid rain showers for lunch at Josephine’s then returned to Tempe about 6 pm on Friday evening. We need to recognize All Aboard America travel services who arranged the majority of the trip and give special recognition to our tour leader Ann and the our bus driver Steven. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 11 Summer 2015 fauna of the lower Sonoran and the legend and lore of the Superstitions. Depart from Tempe Library at 10:30 submitted by John Brock am, return at about 5:30 pm. Cost of $90 per person includes round trip bus, bottled water, lunch, cruise, a Warm up your engine, we are on the road again during guide and all taxes and gratuities. 2015-2016. We will be doing one-day local trips to fun, st interesting places .. multi-day state and regional trips .. and  Friday, April 1 , 2016 – NO FOOLING! Come with us to tour the incredible Tovrea Castle, the one along some international trips. Is it warm? Your engine? Washington St. you have always wanted to visit. You  Well, the Chopsticks, too are probably just getting back will learn of the Castles history, its development, have into town. On May 18th, 22 ASU retirees and their a riding/guided tour around the grounds and a guided friends left for China. The 21-day trip included a tour inside. There will be two tours, one at about 8:30 cruise on the Yangtze, a visit to the panda research AM and the second at about 10:30 AM. We can only center in ChongQing, a walk on the Wall, a visit with take 13 people at each time. Following the second tour the Warriors and a descent into the Ming Tombs. The we may well go to the Stockyard Restaurant for lunch. time spent in Beijing also included touring the Forbid-  Like cigars? How about a trip to Cuba to buy your den City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace own stogies? We are making preliminary plans for a and a walk on Tiananmen Square. Seminars were also trip there in spring of 2016, perhaps February, March, conducted for students at the college establish by ConApril. Do you remember the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fucius in Qu Fu. And you bet, we can use CHOPstand-off, the tense fear of ICBMs off our coast? It’s STICKS! all over. Time to go and say hello, get to know the  Like spaghetti? How about joining the Meatballs (MB) people and country and buy some souvenirs. This is for an incredible trip to Italy in September. There still one of the HOTTEST trips in the country right now. could be a window seat left but you will have to hurry. Watch for the details for this most special trip. The MBs leave Sept 11th for an in depth exploration of central Italy. Contact Gary Kleemann ASAP at Details and registration inforgary@asu.edu and ask him if he can pour one more mation for all ASURA Travel activiglass of wine. Sbrigati? Andiamo? ties appear on the ASURA website  Tuesday, October 6th, join us as we head east to Canand can be obtained by calling the yon Lake to cruise on Dolly Steamboat. We will stop office at (480) 965-7668. at Tortilla Flat, an original stagecoach stop in 1904, for “bye” … “ciao” ... “adios” lunch. Our afternoon nature cruise on Dolly will also include information on the Apache Trail, the flora & ASURA Travel Committee Report Fall 2015 ASURA Events Schedule The Events Committee has been busy planning the fall’s set of activities. Please put these dates on your calendars. As the events get closer additional information will be available on our website http://asura.asu.edu/ and you will be able to register for the events. Type Event Name Date Cost Social Meet & Greet Pizza Party with pre-party seminar for newly retired members Wednesday September 9 Free Travel Italy September 11 – October 1 Spots still available Seminar Health Insurance Thursday October 22 Free Travel Dolly Steam Ship Tuesday October 6 $90/person Social Luncheon November TBD TBD Social Holiday Potluck Friday December 18 Free Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 12 Summer 2015 Obituaries: January - June, 2015 submitted by Becky Reiss (please note that all obituary notices and photos, when available, are on our web site at http://asura.asu.edu/obituaries) Name Date of Death ASU Affiliation Anderson, Robert April 18, 2015 Professor, Department affiliation unknown Arriola, Mike “Viego” T. December 28, 2014 Custodian Austin, John Aaron April 26, 2015 Professor, Industrial Engineering Ayres, James Edward March 10, 2015 Historical Archaeology Barmore, Elden Gareth (E.G.) February 7, 2015 Member of ASU New Venture Development Council & Centennial Commission Beal, Richard Sidney, Jr. January 29, 2015 Professor of Zoology Benedict, Irene A. January 16, 2015 Faculty, College of Education Benjamin, Robert Elliot April 13, 2015 Professor, Economics Blaesser, Helen Ann February 26, 2015 Wife of Willard Blesser, former professor, Department of Counselor Education and Professor Emeritus Bragg, Mariko Sugawara February 5, 2015 Japanese Language Teacher Bubb, William Snowden December 18, 2014 Husband of Marilynn Bubb, former staff member of the then Department of Anthropology Clark-Johnson, Susan January 28, 2015 Professor of Practice, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Former Executive Director, Morrison Institute for Public Policy Cohen, William April 11, 2015 Visiting Professor, College of Law Coudroglou, Aliki January 27, 2015 Professor, School of Social Work Cox, Earl W. April 15, 2015 Plumber Dejarnatt, Gladys “Pal” Marie April 30, 2015 Staff, College of Business Dezelsky, Thomas Leroy February 4, 2015 Emeritus Professor, Department of Exercise and Wellness (continued on page 14) Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 13 Summer 2015 (continued from page 13) Name Date of Death ASU Affiliation Dunstan, Pamela March 31, 2015 Ballet Accompanist Furcone, Sharon Luth February 23, 2015 Postdoctoral Fellowship Giles, Fred Alvin February 14, 2015 Associate Director, Physical Resources Gordon, Leonard March 4, 2015 Dean Emeritus and Senator Grobe, Edwin Paul “Papoo” January 22, 2015 Professor, French Hansen, Mons Leslie (Les) December 30, 2014 Taught Principles of Real Estate, College of Business Harris, Kathryn M. May 4, 2015 Professor Emeritus, Department of English Hedlund, Lois Elaine (Kurth) February 8, 2015 Program Coordinator, American Indian Program, Polytechnic Campus Hill, Louis January 23, 2015 (estimated) Chair, Civil Engineering Department Hunter, Betty Austin April 28, 2015 Guidance Counselor, Home Economics Kazal, Deborah May 4, 2015 Professor of Economics Magruder, Marshall Kelly April 13, 2015 Sun Angel Foundation Board member Marsh, Patricia April 4, 2015 Manager, Surplus Property and Recycling Matula, Arthur April 1, 2015 (estimated) Journalism Professor McDaniel, Shelia O. March 28, 2015 Taught English as a Second Language McGary, Clarice Maurine (Calvert) April 11, 2015 Reference Librarian Myers, Ronald Dean December 21, 2014 HVAC Department Northrup, John Edwin May 3, 2015 Physics Professor Pendleton, Ronald K. January 29, 2015 Research Associate, Education/Technology Prince, Mary Martha March 30, 2015 Librarian, ASU West Rasmussen, Joy March 15, 2015 Adjunct Faculty, School of Social Work Roberts, Thomas Gene April 12, 2015 Emeritus Professor, Department Chair, Special Education, College of Education (continued on page 15) Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 14 Summer 2015 (continued from page 14) Name Date of Death ASU Affiliation Sargent, Charles “Chuck” Scales February 3, 2015 Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning Shriver, Keith A. January 27, 2015 Emeritus Professor, School of Accountancy Skoglund, Carol Hansen January 6, 2015 Graduate Teaching Assistant Swarthout, Kathryn Blair April 3, 2015 Swarthout Awards in Writing through Creative Writing/ English Department Tackett, Denise Nielsen February 23, 2015 Research Diver, Cancer Research Institute Taylor, Jack May 12, 2015 Professor Emeritus, School of Art Taylor, Nancy Jean March 9, 2015 Purchasing Agent Van Dyke, Deanna “Dee” Marlene March 1, 2015 Wife of Robert Hershberger, Professor, College of Architecture Wahl, Marilyn Louise April 15, 2015 President’s Office Waller, Teresa Lynn March 20, 2015 Financial Services Warren-Findley, Jannelle “Jann” Griffin February 4, 2015 Associate Professor of History Wiggins, Harry B. March 9, 2015 College of Business faculty Wollam, DonnaKaye March 24, 2015 Taught French; President of ASU Faculty Wives, 1972-73; Wife of Owen Wollam (deceased), Emeritus Professor, Department of Languages and Literatures Wollam, Owen March 8, 2015 Emeritus Professor, Department of Languages and Literatures Young, Hewitt Hartley February 2, 2015 Professor Emeritus of Engineering; former Department Chair In Memory of … Marilyn Louise Wahl, 87, passed away on April 15, 2015. Marilyn worked at ASU from 1970 to 1989, primarily in the President's Office. She was a member of the ASURA board from 1992-1994 and served as Secretary from 1992-1993. In addition, she was a volunteer in the ASURA office for several years. Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times 15 Summer 2015 Welcome New ASURA Members Pollie Carter Caryl Dubrock Barbara Crowe Layne Stromwall Prime Times is issued three times annually by the Arizona State University Retirees Association and may offer special editions, as needed. It is compiled and published by Jeannette Robson (designer), Wilma Mathews (editor), AlphaGraphics (printing services) and mailed through ASU Mail Services. Articles are always welcome, subject to Board approval. Mailing Address: Prime Times ASU Retirees Association PO Box 873308 Tempe, AZ 85287-3308 Arizona State University Retirees Association: ASURA has a volunteer-staffed office in the Community Services Building, 200 E. Curry Rd., Room 201B in Tempe, Arizona. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Best to call beforehand) Phone: Fax: Website: (480) 965-7668 (480) 965-7807 http://asura.asu.edu 16