Fall 2010 2010 ASU Veterans' Day Golf Tournament The ASU Retirees Association (ASURA) is organizing our 5th ASU Veterans' Day Golf Tournament. Previous tournaments have been popular and a lot of fun for all concerned, so sign up now! You don't need to be a great golfer to have a good time. Date: Thursday, November 11, 2010 Place: ASU Karsten Golf Course, 1125 East Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, Arizona Time: 6:30 a.m. for registration and free range balls, 7:15 a.m. for group photo and shotgun start, noon for BBQ lunch and awards Cost: $75 entry fee that includes golf, cart, 19th hole barbecue, and prizes. Registration Procedure: Phone the ASURA office at 480-965-7668 to request a registration form or download a copy at the following web site — http://asura.asu.edu/golf. Complete the form, make out your check for $75 per player to ASU Foundation (ASURA), and mail form and check(s) to the ASURA office, as indicated on the form. You may also complete the form and pay on the day of the tournament, up until tee time, assuming we still have places available! Sponsors: We are actively seeking companies and groups who want to sponsor our tournament at the $2,000, $1,000 and $500 levels. We expect to be joined by Frank Kush and Bobby Winkles, as we have been in the past. The banquet following play should offer an opportunity for you to greet them and other friends and colleagues. Proceeds from the tournament will be split between the Bobby and Ellie Winkles Scholarship Endowment and the ASU Retirees Association’s Special Projects, which includes the ASU Living History Project and scholarships. All ASU employees, retirees, alumni and sponsors are invited to participate in this Scramble tournament. For more information, contact David Scheatzle at scheatzle@asu.edu or 480-967-9924. ASURA Board Officers President Connie McNeill 480-945-3565 connie.mcneill@asu.edu Past President Mary Stevens 602-758-3750 marystevens0@gmail.com Secretary Jo Madonna 480-839-8021 jo.madonna@asu.edu Vice President David Schwalm 480-897-0804 david.schwalm@asu.edu Treasurer Joyce Hartman-Diaz 480-814-8249 joyceh_diaz@hotmail.com ASURA Board of Directors and Ex-Officio Members Terms Expire 4/2013 Terms Expire 4/2012 Terms Expire 4/2011 Ex-Officio Members Dick Jacob 480-838-5423 rjjacob@asu.edu Gary Anderson 480-839-3542 gwander@asu.edu Jim Fordemwalt 480-831-8794 jfordemwalt@cox.net Gary Grossman University Senate 480-965-2222 usenate.acd@asu.edu Wilma Mathews 602-279-1053 wkm23@asu.edu Doug Johnson 480-965-6614 doug.johnson@asu.edu Elmer Gooding 480-831-2990 elmer.gooding@asu.edu Dave Scheatzle 480-967-9224 scheatzle@asu.edu Connie McNeill ASURA Officer Joyce Hartman-Diaz ASURA Officer David Schwalm 480-897-0804 david.schwalm@asu.edu Joy Shearman 602-448-5556 joy.shearman@asu.edu Rose Minetti 480-945-3565 rose.minetti@asu.edu Jo Madonna ASURA Officer Bill Stasi 480-396-6608 wstasi@asu.edu William Moor 480-838-8348 william.moor@asu.edu Mary Stevens ASURA Officer Carolyn Minner ASURA Officer Fall 2010 2 Sheree Barron Human Resources 480-965-7878 sheree.barron@asu.edu Robert Muscari University Staff Council 480-965-3497 robert.muscari@asu.edu Eric Sloan Public Affairs 480-727-6031 eric.sloan@asu.edu Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Committee Chairs Finance Mary Stevens - ASURA Officer Community Outreach/Adopt-A-Family Joan Leard 480-947-6119 - joan@jazzinaz.org Government Liaison Council/State Legislature Jerry Aronson 480-945-9078 - jerrya@asu.edu Community Outreach/Emeritus College Liaison Dick Jacob 480-838-5423 - rjjacob@asu.edu Government Liaison Council - ASRS Dick Jacob 480-838-5423 - rjjacob@asu.edu Community Outreach/Scholarship Sue Blumer 480-948-6632 - cynthia.blumer@asu.edu Community Outreach/Univ. Club Liaison Jim Fordemwalt 480-831-8794 - jfordemwalt@cox.net Health Insurance Liaison Doug Johnson (ADOA) 480-965-6614 - doug.johnson@asu.edu Rose Minetti (ASRS) 480-945-3565 - rose.minetti@asu.edu Community Outreach/Video History Project Linda Van Scoy 480-497-5958 - lvs@asu.edu Membership Committee Chair Elmer Gooding 480-831-2990 - elmer.gooding@asu.edu Events—Luncheons Barbara Bradford-Eschbach 480-209-0733 - Barbara.Eschbach@asu.edu Membership & Communications/Newsletter Wilma Mathews (copy editor) 602-279-1053 - wkm23@asu.edu Jeannette Robson (typesetter) 480-688-5178 - jrobson@asu.edu Events—Retirees Day Barry McNeill 480-945-3565 - mcneill@asu.edu Membership & Communications/Obituaries Becky Reiss 480-897-6278 - becky.reiss@asu.edu Events—Travel Gary Anderson 480-839-3542 - gwander@asu.edu Bill Stasi 480-396-6608 - wstasi@asu.edu Membership & Communications/ Web Site, Database Connie McNeill - ASURA Officer ASURA Office Staff Phone: Fax: Carol Berg Betty Norris Linda Van Scoy Jeannette Robson Maxine LaRoux Anna Marie Shivers Nancy Lesko Joan Leard Jack Sarrett Helen Seaton Ed Scannell Janet Soper 480-965-7668 480-965-7807 Business Office Manager Carolyn Minner carolyn.minner@asu.edu Coordinator, Office Staff Carol Moore carolinneamoore@cox.net Fall 2010 3 Ike_brg@yahoo.com azbetty@cox.net lvs@asu.edu jrobson@asu edu laroux@asu.edu istaxs@asu.edu nclesko@asu.edu jleard@asu.edu jack.sarrett@asu.edu helen.seaton@asu.edu eesaz@aol.com jsoper@cox.net Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times South Seas & Polynesia Cruise, March 3 – April 3, 2011 The ASURA and Uncommon Journeys travel agency have put together a group package for members of our organization and their guests on a Holland America Line Cruise of the South Seas and Polynesia aboard the ms Rotterdam.  Some special features include round trip motor coach transfer from Tempe to San Diego and shipboard amenities such as special dinners and cocktail parties for our group.  Sample Ports of Call are Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii; Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hawaii; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Hilo, Hawaii; Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia; Bora-Bora, Society Islands, French Polynesia; Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia.  Rates range from $3,895 to $7,119 plus applicable fees, per person, ms Rotterdam double occupancy . Complete information about the trip is available at our web site at http://asura.asu.edu/SouthSeas2010. You may also email Bill Stasi at wstasi@asu.edu with questions. The first informational meeting will be held in the Tempe Public Library Connections Room on Friday, October 29, 10:30-noon. ASURA Scholarship Recipient Adopt-A-Family Anthony Desamito, Jr., an art major, is the recipient of this year’s ASURA scholarship. Transferring in from Coconino Community College where he received the Student Fine Arts Award, Desamito will be studying in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. He had his first art show this spring in Flagstaff and sold his first art piece in April. On his own financially, Desamito said the ASURA scholarship ―…truly lifts a weight off my shoulders.‖ Desamito will be a guest speaker at the ASURA Retirees day next spring. Two families, one from the Tempe schools and one headed by an ASU student, will be the recipients on this year’s ASURA Adopt-A-Family program. The families will receive an abundance of food for both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, as well as clothes and toys in December. Their needs will be met again in the spring. If you would like to make a contribution to this program, you can send it to the ASU Foundation, marked specifically for ―ASURA Adopt-A-Family‖ or mail it to/drop it off at the ASURA office. For more information or questions, call Joan Leard at 480-947-6119. ASRS Board Includes ASU Representative Dr. Dennis Hoffman, professor in the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU, in May was named a trustee for the Arizona State Retirement System Board of Trustees. R. J. (Dick) Jacob is the ASURA’s representative to the ASRS and reports that the ASRS Fund as of July 30, 2010, had recovered about ½ the loss suffered between April 30 and June 30. Fall 2010 4 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Video History Studio Looking for Future Leadership Since last year, the ASURA Video History Project has been operating completely in-house, with all interviews, edits and management supplied by volunteers. John McIntosh and Dave Scheatzle film and edit the interviews; Linda VanScoy oversees all the administrative work including selecting interviewees and scheduling filming; and Roger Carter, assists with filming and editing. To date, 58 interviews have been completed for the project and can be seen at https://asura.asu.edu/ VideoHistory. One DVD of each interview is kept in the ASURA office and is available for checkout. Goals for the coming year include:  digitizing the entire collection, including the DVDs made by Agave, and then transferring all the finished products to leased server space for safe-keeping and shared access.  carefully and judicially editing many of the interviews to make them more useable. This includes cutting out dead space, adding captions, and perhaps adding photos or music that relate to the selected interview.  creating more interest in the program by putting on the ASURA web site 5-10-minute clips of key portions of some interviews as well as topic-specific clips such as college or building histories. To help make all this happen, a Video Editing Studio will be created in the inner office of the ASURA space in the Community Services Building. Next March the ASURA will be holding elections for five (5) members of the ASURA Board of Directors. The Board manages the affairs of the Association and establishes policies as needed to carry out its mission. Members of the Board are elected for a term of three years; the board meets monthly during the academic year. You may offer your own name or the name of another current ASURA member as a potential Board member. To be sure that your nominee’s name gets on the ballot, you can submit a petition of nomination bearing the signatures of at least ten (10) current ASURA members. Nominating petitions must be received by January 31, 2011. Send names and/or nominating petitions to: Mary Stevens, Chair ASURA Board Nominating Committee 2011 P. O. Box 873308 Tempe, AZ 85287-3308 marystevens0@gmail.com Looking for a Place to Go? The ASURA Travel Committee has grand plans for 2011:  A 30-day South Seas Cruise, departing March 3  A day trip on April 12 to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum  An extended trip down under to Australia and New Zealand in the fall of 2011 ASURA Holiday Potluck Check the ASURA website for updates, detailed information and registration. You may also email Bill Stasi at wstasi@asu.edu with questions. Thursday, December 16 Community Services Building For details, check the ASURA web site Fall 2010 5 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Health Insurance Informational Meetings: ASURA Health Insurance representatives Doug Johnson and Rose Minetti will be available to help you understand your health insurance options.  Thursday, November 4 10-11 a.m., Community Services Building, Room 203  Tuesday, November 9 2-3 p.m., Community Services Building, Room 203 ADOA Health Insurance Plans Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) has announced the extension of the BENEFITS OPTIONS plan year from October 1 to December 31. Services will remain the same and there should be no interruption to services. Limitations applicable during this three month period include one (1) physical exam, 15 physical therapy visits, five (5) chiropractic visits, a $500 max per person on Delta Dental with one diagnostic/preventive visit and one (1) eye exam. Further information is available at www.benefitoptions.az.gov or (602) 542-5008. No action is necessary for the extension of coverage for this time period. This extension aligns the plan years of the ADOA and Arizona State Retirement ASRS health insurance program and should facilitate crossprogram changes. The open enrollment period will take place from November 1-19, 2010, for benefits during the coming year (January 1-December 31, 2011). During Open Enrollment you will have the opportunity to make changes to your benefits for the coming 2011 year. No action is required unless you want to make changes to your current benefits choices. To make changes, you may enroll at www.yes.az.gov or fill out the enrollment form that will be mailed to you along with the 2011 Retired State Employee Enrollment Guide. You should only submit the form if you intend to make changes in your coverage. ADOA invites you to learn more about your options by attending a Benefit Expos meeting where you may talk to plan vendors and ADOA representatives. This year the Benefits Services Division has scheduled six (6) Benefit Expos in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson, including a November 4 (8-12 p.m.) session at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center, 2100 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, Ariz., 86001. For more information, please contact the ADOA Benefit Service Division at 602-542-5008 or visit their web site at www.benefitoptions.az.gov. You may also contact doug.johnson@asu.edu /480-545-0719, or Dick Murra at 408-821-0124. 2011 ASRS Open Enrollment The annual ASRS open enrollment for calendar year 2011 begins October 25 and continues through November 19 with an effective date of ASRS coverage of January 1, 2011. Current benefit coverage will be extended through December 31, 2010. ADOA’s plan year is also changing to match ASRS’s: January 1, 2011-December 31, 2011. Any benefit or premium changes will become effective January 1, 2011. Future plan years will remain on a calendar year basis. Presentations have been scheduled throughout Arizona from Oct. 25-Nov. 19, with the ASRS Member Services Division and representatives of UnitedHealthcare, Assurant, ScriptSave and SilverSneakers Fitness Program to discuss their health insurance and benefits programs. Refer to the ASRS web site www.azasrs.gov for locations, dates and times. Fall 2010 6 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times ASURA Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity Ten years ago, Darel Eschbach, formerly ASU’s associate vice provost for telecommunications, decided to become a volunteer for the Phoenix chapter of Habitat for Humanity (HFH). He began by helping build new homes, and then progressed to something that he found even more interesting: the deconstruction of homes before the wrecking ball hit to make way for new construction. Darel and his crew salvage all that they can (e.g. cabinets, light fixtures and fans, doors, stone countertops, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, fireplace mantels) to resell in the HFH Re-Store where the proceeds from those sales provide funds to build new homes. Darel would like to see other ASU retirees become volunteers for HFH. In addition to new construction (hammering, sawing, painting, landscaping, etc.) and deconstruction, HFH needs individuals to assist in the Re -Stores, help with office work and recruit other volunteers. Darel will host an information/orientation meeting Wednesday, November 17th, 1:30-2:30pm at the HFH Re-Store in Mesa (at the northeast corner of Dobson Road and Southern). A representative from HFH will speak and answer questions about the program. Darel will provide a tour of the Mesa Re-Store, which he helped organize and launch. No registration is required for this event. Attendees are encouraged to bring others interested in rehabbing. For more information regarding the HFH organization in metropolitan Phoenix, go to http://www.habitatca.org/. Questions may be directed to Barbara Bradford Eschbach at 480-209-0733 or Barbara.Eschbach@asu.edu. ASU United Way Campaign In a letter to the ASU community, ASU President Michael Crow announced this year’s goal of $625,000 in support of the work done by the Valley of the Sun United Way and Mesa United Way. Supporting this year’s efforts is ASU Intercollegiate Athletics, which is offering an array of incentive prizes including apparel packs from both men’s and women’s basketball; a women’s basketball guest coach opportunity; lunch for four at Karsten; a gift certificate for Don and Charlie’s Restaurant; autographed basketball and a pair of tickets to the men’s ASU vs. UA basketball game. ASURA members will receive a letter from President Crow with contribution information included, or you can download a paper pledge form from http://unitedway.asu.edu/donate.html. ASU Retirees Day 2011 Already scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2011, at the Memorial Union, the ASU Retirees Day is shaping up to be another excellent combination of learning, discussion and fellowship. Headed by Barry McNeill, the ASU Retirees Day Committee has set a firm schedule in place for selecting/confirming speakers, completing arrangements and beginning promotion of the event. Committee members include Sue Blumer, Joyce Hartman Diaz, Dennis Ederer, Barbara Eschbach, Wilma Mathews, Evelyn Partridge and Irma Ann Rispoli. Fall 2010 7 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times four to eight couples ―cutting the concrete.‖ When members of our group joined in a jitterbug dance, we always got a smile, a nod and a polite applause. Our leader and national guide was Lucky Wang, a wonderful Mongolian. He has a great sense of humor, is very knowledgeable and informative, organized and an excellent people person. Lucky has taken many groups of U.S. academics around China over the years. At each destination, we would pick up a local guide who would be with us in that particular area or city. Every day was a school day. China May 2010: The Trip of a Lifetime By Gary Anderson On May 17th, 20 excited, adventurous and eager people boarded the plane for China. On June 9th, 20 excited, adventurous and tired people got off the plane from China. Traveling thousands of miles by plane, train, bus and boat, we visited five of the seven ancient capitals of China and saw, first-hand, the Chinese icons of the ages:  The Great Wall  The Forbidden City  The Terracotta Warriors  The Ming Tombs  Tiananmen Square We also explored the little known by visiting the ancient villages of the Naxi people near Tibet, cruised the Li River watching cormorant fishermen and the incredible karst landscape, and peering into the 4,000-year-old Dragon Gate Grottoes near Louyang along the Yi River. The tour started in Shanghai, proceeded to Hangzhou, then on to Yichang by over-night train where we boarded the ship for our cruise on the Yangtze. The Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world, is a head-shaker. The three train rides enabled us to see the countryside and marvel at the vast agricultural effort: three rice crops a year without the use of the mechanized equipment we have in the U. S. Small walkbehind garden tractors, water buffalos and many people do the work. The Chinese people are friendly, hard-working, eager to try English, eager to have a photo taken with the Americans and most are very-smartly dressed. We saw many Chinese in the parks and plazas each morning exercising and socializing. A boom box was present, often playing a waltz, with Fall 2010 China facts: China has a population of more than 1.3 billion. There are 44 cities with a million people or more. By contrast, the U.S. has only nine cities with a million or more people. The populations of New York (8 million), Los Angeles (4 million) and Chicago and Houston (2 million each) still do not equal the 17 million people living in Shanghai. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the tourists in China are from…China! They have the money and they want to travel and see their country. From some satisfied customers: “It was a wonderful trip, both enjoyable and thought-provoking. We had a great group of people and we enjoyed getting to know everyone. Good company, good conversation. And what a trip!” “I really miss all of you guys. This trip was truly the trip of a lifetime for me, for many reasons. I hope we all keep in touch.” “I just wanted you to know that John and I really enjoyed the trip. There was a wide variety of experiences in it that really kept us going.” (pictures from China trip on page 9) 8 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Fall 2010 9 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Obituaries: Published After July 15, 2010 Please note that all obituary notices and photos (when available) are on our web site: http://asura.asu.edu/obituaries Name Date of Death ASU Affiliation Brady, Lenore October 5, 2010 Director, Barrett the Honors College, ASU Polytechnic Campus Brown, Stanley July 25, 2010 Director of Food Services Carter, Walter E. Fall, 2010 Polytechnic Campus Citizen, Fundraiser Founder Collett, Stella Pecelj June 12, 2010 Secretary, Zoology Dept. and Registrar’s Office Cooper, Celia Allene Adams October 2, 2010 Lecturer, English Department Cronin, John Read June 30, 2010 Professor, Biochemistry Gumeringer, Donald Joseph August 5, 2010 Army ROTC Program Hamm, George October 10, 2010 Dean of Students and VP of Student Affairs Jacobson, Arthur June 10, 2010 Professor Emeritus, Art Department Karalis, J. Theodore Curtis September 8, 2010 Bookstore Kaufman, Irving July 14, 2010 Professor of Electrical Engineering & founding director of Solid State Research Lab Keats, Barbara Woodruff September 1, 2010 College of Business Management Dept. Keeler, Annette C. September 12, 2010 Editor, ASU’s Scientific Journal ―Evolution‖ Kozacik, Dorothy Piercey Unknown Journalism and Reading Education Mardian, Daniel, Sr. June 29, 2010 Major supporter of and contributor to ASU Nelson, John C. September 17, 2010 Special Education Department Nieboert, Maynard C. August 18, 2010 Campus Chaplain Oliver, Robert Sheldon July 18, 2010 School of Architecture Rustum, Roy August 26, 2010 Distinguished Research Professor of Materials, School of Engineering Schlosser, Arthur Melvin July 31, 2010 Unknown Smith, Charleen Fae August 12, 2010 College of Industrial Engineering Swan, Leslie Charles September 3, 2010 Faculty (college unknown) (Obituaries continued on page 11) Fall 2010 10 Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Obituaries: Published After July 15, 2010 (continued from page 10) Name Date of Death ASU Affiliation Theobald, Clarabelle August 9, 2010 College of Nursing Wood, A. Tage September 15, 2010 President, Friends of Dance, Dance Dept. — Becky Reiss, Membership & Communications Committee President’s Message Your ASURA Board and its committees are very busy working on projects and activities for this year, many of which are covered in detail in this issue of Prime Times:  Golf – After a short hiatus, the golf tournament is returning, to be played this year on Veterans Day, November 11. Proceeds will fund our Video History project and the ASURA Scholarship fund.  Legislative issues – Our ASURA government and health insurance lobbyists are reviewing expected legislation that affects retirees and retirement. ASURA has joined forces with our counterparts at UofA and NAU, and is also working with the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans when something significant arises.  Travel – The ASURA Travel Committee is not resting on its laurels after a highly successful China trip. In the works or already on the schedule are trips to Copper Canyon in Mexico and the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix; a South Seas cruise and, later, a visit to Australia.  Living Video History Project – This exceptional program, of value to all of ASU, continues to improve its processes and expand its goals. We need more volunteers involved in the editing process and working in the new video editing studio in our office area in the Community Services Building. You can even check out a video (DVD) with a phone call to the ASURA offices (480-965-7668) and staff will mail you the requested DVD.  Membership – Our Membership Committee has begun sending ASURA representatives to the retirement meetings held by ASU Human Resources. Our representatives give a brief overview of the ASURA mission and distribute materials about us. The ASURA membership has remained steady at about 600-700 but this isn’t close to the total number of ASU retirees who could be members. I look forward to seeing you at some of our events. If you are interested in joining with other ASURA volunteers to staff our office or participate in one of the committees, please contact us at http://asura.asu.edu or call the ASURA office at 480-964-7668. —- Connie McNeill, Fall 2010 11 2010-2011 ASURA President Arizona State University Retirees Association Prime Times Prime Times is issued three times annually by the Arizona State University Retirees Association with special editions as needed. Articles welcome, subject to Board approval. Contact: 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 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It is best to call before you stop by the office to insure that it will be open and staffed. Phone: 480-965-7668 Fax: 480-965-7807 Web Site: http://asura.asu.edu 12