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I REFERRED IN THE LAST ISSUE to the possible effect on our own (Retirees') Association, of the move toward early retirements, and "the new environment of changing age composition and interests, which may lie ahead". It seems even possible that university "retirees' associations", including ours, may soon see a notable portion of their membership working in full-time paid employment, possibly in jobs quite removed from the academic field.
I notice that that question of a national federation is slated to be discsussed again at the Learneds at Brock U. on May 29th. Initiative so far has come from Calgary, though it appears now that the C.A.U.T. is considering a national retired academics association, for which the C.A.U.T. would provide the home base.
Interesting. The C.A.U.T. has done a tremendous job in the past few decades for academics still on active duty within their universities. MAYBE SOMEDAY the C.A.U.T. may be able to provide useful help to university retirees, but that could be some way off. For one thing, C.A.U.T. help is costly, and retirees can't pay like they used to.
In these circumstances, I think that keeping in close touch with each other, first and foremost on a provincial basis, is the best thing university retirees' groups can do. We must be aware of what is happening at other institutions in our own province. One thing we do have going for us is the Internet, communication capability undreamed of a while back. Thanks to people like Habib and Chandler and others, as well as to help from the UniversityComputer Centre we at Windsor are early off the mark in using it, and we should lose no time developing it to its full potential.
Coming closer to home, all of us were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Betty, wife of Bob Dorrell, of Dramatic Art. Though I was Bob's dean at the time he came to Dramatic Art many years ago, I only met Betty at our Christmas party this December. It came as a shock when she died on Feb 28th. Heartfelt condolences, Bob. Please do keep us advised of your plans as they become clear. // Congratulations to David Booth on his starting a Friends of Budimir Library group in South Windsor. The need speaks for itself, David, and we wish you and Ruth lots of success and help in the months ahead . // I was ever so happy to see Stewart Moore out to two recent events. He has suffered increasingly from post-polio syndrome, which has slowed him down a lot, but has certainly not changed him from the great guy I knew him as for many years. // One of those occasions was the official opening of the Freed-Ormand Conference Centre at Assumption University, attended by an overflow crowd from all of Windsor. I reflected at the time that we have members living in Israel who would have been proud to be there to see the enormous contributions the Freed and Ormand families have made to the University.