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Next pageTHE RETIREES' NEWSLETTER
The Faculty and Librarian Retirees' Association, University of Windsor
Number 8, June, 1994
THE LETTER BOX
Walt Romanow, who has spearheaded the Association's efforts to persuade the University to encourage retirees in the continuance of their reseach activity (see p.1), has suggested a questionnaire to find out members' views on this and on other
issues He writes (25 May 94), "T idea of a questionnaire might have some merit. For example,some retirees might well have valuable constructive commentary to make about their earlier teaching-research environment ..." Seems like a good. idea, Walt.. It might surface again. at the fall meeting. Ed.
Meyer Starr had some observations about benefits. He writes (21 Apr 94) "for whoever is in charge of monitoring our benefit package. Post-retirement benefits at U. of Western Ontario (which does not have a union), include: Members with at least 5 years of service when they retire receive: 1) All extended health benefits (including prescriptions and all dental at no cost; 2) 50% of Basic life Insurance to a maximum of $15,000. 1 think U. of Windsor should. also pay extended health, prescription and dental benefits".
Bob Doyle passed along to the Association a suggestion from our Tuesday- luncheon-group-at-the-Faculty-Club (see Issue No. 7 that a window sticker replace the current parking booklets for retirees. At present, thanks to the Association President's discussions with the Campus police three years ago, retirees can buy (from the (Campus Police) a book of ten tickets for $10., each ticket good. for parking on M Lot, a substantial saving for retirees below the regular fee.
Tim Suttor writes that he is enjoying his retirement. in Spain. He reports: (29 Apr 94): "Every Newsletter carries its In Memoriams. Inevitable, no doubt. As I prepare for volleyball beside the pallm-treed sunlit Mediterranean, I realize, that I have been extraordinarily lucky in my cultural as well as my physical horizons - many weeks each in. Rome, Florence, Nice, Barcelona, Madrid, and the completion, to my own satisfaction at least, of the two great meditations I set myself to conduct, Religion and Senses and Nature, Grace and Language. Though I dispersed most of my library when I retired, I have been able to reconstitute all the essentials, mostly here in Spain, the rest from London ... Only today on my way from volleyball I chatted with an elderly scholar who is translating Henry George into Dutch. I have always been a fan Progress and Poverty, which has more relevance than ever today, but admit that, like Marx he criticizes Malthus in a way that shows he has not read. him closely. We. have also had numerous visits from former students who have become lifelong friends - we expect Pat Flood's son Mike shortly ... I note your remarks on travel. I like what happens when I get there but frankly, I don't find the travel that easy...".
Joe Habowsky advises, by telephone, as follows: The 'I'uesday luncheon group is continuing to meet, throughout the summer months at 1 p.m. at the Dominion House. (See The Newsletter No. 7). As expected, summer attendance is down from the academic year, but members are welcome to join in any Tuesday. Joe is continuing to make availble at the luncheons, copies of the University publication Newsline. In fact, between luncheonns, members can still pick up a copy of Newsline if you ask at the D.H. The Tuesday luncheons at the Faculty Club will resume in the Fall.
A few more of Val Cervin's observations from his earlier letter. "...I have been. practicing (raja) yoga for many years and have achieved some peak states of altered conscioousness. Now, at my advanced age I am trying to extrapolate a little to the point in time when my present existence will be coming to an end ...I think everybody can get his own view of possible alternatives of dying. There does not have. to be anything macabre about the event: after all, dying is part of living. I throw this in as a point of discussion and of coming to terms, with oneself. Anyway, I can recommend yoga to anybody as a help in overcoming or at best in bearing the difficulties of life."