THE RETIREES' NEWSLETTER

Fifth Issue Nov\Dec 1993 page 7

AN EDITORIAL

Three people got together (Norm Shklov, Bill Phillips and Ralph Cowan) some four years ago and decided there should be a Retirees' Association at the University of Windsor. Since then, the Association has indeed come into being and it seems to be doing well. Perhaps it's not too early to ask what it really is.

First of all, it is not a pressure group. What have retirees got to bargain with? More than that, we feel no reason to be a pressure group. Most of our members have spent a good portion of their lives with the University of Windsor, and have developed deep feelings of loyalty toward it. And the Association's activities have brought to light, that the University feels a similar loyalty toward its retirees. We have been repeatedly impressed and encouraged by this. Retirees want to feel that they are still part of the "University family", and the University has shown that it knows that and that it respects that wish.

There are occasions, of course, when retirees must take a firm position on some aspect of their own well-being, and on such occasions they can now at least speak with one voice. We think the University appreciates that too.

Possibly most important of all, the Association can help provide the fellowship, the continuation of links with former friends, that would otherwise slip away with time. And as time goes on, every retiree realizes that the need for friends, good friends, real friends, is increasing.

For those of us who are still fairly active, why not take a greater part in the activities the Association sponsors? Sometimes it's not easy to break one's ties with academe, to get along without the daily ritual being "needed", of hearing "yes, doctor", "no, professor", "please, sir". Everybody hates to let go.

But sooner or later one finds that retirement can weave a certain magic! It can slowly sweep away all of those cherished illusions and elaborate facades so commonly found in academe. It can skim off the academic froth, and let the person you are, shine forth - no more, no less. Retirement may be the greatest blow for freedom most of us have ever struck!

Bill Phillips, Editor

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