What Is the Retiree Assembly?
The Retiree Assembly at Rutgers University was founded as the Emeriti Assembly by Professor Emeritus Richard Wasson who believed that it would be beneficial for retired faculty to assemble and continue to be active in academia and by making the group’s meetings a part of their intellectual pursuits in retirement. The organization began in 1996 when by-laws were formulated to guide in defining membership, structuring meetings, committees, and dues. The term “Assembly” was suggested by the national American Association of University Professors to distinguish the name from other titles used by educational institutions and professions. In 2005 Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters began a trial joint affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers that became permanent in 2008. Officers of the Retiree Assembly are elected by the membership for two-year terms. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are elected in odd-numbered years and the Secretary and Treasurer are elected in even-numbered years. The current officers are:
Chairperson: Jonathan Lurie
Immediate Past Chairperson: Benjamin R. Beede
Vice Chairperson: Ann Gordon
Secretary: Benjamin R. Beede
Treasurer: Isabel Wolock
Current Chairpersons of the Standing Committees as called for in the bylaws are:
Donald Borchardt, Newsletter Committee
Judith Friedman, Program Committee
Click here for the current bylaws of the Retiree Assembly, adopted October 24, 2017.
Membership
Members of the Retiree Assembly are normally continuing members (in retirement) of the national American Association of University Professors or retired faculty who were members of AAUP-AFT faculty union. Annual dues are payable in September. Retired faculty can join the Retiree Assembly by sending a check in the amount of $10 payable to “Rutgers AAUP Retiree Assembly” to Rutgers AAUP-AFT, 11 Stone Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
Mission
The mission of the Retiree Assembly is to sustain and enhance the personal and intellectual interest of retired faculty and of the educational functions of the University. These interests will be met through:
- Meetings
- Special programs
- A communications network
- Work with other groups concerned with retiree issues
Activities
Members may attend monthly meetings and participate in decisions regarding activities to:
- Improve the status of retirees
- Continue professional interests
- Consider aspects of health policies
- Promote intellectual contacts
- Evaluate economic issues
- Communicate with the Rutgers AAUP-AFT Chapters
- Seek out other concerns that affect life after retirement
Meetings
Future meetings:
- None scheduled
Past meetings:
- Elfriede Schlesinger, “From Vienna, Austria to New Brunswick, New Jersey: Surviving the Holocaust–The Intersect of Near Tragedy, Surprise Humanuty, and the Family Network” (February 2019)
- John McGann, “Who Smells Better: Humans or Other Mammals?” (March 2019)
- Excursion to Liberty Science Center (April 2019)
- Sid Madison, “Climate Science, current progress, and future path” (May 2019)
- Jim Jack, “The Inspiration and Scope of GSP’s Theatre Arts Education Programs and their Positive Impact on Communities” (June 2019)
- Tracey J. Shors, “MAP Train Your Brain and Stay Fit for Life” (September 2019)
- Maxine Lurie, “The American Revolution from a Local Perspective” (October 2019)
- Jennifer Jolly, “Baboons, Bedlam, Birth and Budongo.” (November 2019)
- Holiday Party (December 2019)
- Excursion to Edison West Ornage Laboratory (January 2020)
- Robert Karlin, “A History of Hypnosis and Its Current Use in the Treatment of Pain” (February 2020)
- Barry Qualls, “Victorian Sensations: Queen Victoria’s Subjects Confront Science and the Avante-Garde” (postponed)
Dues
Dues of $10 per year help to sustain the functions of the Retiree Assembly. Donations are accepted. The AAUP-AFT Office provides a space for monthly meetings and also provides services for duplication of notices and mailings.
Benefits of Membership
- Receive notice of meetings and other events
- Ability to vote for Retiree Assembly officers, hold office, or serve on special committees
- Receive the two annual issues of the newsletter (originally named the Rutgers AAUP Emeriti Reporter, changed to Rutgers AAUP-AFT Retiree Reporter with the new bylaws in 2017)
Richard Wasson Leadership Award
The Richard Wasson Leadership Award was established in 1999 in memory of Richard Wasson, founder and first president of the Rutgers AAUP Emeriti Assembly. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the area of academic retirement. The leadership can take a variety of forms such as teaching, research writing, public service, organizing programs, or promoting the provision of resources and legislation. Recipients of this award are:
- 2017 Ann Gordon
- 2016 Judith Friedman
- 2015 Gordon Schochet
- 2014 Elfriede Schlesinger
- 2013 Gustav Friedrich
- 2012 Benjamin R. Beede
- 2011 Raymond Bodnar
- 2008 Richard Quaintance
- 2007 Theodore Kruse
- 2006 Isabel Wolock
- 2005 Norman Eiger
- 2004 Sy Larson
- 2003 Shanti Tangri
- 2002 Donald Borchardt
- 2001 Todd Hunt
- 2000 Ludwig Geismar
Links
For an archive of the Emeriti Assembly / Retiree Assembly newsletters, click here. [TO COME]
Links to other retiree groups at Rutgers:
- Retired Faculty and Staff Association (the official university-sponsored retiree organization of Rutgers University)
- Silver Knights (the retiree organization for Rutgers staff)
- RWJMS Retired Faculty Association (Retired Faculty Association of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)
- These groups have formed a “Coordinating Committee” that published its first newsletter in July 2018.
Contact the Retiree Assembly
Rutgers AAUP-AFT Retiree Assembly
11 Stone Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-964-1000
aaup@rutgersaaup.org