Unhappy though I was by David Elliott’s insistence
on serving only a single term as president, I want
to highlight all that was accomplished during
2005-2006. Overwhelmed though I was by his parting
shot at me as the most supportive vice president
with the exception of that of George W. Bush, I will
resist the temptation to compare President Elliott
to President Bush—especially in light of the
latter’s standing in recent political polls.
Dave’s first State Council meeting in October 2005
produced thoughtful and persuasive recommendations
on the several November propositions that had
potential impact on the California State
University. He was almost immediately presented
with the problem of communication of that wisdom.
Anything short of first class mail would be too late
to have significant impact on voters, but the cost
would have been severe. So we were forced to make
retired faculty aware of the recommendations largely
through word of mouth by Council members and letters
to the local affiliates. Determined not to be
caught again in this bind, his greatest focus for
the remainder of the year was on improved
communications.
Dues for new members were raised for the first time
in many years to allow the purchase of those more
and more expensive stamps in a real emergency, but
technological improvements would have more immediate
impact. Faculty were encouraged to make their email
addresses available for a Listserv system to allow
CSU-ERFA to send messages of special import. It has
been described in the last two issues of
The Reporter
and its list of names is steadily increasing. It
has not had to be used frequently, but it is still
there, and as proof a message will have been sent
well before you read this to alert members of the
State Council’s support of Proposition 1-D for
needed physical improvements in the CSU and schools
at all levels. Hopefully more of you will have
encountered this electoral advice on our wonderful
new website, for the resolution is already posted
there.
That brings us to the second major communications
achievement. Dave looked at the website that had
not been updated for years and called for dramatic
change. Office Manager Linda Zimmerman took the
initiative to update the website and approve its
appearance in the spring, so it was nothing to be
ashamed of. Since then, with the appointment of
webmaster Mark Shapiro, it has become a website in
which we can justly take pride. It is well worth
your regular attention. To the extent that you do
log on it will lessen the need for Listserv, but
never totally replace it. Everyone who can access
Listserv can also access the website, but for issues
where information must be disseminated rapidly
Listserv will still be essential. This is written
in mid-October, for instance, but won’t be read in
print for several weeks. It will be on the website
probably the day after it is received by the
webmaster, but if you don’t log onto the website for
several weeks you might not see it until after you
have voted. Admittedly, our position on so obvious
an issue as 1-D shouldn’t come as any surprise
The most important advice from the Council last year
concerned our strong defense of our present defined
benefits pension plan. CSU-ERFA was one of the
strongest and most cogent voices on this subject.
Because so many of our younger colleagues thought of
retirement issues as the concern of the retired or
those nearing that status, the warning written by
chairman Sam Wylie, Frieda Stahl and Herb Rutemiller
for the Pre/Post Retirement Committee was an
essential wakeup call. While the issue hasn’t
surfaced this fall you may be sure that it will be a
topic of discussion for years to come. A very
recent Los
Angeles Times page one story invited this
discussion, and you may be sure that former Dr.
Keith Richman, the termed-out but still vocal voice
of pension revolution, is listening. Bill Blischke,
new chair of the committee, is equally alert and
will be equally prepared.
Enough of old presidents and on to the new. I
anticipate that if I leave a mark it will be on the
appointments I make to carry out some of the
obligations I have inherited. Mark Shapiro has
dramatically improved the website. He was a
godsend. Whenever I would think of something that
should be added I would find that it was already on
my computer for approval. Mark introduced himself
in the previous issue of
The Reporter
and Ted Anagnoson will do the same now as
editor. While he inherits a healthier bit of media
than Mark did, I know him well enough to be
confident that he will be an exceptional editor.
Through his research and writing, as well as
administrative experience, he brings to us extensive
experience and knowledge regarding California
politics and retirement policies such as Social
Security and Medicare. If he weren’t already chair
of the Publications Committee, we would have a hard
time deciding whether he should be appointed to
Health Benefits or Legislative Affairs. I am
grateful to Iris Shah for editing the recent issue
while the search for an editor continued.
Other recent appointments include Gloria Lothrop,
outstanding professor at Cal Poly Pomona before
assuming an endowed chair at CSU Northridge, as at
large member of the Council; and Dave Elliott, Bob
Bess, Mary Corcoran, June Pollak, Dieter Renner and
Sam Wiley to the Nominations Committee. Judd
Grenier gave his first report as Archivist at the
October 14 State Council meeting. David
Elliott appointed Judd to the Archivist position
following his many years of service as secretary.
