Minutes of MOU Meeting, April 20 2016
10:30 a.m. in Room 12215 Kingston Campus
Present:
Gord MacDougall
Kelly Wylie
Rob Zuback
John Anderson
Ruth Doran
Bill Kirby
Dick Tindal
10:30 a.m. in Room 12215 Kingston Campus
Present:
Gord MacDougall
Kelly Wylie
Rob Zuback
John Anderson
Ruth Doran
Bill Kirby
Dick Tindal
#1. Preliminary Report on SLC Plans for 2017 anniversary
Kelly explained that St. Lawrence will attempt to maximize its efforts by working within events and activities being planned by the community colleges collectively and by building on SLC events that take place every year. A good example is the annual spring golf tournament for the Foundation. In 2017 an anniversary theme could be added to that tournament, and to a number of other annual activities. A Planning Committee has recently been set up, chaired by Glenn Vollebregt, and it will be identifying SLC events in 2017 that could become part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Rob is on this Planning Committee and will keep the Retirees Executive informed as plans take shape. Gord suggested that another meeting be held, with reps of the Retiree Association, before the end of June, to discuss the college plans that have become clear by that point.
Because of other anniversaries being celebrated in 2017 (RMC, Queens, and the country known as Canada), it is likely that 50th anniversary events will be largely scheduled in the fall, when there may be less competition for attention.
If the Association organizes a special event for retirees (tentatively being planned as a hospitality room/welcome centre), Rob indicated that the college can provide some basic support in the form of a “reunion in a box” that has been developed to help alumni groups when they wish to hold reunions. Gord added that he was quite optimistic about the college providing some sort of mailing to retirees, to make them aware of whatever event the Association may hold (which will be planned in conjunction with other 50th anniversary events).
#2. Book of Memories
Now that plans for 2017 are beginning to take shape, Gord would like to notify existing staff about the Book of Memories and to invite their contributions – something we discussed previously but he deferred as possibly premature. Dick will send Gord suggested wording for the invitation that might go out to existing employees.
The Book of Memories will be available as an ebook, but we envisage older retirees wanting to have a hard copy. It is possible that Alumni & Development will be able to cover the cost of printing a handful of copies of the book, some of which will be on display at the Association’s retiree event. The plan is to have order forms on hand for those who wish to obtain a printed copy. The cost on the form should cover shipping and handling, which will then be done by the college – although the details on this will need to be worked out.
#3. Soft Benefits
Gord reviewed the list of nine benefits that are being examined in a CURAC survey of colleges and universities and indicated that St. Lawrence does not and cannot provide most of these items. There were three exceptions. (1) The College will continue to make every effort to invite retirees to college events. (2) It does offer a modest $20 fee for retirees who wish to take a credit course at St. Lawrence, but it cannot offer any kind of reduced fee for those who wish to audit courses, because of the way that provincial funding support is provided. (3) As far as library privileges, retirees are welcome to come to the library and look at books there, but there are administration and overhead costs that probably preclude the college offering retirees a full membership that would allow them to take out books.
Still on the subject of college courses, Dick cited the example of Coastal Carolina U in Myrtle Beach, which has a Life Long Learning Institute offering a very wide range of interest courses throughout the year. It appears that SLC does not offer as many interest courses as it did in the early years and an expanded offering of such courses might be a source of college revenue while also giving retirees access to more options at a more manageable fee that they currently have when taking full price credit courses.
#4. Wall of Appreciation DVD
Rob confirmed that the college is in the process of converting the old videotape of the Wall of Appreciation ceremonies into a DVD and will then make multiple copies of the DVD, including several for the Retirees Association.
#5. The meeting adjourned at 3:00, although Kelly – and then Gord – had to leave somewhat earlier because of other commitments, leaving Rob all alone to defend himself against a quartet of retirees. He survived.
Kelly explained that St. Lawrence will attempt to maximize its efforts by working within events and activities being planned by the community colleges collectively and by building on SLC events that take place every year. A good example is the annual spring golf tournament for the Foundation. In 2017 an anniversary theme could be added to that tournament, and to a number of other annual activities. A Planning Committee has recently been set up, chaired by Glenn Vollebregt, and it will be identifying SLC events in 2017 that could become part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Rob is on this Planning Committee and will keep the Retirees Executive informed as plans take shape. Gord suggested that another meeting be held, with reps of the Retiree Association, before the end of June, to discuss the college plans that have become clear by that point.
Because of other anniversaries being celebrated in 2017 (RMC, Queens, and the country known as Canada), it is likely that 50th anniversary events will be largely scheduled in the fall, when there may be less competition for attention.
If the Association organizes a special event for retirees (tentatively being planned as a hospitality room/welcome centre), Rob indicated that the college can provide some basic support in the form of a “reunion in a box” that has been developed to help alumni groups when they wish to hold reunions. Gord added that he was quite optimistic about the college providing some sort of mailing to retirees, to make them aware of whatever event the Association may hold (which will be planned in conjunction with other 50th anniversary events).
#2. Book of Memories
Now that plans for 2017 are beginning to take shape, Gord would like to notify existing staff about the Book of Memories and to invite their contributions – something we discussed previously but he deferred as possibly premature. Dick will send Gord suggested wording for the invitation that might go out to existing employees.
The Book of Memories will be available as an ebook, but we envisage older retirees wanting to have a hard copy. It is possible that Alumni & Development will be able to cover the cost of printing a handful of copies of the book, some of which will be on display at the Association’s retiree event. The plan is to have order forms on hand for those who wish to obtain a printed copy. The cost on the form should cover shipping and handling, which will then be done by the college – although the details on this will need to be worked out.
#3. Soft Benefits
Gord reviewed the list of nine benefits that are being examined in a CURAC survey of colleges and universities and indicated that St. Lawrence does not and cannot provide most of these items. There were three exceptions. (1) The College will continue to make every effort to invite retirees to college events. (2) It does offer a modest $20 fee for retirees who wish to take a credit course at St. Lawrence, but it cannot offer any kind of reduced fee for those who wish to audit courses, because of the way that provincial funding support is provided. (3) As far as library privileges, retirees are welcome to come to the library and look at books there, but there are administration and overhead costs that probably preclude the college offering retirees a full membership that would allow them to take out books.
Still on the subject of college courses, Dick cited the example of Coastal Carolina U in Myrtle Beach, which has a Life Long Learning Institute offering a very wide range of interest courses throughout the year. It appears that SLC does not offer as many interest courses as it did in the early years and an expanded offering of such courses might be a source of college revenue while also giving retirees access to more options at a more manageable fee that they currently have when taking full price credit courses.
#4. Wall of Appreciation DVD
Rob confirmed that the college is in the process of converting the old videotape of the Wall of Appreciation ceremonies into a DVD and will then make multiple copies of the DVD, including several for the Retirees Association.
#5. The meeting adjourned at 3:00, although Kelly – and then Gord – had to leave somewhat earlier because of other commitments, leaving Rob all alone to defend himself against a quartet of retirees. He survived.