September 2009
Vol. 2009-2010 No. 2
McKaig to reflect on change
People often agree that college students have changed over the last 40 years. There’s less agreement on how they have changed. Dick McKaig retired July 1 after 38 years at Indiana University, the last 18 of them as dean of students, vice provost for student affairs, and associate professor of education. He’ll share his perspective when the IU Association of Retired Faculty and Staff meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7. His title is “The More Things Change … .” The meeting will be at the IU Foundation’s Showalter House.
“In addition to commenting on how students have changed, I plan to reflect on the work of a dean of students and offer some stories from my experience in the office,” he says.
Dick is unflappable and honest, friendly and funny. He genuinely cares for students, and it’s reciprocal; he has nearly 800 Facebook friends. From 1983 to 2005, in addition to his duties at IU, he was executive director for the Study of the College Fraternity. He is a past regent of Delta Chi fraternity and adviser to its educational foundation. In 2005 he was given the Scott Goodnight Award for outstanding performance as a dean, the highest accolade the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators can confer.
“He strikes the perfect balance between student advocacy and institutional responsibility,” observed Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis in 2005. Ken remarked on Dick’s ability to stay fresh. “Each semester he may be asked the same question he has answered 30 times before, but he always gives a thoughtful response," Ken continued, because Dick knows that particular student is asking that particular question for the first time.
A native of Lafayette, Ind., Dick grew up in Anderson. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State and then spent four years as director of student activities at Wisconsin State University (now University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point). He came to Bloomington to earn his doctorate, expecting to stay three years. Instead, 38 years later, he is newly retired. He and his wife, Maribeth, are looking forward to spending more time with their two daughters and four grandchildren.
Come join us for what promises to be an informative and entertaining event.
Mark your 2009 calendar now
Save the dates for the rest of the year by putting them on your 2009 calendar:
Nov. 11 – 2 p.m., Athletics Director Fred Glass gives a tour of the north end facility at Memorial Stadium
Dec. 9 – noon, holiday luncheon at Terry’s, with entertainment by IU’s African American choral group
Making beautiful music in September
It’s a fair bet that the nearly 80 retirees gathered at Terry’s Banquets and Catering on Sept. 9 knew nothing (or next to it) about the bayan, a chromatic button accordion. The informative and painless introduction to the instrument came from the vivacious Svetla Vladeva, introduced by program chair Eileen Schellhammer. Svetla taught herself to play the bayan when she was a student at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Svetla and her husband have lived in Bloomington for 12 years and have two children. She calls her bayan her third baby because it weighs in at 50 pounds. The Russians introduced the bayan to Bulgaria, but it is so difficult to play that very few people master the instrument.
Svetla began with a medley of Italian music, beginning with the tune “It Was Fascination, I Know” and ending with “O Solo Mio.” She showed how she can change the color of the sound with switches, which imitate other instruments—the piccolo, harpsichord, organ, or bass for example. In “Return of the Swallows,” she showed a surprising solution to the problem of throwing a switch when both your hands are fully occupied. What do you do? You use your chin.
The bayan is a versatile instrument, with a six-octave range. Svetla played a Scarlatti Sonata in C minor, illustrating how the bayan adapts to the baroque repertoire. Then she played a popular Bulgarian folk song with three independent melodies: “Are You a Tulip, a Hyacinth, or a Beautiful Rose?”
Another piece reminded her of her childhood. The Russian cartoon equivalent of Tom and Jerry, Svetla told retirees, is a wolf in perpetual pursuit of a rabbit. The chase theme is part of the Sabre Dance in Khachaturian’s famous ballet “Gayane.” The bayan can be a one-man band, she said, showing how the right hand can play the melody, the left hand harmony and bass.
The bayan is not for lefties, she said in answer to a question. She recommends they try a diatonic accordion, like the concertina or its Argentinian version, the bandoneón. One of her students is an IU retiree. If you’re interested in learning to play piano or accordion, you may contact Svetla at svladeva@hotmail.com or 812-334-9999. By popular demand the program ended with a rousing rendition of “Beer Barrel Polka.”
The program followed a tasty lunch, beautifully presented. Retirees were unanimous in rejoicing that Terry’s has returned to its longtime owners and, with a new chef, is creating culinary delights.
Retirees set $70K United Way goal
By now everyone should have received her or his United Way mailing. The retiree goal this year is $70,000. We want not only to meet our goal but to exceed it because the needs are especially great this year. If you did not receive a mailing, please contact Doris Burton (burtond@indiana.edu, Harriet Pfister (pfister@indiana.edu, or Wain Martin (ewmartin@indiana.edu). Please note your Retirees Association affiliation so that your contribution will count toward the Retirees Association total.
New Vanguards (a contribution of $1,000 or more during 2009-2010) are especially welcome this year because the Lilly Foundation will match these donations dollar for dollar. Where else can you double your money with such a sound (and legal) investment? The $1,000 (or more) need not be a single payment. You can pay monthly or quarterly—whatever suits you best.
A progress report will be given at the October meeting.
Good news: We’re solvent!
At the September meeting of the Retirees Association, Treasurer Doris Burton reported a July balance of $1,599.08. Since then she’s received $3,370 for dues and September’s luncheon, making a total of $4,929.08. Expenses related to the Big Ten Retirees Association conference were $477.70, leaving a balance of $4,451.38 before paying for 86 lunches. It’s true: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Pay your dues for directory inclusion
Retirees who have paid their 2009-2010 dues by Nov. 15 will appear in this year’s membership directory, which will be mailed with the December newsletter. Please include your name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number as you wish them to appear. If you leave out your e-mail address or your telephone number, it will not be printed in the directory. Only one e-mail address can be included per entry. Questions about the directory should be addressed to database manager Gerald Marker, marker@indiana.edu, 812-339-0685.
Retirees nurture Big Ten connection
Retirees Association President Sandy Churchill and Treasurer Doris Burton attended the annual Big Ten Retirees Association meeting at the University of Iowa Aug. 14-16. This rotating event provides the opportunity for representatives of Big Ten retiree groups to get together to discuss their common concerns and issues.
This year’s conference sessions centered on the relationships of the Big Ten Conference (athletics) and Committee on Institutional Cooperation (academics) to Big Ten schools. CIC Executive Director Barbara Allen outlined ways the CIC assists Big Ten universities and explored how the CIC might help retiree groups.
Another theme of the conference concerned teaching opportunities for retired faculty and staff. Sandy and Doris provided information on Mini University, the many programs offered through Continuing Education, and teaching opportunities at IU and Ivy Tech.
They also talked at length with other university representatives, particularly with those from Purdue and Ohio State. The IU Retirees Association will host the next meeting of the Big Ten Retirees Association August 20-22, 2010.
What goes around comes around
Little did John W. Ryan think when he created the University Medal that he would one day be the recipient of IU’s highest nonacademic award.
John presented the first medal to Thomas Solley, director of the IUArt Museum, in 1982. On Sept. 4 President Michael McRobbie presented the University Medal to President Emeritus Ryan, whose 16-year presidency, from 1971 to 1987, was marked by growth, the expansion of international programs, and the development of regional campuses.
Only three IU presidents—Andrew Wylie, William Lowe Bryan, and Herman B Wells—served longer terms than John, who is the 10th person to receive the medal. The Retirees Association salutes longtime members John and Pat Ryan.
October is “Invite a Retiree” month
In order to expand the membership of the Retirees Association, we need your help. I’ll bet you have several friends who are IU retirees but not members of the Retirees Association. Why not introduce a friend or two to the organization by inviting them, as your guest, to the Oct. 7 meeting. Recent retiree Dick McKaig will highlight his 38 years at IU, including 18 years as dean of students. His presentation will show your guest one part of what this group does. Your friend will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the fun and fellowship of the IU Retirees Association—no strings attached. I hope to see you Oct. 7.
Sandy Churchill, President
Voluntary benefits open to retirees
Earlier this month retirees should have received packets from Indiana University outlining several programs open to them. These voluntary benefits include long-term care insurance; a vision wear program; auto, home, and renters insurance; a home mortgage program; the ID TheftSmart program; and pet insurance. Please note: the deadline for enrollment in the vision wear program is Sept. 30.
For details about the programs, visit http://www.iuvoluntarybenefits.com. Caveat emptor: If you want to find the cost of long-term care insurance, the Web site examples end at the age of 60. For further information, you must go to the John Hancock site. Click on the “Enroll Now” button. Clicking on it does not enroll you. Then go to “Your Company’s Plan” and click on “Calculate Your Premium.” The chart below shows bare-bones monthly premiums for retirees. These rates do not include the cost for the non-forfeiture provision nor the automatic benefits increase option. You also have to prove you are in good health.
If you prefer to speak to a person, you can try calling 1-866-795-6272 M-F from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
| Daily Maximum Benifit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | $100 | $150 | $200 | $250 | $300 |
| 60 | $55.20 | $82.80 | $110.40 | $138.00 | $165.60 |
| 65 | $88.80 | $133.20 | $177.60 | $220.00 | $266.40 |
| 70 | $144.80 | $217.20 | $289.60 | $362.00 | $434.40 |
| 75 | $236.40 | $354.60 | $472.80 | $591.00 | $709.20 |
| 80 | $386.40 | $579.60 | $772.80 | $966.00 | $1159.20 |
| 85 | $684.00 | $1026.00 | $1368.00 | $1710.00 | $2052.00 |
