Members of the Retiree Association pose during a gathering.
The 海角社区CI Retiree Association recently formed to help retired faculty and staff stay connected with colleagues and the University, provide social and educational opportunities, promote and protect retirees鈥� rights, and improve the retirement program. The association is the newest affiliate of the 海角社区 Emeritus and Retired Faculty & Staff Association (海角社区-ERFSA). 海角社区CI retirees can join the association by becoming a member of 海角社区-ERFSA at .
Professor Emeritus Dan Wakelee, who serves as the association鈥檚 president, says that more than 300 海角社区CI retirees are eligible to join.聽
鈥淲e are trying to reach out to as many retirees as possible, let them know we鈥檙e here and that we鈥檇 love to have them come back to the campus,鈥� Wakelee said. 鈥淚 watched the campus grow from the beginning and formed a lot of strong connections to the people there. Since I retired (in 2017), I鈥檝e lost touch with a lot of those people. For me, this is a way to remain involved and try to pick those relationships up again.鈥�
The 海角社区CI Retiree Association is holding frequent events, both on- and off-campus, ranging from lectures and socials to volunteer opportunities and excursions. At 鈥淩esearch on Tap,鈥� its first public event in March, which was co-sponsored by the John Spoor Broome Library, guests enjoyed presentations from Assistant Professor of Biology Hugo Tapia, Professor of Anthropology Colleen Delaney, and Anthropology Lecturer Marc Abramiuk.
For the association鈥檚 second event in April, participants headed to Santa Rosa Island Research Station for a tour, hiking and lunch. Wakelee says an annual retiree recognition event is also being planned by University Advancement for June.聽 In the meantime, more than 25 members of the fledgling organization are working to spread the word to their fellow retirees.
Jerry Clifford, who taught Physics and astronomy at 海角社区CI and still teaches in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, started a newsletter for the association. In it, he shares recent retiree news, upcoming events, and profiles of 海角社区CI retirees.聽
鈥淗opefully other retirees, both staff and faculty, will appreciate the benefit of being part of our continuing CI community 鈥� with its fun and opportunities, and without the stress of work and politics,鈥� he said.
To learn more, visit the 海角社区 Channel Islands Retiree Association Facebook page () or email dan.wakelee@csuci.edu.