Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes
Council Minutes
Fred Thomas Building
Nov. 19, 2013

In attendance were council members Jack Boettger, Bob Comeau (chair), Mary Folan, Bo French, Lynn Kroesen, Frank Meredith, Rob Morgan; committee chairs Bernie Fiegel and Joan Sciorra; program coordinator Anna Moshier; administrative assistant Renée Moy; and University representative Linda Osoinach.

The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

The agenda for today and the minutes of the Council meeting on October 23, 2013 were approved without amendment.

Staff:
Anna reported that Renée would be out for a couple of weeks in December because her husband will be having back surgery on December 2nd.  It was agreed by consensus that office hours will be limited to 9:00 a.m. – noon for the two days before Thanksgiving and the full week beginning December 2nd.  The office will be closed for the two-week Cape Henlopen school holiday between December 23rd and January 4th.   

The spring semester catalog should go out December 5.  Deadline for priority registrations will be January 9th.  Orientations will be held January 23rd and classes will begin January 27th. 

UD has bought us a Mac to be used in connection with the iPad class.  

The Council approved purchase of a new “Elmo” overhead projector for $422 delivered, which includes some service support.  The Council ratified Bob's approval of the purchase of a Blu-Ray DVD player for the Opera class at a cost of $90.

Anna noted that the heat is now on in the Fred Thomas Building, and that the ceiling leak in Room 101 has been fixed.  She has requested permission from the School District to put a kiln into the art room, and to remove the accordion doors in rooms 101 and 102 to fit more students in.

Bob attended the Dover Council meeting last week and spoke briefly about it.   Anna has been in communication with the Dover Council chair.  Bob mentioned the value of using information from registration forms and social contacts for recruiting Council members and instructors, and that recruiting volunteers for ad hoc tasks can be an effective entrée into a more permanent volunteer role.

Committee reports (*indicates report on file)

Communication:*  (Lynn Kroesen) The deadline for submissions to the next Tides is December 9th.

Travel:  (Joan Sciorra)  The deposit for the trip to New York City has been sent to the Edison Hotel.  There will be three buses for about 150 people.  Planning for a trip to the Phillips Collection in D.C. to view the Van Gogh exhibition has been cancelled because the Phillips requires people to be there by 9:30 a.m.  

Jon Newsom is interested in another trip to the Library of Congress in spring.  

Lynn suggested a trip to the Newseum in Washington; Bernie noted that the Newseum’s admission price had dropped to $20.

Social: *  (Bernie Fiegel)  For the Instructors’ Recognition Luncheon on December 4th, Renee says that 125-130 people have signed up. 

The silver anniversary luncheon has been tentatively scheduled for April 16, 2014, at the Sands Hotel.  There was discussion of how to accommodate all the people who might attend that luncheon.  Anna suggested that we may need a larger venue, since we don’t want to turn people away for lack of space.  Bernie responded that he was trying hard to keep costs down, and renting a hall would mean higher costs for caterers, rental of tables, tablecloths, silver, etc.  Bob suggested placing tables in space previously set aside for the Elder Moments, and asking them to perform from a different part of the room.  Bernie will continue to look for other areas that can seat 250-275, which is the number we had for the 20th anniversary luncheon after good publicity.  

Bernie suggested the possibility of paying for the luncheon fees for instructors in the 2013-14 academic year at the silver anniversary luncheon; the need to make up the lost revenue with higher charges to other attendees was a concern.  Linda suggested the possibility of a reduced charge for instructors, partly to discourage people from signing up but not showing up.

Community Relations: *	(Frank Meredith)  Frank and Anna made a presentation about OLLI in Lewes at a luncheon of the Lewes – Rehoboth Beach Rotary Club attended by about 40 Rotary members.  Frank used a PowerPoint that Bob had tailored for use with public audiences.  During the question period a point came up about our relations with the University.  Behind the question may have been a concern about taxpayer money supporting Osher; the audience may not have realized that we are self-supporting, and seemed glad to hear it.  In appreciation for the presentation, the Rotary gave us a framed photo of their Flags for Heroes event.

Another presentation will be made at Cadbury in early December.

Academic Affairs: * Donna is away.  Anna reported that there will be 63 courses in the spring.  A Dover instructor will teach a course on JFK in Lewes that was well received in Dover, and Jim Greene is teaching Mishmash in Dover, so some exchange of ideas may take place.

Financial: * (Jack Boettger)  We’re doing well.  We are over budget on expenses, but we have income to finance the overage.  In reply to questions from Jack, Anna said the money from the University's Osher endowment arrived in late October, and the semi-annual rent payment to the School District was also made in October.  

Linda noted that the calendar is moving into the University’s budget cycle.   Anna and Bob informed her that a meeting of the budget committee would follow the Council meeting.

Old business:	None

New business:  
Bob noted that the bylaws provide for the Chair to name, subject to the Council’s consent, a Nominating Committee Chair.  Bob and Frank are term-limited from continuing on the Council.  Bob named Rob as Chair and the Council approved without dissent.  Bob explained the timeline:  nominees to be announced by the end of January; some time to be allowed for nominations from the membership; and then a month-long election by balloting in March.

Linda raised, as another piece of new business, the winter lecture series.  This year the lectures will be in Dover, to use the marketing opportunity to help the Dover program.  The lectures will take place on four consecutive Friday mornings in January starting at 10:00 a.m. January 3rd in the ballroom at the Modern Maturity Center, the same building that the Osher program in Dover uses.  Sign-ups are available now online at www.lifelonglearning.udel.edu/dover, $30 for the series of four lectures.  Linda will email the information to Lynn for the newsletter. 

Next meeting:  There will not be a meeting in December.  The date for the January meeting will be set by email later. 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rob Morgan, Secretary