A new group is forming at West Virginia University to help keep retired faculty and staff connected.
The WVU Retirees Association is seeking members from the more than 2,000 faculty and staff who have retired from the University. The association’s goal is to provide opportunities for members to remain involved with the University community and with other retirees through social events, special interest groups, educational and cultural programs, organized trips, health and financial seminars, and volunteer activities.
“This will be the first ever association for both faculty and staff. Upon retirement, some retirees have no further connection with the University once they leave campus,” said Mary Thomas, West Virginia University Human Resources public relations specialist and liaison for the group.
“The association’s intention is to encourage our retirees to continue to stay connected or reconnect to WVU by becoming a member.”
A launch party will be held on Oct. 22 at the Erickson Alumni Center from 4-6 p.m. where President Gordon Gee will offer welcoming remarks and attendees will have the opportunity to hear about upcoming plans for the association. Prizes, food, drinks and free parking will be available.
Art Jacknowitz, a member of the Retirees Association steering committee, spent 38 years as a faculty colleague and retired as an endowed distinguished chair and professor in the School of Pharmacy.
“I feel that this is a great opportunity for those retirees to reconnect to the University and take advantage of programs and events that they had not been aware of in the past,” he said.
In turn, he said, retirees can serve as mentors to young members of the University community.
“I want to give back to the University,” Jacknowitz said. “Our experience and expertise benefits other former colleagues and current faculty, staff and students. Our University community will grow and help one another.”
Lana Cantoni, a member of the Retirees Association steering committee, worked as a classified staff member and is newly retired.
“No matter what our desires may be, volunteering, traveling, lifelong learning or teaching, staying healthy, sharing our personal interests, being actively involved together in small groups; re-connecting after retirement – all are good reasons to join,” she said.
“If we can match what we love with things that are creative, stimulating and active, we will be happy and healthy in our retirement journey.”
Membership free, and applications are available at retirees.wvu.edu. A survey is available for retirees to share their ideas and interests to aid in the development of the association.
The WVU Retirees Association is open to all retired faculty and staff members, their spouses or domestic partners, as well as retired persons with significant ties to WVU, including the WVU Foundation, the WVU Research Corporation and other affiliated organizations as invited by the Retirees Association Board of Directors.
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CONTACT: WVU Retirees Association
304.293.3389, Retirees@mail.wvu.edu
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