UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR CHAPTER, AAUP

MINUTES, 2006 ANNUAL MEETING

May 10, 2006, Kuenzel Room, Michigan Union

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Wm. Ensminger at 12:06 PM.

There were 25 people in attendance, not all of them AAUP members. The attendance sheet, with the names of those who signed, is attached to the file copy of these minutes along with all of the secret ballots counted during the two elections that took place at the meeting. Donald L. Thiel was the official representative of the U of M Retirees Association in attendance, but many other UMRA members attended. Two photographs of the session were taken and copies are in the hands of the Secretary and the Webmaster.

The agenda was approved, and the Minutes of the 2005 annual meeting were approved as circulated.

The Treasurer’s report, showing a total balance of $8,137.06 and expenses of $7,946.51 as of February 28, 2006, was unanimously approved as circulated. A copy is attached to the file copy of these minutes.

Following a brief explanation and discussion, ballots regarding proposed amendments drafted by Wilfred Kaplan to Sections 5 and 6 of Article III of the Chapter constitution, mandating elections by secret ballot, were distributed. Ten ballots were returned, all unanimous in approving the proposed amendments.

The report of the Nominating Committee, Profs. Edward Chudacoff and Thomas E. Moore, was presented next. No additional nominations were made from the floor for the Executive Committee, either officers, members at-large to be elected this day, or additional members at-large to be appointed by the elected Executive Committee later by secret ballot. Ballots were circulated, 12 were returned, all unanimous for those nominated and without additional write-ins. Those elected were William D. Ensminger, President; Daniel M. Burns, Jr., Vice-President; Mary C. Crichton, Treasurer; Charles B. Smith, Secretary; Kimberlee J. Kearfott, Member at Large, and Ivette Perfecto, Member-at-Large. John T. Lehman and Michael D. Thouless were nominated [and later appointed by secret ballot] as Members-at-Large. A copy of the full report of the Nominating Committee is attached to the file copy of these minutes.

President Ensminger introduced Prof. Frederick K. Askari, chair of the Committee on the Economic Status of the Faculty (CESF), who gave a well balanced, thoughtful presentation entitled "The Unfunded Retiree Health Benefit Liability: Cause for Concern?" At least $1.2 billion in retiree health support promised in the past remains unfunded, with 50% more retirees expected in the next few years and U of M health costs increasing by about 100% in the next 20 years. The U of M was the first and only institution committed to paying retiree Medicare B health benefits, now frozen for most past and ceased for future retirees. The administration has cut U of M costs by shifting more of the health benefit costs to individuals, and the trend will likely continue. These changes affect different people in different ways, some quite seriously. Nationally support of future increasing retiree health costs may be transferred to outside agencies as supplemental insurance somewhat like the TIAA pattern, underwritten substantially by individuals’ personal contributions. Several interesting observations and questions were made by attendees following the presentation.

The meeting adjourned at 12:54 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas E. Moore, Secretary pro tempore

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