News 05/28/09

1. Laurentian University Faculty Association: Retirees

Laurentian University Faculty Association: Retirees: When LUFA/APPUL members (faculty and librarians) retire, they automatically become members of LUFA-R/APPUL-R. Retiring Administration members can become members as Associates as can spouses of members.

There is a Board of Directors of nine members which meets monthly. An AGM for all members is held, usually in May. The Board has representatives on LUFA/APPUL, the L.U Pension Committee and the L.U. Fringe Benefit Committee and the LUFA/APPUL Collective Agreement Negotiating Committee. LUFA-R/APPUL-R is a member of the Colleges and Universities Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC/ARUCC).

The original Constitution of the organization was written during the early 1980s when faculty members began to retire. LUFA-R/APPUL/R seeks to advocate for retiree benefits as well as to help maintain collegial social contacts. Periodically, a directory of members' contact information is distributed, and luncheons with speakers are arranged for members who live locally. A Newsletter is distributed several times a year. The Secretary arranges for gifts and cards to be sent to members in hospital and to families of members who have passed on. Fundraising is active for the LUFA-R/APPUL-R Memorial Bursary in honor of past members.

• Over the years, LUFA-R/APPUL-R has had considerable success at achieving benefits for retirees. Such benefits include:
• The same library privileges as full-time faculty. (C.A. 8.50.5)
• The same exemption from tuition fees for themselves, spouses and dependants as full-time faculty. (C.A. 8.50.1)
• The same eligibility for Physical Education Centre membership for themselves, their spouses and dependents as full-time faculty. (C.A. 8.60.1)
• Access to a Retirees Research Fund of $20,000 each year which can be used for either research or conference attendance expenses. (C.A. 6.25.2)
• With fifteen years' service to Laurentian, access to the Retirees Health Benefit Plan which reimburses up to $800 for individuals, $1300 for a couple or family per year (2008-2009 figures) for medical expenses including premium payments to medical insurance plans. (C.A. 4.51)
• Free Parking.

Further information about LUFA-R/APPUL-R is always available by reaching one of the Board Members whose numbers are listed in the Laurentian University Telephone Directory.