They’ve done it again. Members of the The University of Toledo Retirees Association (UTRA) pitched in and helped the UT Alumni Association and their former employer.
For those efforts, UTRA was named the 2014 Alumni Association’s Affiliate of the Year. It’s the second time in three years the organization has received the designation.
Jim Lapp, president of the UT Retirees Association, left, accepted the banner proclaiming the group as the UT Alumni Association’s Affiliate of the Year from David Dobrzykowski, president of the UT Alumni Association.
“This honor reflects the hard work of many individuals and is a testament to the involvement of our membership in the University and Toledo communities,” said Jim Lapp, UTRA president, who retired in 2005 as assistant director of the Division of Student Success in University College.
Each year, UT Alumni Association Affiliates compete for this award. The selection committee evaluates the affiliates on a number of factors, including service to the Alumni Association, the University and the community; collaboration with other organizations and affiliates; scholarships supported; and sponsored events and programs.
Representing all retirees from the University and from the former Medical College of Ohio, UTRA organized nearly 40 events. The group counts 1,100 active, dues-paying members.
“The number of events, programs and trips that we continue to sponsor is a big factor in this award,” Lapp said. “Since last spring, we have arranged more than 35 activities that have been attended by well in excess of 1,000 of our members and their guests. Plus, we continue to have our monthly game days and the monthly social luncheons.”
In addition to keeping in touch, members value giving back to the University.
“As a group, the UT Retirees Association raised more than $10,500 for two scholarships — one for Main Campus, the other for Health Science Campus — which now have endowments totaling more than $60,000,” Dan Saevig, UT associate vice president of alumni relations, said when announcing the honor.
Members also are generous with their time. UTRA members have donated hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the University and Toledo community.
“We are thankful for the UT Retirees Association’s continuous support and so proud of all efforts by its members,” Saevig said.
