UT Retirees Association named affiliate of year

June 5, 2012 | News, UToday
By Staff



Many people choose to volunteer — some because they believe in a cause, some because of the satisfaction they receive by making a difference. Whatever the motive for choosing to become involved, all volunteers are welcomed friends to the UT Alumni Association.

Jim Lapp, vice president of the UT Retirees Association, center, accepted the banner proclaiming the association as the UT Alumni Association’s Affiliate of the Year from Don Warner, president of the Alumni Association, left, and President Lloyd Jacobs.

The Alumni Association relies heavily upon volunteers and annually chooses one group to honor as the Affiliate of the Year based upon volunteer activities and support.

The University of Toledo Retirees Association (UTRA) was honored as the 2012 Alumni Association’s Affiliate of the Year at the annual meeting and alumni pavilion groundbreaking ceremony May 12.

“The UT retirees were very pleased to be named the Affiliate of the Year by the Alumni Association,” said Dr. Keith Schlender, UT Retirees Association president and dean and professor emeritus of physiology and pharmacology. “In putting together the application, we became aware of the involvement of our membership in continued service to the University and to our community. Special thanks go to our members who have been very generous with their time, talent and money.”

The retirees of the University already have given a large portion of their lives to making a difference within the UT community, and the dedication they continue into retirement is a testament to their devotion to this institution.

The UT Retirees Association is one of the most active groups within the Alumni Office and hosts a wide variety of events. With 936 current active members, the group coordinated more than 40 events ranging from specialized lectures to group outings and even a seven-day, two-bus trip to Cape Cod in 2011. The UT Retirees Association arranges and coordinates all programming.

Additionally, the group reaches out to the community and interacts with other UT affiliates. Hosting joint events with BGSU and the Golden Alumni Society, the group is centered upon stewardship and supporting the University.

UTRA holds monthly lunch meetings, each at a different area restaurant, and strives to support the local economy as well. The UT Retirees Association also maintains and publishes its own newsletter called Tower Talk, twice yearly. Currently, there are 86 volunteer positions in various nonprofit and charitable organizations in the Toledo area occupied by UTRA members.

The generosity of UTRA has no limits. Currently, the group awards two scholarships each year. Last year almost $5,000 was raised specifically to fund these scholarships. Additionally, UT retirees gave more than $10,000 to the University Community Charitable Campaign and, collectively for the last six years since the merger of UT and MUO, according to UT Foundation records, UT retirees have given $8,342,018. to the University.

“Congratulations to the UT Retirees Association for being named the Alumni Association’s Affiliate of the year for 2012,” said Dan Saevig, UT associate vice president for alumni relations. “We are so proud of you for all your hard work and thankful for your continued support.”

Click to access the login or register cheese