Endacott Society - blog site

Update on loss of benefits

2009-12-11T16:14:00.003-06:00

The Committee on Retiree Rights and Benefits (CRRB) has suspended operations. The announcement has been made to John Stratton, Chair of SenEx from the Chair of CRRB, George Crawford in the following email:

Dear John,
This comes to provide an update on CRRB. At its Monday meeting CRRB voted unanimously to suspend meetings until environmental conditions become more congenial toward the prospects of making progress vis a vis retirees' concerns. I'll forward the minutes from the meeting next week. They provide context for the decision.

A couple of things probably exerted persuasive influence in committee members' thinking. One would certainly be discouragement at SenEx's unwillingness to provide support for CRRB's efforts to work at restoration of rescinded benefits for retirees. A second would be an institutional attitude toward retiree interests which strikes the committee as ambiguous and indifferent. The CRRB members fully understand and appreciate the daunting consequences of resource crises. We also wonder, our appreciation notwithstanding, whether the University has evaluated the role and status of retirees as fully as would mutually benefit the University and its retirees.

The CRRB members are thoughtful and pleasant colleagues. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them. I will be happy to hear your thinking on our decision.
Most Sincerely,
George Crawford

Letter to Provost from CRRB

2009-04-28T19:18:00.004-05:00

Dear Provost Lariviere:
I send the attached letter on behalf of the Committee on Retirees'
Rights and Benefits. Should you have any questions I would be pleased to respond.
Most Sincerely,
George Crawford, Chair, CRRB

April 23, 2009
Dr. Richard W. Lariviere, Provost
Strong Hall
The University of Kansas
Campus

Dear Provost Lariviere:

The purpose of this letter is to convey the sense of the Committee on Retirees' Rights and Benefits (CRRB) regarding your April 1, 2009 declaration of intent to temporarily suspend the issuance to faculty/staff retirees of complimentary tickets to certain Lied Center performances. As you know, CRRB is the governance committee charged with looking after the rights and benefits of retirees to improve their experience and foster their participation in the life of the university. The committee appreciates the threat to the university's core mission from the Legislature’s mandated budget reductions. However, the announced policy regarding complimentary tickets asks a disproportionate, probably long-lived sacrifice from retirees at a time when retirees are sensitive to an emergent pattern of repeated reductions in benefits. They take this as a diminution of appreciation for the work they have done and continue to do to promote the university’s success. Unlike active faculty and staff, retirees have seen their income shrink with the national economic crisis more severely than the university's. Furthermore, the complimentary tickets for retirees represent a smaller marginal cost to either the Lied Center or the university than faculty/staff ticket discounts. (The tickets are rarely issued for sell-out performances and, in tight times, will rarely be replaced by sales at full price.) Finally, the tickets mean much to those who use them and have been viewed as an attraction of retiree life at the University of Kansas for over 30 years. The university’s welfare depends on the good will of large groups of stakeholders, including its retirees, who share in great part the good memories of alumni and contribute in myriad ways to the function of the university. It is the sense of the CRRB that the harm your policy threatens for institutional welfare and constituent good will is penny-wise and pound-foolish. We respectfully ask you to reconsider your decision to temporarily suspend complimentary tickets for retirees.
Most sincerely,
George Crawford, Chair, CRRB

Copies to:

Chancellor Robert Hemenway
Jerry Niebaum, President, The Endacott Society
Joe Steinmetz, Interim Provost
Mary Berry, President, SenEx
Dale Seuferling, President, KU Endowmnt
Tim VanLeer, Director, The Lied Center
Mary Lee Hummert, Provost’s Liaison to CRRB
Kevin Corbett, President, KU Alumni Association
Members of CRRB

Letter to Friends of the Lied Board

2009-04-22T13:24:00.002-05:00

April 22, 2009
To: Friends of the Lied Board

From: Jerry Niebaum, president – KU Endacott Society

On April 1, 2009 the provost of the University of Kansas, Richard Lariviere, made the following announcement:

“…KU will be temporarily suspending the faculty/staff discount for athletic and Lied Center tickets for 2009-10. … Also suspended will be the free tickets that retirees can receive for up to three Lied Center series. …”

Since I’m currently president of the largest organized group of KU retirees, the Endacott Society, it is my responsibility to protest that decision. Provost Lariviere’s email announcement and our protest response to it can be found at our blog site: http://oldku.blogspot.com

With that decision the provost removed KU retiree benefits that had been in place for more than 3 decades. Witness the following segment taken from the 1977 booklet of Faculty and Staff Benefits for the University of Kansas:

"All retired faculty and unclassified staff are eligible to receive complimentary tickets to the University's concert series, theatre performances, and other cultural events on campus. A married retired faculty or unclassified staff member may receive two complimentary tickets; a single, retired faculty or unclassified staff member is eligible to receive one complimentary ticket. Widows or widowers receive one complimentary ticket and may purchase one additional season ticket for cultural events at faculty and staff preferred rates where these pertain. To obtain these complimentary tickets, the appropriate office should be contacted."

Why should KU retirees have any retiree benefits? The provost said it pretty well in his April 1 announcement:

“To show appreciation for the work of KU's faculty and staff members, and to encourage participation in university events, the university has subsidized discounted faculty/staff tickets to KU sporting events and Lied Center events, as well as providing a number of free Lied Center tickets to KU retirees.”

We do understand and appreciate that these are unusually tough financial times for the university, and expenses must be cut. However, the complimentary Lied ticket program does not represent a significant, compelling expense to the university. Unlike the athletic ticket program there is no line item transfer of funds to the Lied budget to support the ticket program. The only arguable financial advantage to the Lied is the possible sale of those complimentary tickets, which would be offset by reduced giving by retirees.

If this were an issue simply about money, we wouldn’t be bothering about it. It is not. It is about loyalty, appreciation, and trust. For decades KU faculty and staff have supported and promoted cultural events at the university in order to build community and to have a richer, fuller life. After Hoch burned, the faithful supporters drove to Topeka for KU cultural programs. When the call was made, faculty and staff responded to help fund the building of the Lied Center. In recognition of their support those contributing patrons were given priority seating at Lied events. Now, many of those who helped fund the Lied construction are retired. Like me, many retirees purchase at least one additional ticket with their complimentary ticket and contribute an amount equal to or greater than the value of the complimentary ticket to the Friends of the Lied. In each of the past two years retirees have contributed more than $1.2 million to KU Endowment. And, we have been loyal supporters of Lied Center programs by contributing financially and encouraging others to attend. Our loyalty is now being tested.

The list of contributing members for Friends of the Lied is replete with names of retirees, who have faithfully supported Friends and its predecessor, the Swarthout Society, for decades. Some have reported to me already that they will no longer contribute. Moreover, they are now telling their friends that they have made that decision.

So, what do we want from you? We want your support with the new university administration to reinstate a complimentary ticket program as a benefit for retirees. We believe this retiree benefit is good for the university and for the Lied Center. We would like a hearing at one of your Board meetings. As a Board, you have the ability to help reverse movement by retirees away from support of the Lied Center. Your support in our cause would be greatly appreciated.

Postings on the KC Star blog

2009-04-19T16:46:00.002-05:00

On April 16 Barb Shelly of the Kansas City Star wrote an Opinion Editorial at:
http://voices.kansascity.com/node/4285

Today (Sunday, April 19) Jerry Niebaum responded to her article at:
http://voices.kansascity.com/node/4292

RETIRED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - past

2009-04-18T09:10:00.002-05:00

"All retired faculty and unclassified staff are eligible to receive complimentary tickets to the University's concert series, theatre performances, and other cultural events on campus. A married retired faculty or unclassified staff member may receive two complimentary tickets; a single, retired faculty or unclassified staff member is eligible to receive on complimentary ticket. Widows or widowers receive one complimentary ticket and may purchase one additional season ticket for cultural events at faculty and staff preferred rates where these pertain. To obtain these complimentary tickets, the appropriate office should be contacted."

Faculty and Staff Benefits, The University of Kansas, 1977

Some Lawrence area theater options

2009-04-17T13:36:00.005-05:00

Links to area theater web sites:

Lawrence

Lawrence Community Theater

University Theatre

KU Lied Center of Kansas

Topeka

Topeka Performing Arts Center

Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy

Kansas City

Unicorn Theater (K.C.)

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Kansas City Symphony

Coterie Theater (K.C.)

American Heartland Theatre (K.C.)

New Theatre Restaurant

Uptown Theater (K.C.)

Starlight Theatre (K.C.)

Folly Theater (K.C.)

Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Theater League (K.C.)

Costs and contributions

2009-04-17T13:24:00.002-05:00

According to the Provost Office:

The cost of retirees’ Lied Center benefits for the current fiscal year totaled $63,223. That figure includes $58,945 for 2033 free tickets distributed to 325 retirees and $4,278 for the 15% discount for 832 tickets for other events purchased by retirees with the faculty/staff discount.

Email dated Monday, April 06 from Mary Lee Hummert

According to KU Endowment:

Following on our meeting earlier this week, here are the figures on annual contributions from retired faculty and staff:

July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007: 482 donors gave $1,093,032
July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008: 451 donors gave $1,209,768

The figures above represent gifts received by KU Endowment for all purposes at KU.

Email dated Friday, April 03 from Dale Seuferling

Response letter to the Provost

2009-04-17T06:03:00.000-05:00

April 9, 2009

Richard Lariviere
Strong Hall, room 250
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS 66045-7535

Provost Lariviere:

On behalf of the nearly 400 members of the Endacott Society this letter is to formally protest your decision announced on April 1 to eliminate retiree benefits. You will recall that on Monday, March 30, George Crawford, chair of the SENEX Committee on Retiree Rights and Benefits (CRRB), and I met in your office with you and Vice Provost Mary Lee Hummert at the request of CRRB. Our agenda for that meeting was to further inform you about the Endacott Society; express concern about loss of retiree benefits in earlier years; and, to discuss a proposal to create a retiree volunteer corps, which we have dubbed the Grayhawks.

We were both quite disappointed when you informed us that later in the week you would announce your decision to terminate the last real vestige of retiree benefits by eliminating complimentary Lied Center tickets for retirees. For many years retirees were given two tickets to all Lied events. Later, the popular Broadway series was eliminated from the complimentary ticket program. Following that, a few years ago the number of tickets was changed from 2 to 1, and with your recent action they are eliminated entirely.

We do understand and appreciate that these are unusually tough financial times for the university, and expenses must be cut where significant compelling economies will be realized. However, the complimentary Lied ticket program does not represent a significant, compelling expense to the university. Unlike the athletic ticket program there is no line item transfer of funds to the Lied budget to support the ticket program. The only arguable financial advantage to the Lied is the possible sale of those formerly free tickets to retirees or to others. Your office reported the value of those tickets at $63,233 -- the face value of the tickets. Indeed, the real value is significantly less for events that are not sold out, which is frequent.

In your memo of April 1 you state: “We cannot in good conscience lay off additional employees in order to maintain this discount.” If that were the case, we would agree. However, no employees are injured by the retiree complimentary ticket program for the Lied. Your argument seems disingenuous. Tim Van Leer told us he did not address this issue with the Friends of the Lied Board. Accordingly, his failure to question your decision seems to make the director of the Lied Center supportive of your decision. Our meeting with him on Monday, April 6, did not change that view.

Tim is aware that most of his volunteer usher staff are retirees. He is also aware that more than 100 Friends of the Lied contributors are retirees. According to KU Endowment, in this past year retirees contributed more than $1.2 million to the various programs of the university. It is partly because of the Friends of the Lied program and its predecessor, the Swarthout Society, that the Lied Center even exists.

So that there is no misunderstanding about how we intend to proceed, we outline it for you here. First, we will be contacting members of the Friends of the Lied Board for a hearing of our complaint. We believe that they should understand the broader ramifications of an arguably shortsighted decision. Second, we will be suggesting to our Endacott members that they consider adding restrictions to their contributions to Friends of the Lied to be used only on reinstatement of a retiree ticket program. Third, we will be soliciting retirees to consider adding restrictions to other contributions to the university. Fourth, we will work with university SENEX to make current faculty and staff aware of this breach of faith with retiree benefits. Fifth, we will work with the Alumni Association to make it a priority concern for that organization. Sixth, we will work with the new incoming administration to reverse your decision. Finally, there will be no further action on the creation of a retiree volunteer corps.

The bad will that has been created in retirees will be long lasting. Its greatest impact will be felt long after you have left the university.

Jerry Niebaum, Ph.D., president
KU Endacott Society
Retired Asst. Vice Provost for Information Services
Past member, Friends of the Lied Board

Cc
Chancellor Hemenway
Vice Provost Mary Lee Hummert
Dale Seuferling, Endowment
Kevin Corbett, Alumni Association
Tim Van Leer, Lied Center
George Crawford, chair of CRRB
Vic Wallace, president elect, Endacott Society
Marianne Berry, SENEX

Journal-World article online

2009-04-15T22:20:00.003-05:00

On April 15 Mark Fagan wrote an article titled "KU retirees call elimination of free-ticket program a 'breach of faith' by the university." It can be found at

www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/apr/15/ku-retirees-call-elimination-free-ticket-program-b/

Provost announcement on retiree benefits

2009-04-12T17:38:00.004-05:00

On April 1 Provost Lariviere emailed this announcement eliminating retiree benefits.

Dear Colleagues,

As KU implements the budget reductions that stem from the economic crisis, our priority has been to maintain the core academic and research functions of the university. This focus enables us to continue to fulfill the mission given to us by the people of Kansas, but still requires cuts that affect the faculty and staff of the university.

Today I want to tell you of another of these cuts.

To show appreciation for the work of KU's faculty and staff members, and to encourage participation in university events, the university has subsidized discounted faculty/staff tickets to KU sporting events and Lied Center events, as well providing a number of free Lied Center tickets to KU retirees.

These subsidies cost KU $451,000 this year - the equivalent of 11 or more employee salaries.

We cannot in good conscience lay off additional employees in order to maintain this discount. As a result, KU will be temporarily suspending the faculty/staff discount for athletic and Lied Center tickets for 2009-10. The only exception to this suspension will be the discount for 2009 football season tickets because those tickets have already been purchased. Also suspended will be the free tickets that retirees can receive for up to three Lied Center series.

I know this will impact the wallets of a number of dedicated KU faculty, staff and retirees during a time of economic hardship. However by spreading this cost out amongst ticket holders, we can devote the savings to the academic and research functions of KU and protect the jobs of several additional employees.

It is our goal to restore these discounts as soon as the budget situation improves. I appreciate your understanding and welcome your feedback.

Sincerely,

Richard W. Lariviere
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Welcome

2009-04-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

This BLOG is created to provide an online forum for topics of concern for university retirees.

Questions about this BLOG should be directed to:
jniebaum@sunflower.com