[UCRRA] Fall 2026 Tower Talk Newsletter
Cristina Otegui
cristina.otegui at ucr.edu
Tue Oct 6 16:53:43 PDT 2026
[image: UCR's Bell Tower surrounded by foliage.]
UC Riverside Retirees' and Emeriti Associations
Tower Talk Newsletter
Fall 2026
Welcome to the refreshed Tower Talk, designed to be more inclusive and
accessible for all readers. We'll continue improving how we communicate and
connect with our retiree and emeriti community.
Become a Member
<https://emeriti-retirees.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-08/how-to-join-membership-flyer-2025-7.2.2025.pdf>
Make a Gift <https://emeriti-retirees.ucr.edu/ucreara-welcome/make-impact>
FAQs <https://emeriti-retirees.ucr.edu/ucreara-welcome/faqs>
Events Calendar
<https://events.ucr.edu/department/human_resources/calendar/day?card_size=medium&days=87&experience=&event_types%5B%5D=53561160618214>
Upcoming Events
No registration required to join the Mystery Book Club or an Emeriti and
Retiree Happy Hour!
Your Next Chapter: Volunteer for Botanic Gardens
October 22
1-2p.m.
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cGZp36MdZUDga7s>
Mystery Book Club
October 13
November 10
December 8
2-3p.m.
More Information
<https://events.ucr.edu/event/ucr-emeriti-and-retiree-mystery-book-club>
Emeriti and Retiree Happy Hour
October 15
November 19
4-6p.m.
More Information
<https://events.ucr.edu/event/ucr-emeriti-and-retiree-happy-hour-at-the-ucr-barn-stable>
Tour of the UCR Insect Research Museum
October 21 and 28
10-11:30a.m.
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9n9xykicHJjkrmS>
Emeriti and Retiree Reception
November 13
2:30-4p.m.
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_af3obN6aiXqzH5s>
Dickson Presentation of John Briggs
November 17
3-4:30p.m.
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57SgXQC0SN7Ib4i>
Tech-Tips Program
November 10
December 8
1-2pm
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_da6Mca0OG4sT5Y2>
Benefits, Health and Wellness Fair
November 12
10a.m.-2p.m.
More Information
<https://myadv.ucr.edu/forms/benefits-fair-2026?_gl=1*1vur7i4*_gcl_au*NDI2NTI2NDE2LjE3ODg5MDQ5NjE.*_ga*MTc5MTE0MzAyMi4xNzg0MTM5MTU1*_ga_Z1RGSBHBF7*czE3OTEzMDY3ODMkbzExOCRnMSR0MTc5MTMwNzQ0NiRqNjAkbDAkaDA.*_ga_S8BZQKWST2*czE3OTEzMDY3ODMkbzExOCRnMSR0MTc5MTMwNzQ0NiRqNDIkbDAkaDA.>
Holiday Luncheon
December 4
11:30a.m.-1p.m.
Registration Required
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Y6RKjrnbcpbcai>
Retirement Center Events & Programs - You Shared, We Listened! - Andy
Plumley
[image: Luncheon of seven attendees holding flowers in front of a UCR
backdrop.]
The UCR Retirement Center Events & Programs Committee sent out a survey
last spring, asking you about our various events and programs. This was a
comprehensive survey, and we thank those who took the time to submit their
survey. Some results on a 5-point scale, with “5” meaning
“Excellent”:Overall score of 4.26 for our quarterly Luncheons, looking at
venue, food, speakers, entertainment, student support initiative, raffle,
and day & time of event.
-
Overall score of 4.44 for our Dickson Lectures, looking at venue, food,
speakers, and livestreaming.
-
Overall score of 4.78 for our annual Reception, looking at venue, food,
entertainment, and day & time of event.
-
Overall score of 4.78 for all other Events & Programs.
Beyond the scoring, we received a great number of comments,
recommendations, things to improve on, and things to try. Look for
improvements to our programs as the committee implements survey
recommendations.
UCR Retirees' Association President's Message - Andy Plumley
[image: Andy Plumley with a waterfront in the background.]
Hello UCR Retiree Association Members!
I hope you had enjoyable summers and were able to beat the heat. I look
forward to another year filled with programs and activities. Our first
program is our Fall Luncheon, which will be on Friday, October 9th. This is
a great opportunity to be back on campus, see old friends, meet new people,
and engage with a thoughtful presenter.
This summer has been a busy one as we have been working on our new physical
space for the Retirement Center, The Cottage. The Cottage is located across
from the Barn, built in 1917, and is one of the early pre-campus buildings
that supported the Citrus Experiment Station. How wonderful will it be to
have an old building with history to house a place for retired staff and
faculty, who share a lot of campus history. The building was renovated last
year, and we have spent the summer looking at furniture layouts and specs,
window treatments, and information technology needs. Our goal is to open
the Retirement Center in the Fall.
After a summer hiatus, we recently had our first meeting of the UCRRA Board
and have many things planned for this year. I hope you explore this
publication and get involved in anything that interests you … I think there
is something for everyone. And please contact me if you don’t find what
you’re looking for.
We will soon send out information regarding our UCRRA Scholarship, which is
for UCR undergraduate students who are related to UCR retirees, staff,
emeriti, and faculty. We were able to award four students last year and I
hope we have another great pool of candidates. So, if you have any
relatives who are UCR undergraduate students, have them apply!
Other UCRRA business includes attending the system-wide meetings of the
Council of UC Retiree Associations (CUCRA) in late October, which will be
held virtually and hosted by UC Berkeley. We receive great information
about what’s going on at UCOP, which includes our retirement benefits. And
like we do locally, CUCRA partners with the Council of UC Emeriti
Associations. We will share information with the association after these
meetings.
In closing, I want to encourage you to attend “A Reception Honoring
Retirees and Emeriti”, which will be held on Friday, November 13th. We will
receive campus updates as we celebrate the valued impact you all have made
to the campus and surrounding community. This event is for YOU, so I hope
to see you there!
Have a wonderful fall!
Sincerely,
Andy Plumley, UCRRA President
UCR Emeriti Association President's Message - Jose Wudka
[image: Jose Wudka seating with an office setting background.]
Dear UCR Emeriti,
I very much hope you had a relaxing summer and that the high temperatures
were not too challenging! Hopefully the weather will become more temperate
and the much announced “super” El Niño will bring much needed rain to our
region.
This term we have much to look forward to. On October 9 Prof. Emeritus
Nigel Hughes will give a presentation during our Fall Luncheon relating his
experiences teaching young men in prison. Prof. Hughes is also a Dickson
Awardee, so we will soon enjoy another presentation by him. But before that
Dickson awardee Prof. Emeritus John Briggs will deliver on November 17 the
Dickson lecture entitled Why tragedy? Two famous plays by Shakespeare.
Prof. Briggs is an internationally recognized Shakespeare scholar and an
excellent lecturer. His talk will be extremely interesting, and I encourage
all to attend!
The Fall meeting of CUCEA and CUCRA will be held October 28 and 29, hosted
by UC Berkeley. These meetings give emeriti the opportunity to discuss and
question the systemwide administration on points of general interest to our
community, such as cybersecurity, medical insurance programs, and survivor
benefits. Please reach out to me or to UCREA vice-president, Prof. Emeritus
Byron Adams, if there are any special concerns you would like us to raise
at that meeting.
Further down the term we have the Holiday Lunch and the Chancellor’s
Reception where Provost Watkins will give us an update on campus issues.
Also, the Retirement Center will soon move to its permanent home in the
Cottage, but we are still in the process of furnishing it; expect the
opening notice in the near future!
Jose Wudka, UCREA President
In Memoriam
We recognize and honor those who have passed that have been reported this
2026-2027 academic year.
Scott Edwards, retired in July 2026
Harriet Fleischer, retired in November 1993
William Jury, retired in July 2008
Norman Ravitch, retired in December 2001
Faiza Saleeb, retired in May 2005
Franklin Tousley
Julia Watson, retired in July 1994
Articles
[image: Graphic of a laptop with the words that read, apply to represent
the UCRRA Scholarship]
UCRRA Undergraduate Scholarship is Now Open!
Current 2026-27 UCR Undergraduate students are invited to apply now for the
annual UCR Retirees Association Scholarship, with a deadline date of
November 12, 2026. Awards of up to $5,000 may be made.
-
Students must have a UCR GPA of 3.0 or above (new first year or transfer
students without a UCR GPA must have a high school or transfer GPA of 3.3
or above).
-
Student applicants must also be the child, grandchild, or other close
relative of a UCR retiree, staff member, faculty member, or
emeritus/emerita faculty member.
The UCRRA Scholarship online application is located on the Retirement
Center webpage at:
https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_023zG21Q3wcA1SK
Thank you to our members who have made this special scholarship available
through their generous donations!
________________________________________
[image: Graphic of a letter with a trophy coming out of an envelope to
represent the Distinguished Emeriti Award.]
UCREA's Distinguished Emerita-Emeritus Award
The Executive Board of the UCR Emeriti Association is pleased to announce
the call for nominations for its 2026-2027 Distinguished Emerita-Emeritus
Award. This award will be bestowed upon one or more retired faculty who
have set a high standard of achievement in research, teaching or service
during her/his years since retirement.
Nomination Process
Nominations, including self nominations, along with two letters of support,
should be sent to the Director of the UCR Retirement Center at
cristina.otegui at ucr.edu by November 1 for consideration by the UCREA
Executive Board.
Selection Process
The Distinguished Emerita-Emeritus Award Committee will review the
nominations and make a recommendation to the full UCREA Executive Board for
a final vote at its December or January meeting.
Recipient/s of the Award
The Award Recipient/s will be announced at the joint UCREA and UCRRA
February Luncheon and will be awarded a plaque. Distinguished
Emerita-Emeritus Award Recipient/s will be invited to speak at one of the
joint UCREA-UCRRA Luncheons or as part of the UCR Osher Program. An
announcement of the Distinguished Emerita-Emeritus Award recipient/s will
appear in Tower Talk, with a photo and write up summarizing the recipient’s
achievements.
_________________________________________
[image: Jodie Holt with a plant behind her in an outdoor setting.]
Honoring Jodie Holt - A Gift in Her Memory
In memory of Jodie Holt, the UCR Emeriti and Retirees’ Associations are
coming together to honor her remarkable legacy and lasting contributions to
UC Riverside. We invite you to join us in making a collective gift in
Jodie’s memory to support a project that was especially meaningful to her:
the UCR Botanic Gardens Plant Evolution Greenhouse.
Jodie was working with the UCR Botanic Gardens to transform an existing
greenhouse into a unique public teaching facility that explores the
evolution of plants through the ages. Visitors will journey from some of
the earliest and simplest plants, including mosses and liverworts, through
ferns and conifers, and ultimately to the diversity of flowering plants we
see today.
The Plant Evolution Greenhouse will provide a lasting educational resource
for the Botanic Gardens and an opportunity to continue work that Jodie
cared deeply about.
Botanic Gardens staff have already raised $25,000 toward the project.
Through a collective gift from UCR’s emeriti and retirees, we hope to
support their efforts and help bring the project closer to becoming a
reality with a goal of raising $10,000.
Please consider making a gift of any amount in Jodie’s memory by our
deadline of October 12, 2026. Together, we can celebrate her life,
recognize her contributions to UCR, and support a project that will benefit
students and visitors for years to come.
Make a Gift in Memory of Jodie Holt:
https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofCaliforniaRiverside/honoring-jodie-holt-ucr-emeriti-and-retirees-supporting-the-plant-evolution-greenhouse
Thank you for joining us in celebrating Jodie’s life and honoring her
lasting legacy at UCR.
Reminders
[image: A woman smiling with text that reads, Open Enrollment.]
Save the Date for Open Enrollment
Please mark your calendars for the 2027 Open Enrollment which takes place
on Thursday, October 29, 2026 through Friday, November 20, 2026. It is
essential for all Emeriti and Retirees to review medical plan design and
rate changes including increased out-of-pocket expenses and copays. After
reviewing the medical plan changes, if you are satisfied with your current
benefit elections and not making any changes, no action is required for
Open Enrollment, and all existing benefits will roll over to the new plan
year effective January 1, 2027.
[image: An I.D. card with a woman's picture and name representing the UCR
retiree R'Card.]
Retiree and Emeriti R'Card
UCRRA and UCREA members may request their R'Card using the Interest Form
at: https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3F8XtK5dEs9x45U
-
10% discount at the UCR Bookstore
-
Updated R'Card design, new UCR logo, and option to uipload a new photo
-
Ability to validate status when visiting the library and be eligible to
purchase UCR Athletics "All Sports Pass"
[image: UC Retirees Travel Logo with the state of California in the
background and the words, "Exploring Together."]
Travel with Your Community through the UC Retiree Travel Program
Travel the world alongside fellow UC retirees and their guests. Bring your
friends and family to join you on these trips. The UC Retiree Travel
Program group tours include lodging, a local tour leader, many mealsand
most excursions, allowing you to relac and enjoy the experience. Explore
the 2026 abd 2027 upcoming trups on the UC Retiree Travel Program webpage
at: https://cucra.ucsd.edu/travel/
[image: Graphic that shows the shape of a heart with a heartbeat wave that
represents Health care.]
Your UCR Healthcare Facilitator is Here for You
The UCR Healthcare Facilitator is available to assist with unresolved
medical care or plan issues, questions about coverage or rights, and
general health care concerns. Visit the UCR Healthcare Facilitator Program
webpage to learn more about its services at:
https://hr.ucr.edu/benefits-0/health-care-facilitator-program
Association Officers and Retirement Center Staff
UCR Retirees' Association
President
Andy Plumley
andy.plumley at ucr.edu
__________________
Vice President
Sheryl Hayes
sherylucr at gmail.com
Treasurer
Mike Donovan
mike.donovan at ucr.edu
__________________
Secretary
Mitch Boretz
mitchboretz at gmail.com
Events & Programs Director
Terri McDonald
terri.mcdonald at ucr.edu
__________________
Communications & Outreach Director
Jorge Sanchez
jorge.sanchez at ucr.edu
Member-at-Large
Patricia Smith-Hunt
patricia.smith-hunt at ucr.edu
__________________
Member-at-Large
Debra de la Cruz
debrad02 at mac.com
UCR Emeriti Association
President
Jose Wudka
jose.wudka at ucr.edu
__________________
Vice President
Byron Adams
byron.adams at ucr.edu
Treasurer
Brad Hyman
brad.hyman at ucr.edu
__________________
Secretary
Dallas Rabenstein
dallas.rabenstein at ucr.edu
Retirement Center
Director
Cristina Otegui
retirees at ucr.edu
(951) 827-5008
__________________
Office Hours
M-Th., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(currently working remotely)
emeriti-retirees.ucr.edu | questions: retirees at ucr.edu
[image: image]
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