EMERITUS STUDENTS UNION HISTORY, 2013-2018
MISSION STATEMENT: TO ENSURE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR EMERITUS PROGRAMS AND TO KEEP EMERITUS STUDENTS INFORMED
SUMMER 2013
Urgently needed organization to mount campaign against Sacramento bill proposal to eliminate state funding for senior programs.
Concerned students met in Room 408 to set up Emeritus Students Union. Passed around a hat to collect funds to get started. Enthusiastic volunteers offered to serve as interim officers and directors.
2014
Organized letter writing campaign to local and state officials: State Community Colleges Chancellor, Assembly members Richard Bloom and Carol Liu, bill sponsor. Proposed SB 173 would have mandated fees for all senior classes offered by community colleges.
First Membership drive: membership cards handed out with Promenade retailer discounts included. ESU tee-shirts were made available for sale at below cost.
Kept members informed during state and local elections where advocacy for senior programs was an issue.
Held first annual meeting/get-together of ESU members.
2015
Sent letter to Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor of California Community Colleges Re: health cost savings enabled by adult education programs.
Suggested more security at 2nd Street building, including cameras.
Secured an ESU seat for a student representative on committee searching for new Associate Dean.
Sent letter to Erica LeBlanc reiterating ESU position that new Dean needs to be advocate for Emeritus students.
Started monthly meetings with Acting Dean, Gita Runkle, about on-going student concerns and maintenance of building. Encouraged suggestion boxes be placed in 1st floor office.
Annual meeting tradition begun, including social hour and snacks and open elections of ESU board members and officers. President's and Treasurer's reports given. Open to all student-members.
Requested Dean Runkle to interact more with students. Maybe even visit classes occasionally.
2016
At various times, Board members met with Dean Runkle, SMC Dean Lorenz, Assistant Dean Nancy Grass and Dean of Non-Credit Programs Dionne Carter. Main topics were maintenance and communications.
Annual membership drive organized and staffed by ESU board and volunteers.
Letter was sent to SMC President, Dr. Jeffrey, stressing that money raised by Emeritus students should be spent solely on Emeritus College issues (not SMC).
Organized and publicized annual meeting open to all student-members. Status reports and open election of ESU Board and its officers.
ESU Board members met with SMC Foundation officials to gauge how student donations are allocated and who makes the decision. Told that Emeritus Associate Dean does selection.
2017
Harriet Epstein, President of ESU, sent letter to SMC trustees regarding future funding.
Board members met with SMC head of maintenance for Emeritus and created 3 lists: on-going issues, IT issues and a wish list. All lists were sent to appropriate personnel at SMC and Emeritus.
Annual membership drive organized and manned by ESU board and volunteers. Thank-you pizza lunch for volunteers.
Monthly meetings with DeeDee Carter, acting Dean of Emeritus, which led to committee to explore creation of Gerontology Department at SMC establishing a direct link between SMC and Emeritus. Also encouraged better communications between first floor office and 4th floor administrative offices.
Organized and publicized annual meeting open to all student-members. Status report and open election of ESU Board and its officers.
Advocated successfully for better usage of substitute teachers. Encouraged ESAC to be more transparent and inclusive.
Arranged and publicized a lecture for entire student body by a doctor who is a nutrition specialist.
2018
As part of Dean Silverman's committee, organized ESU's second letter writing campaign again against pending bill in Sacramento which would cut funding to Emeritus classes. Successful.
Annual membership drive organized and manned by ESU board and volunteers. Pizza luncheon to thank membership volunteers.
Kept members informed about fire-caused closure of classes at Emeritus.
At Dean Carter and Associate Dean Silverman’s request, five members of ESU Board attended the ESAC meeting in November. ESU representatives suggested to the ESAC Board that more transparency would help ESAC's image. We also asked for a detailed accounting of how the funds it collects for the Emeritus Fund were being spent. The meeting was productive and informative. It was agreed that the two student organizations would remain separate entities, but would coordinate efforts on matters of mutual interest.
Petition-letter to City of Santa Monica saying that students were not getting credit for additional half-hour in parking garages. Requested adjustment.
SUMMER 2013
Urgently needed organization to mount campaign against Sacramento bill proposal to eliminate state funding for senior programs.
Concerned students met in Room 408 to set up Emeritus Students Union. Passed around a hat to collect funds to get started. Enthusiastic volunteers offered to serve as interim officers and directors.
2014
Organized letter writing campaign to local and state officials: State Community Colleges Chancellor, Assembly members Richard Bloom and Carol Liu, bill sponsor. Proposed SB 173 would have mandated fees for all senior classes offered by community colleges.
First Membership drive: membership cards handed out with Promenade retailer discounts included. ESU tee-shirts were made available for sale at below cost.
Kept members informed during state and local elections where advocacy for senior programs was an issue.
Held first annual meeting/get-together of ESU members.
2015
Sent letter to Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor of California Community Colleges Re: health cost savings enabled by adult education programs.
Suggested more security at 2nd Street building, including cameras.
Secured an ESU seat for a student representative on committee searching for new Associate Dean.
Sent letter to Erica LeBlanc reiterating ESU position that new Dean needs to be advocate for Emeritus students.
Started monthly meetings with Acting Dean, Gita Runkle, about on-going student concerns and maintenance of building. Encouraged suggestion boxes be placed in 1st floor office.
Annual meeting tradition begun, including social hour and snacks and open elections of ESU board members and officers. President's and Treasurer's reports given. Open to all student-members.
Requested Dean Runkle to interact more with students. Maybe even visit classes occasionally.
2016
At various times, Board members met with Dean Runkle, SMC Dean Lorenz, Assistant Dean Nancy Grass and Dean of Non-Credit Programs Dionne Carter. Main topics were maintenance and communications.
Annual membership drive organized and staffed by ESU board and volunteers.
Letter was sent to SMC President, Dr. Jeffrey, stressing that money raised by Emeritus students should be spent solely on Emeritus College issues (not SMC).
Organized and publicized annual meeting open to all student-members. Status reports and open election of ESU Board and its officers.
ESU Board members met with SMC Foundation officials to gauge how student donations are allocated and who makes the decision. Told that Emeritus Associate Dean does selection.
2017
Harriet Epstein, President of ESU, sent letter to SMC trustees regarding future funding.
Board members met with SMC head of maintenance for Emeritus and created 3 lists: on-going issues, IT issues and a wish list. All lists were sent to appropriate personnel at SMC and Emeritus.
Annual membership drive organized and manned by ESU board and volunteers. Thank-you pizza lunch for volunteers.
Monthly meetings with DeeDee Carter, acting Dean of Emeritus, which led to committee to explore creation of Gerontology Department at SMC establishing a direct link between SMC and Emeritus. Also encouraged better communications between first floor office and 4th floor administrative offices.
Organized and publicized annual meeting open to all student-members. Status report and open election of ESU Board and its officers.
Advocated successfully for better usage of substitute teachers. Encouraged ESAC to be more transparent and inclusive.
Arranged and publicized a lecture for entire student body by a doctor who is a nutrition specialist.
2018
As part of Dean Silverman's committee, organized ESU's second letter writing campaign again against pending bill in Sacramento which would cut funding to Emeritus classes. Successful.
Annual membership drive organized and manned by ESU board and volunteers. Pizza luncheon to thank membership volunteers.
Kept members informed about fire-caused closure of classes at Emeritus.
At Dean Carter and Associate Dean Silverman’s request, five members of ESU Board attended the ESAC meeting in November. ESU representatives suggested to the ESAC Board that more transparency would help ESAC's image. We also asked for a detailed accounting of how the funds it collects for the Emeritus Fund were being spent. The meeting was productive and informative. It was agreed that the two student organizations would remain separate entities, but would coordinate efforts on matters of mutual interest.
Petition-letter to City of Santa Monica saying that students were not getting credit for additional half-hour in parking garages. Requested adjustment.