: publication of the Association of Retired ARF NOTES Faculty, California State University Northridge Volume 25, no. 3, March 2013 Website: http://www.csun.edu/arf PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: LARRY CARETTO ARF will have a special Wednesday from local retired faculty associa- th from local retired faculty asso- afternoon meeting on May 8 to hear a ciationstions like like ARF ARF. At thethe meet-meeting talk by CSUN’s new president, Dianne inglast lastfall, fall David that Humphers Ron McIntyre, reported Harrison. We are planning an optional Barbaraon the CSUSwerkes long and-term I attended, care (LTC) no-host lunch at noon, followed by the Davidinsurance Humphers program. reported He warnedon talk at 1 pm. Mark your calendars now theabout CSU the longcoming-term increases care (LTC) in pre- and look for final details in the usual insurancemiums, which program. LTC Heholders warned have email notice. recently received. He noted that Inside this issue: about the coming increases in Our attendance at the January Ban- premiums,only about 5%which of malesLTC inholders the CSU quet was about 70 this year, compared haveprogram recently ever received.used such He insurance, not- News from CSUN….. 2 to 98 the year before. Probably much edbut that about only 90% about of the 5% females of males did. of the decrease was due to the last- in Hethe also CSU reported program on aever recent used court minute change of date. The University Reports from previous 3 suchsettlement insurance, that changesbut about a Medicare 90% programs…………….. Club had to be closed for repairs during ofrule the that females did notdid. provide benefits the date originally scheduled. Although toe individualsalso repoHrted with onchronic a recent prob- Getty Villa Field Trip 4 the attendance was down, the enjoy- courtlems unlesssettlement they thatcould changes show a like-a ment level was as high as in previous Medicarelihood of ruleimprovement. that did not Under pro- the years. Film Groups…………. 4,5 videsettlement, any benefits Medicare to individuals will now pay An unpleasant task of the ARF pres- withbenefits chronic for such problems individuals. unless You ident is notifying members that one of theycan findcould more show information a likelihood on ofthese Book Groups…………. 6 their colleagues has died. Darrick Dan- improvement.topics in the online Under version the settle- of the ta, who was the interim associate dean ment,December Medicare issue ofwill the nowCSU -payERFA of the College of Social and Behavorial SCAARF……………... 7 benefitsnewsletter for atsuch http://csuerfa.org/ individuals. Sciences, died in a mountain-climbing reporter.html. th You can find more information accident on February 15 . He was onAt this the topic February and the ARFprevious Board Birding Group, Golf 7 planning to retire next year. In the last onemeeting in the we online appointed version Sue of Curzon, the Group…………………. issue I noted that Darrick was sched- DecemberJoyce Linden, issue and of Richthe RuggieroCSU- uled to give the Wednesday afternoon ERFAto a committee newsletter to nominateat http:// candi- Upcoming Programs talk to ARF in March. Thanks go to csuerfa.org/reporter.html.dates for ARF offices for the next March 13th: Jay Christen- our Program Chair, Nancy Owens for year, and three at-large Board sen on Boardgaming her quick work in finding a good re- membersfrom local whoretired serve faculty twoasso--year April 17th: trip to Getty placement speaker for the meeting. ciationsterms. likeI trust ARF that. Atyou the will meet- be re- Villa The statewide association of retired ingceptive last iffall they that call Ron you McIntyre, to be a new May 11: annual Scholar- faculty, CSU-ERFA, has biannual State BarbaraARF officer Swerkes or Board and I member.attended, ship luncheon Council meetings with representatives David Humphers reported on the CSU long-term care (LTC) STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS NEWS At the last meeting of ARF, the Scholarship Selection Committee was appointed. Graduate students in all FROM fields of study will be notified of the availability of the ARF scholarships by the Graduate Studies Office. If any CSUN of your former colleagues have graduate students who are looking for support, tell them about the ARF scholar- ships. The students can contact the Graduate Studies Office for the application form. The winners will be hon- SOFTWARE DISCOUNTS ored at the annual ARF spring luncheon on May 11th. Last year ARF awarded four scholarships of $1500 Word 365 is available at the CSUN Student Store for apiece. students and faculty (including retired faculty) at a deep discount, about $80 for four years. Inquire at the store for The joint ARF/College of Education scholarship exact pricing. committee met to evaluate 79 applications from stu- LIBRARY EXHIBITS dents enrolled in a program in the College of Educa- Fantastic and Strange: Reflections of Self in Science Fic- tion.. These three scholarships of $2500 each are tion Literature, is the title of an exhibit on display at the made possible by the generous contribution of Phil C.K. and Teresa Tseng Gallery, Oviatt Library, through and Shirley Hansen, in collaboration with ARF. July 26th, 2013. The modern genre of science fiction began The winners this year and their areas of interest are briefly described below: when Hugo Gernsback published Amazing Stories, the first publication devoted to science fiction literature, in Zahra Atefi, an immigrant from Iran, is enrolled in 1926. In his opening essay Gernsback described the genre the Masters’ program in Marriage and Family Therapy. She plans to use her understanding of the needs and chal- as encompassing "…the Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Ed- gar Allan Poe type of story—a charming romance inter- lenges of culturally and linguistically diverse communi- mingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision." Since ties to relate to and help clients, and to open her own that time, science fiction has come to encompass a broad practice in underserved areas. swath of fiction, which, in addition to serving as an outlet Donna Randolph is currently enrolled in the Doc- for expressions of joy, imagination, and creativity, has toral Studies Program, Community College Cohort. functioned as a tool we use to explore and more fully un- She has been involved in community work at derstand ourselves. On display are numerous pulp publica- CSUN, and as a non-traditional minority graduate tions, short story collections, novels, and other science fic- student, it is her life long goal to be a mentor, coach, and tion works by over 100 authors, most of which were gener- educator for youth. ously donated by Milt Stevens, a long-time member of the Samantha Mayer is pursuing her Multiple Subjects Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society. For more infor- Credential at CSUN. Her greatest passion and enduring mation call (818) 677-2638. goal has been working with young children. She began working as a camp counselor for three to five year old A new exhibit, Seamanship and Settlement: the Portu- children over ten years ago, and is now an assistant guese Maritime Tradition and Macau’s Architectural teacher in kindergarten at Sierra Canyon School. Her Duality, will be at the Oviatt Library’s Jack and Florence career goal is to be a kindergarten teacher. th st Ferman Presentation Room from March 10 – May 31 , These students will be honored at a College of Educa- th 2013. The opening will be on Sunday, March 10 , at 2:00 tion dinner at the beginning of May. pm, with lectures and video presentations followed by a reception. Join us to celebrate some 500 years of Portu- guese maritime skill, daring exploration, and mutual cul- CORRECTED ARF DIRECTORY ENTRY tural influence with China as exemplified by magnificent Abcarian, Richard (English) photographs of the N.R.P. Sagres, which has roamed the 28 29th Avenue world’s oceans as the Portuguese Navy’s school ship, and of the historic architecture of the port city of Macau, the Venice, CA 90291 first enduring point of contact between China and the (310) 822-0887 West. Reservations appreciated: (818) 677-2638. [email protected] 2 NeedleArf members display a project Karen Ellingwood and Patt Davis ARF JANUARY BANQUET Yummy food, scintillating conversation, lively entertainment, shopping opportunities – all this made the banquet fun for me and I hope it was fun for all of you who attended. The food was excellent, as usual. I thought the salad and the lava cake (I’m a chocoholic) were even better than in previous years. The Orange Grove Bistro has new carpets, new paint, and new window treatments. The Needle ARF’ers put on a very successful silent auction. All of the items sold and ARF has about $750 in ad- ditional scholarship money. I must confess that I succumbed to Bonnie Campbell’s afghan, one of Roberta Mauksch’s scarves, and a bowl made by Mary Finley. Thanks to all of you, especially Roberta, for your work and generosity in sharing the results of your talents. Roberta reports that the members are already planning their contribu- tions to the silent auction for next year’s banquet. The performers for the evening were two members of Sentimental Journey LA. Karen Ellingwood and Patt Davis selected a variety of familiar songs, mostly from the 40s and 50s, which they sang to recorded instrumentals. I was amazed that I still knew all the words. However, these songs were from a time when one could actually understand the words. We even got to chime in on some of the choruses; ARF members have great voices. The presentation was flirty and fun. Thanks to Jim Allen for recommending this group. Based on the noise level, it seemed that everybody enjoyed visiting with one another, one of the main purposes of all ARF events.