This newsletter is brought to you by Human Resources.
|
|
Happy New Year, Cornell Retirees!
|
|
Work/Life in the Cornell Division of Human Resources is proud to serve Cornell retirees with events, educational workshops, and support services.
It is an honor to connect with the thousands of Cornell retirees (such as yourself) who helped shape and care for the Cornell campuses, guide and teach generations of students, and conduct transformational research.
I am writing to share some highlights from 2019 and opportunities coming up in 2020. Please see below and contact us if you have any questions or suggestions for the upcoming year!
Michelle Artibee, Associate Director of Work/Life
Retiree Events
Over the past couple of years we have visited on and off campus locations, enjoyed new activities and guest presenters, and much more. The diversification of these free events was a result of retiree feedback. Participants have enjoyed lectures, athletic games, and nature tours! In June we visited the newly renovated College of Veterinary Medicine, enjoyed breakfast and a guest presentation from Professor Thomas Seeley. This fall the annual retiree barbeque moved indoors to Barton Hall where we saluted our veterans and enjoyed learning about Cornell's military history.
The next retiree event will be held on
Saturday, May 9th at 9:00 a.m
. Save the date and stay tuned for details and registration! Have an idea for a future event? Let us know!
Though we're thrilled attendance at events has grown, we know navigating campus locations can be challenging for some. Our team carefully considers parking accommodations and campus traffic. Wheelchairs and escorts are also available to welcome and assist you. Please connect with us about the accessibility of events or transportation alternatives, as we’re committed to ensuring everyone can attend safely.
Get Involved!
Retiree events would not be possible without volunteers. If you are interested in helping out at events with setup, welcoming attendees, cleanup, photography, etc., contact Amy Layton at
ael67@cornell.edu
.
We are fortunate to have the wisdom of the HR Retiree Engagement Advisory Committee. Comprised of retired faculty and staff, department representatives, and community experts, the committee advises on important issues and supports Cornell's effort to be a retiree/retirement-friendly employer. Thank you to our current members. To learn more about this committee or participate, contact me at
mla64@cornell.edu
.
Cornell retirees are also represented on the
Employee Assembly
. Your representatives, Hurf Sheldon (
hts1@cornell.edu
) and Susan Barry (
st237@cornell.edu
), are interested in hearing from you! They are also seeking a new representative to begin in June.
Not located in the Ithaca-area?
- Many workshops sponsored by our office have online participation options. Look carefully at program descriptions to see if virtual participation via Zoom is available. Not sure how to use Zoom? That's ok - simply click on the link provided and turn on your speakers. A retiree took part in a program while in the United Kingdom last year!
- Guest authors for this newsletter are desired! To share your story or write about a particular interest, contact Amy Layton (ael67@cornell.edu).
- Regardless of location, you may use your Cornell Care.com benefit to search for elder care, house and pet sitters, and other caregivers.
- Have ideas on how we can better serve retirees living afar? Let us know!
Retiree Engagement Survey
The first ever
Cornell Retiree Engagement Survey
was conducted in 2019. You told us about your volunteerism, encore careers, travels, creative endeavors, awards, and publications! The
survey report
has been shared with leaders and relevant committees and the findings will guide our efforts going forward in 2020 and beyond.
Thank you for reading this long message and…
Go Big Red, Retirees
!
|
|
Stay Active this Winter with Cornell Outdoor Education
Although the weather may be frightful, you can still enjoy some wonderful activities and stay busy this winter! Cornell Outdoor Education (COE) can help! These two courses below can keep you active and social this season!
Cross Country Skiing Course
Thoroughly enjoy your winter in upstate NY with cross-country skiing. Learn the basics to effectively glide across snow-covered landscapes. Start out with getting comfortable on skis on flat land and progress to learning how to navigate hills and trails on cross-country skis. Explore Ithaca’s local forests and ski trails, or travel to Tug Hill Plateau to find some of the most reliable lake effect snow in the region. This is a beginner friendly class and no previous skiing experience is required. Because of the physical nature of this activity, participants should be able to comfortably walk several miles on variable terrain. Stay active this winter, meet new people, and experience the beauty of winter. Transportation, equipment, and instruction are all included. Students will need to provide their own winter attire appropriate for cross-country skiing.
Registration and more information.
|
|
Wellness Rock Climbing Class
If you have ever wanted to try rock climbing, Cornell is the place to begin! COE's Wellness Rock Climbing course requires NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. Wellness Rock Climbing is taught by Cornell staff instructors. For the beginner, the course introduces you to rock climbing equipment, knots, rope handling, belaying, safety, and various climbing techniques. Classes have at least a 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio, ensuring a high degree of individual attention. Graduates of the class will have learned the skills be certified to belay at the Lindseth Climbing Wall and will be on their way to climbing on their own for fun and fitness.
Registration and more information.
|
|
Soup & Hope Returns in the New Year
Thursday, January 16, 2020, 12:00 pm
Sage Chapel
Soup & Hope
welcomes in its 13th year in 2020 - they will host six talks, offered bi-weekly – on Thursdays through March 26th.
The new year kicks off with The Rev. Daniel McMullin, priest-director of the Cornell Catholic Community. He will talk about how he chooses to be hopeful in the face of life’s difficulties on January 16, 2020.
On January 30th, Sue Mann, MBA ’03, MMH ’04, founder of Sansu Rising, an Ithaca company that specializes in helping people recover from workplace bullying, rounds out the January schedule.
|
|
2020 Estate Planning Practicum
Cornell Law School is pleased to announce the return of our Estate Planning Practicum in the Spring of 2020. As in the past, the course will assist those who do not have access to an estate planning attorney and will provide clients with a basic estate plan that includes a last will and testament, a living will, a health care proxy and power of attorney, all tailored according to the client’s wishes. Law students will prepare and finalize these documents under the supervision of attorneys who specialize in trusts and estates.
Clients must meet
income eligibility guidelines
as this service is free of charge. The income limits are as follows:
- Single - less than $25k annually
- Family - less than $50k annually
Clients should be aware that this service requires at least two visits to meet with students at the Law School (on the Ithaca campus). In addition, once chosen to participate, clients will be expected to sign a written commitment to follow through with appointments, giving at least 24 hour notice if an appointment will be missed.
Spots are limited so if you are interested and meet the income guidelines, please email Joey Gates at
jdg43@cornell.edu
by January 10th and you will be placed on a list. Notification of client selection will begin in January of 2020. Classes begin January 21, 2020.
|
|
Caregiver Support & Education Network
Caregivers come together to share the challenges, joys and resources of caregiving as well as listen to occasional speakers presenting on topics of interest. Facilitators share strategies, tools, and resources for coping with stress, caregiver guilt, and burnout as well as information on local/national resources that may assist you.
Regular group support meetings are held monthly on Thursdays from 12:00-1:00 pm. The next meeting will be
Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 140 East Hill Office Building. You can view the schedule on the
Elder and Adult Caregiver's Page. Remote options now available.
For questions or more information, contact
Diane Bradac at 607-255-1917.
|
|
Cornell Winter Employee Celebration Tickets on Sale
Cornell Employee Celebration is for staff, faculty, retirees and their families. The event features athletics events, a Cornell community dinner, and additional activities. The event is held twice a year, in the fall and in the winter. The winter event date is
January 25, 2020.
Ticket Sales are open until January 17th!
$5 discounted ticket includes dinner and athletic events listed below (unless otherwise specified). Tickets can be purchased through the Athletic Ticketing Office, Bartels Hall (M-F 10:00 am 4:00 pm) or call 607-255-4247. Tickets can also be purchased at
bigredtix@cornell.edu.
|
|
Cornell Cooperative Extension
|
|
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
Cornell Cooperative Extension has compiled a guide to
Winter Weather Safety,
including driving tips and pet safety, to help you stay safe this winter.
Driving & Transportation
Checklist & Tips for Safe Winter Driving
,
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers what to check on your automobile before winter comes, items you should keep in your car, and what to do in an emergency situation. Call 511 to get the latest road conditions.
Winter Weather
Cold Weather Pet Safety
by the American Veterinary Medical Association, covers steps to take to keep a variety of different pets safe during winter weather.
Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is a 15-page PDF that covers planning ahead for cold weather, indoors and outdoor safety in cold weather, and cold weather health conditions. Topics include: creating a winter weather survival kit, understanding wind chill, and recognizing hypothermia and frostbite and what to do.
|
|
2020 Fly Tying Workshop Series
Saturday, January 11, 6:00-8:00 pm
CCE-Tompkins Education Center
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY
The Leon Chandler Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Tompkins County Cooperative Extension 4-H Program are proud to offer you (youth and adults) the finest in fly-fishing education, featuring some of the most talented angler/tiers in the state! This Introduction to Fly Tying features nine two-hour sessions with several different instructors who will teach you the basics of tying the dry fly, wet fly, nymph and streamer patterns that are the most effective in our area.
All classes will be from 6:00-8:00 pm on Saturdays, January 11 - March 7, 2020 at the Tompkins County Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue Ithaca, NY. Tuition includes nine weeks of instruction, all tools, hooks and tying materials. All students receive: complete tying kits (including vises, scissors and related tools); all tying materials necessary to complete the course and practice tying outside of the class (feathers, dubbing, hooks and related materials); as well as a comprehensive introductory text on Fly Tying.
|
|
Walk for Wellness at the Mall
Cayuga Health (CH) and The Shops At Ithaca Mall have teamed up to provide Walk for Wellness, a new walking program at the Ithaca Mall. To make it fun and easy, foot decals have been installed throughout the Mall to help keep walkers on track while walking their way to health. One time around the inside of the Ithaca Mall is approximately one mile. There is also a branded kiosk in the mall to assist in promoting mall walking.
Mall walking hours will be:
- Monday - Saturday: 8:00-10:00 am, Noon-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
- Sunday: 8:00-10:00 am (Dog walking allowed from 8:00-10:00 am, must have updated shot records and be on a leash), 10:00 am - noon, 3:00-6:00 pm
|
|
Veteran's Coffeehouse Launched in Ithaca
Team Red, White & Blue Ithaca a local, campus based Veteran's group, announces the opening of the Veterans’ Coffeehouse. The Coffeehouse will be a space for Veterans to connect and socialize throughout the winter over some warm beverages.
The second Veterans’ Coffeehouse will be held on Thursday, January 16, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at Tompkins County Human Services Annex 214 W. Martin Luther King/State St, Ithaca.
If you are interested in joining Team RWB, you can do that
here (Veterans who join get a free t-shirt!). As a reminder, Team RWB is a national nonprofit that brings together Veterans through physical and social activity and the Ithaca chapter would love to meet you! Follow them on Instagram or Facebook @teamrwbithaca.
|
|
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities
|
|
Lifelong is Seeking Enthusiastic Instructors for Their Lifelong Learning Program
Lifelong is a non-profit community center for people age 50 and above. We strive to enhance the lives of older adults in Tompkins County by providing opportunities for learning and activities to exercise one’s body, intellect and creativity.
The Lifelong Learning program offers volunteer-taught courses and presentations that focus on sharing knowledge and linking communities. Some of the areas we offer classes in are Arts/Films, Finance, Gardening & Outdoors, Humanities, Languages, Political Issues, Science & Technology, and Wellness and Health.
Lifelong’s volunteer instructors are members of our community who have an area of interest or expertise that they want to share! They come from a variety of backgrounds, from retired teachers to local business owners, artists, hobbyists and scientists. We are always looking for new and interesting classes to add to our catalog, so if you have a passion or curiosity to share, we’d love to hear about it.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer instructor please contact Mary Schiavone, Program Director, at 607-273-1511 or
mschiavone@tclifelong.org
.
For a look at our current catalog and course offerings, and to find out more about Lifelong, please visit
www.tclifelong.org
.
|
|
Cancer Resource Center Volunteer Opportunities
Office Reception & Client Support:
When people call or walk into the Cancer Resource Center (CRC) office, they are warmly greeted by a friendly face. This person could be YOU! We need folks to help with general
reception work, including client assistance and projects. Must be available during regular business hours.
Cayuga Medical Center Patient Support:
CRC volunteers are a daily presence in both Radiation Medicine and Infusion Services, providing support and information to cancer patients and their families.
Must be available during regular business hours.
Shopper:
Love to shop? CRC is looking for a volunteer to do weekly grocery shopping for their support groups. They provide a Wegmans store charge and reusable bags. The shopping must be done on Mondays or Tuesdays before 5:00 pm.
Contact Sharon Kaplan, Director of Volunteer Services, at
sharon@crcfl.net
or 607-277-0960 if you are interested in any of these opportunities.
|
|
Cornell University | 607-255-0388 | hr.cornell.edu/retirees | cornellretirees@cornell.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
