Features
This newsletter is brought to you by Human Resources with the support of the Cornell Retirees Association (CRA). It replaces the CRA Newsletter that was published three times a year and will now be sent on at least a monthly basis. 

Articles, events, and opportunities for retirees will be included. Have a suggestion or lead? Let us know!
Retirees Now Represented on Cornell Employee Assembly
Retirees now have a voice in campus governance. Two retirees, Hurf Sheldon and Peggy Andersen, share one seat and are excited to bring retiree concerns/issues to the EA.

How did this happen? Human Resources recently conducted over 20 interviews with Cornell retirees to get their perspective on retiring from Cornell and suggestions on how to improve the transition process. One of the interviewees (Sheldon) suggested that retirees should be represented on the Employee Assembly. This idea was presented to the Employee Assembly, voted on, and approved by interim President Rawlings. Peggy and Hurf will serve as initial appointees with elections to follow in future years. 

Please feel free to contact them directly with your concerns! 

About Peggy

Peggy Andersen received a B.S. from SUNY Binghamton. She was an Accounts Representative in Computer Graphics and retired in June 2015 after more than 20 years of service at Cornell. For several years, Peggy served on the editorial board of Pawprint, the Cornell employee newsletter.

Outside of Cornell, Peggy has her own business, Andersen Sewing & Repair—a dressmaking and general repair business. She is a member and instructor for Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports. Peggy has been very active in her community over the past 45 years. She is also a kayak/canoe instructor for the Wounded Warriors project, Lake Burden, NY.

Peggy’s hobbies include quilting, reading, genealogy, and gardening. She lives in Richford with her husband Harry “Andy” Andersen, also a Cornell retiree, who worked over 40 years at Cornell, retiring from Infrastructure Properties and Planning (Utilities) in May 2015. 

Peggy states, " Cornell offers many opportunities for staff–including a financial contribution toward retirement; another opportunity is that staff can maximize their own contributions and have the security in knowing that once their work life is over, their future retirement is comfortable. I hope to be able to help get this message out to staff across campus and beyond."

Email Peggy at paa11@cornell.edu
About Hurf

Henry T. Sheldon, Jr. (Hurf) received an A.S. from American University US ARMY extension, Fort Rucker, AL. He is a Vietnam Veteran. Hurf was a Research Systems Manager at The Program of Computer Graphics and retired in July 2016 after 36 years at Cornell.

Hurf is very active in the local communities. He is a guide/coach in the Greek Peak Skiing Program for the Disabled and over the years, has been involved with Lansing Ambulance, Lansing Recreation Department, Lansing Lions, and currently serves as chair of the Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals. He is also a sailing program instructor.

Hurf lives in Lansing with his wife, Melissa. They have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. Hurf’s many interests include: alternative energy, reading, biking, skiing, photography, and electronics.

Hurf's family history is intertwined with Cornell: grandfather graduated in 1897, father was class of '43, wife is BS, '83, one daughter is Arts '97, another daughter is Arts '08. 

Hurf states, "I care deeply about the past, present and future of Cornell as an institution. As a small group manager and staff member, issues affecting present, retired and former staff are familiar and important to me." 

Email Hurf at hts1@cornell.edu
Campus Events & Activities
Birds Through the Lens
What: Monday Night Seminar

When: June 5, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY

Title: Birds Through the Lens: Using video technology to reveal the lives of birds

Speaker: Ann Prum, Founder, Producer, and Cinematographer, Coneflower Productions

Description: For 20 years, Ann Johnson Prum has created nonfiction films that have captured 10 Emmy nominations and an Emmy win for Best Nature Documentary (An Original Duckumentary). Coneflower Productions pushes the use of new technology, science, and creative storytelling to bring the world of wildlife to viewers. Ann will talk about life in the field and the production studio and share what it takes to create ground-breaking multimedia. 

Admission: Free

Contact: (800) 843-243, cornellbirds@cornell.edu

Botanic Gardens Plant Sale and Walking Tour

Date/time: Saturday, June 10, 9 am-noon 
Location
: Cornell Botanic Gardens Plant Production Facility, 397 Forest Home Drive.

Spring Plant Sale We are offering some of our gardeners’ favorite plants, as well as new selections from the horticultural trade, including peonies, daylilies, hostas and iris. In addition to our own plant material, our garden center partners  Cayuga Landscape The Magic Garden The Plantsmen  and  RC's Plants and Produce  will be on hand selling their plants! A portion of their sales will be donated to Cornell Botanic Gardens.

For more information, call 607-255-2400 or contact botanicgardens@cornell.edu.

Members only presale, Friday, June 9; 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Become a member now or sign up at the presale.

Spring into the Garden Tour
Date/timeFriday, June 16, 12-1pm
Location: Meet at the Nevin Welcome Center.

Cornell Botanic Gardens walking tour lead by Kevin Moss. No registration necessary.

Out on the Trails
Cornell Botanic Gardens and partner organizations have launched a new website designed to help outdoor enthusiasts of any age, ability, or interest find the perfect trail experience.

Out on the Trails is a GPS-enabled, mobile-optimized site that maps all of the trails in Tompkins County, and invites users to search by the experience they seek. Criteria include distance, difficulty, scenic views, wildlife viewing, or picnicking, and also access directions to trailheads and information on parking. Use a desktop computer or grab a smartphone to explore the 32 miles of trails in the Cornell Botanic Gardens' natural areas, as well as more than 200 additional miles of trails throughout the area.
Volunteer Opportunities
Staff Development Day
Wednesday, July 12, 9am - 4pm, Physical Sciences Building

Staff Development Day is a unique approach to workplace learning that gives all Cornell University employees the opportunity to invest in their personal and professional growth and well-being. Now in its 19th year, the day's events will center on various aspects of education exploration, professional development, wellness and community in the workplace.

We are in need of volunteers to help as e vent ambassador welcoming participants, providing directions, assisting at registration table and helping with evaluations.   

The times to volunteer are:
  • 8:00 am – 10:00 am
  • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
If interested, please contact  Deb Billups .
Heritage Ambassadors Training Offered by The History Center
Participate in the Heritage Ambassadors 2017 Pilot Program launched by The History Center, Historic Ithaca and Ithaca Heritage. Heritage Ambassadors will be our community's knowledgeable guides about the history and rich heritage of Tompkins County.

YOU can do any of the following: be a "shepherd" for the next heritage pub crawl, be a docent at an historic home, co-lead a tour of downtown Ithaca or one of the county's towns, help interpret Tompkins County's unique culture, ... the possibilities are almost limitless.

The 2017 Heritage Ambassadors Pilot Training Program will start on Wednesday, June 21 and will run through 6 consecutive weeks through July 26 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Details include dates/time commitment. If you are interested in becoming a Heritage Ambassador, please contact Rod Howe, Executive Director of The History Center, 607-273-8284, ext. 222.
Wellness News
Life Coaching Consultations - Free!
A life coaching consultation is a perfect choice for you if you would like to talk to Cornell Wellness staff about something on your mind, or a change you are wanting to make. If you are looking to have a conversation about health, nutrition, fitness, changing a behavior, life transitions such as a retirement, or a general topic, this is an opportunity for you. Four Wellness staff members are certified Intrinsic Coaches through Totally Coached. They can help you to clarify your thinking around what's most important to you, which will inform your next steps. Life coaching consultations are free and available to staff, faculty, retirees, spouses/partners and can take place in-person, by WebEx, Skype, or phone.

Schedule a life coaching consultation. If your concern is more in-depth, the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) offers free, confidential, professional counseling and consultation services by telephone or in person.

Healthy Living Fitness Test and Summer Schedule
One of the great benefits Cornell Wellness offers its Wellness Recreation Members is physical fitness testing in a group setting for older adults. This group test follows the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test protocols as well as the NASM Squat Assessment, Trunk Rotation, and Reach Test. The tests are well-researched, recognized internationally, and provide a picture of the overall strength, stamina, flexibility, coordination, balance, and posture of adults aged 60 years old and up. Cornell Wellness believes in the social benefits of exercise and provides the testing in a group atmosphere that is non-competitive and fun. You must have a current Wellness Recreational Membership to participate. Questions? Contact Keri Johnson, coordinator of the Healthy Living Program.

Healthy Living Program for the Summer
Cornell Wellness offers opportunities for both physical fitness and social experiences that are appropriate for every size, shape, age, and ability. The group fitness classes are great for individuals who are first starting a fitness program, have gone through joint replacement, suffer from arthritis, experience lingering joint pain from injury, have physical limitations or disabilities, those who want to improve their balance, fitness, overall well being and more.

Group fitness classes embody our vision of inclusion, offer participants individualized attention to be successful, and promote an environment of camaraderie and personal success. Any current Wellness Recreation Member may participate. In addition to a Wellness Recreation Membership, online registration is requested. 

Cornell Golf Course - Lessons and Discounted Memberships
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Cornell Wellness has teamed up with Matt Baughan, head golf pro at the Robert Trent Jones designed Cornell Golf Course, to offer golf lessons to the Cornell community (open to Wellness Recreation Members, non-members, staff, faculty, spouses/partners, retirees). Any level of ability can register. Lessons will cover all aspects of the game (from putting to full swing). Cost is $200 for a 5-lesson package; cost is reduced to $180 for 1-year Wellness Recreation or CPHL Wellness Recreation Membership holders. For questions specific to the lessons, email Matt Baughan.
Community News
Lifelong Summer Catalog
Lifelong is celebrating 65 years of enhancing the lives of older adults in Tompkins County. Lifelong achieves its mission through health and wellness, learning, exercise, recreation, travel, life planning and volunteer programs. Explore the many opportunities that Lifelong provides throughout the county.

Always wanted to try Salsa Dancing? Now's your chance. How about a Creative Writing workshop? Art? Movies? There's a class about the Glacial History of this area as well as the history of Taughannock Falls State Park. Perhaps an Introduction to Self-Defense appeals to you, or how to improve your sleep. Check out the Summer 2017 Catalog online or drop in to Lifelong at 119 W. Court St., Ithaca, to pick up a hard copy.

Learn about New Aging in Community Program
Do you want to stay in your home as you grow older while staying active and engaged? Do you want to meet new people and build new relationships? Do your parents or someone you know want to age in place? 

Programs and services are the heart and soul of Love Living at Home (LLH). Programs and services are directed at meeting the wishes of our members who want to live an active and rewarding life. Members decide what programs and services are available. Programs are designed to meet new people and build new relationships. Support and peace of mind through services - even something as simple as a ride to the airport - are a phone call away.

Over 100 members, including some Cornell retirees, are already enjoying the benefits of being part of the mutually supportive network that is Love Living at Home. They invite you to  Join us at an Information Session to learn more. 

When:  Wednesday June 7, 2017, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Where: YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, Graham Road, Ithaca, NY


Please tell your friends and neighbors. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. For information, please email us.
Lifelong Volunteer Fair
Thursday, June 22, (10:00 am-12:00 pm)
119 West Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

Partnering with the Tompkins County United Way site "Get Connected," Lifelong is launching a new volunteer program, designed to link seniors with volunteer opportunities throughout the county.

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Are you looking to meet new people, make new friends, do something new, and don’t know where to turn? Join Volunteers Connected at the Lifelong Volunteer Fair. Representatives of local organizations seeking volunteers will be onsite and available to talk with you. For information contact  Joyce Billing .  
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cooperative Extension  puts a wealth of useful, research-based information at your finger tips! In addition to what you'll find on their website, they offer free or low-cost workshops on topics that range from how to start an organic garden to making a home spending plan. Explore their links, check out upcoming events, then give them a call or visit the CCE-Tompkins Education Center to learn more. 

Gardener's Pot Swap Recycling Event
CCE-Tompkins Education Center, 
615 Willow Avenue,  Ithaca, NY
June 23 - June 26, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

During this recycling event, you can leave your plastic nursery pots, trays, cell packs, and glass canning jars in good condition in the designated area off the CCE-Tompkins main parking lot on Willow Avenue. You may take away as many pots/jars as you can use, too!  For more details.

Recent Retiree Happenings
Museum of the Earth Tour by Jeanette Miller, CRA President
On Thursday, April 6 over 30 Cornell retirees enjoyed a guided tour of the Museum of the Earth—a natural history museum created as part of the Paleontological Research Institution, which studies the history of the Earth and its life. 

An amazing exhibit in the lobby area is the skeleton of a 44-foot “Right Whale” and the story of how she became a part of PRI, travelling from MA to Nova Scotia and back to NJ. The process to prepare the whale for museum exhibition was most interesting and quite an undertaking!

There were many exhibits relating to evolution including a geologic time scale and a seismograph that records movements of the earth throughout the world. Other interesting displays included live coral reefs and a replica of an igloo with an exhibit of ice to give a hands-on feeling of touching a glacier.

The museum works with local schools in promoting workshops and tours and provides a wonderful learning experience for children. In addition, there is a nice gift shop in the lobby. Many retirees were intrigued with what they saw and want to go back and explore more!

CRA Spring Luncheon
Nearly 100 Cornell retirees and guests gathered at the Ramada in Ithaca on May 11 for the annual spring CRA luncheon and heard a very interesting presentation on the Seneca Army Depot by Walter Gable, current Seneca County historian.  

Walter Gable and another local historian, Carolyn Zogg, are the co-authors of the book The Seneca Army Depot: Fighting Wars From the New York Home Front . Established as a munitions supply base in 1941 to help defend the northeast U.S. coast against possible enemy attack in the early years of World War II, the Seneca Army Depot was a major supply base in various wars up through the Persian Gulf War.

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States began to prepare to enter World War II. When the army decided to build a depot in Seneca County in 1941, dozens of families were given only days to vacate the homes they loved and land they had farmed for generations. The depot provided vital jobs for residents, but it also continued to cause controversy even after it was established–all while providing critical support for the army through the Persian Gulf War. Since the base closed in 2000, the community has grappled with what to do with the property, including protecting the area population of white deer.

Walter gave quite the history lesson to those in attendance. Many purchased his book, which he was happy to sign. All net proceeds from book sales go to local historical societies. For details on purchasing the book, please contact Walter

Cornell University | 607-255-0388 | hr.cornell.edu/retirees | cornellretirees@cornell.edu