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Gwendolyn Ebbett
 Dear Colleagues:
I hope all of you are enjoying a wonderful summer.
For those who were unable to attend either the President’s Tea or the Zoom Hot Topic#1 on Chat-GPT, both events were very successful. Please see the report on the Tea in the article below. Here is the WURA web link to the recording of the Chat-GPT event. We will be hosting Hot Topic #2 in the Fall. Stay tuned for more details and a Zoom invitation.
There have been numerous changes in senior ranks of the University Administration. Here is a quick overview:
Provost – Robert Aguirre began his term as Provost on July 17, 2023. The new Associate VP External – Marian Gayed -- began on June 29, 2023; VP Research & Innovation – Shanthi Johnson -- began on July 1, 2023; VP Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Clinton Beckford, who was the Interim, also began on July 1, 2023. The Executive will be arranging an opportunity to introduce WURA members to these new administrators.
We still have not had any further word about the launch of the University’s new Memorial web page. It will be a topic for our next meeting with Senior Administration. It is with regret that I acknowledge the death of another colleague, Olga Crocker, who passed away in June.
Many of you will remember our colleague, Ken Pryke, who passed away in 2021. In his will, Ken left a $40,000 bequest to WURA to establish a scholarship in his name and in the name of his deceased son, Sean. Our Scholarship Committee, chaired by Barbara Thomas, will work with the University to set up the Scholarship based upon the criteria of need and academic achievement.
SAVE THE DATE: The Fall AGM is set for November 29. It will be a hybrid event -- in person at the Freed Orman Centre, and online with TEAMS. Further details will be forthcoming.
I hope all of you continue to have an enjoyable summer.
Best wishes,
Gwendolyn Ebbett
President
(Editors' Note: In this issue, we present a remarkable display of "paintings" crafted by an artificial intelligence application known as Dall-E, a clever homage to the renowned artist Salvador Dali. Each of these captivating images has been tailor-made to complement the respective article, featuring a distinct style reminiscent of several iconic artists. This fascinating endeavor was pursued purely for the joy of exploration and to witness the extraordinary capabilities of artificial intelligence. We hope you find delight in these creative AI-generated works as much as we did. R. Dumala, e-Bulletin Editorial Team)
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("President's Tea Party" by Dall-E, inspired by Claude Monet, July 2023.)
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President's Tea Party
Christina Simmons, Professor Emerita
 Thursday, June 22, was a beautiful summer day that reflected the exuberant mood of about fifty people who attended the first President’s Tea since 2019 and the first hosted by President Rob Gordon. In the Freed-Orman Centre lovely china teacups and teapots of varied designs graced the tables, along with delicious sandwiches, fruit, and scones. The event seemed to exemplify the joy people are feeling about returning to a semblance of normality in social life after these years of pandemic restrictions. As attendees caught up with old friends and exchanged stories, the buzz of conversation was so great that it was hard to get everyone’s attention to introduce the President.
President Gordon spoke briefly about the University new strategic plan, Aspire: Together for Tomorrow. After a long consultation process involving a large number of students, faculty, alumni, and community members, the Report was published recently and is available in hard copy or online at engageuwindsor.ca . The document outlines the University’s commitment to student learning and engagement; indigenization and Truth and Reconciliation; equity, diversity, and inclusion; environmental sustainability; and making a positive impact on the community. After his talk, the President stayed to speak informally with many who attended.
We already have the Freed-Orman Centre booked for November 29 for our Fall Annual General Meeting and Holiday Luncheon. At that event, the President will speak more formally and take questions, and we hope to be introduced to some of the several new Senior Administrators, who have arrived or will be arriving this summer. The Holiday Luncheon has traditionally been one of our most popular and enjoyable events. Please save the date and plan to come!
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("Accepting a travel grant" by Dall-E inspired by Paul Gaugin, July 2023)
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UWT-SEG Exchange Travel Grants
Geri Salinitri, Professor Emerita
Each year, the Travel Grant Committee of WURA awards the UWT-SEG Exchange Travel Grant to a retiree who has applied to the committee to present their research or artistic exhibitions/presentations at scholarly conferences and other dissemination venues. WURA encourages this exchange of ideas and research at the national and international levels and supports knowledge mobilization activities. Proposed activities include workshops, seminars, policy briefs, knowledge synthesis and artistic exhibits.
SSHRC provides a portion of the funding, and applicants from the Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts should refer to this grant in their CVs as the SSHRC Exchange Grant. The committee awards $1000 or more, depending on the funding available to a deserving recipient to offset transportation costs, accommodations, meals, conference registration fees, and so forth.
This year, Dr. Roger Hussey received $2000 to present at the International Conference on the Future of Education (Malaysia) and the 6 th International Conference on Research in Education, Teaching and Learning (Dublin). Dr. Hussey’s CV demonstrates a current and substantial publication and research record.
We encourage all retirees to consider applying for the Exchange Travel Grant as they continue to research, engage in creative activities, and disseminate invaluable knowledge on behalf of the University of Windsor.
For further information, check out the Office of Research Innovation Services website or contact Norm King, nking@uwindsor.ca or Geri Salinitri, sgeri@uwindsor.ca
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("Health Care Subsidies" by Dall-E inspired by Claude Monet, July 2023)
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Proposed Changes to the Retiree Health Care Subsidy
Ihor Stebelsky, Professor Emeritus
This year we were disappointed by a significant drop in our health care subsidy. Cheryl Paglione, Director, Department of Human Resources Pension and Benefits, decided to do something about it. She called a meeting of the Retiree Health Care Subsidy Committee for May 15, 2023, to examine the problem and find a solution.
At the meeting, attended also by two WUFA representatives (Robert Arnold, Sociology, and Annette Demers, Librarian, Law), Ms. Paglione outlined the current process and the resultant historic fluctuations of our health care subsidy. Jenifer Gritke, Assistant Director, Finance, provided some scenarios depicted on graphs with possible alternatives for a stable subsidy.
Two components in our health care subsidy generate wide fluctuations: 1) there is a wide fluctuation from year to year in the gains or (rarely) losses in our subsidy fund; and 2) the amount of money drawn from the fund for the subsidy each year is based on the investment income (earnings) of the fund, smoothed out by using a three-year rolling average to eliminate occasional losses, but not enough to eliminate wide fluctuations. Over time, this formula for withdrawal is designed to result in no net gain or loss in the fund. However, to compensate for the increasing number of retirees or to increase the subsidy to the point where it would fully cover the cost of the premium, the fund needs to be augmented, as it has been so far, through negotiated contributions by the University.
Ms Gritke pointed out that scholarship funds and other endowments are managed differently: 1) their funds are invested in holdings that undergo less fluctuation, and 2) the amounts of money drawn from such funds are based on a set percentage (usually 4 percent) that would approximate (but not exceed) the earning capacity of the investment. As I see it, there is no crystal ball that would foretell the earning of these funds into the future. To grow them, however, additional contributions are needed.
In the discussion, I suggested a scenario of keeping the present investment fund but changing from a three-year to a five-year moving average, which Ms Gritke incorporated into her summary for comparison. That change only altered but did not reduce the fluctuations.
In the end, the endowment method suggested by Ms Gritke appeared most suitable to providing a stable health care subsidy. Given the capacity of our health care subsidy fund investment to generate income, 5 percent was suggested as a generous, yet judicious, rate of withdrawal to pay for our retiree health care subsidy.
The scenarios are presented in graphic form below:
The decision-making body, as I understand it, is WUFA in agreement with the University of Windsor. WURA does not negotiate with the University, but it can support or veto the proposed change with its membership vote.
Editors’ Note: Ihor Stebelsky, Professor Emeritus, is the WURA Representative on the Retiree Health Care Subsidy Committee.
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("Iceland" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
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What I Did on My Summer Holidays*
(Wait. I forgot. We’re Retired. Every day is a Holiday)
Bruce Elman, Professor Emeritus
 In mid-June, my daughter Face Timed my wife, Nancy. There is nothing unusual about this. My daughter lives in London, England, and she calls or Face Times most days. This time, however, there was real purpose in the call. “Could you come to London to help out during the second week of July?” she asked. She’s at a new job, the usual after-school minder is away, her husband is busy at work, and someone needs to pick up her three boys from camp at the end of the day. For us, this was very short notice but, of course, we agreed -- who wouldn't want to see their three grandchildren!.
Nancy and I love to read mystery/crime novels. Lately, we have been drawn to European writers – Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic. The Swedish and Norwegian motifs in which these novels are set seems ... well, frankly -- Canada-lite. But Iceland? Now that is a different story! As a friend said, Iceland is a geologist’s dream come true. So, Nancy says, ”why don’t we go to Iceland on our way to London?” After all, it is July. How cold can it be? And, contrary to the novels we have read, it is reputed to be the safest country in the world. (Apparently, those statistics don’t include earthquakes or volcanoes.)
So, that’s exactly what we decided to do – spend part of our summer holiday in Iceland. The first thing to note is that it is very easy to get to Iceland. There are flights from most major North American cities. We flew from Toronto to Reykjavik. It is about a six-hour flight with a four-hour time change. There is a nice airport in Reykjavik – Keflavik (KEF) -- which is easy to negotiate. It is about 45 minutes to the city of Reykjavik. We arranged ground transportation in advance, but I don’t know if it was really necessary. We went by bus. It took us to a ”terminal” where we changed to smaller “Smart buses” (vans really), which took us to our hotel -- Mitgardur by Center Hotels.
An important note: Everything in Iceland is expensive. Food, transportation, Tours, Hotels. So be prepared. Our hotel was within what we thought was a reasonable price point but it was not fancy, and the rooms were smallish. But it was clean, the food was quite good, and the staff unfailingly helpful. We arrived at Keflavik at 9:00 in the morning and were downtown at our hotel by 11:00. Check-in time was 3:00 p.m. but they had us in our room by 1:00. In my experience, that’s exceptional!
Anyway, it gave us enough time to unpack (sort of) and change clothes before our first tour -- a walking tour of Reykjavik led by a Viking. The tour was quite good -- the guide was extremely knowledgeable but not a Viking -- for the first 2 of the 2 ½ hours. (It was only supposed to be 2 hours!) At the 2 hour and 15-minute mark, as we were walking steadily uphill to see Hallgrim'’s Church -- a major landmark but no Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia -- I had had enough and so we ended the tour -- perhaps it was the lack of sleep or the jet lag or the fact that I am not big on churches (as you might imagine) -- and headed back to the hotel. We had eaten a big lunch, so we bought some things at a small grocery and called it a day. Day One complete.
Iceland has something for individuals of all ages and physical abilities. If you are fit, you can hike on a glacier or go spelunking in a lava cave, scuba dive between the tectonic plates or do a trail ride across the tundra, tour a volcano or go deep sea fishing. We did none of those. We opted for the full-day Classic Golden Circle Tour in an air-conditioned Mercedes Mini-bus. It was lovely and non-stressful, and it took us to many places of natural beauty in the regions fairly close to Reykjavik including the Geyser field, the Golden (Gullfoss) Falls, and Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir was great for a short hike up to the place (now only a flagpole) where the Vikings held their representative assemblies for three or four weeks every summer-- one of the oldest representative assemblies in history. The assemblies were known less for their deliberative processes and more for the almost non-stop drinking and debauchery that took place during those weeks. Our guide was very good -- almost as good as the natural ice cream at a dairy farm that we visited on our way back to Reykjavik. Note: There are many variations on the Golden Circle Tour. Some add on the the Secret Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon or a Glacier Walk. We went for the Classic and it was very interesting . . . and relaxing.
You can’t go to Iceland without going on a whale watching cruise. Once again, you have options. If you are unconcerned about invading the whales’ space, you can go in an elongated motorboat. You have to don a wetsuit and they strap you into your seat but, I assume, you visit with the whales close-up and personal. Alternatively, you can go on a big boat with 300 or so (my estimate) of your closest friends. We opted for the “Whale Watching in a Yacht” option. (This is my general view of life – take the middle road.) There were only 25 – 30 of us on the boat and we had a lot of access to the crew and a closer view of the whales than on the bigger boat, not as close as in the motorboat but, then again, we were respectful of the whales’ privacy. The cruise is about 3 hours -- an hour out to the whales’ playground, an hour back, and an hour there watching the whales swim around.
When we got back, we went for some terrific gelato, wandered around the old town, and went back to the harbour to have dinner at a fish restaurant overlooking the water. The dinner was lovely except for the 4.5 earthquake that apparently rattled our table. (I say apparently because I didn’t realize it happened. Some guy got up at a table behind us and I had to get up to let him out and I missed the earthquake.)
There were, in fact, hundreds of earthquakes during the four days we were in Iceland. Most were between 1.0 and 2.0 but some were between 3.0 and 4.0 and then there was the 4.5 during dinner. Our guides kept telling us that things were “geologically unsettled” and that meant that a volcanic eruption was sure to occur soon. Icelanders -- at least our guides – seemed to be excited about the possibility. On the other hand, I remembered that air travel was seriously disrupted as a result of an eruption in 2010. Iceland was great but I didn’t need any disruptions in our travel to London to see our grandchildren.
We departed KEF for London Heathrow on Sunday afternoon at 1640 on Iceland Air. On Monday afternoon at 1640, a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted! Although there was no disruption of air travel, I was happy to be in London when it occurred. Our Iceland experience was excellent. I’d recommend it to anyone. But I would take another day to see the SouthCoast -- even if things are “geologically unsettled”.
Editors’ Note: What did you do on your summer holiday? Send us a note for the Fall issue of the Newsletter. For those interested, Icelandic mystery/crime writers include Arnaldur Indridason and Ragnar Jonasson. We arranged all of our tours through viator.com. They were very good.
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("King Lear" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
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This Summer, Take A Monster To Stratford
Richard Dumala
Confession time: I am an unabashed Stratford Festival enthusiast. Since the tender age of fifteen, I have been a devoted attendee of this marvelous event. After enduring a two-year hiatus due to the insidious grip of Covid-19, I have made a triumphant return, fueled by an unyielding passion to make up for lost performances.
Thus far, this year's lineup has been nothing short of extraordinary. I have immersed myself in the grandeur of King Lear, the delightful wit of Much Ado About Nothing, the regal prowess of Richard II, and the enchanting melodies of Rent. On my upcoming agenda, I eagerly anticipate indulging in the hilarity of Spamalot, the intricate charm of Love's Labour's Lost, and, if fortune smiles upon me, the allure of Grand Magic. While there are many excellent reviews dissecting these plays, I must assert that this year's offerings rank among the most exceptional I have ever witnessed.
Ah, Richard II, the epito me of the unexpected! This production has reworked and reimagined Shakespeare in ways I never thought possible. Yet, beneath the glitz of disco, the allure of hot tubs, and the incongruence of business suits, the essence of Shakespeare remains untainted. This is one play that has ignited an insatiable curiosity within me—an ardent desire to engage in conversation with the Director, in hopes of unraveling the creative choices that unfolded before my eyes. The thoughts continue to swirl in my mind as I ponder the reasons behind certain artistic decisions.
For years, I have shared the Stratford experience with my beloved Grand Monsters (my endearing term for my five grandchildren, each assigned a numerical designation based on the order of their arrival). They have had the privilege of selecting the plays we attend, and this year, Grand Monster Four chose Rent. The set design was remarkable, the music and performances unparalleled. Although dealing with weighty themes like HIV a nd drugs, the musical exuded an undeniable blend of joy, sadness, hope, and entertainment. It epitomized the essence of what musicals are meant to be. As the play reached its poignant conclusion, the Grand Monsters dallied about, and serendipity smiled upon us. We found ourselves face to face with several actors as they bid adieu to the theater. In particular, we conversed with the remarkable Lee Siegel, who portrayed Tom Collins (shown on the left with four of the Grand Monsters and me) . His vocal prowess was nothing short of phenomenal, and his lament over Angel's lifeless body left not a single dry eye in the house.
In Stratford, the town extends an abundant array of attractions; from marvelous shopping opportunities and exceptional dining experiences to picturesque parks and serene waterways that provide an ideal setting to relax and unwind both before and after any performance.
Once again, the Stratford Festival has outshone itself, reaffirming its status as a beacon of theatrical brilliance. If you have yet to experience its wonders, I implore you to embark on this enchanting journey. If it has been a while since your last visit, I encourage you to return and rekindle the flame of theatrical magic. And, dear reader, do not forget to take your own Monsters along for the ride.
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("The COVID-19 Pandemic Isn’t Over" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
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No. The COVID-19 Pandemic Isn’t Over: An Update
Michelle Freeman PhD, RN, CPPS
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020 and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. On May 5 of this year, the WHO stated that COVID-19 no longer fits the definition of an international public health emergency because the disease was “well-established and ongoing”. This did not mean the pandemic was over or that COVID-19 had become endemic. The WHO Director-General, Dr. Ghebreyesus, emphasized that although the emergency phase of the COVID-19 outbreak was over, COVID-19 was still a global threat and he warned that new more dangerous variants could still emerge. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief review of COVID-19 symptoms, its variants, how to protect yourself and others from infection, and what to do if infected. Links to resources are included.
If you have visited shopping centres, hospitals, educational institutions, retirement homes, or travelled recently, you will be convinced that the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. You will have observed crowds of people with few masks in sight, limited access to hand sanitizers, no distance between people waiting in lines, and a reduction in the requirement to mask in most institutions. You might be led to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. It is not. Epidemiologists identify a virus as endemic when it is continually present and somewhat predictable (e.g., seasonal influenza). Although some experts believe COVID-19 is slowly transitioning to being endemic, it is not considered endemic yet. Most importantly, it does not mean that it’s harmless or that precautions to prevent infections are unnecessary. Older adults are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19. Community transmission of COVID-19 continues in many areas across Canada, and variants of concern are circulating.
COVID-19 Symptoms: A Review
Symptoms of COVID-19 vary from person to person, by age and by the type of variant. The more commonly reported symptoms include:
- sore throat
- runny nose
- sneezing
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- temperature equal to or more than 38°C
- feeling feverish
- chills
- fatigue or weakness
- muscle or body aches
- new loss of smell or taste
- headache
- abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting
- feeling very unwell
If you don’t feel well or if you have any symptoms, even if mild, you should assume that you may have COVID-19. What should you do?
- Immediately isolate at home and away from others.
- Check with your local public health unit for more advice (where and how to get tested if recommended).
- You may be infected but not have symptoms (be asymptomatic). However, you can still spread the virus to others.
- If you’ve been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, contact your local public health unit for advice on what to do next.
- You may start experiencing symptoms anywhere from 1 to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms typically appear between 3 and 7 days after exposure.
- Check with your local public health unit about quarantine or isolation periods, and reporting.
Call 911 if you or family member have severe symptoms such as:
- trouble breathing or severe shortness of breath
- persistent pressure or pain in the chest
- new onset of confusion
- difficulty waking up or staying awake
- pale, grey or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds
Long-term symptoms
- Some people may experience long-term symptoms after they recover from their initial infection.
- Studies are underway to understand what causes post COVID-19 condition and how to diagnose and treat it.
- If you think you have this condition, talk to your health care provider
COVID-19 Variants in Canada
All viruses mutate or change over time. These mutations are referred to as variants. Some mutations result in variants of concern because they result in actual changes in the behaviour of the virus. Changes might result in the virus spreading more easily, cause more severe illness, require different treatments, or reduce vaccine effectiveness.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), provincial and territorial partners, and the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) work together to sequence the genetic code of a percentage of all positive COVID-19 test results in Canada every week. They determine if new variants are of concern. Many variants are being tracked across Canada and around the world. Omicron and its sub-lineages are the primary variants of COVID-19 circulating in Canada now. Omicron is of concern because it is more transmissible than previous variants.
The COVID-19 virus is in the stool (feces) of people while they are infected. Wastewater surveillance can provide an early warning of COVID-19 in a community and is monitored in settings across Canada. This information is updated twice a week and can be found at https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/wastewater/#links. Wastewater surveillance data can be an important source of information for you/your family when travelling about the current risk in that location so you can make informed decisions about your own personal health.
What can you do?
1. Use multiple personal preventive practices at once even if you’re vaccinated. This is called a “layered approach”. Support the choices that others make about using these practices.
Continue to take precautions such as:
- minimizing non-essential in-person interactions with people from outside your immediate household
- if interactions are necessary, make sure they’re as few, as brief and from the greatest physical distance possible
- wear a mask when recommended
- Health Canada recommends that you wear a mask in public indoor settings even if it's not required in your community or setting. It's especially important to wear a mask if you're: at risk of more severe disease or outcomes, around others who are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes, visiting a group living setting, or in a crowded or poorly ventilated setting
- wash your hands frequently
- clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that you touch frequently
2. Vaccinations: Staying up to date with vaccinations is the most effective way to protect against serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. We have access to two bivalent vaccines that are expected to provide better protection against the Omicron variant. Remember that vaccines are not 100% effective. You may still become infected with or without symptoms.
3. Pay attention to public health alerts in our area and consult health notices before travelling.
4. Treatments for COVID-19: Several different types of treatments for COVID-19 have been developed. Examples include drugs that reduce or stop the virus from multiplying in human cells and drugs that treat the symptoms of COVID-19. Seek medical advice if you believe you would benefit from these treatments.
Resources
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("Isolation and Loneliness" by Dall-E, inspired by Claude Monet, July 2023)
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Report on the AROHE Zoom Session on “The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness”
Jake Soderlund, WURA Secretary
On June 14, 2023, AROHE* (the American umbrella retirees’ association), hosted an hour and a half Zoom session on the impact of social isolation on loneliness, and in turn, the impact of loneliness on a variety of very bad health outcomes. Dr. Clara Perissonotto (M.D. and Researcher), made the presentation and her talk was followed by “breakout group” discussions.
Isolation was defined as a “lack of contact with society” and is objective; loneliness is a “feeling of being alone” and is subjective. The statistics she presented were quite alarming. Loneliness is related in a major way to increased disability and death, as well as to increases in anxiety, depression and insomnia. In terms of bad health outcomes, the effects of social isolation and loneliness were equated with smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Adding to the problem, during the Covid-19 pandemic (2000-2023), “socializing with friends,” decreased by 20 hours per month. Needless to say, given our age, retirees as a group are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness and, unfortunately, the serious health risks that go along with them.
The key question is “What to do about all this?” And the answer is to find some activity involving social interaction, which for most of us changed fairly radically at the point of our retirement. In the post-presentation discussion group I attended, a number of activities were mentioned: any group activity (I’m partial to ukulele jams**), volunteering (helping out at a local food bank was suggested), and telephone-support programs (WURA does not have one, but could, if someone wanted to start one). In short, any purposeful activity that involves interaction with others is helpful in reducing social isolation and loneliness. The message is clear -- don’t wait around – do something that involves contact with others!
I am pleased to report that comparatively, in terms of meeting members’ needs, WURA appears to be doing quite well. During the pandemic WURA transitioned from a 100% in-person activity to a 100% online programming group, featuring a new e-Bulletin and a variety of Zoom social programs -- on this, we were well ahead of a number of retiree associations. WURA is now in the process of trying to find a workable balance between these two extremes. The solution we are pursuing involves hybrid programming (combined in-person/online) to the extent possible. Internets technology is evolving to make these types of events more user-friendly and hopefully will keep WURA relevant to our members, not only to those living in the Windsor/Essex region, but wherever they may reside that offers an internet connection. Any suggestions regarding what we should be doing to better serve our members (and are not), are appreciated and will be given serious consideration.
With respect to volunteer activities, keep in mind that it will not be long before our President Gwen Ebbett will be sending out a reminder that WURA is looking for folks to fill Executive Committee and other Committee positions for 2024. WURA now has eight functioning committees and location in Windsor/Essex is no longer a condition for such engagement. Moreover, talk to any of the current incumbents and you will find that volunteering for a position in WURA is a very rewarding experience. Avoid social isolation -- WURA Rocks!
Note: WURA members have access to Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) programming through our membership in the Canadian umbrella retirees’ group College and University Retirees Associations of Canada (CURAC).
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("WURA at the Sprucewood Winery" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
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Psst . . . Don’t Tell Anyone but WURA Members are Meeting at Sprucewood Winery
When: Sunday, July 30th @ 1:00 p.m.
Where: Sprucewood Shores Winery
What: A 2- hour concert by "The Fontaines" (Sara and Ryan) — Folk, Pop, Classic Country, and Jazz (Something for Everyone).
Why: It is not far, the food is good, and it would make for a relaxing afternoon. A group of WURA members will be there, and we welcome you to join us!
**The music starts at 1:00 p.m. and tables are first come, first served -- The Winery suggests bringing a blanket.
(This Sunday looks especially good because of these musicians, but the Winery hosts music every Sunday afternoon in the summer.)
WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR -- MUSIC, FOOD, WINE. AND WURA! SEE YOU THERE!
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("The Turkey Creek String Band at Brunet Park" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
The “Turkey Creek String Band”
jamming at Brunet Park in LaSalle, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month starting at 2:00pm, weather permitting.
The last jam of the summer is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 10, the day after Thanksgiving.
You are most welcome to join us, either to play (you don’t need a lot of talent) or just listen and socialize.
In either case, bring a chair.
Questions: contact < akajake@uwindsor.ca>
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("WURA Research Committee" by Dall-E, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, July 2023)
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WURA “Research Corner”
A WURA “Research Support Group” was approved by the Executive Committee in December of 2020. Its creation was enthusiastically supported by Research and Innovation at the University – thanks again to Heather Pratt! As of the beginning of 2023 the Research Support Group Committee was fully staffed, consisting of Jake Soderlund (Chair) akajake@uwindsor.ca, Adrian van den Hoven vdhoven@uwindsor.ca , Laurie Carty carty@uwindsor.ca and Michelle Freeman mfreeman@uwindsor.ca.
With Covid-19 in retreat, we are looking for new ideas. If you are interested in joining the group (all that is needed is an interest in research), or have some ideas on what we might be doing in the area of research, please contact any member of the Committee—we are open to suggestions. As well, we are pleased to welcome recently retired Psychology Professor, Jerry Cohen as our latest member, and with his addition we currently we have sixteen members in the group, who are working independently on a variety of research projects.
RECENT RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Jonathan Bayley
Articles in Refereed Journals
- “Stephen Bulla’s Rhapsody for flute: A performance study guide.” National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) Journal, 69(2), (2022): 8-15.
Book Reviews
- J. M. Beach. The Myths of Measurement and Meritocracy: Why Accountability Metrics in Higher Education Are Unfair and Increase Inequity. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. For the Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne de l’éducation, 45(4), (2022): 17-20.
- S. Isacoff. Musical revolutions: How the sounds of the Western world changed. New York: Alfred A. Knoff. For The Recorder, 65(2), (2023): 17-18.
Music Publications
- Nine English Madrigals for three flutes. Seattle: ALRY (United Music and Media) Publications, 2020.
Michelle Freeman
Articles in Refereed Journals
- Dennison, S., Freeman, M., Giannotti, N., & Ravi, P. “Benefits of reporting and analyzing nursing students near miss medication incidents.” Nurse Educator, 47(4), (2022): 202-207. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001164
- Boersma, K., & Freeman, M. “Designing the right nurse-to-nurse shift hand off” Nursing, 52(4), (2022): 51-54.
Other
- Podcast Nurse Educator “Tips for Teaching”
Nursing Students' Near-Miss Medication Incidents, Aug 24, 2022.
In this podcast with Dr. Michelle Freeman and Susan Dennison (University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada), you will learn about the school's medication incident reporting system. The authors explain why they focused on near misses, present the types and extent of near-miss medication errors made by students, and provide examples of these incidents. They also describe the learning outcomes for students as well as faculty.
The Nurse Educator Podcast can be downloaded on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.
Jake Soderlund
Research in Progress
- “Reassessing Justifications for French-led, UN Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa - 2011-2014: Françafrique (Neo-Colonialism) vs. R 2P (Humanitarian Protection.” (with Tanja Collett and Tom Najem)
Ihor Stebelsky
Research Completed
- The following entries were authored for the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine:
“North Crimean Canal.” March, 2022
“Crimea.” July, 2022
“Sevastopol.” November, 2022
“Simferopol.” January, 2023
“Kerch.” June, 2023
Research in Progress
- “Feodosiia” (aka “Theodosia”)
New Research
- Other cities in Crimea on the agenda to research and write up will be: “Yalta” and “Yevpatoriia.”
Other
- For those who might be interested, Ihor will be teaching a course on “Crimea” this fall for the Elder College. The future of Crimea is sure to be a major sticking point in any negotiations to end to the Russia invasion of Ukraine – check the Catalogue later in the summer for dates and time of the course.
Susan Gold-Smith
Les Jardinières urbaines: Une graine a la fois exhibition was created for Common Ground Gallery in Sandwich by Susan Gold /Smith (Professor Emerita) and two of her former U of W BFA students, Linda Renaud and Kewy Janisse. They have been collaborating on projects for more than a decade. Three artists presented their creative work responding to shared interests in the degradation of nature and ecological loss in the built environment. The mixed-media and installation work in the exhibition, Une graine à la fois, is the result of their work through the pandemic. Experimenting in ways to work together and reach out into the community. The exhibition was bilingual as a gesture of outreach, as well as a performative Seeding Party held on the veranda of the Gallery of the Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre. Their collaborative installation work was presented by the AGW (now AWE) in 2021 and in Berlin in 2022 as part of the Ocean Between pop up exhibition.
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("AGM" by Dall-E, inspired by Paul Gaugan, July 2023)
Save the Date - AGM
Our Fall 2023 AGM is scheduled for November 29
at the
Freed-Ormon Centre
with
Dr. Robert Gordon, University President
as our special guest.
This is to be an in-person meeting and available on-line (Zoom)
More details to follow.
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In case you missed it or want to see it again, and again ...
("ChatGPT" by Dall-E inspired by Andy Warhol, July 2023)
HOT TOPIC #1
“Will ChatGPT Make Professors Obsolete?”
(“Aren’t You Glad You Already Retired?”)
on YouTube
With
Dave Cormier
Digital Learning Specialist,
Office of Open Learning
University of Windsor
and your host
Dr. Bruce Elman
Zoom meeting was held on
Monday, June 5th, 2023 – 2:00 p.m.
The background article for this Zoom meeting appeared
in the WURA e-Bulletin, May issue.
EXTRA READING - These are good!
Note: Here are the links mentioned in the video:
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