Past Program Listing

January 14, 2020 - Kerry Hanson, Vice President Alumni Engagement, MSU Alumni Foundation "A fun morning with stories about MSU’s history and traditions." (includes coffee and goodies - come early and stay after) 

February 12, 2020 - Dr. Kristin Intemann, Professor in Department of History & Philosophy "Calling the B.S.: from fake news to vaccines; how do we know what to believe" (includes socializing after presentation)

March 10, 2020 - Dr. Walter Fleming, Professor in Department of Native American Studies "Pow Wow 101 - Heart Beats and Drum Beats"  (includes socializing after presentation) 

April 2020 - MSU Retiree Health Benefit Options - Doug Young, MSU Retiree Association member, has provided a written overview of retiree health insurance options/alternatives including Medicare Advantage, supplemental plans for retirees age 65+, and plans for those Retirees under 65. It includes instructions on where to gain more information. With the MSU CHOICES re-enrollment fast approaching, this is a very important session to gain additional knowledge on your options. To read the presentation follow this link. To learn current information about Choices follow this link at the Medical Benefits webpage on this website.
Sadly Doug Young passed away October 28, 2020 from complications with cancer. He served on our MSU Retiree Association Benefits Committee for many years. Click here to read the Wonderlust program tribute to him.
The Doug Young Memorial OLLI Scholarship 

For those of you who were fortunate to know Doug, you know that he was an enthusiastic lifelong learner and supporter of OLLI at MSU. Doug's legacy continues, thanks to over 70 individuals who helped raise $10,000 in his honor for the new Doug Young Memorial OLLI Scholarship.

The OLLI Executive Committee is currently developing procedures for offering scholarships to curious lifelong learners. Stay tuned for an update on this wonderful opportunity. If you would like to contribute to the Doug Young Memorial OLLI Scholarship or make a gift to support and help underwrite lifelong learning programming, visit our donation page here.

We are truly honored by this generous outpouring of support in Dougs memory and look forward to offering scholarship supported programs to our OLLI members. We think Doug would be pretty darn pleased too. THANK YOU!

April 30, 2020 - Annual MSU Retiree Dinner featuring Dr. Bill Wyckoff, Professor in Department of Earth Sciences "Riding Shotgun with Norman Wallace; Rephotographing the Arizona Landscape" - MSU Foundation Great Room. Postponed until a later date.

May 9, 2020 - William Tietz, former MSU President 1977-1990 - will be awarded his Honorary Doctorate at MSU Commencement Ceremonies in the Fall due to cancellation of Spring in-person ceremonies. The Board of Regents approved this degree on March 6 in Dillon. Click here to read announcement. The MSU Retiree Association Advisory Council submitted the nomination for this honor. MSU Retiree Association is very sad about Bill Tietz' passing on June 11, 2020. Click here to see MSU's tribute to him.

July 7, 2020 - Professor Jack Jelinski named Retiree Volunteer of the Year announced by the MSU Alumni Foundation as a part of their 2019-20 Engagement Awards. "Montana State University, in partnership with the MSU Alumni Foundation and the Provost Office, supports and engages retired faculty, professional and classified staff through the MSU Retiree Association. At the heart of this organization is an advisory council composed of retired employees who volunteer their time to reconnect their colleagues to the MSU community.

While there have been several very active members of the advisory council, one member has gone above and beyond. We are pleased to award Dr. Jack Jelinski the MSU Retiree Volunteer of the Year. Jack is unflinchingly dedicated to MSU's on-going success. He stays engaged with MSU's academic mission and provides valuable insight. Jack is always willing to contribute and does so with enthusiasm and delight. Dr. Jack Jelinski is an invaluable advisory council member of the MSU Retiree Association, and we thank him for being an untiring advocate for MSU retirees."

December 10, 2020 - Join the MSU Retiree Association for our 2020 Rockin' Retiree Holiday Social!
While we remain physically distant this holiday season, we don't need to be socially distant as we partake in some virtual HOLIDAY CHEER. We will be using Zoom. Attendees will have a chance to win holiday gift baskets, courtesy of the MSU Retiree Association.

December 5, 2019 - Holiday Social in the Great Room - Pictures of all the fun we had: 

 

November 5, 2019 - Dr. Bridget Kevane, Professor & LaTrelle Scherffius, Instructor in Department of Modern Languages & Literature along with the several students who went to the Souther Border. "Finding the Truth About the Southern Border" 

October 9, 2019 - Dr. Karl Birkeland, MSU Adjunct Assistant Professor Geography and Avalance Scientist with the US Forest Service and National Avalanche Center - "Danger: Avalanches!!" 

September 11, 2019 - Dr. Bruce Maxwell, MSU Professor of Applied Plant Ecology/Agroecology in Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences - "Weeds, Whites, Wines and Climate Change"

June 4-6, 2019 - Small Town Ventures in Central Montana, co-sponsored by MSU Wonderlust

July 8-10, 2019 - Remote Southwest Montana: Centennial Valley and Red Rocks Lakes National Wildlife Refuge co-sponsored by MSU Wonderlust

May 7, 2019 - Annual Retiree Dinner with President Waded Cruzado as featured speaker

April 15, 2019 - Retiree Health Insurance with Dr. Doug Young, Dr. Ken Hapner, and other insurance representatives.

March 14, 2019 - From Horseback to Spaceflight with MSU Research Professor, Physics Department Emeritus Dr. Loren Acton. 

February 12, 2019 - Terroir and the Geology of Wine with MSU Professor Dr. Dave Lageson, Earth Sciences Department, including Wine Tasting.

January 16, 2019 - Memory & Aging with MSU Professor Dr. Michelle Meade, Psychology Department.

Advisory Council Members win awards

    

Jerry Coffey Distinguished Faculty Award College Letters-Sciences & with son, daughter 2019
Pat Simmons 5th from left Retiree of the Year with Alumni Engagement Award winners 2019

This year, receiving the Blue & Gold Award, the highest award recognition from MSU, honors individuals who have rendered great lifetime service or who have brought national or international distinction to MSU achieving prominence in profession, family, country, world, university, philanthropy or humanity. 

• Corky Brittan - Ret. History & Philosophy Professor
• Jack Stonnell – Ret. Film & Photography Professor
• Jack Hyyppa – Ret. Film & Photography Professor
• David Cameron – Ret. Biology Professor

Receiving Distinguished Faculty, recognizing a faculty member for having distinguished herself or himself by meritorious service to his or her college in areas of teaching, research, leadership, achievement, mentoring, and outreach.

• Gary Brester, Ag – Ret. Economics Professor
• Jerry Coffey, Letters and Science – Ret. English/Linguistics Professor
• Ralph Zimmer, Engineering – Ret. Civil Engineering Professor

Receiving Honorary Alumni Award recognizin a non-alumnus(a) whose extraordinary service has advanced the university and made significant and lasting contributions to the campus. The honoree’s professional, personal, civic and philanthropic pursuits must reflect the high standards and values associated with Montana State University.

• Kay Chafey (from Honors) – Ret. Nursing Professor
• Richard Helzer (from Arts & Architecture) – Ret. Professor of Art
• Jack Riesselman (from Ag) – Ret. Professor of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology

Receiving the Alumni Achievement Award, the criteria for which include recognizing an MSU graduate who has (1) distinguished professional achievement; (2) an outstanding record of service to the community; and/or (3) exemplary service to Montana State University.

• Jim Sargent (from Ag) – Ret. Extension Faculty

And receiving the MSU Retiree Volunteer of the Year is Pat Simmons.  This award is presented by the MSU Alumni Foundation and recognizes the selfless work of volunteers and leaders of volunteer boards and councils. 

December 6, 2018 - MSU Retiree Association Holiday Social. 

November 16, 2018 - MSU Library Archives Tour & Greater Yellowstone Coalition Papers Presentation. Wonderlust collaboration.

October 17, 2018 - American Computer & Robotics Museum Tour. 

September 26, 2018 - Jim Dolan Studio Tour. 

July 25, 2018 - Summer Tour of Butte. 

May 15, 2018 - Annual Dinner. Presentation by Dr. Robert Rydell, MSU Professor of History & Philosophy, Director of the American Studies Program, Co-Director of the Center for Western Lands and Peoples.

April 24, 2018 - Brown Bag Seminar Series. Panel on Retiree Health Insurance Options with Doug Young, MSU Retiree Association and Inter-Units Benefits Committee member.

March 20, 2018 - Brown Bag Seminar Series. Presentation on Estate Planning by Kristin Bailey, Kristin L. Bailey Law Practice. Kristin will share important concepts and methods to help individuals and families achieve peace of mind and avoid unnecessary future conflict. She will discuss wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives.

February 20, 2018 - Brown Bag Seminar Series.  Presentation by Mark Fiege, Wallace Stegner Chair in Western American Studies. Professor Fiege will discuss the role the environment has played in determining the outcome of key moments in American history.

January 23, 2018 - Brown Bag Seminar Series.  Presentation on the Ivan Doig Archives by Jan Zauha, Outreach Librarian, MSU Library. 

December 6, 2017 - Holiday Social preceding the 3rd Annual Lighting of Montana Hall. Light appetizers and refreshments were served. 

November 7, 2017 - Brown Bag Seminar Series.  Kevin Asselin, Executive Artistic Director of Shakespeare in the Parks, gave a presentation  on "Inside Montana Shakespeare in the Parks".

October 26, 2017 - Workshop on changes to non-MUS medical insurance options available to retirees, offered by The MSU Retiree Association. Doug Young, representative on the MUS InterUnits Benefits Committee, and Peggy Tombre, S.H.I.P. Counselor and Medicare Navigator, explained recent changes to Medicare Advantage insurance available in Gallatin county and available options.

October 17, 2017 - Brown Bag Seminar Series. Terry Leist, MSU Vice President for Administration and Finance discussed the business of running the institution and the services his office supports.

September 19, 2017 - Brown Bag Seminar Series. Molly Arrandale , MSU Library Program Manager, provided a talk on the "Acoustic Atlas", a curated collection in the MSU library of over 2500 recordings of species and environments from throughout the Western United States.

May 16, 2017 - MSU Retiree Association Annual Dinner.  The keynote presentation was by Dr. Geoff Gamble, MSU President Emeritus. 

April 18, 2017 - Lunch and Learn Presentation. Doug Young, a 2010 retiree and a member of the MSU Retiree Association facilitated a discussion with a Medicare navigator and an ACA Marketplace specialist on the various health insurance options available to retirees. 

March 23, 2017 - Lunch and Learn Presentation. Leon Costello,the MSU Director of Athletics, discussed Bobcat Athletics, including student-athlete highlights and a vision for the future. 

January 11, 2017 - New Year Social, held at the Helen E. Copeland Gallery,  to celebrate the new year and learn about upcoming events in 2017.