Welcome to the RFPA
April 2025
The entrance way, hallway and meeting room at The Friday Center were all filled with lively conversation as we gathered for RFPA’s last lunch and general meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year. It was an auspicious – and happy — occasion! Former Chancellor Holden Thorp presented two 2025 Pete Andrews Distinguished Leadership Awards.
Our colleague Tom Clegg read the citation for provost emeritus Bruce W. Carney, and Connie Eble read the citation for chancellor emeritus James C. Moeser. They were both honored for long and distinguished careers at Carolina, and both were warmly applauded by the more than 100 RFPA members and their guests gathered in The Trillium Room.
Chancellor Thorp spoke about the difficulties faced by colleges and universities – and by our colleagues during these uncertain times. He was forthright during his remarks and while answering questions. The time flew by – and the conversations could well have been extended into the afternoon.
As I walked out of the Friday Center after the last of assembled company had departed, I found myself humming a phrase from a song I learned as a child which effectively sums up my stint this year as president of RFPA and of this wonderful event. It goes something like this: “Make new friends but keep the old….”
Bobbi Owen, President 2024-2025
–photo by Jock Lauterer
New RFPA Virtual Program To Launch in August
In partnership with the Friday Center, RFPA will host its first webinar for retirees on Thursday, Aug. 14. Our fall 2024 survey revealed that a number of retirees wanted to participate more with RFPA but either lived far away or had difficulty getting to our lunch sessions because of mobility issues or family care responsibilities.
To ensure we have activities for these individuals, we are offering our first Zoom-based webinar Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Eastern time. The featured speaker, Dr. Jonathan Oberlander, is a professor of Social Medicine (UNC School of Medicine) and a professor of Health Policy and Management (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health). Dr. Oberlander, a national expert on Medicare policy, will provide an overview of health care reform under the Trump administration and reflect on how this affects medical care for older adults. He will speak and entertain questions.
Watch for updates on how to access the webinar later in the summer.
This first session will be open at no cost to all retirees, not just members of RFPA.