MURAnews Fall 2024

President's Corner

Hello MURA Retirees! I hope everyone was able to share an enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends. It is possible that I was slightly excessive in my pumpkin pie intake.

MURA recently held their annual New Retirees Reception in Alumni Hall for recent McMaster retirees. This was a larger cohort than normal as it was the first in-person event for new retirees since before the pandemic.

As mentioned in my last missive, MURA has a vision … it’s a working version at the moment, and could change, but it is a starting off point.

Vision

That Seniors coalesce, and using their time, experience and collective weight, work with young people and other interested parties, to leave a safer, cleaner, kinder, more ethical and just world for future generations.

Thus far, we have held two brainstorming sessions, one at council and one at the above-mentioned reception. Participants have been genuinely engaged in helping us to determine how much and where interest within the retiree community lies. We broke into three groups and a council member facilitated each group. The plan was to come up with as many ideas as possible for things people would like to see changed. There was to be absolutely no judgement on choices as someone may say something that causes someone else to think of something brilliant. It was about playing off each other and quickly generating as many ideas as we could.

The second part of the exercise was to narrow down the options listed. Everyone received 5 sticky dots which they placed beside the 5 items that they thought were the most important, or that they would like to work on, or that represented what they thought were easiest to achieve, or whatever one they decided was were their criteria.

This exercise has produced observable results. We are developing a substantial list of areas of interest. The following is the list of the six most important topics to those people polled at the function. The list is sorted by the number of dots each item received in the narrowing down process.

• Affordable housing
• Healthcare: ER waiting / hallway medicine
  
• Polarity of people
• Elder care: palliative care (more institutions)
• Homeless street kids
• Cyber bullying

We are actively looking for ways to identify areas of interest and determine what projects might be achievable. We plan to run a quick session just prior to the MURA Holiday Luncheon. It is both fun and stimulating to brainstorm topics in a respectful group and then come away with a tangible result. Please RSVP to me at nichojr@mcmaster.ca if you would like to attend the pre-lunch brainstorming session at 11:00am.

In any case, we will keep you posted on our progress and please reach out if you have ideas, or want to work on a committee, or want to be involved in any way. We are trying to find ways to make a difference, and we welcome you, your ideas and your passion.

Jan Nicholson
nichojr@mcmaster.ca

Contacting MURA Mail:Gilmour Hall B108, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 Phone: 905-525-9140, extension 23171 (voicemail is checked once a week) Email: mura@mcmaster.ca

News and Events

2024 MURA Holiday Luncheon

The MURA Holiday Lunch is Back!

We’re excited to announce that MURA’s annual Holiday Lunch will take place on campus at the CIBC Banquet Hall in the Student Centre. Thanks to the generous support of the University President’s Office, some event expenses have been subsidized, allowing us to offer tickets at a reduced cost for retirees.

Event Details

• DATE: Monday, December 2, 2024
• TIME: 11:30am – 2:30pm (Doors open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served at noon)
• LOCATION: CIBC Banquet Hall, Student Centre, McMaster University

Holiday Lunch Menu

• Enjoy a traditional holiday buffet featuring:
• Salads, veggies & dip, and fresh rolls
• Roast turkey with sage dressing
• Baked ham with raisin cider sauce
• Mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables
• Vegetarian dishes (clearly marked)
• Festive cookies, fresh fruit, and tea & coffee

A cash bar will be available with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for your pre- and post-lunch enjoyment, while you celebrate the festive season with fellow retirees. You will also have a chance to win draw prizes!

This is a good opportunity to renew friendships with your former working colleagues. Arrange to arrive a little early to choose and share a table. Each table seats eight people.

Ticket Information

• Price: $34.00 per person
• Seating Limit: 120 guests (first-come, first-served)
• Booking Deadline: Wednesday, November 20, 2024

You will not be able to pay for your meal on the day of the event.

How to Purchase Tickets

• Online: Buy tickets with a credit card at alumni.mcmaster.ca/muraholidaylunch.
• • Click the “Registration” button, and on the “Primary Fee” drop-down box, select “$34 - Primary”.
• 
  

• Alternative purchasing: If you do not have a credit card or online access please call or text Mary Gauld, MURA’s event coordinator, by November 20 at 905-906-5604 for help with your registration.

Complimentary Parking

MURA thanks Parking Services for their generous support

Retirees without a parking permit or transponder:

• McMaster Retirees without a parking permit can park in Lots B, D, E, or the underground Stadium lot. Use the Sterling Street entrance and select a lot displaying “Visitors - Open.” Take an entry ticket from the machine and exchange it for a complimentary “Exit Ticket” at the luncheon registration table.
• If none of these lots indicate “Visitors - Open”, use the Help button at a Lot entrance that indicates “Full to Visitors” to gain access or be directed to an available lot.

Retirees with valid transponders:

• McMaster Retirees with valid transponders may park in lots that show “Transponders – Open”. Retiree parking permits will allow access to Lots B, D, E, H, I, K, N, P and the Underground Stadium after 10:30am on this day.

Accessibility Parking
For those with an Ontario Accessible Parking Permit who require reserved accessible parking, please call Mary Gauld, MURA’s event coordinator, by November 20 at 905-906-5604 about your parking needs.

Carpooling Encouraged
Parking spaces are limited, so consider carpooling with friends.

We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you.

MURA Walks – Fall 2024

By Mary Gauld, Special Events Coordinator

Our MURA walks are a continued success! Even the summer’s heat couldn’t slow us down. In August, we enjoyed a walk along the beach at Hutch’s rewarding ourselves with ice cream afterwards!

September saw 25 of us joining the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) at the waterfront, strolling in small groups and enjoying the beautiful weather. It was a great opportunity to meet and mingle, and we are looking forward to organizing another event with the CCB in the spring.

Our October walk took place in Chippawa, along the upper Niagara River. We walked from Kingsbridge Park to the Chippawa Battlefield – 7km round trip. We were small (in numbers) but mighty! It was a glorious day – the leaves were colourful, the sun was bright and warm (but not hot), and the company was great! We all walked at about the same pace, enjoyed seeing the placards at the Chippawa Battlefield and as usual, Rob Stevens (our local history buff), was a fountain of information about the area. Come join us next time.

Upcoming Walks

• Thursday, November 21 at 1:30 pm: Join us at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) headquarters in Burlington and we’ll walk along to the Woodland Cemetery. After an hour or so, we can head over to Easterbrooks for a hot dog. See you there!
• Wednesday, December 11 (Time TBD): Save the date for a holiday walk. More information will follow, but we may opt for a campus walk to take advantage of the ploughed paths and quieter campus during exams. Suggestions for other locations are welcome!

Join us for MURA Walks!

These informal walks are an opportunity to socialize, exercise, and have some fun. Walkers often split into groups depending on pace (slow-medium-fast) - there is a group for everyone. Walks are about an hour in length or less, and routes are chosen with amenities like washrooms and spots for coffee/lunch nearby.

Planning walks for all levels of ability can be tricky, especially in the winter! These are walks, not hikes; we aim for routes that are flat, maintained for safety, and accessible for all walkers. Remember to wear suitable footwear, and dress in layers. Crawford Lake has been suggested for a spring walk but suggestions for new locations are always welcome! You can contact me at gauld@mcmaster.ca or text me at 905-906-5604.

Look forward to seeing you!

New Retirees Orientation – October 2024

By Mary Gauld, Special Events Coordinator

We recently held an “in person” information session (our first since the pandemic!) for new retirees who retired between January 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024. New retirees socialized, exchanged information, enjoyed good snacks, and a bit of brainstorming. It was a great opportunity for new retirees to meet MURA Council members and learn about what MURA offers.

Recent Passings

Compiled by Kathy Overholt

Linda “Lin” Benson, Athletics & Recreation, September 1, 2024
Laurie “Bill” Gasson, Planning & Construction, July 16, 2024
Robert Hansebout, Surgery, March 4, 2024
Brian Hutchison, Family Medicine, August 19, 2024
John Moroz, Kinesiology, September 5, 2024
Helen Otrosina*, Education Services, September 5, 2024
Mary Richardson,, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, September 6, 2024
Graham Roebuck, English & Cultural Studies, August 14, 2024
Olga Roman, School of Nursing, September 4, 2024
Dorothy Sage, Thode Library, August 19, 2024
Anne Sinclair**, Parking Services, October 15, 2024
Catherine Utter, Financial Services, August 28, 2024
George Wesolowsky, DeGroote School of Business, August 16, 2024

*Helen was an elected member of MURA Council from 2001 – 2004.
**Anne was an elected member of MURA Council from 2001 – 2005 and was MURA’s Trips Coordinator from 2002 – 2012.

Welcome New Retirees

Retirees in the News

By Marcia MacAulay

Science Grad Lends her Voice to Grandparents’ Group of Seven Adventure Story

Emma Waddington’s grandparents, Sue and Jim Waddington, have a fascinating hobby that she’s beyond proud to share with the world. Waddington is the narrator for Hidden Secrets of the Canvas: One Couple’s Lifetime Quest to Uncover a Century Old Mystery.

In 1977, Jim, a professor emeritus with the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and Sue took up the hobby of finding the landscapes painted by Canada’s Group of Seven artists. They have so far discovered, documented and photographed more than 800 locations. They’ve published a bestselling book and delivered talks to more than 12,000 people. And now they have a video on YouTube that’s narrated by their oldest granddaughter, Emma.

For the video, Emma’s 80-year-old grandparents revisit the first location they found, which took 28 kilometres of paddling and seven kilometres of portaging through Killarney Provincial Park. Emma was five years old when she went on her first interior camping trip with her grandparents. She’s been hearing the story of their first trip her entire life, and now she gets to help tell it.

For additional information, see the Daily News article: Science grad lends her voice to grandparents’ Group of Seven adventure story; the Spectator article: After decades of wilderness adventures, the search for landscapes painted by the Group of Seven continues for Hamilton couple, and the YouTube Video: Paddle into Paintings of the Group of Seven.

McMaster Professor Emeritus Named to Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Ronald Barr is a professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics and an international leader in child and adolescent health research. For over fifty years, Barr has advanced research on nutrition in childhood cancer. His pioneering work has helped improve treatment outcomes for patients in low- and middle-income countries. Barr received the O. Harold Warwick Prize for Cancer Control Research in 2009 and became a member of the Order of Canada in 2020.

For further information, see the Brighter World article: Seven McMaster professors named to Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

What’s Happening at Mac

By Dawn Elston

McMaster Names Next President

The recent appointment of Dr. Susan Tighe as the 9th president and vice-chancellor of McMaster University underscores her extensive academic experience and achievements in the field of engineering. With a background as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at McMaster since 2020, and previous leadership roles at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Tighe has a track record of overseeing critical areas like financial stability, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Tighe is an internationally respected and award-winning engineer and researcher specializing in sustainable critical infrastructure, particularly in asphalt and concrete applications for transportation systems.

Her many accolades include a Canada Research Chair, the Sanford Fleming Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, the Ontario Professional Engineers Research and Development Medal, and she is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

As she prepares to take on her new role on July 1, 2025, succeeding David Farrar, Dr. Tighe is focused on securing resources and continuing to enhance McMaster’s profile and reputation through partnerships with industry, government, alumni and donors that will strengthen the university’s local and national impact.

For more information, see the Daily News article: McMaster names next president.

A Parking Lot Back to a Pond — 're-wilding' west campus

McMaster University is embarking on a significant rewilding project as part of its new campus master plan, developed by international design firm BDP (Building Design Partnership). This project aims to reverse decades of urban development on its west campus, which is currently used for surface parking, by transforming it into a naturalized area that complements the adjacent Cootes Paradise nature sanctuary.

The rewilding effort, which involves reclaiming approximately 800 of the 1,300 parking spots, will allow the area to gradually return to its natural state, potentially forming a pond and becoming an extension of Cootes Paradise. This initiative is part of a broader trend of re-naturalizing degraded areas, a practice that has gained traction in Europe and is now slowly being adopted in North America.

In addition to the naturalization process, McMaster plans to implement strategies to reduce the need for parking, such as constructing an above-ground parking structure and expanding on-campus housing. The upcoming Hamilton light rail transit (LRT) line will also play a key role in reducing commuter traffic and supporting the university’s sustainability goals.

This rewilding project is part of McMaster’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and foster a more sustainable campus environment. The west campus may also serve as a "living and learning lab" for students and faculty as the naturalization process unfolds.

For more information, see the CBC News article: A parking lot back to a pond — that's how McMaster University plans to 're-wild' its west campus.

Volunteer Opportunities

McMaster Chaplaincy Exam Hospitality Program - December 2024

The McMaster Chaplaincy Centre is seeking volunteers for their Exam Hospitality Program this semester!

Each exam period, the Chaplaincy Centre opens a drop-in space where students can unwind with free cookies and warm drinks. Volunteers play an important role by chatting with students, serving coffee, and helping with cleanup. Cookie donations are also needed – store-bought or homemade (peanut free, please)

Last semester the Chaplaincy Centre served hundreds of students. This semester the exam period runs from December 6 to December 19. Their goal is to keep the drop-in open daily from mid-morning to early evening to cover the full range of exam times, but they cannot do this without your help!

If you are interested in volunteering, especially in the evenings, or have questions about the program, please contact the Chaplaincy Centre, at chaplain@mcmaster.ca or call 905-525-9140, extension 24207.

For more information about the Chaplaincy Centre, visit mcmasterchaplaincy.org.

Your Money/Your Health

Notifying Human Resources of Address Changes

Are you moving? Don't forget to update your address with McMaster University. The Human Resources Contact Centre provides retirees with a single point of contact to update their address. Upon receiving your address change, the HR Contact Centre will update the following on your behalf, as applicable:

Address changes can be shared with the HR Contact Centre using any of the following methods:

• Phone: 905-525-9140, extension 22247
• Email: hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca
• Mail: Complete the Human Resources Retiree Address Change Form and mail it to the HR Contact Centre at the address on the form

REMINDER: If you have a new email address, please contact MURA at: mura@mcmaster.ca.

Renewing Your Retiree Parking Pass - a slight change in procedure

Parking Permit Update for McMaster Retirees As a McMaster retiree, you are eligible to apply for a no-charge parking permit for central campus. During the academic year, your retiree permit allows parking on campus after 12:30 pm on weekdays, and any time on weekends, while during the summer months your transponder allows access at any time.

New Expiry Date for Retiree Permits To simplify the process, Parking Services is standardizing the expiry date for all retiree permits to April 30, in alignment with the University’s fiscal year. Previously, retiree permits expired in the anniversary month of the date they were issued.

• For permits expiring before April 2025: Renew your permit in your usual month, and it will be valid until April 30, 2025. Following that, it will renew annually in April.

How to Renew or Apply for a Retiree Permit Your transponder number is on the front of your transponder. To renew (or apply for) a retiree permit, email parking@mcmaster.ca with the following information:

• First and last name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Vehicle info (make, model, year, colour, license plate number)
• Employee number

Note: If you don't have a transponder, you may purchase one for $55.

Checking Your Permit Status If you have questions or have not made a note of your expiry date, please contact McMaster Parking Services by email at parking@mcmaster.ca or at 905-525-9140, extension 24232.

Note that central-campus parking (with a transponder) is available to McMaster retirees as follows:

May to August each year:

• Access to lots B, C, D, H, I, K, N, P and Underground Stadium at all times.

September to April each year:

For more information, visit McMaster Parking Services.

Contacting Human Resources

Computer Tips & Tricks

McMaster Email Quarantine

By Nora Gaskin

A roundup of fast facts about McMaster email quarantine summarized from resources provided by McMaster and Microsoft.

If you use McMaster email you will have noticed that in December 2023, McMaster mail, which has been powered by Microsoft 365 since 2020, introduced email quarantine notifications.

Email quarantine intercepts suspicious email messages with a high probability of being spam, phishing, or malware, and automatically redirects them to your email quarantine page instead of delivering them directly to your inbox, where accidental clicks or responses could expose you to phishing or malware attacks.

Instead of getting the suspicious messages directly, you’ll get a single email each day from McMaster-Quarantine@mcmaster.ca, summarizing the day’s quarantined messages. This email includes a link to your quarantine page. There you can review and manage your quarantined messages.

Emails are held in quarantine for 30 days, then automatically deleted, so it’s a good idea to review your daily emails at least occasionally, if not daily, to make sure a legitimate message hasn’t mistakenly gone to quarantine. If it has, you can release it to your inbox and whitelist the sender, i.e., tell Microsoft to allow future emails from that sender to go directly to your inbox.

How do I manage my quarantined emails?

• To get to your quarantine page, click the link marked “Quarantine page” in a quarantine email, or go directly to https://security.microsoft.com/quarantine. Log in with your MacID if necessary.
• For email detail, e.g., why it’s quarantined, when it was received, its expiry time, and other details, click on the email.
• To release an email click “Release email”; you will also need to click to report that the message has no threats.
• Use the one-click feature to preview a message, delete it from quarantine, allow a trusted sender, and block an unwanted one. Depending on your display, you may need to click the three dots indicated by the arrow to reveal the menu of options.
• Please Note: Instructions might look different on your device, browser, and the version of Outlook or other email client you are using.

Why are some emails quarantined and not others? Quarantine isolates suspicious or potentially harmful emails and file types (e.g., apk, app, appx, arj and others). On the quarantine page, users can see why the message was held.

I have a legitimate email; why is it in my quarantine folder? Every email that comes in is evaluated to know whether it is email or spam, on the basis of improper server configuration, links to websites, content, attachments, etc. Some legitimate emails, for example, ones with multiple links or attachments, can be trapped by these filters.

Sources and further reading

News from the College and University Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC)

CURAC Later Life Learning (LLL) Events Online

A variety of online opportunities offered by affiliated Retiree Associations are available to MURA members through the Later Life Learning Committee’s Event Calendar. Click on the activity to learn more about the topic and how to register. The Calendar can also be accessed from the CURAC homepage by scrolling down to the bottom.

Members' Corner

The views and opinions expressed in Members’ Corner are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MURA Council.

Free Daily Puzzles and Games from The New York Times

By Kathy Overholt

Do you like to enjoy a good puzzle, like Sudoku or Wordle, with your morning coffee? The New York Times offers a variety of free daily games and puzzles for all skill levels. Their collection of games on the Times Games webpage includes crosswords, logic puzzles, and even quick brain teasers – perfect for a mental warm up or a little break anytime.

Here’s a list of their free games:

Play one of your favourites or try something new today!

courtesy of Humour is Contagious

MURAnews is produced by MURA members Denise Anderson, Helen Barton, Regina Bendig, Dawn Elston, Nora Gaskin, John Horsman, Marcia MacAulay, and Judy Shedden. We welcome submissions from MURA members. Contributing writers: Mary Gauld, Kathy Overholt, and Diana Parker.