Northwestern Emeriti Organization
—The Northwestern Emeriti Organization (NEO) was founded in 2001 with support of the Office of the Provost to further the social and professional life of its emeritus community and to continue benefiting from their abilities and knowledge in the University. (NEO maintains contact with the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education and the Big Ten Retirement Association.)
Activities
Bimonthly Luncheons
NEO members gather for lunch at 12:00 PM on the first Wednesday in even-numbered months. These lunches are currently held at Prairie Moon Restaurant, 1502 Sherman Avenue, Evanston.
Thrice-Yearly Dinners
Each academic quarter features a dinner or luncheon at the Zhivago Restaurant for NEO members and invited spouses, partners, or friends followed by a program of learning or entertainment, usually by a member of Northwestern's rich community of scholars, teachers, and performers. Program for 2012-13:
- October 24, 2012 (dinner, 6:00 p.m.)
- Gary Saul Morson, Frances Hooper Professor of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature
- "Why Study Literature and What Is It Good For?"
- March 7, 2013 (lunch, 12:30 p.m.)
- Richard B. Silverman, John Evans Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
- "Drug Discovery: Ingenuity or Serendipity?"
- April 25, 2013 (dinner, 6:00 p.m.)
- Martin H. Redish, Louis and Harriet Ancel Professor of Law and Public Policy
- "Campaign Finance, Free Expression and American Democracy: Why Liberals Embrace Citizens United"
Membership
The Provost's website contains a Statement on Appointment to Emeritus Status.
Briefly, faculty members who retire at age 55 or later after at least ten years of continuous service on the Northwestern faculty are eligible for appointment to emeritus status. However, the appointments require the recommendation of the school dean, endorsement by the Provost, and approval of the Board of Trustees. See the statement for more information.
In 2012, thirty-four faculty members were appointed to emeritus status. NEO now has more than 575 members. About 70% of NEO members still live in Illinois (greater Chicago area) and 38% of those in Evanston. (See graphs of NEO members as of 2012.)
Membership in NEO, moreover, extends as well to retired professional staff who performed a core academic function (e.g., librarians) and retired senior administrative staff subject to a vote by NEO's Executive Council. (See NEO's Charter for more information.)
Governance
As specified in its Charter, NEO's administrative functions are discharged by an elected President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer. NEO is governed by an Executive Council consisting of the three administrative officers, the immediate past President, and six other council members elected to staggered two-year terms. (See the current and past NEO officers.)
For 2012-13, NEO's President is Gerry Baumann; Vice-President is Jock McLane; and Secretary-Treasurer is Rebecca Dixon. The Executive Council consists of Elmer Lewis, Pat Spear, and Malcolm Vye (serving terms for 2011-13), and Allan Drebin, Fran Paden, and David Zarefsky (serving terms for 2012-14). Bob Coen serves on the Executive Council as immediate Past President. The Provost is a member ex-officio.
NEO has representation in the Faculty Senate; its delegates are Bob Coen (full Senate) and Jack Snarr (Faculty Senate Benefits Committee). Malcolm Hast serves as an alternate delegate.