Some 700 faculty emeriti belong to the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti (CAPE), which helps them remain connected to Cornell and to one another throughout their retirement years.

"CAPE is very complex, and its members are extremely busy and involved," says Cindy Robinson, who came from the Department of Computer Science nine months ago to serve as CAPE's coordinator. "Members are keenly interested in interacting with students and their peers and in providing services that reflect positively on Cornell."

Founded in 1982, CAPE is a social and professional networking organization that sponsors programs and activities throughout the year to take advantage of the expertise and energy that retired faculty members -- as well as retired librarians, extension associates and other members of Cornell's professional teaching, research, advising and administrative staff -- have to offer Cornell.

Each August, for instance, members of CAPE and the Cornell Retirees Association serve as greeters during Orientation, standing at various intersections and roadways to offer directions to residence halls and registration sites to the nearly 4,000 new students and family members who stream onto campus in 1,400 cars.

"They are on the front lines with a helpful smile and an enthusiastic welcome to Cornell," Robinson says.

More than 20 CAPE members also serve with senior faculty on the Health Services Evaluation Committee, assisting Cornell students who are applying to medical schools. They interview the pre-med students and write letters of evaluation.

"This is a meaningful way to meet some truly outstanding young people and to contribute to a worthwhile Cornell program," says Robinson.

To keep connected to academia, CAPE holds a monthly lecture series that typically draws 60 to 100 people. This spring, for example, historians Gould Colman and Carol Kammen gave a presentation on the history of Cornell; Professor Emeritus Charles Walcott gave a talk on ornithology; Donald Rakow, the Elizabeth Newman Wilds Director of Cornell Plantations, discussed campus plantings; and Todd Pfeiffer, building coordinator of Weill Hall, discussed the new building's features. CAPE also holds a weekly informal roundtable luncheon.

Members stay informed about each other's activities and scholarly pursuits via the newsletter "Connecting" and the CAPE Web site.

CAPE also sponsors a grants program, supported by Albert Podell '58, that provides research and scholarship funds to emeriti faculty to work on such themes as poverty alleviation, improving education and economic well-being.

"People also come to me when they are just starting to think about retirement," Robinson says. "We have compiled a booklet specifically for emeriti, 'Perquisites and Privileges,' which I strongly recommend faculty read as they formulate their retirement plans." Robinson recommends they meet with staff from Benefit Services to review their retirement benefits.

In addition to making lectures available to CAPE members via CornellCast and other electronic venues, Robinson is also working with CAPE President Tobias deBoer to collect emeriti bios and department histories. Retired faculty also send her updates on their work, activities and research, which she publicizes.

"I love it when they use me as a conduit," says Robinson. "We are many things, doing wonderful things for Cornell and with Cornell."

CAPE is located at 431 Day Hall.