Welcome!

The Institute for Retired Persons (IRP) was recognized by Salisbury University in 1980. Designed for adults aged 50 and above, the IRP offers programs to enlighten, educate and offer better understanding of our world. The IRP meets at 2:00 p.m. Tuesdays at the MAC Center on Snow Hill Road (map) in Salisbury during the University's spring and fall semesters. Membership is open to all area residents at a small yearly fee.

Speaker Program

The IRP Program Committee arranges a speaker for each meeting. Speakers include regional business and civic leaders, SU faculty members, and others, who share their expertise (sometimes outside the bounds of their specific discipline) and life experiences. Lectures are informative, fascinating and entertaining. Speakers in recent years have included:

• Dr. Memo Diriker, director of BEACON, SU: "Turkey: A Former Insider's View from the Outside"
• Dr. Pasquale Petrera, orthopedic surgeon: "Oh, My Aching Back"
• Matthew Heim, SU graduate student and staff member, Edward H. Nabb Center: "Lost Village on Assateague"
• Dean Burroughs, beekeeper: "Bee Keeping on the Eastern Shore"
• Dr. Augustine DiGiovanna, retired professor of biology: "Memory"
• Lori Athey, landscape architect and photographer: "Butterflies of Delmarva"
• Ginny Rosenkranz, horticulture educator for Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties: "Garden Fun From Spring Through September"
• Dr. Jeurel Singleton, professor, Department of Natural Science, UMES's "Ticks Suck and Debugging Bug Myths"

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Trips

The IRP Tour Group takes a day trip each month of the year and also organizes spring and fall trips that range further afield for the general membership, each at a minimal cost. Recent large-group trips included tours of the Newseum in Washington, D.C.; the Valley Forge National Historic Park and nearby John James Audubon Center; and Baltimore Harbor.

Clubs

The Tour Group and Book, Bridge, Walking, Biking and Swimming clubs meet once a month, and IRP members are encouraged to join one or more of them and to form new ones.

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Arts & Crafts Show

Annually the talented members of the IRP present "A Well-Aged Exhibit." Installed in one of the University's gallery spaces, the exhibit features works collected or created by IRP members, including, but not limited to, paintings, jewelry, needlework, photographs and items related to hobbies such as genealogy and travel—whatever interests members wish to share with others. The exhibit is open to the general public at no charge.

University Benefits

In addition to enjoying faculty presentations, IRP members may obtain restricted SU parking passes at a discount and use the University's pool for a small fee. Spring and Holiday luncheons are held in a private room at the Commons and are catered by the University's award-winning dining services. In addition to delicious cuisine, the luncheons feature elegant table settings provided by members and a special guest speaker or performer.

Positive Contributions

IRP has a fund that provides SU scholarships to two or more students who excel in their studies, contribute to the community and are in need of financial support. The scholarship recipients visit during one of our meetings to share their academic plans and personal aspirations.

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