Monthly Forums and Workshops
UMRA's monthly programs typically include a speaker forum followed by a workshop. The schedule is below. During this time of online programming, we have an addition to our speaker line-up -- UMRA AM, monthly at 9am. Learn more about our meetings.
Luncheon & Forum: 11:30 - 1:00 pm (except where noted)
Campus Club West Wing The Annual May meeting will be in person!
Living Well Workshop: 1:30 - 2:30 pm (except where noted)
Dale Shephard Room
2020 - 2021 Forum & Workshop schedule:
Recorded meetings are available in the left column of this page.
July 20, 2021, 4:30 PM ONLINE
Workshop & Discussion
Andrew Horton
Enology Specialist, UMN Dept of Horticultural Services
Wine Tasting -- Those registered will be sent a list of wines to purchase
August 17, 2021, 11:30 - 1:30 PM In Person!
Como Lakeside Pavilion
1360 Lexington Pkwy N
Lunch will be served
Registration required
Fully vaccinated individuals are welcome to attend
September | UMRA A.M. | 9/14/2021, 9:00 a.m. | By Zoom |
UMN and tribal relations | |||
Professor Tad M Johnson, Senior Director, American Indian Tribal Nations Relations, Director, Master of Tribal Administration and Governance program and Director, Tribal Sovereignty Institute at UMN Duluth | |||
Special Forum | 9/21/2021, 11:00 a.m. | By Zoom | |
Proposed amendments to the Minneapolis city charter on the November 2 ballot | |||
Jay Kiedrowski, Humphrey School Senior Fellow; Robert Bruininks, UMN Professor and President Emeritus |
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Forum | 9/28/2021, noon | By Zoom | |
How we became a speedboat in a time of crisis | |||
Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD Dean, Medical School, Vice President for Clinical Affairs |
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October | UMRA A.M. | 10/12/2021, 9:00 a.m. | By Zoom |
The state of the University and the Board of Regents | |||
Regent Emeritus Rick Beeson | |||
Workshop | 10/19/2021, 11:00am | By Zoom | |
Making sense of healthcare insurance options | |||
Willis Towers Watson, UMN OHR |
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Forum | 10/26/2021, 12:00 noon | By Zoom | |
Climate change and MN forests | |||
Lee Frelich Director, UMN Center for Forest Ecology |
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November | UMRA A.M. | 11/9/2021, 9:00 a.m. | By Zoom |
What it Means to be a Global Campus | |||
Meredith McQuaid, University Dean of International Programs |
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Workshop | 11/16/2021 11 a.m. | By Zoom | |
Cultivating Your Creativity | |||
Alice Larson Prof. Biomedical Sciences |
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Forum | 11/23/2021 Noon | By Zoom | |
TBD | |||
Garry Jenkins, Dean, UMN Law School | |||
January | Workshop | 1/18/2022 11 a.m. |
By Zoom |
Benefits of Pets | |||
Pamela Schreiner |
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Forum | 1/25/2022 Noon | By Zoom | |
Encore Adulthood: The Changing Life Course in Tumultuous Times | |||
Phyllis Moen |
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February | Workshop | 2/15/2022 11 a.m. | By Zoom |
Writing with Insight and Humor? |
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Julie Schumacher, Department of English Creative Writing Program, Thurber prize-winning author |
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Forum | 2/22/2022 Noon | By Zoom | |
mRNA technology: Potential and Misconceptions |
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Director, UM Institute of Molecular Virology |
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March | Workshop | 3/15/2022 11 a.m. | By Zoom |
TBD | |||
Forum | 3/22/2022 11:30 a.m. |
In person! |
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Future of Cities |
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Tom Fisher
Director, Minnesota Design Center |
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April | Workshop | 4/19/2022 11 a.m. | By Zoom |
Maintaning Vision and Eye Health
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Eric Van Kuijk
Chair of Dept. of Opthamology |
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Forum | 4/26/2022 11:30 a.m. | In person! | |
Homelessness in the Twin Cities
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Tim Marx
President Emeritus of Catholic Charities |
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May | Workshop | 5/17/2022 11 a.m. | By Zoom |
MN State Parks: The State's Crown Jewels
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Arielle Courtney Partnership Development Consultant
MN Dept. of Natural Resources |
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Forum | 5/24/2022 11:30 a.m. | In person! | |
CLA Public Life Project
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John Coleman, Dean of CLA |
See Forums and Workshops held in prior years
More about our meetings
UMRA Forums include a meal and require reservations. Reservations for the next monthly Forum begins online the day following the monthly meeting (e.g., reservations for November opens the day after the October meeting). There is no need to RSVP, or pay, to attend the Workshops, just come and enjoy. All meetings are scheduled for the 4th Tuesday of the month over lunch (except November and May, which are on the third Tuesday).
Invited speakers from within and outside the University address a variety of scholarly, informative, and entertaining topics. These gatherings allow members to renew long-standing friendships with former colleagues, make new acquaintances, and strengthen a sense of connection with the University community. Reservations and a $23 fee to cover food expenses (make reservations) are required. An optional coffee hour (no charge) begins at 10:30 on days of luncheon meetings.
Living Well Workshop: A workshop in conjunction with most of our luncheon meetings. Living Well Workshos are held in the Dale Shepherd Room, and are generally designed to be highly interactive. There is no fee for workshops, and you need not have attended the luncheon to participate. Sample recent workshop topics have included housing alternatives, financial planning, long-term care, photography, and caregiving.
Annual meeting: The final monthly meeting of the year, in May, is considered to be our annual gala social event, an expanded menu and an especially entertaining program. UMRA officers hold a brief business meeting, and the membership elects new association officers and board members to lead the next year’s activities. There is no May workshop.
Governance meetings: The Executive Committee and the Board meet most months during the academic year; other committees meet as needed.
Other: Clubs and special interest groups are informal, self-governing groupings of UMRA members who share a common interest. Our various groups can be found under Activities. Social events in addition to the luncheons are organized on an occasional basis and publicized through the newsletter or emails to the membership.
Past Program Summaries
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Recorded Programs
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Please enjoy the recordings on our website and feel free to share the links with other individuals. You may not download or repost them without the permission of UMRA.