From the President
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
2023-05 : UMRA in fullGratitude is one of the nicest emotions, and as I write this, my last column as UMRA president, I’m feeling a wave of it. Many volunteers are needed to keep UMRA growing, and I am grateful to them all. More...
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News
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BOOK CLUB I
Book Notes | ‘Miss Benson’s Beetle’Event Date:The power of friendship, the destructive impact of war, and genuine appreciation of the natural world are the overriding themes in this quirky, historical novel about an unlikely expedition by two women in search of an elusive golden beetle. More... |
FAMILY HISTORY
Family Stories—Open DiscussionEvent Date:The May 2023 UMRA Family History Interest Group ZOOM presentation was an open discussion and question/answer session that covered a wide range of topics. More... |
FINANCE AND LEGAL GROUP
When Will the Medicare Advantage Bubble Burst?Event Date:Recording spreads awareness to rein in the Medicare Advantage (MA) privatized system, and protect traditional Medicare funding. More... |
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NEWS
Election of UMRA’s 2023–24 leadership to be held onlineThis year’s election of UMRA officers and new board members will be conducted via an online poll from May 15 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 23. Also on the ballot will be a vote to amend the UMRA bylaws. More...Published: |
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VOLUNTEER CENTER
Silver Gophers volunteer to help children experiencing food insecurityNearly 20 members of UMRA’s Silver Gopher Service Corps met as a team in mid-April to pack food for school children facing food insecurity at home in Minnesota. The food-packing event, held at the Every Meal Volunteer Center in Roseville, was superbly organized. It felt “good to be involved in a worthy cause,” said Clif Ware, one of the volunteers. More...Published: |
ARMCHAIR TRAVELER
Pieranna Garavaso and Lory Lemke's visit to Pavia and Verona, ItalyEvent Date:Pieranna Garavaso and Lory Lemke, retired professors of philosophy at UMM, took us on an incredible visit to Pavia and Verona, Italy. More... |
NEWS
Cyber tips & tricks--UMRA member portalThe UMRA Member Portal, also called our member database, is where you will make reservations for upcoming events, and renew your membership. Beyond those functions, the portal has additional resources that you may find helpful. More...Published: |
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FORUM
How the Star Tribune strives to provide a place for ‘thoughtfully curated disagreement about real issues’Event Date:Scott Gillespie, editorial page editor and vice president of the Star Tribune, provided the large audience for UMRA’s April 2023 luncheon forum an insightful and educational look at how the newspaper produces editorials and chooses the “op-ed” commentaries it publishes. More... |
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BOOK CLUB I
Book Notes | ‘Elephant Company’Event Date:Set in Burma after World War I, this “spellbinding” true story about James Howard Williams and his love for elephants provides lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude. More... |
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LIVING WELL WORKSHOP
Deciphering today’s college admissions processEvent Date:Like many schools these days, the University of Minnesota uses a holistic review process for college admissions. If you have a prospective student in your family, there are many things you can encourage them to do. More... |
GRANTS FOR RETIREES
Still driven to discover?Applications for UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees will be posted on the UMRA website this summer. It is an annual competition open to all U of M retirees, with applications accepted from October 1 to December 31. More...Published: |
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VOLUNTEER CENTER
Silver Gopher Service Corps steps up to help fill the Class of 2027An enthusiastic group of stalwart retirees trudged through snow, ice, and wind to greet future students and their families on the University’s first-ever Newly Admitted Students Welcome Day, hosted by the Office of Admissions. More...Published: |
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NEWS
Time to renew your membershipSoon you will be receiving an invitation to renew your UMRA membership for the 2023–24 year. UMRA is an all-volunteer organization that depends on membership dues to provide a wide range of opportunities and other benefits to its members. We hope you’ll renew before you get busy with your summer activities. More...Published: |
FAMILY HISTORY
Telling the stories of the livingEvent Date:Larry Rudnick and Vicki Gaylord shared how they have worked with living family members to gain more information and insight into their family trees. Gaylord and Rudnick explained the processes they used and gave great examples. More... |
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FORUM
Mike Volna gave a fact-filled and nuanced picture of the U’s financesEvent Date:At UMRA’s first in-person forum of 2023, members of the Retirees Association heard an excellent presentation by Mike Volna, the University associate vice president for finance and assistant chief financial officer. More... |