2021–22 PDGR awards
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program received only two applications for support over the past two years. It is not clear why, but the pandemic was almost certainly a major factor.
Wayne Potratz, professor emeritus, College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Department of Art, applied for a 2022 grant to support materials, supplies, and assistance to make a series of cast iron tiles, and to support travel to a national conference in South Dakota and an international conference in Germany to present his work. His project was approved in January.
Joanne Eicher, CLA Regents Professor Emerita, received a grant in 2021 to help support publication of her book Global Trade and Cultural Authentication: The Kalabari of the Niger Delta.
Both Potratz and Eicher have received multiple PDGR awards.
Applications for PDGR funding in 2023 may be submitted starting October 1. All fully retired employees of the University are eligible to apply for grants for professional development or research. To encourage more applications, potential awards will be increased from $3,000 to $5,000.
There were two retirements from the PDGR Committee in 2021, so new members are needed. Anyone interested should contact John Bantle at [email protected].
All UMRA members are encouraged to support the grant program by making financial contributions to the PDGR fund at the University of Minnesota Foundation.
—John Bantle, MD, PDGR Committee chair
News
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details:
Meet UMRA member Millie Woodbury, a lifelong world traveler whose favorite place on campus is Aisle C, Seat 24, at Northrop Auditorium.
Eight retirees from the Twin Cities and Morris campuses have been chosen to receive 2024 awards from UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees Program. As in previous years, their projects cover a diverse set of topics, reflecting the breadth of studies and continuing professional activities undertaken by University retirees.
Many of us are busy switching from using our UMN email to another email account – or at least contemplating how to go about it. This Tips & Tricks article highlights several key steps you may want to take, or need to take, as you make this change. Instructions are also included for making this change to your UMRA account login and UMRA member communications.
The 2024 PDGR grants have been decided and awarded. Seven grants were awarded to a variety of worthy studies.