Ballparks and Scotland
At our September 25,2924 Armchair Traveler Program Janet and Craig Swan shared pictures and amazing information about their trip to Scotland and Will Craig shared pictures and insights into his visits to 30 American baseball fields.
See recording below.
Ballparks and Scotland
Wed, Sep 25, 2024, 10am
Please join us for UMRA’s first Armchair Traveler program of the 2024–25 year from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, via Zoom. Will Craig will present “Touch 'em all: 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in 20 years,” and Craig and Janet Swan will share photos and descriptions of their trip to Scotland in 2022.
Will Craig says that what started as incidental visits became an obsession before he completed his tour of all 30 Major League stadiums. “They are all different, each with its own setting, design, fan base, and food. Visits required travel by air, train, car, subway, taxi, Uber, rental car, and foot. Several were replaced during the 20-year period, so some cities needed to be revisited.”
Highlands, islands, and ancestors
Here’s how Craig Swan describes the trip he and Janet took in 2022: “We spent almost four weeks in Scotland in late May to early June. Our visit was focused on the Highlands and parts of the Hebrides and Shetland Islands. We started our trip visiting Clan McIntosh sites. We left with awe at the beauty of the countryside and a deeper understanding of Scottish ambivalence toward England and pride in being Scottish.”
A Zoom invitation will be emailed to all UMRA members a month before the program and a reminder email a week before. I hope you can join us.
—Lynn C. Anderson, Armchair Traveler program chair
Upcoming Events
Jane Kirtley, JD, will be the guest speaker for UMRA’s luncheon forum on Tuesday, November 18. She will discuss challenges to preserving academic freedom and independent speech during the Trump Administration, and how institutions should respond to the unprecedented attacks on their independence.
Cathy Lee Gierke will present photos and talk about her cruise on the Rhine river, Italian Switzerland, Lake Como and Iceland -- and the history, culture and geology along the way.
Librarian Naomi Skulan and Associate Professor Kevin Whalen will present research on the Sacred Heart School for Indians and Morris Industrial School for Indians.
Book Club I will discuss An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Please join Michael Luxenberg on Monday, December 1, for a hike that is approximately 5 miles in length at an average pace of roughly 18–20 minutes per mile for our second hike this fall in the beautiful Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington.
Everyone's tax situation is different. Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.
There are a few fun events coming up at the Campus Club that are open to everyone. See these events on the Campus Club Facebook and Instagram.
The customary November 4th Friday is the Thanksgiving weekend. Unless otherwise noted, we will meet Friday, December 5th.
The Campus Club in Minneapolis is inviting UMRA members to participate in focus group discussions this fall, to provide insight on the U of M retiree experience and generate ideas about how the Campus Club can serve our retiree community.
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut.
Hey UMRA Gopher fans! Here’s a great opportunity to join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gopher Women’s Hockey team when they face off against the St. Thomas Tommies in Ridder Arena.
The theme for December is historical family photos.
There are a few fun events coming up at the Campus Club that are open to everyone. See these events on the Campus Club Facebook and Instagram.
Meeting to plan books for next year.
The theme for January is great MN views.
When you are of Icelandic descent you can trace your ancestors back to around 1200 and sometimes further.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Here’s another great opportunity to buy discounted tickets and join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gophers when the Women’s Basketball team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on February 1.
UMRA’s special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We’ll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the University’s premier student a cappella ensembles.