SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Breakfast: Facing challenges to democracy

Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 8:30am

Location
Original Pancake House- private dining room
1661 W County Rd B2
Roseville, MN 55113
 

Professor Kathryn Pearson will be a special guest at the UMRA breakfast in June. This will be an opportunity to hear Professor Pearson’s perspective on President Trumps’s first 100 days, and to engage in discussion about what we, as individual citizens, can do in these challenging times for democracy.

Kathryn Pearson, PhD, is an associate professor of political science in the U’s College of Liberal Arts. She focuses on American politics, including Congress, elections, political parties, and gender bias.

She earned her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley; worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant; was a research fellow at the Brookings Institution; and is a recipient of the Morse-Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education at the U of M.

Sign ups for this event are through the new member portal -- be sure to create your login before you try to use this.  Don't have the email?  Search for an email from [email protected].  It may have gone to your spam folder. 

Reserve online or contact the reservationist. 

Please let us know if you sign up and cannot attend.  Cancellations can be made in your profile, online.  

For questions, contact Lynn Slifer or Bill Donohue.



Upcoming Events

Event Date: May 12, 2026, at 11am

UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on May 12 will feature Megan Walsh from the University of Minnesota Law School for a presentation on efforts to prevent gun violence through lawsuits designed to address unlawful practices in selling, manufacturing, or advertising firearms.


Event Date: May 13, 2026, at 10am

Craig Moody’s Swedish ancestors were among the 60,000 Swedes who chose to emigrate to the U.S. between 1868 and 1871, because of the poor economic conditions in their homeland. He has spent the last nine years investigating their history.


Event Date: May 14, 2026, at 8:30am

Back problems as we age and how we can treat them will be the discussion topic for the UMRA Breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 14. Paul Schanfield, MD, will be our expert resource person. He is a retired neurologist, a member of UMRA, and has personal experience with back surgery.


Event Date: May 15, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15. 


Event Date: May 18, 2026, at 9:30am

Peter Moe, retired University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Director and UMRA member, will lead this hike.


Event Date: May 19, 2026, at 11am

Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter will discuss her role and offer reflections on her first year at the University of Minnesota as the featured speaker for the UMRA Luncheon Forum on May 19 at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville. The forum will be preceded by UMRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting.


Event Date: May 20, 2026, at 11:30am

"Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026. 


Event Date: May 22, 2026, at 2pm

A 1987 classic, cited as the gold standard of modern legal thrillers.


Event Date: June 1, 2026, at 9:30am

Bev leads at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.


Event Date: June 8, 2026, at 8:30am - 2:15pm

Connect, explore new ideas for what it means to live and age well, and celebrate a community of continuous learning at the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 8.


Event Date: June 9, 2026, at 12:30pm

Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.


Event Date: June 15, 2026, at 9:30am

Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.


Event Date: June 24, 2026, at 11am

We will gather in the Waterfall Room for an in-person, summer social and luncheon for UMRA members and guests on June 24th. Our event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the always popular Summer Social Trivia Game with quizmasters Dave Dorman and Mark Jenson.


Event Date: July 13, 2026, at 9:30am

Kayaking at Lake Bde Maka Ska.


Event Date: August 3, 2026, at 9:30am

Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.