Final call for UMRA Board nominations
One last reminder that we are looking for your suggestions for candidates to serve on the UMRA Board—primarily president-elect, who serves as program chair before becoming president; secretary; and up to five directors. The Board meets monthly from September through May, and directors serve three-year terms.
If you know of any UMRA member who might be willing to step up to a leadership role, please contact Julie Sweitzer, Nominating Committee chair, at [email protected]. And yes, that someone could be you!
The Nominating Committee is formed based on the UMRA Bylaws. This year, it consists of the immediate past president as chair (Julie Sweitzer), president-elect (Sally Kohlstedt), URVC Council Chair (Jerry Rinehart), two current board members (John Bantle and Kate Maple), and three non-board members (Kay Louis, who greets you at luncheon forums; Will Craig, who helps plan special events, and Jeanne Markell, who runs the UMRA Cares Committee.)
The slate of nominees will be presented to the Executive Committee and Board for approval at their March meetings.
Information about the nominees will appear in the May UMRA newsletter and in an email about our online election process.
You can find position descriptions at umra.umn.edu > Resources > Governance and Operating Documents > UMRA Bylaws 2-2023.
—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA Nominating Committee chair and past president (2024–25)
News
One last reminder that the Nominating Committee is looking for your suggestions for candidates to serve on the UMRA Board—primarily president-elect, who serves as Program Committee chair for one year before becoming president; secretary; and up to five directors. The Board meets monthly from September through May and directors serve three-year terms.
Volunteerism is declining across the country, and the University Retirees Volunteer Center is gearing up to help reverse the trend. Please be on the lookout for a short survey in February or March. URVC wants to hear about your interests, experiences, and suggestions related to volunteering.
Meet UMRA member Nanette Hanks, a fourth-generation Texan who has hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain nearly 40 times! She’s going back in June, and still has a couple places left if you’d like to join the group she will be leading.
There are some relatively easy things you can do to help protect yourself against identity theft and online and telephone fraud. Here are some New Year’s resolutions to help make your 2026 a safe year.
The third of Marilynn Erickson's three stories about her family history. She wrote each story “to check out the verbal family stories and connect them to documentation and photos.”
This third story is about Scandal in the Graveyard.
The second of Marilynn Erickson's three stories about her family history. She wrote each story “to check out the verbal family stories and connect them to documentation and photos.”
This second story is about the Sea Wing disaster.