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
Beginning January 1, 2027, the University of Minnesota is making updates to medical plans, the pharmacy vendor, and the Wellbeing Program incentive that apply to retirees and dependents enrolled in these plans.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 167 years. And on September 3, 2026, UMRA made its Minnesota State Fair debut to talk with fairgoers (on Seniors Day) about retirement and to promote opportunities to volunteer through our University Retirees Volunteer Center.
Like all of us, UMRA member Barbara Heinemann has been reflecting on 9/11 and life in the 25 years since then, with mixed feelings.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2027 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five University of Minnesota campuses are eligible to apply. We invited Brad Hokanson, professor emeritus, UMN Department of Design Innovation, to tell us about the work supported by his 2026 grant to promote teaching creativity in high schools.
Meet UMRA member and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Louis. She devoted her career as an Extension educator — “bringing the University to the people” — to developing and providing programming for adults and youth.
The UMRA membership year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2027, it’s definitely time to do so!
UMRA has a Facebook group that is open to UMN retirees and others with close ties to the University, for posting messages about anything University- or retiree-related. Learn more.
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: