Grant application deadline reminder
December 11 is the application deadline for next year’s awards from the Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program. Approved proposals will be announced in March 2021; grants will start on April 1 and extend to June 30 of the following year.
All University of Minnesota retirees from the Twin Cities and Coordinate Campuses who are eligible for University retirement benefits and who will be fully retired by the time of their award may apply for grants of any amount up to $4,000. The Application Instructions (attached below) provide information about project requirements and how to apply. The total to be awarded in 2021 will be $20,000 which, because of pandemic-related University budget reductions, is less than in most previous years.
UMRA recently initiated an ambitious campaign with the goal of building a substantial reserve fund for our PDGR program. Two generous long-time supporters of the program have each offered to match $10,000 in contributions 1:1, so $20,000 in matching funds are available this year.
One can make a contribution online or support this fund with a future estate gift. For more information about an estate gift, please contact Lynn Praska at the University of Minnesota Foundation, [email protected] or 612-624-4158.
A summary of some of the things accomplished with previous awards can be found at PDGR Impact Study. Anyone with other questions or suggestions should contact John Bantle, MD.
—John Bantle, MD, UMRA Grants 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.
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.
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.
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: