HELLO, my name is Ginny Hanson
Hometown: Owatonna, a small town in the heart of southern Minnesota. Since graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul, I have remained a resident of the Twin Cities.
When did you become a member of UMRA? In 2004. As I was retiring from University Relations, my supervisor asked if I would be interested in freelance work; UMRA president John Howe was looking for an editor for the organization's newsletter. Long story short, I joined UMRA, and my work with the UMRA newsletter and other communications continued for 15 years.
What was your very first job? My first summer during college I was a counselor at Camp Edith Mayo in Rochester. When I came of age to serve alcohol, my summer job was waitressing at Jerry's Supper Club in Owatonna. Both jobs were very educational!
What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? Senior editor and project manager in University Relations. I worked in publications and marketing and produced everything from commencement booklets to event invitations and campus maps, historical markers for the U's Sesquicentennial, University annual reports, and honorary degree citations. I was also the "expert" for anyone who called about the U Style Manual and proper use of the University wordmark and Goldy Gopher. I learned not to be surprised by questions like, "Can we put Goldy on a cake?" but I was surprised when someone wanted to put Goldy on a cemetery headstone for a U of M sports enthusiast.
Do you have a favorite place on the U of M campus? Back in the day, my favorite inside spots were the sunny windows of the Campus Club and the Weisman Art Museum. And summer lunch times were always special on Northrop Plaza and the Mall.
What is a fun fact about you we might not know? After my son Mark was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 months, I started a support group for parents of youngsters with diabetes. Our group soon evolved into an organization to raise funds for diabetes research. We were fearless in those days and even had the audacity to wake Dr. Charles Best in Toronto with a phone call, inviting him to speak at our first research awards banquet. And he came! (Dr. Best was then the only surviving member of the team that discovered insulin in 1921.) Over 20 years we raised more than a million dollars and supported many of the U's research efforts.
What is something you currently enjoy doing with your time? Traveling, especially in winter. Reading for pleasure and discussions in two book clubs. Having a camera on my phone is endlessly amusing, and I attend the UMRA photography group whenever schedules allow.
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: