HELLO, my name is Lynn C. Anderson
Hometown: I was born in St. Paul, and my family moved to Roseville when I was almost two, so I grew up in Roseville.
When did you become a member of UMRA? In 2016.
What was your very first job? Other than babysitting and a gig at the Minnesota State Fair, my first job was as a waitress at the House of Wong in Roseville. I worked there my senior year of high school and all four years of college and graduated from Hamline University debt free.
What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? I was dean of International Education at UC San Diego for six years before retiring. Prior to UCSD, I had worked at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for 29 years. I had fun teaching German as a TA, enjoyed 19 years in CLA Advising, and then a fabulous eight years in the Learning Abroad Center as director of curriculum integration and associate director for the center.
What was the name of the first record you bought? Meet the Beatles, and I still have that LP.
If you were an Olympic athlete, what would you like your sport to be? I would love to play volleyball. That's a sport that requires teamwork, being able to anticipate what is coming, and athleticism (but not nonstop running or swimming or gymnastics), and it is great fun.
Do you have a favorite place on the U of M campus? I love the pedestrian/bike bridge that spans the Mississippi River between the East Bank and West Bank. It is a lovely walk with fabulous views of the river, campus, student life, and Minneapolis. I also really like the gardens on the St. Paul campus.
What is a fun fact about you we might not know? I was an usher (in the field hockey stadium) at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. It was an amazing experience getting to see many different athletes perform: Mark Spitz, Cathy Rigby, basketball, volleyball, biking, track and field, and lots of field hockey. I even danced with the Crown Prince of Sweden (now King Carl XVI Gustaf), though I didn't believe him when he said who he was, so I walked off the dance floor at the end of one dance. That’s where he met (now Queen) Sylvia, who was also working at the Olympics. It was also a devastating time when the Israeli athletes were kidnapped, and 11 Israelis were killed.
What is something you currently enjoy doing with your time? In addition to UMRA activities, I love spending time with family, especially my new grandson, and biking, walking, kayaking, skiing, and reading (depending on the weather).
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
Spend eight nights in Madrid and Barcelona in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces for 11 nights in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend four nights in Québec City in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend 9 nights on the Douro River in Portugal in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace and explore Mexico City as it showcases all facets of Mexico’s national character in 2025. Deadline to express an interest is Friday, June 7, 2024.
Bright and bold living history awaits you in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
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: