HELLO, my name is Millie Woodbury
Hometown: I was born in Berwyn, Illinois, and grew up in Riverside, a village designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (designers of Central Park). Located about nine miles west of Chicago, it’s the home of several Frank Lloyd Wright homes.
When did you become a member of UMRA? I joined the day I retired in 2014 after hearing about it from several retired University friends and thinking it would be a good way to stay connected with them and with the happenings of the University.
What was your very first job? Working in a travel agency distributing cruise ship brochures. The descriptions in those brochures piqued my interest to travel, which later became a lifelong hobby.
What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? I worked in the School of Public Health, first as executive administrative specialist to Professor Robert Veninga; I then moved to the Division of Epidemiology until I retired. It was during that time I learned how to work on websites, which later helped me in doing volunteer work.
You have been very involved with the University of Minnesota Women's Club for several years, including serving as president from 2017 to 2018. Why is volunteering important to you? I believe that one of the best ways to meet people is by volunteering. Working with others gives me joy and a feeling of accomplishment. It provides opportunities to use my skills, learn from others, and have fun.
If you were competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, what would you like your sport to be? Fencing. I did my master’s thesis at the University of Illinois on learning fencing using rhythmic motor patterns. What an exciting sport!
Do you have a favorite place on campus? Aisle C, Seat 24, at Northrop Auditorium. It’s been my seat for many years watching all the outstanding dance programs there—from ballet to breakdancing and classical to contemporary.
What is a fun fact about you we might not know? One of the most interesting places I’ve lived was in a logging camp on Prince of Wales Island, Thorne Bay, Alaska, which is about a 20-minute seaplane ride from Ketchikan on the Inside Passage. I didn’t get to live in the bunk house or eat in the cookhouse, but I did cook bear and pick blueberries and was allowed in the commissary. Our food was brought in by boat once a week, but I preferred the fresh salmon and halibut. Every day was an adventure!
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.
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.
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.
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: