HELLO, my name is Vicki Gaylord
Hometown: River Falls, Wisconsin
When did you join UMRA? 2020
What was your very first job? When I was nine years old, I mowed the neighbor lady’s yard that summer for 50 cents a time. I used a rotary mower that was taller than me. After a few times she came to me and apologetically said she was giving the job to the teenage boy in the neighborhood, who charged $5 a time; her reason was, “because he asked me, and he’s a boy.”
What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? In 1988, I was hired as the first publications coordinator for the Institute on Community Integration (ICI), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. I was tasked with managing and growing ICI’s just-established Publications Office, which provided publishing and communications support for ICI projects and centers. I held that position for 32 years.
What are a couple highlights of your work at ICI that stand out in your memory? One of my roles was managing editor of ICI’s flagship publication Impact. Over the years, I worked with 1,000+ individuals from around the world who authored the personal stories, research, best practices, and big-picture perspectives published in its pages. Among my most meaningful experiences in that role were when people contacted me about using Impact in their work or personal lives.
For instance, when we published a feature issue on violence against women with disabilities, the U.S. Air Force included it in a resource guide on sexual and domestic violence placed on every USAF base worldwide. When we released the issue on the justice system and people with disabilities, the International Association of Chiefs of Police promoted it to its 45,000 members. And when we put out the issue on inclusive K–12 education, a Midwestern mom called asking for copies to distribute at her local school board meeting as she advocated for her child’s educational rights.
You are an active member of UMRA's Family History Interest Group (FHIG). How did you become interested in family history and the group? As I retired, we were in COVID lockdown and my plans for retirement activities went on hold. So, I started sorting through 200 years’ worth of family photos, documents, and other things I’d inherited from earlier generations who’d been preserving our family history. I contacted cousins I hadn’t seen for decades to ask family history questions, and that evolved into a recurring Cousins Chat virtual gathering in which we shared family history stories. I created family history slide shows for the cousins, which became Zoom videos we passed on to children and grandchildren.
FHIG gave me the opportunity to do some of those presentations to that group, as well. It’s been a terrific way to turn the limitations of the pandemic into something of lasting value in my family and perhaps beyond.
What is a fun fact about you we might not know? I witnessed the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.
News
Then there are the unexpected things that happen…
… like a box of family history from a cousin that was completely unexpected. Perhaps it is like an unexpected DNA match.
Belonging to a group, a pack, a tribe, or a community helps us to live longer and be happier. Virtually every study that examines factors contributing to longevity identifies social connections as a key factor. Social connections enhance happiness, too, according to “Everything is Better Together,” a large-scale study published recently.
The University of Minnesota Medicare insurance program will end December 31. To facilitate this change, the University has arranged for Via Benefits to assist with insurance selection and enrollment. Working with Via is free and optional; retirees can also go to an insurance broker or contact insurance companies directly.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2026 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five campuses within the U of M System are eligible to apply. Previous grant recipient Mark Bohnhorst, JD, is “deeply grateful” for the support provided by the program for his ongoing research about the Electoral College.
The University Board of Regents launched its fall meetings with the addition of four new interim regents appointed in August by Governor Tim Walz. The new members fill positions vacated by regents whose six-year terms expired earlier this year.
Meet UMRA member and quizmaster Dave Dorman. He has years of professional experience as a group facilitator, hosting conversations conducted in a civil atmosphere—something we need more of today!
The retirees who serve on the Leadership Council of the University Retirees Volunteer Center clearly believe that volunteering contributes to both individual and community health and well-being. In the words of one long-time volunteer, it “counters the isolated, siloed forces in today's society and fosters a sense that we are all in this together.”
There are many benefits to membership in UMRA, including discounted ticket prices for University Opera Theatre performances at the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis.