JOIE has videos!
The UMRA-sponsored Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has added three videos to its online collection of original publications by UMRA members.
“Places of Worship,” a photographic presentation by John Finnegan, showcases the wide variety of houses of worship around the world and throughout the ages. And Randy Croce has created two videos now posted on the JOIE website: “Who Built Our Capitol,” the story of the construction of the Minnesota statehouse, and “The Farmer-Labor Movement: A Minnesota Story,” describing the development of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in our state. We invite you to enjoy these interesting and informative videos.
Join the JOIE reviewing committee
If you find the articles and videos in JOIE of interest and would like to participate in production of the journal, we are seeking additional members for the reviewing committee and a new editor-in-chief. The modest workload for committee members includes reviewing submissions to JOIE for quality and appropriateness, participating in a small number of Zoom meetings, and assisting in establishing publishing policies.
The editor-in-chief submits eligible articles and videos to the committee for review, maintains reviewing and publication records, and posts the approved items online. He/she also supports the continued success of JOIE by writing short articles about the journal for the UMRA newsletter and other University media, and recruiting committee members as needed.
Email Kris Bettin to learn more about the JOIE reviewing committee and/or if you have an article, slideshow, or video of your own that you wish to add to the JOIE collection.
—Kris Bettin, JOIE editor
News
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:
Beginning January 1, 2027, the University of Minnesota is making updates to medical plans, the pharmacy vendor, and the Wellbeing Program incentive that apply to retirees and dependents enrolled in these plans.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 167 years. And on September 3, 2026, UMRA made its Minnesota State Fair debut to talk with fairgoers (on Seniors Day) about retirement and to promote opportunities to volunteer through our University Retirees Volunteer Center.
Like all of us, UMRA member Barbara Heinemann has been reflecting on 9/11 and life in the 25 years since then, with mixed feelings.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2027 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five University of Minnesota campuses are eligible to apply. We invited Brad Hokanson, professor emeritus, UMN Department of Design Innovation, to tell us about the work supported by his 2026 grant to promote teaching creativity in high schools.
Meet UMRA member and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Louis. She devoted her career as an Extension educator — “bringing the University to the people” — to developing and providing programming for adults and youth.
The UMRA membership year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2027, it’s definitely time to do so!
UMRA has a Facebook group that is open to UMN retirees and others with close ties to the University, for posting messages about anything University- or retiree-related. Learn more.
UMRA hosted delegates from 14 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten for the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association conference in July. It was described as “the perfect collaboration” by two delegates we invited to share a few of their key takeaways from the conference.
Developing communication skills is the focus of two programs needing volunteers this fall: the “Reader/Writer Program,” assisting students in Minneapolis Public Schools grades 7-12 to develop literacy skills; and “Partners in English,” engaging in conversation with adults for whom English is not their first language.
After being unexpectedly sidelined at the outset of her retirement, Pam Snopl now enjoys doing many of the things retirees get to do, including reconnecting in person with family and friends, going to museums and weekday Minnesota Twins games, reading, and writing.
UMRA member George Swan retired in 2021 after 30+ years at University Libraries, but still returns to campus to visit one or another of the libraries at least twice a week in his current role as a student/retiree.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is an annual competition for grants to support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarly or creative interests.
UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership for the coming year. Thank you if you’ve already renewed! If you haven’t, please renew right away.