Looking ahead to UMRA leadership in 2023–24
There is a category of very special volunteers who do the essential work of keeping UMRA ticking along—our board members and officers. As we turn the page to a new year, it’s time to plan how we’ll recruit and elect the volunteers who will lead UMRA from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
In January, a nominating committee will begin to develop a slate of nominees for election by all members attending UMRA’s annual meeting in May. The committee, chaired by the immediate past president (this year, that’s me), will include two current UMRA board members, three UMRA members who are not on the board, UMRA President-elect Eric Hockert, and the current leader of the University Retirees Volunteer Center, Jerry Rinehart.
The committee’s job will be to find the best candidates for four at-large seats on the UMRA board and three officer positions: secretary, treasurer, and president-elect. Current President-elect Eric Hockert will automatically move into the top governing position. At-large directors are elected for three-year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms. The UMRA secretary and treasurer are elected for one-year terms and may be nominated for re-election to subsequent terms. In February, look for a request for nominations, or, if you have suggestions you’d like to make now, send me a note at [email protected].
There are many pleasures in being past president of UMRA. The most important and maybe the most joyful job I have this year will be working as part of our nominating committee to bring forward the talented and inspiring people who will keep UMRA ticking along. With hundreds of fascinating and engaged members, I know we’ll succeed.
—Jan Morlock, UMRA past president and Nominating Committee chair
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: