Events

Upcoming Events

Event Date: February 18, 2025, at 11am

Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services.


Event Date: February 21, 2025, at 2pm

John Bantle will lead the discussion of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson when the UMRA book club meets via Zoom on February 21. 


Event Date: February 22, 2025, at 5pm

Join UMRA members to watch two of the best hockey teams in the nation. UMRA has negotiated a discounted ticket price of $33.


Event Date: February 25, 2025, at 11am

Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.


Event Date: February 28, 2025, at 2pm

The Fourth Friday Book Club will meet via Zoom on February 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST to discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.


Event Date: March 3, 2025, at 9:30am

Join members of the UMRA Hiking Club for a hike on March 3 at the Holland Lake Trailhead in Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. It is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. Our route will take us on an unpaved trail with some roots, rocks, and easy hills. It will be about 5 miles for 2 to 2.5 hours. We will meet for an optional lunch afterwards somewhere nearby (TBD).


Event Date: March 5, 2025, at 10am

You are invited to the March 5 meeting via Zoom of the Family History Interest Group (FHIG) for presentations by Will Craig and Laura Erickson on researching family history using local and virtual resources.


Event Date: March 11, 2025, at 12:30pm

The THEME is Insects

The UMRA Photo Club will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library, in the small shopping center at New Brighton and St. Anthony Boulevards.  

For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 a.m. 


Event Date: April 7, 2025, at 9:30am

The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits.  The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.


Event Date: April 8, 2025, at 12:30pm

The UMRA Photo Club will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library, in the small shopping center at New Brighton and St. Anthony Boulevards. 

For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 a.m.

Theme to be announced.


Event Date: April 8, 2025, at 1pm

The University of Minnesota Archives, with its major holdings largely tucked away in two huge underground caverns along the Mississippi River under the West Bank campus, holds the essential records of our University of Minnesota’s past. University Archivist Erik Moore will interpret the holdings and bring out a sampling of what it holds. We will also get a tour of the caverns (Minnesota Library Access Center), revealing where these precious materials are housed, including the original tapes of KUOM, now Radio K.


Event Date: April 21, 2025, at 10am

You are cordially invited to see Rick Huebsch, Associate VP for Research, Technology Commercialization at UMN, who will discuss UMN Technology Commercialization. Tech Comm facilitates the transfer of UMN innovation beyond the research lab, to benefit the public good, foster economic growth, and generate revenue to support the University's mission.


Event Date: May 5, 2025, at 10am

Do you have a box or several albums of old family pictures that you are not quite sure what to do with? Or perhaps you just want to find out more about your ancestors and are not sure where or how to begin. This meeting of the Family history group will be an open discussion.


EVENT SUMMARY: FORUM

The following article summarizes the original event which is listed below the summary.

Fostering a tradition of welcome - the International Institute of Minnesota

Tue, September 27, 2022, at 11am
 

UMRA’s 2022–23 program year got off to a wonderful start in September with Jane Graupman’s presentation on the work of the International Institute of Minnesota to help immigrants and refugees begin their lives as new Americans in our state. Conference Room ABC in the Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union, was filled with an upbeat mood, renewed energy for the new year, and excellent food. Everyone in attendance seemed delighted to be back together in person. 

The subject of the presentation by Graupman, ’84 B.A., was as timely now as it has always been throughout our country’s history. She shared a wealth of refugee facts and figures, including:

  • Almost 90 million people were forcibly displaced throughout the world in 2021 including 27 million refugees, half younger than 18. 
  • The federal government has proposed refugee admission to the U.S. in FY23 of 125,000.
  • Minnesota has resettled nearly 40,000 refugees in the last 15 years.

Graupman, who has been with the Institute for more than 30 years and has served as executive director since 2010, then described the Institute’s efforts to help refugees find affordable housing, employment, and schools.

Read about a pilot program launched by the International Institute together with the city of St. Paul to provide refugees with a guaranteed monthly income.

She concluded by mentioning the Institute’s work to develop a medical careers pathway as part of its workforce development program, a top-performing refugee resettlement program, and anti-human trafficking services that help new Americans in the state maximize their talents and become fully contributing members of American society.   

During the Q&A session, when Graupman was asked what we can do to be of help, she promptly responded, “Volunteer!” Jerry Rinehart, on behalf of UMRA and the University Retirees Volunteer Center, agreed to follow up with Graupman to seek ways we can contribute to the Institute’s work with new Americans.

—Eric Hockert, UMRA Program Committee chair and president-elect

 


 


FORUM

New Americans in Minnesota

Tue, September 27, 2022, at 11am
Jane Graupman
Executive Director
International Institute of Minnesota

Location
Campus Club West Wing Dining Room Coffman Memorial Union
 
 

Jane Graupman, executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota, will be the guest speaker when we meet in person for UMRA’s first luncheon forum of the 2022–23 program year on Tuesday, September 27, in the Campus Club West Wing Dining Room. Plan to arrive by 11 a.m. for a buffet lunch starting at 11:15.

There were 5.61 million immigrants in Minnesota in 2019 according to a brief history of immigration published in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. In other words, all of us should consider ourselves immigrants. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce said in a 2021 demographic analysis that for the state to experience meaningful population growth in the future it will need to come from international migration. And in July, KSTP reported the federal government had told state officials there were 857 applications from Ukrainians hoping to relocate to Minnesota. People from other countries want to come here, and this will have economic implications for everyone.

Making Minnesota welcoming

Graupman, ’84 B.A., will provide a primer on facts about the refugees and immigrants in our community, the role played by the International Institute in making Minnesota welcoming, and the impact of new Americans on our local economy. Founded in 1919, the nonprofit organization provides comprehensive services to new Americans in our state. The Institute is located on Como Avenue near the U of M Twin Cities campus in St. Paul and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

During her 32 years with the Institute, Graupman has been instrumental in creating a nationally recognized medical careers pathway as part of its workforce development program, a top-performing refugee resettlement program, and anti-human trafficking services that help new Americans in the state maximize their talents and become fully contributing members of American society.

Graupman continues to be a tireless advocate for new Americans in our community, leading the Institute through participation in more than 90 community outreach events reaching more than 4,000 individuals in the last two years.

I hope to see you in person on September 27 for what promises to be an informative and timely presentation. Reservations are due by September 17.

—Eric Hockert, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair