A new look for the UMRA website in December
After a year of planning and site development work by the UMRA web migration team, we will launch a new UMRA website in December. The redesign was necessitated by the U's move to a new web software version. The new design was informed by feedback from UMRA members and our web statistics.
You'll still find all the content you've come to rely on as well as a few new things. Here’s a brief summary of what you’ll see:
Home page—The updated home page welcomes and engages new and prospective members and highlights important information including upcoming events, current news, and more.
About Us—Want to know more about UMRA? This is a good place to start. Information about UMRA’s mission and priorities, leadership, the various committees, liaisons, and representatives is all found here along with a printable fact sheet.
Get Involved—Are you looking for ways to be involved in UMRA activities? Here you’ll find opportunities for members to connect, serve, and learn. You’ll find information about interest groups, committees, travel, social activities and more. Prospective members will find links to join UMRA.
Programs and Events—UMRA holds eight forums and eight workshops every year. You’ll find information about these programs here as well as events held by interest groups. And the new Calendar of Events gives you a month by month breakdown of what’s happening and when in all of our UMRA groups.
News—The News page shows all the latest UMRA news and now includes the option to choose the specific type of news you want to see by clicking on a news category. One new section to check out is Book Notes where you’ll find book reviews from the UMRA book clubs as well as non-book club reviews submitted by members.
Service and Outreach—UMRA members have multiple opportunities to give back to the community and the organization. Learn how you can contribute your time to a good cause, including information about mentoring at UMN.
Resources—Valuable resources to help you navigate retirement and senior living can be found here as well as a list of the many UMRA membership benefits and discounts and information about grants that are available for retirees.
Member Portal—This is the place to go when you want to update your membership, make a forum reservation, edit your profile, or find another member.
UMRA webmaster Cathy Lee Gierke gathered a group of long-standing members to facilitate this redesign and welcomed two new members, all of whom have contributed countless hours to make the new site a success. Once we launch, we’ll be sure to let you know so you can check it out! We're very excited about the new site and we look forward to hearing from you about other things you would like to see.
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
Spend eight nights in Madrid and Barcelona in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces for 11 nights in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend four nights in Québec City in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend 9 nights on the Douro River in Portugal in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace and explore Mexico City as it showcases all facets of Mexico’s national character in 2025. Deadline to express an interest is Friday, June 7, 2024.
Bright and bold living history awaits you in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
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: