Nominations sought for UMRA officers and directors
The members of the 2024 UMRA Nominating Committee are Ron Matross, chair, Jerry Rinehart, Julie Sweitzer, Brad Clary, Russell Luepker, Jeanne Markell, and Lynn Anderson.
Our job is to propose a slate of officers and directors to the current UMRA Board of Directors at its March meeting. If approved, the slate will be published in the May issue of the UMRA newsletter and eNews (which will be sent to all UMRA members in late April), and members will vote via e-mail in mid May. The results will be announced at UMRA’s 2024 Annual Meeting on May 28.
We invite you to contribute to UMRA by volunteering to run for a position yourself or by nominating someone else who would add value and perspective to our organization.
We will elect up to four board members, each for a three-year term (2024–27, renewable); a treasurer and a secretary, each for a one-year term (renewable); and a president-elect, for a one-year term followed by one year as president and a third year as past president. The president, treasurer, secretary, president-elect, past president, and URVC Council chair comprise the Executive Committee of the UMRA Board of Directors.
Please send your nomination suggestions or questions to me at [email protected]u.
—Ron Matross, UMRA past president and 2024 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.
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: