Revival of JOIE
The past year saw the revival of the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays (JOIE), sponsored by UMRA. The open-access journal was established in 2013 as a venue for publishing articles on a variety of scholarly, artistic, educational, and civic issues written by members of the University community, both retired and employed.
Seventeen submissions were published by the end of 2015. But in the following four years, only five additional articles were added, and the journal was placed on hiatus in 2020.
In early 2021, I volunteered to serve as editor-in-chief and JOIE was reopened for article submission. Other steps taken so far in the revival include:
- working with University Digital Conservancy (UDC) staff to update the JOIE collection page, adding downloadable instructions for authors
- recruiting new members to the editorial committee, now consisting of five talented UMRA volunteers
- writing announcements to promote the renewed journal, both within UMRA and other University venues, including U of M Brief and the P&A Senate Newsletter
- preparing a JOIE operating “toolkit,” now archived on the UMRA website
- regularly updating the UMRA board and Communication & Outreach Committee
With eight new articles published in JOIE as of February 2022, the total collection is now up to 30. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have an article you would like to submit for publication.
—Kristine M. Bettin, JOIE editor-in-chief
News
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.