Silver Gopher Service Corps steps up to help fill the Class of 2027
An enthusiastic group of stalwart retirees trudged through snow, ice, and wind to greet future students and their families on the University’s first-ever Newly Admitted Students Welcome Day, hosted by the Office of Admissions on April 1. The goal: to convince these bright young people to make the leap and join the class of 2027!
The retirees greeted the arriving students and their families, directed them to various activities, and, most importantly, shared their affiliations with the University. The visitors seemed eager to interact with the volunteers.
Admissions staff engaged the would-be Gophers in a lively program that included campus tours (on freshly plowed paths), visits with Goldy Gopher, and the rousing music of the University of Minnesota Marching Band.
Hennepin County Commissioner and Board Chair Irene Fernando (’07 BS, ’14 MEd) served as a lively keynote speaker. She shared her inspiring story and how the University helped form and strengthen her leadership skills.
UMRA President Ron Matross thinks the Silver Gopher Service Corps t-shirts (see photo) are a great way for UMRA volunteers to show their connection to the Retirees Association and to the U. Shirts will be available for $15 at upcoming UMRA luncheons and future Silver Gopher volunteer projects.
—Peggy Mann Rinehart
News
At a contentious meeting March 14, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a resolution restricting University units from issuing statements “of public concern or public interest.” Several dozen faculty and students present vehemently protested the resolution.
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2025–26 will be conducted via an online poll from May 12 to 18, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 20. Sally Gregory Kohlstedt leads the slate of nominees as president-elect. She came to the University of Minnesota in 1989 as a professor and associate dean, and retired in 2018.
This spring, UMRA will launch a new member portal to simplify and more efficiently manage many essential tasks, including enrolling new members, updating member records, registering event attendees, and processing payments.
Meet UMRA member Vicki Gaylord. In her 32-year career at the Institute of Community Integration, a U of M Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, her work made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people around the world.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center is seeking candidates to serve on the URVC Leadership Council. The council meets six times per year to identify opportunities for volunteer projects and develop strategies for growing and supporting volunteer participation.
Deanne Magnusson was raised in a family in which education and volunteerism were encouraged. She earned three degrees at the U of M, and enjoyed a career working in education with leaders and schools in Minnesota and across the world. These experiences, and her volunteer work today with URVC, continue to transform her as an educator and as a person.
UMRA’s 2025 Professional Development Grants for Retirees awards cover a diverse set of topics reflecting the breadth of studies undertaken by University retirees, including Mark Bohnhorst for his proposal “More New Thinking about Presidential Elections.”
UMRA member Lynn Slifer is taking full advantage of retirement, pursuing her interests in writing, crafting, babysitting grandchildren, good food, wine, and travel, plus serving on the leadership council of the University Retirees Volunteer Center.
UMRA’s online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays is a unique venue hosting diverse content that is enjoyed by people around the world. If you enjoy helping authors polish their products for publication, JOIE is looking for a new leader. It’s an opportunity that has been tremendously rewarding for the outgoing editor-in-chief.
UMRA has lost contact with many members because of the unfortunate demise of your @umn.edu email accounts. If you haven’t done so already, please update your email address on our system. It won’t take long.