From South Korea to Germany
The final Armchair Traveler Program for 2023-24 was held via zoom on April 24, 2024. Lynn C. Anderson presented on "German: The Roads Less Taken." Marilyn DeLong presented on "Continuity and Celebration in South Korea."
From South Korea to Germany
Wed, Apr 24 2024, 10am
UMRA’s spring Armchair Traveler Program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24, will take us to South Korea and Germany. Please mark your calendars and save the date. Here are the program descriptions:
Continuity and celebration in South Korea. “Springtime in South Korea is inviting and lovely with many flowering shrubs and trees and, above all, the hospitality of longtime friends. This Armchair Traveler Part II presentation is about my recent experiences in Seoul. Travel to South Korea has been a constant in my life for 35 years. Through research, student exchange programs, and interactions with faculty colleagues, I have observed firsthand the flowering of contemporary Korean culture. This past spring, my travels helped me to reconnect with all that has made this travel special, including personal friendships and ties to the culture and its innovative traditions.” —Marilyn DeLong
Cities and towns in Germany. “In November 2022, I spent a month in Germany visiting favorite places and friends, some of whom I have known for 52 years. I will share pictures of and information about Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, and some smaller towns including Bentheim, Langenfeld, Gross-Fredenwalde, and more.” — Lynn C. Anderson
A Zoom invitation will be sent to all UMRA members one month and one week prior to the program. We hope you can join us!
—Lynn C. Anderson, Armchair Traveler program chair
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.