Supporting strong transitions into retirement
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program provides funding for University retirees to continue their scholarship or pursue interesting new projects. The program is an annual competition with applications accepted from October 1 to December 31. Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available.
All University of Minnesota retirees from the Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Crookston Campuses are eligible, whether they are members of UMRA or not. A PDGR Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations regarding funding.
PDGR grants are intended to support strong transitions for the retired person and reflect well on the University. Since 2009, PDGR awards have been made to more than 100 retirees from nearly all colleges and campuses of the University. The grants have supported projects related to art, statistics, social equity, science, medicine, and more.
More information about the program can be found at umra.umn.edu > Serving You > Grants for Retirees.
University funds have been important in maintaining the PDGR program at a base level but are not sufficient for the program to grow. Accordingly, UMRA started a campaign to build funds for the program. Anyone can make a tax-deductible contribution by credit card at the PDGR crowdfunding webpage.
Anyone age 70½ or older can also make a qualified charitable distribution to support the program directly from an IRA and avoid paying federal income tax. For more information, please contact Lynn Praska at the University of Minnesota Foundation at [email protected] or 612-624-4158.
Anyone with questions or suggestions for the PDGR program should contact John Bantle, MD.
— John Bantle, MD, PDGR 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.
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.
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.
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:
Meet UMRA member Millie Woodbury, a lifelong world traveler whose favorite place on campus is Aisle C, Seat 24, at Northrop Auditorium.
Eight retirees from the Twin Cities and Morris campuses have been chosen to receive 2024 awards from UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees Program. As in previous years, their projects cover a diverse set of topics, reflecting the breadth of studies and continuing professional activities undertaken by University retirees.