Take advantage of member discounts
Whether you’ve never been to an opera or you’re a lifelong fan, here’s a great opportunity for you to experience it—at a great price—and to support the University’s School of Music at the same time!
UMRA members will pay only $25 a ticket—a $10 discount—to see the University Opera Theatre production of Street Scene by composer Kurt Weill and librettist Langston Hughes (November 20–23); and Hänsel and Gretel by the 19th century composer Engelbert Humperdinck, performed in German with English supertitles (April 23–26), at the School of Music’s Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis.
In addition to the discounts offered by the School of Music, UMRA members may enjoy many other discounts. Theatre Arts and Dance is performing Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth (November 14–23); the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum welcomes you to its AppleHouse, open for the season until December 20; and the Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing has several programs to advance health and wellbeing. All these offerings, and more, are available at discounted prices for UMRA members.
Please go to umra.umn.edu > Resources > Membership Benefits > Member Discounts to learn more, and support the wonderful programs and events offered by the University.
—Bev Moe, UMRA discounts and sponsorships coordinator
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.