Thank you, U of M retiree volunteers!
On behalf of the University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC), I’d like to recognize and thank all the volunteers who contributed their talents and time to the success of the many projects both inside and outside the University coordinated by URVC this past year. Your efforts have made significant differences for people (adults and children) who benefited from the work of many non-profit organizations throughout our community. In a typical year, more than 300 URVC volunteers devote approximately 10,000 hours of their time in support of our partner organizations. Although COVID-19 led to the cancellation of many onsite and in-person activities in 2020, we anticipate a return to our high levels in the coming year and beyond.
Projects that have received support from our volunteers include tutoring and mentoring children and youth; helping international students with English language learning; serving as jurors for law students’ mock trial experience; judging science fairs, History Day, and debate competitions; ushering at Northrop and Rarig Center; serving as research participants in University medical studies; packaging food for Second Harvest Heartland; preparing meals or driving for Meals on Wheels and Help At Your Door; making stress relief items for the Center for Victims of Torture; serving as AARP tax aides; helping health professional students develop patient interaction skills, and much more.
URVC–UMRA connection
URVC and UMRA work closely together through interlocking board representation and joint distribution of volunteer opportunity announcements. We encourage all UMRA members to join the URVC family by registering at URVC.umn.edu to become a volunteer and receive notification of volunteer opportunities of specific interest. I thank all of you who volunteered this past year, whether through URVC or other organizations inside and outside our university. Minnesota is known as a state with high volunteerism and community involvement. This, I firmly believe, contributes immensely to our quality of life and is something for which we can all be very grateful.
—Eric Hockert, chair, URVC Board and member, UMRA Board
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.
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.
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.
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: