Three opportunities to volunteer
If you are seeking an opportunity to give back by volunteering, here are three University-related possibilities to consider.
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) needs ambassador-greeters for IAS Thursdays at Northrop. IAS Thursdays brings ideas, conversations, and viewpoints from a huge range of national and international scholars to the heart of the University. The current series of seminars extends through April 30 and is free and open to the general public.
The new Bell Museum brings together science, art, and the environment with a unique Minnesota perspective. The museum’s new home features a digital planetarium, high-tech exhibits, world-renowned wildlife dioramas, outdoor learning experiences, and more. Volunteers are currently wanted for positions as gallery cart attendant and docent. These positions contribute to the Bell Museum’s mission to engage the public in understanding, appreciating, and preserving nature.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) is looking for volunteers to assist in staffing its office in the McNamara Alumni Center for a few hours every week. The primary focus of this job is facilitating the connection of potential volunteers with projects needing volunteers. Activities include email communications, telephone calls, record keeping, and general office duties.
If you would like to get involved with any of these options, email URVC at [email protected] or call 612-625-8016.
—John Anderson, chair, URVC Board of Directors
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: