Volunteer participation by UMRA members has not kept pace with our retiree association’s recent growth in membership, reflecting declining rates of volunteerism across the country. 

There are many possible explanations for this phenomenon, and the University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) recognizes the need to better understand the interests and energies of our retiree community—if we are to help reverse the decline. 

URVC Leadership Council Chair Jerry Rinehart asks, “How can we create opportunities that spark interest? How can we engage participants in this time of ever-increasing needs? And how can we better convey the impact of the volunteer experience?”

To that end, URVC will be emailing a short survey to UMRA members in February or March, seeking information regarding your interests, experiences, hesitations, and suggestions related to volunteering.

New partnership with International Student and Scholar Services

In advance of those results, and in recognition of the challenges facing the University’s international student population, URVC is developing a new partnership with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

The initial stage of the partnership will focus on what ISSS indicates they need most: volunteers to help international students understand and access the many University resources available to them for engaging in campus life.

Marina Uehara, ISSS student engagement director, says that when international students are asked what makes them feel like they belong, “They often speak of a person who took time to greet them, answer their questions, and get to know them.”

Forthcoming announcements from URVC will provide more details on this upcoming volunteer opportunity.

Occasions for reflecting

The year 2026 marks both the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 175th anniversary of the founding of the University of Minnesota. These anniversaries can provide occasions for reflecting on histories and considering futures.

Rinehart says for a service organization like URVC, “It is a unique time to recall that volunteering is etched into the American character. Americans understand that we must serve each other to survive together.”

URVC is committed to stepping up its outreach efforts and deepening its relationships among University and community partners, in order to identify and address pressing opportunities, including education mentorships, student health and well-being, food scarcity, environmental threats, and social injustice.

So, two things for 2026: Please respond to the survey, and consider participating in the many volunteer opportunities offered through URVC. 

For more information, contact Jerry Rinehart at [email protected] or visit the URVC website at urvc.umn.edu.

—Peggy Mann Rinehart