Through the plethora of suggestions from the membership “town hall” in October, one thing is clear. UMRA members would like to get together more often than for the eight luncheons each year. Ideas abound, and special interest groups are one way of meeting with like-minded friends and those whose interests align with our own.

The Board wants to encourage members not only to join the current interest groups—the photo and book discussion clubs and the finance and legal group—but also to think about other possibilities.

Here are examples from websites and newsletters of other Big Ten retiree associations: walking/hiking, mall walking, biking, motorcycling, flying, tennis, golf, bowling, square dancing, bridge, knitting, quilting, family genealogy, local jazz events, Sherlock Holmes and Greek interpreters, tertulia breakfast, travel discussion, U.S. military history discussion, international events, international affairs study, dire human needs overseas. It doesn’t take much time to think of other possibilities of our own. How about an UMRA French conversation club, a lunch group in a particular Twin Cities area, or a Habitat for Humanity crew? The sky’s the limit. Contact any board member with your idea and willingness to organize.

--Chip Peterson, President