UMRA is hosting the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA) Conference this summer (July 21-24). This annual meeting provides an opportunity to share information about proven and new ways to run our organizations; and to learn from each other how best to serve our members, our universities, and our communities. As the conference host, we also have the opportunity to introduce some of our well-known faculty to all the delegates.

Plans for the conference, to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis, also include social events and campus tours. UMRA last hosted this annual meeting in 2014 and is not expected to host again until 2042! 

Each association typically selects one or two people from their leadership to attend the conference, which is not open for general attendance.  

Our planning group has been working diligently for more than a year and includes Diane Young, Sally Kohlstedt, Kristy Frost-Griep, Russell Luepker, Kathy Jensen, Aileen Lyle, and Eric Hockert. There may be opportunities for a few volunteers during the conference, which, if so, we will communicate later this spring. 

The 2025 BTRA Conference was hosted by the “other” UMRA—the University of Michigan Retirees Association in Ann Arbor—and was reported to be a big success. We plan to build on their learnings and expect another successful gathering for 2026.

—Eric Hockert, BTRA Board chair and 2026 BTRA Conference Planning Group chair