UMRA launches e-Newsletter in September
We hope you are enjoying the new UMRA e-Newsletter. Feedback has been mixed depending mostly on preferences for print or web-based news. We value your input as we refine and upgrade UMRA’s communications.
Why did we do this? In January 2017, when the Communications Taskforce was meeting to discuss how to better our communications, Ginny Hanson, UMRA’s long-standing newsletter editor, announced that a newly discovered health issue could interfere with her producing the newsletter as she had been for the past 13 years. The taskforce decided that this change opened the way to try developing a new form of communication – electronic news.
“Being the only editor for content and production is rewarding, but it is somewhat precarious for the organization to rely on one person for this position,” Ginny said. “A team is more prudent.”
So the new newsletter team consists of Ginny Hanson, as coordinator, and an assembled team of content editors who solicit and edit articles. The volunteer content editors are Becky Anderson, Kris Mortensen, and Julie Medberry. The edited content goes to the new production editor, Sadie Brendalen, who is working under contract with UMRA to produce the UMRA e-newsletter, interface the news with the web page, and also produce a printable newsletter. A full-time employee at the U of M, Sadie is the communications and program associate in the Department of Applied Economics and currently pursuing her master’s degree in Strategic Communications. UMRA member Cathy Gierke manages the UMRA website and works closely with the production editor.
Thanks to the determination and diligence of the new content editorial team, our webmaster, and a new professional production editor, we now have an e-newsletter and print version newsletter. This was no small feat, but the team performed what some called a transition, others called a summer miracle. They should be congratulated for this extraordinary effort and a polished result.
—Jean Kinsey, chair, Communications Taskforce
Task Force Members: Ginny Hanson, Dave Naumann, Cathy Lee Gierke, John Anderson, with advice from Scott Elton, Julie Medbery, and Sadie Brendalen
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
Spend eight nights in Madrid and Barcelona in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces for 11 nights in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend four nights in Québec City in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend 9 nights on the Douro River in Portugal in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace and explore Mexico City as it showcases all facets of Mexico’s national character in 2025. Deadline to express an interest is Friday, June 7, 2024.
Bright and bold living history awaits you in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
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: