UMRA Summer Social and Picnic
On Wednesday June 28th, 80 UMRA members and their guests gathered in the shade of the Como Park pavilion to catch up with old friends and colleagues and welcome new members. It was a perfect Minnesota summer setting with a good breeze, no bugs, the scent of blooming Japanese lilacs, sun-sparkle on the lake, and the sound of happy voices laughing and re-connecting.
We were welcomed by Eric Hockert, incoming UMRA president, whose voice came to us through speakers provided and ably set up and monitored by Jerry and Peggy Rinehart. We enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch (and killer brownies), and friendly table-hopping.
After lunch, THE QUIZ! A challenging geography quiz organized and facilitated by world traveler, Cherie Hamilton. Competition was fierce and came down to a battle between two well-traveled teams. Merriment and the joy of in-person connections made the afternoon a great success.
Many thanks to the Special Events Planning Team, Will Craig, Cathy Lee Gierke, Cherie Hamilton, Eric Hockert, Kate Maple, and Jan Morlock, Host Team members Diane Young and Nancy Helmich, and Jan McCullouch who organized the new member welcome volunteers.
UMRA Summer Social and Picnic
Wed, Jun 28 2023, 11am - 1:30pm
Como Lakeside Summer Social
Food, friends and fun!
1360 Lexington Parkway North in Saint Paul
Celebrate the sweet days of summer with friends and former colleagues. We’ll dine under the covered, open-air pavilion overlooking Como Lake, with plenty of time for visiting. For your lunch, select among four main dishes. Non-alcoholic beverages are provided as are coffee, tea, and dessert. There’s a cash bar available in the adjacent Dock and Paddle Restaurant. Parking is free and convenient in two adjacent lots, entering off Lexington Parkway North.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, June 13, and that’s also the deadline for any cancellations. Sorry, but any cancellations made after we submit our lunch order to the caterer on June 13 will be nonrefundable. Thanks for your understanding!
Register, pay for the event, and make your lunch selection by June 13.
And to cap off the summer, come to the Mississippi River for a cruise on the Minneapolis Queen on Tuesday, August 29.
~the UMRA 2023 Special Events Planning Team: Will Craig, Cherie Hamilton, Cathy Lee Gierke, Kate Maple, Jan Morlock, and Diane Young.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.