UMRA survey results are impressive
One role the UMRA Board of Directors plays is to promote awareness of and appreciation for the contributions of University retirees to the greater good of our communities. Last fall, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation, we documented the significant financial commitments of current UMRA members to the University—more than $23 million (FY12–FY18) to the U’s ongoing “Driven” campaign.
To gain comparable information on the nature and impact of our members’ volunteer activities, the board commissioned a detailed study of the time UMRA members contribute in volunteer work, the impact of this work, and factors that inhibit volunteering.
In the spring of 2019, 218 UMRA members (36 percent) responded to an internet survey on their volunteer activities in the previous year. The survey found that 78 percent of UMRA members had volunteered in 2018, with 43 percent volunteering at the U of M and 68 percent in the community, averaging a total of 198 hours each. The leading factors for not volunteering in the past year were being too busy (48 percent), having health-related issues (31 percent), and caretaking of family members (29 percent).
Because of special efforts made to encourage participation in the survey regardless of volunteer activity, we feel the results provide a reliable estimate of our overall activity. Projecting respondents’ answers to the entire UMRA membership, we estimate that in 2018 UMRA members contributed more than 20,000 hours of service to the University, worth more than half a million dollars. Furthermore, UMRA members contributed more than 50,000 hours of service to the community at large, worth more than $1.4 million.
Volunteers reported serving a wide variety of University departments and dozens of community organizations, in capacities ranging from ushering to leading governing boards and initiating major projects. Among the most frequently mentioned activities were educational ones—advising and mentoring students at the University and serving educational and youth organizations in the community.
Clearly, UMRA members are continuing to serve and are making significant contributions during their retirement to the greater community.
—Ron Matross, member, Board of Directors
News
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: