Upcoming Retirement Organization Conferences
Tue, July 21, 2026, at 4pm
National Retiree Conferences
AROHE and BTRA
Supporting university retiree organizations
See below
Two major conferences, one organized by AROHE and the other by BTRA, will take place this year.
The Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) recognizes that higher education retirees are valuable assets to society, positively impacting their communities and contributing to the greater good.
The conference is a biennial gathering and brings together leaders, members, and friends of retirement organizations in higher education to reimagine what retirement can be through community, learning, and innovation.
Retiree organization leaders, university administrators, faculty and staff retirees, allied professionals, and strategic partners who are committed to strengthening engagement across the retirement landscape are invited to attend October 6 through 8 in Gainesville, Florida. For more information, see 2026 AROHE Conference—you’re invited!
Also this summer, UMRA is honored to host the Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA) conference. A team of UMRA volunteers has worked over many months to put together an array of listening and learning opportunities that allow retiree chapter leaders to share insights and competencies from their retiree associations. Two people from each big ten university are invited to attend.
~ Eric Hockert, [email protected]
Upcoming Events
The theme for October is "Monuments."
Join us for the UMRA Breakfast on Thursday, October 15, for a frank discussion about addiction and how it can affect families and friends of the addicted person.
UMRA’s second “Campus Conversation” with a University leader will offer UMRA members an exclusive opportunity to meet with John Morris, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation. The focus of the conversation will be the role of the foundation and its relationship to retirees.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the historical fiction novel The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 16.
Jon C leads the hike at Nerstrand Big Woods with lunch afterwards.
The Vaccine Integrity Project at the UMN Centers for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention is working to ensure that vaccine use in the U.S. remains grounded in the best available evidence, and focused on protecting public health. Kevin Griffis, director of CIDRAP Media Relations and Public Affairs, will tell us about this work as the featured speaker for UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on Tuesday, October 20.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club (aka UMRA Book Club II) will discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel by Jhumpa Lahiri when it meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23, via Zoom. The nine short stories in the collection speak to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
Discuss long term care options with Fred Andersen.
Chris Coleman, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity president and CEO and a two time alumnus of the University of Minnesota, will provide a deep dive for UMRA’s October 27 luncheon forum into how Habitat creates, preserves, and promotes affordable homeownership for low-income households.
Bob & Jean Hall and Andy Whitman, participants.
The theme for November is "Hands"
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour will offer an insider's look into the important work happening at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. We will enjoy a walking tour through patient exam rooms, student learning areas, and clinical/surgery suites, highlighting how faculty experts and student veterinarians collaborate to deliver life-saving care.
Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.
Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.
The theme for December is "Pathways and roadways."