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
UMRA Book Club I will discuss The Silent Patient, a psychological thriller and debut novel by Alex Michaelides, when it meets via Zoom on Friday, July 17.
Two major conferences, one organized by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) and the other by the Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA), will take place this year. The AROHE conference will be held in Florida and the BTRA conference will be hosted by UMRA on the UMN campus.
The AROHE conference invites all interested retirees and university faculty and staff to reimagine retirement. You are invited to register if interested at https://www.arohe.org/2026-Conference.
The BTRA is being hosted by UMRA this year. Leadership of retiree organizations around the US will convene to share competencies. Attendance is restricted.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.
Nanette leads a trail of two cities hike.
10:30 a.m. check in; 10:45 boarding; cruise from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join UMRA friends and colleagues for a summer cruise and lunch aboard the Paradise Destiny II on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Paul Maravelas, sailor, historian, and author of The History of Big Island, Lake Minnetonka will join us to share stories from 200+ years of lake-dwellers. Come early or stay after the cruise to explore Excelsior, a charming small town on the big lake.
Ticket price includes lunch: chef's sandwich, garden salad, fruit, chips, and cookies. Coffee, iced tea, and lemonade are complimentary and there will be a cash bar for other beverages. A vegetarian sandwich can be selected during registration.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the debut novel Buckeye by Patrick Ryan when it meets via Zoom at 2 pm. on Friday, August 21.
The theme for September is "Monuments."
Bev leads a Lake of the Isles hike with Bun Coffee afterwards.
Critical issues facing detained immigrants and their families will be discussed.
Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers leads the hike at William O'Brien State Park.
Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.