URVC | SparkPath Young Authors Conference
The SparkPath Young Authors Conference (YAC) program gives 4th- to 8th-grade students the opportunity to learn from professionals with actual writing experience. The University Retirees Volunteer Center is seeking volunteers to assist with several conferences to be held at Bethel University in St. Paul in May.
Students attend a keynote address and three interactive writing sessions led by local fiction and non-fiction writers. Students leave YAC with a passion to write, and a new set of strategies and ideas with which to experiment.
Dates, Time, and Location
- Tuesday, May 26
- Wednesday, May 27
- Thursday, May 28
7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112
Volunteer Activities
Volunteers can participate as a Wayfinding volunteer or Lunch Team member. Volunteers work together to make the day a success for all kids in attendance, and a safe and fun day for all.
Wayfinding Volunteers
- Guide students as they navigate across six buildings on the Bethel University campus.
- Help with morning check-in.
- Monitor the lunch, book fair, and/or open mic.
- Collate and/or distribute supplies, collect evaluations, and check rooms for lost and found.
Physical Expectations for Wayfinding Volunteers
Talking/speaking, listening, seeing, standing, walking up and down stairs, being able to carry 10 lbs.
Lunch Team Volunteers
- Check in bag lunches.
- Move lunches using carts to the lunch location.
- Distribute lunches to teachers.
- Monitor the space and provide light clean-up.
Physical Expectations for Lunch Team Volunteers
Talking/speaking, listening, seeing, standing, walking up and down stairs, being able to carry up to 25 lbs.
Volunteer eligibility and training requirements
All volunteers need to pass a background check before volunteering. All training is given to volunteers at the event.
Deadline for volunteer application: IMMEDIATE
Please indicate at registration if you are an UMRA volunteer.
To register for this activity, go to MyImpactPage / SparkPath and scroll down to find this activity listed under “Young Authors Conference.”
Or, contact the University Retirees Volunteer Center by email (preferred) at [email protected] or by phone at 612-625-8016.
News
I’ve been an UMRA member for more than a decade and each year I’m impressed anew by the energy and dedication of the volunteers who do the work of the organization. I invite you to join in their efforts. But if that’s not possible, there’s something else you can do to help support UMRA: Renew your membership.
You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to drink coffee. It’s the conversation that matters. It’s a new, experimental effort being organized by the wizards of UMRA; a meet-up of members who live in the same zip code.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the University of Minnesota is making updates to medical plans, the pharmacy vendor, and the Wellbeing Program incentive that apply to retirees and dependents enrolled in these plans.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 167 years. And on September 3, 2026, UMRA made its Minnesota State Fair debut to talk with fairgoers (on Seniors Day) about retirement and to promote opportunities to volunteer through our University Retirees Volunteer Center.
Like all of us, UMRA member Barbara Heinemann has been reflecting on 9/11 and life in the 25 years since then, with mixed feelings.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2027 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five University of Minnesota campuses are eligible to apply. We invited Brad Hokanson, professor emeritus, UMN Department of Design Innovation, to tell us about the work supported by his 2026 grant to promote teaching creativity in high schools.
Meet UMRA member and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Louis. She devoted her career as an Extension educator — “bringing the University to the people” — to developing and providing programming for adults and youth.
The UMRA membership year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2027, it’s definitely time to do so!
UMRA has a Facebook group that is open to UMN retirees and others with close ties to the University, for posting messages about anything University- or retiree-related. Learn more.
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: