Volunteer opportunities—URVC offers a “Cocktail of Volopportunities”
The University Retirees Volunteer Center maintains a vibrant mix of volunteer projects, both to satisfy our volunteers’ many interests and to contribute to our communities. Some projects are challenging, and others meet our need for civic responsibility. Each of us has special skills. Let's find ways to use them in helping others. Here are a few projects URVC is promoting this month.
Urban Debate League’s Middle School Tournaments: Judging. February 20, March 1, 8, 13, 14, 15, with city championships March 20. The time frame for each is 3 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner is provided. Each event is at a different metropolitan area school; conference championships on March 13, 14, and 15 are at the University of Minnesota. Training for judges and scoring rubrics are online, plus one-half hour before debate.
Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Develop a meaningful relationship with a young person. Following background check and phone interview, PPL staff will provide required training and support. Three projects:
- Tutor/Mentor for youth (K-8th grade): one-on-one in the Payne-Phalen area in St. Paul. Twice-weekly commitment until mid-May on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Structured literacy tutoring supplemented by enrichment activities.
- Tutor/Mentor (as above): in Highland Park in PPL’s Fort Road Flats Apartments, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.
- Digital Archive Volunteer: Office specialist to scan documents to transfer paper filing system to digital archives; assist the Compliance Department at the PPL Service Center, 1035 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis. Minimum commitment of four to eight hours per week for two months during office hours.
Usher at Rarig Center: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Evening performances (6:30 p.m. for ushers) February 22, 23, and 24, and March 1, 2, and 3. Matinee performances (1 p.m. for ushers) February 25 and March 4.
Fresh Produce Distribution (Second Harvest Heartland): Friday afternoons at St. Paul City School (1:30 to 5:30 p.m.) OR Food Sorting and Packing at Second Harvest, Golden Valley or Maplewood warehouses (two- to three-hour shifts to fit your schedule).
Contact [email protected] or 612-625-8016 to register for any of the above or for additional information.
— Alan Kagan, URVC coordinator
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.
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.
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.
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: