Volunteer spotlight | Fran Linhart
Fran Linhart volunteers as an English-language tutor for international students enrolled in the Minnesota English Language Program and directs a senior citizens’ choir.
“The U is my best friend,” says retiree Fran Linhart. “When I retired, I looked for meaningful activities and found them at the University of Minnesota. The U offers so many wonderful opportunities for retirees.”
Committed to life-long learning and volunteering, Fran is taking advantage of the U of M Senior Citizen Education Program this semester by taking two classes online: Jazz Theory and Music History. Although she took similar classes 50 years ago when she was a student at DePaul University, Fran says “taking a course at 69 is very different than at 18.”
Fran volunteers as an English-language tutor for international students enrolled in the Minnesota English Language Program (MELP). Over the past three years, Fran has helped U of M students from China, Peru, and Thailand to not only improve their English proficiency skills but also to learn more about the culture of the U.S.—and Minnesota, in particular. Since MELP is now virtual, Fran continues to connect with her students via Zoom.
Putting her music training in action—she is a professional musician—Fran directs a senior citizens’ choir. In the 12-track recording studio located in her home, she arranges computerized recordings for virtual church services.
A global traveler
COVID-19 has not stifled Fran’s interest in diverse cultures, gained, in part, through her previous work in management positions at HID Global, Questar Assessment, ACT, and various education publishing companies. Fran is a worldwide traveler, having spent considerable time in England, Morocco, and Spain. She is eagerly waiting to pack her bags once again.
To learn about tutoring opportunities in K-12 schools and the University offered through URVC, contact URVC Tutoring Coordinator Alan Kagan at [email protected] or 612-625-8016
—Deanne Magnusson, URVC Communications Committee
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: