Operational needs: Help make UMRA run
This will be a new regular column where you can find current organizational tasks that need your help!
Member Portal Renewal Cycle Manager
Do you like databases? Would you enjoy working with our many members to help them use the new Member Portal to join, and to renew, and to use the many features of the system. Virgil will continue as mentor to transition.
- Answer member questions
- Track who has paid membership, or if someone is having difficulty
- Welcome new members when they join UMRA through our Portal
Contact Virgil at [email protected].
JOIE
The committee chair provides leadership for the UMRA JOIE Committee. Also, the chair writes the annual report on the committee’s work and annually updates the UMRA JOIE toolkit.
The committee partners with several liaisons to carry out its mission to recruit and publish interesting articles from university retirees and others for publication on the University’s Digital Conservancy.
Contact Kristine Bettin [email protected]
News
UMRA hosted delegates from 14 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten for the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association conference in July. It was described as “the perfect collaboration” by two delegates we invited to share a few of their key takeaways from the conference.
Developing communication skills is the focus of two programs needing volunteers this fall: the “Reader/Writer Program,” assisting students in Minneapolis Public Schools grades 7-12 to develop literacy skills; and “Partners in English,” engaging in conversation with adults for whom English is not their first language.
After being unexpectedly sidelined at the outset of her retirement, Pam Snopl now enjoys doing many of the things retirees get to do, including reconnecting in person with family and friends, going to museums and weekday Minnesota Twins games, reading, and writing.
UMRA member George Swan retired in 2021 after 30+ years at University Libraries, but still returns to campus to visit one or another of the libraries at least twice a week in his current role as a student/retiree.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is an annual competition for grants to support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarly or creative interests.
UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership for the coming year. Thank you if you’ve already renewed! If you haven’t, please renew right away.