Year of Yes is a humorous, autobiographical account of a highly successful woman who is prompted by an offhand remark to reevaluate her life. Read more >>

Health economic Jon Christianson, PhD, laid out the uncertain future of Medicare during UMRA’s June forum via Zoom. Read more >>

Minnesota Commissioner of Management and Budget Myron Frans offered a crisp and clear description of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during UMRA’s May 2020 Forum, the first in the history of our association to be convened remotely. Read more >

Congratulations to the officers and to the new and returning members elected to serve on UMRA’s board of directors for 2020–21. Read more >

Delia Owens’ novel is “… an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder.” Read more >

CATSS, the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science at the U of M, is recruiting participants ages 60 and older for a study of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more >

The COVID-19 pandemic has come to dominate our lives, disrupting travel, trade, work, and social life. Heroic efforts are now being made across the globe to mitigate the individual and population effects of this novel corona virus. The responses of scientific communities to this pandemic have been amazing.

In the last five weeks, more than 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits and, says U of M economist V. V. Chari, the economic pain is surely just starting. 

Meet UMRA member Marjorie Savage who, after a lifetime of jobs in the humanities, decided to embrace life as a "citizen scientist."

Even before the coronavirus changed everything, two veteran world travelers decided they may never travel for a winter vacation again. 

For the past five years, Jeanne Markell, pictured here with her husband, Michael, has had the rewarding experience of volunteering through the U of M’s 1Health Community Teacher Program.

With Dick Poppele’s retirement from UMRA leadership, the Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is transitioning to another outstanding leader, John Bantle, MD.

While many of us are feeling stuck at home, UMRA Webmaster Cathy Lee Gierke is glad to have finally arrived home after returning from a volunteer assignment halfway around the world.

In 2016, author Dani Shapiro submitted her DNA to a genetic testing service for analysis. The results shocked her.

Meet Earl Nolting (pictured left with John and Judith Sullivan), a longtime UMRA member who brightens the day of everyone he meets.

Seven phases of aging provide a framework for describing what Helen Carlson has come to think of as her “gifts of aging.”

The University Retirees Volunteer Center would like to offer a testimonial on the benefits of volunteering, to both recipients and volunteers.

Karen LaBat, Morse Distinguished Professor Emerita, College of Design, is among 10 members of UMRA to receive 2020-21 awards from the University of Minnesota’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program. 

The Nominating Committee has completed a slate of candidates to serve on the UMRA Board of Directors for the coming program year.

The Office of Human Resources has asked us to share with UMRA members a notice regarding the transition from Securian to Fidelity in the administration of the University’s retirement plans. It postpones the change until June 12, 2020, and indicates there will be no blackout period from March 20 to April 13.

—Bill Donohue, President UMRA