2025-09 From the President: Just say Yes!

When I retired in 2019, staying connected to my university experience was important. UMRA seemed like the place to start. Now, here I sit, writing this letter as your new president—a privilege and pleasure. THANK YOU!

My UMRA path started by signing up for in-person forums and online workshops, and saying “Yes” to the opportunities that came along: joining the host team, learning how to produce nametags, serving on the board, and more. The best part along this path has been connecting with UMRA members like you who have enriched my life in so many ways. And, it’s fun!

A question: How do we access all the rich opportunities UMRA offers? One place is the UMRA website, where the energy just jumps off the screen. The calendar has something for everyone. You’ll find interest groups, special events, monthly luncheons with guest speakers, online workshops and volunteer opportunities, plus small, themed breakfasts, and more. You won’t want to miss a deadline to register for something. Checking the website regularly is key. In fact, I just spent time on the website and added a recurring event to my calendar: “Check UMRA website.”

Other key tools to stay on top of all things UMRA are the newsletter and eNews, loaded with information, appearing in our inboxes monthly. Be sure to read them, maybe even save them to a folder or download them to your desktop. 

New Member Portal is the place to go

Our new Member Portal is a member management software system hosted by a company called WildApricot. It’s the place to go to register for forums, workshops, and other events; renew your membership; search for other UMRA members; and manage your member account. Be in the loop!

Have you logged in to create your account? If I can do it, so can you. Look for the Member Portal in the upper right corner of the UMRA website homepage. If you need help, send questions or feedback about your experience with the new system to [email protected].

Don’t miss out!

It’s time to register now for UMRA’s September 16 Living Well Workshop and September 30 Luncheon Forum. The workshop via Zoom will feature a presentation by the U’s Office of Human Resources on the changes coming to retiree health insurance benefits for 2026. Cookbook author and Star Tribune food columnist Beth Dooley will be with us for our forum at Midland Hills to talk about food—from farm to table—and why cooking matters. Don’t miss out! 

Who makes all these opportunities happen? UMRA members just like you. UMRA is a volunteer-run organization. So, when you cross paths with an opportunity to connect, learn, or serve, just say Yes! 

Looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming UMRA gathering.

—Diane Young, president, [email protected]