2025-10 From the President: If you see an opportunity you would like to explore, please say something!

“Thriving retiree organizations: doing good, not just doing well” was the theme for the 2025 Big Ten Retirees Association Conference held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this past summer. As I engaged with other conference delegates, something caught my attention. While each retirees organization is organized somewhat differently, the goals are similar: providing opportunities for members to engage, build community, and have fun. Also, the challenges are similar: attracting members and recruiting volunteers to keep the gears turning smoothly.

So, how does UMRA measure up? Almost 900 members strong, UMRA is like an onion with many layers of mini-communities. From planning teams to shared interest groups. From individuals working alone to groups collaborating. From social gatherings to workshops and forums with guest speakers. The opportunities to engage are amazing!

Members of these mini-communities share common interests, skills, passions, expertise, and more. Mini-communities collaborating within the broader UMRA community serve as springs for creativity and innovation. Whether it’s the mini-community of a shared interest group or the mini-community of a planning team or the mini-community of the board, each member of each community engages to keep UMRA running smoothy.

So, UMRA is doing well and doing good, while having fun! But there are challenges, too. 

The nature of our community means that there is a need for continued succession planning and pipeline building to keep the gears turning smoothly. UMRA has some succession planning in place, but we could do more. Building a pipeline of volunteers is always a challenge. So, I invite you to please say something, if you see something—an opportunity you would like to explore. Reach out to me or a board member or a committee chair. 

Some of UMRA’s most committed volunteers are the ones who actually volunteered; they didn’t wait to be asked. Some of UMRA’s most popular activities were first a gleam in someone’s eye. If you have an idea that you would like to pilot, there is room for that conversation. Share what captures your imagination. Together we will ensure that UMRA continues to do both well and good while having fun! 

—Diane Young, UMRA president