From the President
2026-01: Happy 2026! It’s full of new possibilities.
With the arrival of a bright new year, resolutions come springing to mind. Maybe thoughts of trying something new … renewing friendships … making time for what we imagined doing in retirement.
If you’re like me, you get on the road to good intentions, but then something comes up and gets in the way of keeping an appointment with yourself. January 2025 was different for me.
Just about every new year, I’d make a resolution to exercise more, keeping at it for about a month. Working out with a trainer was always an intriguing idea, but finding one and the cost involved were roadblocks. This time (last January), I remembered hearing another UMRA member say she wanted to exercise more, too, so I reached out to her. To make a long story short, our one-year anniversary of working out together twice a week is coming up soon. It’s been an investment of time and treasure for sure, but it’s an investment in our personal well-being too. The challenge of keeping an appointment with myself was replaced with keeping a commitment to my exercise partner and our trainer. That worked! And UMRA made this story possible.
Almost 900 members strong, UMRA allows for participation with a focused, generous, and talented community of retirees. And more new members join monthly, people I knew only by name or not at all.
Creating memories together
We create memories together. Some of these “moments in time” even appear on the digital picture frames sitting on our kitchen counters. UMRA members sit together for conversation and lunch or hike or explore family history or travel via armchair. We share stories and pictures of grandchildren and other family members. We volunteer, participate in small and large group opportunities, and even find an exercise partner.
All these possibilities and more offer occasions for connecting and being part of a vibrant retiree community of generous and talented people sharing their time, expertise, and stories. Participation has been not only an investment in my personal well-being, but also an investment in a strong, healthy, and productive UMRA community that gives back.
Who could have imagined all this was possible through one community? You did—each of you who brought a new idea to UMRA to share with others or volunteered your time to build a strong community. And it’s all there waiting for you to try.
Happy 2026! It’s full of new possibilities.