2024-04 From the President: Working to increase our connections with the U

In previous columns I’ve talked about how UMRA can engage our members, engage with the University, and engage with the community. This month I’d like to highlight a few areas where we are working to increase our connections with and support for the University. 

We have increased activity to support the University’s government relations activities. We have increased our efforts to provide personal stories from UMRA members on their passage into retirement to help current faculty with their retirement decisions. Our Professional Development Grants for Retirees program recently announced the 2024 round of awards. UMRA is in the initial stages of outreach to University campuses across the state to identify their interests and to enhance their connections with UMRA. We are in discussions with University Senate groups to find new ways UMRA can contribute to and take part in shared governance, with our many years of experience and expertise. 

You may already know there is a Big Ten Retirees Association that brings together retirement organizations that, in a few years, will number 18 from the East Coast across the Midwest to the West Coast. UMRA will host the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association Conference, and a planning committee is already well underway with preparations. 

UMRA leaders are also working to establish beneficial connections with groups both outside and inside the University, from the University’s Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation to the University of Minnesota Women’s Club among others. 

If you are interested in being part of these exciting activities or have ideas for new initiatives you think will help UMRA members or the University, I’d love to talk with you and hear your thoughts.

—Eric Hockert, UMRA president, [email protected]