Programs & Events

UMRA hosts two organization-wide events each month during the academic year, some in person and some online. Interest groups, committees, and other groups also hold many events each month.

Forum & Living Well Workshop   

 

Upcoming Events   

Substance abuse image
Event Date: October 15, 2026, at 8:30am

Join us for the UMRA Breakfast on Thursday, October 15, for a frank discussion about addiction and how it can affect families and friends of the addicted person. 

John Morris, president and CEO, UMF
Event Date: October 15, 2026, at 3pm

UMRA’s second “Campus Conversation” with a University leader will offer UMRA members an exclusive opportunity to meet with John Morris, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation. The focus of the conversation will be the role of the foundation and its relationship to retirees.

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
Event Date: October 16, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the historical fiction novel The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 16. 

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
Event Date: October 19, 2026, at 9:30am

Jon C leads the hike at Nerstrand Big Woods with lunch afterwards.

Two tables at a third Wednesday lunch.
Event Date: October 21, 2026, at 11:30am

Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda. 

'Interpreter of Maladies,' book cover
Event Date: October 23, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club (aka UMRA Book Club II) will discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel by Jhumpa Lahiri when it meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23, via Zoom. The nine short stories in the collection speak to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

Event Date: October 26, 2026, at 10am

Discuss long term care options with Fred Andersen.

Event Date: November 2, 2026, at 10am

Bob & Jean Hall and Andy Whitman, participants. 

Jeffry Simpson
Event Date: November 10, 2026, at 11am

How much do the experiences of our earliest years shape who we become — and even our physical health — decades later? For more than 50 years, University of Minnesota researchers have been exploring that question through the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation. In this UMRA Living Well Workshop, Professor Jeffry Simpson, PhD, will draw on findings from the study to explore the connections between our earliest relationships and our health later in life.

Hennepin County Library, St. Anthony
Event Date: November 10, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for November is "Hands"

Veterinary Medical Center
Event Date: November 12, 2026, at 10am

UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour will offer an insider's look into the important work happening at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. We will enjoy a walking tour through patient exam rooms, student learning areas, and clinical/surgery suites, highlighting how faculty experts and student veterinarians collaborate to deliver life-saving care.

Event Date: November 16, 2026, at 10am

Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.

Kathryn Pearson
Event Date: November 17, 2026, at 11am

Professor Kathryn Pearson, a well-known and respected specialist in U.S. politics and political behavior, will help us to decipher the results of the 2026 midterm elections as the guest speaker for UMRA’s November 2026 Luncheon Forum. 

Two tables at a third Wednesday lunch.
Event Date: November 18, 2026, at 11:30am

Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda. 

The Feather Detective
Event Date: November 20, 2026, at 2pm

The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.

Event Date: November 30, 2026, at 10am

Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.

Red River Valley
Event Date: December 8, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for December is "Pathways and roadways."

Landscape
Event Date: January 12, 2027, at 12:30pm

"Landscape" is the theme of the UMRA Photo Club meeting on Tuesday, January 12.

'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt, book cover
Event Date: January 22, 2027, at 2pm

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Event Date: January 26, 2027, at 2pm

Delicious food and beverages provided as well as hearing from "Urban Sounds" the U of M student acapella group. Cash bar will also be available. This year, we would like to request nonperishable food items collected for the U of M student food shelf, the Nutritious U Food Pantry. 

Annual Calendar

See all UMRA events. Preview future program topics; scan the diverse topics and speakers for the entire year. 

Annual Calendar