Event Summary

January Luncheon Meeting

Jessica Finlay, an interdisciplinary doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota, will be the featured speaker at our January 23 luncheon. She will discuss building and maintaining urban environments to foster safety and convenience for older residents aging in place. 

November 28 Workshop: challenges of caregiving among older adults

Greg Owen, consulting scientist and principal investigator with the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul, will share insights into the role and stresses of informal or family caregiving among older adults and provide types of caregiving services that are available. UMRA workshops are free and open to everyone.

January 23 Workshop: Meaning and purpose in retirement

Due to longer life expectancy, many of us could live for 10 to 30 years after retiring, which means we could live through several major changes in interests, activities, and identities in later life. This workshop, led by UMRA Cares Committee Chair Ron Anderson, is designed to help guide our thinking about assessing and reassessing the primary meaning and purpose in our lives. 

Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Sack to entertain UMRA November 28

Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Sack will be the featured speaker at our luncheon on November 28. Sack will discuss how he approaches his craft and says he looks forward to a lively Q and A with the members of UMRA. 

October 24 Workshop: Health plans for University Retirees

Retirees who purchase supplemental health insurance from the University of Minnesota, and any new U of M retirees who are considering doing so, will surely want to attend the Health Benefits Workshop following the UMRA luncheon on October 24. Come learn about the benefits offered by the U for the coming year, and encourage your fellow U of M retirees to attend, also. UMRA workshops are free and open to everyone. 

October Luncheon Meeting

The UMRA Board of Directors will host a Town Hall meeting at our luncheon meeting on Tuesday, October 24, to engage members in a spirited discussion of the purposes of the organization, current programming, and the future UMRA in light of the growing number of retirees.

September 26 Workshop: How to Avoid fraud, scams, and identity theft

Con artists don’t care how hard you worked for your money, and they steal billions from people like you every year. 

Book Notes on September Book Club Meeting

Event Date: September 15, 2017, at 2:00 PM

In this new column the UMRA Book Club will be sharing their discussions.

September Luncheon Meeting

Commissioner Ed Ehlinger to discuss improving community health in turbulent times. 

February workshop leader will discuss non-drug practices in managing pain

Following the luncheon on February 28, UMRA will present a workshop focused on understanding and discussing the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) a program in the practice of managing pain without drugs. 

January 24 Workshop: opioids, marijuana for managing pain?

Following the luncheon on January 24, UMRA will present a workshop for understanding and discussing some of the controversial substances used for pain management—opioids and medical marijuana. This workshop will be led by Dr. Charles Reznikoff, assistant professor, University of Minnesota and HCMC physician. who specializes in pain management and addiction. 

March 2017 Minnesota's economic outlook, with State Economist Laura Kalambokidis

Minnesota’s State Economist, Dr. Laura Kalambokidis (pronounced Colombo-ki’as) will speak at the March UMRA luncheon about the Minnesota Budget and Economic Health. We will gain insight into how our revenue forecasts are generated and how they influence the state budget and legislative program. 

Using the Lightroom program for photos

Event Date: February 2, 2017, at 3:30 PM

Dick Kain continued his demonstrations on using Lightroom. If you were not able to make this meeting, good books and web-based videos talk about how to use Lightroom.

Katherine Fennelly and Kathleen O’Brien have stories to tell

The October luncheon speakers will be Kathleen O’Brien, vice president for University Services, retired; and Professor Emerita Katherine Fennelly, of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. 

Katherine Fennelly developed the first e-learning program for law enforcement personnel who work with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Fennelly will share insights into the immigrant experience and demonstrate the e-learning course. She is author of numerous publications on immigration policy. 

Kathleen O’Brien and Katherine Fennelly have stories to tell

The October luncheon speakers will be Kathleen O’Brien, vice president for University Services, retired; and Professor Emerita Katherine Fennelly, of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. 

Kathleen O’Brien has used her academic training and experience as a historian to interview more than 50 women who have served in 30 Minnesota cities as mayor or city council members between 1970 and 2000.  The goal of these oral history interviews is to capture the contributions of women in our state’s local government and to ensure they are preserved and included in Minnesota’s history.