Interest Groups

Book Club I to meet May 20

Paula Knutzen will lead the discussion of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson when the UMRA Book Club I meets via Zoom on Friday, May 20. 

April 25 hike

The second hike in April is on Monday April 25 at Afton State Park. We will meet at Afton at 9:30 for a 5 tp 6 mile hike.  This park has great prairie trails and views of the St. Croix River. It has some hills but nothing our hiking club can't handle!. We will gather for lunch after the hike.

Writing family stories

Event Date: April 13, 2022, at 10:00 AM

Writer and teacher Brenda Hudson shared her story-project method when the Family History Interest Group met on April 13.

Fourth Friday Book Club to meet April 22

“A Tale of Two Cities” is historical fiction at its best, and is remarkably, and sadly, relevant today.

Photo Club to meet April 12

“Black and white” will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets via Zoom on April 12. 

April hike

The UMRA Hiking Club will meet on Monday, April 11, for a 4–5-mile hike on one of the beautiful trails in North Oaks north of St. Paul.

Fourth Friday Book Club to meet March 25

Iron Lake, by master storyteller William Kent Krueger, is the book selection for UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club meeting on Friday, March 25, via Zoom. 

Photo Club to meet March 8

“Architectural” will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets on Tuesday, March 8, via Zoom.

Using DNA for family history research

Event Date: February 9, 2022, at 10:00 AM

Doing family history research with DNA was the focus when the UMRA Family History Interest Group (FHIG) met in February.

March hike

The March 14th hike will be led by Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers at Como Park. Meet in the parking lot south of the Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul, at 9:30 am, and be ready to hike by 9:40.

Book notes | Prairie Fires

Event Date: March 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM

Caroline Fraser’s Pulitzer prize-winning book Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder is a meticulously researched biography of the much-loved author of the Little House books.

Book notes | The Nickel Boys

Event Date: January 21, 2022, at 2:00 PM

Colson Whitehead, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for The Underground Railroad, explores the horrors of a reformatory school in Florida in his subsequent novel, "The Nickel Boys."

Fourth Friday Book Club to meet February 25

Everyone is welcome when UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club (aka Book Club II) meets February 25 to discuss The Doctors Blackwell.

February Hike

The February 14, 2022 hike will be led by Julie Sweitzer at Fort Snelling State Park.  Carpools will be arranged for members who do not have MN State Park permits.  This will be a moderately-paced hike of approximately 5 miles.  Ice grippers are recommended as the trail may be icy in spots.

January hike cancelled

The January 10, 2022 hike at Fort Snelling State Park is cancelled due to sub-zero temperatures predicted for that morning.  It will be held Feb 14.