News

Help your community through the U Retirees Volunteer Center

We retirees have many skills, many of which are becoming a much-needed benefit for organizations seeking volunteers for specific needs. The University Retirees Volunteer Center is working to provide better service in this regard to provide  you, the volunteer, with projects for which a specialist is needed. Consider the following current and near future needs.

2017-2018 PDGR Awards

A committee of retirees, appointed by Frances Lawrenz, Associate Vice President for Research, reviewed and recommended 14 of the 21 application for Professional Development Grants for Retirees in February, 2017.  Allen Levine, Interim Vice President for Research, recently announced the grant recipients. 

Volunteer Ushering at Rarig Theater in the Stoll Thrust Stage, Shakespeare in April

Rejoicing is due with the return of spring and the Shakespeare Repertory in April! A University Retirees Volunteer Center “Favorite,” we offer you the reward of satisfying your desire for theater enjoyment at no cost (and with free parking). We are asked to provide volunteer ushers and you can serve that role. The University Theater Department will perform two of Shakespeare’s plays in the Stoll Thrust Theater in the Rarig Center: Cymbeline and Winter’s Tale. Four performances of each will be presented in a six-day period from April 4th through 11th. This is a fine opportunity to experience the excellence of the University’s theater students and become more familiar with these lesser performed works.

Volunteer for MRI Study of Brain

Male volunteers are being sought to serve as controls in an MRI study of antioxidants in the brain.  Contact the URVC at [email protected] if you are interested in participating.

March 2017 URVC seeks ushers

The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) invites you to serve as a volunteer usher for two Shakespeare plays—Cymbeline and The Winter’s Tale—in the Stoll Thrust Theater in the Rarig Center. Each will be performed four times from April 4 through 10. 

March 2017 Securian Enhances Retirement Website

Securian’s Retirement website has a new look and new features. You will be asked to re-register when you go online for the first time after the changes.

URVC seeks volunteer judges for school debate and academic competitions

We are in the season of judging, a veritable vortex of opportunities to find gratification in the intellectual pursuits of a youthful generation and to use our well-crafted skills for evaluating their endeavors. Consider volunteering to act as judges for the following projects. Contact the University Retirees Volunteer Center, [email protected], to register your choice.

OLLI offers teaching opportunities

“A Health Club for the Mind!” That is how members describe the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (or “OLLI” ) here at the University of Minnesota. OLLI is a community of lifelong learners who are actively engaged in a volunteer-led, high-quality, educational, cultural, and social organization.

Bookshelf Notes—Insights on living from the wisdom of dying

While it is written by a chaplain who has sat with hundreds of dying people, it is more about living and the meaning of living. But mostly it is a quick read that can make you feel good and change how you think about living and dying.

On Living by Kerry Egan was published in 2016 by Penguin Publishing. This review was written by UMRA member and Past President Ron Anderson, who says this book is about finding “joy in living.”

March 2017 Cares Committee Bookshelf: The Song Poet

The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father, by Kao Kalia Yang. 2016, Metropolitan books. Thank you to UMRA member Linda Lindeke for this review.

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair needs Volunteer Science Judges!

Friday Feb. 24 – Project Judging & Feb. 3 – 19 for Research Paper Judging

Volunteer Science Judges are needed for both the Science Fair and the Research Paper judging. You will be extremely valuable to evaluate and encourage Twin Cities’ students. As in the past, some will advance to state, national, and international competitions, winning awards and scholarships! Contact [email protected] for registration details.

Atul Gawande "Being Mortal" live video Feb 13

Dr. Atul Gawande, noted author of Being Mortal, will be speaking live from Boston.  The event will be streamed across the country, locally at the St. Anthony Main Theatre at 4:00 PM on Monday, February 13.  The event is free, presented in the Twin Cities with the support of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, the St. Anthony Main Theatre, and Mill City Commons http://millcitycommons.org, Minneapolis' own village. 

Taking classes: Senior Citizen Education Program

If you meet the residency and age requirements (you must be a Minnesota resident aged 62 or older) of the SCEP, you may audit courses free of charge, or take classes for credit at $10 per credit. This applies whether you are degree-seeking, or non-degree. Whether you audit or earn credits for a class, you are responsible to pay any required laboratory, material, or course fees. Fees vary by course. For complete information look at the SCEP Web pages:  http://onestop.umn.edu/academics/senior-citizen-education-program

Triple match? Time to give? Expiring soon?

Consider a 2017 New Year’s Resolution! Give a little of your valuable time for the good deed of volunteering for a project to help the less fortunate. The University Retirees Volunteer Center does not ask for your money, but instead seeks generous patrons who will contribute time. 

Bookshelf Notes: Lab Girl from a researcher's point of view

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren was published in 2016 by Alfred A. Knopf. This review was written by UMRA member and Past President Jean Kinsey.

Any scientist who has worked in a laboratory with research assistants and eager students will identify with many a familiar scene in Lab Girl...