Forum

A fight between courage and capitulation

Jane Kirtley, JD, will be the guest speaker for UMRA’s luncheon forum on Tuesday, November 18. She will discuss challenges to preserving academic freedom and independent speech during the Trump Administration, and how institutions should respond to the unprecedented attacks on their independence.

New advances in understanding the developing brain

Many of us have been touched in some way by conditions such as autism, dementia, and other cognitive disorders. To help us better understand this topic, particularly as it relates to children, Damien Fair, PhD, will join us at the October 28 UMRA Luncheon Forum to address new advances in understanding the developing brain. 

Observations on our food system … and why cooking matters!

UMRA’s September luncheon forum is all about food, and will feature award-winning and prolific cookbook author Beth Dooley in a program entitled “A writer in the kitchen: Personal and professional observations of our local, sustainable, regenerative food system … and why cooking matters!”

UMRA Cruise on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

You are invited–join other UMRA members and friends for a late summer river cruise, this year on the Saint Croix River, departing from Stillwater Riverboat Company dock. Our lovely 2.5 hour private charter cruise on the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway includes lunch, a cash bar, and the excellent company of friends and colleagues. 

Daytrip Stillwater in the afternoon with friends!  Make a day of it.

UMRA Summer Social: Food, friends, and fun

Catch up with friends and former colleagues, meet new UMRA members, enjoy delicious food, and participate in the third annual UMRA Summer Social Quiz at the Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul on Wednesday, June 25.

A conversation with Regent Penny Wheeler, MD

University of Minnesota Regent Penny Wheeler, MD, will be the featured guest for the UMRA luncheon forum on May 20. In place of the usual speech format for our forums, Regent Wheeler will be interviewed by UMRA member and liaison to the Board of Regents John Finnegan, professor and dean emeritus of the U of M School of Public Health.

Celebrating the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Earth Day

UMRA’s Earth Day forum on April 22 will feature a presentation by UMRA member Peter Moe, the recently retired director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. He is well known and admired for building an incredibly successful facility and program for the University.

The Warren and Roberts courts in perspective

The U.S. Supreme Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts since 2025 is considered to be the most conservative and activist in history. But it has much in common with the 1963–69 Warren Court, widely viewed as the most liberal and activist. U of M professor of political science and law Timothy R. Johnson will put these claims into perspective as the guest speaker for UMRA’s March 25 brunch forum.

What our pets can teach our families about end of life

Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.

Winter Social will celebrate brighter days ahead

UMRA's special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We'll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the U of M’s premier student a cappella ensembles. 

Making sense of the 2024 U.S. elections

The 2024 election season has been long and intense. To help us digest whatever happens, UMRA is extremely honored that U of M political scientist Kathryn Pearson will join us to provide her insightful analysis of this year’s elections as the guest speaker for UMRA’s November 19 luncheon forum at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville.

President Cunningham’s vision for the University of Minnesota

We are thrilled and honored that Rebecca Cunningham, MD, the new president of the University of Minnesota, has agreed to share her vision and priorities for the University with us at UMRA’s October luncheon forum. And we hope to have a big turnout to show her that our members are engaged and involved. 

Presidential elections, poison pills, and ticking time bombs

There is no getting around it. Fall 2024 will include a national election, and to prepare us for the season, we’ll kick off UMRA’s fall forums with a fascinating presentation by UMRA member and former University of Minnesota senior associate general counsel Mark Bohnhorst. 

Annual Updates Due date

August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates.  Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.

The impact of climate change on life in Minnesota

Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.