Forum

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. 

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 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 Luncheon Meeting

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

May 2017 Luncheon Details

Program Speaker
U Professor Julie Schumacher
“Dear Committee Members”

May 2017 UMRA's Annual Gala Luncheon: laugh with our special speaker

Julie Schumacher, professor of English and creative writing, will be talking about her recent work—the widely acclaimed Dear Committee Members, which won numerous awards including the Thurber Prize for American Humor, New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, National Public Radio’s “Best Books of 2014,” Boston Globe’s one of “Best Books of 2014,” and the Chicago Tribune’s “Laugh Out Loud Book of the Year.”

April 2017 "What's next for Iran-U.S. relations?"

In recent months, U.S.–Iranian relations have become more fraught than ever. Military and economic tensions have risen, and the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the “Iran deal,” has been cast into doubt. William O. Beeman is professor and chair of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. He has spent more than nine of the past 40 years in the Middle East and has also worked in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Japan, China, and South Asia. He is fluent in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish. His luncheon talk—“Iran and the United States: Continuing Tensions and Opportunities”—could not be more timely.

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. 

February 2017 speaker addresses assumptions, urging us to question the questions we ask

Sometimes it seems that our politicians, policy experts, and scholars devote excess energy to seeking answers before reflecting critically on the questions. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer urges us to reexamine the often unspoken assumptions that drive our intellectual inquiry and advocacy alike. His title: “On Asking the Right Questions.”

Join Kathryn Pearson to discuss election results at the November 15 luncheon

This will definitely be an UMRA luncheon to attend! While the election is still two weeks out as I write this newsletter article, this election cycle and the results certainly will be analyzed and interpreted for years to come. To begin that analysis, Dr. Kathryn Pearson, University of Minnesota associate professor of political science, will join us for our November program to discuss the 2016 presidential campaign and election results including the Presidency, Congress, and Minnesota Legislature. 

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. 

September 27, 2016 Luncheon

We kick off our program year with a real treat for all for whom preserving research and history is paramount—or just plain interesting. Let me introduce Kris Kiesling, director of the Elmer L. Andersen Archives and Special Collections, who will be speaking at our luncheon about the experience of curating the many collections in the University archives. After the luncheon she will lead UMRA members on a tour at the Andersen Library to see not only some of the collections, but also the famous caverns created to store a vast variety of materials.

May Festive Luncheon details

Make your May luncheon reservations early

Please note: The May lunch reservations deadline is earlier than usual because of the time needed by the Campus Club to react to the varied menu selection. Please make your reservations by Monday, May 16, and don’t forget to include your entrée choice with your prepayment.

May 2016 Luncheon Speaker

Wrap up the year’s activities with UMRA’s Annual Gala Luncheon, officer and board election, and speaker. This year’s program spotlights one of the University’s most delicious and delightful discoveries— “Apples and Grapes for Cold Climates.” Our guide will be Peter Moe, from the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.