Volunteer Center
All Volunteer Center articles are collected here.
What's in an hour?Volunteer work is usually evaluated according to “replacement rate” figures based on hourly wages. But the data on hours contributed and people served are just the notes on the page; the music is in the human spirit behind and beyond them. Published:More... |
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Two new members elected to URVC Leadership CouncilThe University Retirees Volunteer Center Leadership Council has elected two new members, including UMRA member Scott Elton (pictured), and re-elected four members for second, three-year terms. Published:More... |
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Join the URVC Leadership CouncilThe University Retirees Volunteer Center is seeking candidates to serve on the URVC Leadership Council. The council meets six times per year to identify opportunities for volunteer projects and develop strategies for growing and supporting volunteer participation. Published:More... |
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Volunteer spotlight | A life of dedication and serviceDeanne Magnusson was raised in a family in which education and volunteerism were encouraged. She earned three degrees at the U of M, and enjoyed a career working in education with leaders and schools in Minnesota and across the world. These experiences, and her volunteer work today with URVC, continue to transform her as an educator and as a person. Published:More... |
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Volunteer Center: Connecting people to projects that really make a differenceFormer President Jimmy Carter’s version of “retirement” was remarkable. What if all U of M retirees started the new year stepping up our efforts to make the world better? Published:More... |
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Volunteer spotlight | Giving back to the U in retirementCounting her time as a student, Pat Jondahl has been affiliated with the University of Minnesota for nearly 50 years. When she retired in 2021, the self-described “people person” knew she needed to stay busy, and she wanted to stay connected to the U. Published:More... |
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What’s Next for Voting?Fifteen UMRA members recruited by the University Retirees Volunteer Center served as leaders of the small-group discussions held at a voting rights symposium co-hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and the Minnesota Humanities Center on September 13. The goal was to generate ideas for protecting voting rights, combating apathy and misinformation, and maximizing voting in all elections. Published:More... |
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Mike Austin puts his knowledge to good use as a volunteerUMRA member Mike Austin is taking full advantage of his retirement to volunteer in a variety of activities, travel, and learn a new language. He says, “I have the time, I have the ability, and I get bored sitting around.” Published:More... |
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URVC Leadership Council welcomes two new membersThe University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson. Published:More... |
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Spring volunteer opportunities in the community and on the Twin Cities campusWorking with Great River Greening, the Silver Gopher Service Corps is recruiting volunteers to photograph plants, insects, and critters and then crowdsource species identification with the iNaturalist app. Published:More... |
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Andy Phelan enjoys keeping his mind active during tax seasonFor the past six years, UMRA member Andrew “Andy” Phelan has been part of the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide team of volunteers that provides free tax assistance and preparation service to millions of taxpayers throughout the United States. Published:More... |
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Variety and flexibility suit himUMRA member Scott Elton started volunteering with Habitat for Humanity eight years before he retired from the University in 2016. Photo by Dennis Chick. Published:More... |
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Silver Gopher Service Corps by the numbersUMRA members have logged nearly 200 hours of volunteer service to the University and broader community through the Silver Gopher Service Corps since its launch six months ago. Published:More... |
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Campus Sneak Preview DaysSneak Preview Days have been happening at the University for many years. This year, adding 18 UMRA Silver Gopher Service Corps volunteers put a new twist on the welcome. Who better to provide a friendly greeting and lend a helping hand than those of us who have spent our careers at the University? Published:More... |
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Silver Gophers volunteer to help children experiencing food insecurityNearly 20 members of UMRA’s Silver Gopher Service Corps met as a team in mid-April to pack food for school children facing food insecurity at home in Minnesota. The food-packing event, held at the Every Meal Volunteer Center in Roseville, was superbly organized. It felt “good to be involved in a worthy cause,” said Clif Ware, one of the volunteers. Published:More... |
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