Volunteer Center
All Volunteer Center articles are collected here.
Volunteer Center office is moving to Morrill Hall
The University Retirees Volunteer Center greets 2026 with some exciting news: its office is moving to Morrill Hall, which houses the University’s administrative offices on the Twin Cities campus. The space is being provided by the office of Chris Gade, the vice president for communications, who oversees University Marketing Communications.
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Retiree focus group at the Campus Club
Event Date: -The Campus Club in Minneapolis is inviting UMRA members to participate in focus group discussions this fall, to provide insight on the U of M retiree experience and generate ideas about how the Campus Club can serve our retiree community.
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Retiree focus group at the Campus Club
Event Date: -The Campus Club in Minneapolis is inviting UMRA members to participate in focus group discussions this fall, to provide insight on the U of M retiree experience and generate ideas about how the Campus Club can serve our retiree community.
More...
Retiree focus group at the Campus Club
Event Date: -The Campus Club in Minneapolis is inviting UMRA members to participate in focus group discussions this fall, to provide insight on the U of M retiree experience and generate ideas about how the Campus Club can serve our retiree community.
More...
Volunteering can be transformative!
The retirees who serve on the Leadership Council of the University Retirees Volunteer Center clearly believe that volunteering contributes to both individual and community health and well-being. In the words of one long-time volunteer, it “counters the isolated, siloed forces in today's society and fosters a sense that we are all in this together.”
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Focus group sessions at the Campus Club
Event Date: -The Campus Club in Minneapolis is inviting UMRA members to participate in focus group discussions this fall, to provide insight on the U of M retiree experience and generate ideas about how the Campus Club can serve our retiree community.
More...
Current service opportunities
The University Retirees Volunteer Center provides numerous opportunities for service in the Twin Cities. Currently, there are several projects that have strong and immediate needs for volunteers.
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Volunteer spotlight | Keeping it real
During the more than 40 years she worked in the Controller’s Office, Leslie Koidahl learned to recognize hundreds of names: names of professors, department heads, directors, vice presidents, even the names of presidents.
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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.
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Two new members elected to URVC Leadership Council
The 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.
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Join the URVC Leadership Council
The 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.
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Volunteer spotlight | A life of dedication and service
Deanne 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.
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Volunteer Center: Connecting people to projects that really make a difference
Former 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?
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Volunteer spotlight | Giving back to the U in retirement
Counting 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.
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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.
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