Upcoming Events

Calvary Lenten Preaching Series
Friday, March 22, 12 noon, Calvary Episcopal Church
Join UMAR members to hear who Newsweek states is one of America’s 50 most influential rabbis, Rabbi Micah Greenstein, talk about how “creation is ever-evolving, unfolding, and brimming with infinite possibilities.” Lunch will follow on-site in the Waffle Shop (view menu). Please note: UMAR members will meet before noon to park at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral on Poplar Ave. and then ride the shuttle to the event from there. Space will be limited, so please contact Alumni Coordinator Brandon Hoyer at bhoyer@memphis.edu or 901/678-1333 to RSVP by March 15.

Book Club
Tuesday, March 26, 11 am, Brother Juniper's
Enjoy breakfast with the group before discussing this month's literary work, The Greater Journey by David McCullough. The Book Club meets the fourth Tuesday of every other month.

Breakfast Bunch
Tuesday, April 2, 9 am
Perkins Restaurant - Eastgate Shopping Center
All UMAR members and U of M retirees are welcome to join the UMAR Breakfast Bunch for a casual breakfast. The cost of breakfast is on your own. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month.

Garden Club
Tuesday, April 23, 10 am, Location TBD
The Garden Club will hear Tanya Graves speak about exotic plants. Contact Sheryl Maxwell at smaxwell@memphis.edu or 901/755-2131 for additional information. This group meets the fourth Tuesday of every other month.

Wolf River Dayz
Friday, April 26, 10 am, Wolf River Conservancy
Celebrate Arbor Day with UMAR! The day will begin with Cathy Justis, Director of Education at Wolf River Conservancy, giving a talk as we walk along the Rossville, TN Boardwalk and will conclude with lunch on your own at Wolf River Cafe. Please RSVP by April 21 to bhoyer@memphis.edu or 901/678-1333.
To carpool: Please meet at the Alumni Center at 8:30 am for an 8:45 am departure.

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Get Involved!

The University of Memphis Association of Retirees (UMAR) is an active organization or retired professors, administrators and staff. Its mission, consistent with that of the national organization in higher education, is “to advocate, to educate, and to serve.” UMAR conducts a variety of activities focused on meeting the social and networking needs of its members through special event luncheons, dinners, tours and trips, as well as helping to coordinate various volunteer activities within the University. With support from the Alumni Association, UMAR hopes to pursue programming that will provide educational opportunities for its members, support for the University and opportunities to be heard on  major community issues. UMAR is a constituent organization of the University of Memphis Alumni Association, and members are entitled to the same benefits and privileges as all Alumni Association members. Click here for a membership application and click here to view all benefits and services.

For more information about UMAR or any upcoming events contact Alumni Coordinator Brandon Hoyer at bhoyer@memphis.edu or 901/678-1333.

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U of M Parking Hangtags

If you need to renew your parking hangtag, contact Parking Services at 678-2122. They can mail the hangtag to you.

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Traces Award

Each year UMAR presents the Traces Award to a University retiree chosen by the three most recent winners for exemplifying the concept of remaining active in scholarly and/or civic pursuits into retirement. The award metaphorically refers to “remaining in the traces,” a concept dating to farm days. The 2012 Traces Award was presented to Edward and Eunice Ordman at the Holiday Brunch in December. Congratulations to the Ordmans!

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Fall 2012 Newsletter

Click here to read the Fall 2012 Newsletter.
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UMAR Scholarship

UMAR is now accepting applications for its 2013-2014 scholarship. The one-time award of $1,000 for the academic year is presented to a full-time undergraduate enrolled at the University that has completed at least two full years of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25. Click here to download an application. The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 15.

The UMAR Scholarship has reached endowment status! Our new goal is to increase the amount of the scholarship given, so we must continue to raise money. Please help make this possible by donating to the University of Memphis Foundation here. For further information about the UMAR Scholarship, please contact Bob Boone, UMAR Scholarship Coordinator, at 901/757.5733.

Congratulations to Valerie Pylant, recipient of the 2012-13 UMAR Scholarship. Valerie is a junior majoring in foreign languages (Spanish and German). Valerie works at the Educational Support Program and is a private tutor of Spanish. She is scheduled to graduate in December 2013.

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UMAR Recent Events

Participants enjoyed a brief presentation by June West, Executive Director of the Memphis Heritage Foundation, on the history of the Foundation and many historic sites of Memphis followed by lunch at the Trolley Stop Market.
Holiday Brunch & Silent Auction
On Tuesday, December 11, UMAR held its annual meeting, holiday brunch, awards presentation and silent auction. The program featured entertainment by the Campus School Children. Silent auction proceeds benefit the UMAR Memorial Scholarship fund. Click here to view photos from the event.

Coffee and Conversation
Guests met at the home of President Shirley Raines in September and enjoyed featured speaker Dr. Dipankar Dasgupta, professor of computer science, internationally known expert in cyber security and 2012 Recipient of the Willard R. Sparks Eminent Faculty Award. Click here to view photos from the event.

UMAR Centennial Reunion
Retired faculty and staff from across the campus gathered at the University Center during the Alumni Association's Centennial Reunion Weekend. Guests enjoyed a buffet and a readers' theater production.  Click here to view photos from the evening.

Garden Club
The UMAR Garden Club meets the 4th Tuesday of every other month. In February, the group met to learn more about seed planting and house plants at the home of the Ordmans. Lunch followed at New Nam King Chinese buffet.For more information about the Garden Club, please contact Sheryl Maxwell at smaxwell@memphis.edu



Book Club

UMAR hosts a book club discussion on the 4th Tuesday of every other month. The latest book read was The Great Pearl Heist by Molly Caldwell Crosby. Visit this web site again soon for upcoming book titles and meeting dates.

Officers and
Board Members, 2012-13

Executive Committee
President: Sheryl Maxwell, smaxwell@memphis.edu
President Elect: Ginny Reed, vreed@memphis.edu
Treasurer: Diane Cooper, dwcooper@memphis.edu
Secretary: Jane Hooker, jrhooker@memphis.edu
Immediate Past President: Mary Ellen Pitts, drpme@comcast.net

Members-at-Large
Faculty: Ramona Mahood, hmahood0121@comcast.net
             James (Jim) Dorman, dormanj@comcast.net
Staff:    James (Jim) Hellums, jhellums@memphis.edu
             Margery Stover, mstoever@memphis.edu

Standing Committee Chairpersons
Caring: Bonita Lyons, blyons@memphis.edu
Heritage Room Liason: Lewis O'Kelly, lokelly1@memphis.edu
Historian:Susanne Darnell, sdar431@att.net
Newsletter:  Janell Rudolph (BA '70, MA '72), nrudolph@memphis.edu
Program: Bill Crump (ME '71)
Scholarship & Memorial:  Bob Boone, pboone@memphis.edu