“Women’s Connection has provided opportunities for learning, leadership, growth, and fun.” - Tracey Baker
Tracey, a member since 2015, reflects on her Women’s Connection opportunities, her career and creative pursuits. She was co-chair of our Art Appreciation SIG for seven years and helped develop the Caring Collaborative for our chapter. She has participated in a Peer Group and several SIGs: Finance, Writing, Podcast, Hiking, and Travel. “I particularly enjoy leading a vision-board event annually with my peer group,” she said.
Women’s Connection
I heard about Women's Connection (then The Transition Network) more than 10 years ago from Karen West, who I met through a program called Evolve sponsored by Vital Aging Network. Jill Goski was also part of our group. Karen, Jill, and others were working to create an MSP chapter.
I joined because I was nearing retirement and knew I needed new friends and activities. I have met such interesting women with a wide variety of career and life experiences. As one member put it, there are no mean girls in this chapter. Members freely share their experience and resources that have been helpful in their lives.
Education and Career
I grew up in Bismarck, N.D., and moved to St. Paul to attend college. I have a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in elementary education from Macalester College, an M.A. in Women’s History from Cambridge-Goddard College in Massachusetts, and an M.A. in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. Since 2000 I have lived in Roseville with my husband. I have two children, a son and daughter, and two grandchildren.
What I enjoyed most about my career as a reference librarian/archivist was the opportunity to constantly learn while helping people advance their research. In my last several years I had the opportunity to mentor some very talented young librarians.
In the final years of my career at the Minnesota Historical Society Library when I was Head of Reference, I lead a group of librarians to create LibGuides, online research tutorials with extensive links on a variety of subjects. The favorite LibGuide I created was on House and Building History, which brought together my experience in historic preservation and historical research.
Retirement: Art, Travel, Golf and the State Fair
I love the freedom of retirement to pursue new interests, set my own schedule, travel, read more, and just generally enjoy life.
In retirement I have had an opportunity to spend time making art. I particularly enjoy mosaics, but have also been taking classes and building skills in abstract mixed media painting and collage. I also enjoy seeing art in museums, galleries, or on the streets. I am a docent at the Cafesjian Art Trust (CAT) museum in Shoreview.
Among my favorite travels are: Japan, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, England, France and Belgium. One of my favorite trips was a Road Scholar trip to Provence and the Cote d'Azur where we visited many places associated with artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso. I also enjoy domestic travel, particularly road trips with my husband, John.
Another passion of mine is golf. During the warm months I play in two leagues and golf with friends nearly once a week. I enjoy improving my skills, staying physically active, and connecting with new friends as well as maintaining long-term friendships.
For the last eight years I have enjoyed working at the Minnesota State Fair in the Fruit and Wine Department.
I am looking forward to more travel (Omaha and Ireland in September, Santa Fe in October, and trips to my daughter's cabin in Wisconsin at various times). I look forward to some art workshops, new exhibits at the CAT museum, and spending time with friends and family.