PSU Magazine Fall 2000

Au MNI ASSOCIATION N E W S Tell your story and stay connected Dear PSU Alumni: It is an honor and a privilege to serve as president of your A lumn i A so– ciation Board of Directors. When I spoke at June com– mencement, my primary message to the graduates was to stay connected to this great Uni– versity. I wanted them to be just as proud and aware as I am of the many activities and ervices the Alumni Office provide for them. I also shared with the graduates my on– going connection with PSU. You too should tell your PSU story to anyone who will listen, including your legislator. PSU is an educational life force within our community and it mu t tay that way. We must continue to develop dynamic working partner– ships with public agencies, small busi- ness, and the corporate community. It's easy to remain involved with the University-just attend an educa– tional eminar, cultural event, or sports functions (Go Viks!); use the library or exercise in the pool; or travel the world through a PSU– sponsored educational trip. Portland State is everyone' institu– tion. We alumni shou ld lead the charge to place a bit of PSU in the hearts of all citizenry for our mutual enrichment. This fall the PSU Alumni Associa– tion hopes to move into the historic Simon Benson House. If you have not seen it, you owe it to your elf to visit the beautifully restored home and sit in its garden and ab orb the sea on' change and a new year of learning. Enjoy the view. It's your school-make a connection. We need your support. Pamela Gesme Miller '84 Alumni Association Board Pre ident New board leadership announced The PSU Alumni Association Board of Director recently elected officers and welcomed four new members. erving a pre idem of the board is Pamela Gesme Miller '84, deputy director of Oregon Trout and a long– time PSU volunteer. Joining her on the executive committee is vice-presi– dent and president-elect Ann Gardner '77, a project manager for Schnitzer Investment; treasurer Ken Hart '90, operations manager for the American Red Cross, Oregon Trail chapter; and vice president for strategic planning Dave Fitzpatrick '75, senior actuary with The Standard. Committee chairs include Gary alyers '57, PSU Advocates; Eric Stromquist '81, Communications; and Tamara Kelley '69, Connections. New to the board this year are 20 P U MAGAZINE FALL 2000 Roger Capps '60, a retired elementary school principal; Patsie Dant '77, a retired marketing executive with AT&T; Craig Gilbert '89, security chief for L l L gic; and Michelle Girts '83, vice president and area manager for CH2M Hill. A special thanks to Dan Gemma '64, who retired from the board after serving as president and Outreach chair. Thanks also to other retiring board members: Jo Rymer Culver '81, Communication chair; Susan Hauser '70, Connections chair, who also worked for several year on PSU Week– end; and Brad Lynott '72, who chaired the Student Affairs Committee. The Alumni Association Board is a volunteer organization that works to provide program and activit ies for alumni of Portland State. Mary Coniglio has joined the PSU Alumni Relations Office as events coordinator. She was most recently alumni director at Jesuit High School in Portland. PSU Weekend on hold P U Weekend, the Alumni Associa– tion' annual educational event, i on hiatus this fall but is scheduled to return in fall 2001. Instead, the association is focusing its efforts on completing restoration of the imon Benson House-its new headquarters. "It was a tough decision," says Pat Squire, director of Alumni Relations. "We weighed the tradition and ucce of PSU Weekend with our desire to complete the Benson House. We ju t didn't feel we cou ld successfully do both. But we are looking forward to planning PSU Weekend 2001." Several events that were in the works for thi year's weekend are going ahead, including the Friends of the Library annual dinner on Oct. 24; a chool of Busine s Administration alumni event, featuring Brian Henry on Oct. 27; and College of Engineer– ing and Computer cience's Academy of Di tingui hed Alumni on Oct. 28. Watch for date and derails of PSU Weekend 2001. •