PSU Magazine Spring 2001

.Au M NI ASSOCIATION N E W S Simon Benson House provides pleasing space for alumni The PSU Office of Alumni Relation moved to the Simon Benson House in December, ending a two-and-a-half– year temporary residence in the base– ment of Cramer Hall. It wa well worth the wait, says Alumni Director Pat Squire. "It's great to be in this beautiful and visible space on the campu . Our alumni are thrilled!" PHOTOS BY BRENT SCHAUER Squire and her col– league have worked hard on the House pro– ject since May of 1998, man– aging project details and helping the Friends of imon Ben– on Hou e raise private fund for the move and restoration. "Were not done yet, but were getting clo e," she says. By not done yet, quire is referring to the fund raising for the re toration and furnishings for the house. The Alumni Association office and the office of PSU's Retired and Emeriti Professors are on the econd floor of the historic house, now located at SW Park and Montgomery on the Park Blocks across from Smith Memorial Center. The first floor remains unfur– ni hed while the Friends of Simon Benson House and the Alumni Asso– ciation continue to raise funds so they can eventually open the house to the public and for event . "It looks finished, and our offices are completely operational, but our dreams for the rest of the house can't be fulfilled until we complete the fund rai ing," ay Squire. Plans include a first-floor vi itor's center and an his– toric exhibit about Simon Benson, a timber baron and philanthropist. An elegant small conference room and space for campu and community event will also be available. Joan Johnson, an alumna and the volunteer fund raiser for Friends of just 100 left . .. buy a brick today! , ~z PSU • , '--1f!:.1umnz \._/D. )ocur.tr.on -~,. Your $100 tax-deductible contribution will buy a brick in cribed with your name----or any message you choose-to be placed in the patio garden behind the imon Benson House, helping us to continue to restore the new home of PSU's Alumni Association. Mail your brick order or contribution to: Friends of Simon Benson !louse, PO Box 1326, Portland, OR 97207 ~---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME___________________ TELEPHONE -------- STREET ADDRESS ------------- CITY ____ STATE ZIP D I would like 10 purchase hrickC->) at 100 each. D Enclosed is my check for S made payable ro Friends of Simon Benson I lout.e. D Please charge my D \lSA D ~lasiei<:ard CARD '\O. EXP. DATE SIG:\AlTRE._____________________________ Print in capital letters. Two lines per brick, up to 20 characters per line. Spaces count as one character. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 20 PSU MAGAZINE PR! G 2001 Simon Benson House, ay there are still plenty of nam– ing opportuni– ties for donors to the house. She has al o established a brick encore, with the avail– ability of another 200 inscribed bricks for the garden plaza. "We've had great upport from community partners in this project," ay John on. "From wonderful in-kind donations to volunteers planting the garden. The Portland Development Commission, the Alumni A sociation, foundations, businesses, and more than 1,000 individual have contributed to preserving the historic home. "This jewel will be a centerpiece for the community and the campu ," he adds. "We want to finish it soon so everyone can enjoy it." For information about contributing or volunteering, please call Johnson at 503-725-8209. Mark your calendars P U Weekend returns November 2-4 and will feature keynote speaker Robert Kennedy Jr., talking on the environment. ow in it twelfth year, PSU Week– end has been called PSU' gift to the city by The Oregonian. Festivities begin Friday evening at a Patron reception with Kennedy. On Saturday he will give the Keynote talk during a day of free seminars for the community. Tours of local attractions are scheduled for Sunday. Watch your mailbox and the Alumni Association Web page at www.alumni.pdx.edu for more details on these and other events taking place during P U Weekend. D