PSU Magazine Winter 2000

Expanding for our alums The PSU Alumni Association has grown by more than just the number of graduates. (We're up around 80,000.) We've also expanded the number of services we offer to alumni and to the community. We offer a credit card, long– distance phone services, life insurance, short-term medical insurance, and our newest addition, a travel program. In 2000, we're featuring six trips to desti· nations around the world. We soon will have a great destina– tion for you right here on our campus. If all goes well, the Simon Benson House will be moved to campus on Jan. 16. The Alumni Board of Directors is very excited about the opportunity to utilize this historic house as the home for the Alumni Dan Gemma is pres· ident of the Alumni Association Board. Association . In its new location on the Park Blocks, the house will further the mission of the Association by allowing alumni and friends a place to gather on campus. The Board recently voted to prov ide a $50,000 gift to the Friends of Simon Benson House. We hope you'll consider this a worthy cause, too. As we look toward the future of the Association, I remind you that it's never too late to take another course, mentor a student, or volunteer for your favorite program. The University and the Alumni Association are here for you. We're all making friends for Portland State. Dan Gemma '64 PSU Alumni Board President 18 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 2000 PSUClass of '69 Members of the Class of '69, including Oregon Senate President Brady Adams, helped celebrate PSU Weekend '99 at the Viking football game on Oct. 16. Keynote speaker Ivan Doig joined 27 volunteer faculty and commu· nity presenters for Seminar Day, and 24 campus units held alumni receptions. A PSU Chamber Choir concert closed the Weekend activities. Nominations sought What better way to recognize an outstanding alum or the professor who made a difference in your education, than to nominate him or her for one of the PSU Alumni Association's annual awards. Nominations are now being accepted for Outstanding Alumni and Distinguished Faculty Service awards. Selections will be made in February and honorees will be recogn ized at PSU Salutes, the annual recognition event to be held May 4. The awards committee is seeking nominations of alumni who have provided service to the University and/or local community, who have achieved success in their field, and who have brought recognition to PSU. Recipients for 1999 were Tanya Collier '75, MPA '79, community leader, and Terry Cross MSW '77, executive director of the National Indian Chi ld Welfa re Association . The Distinguished Faculty Service Award recognizes a facu lty member "wh has made extraordinary contri– butions, not only to the University, but to the Portland community." Last year's recipient was Professor Devorah Lieberman. Nomination materials can be obtained by contacting the PSU Alumni Office at (503) 725-5073 or psualum@pdx.edu . Thanks to all volunteers, board members, lecturers, and donors, the tenth annual PSU Weekend was a great success! PSU Weekend 2000 is scheduled for October 26-28. I L Funds for Simon Benson House top $1 million A gift of $50,000 from the Alumni Association and an in-kind donation of $75,000 worth of construction materials from Home Depot put the amount ra i ed to save and restore the S imon Benson House at well over $1 million. Gretchen Miller Kafoury, president of Friends of Simon Benson House, says the group is in the home stretch, with only $325,000 to go. The Benson House is scheduled to be moved to campus in January. Once in place on the comer of SW Park and Montgomery, across from the South Park Blocks, the exterior of the house will be completely refinished. However, restoration of the interior will not be started until the add itional funds are rai ed. "We're moving," said Kafoury, "but we can't move in until we raise that additional $325,000." "But we'll do it," she added. "When people see the outside of this historic old house restored to its former elegance, they' ll be as anxious as I am to see the inside finished." Once the Benson House is fully restored, the main floor will include a visitor's center, a room of Simon Benson memorabilia, and space avail– able to community groups for mee tings and other events. The offi ces of the PSU Alumni Ass ciation and PSU Retired Emeriti Professors will be located on the second floor. Anyone wishing to contribute to this effort should mail check to Friends of Simon Benson House, PO Box 1326, Portland, OR 97207. For more information, call (503) 725-8209. Parties with a hoop shot The PSU Alumni Association and Viking Club hosted a party Dec. 3 at a basketball double-header as a thank you for those who attended the March 1999 higher education rally in Salem. The Alumni Association and PSU Athletics will host a Legislator's Night in conjunction with the Women in Sports Appreciation day at the February 5, 2000, women's basketball game in the Peter W. Stott Center. Call (503) 725-3307 for game tickets. Alumni travel abroad The PSU Alumni Assoc iation is offer– ing six travel opportunities for the year 2000: March 6-14 May 12-27 June 5.13 Study program based in Provence (France ) History cru ise to Scandinavian capitals and St. Petersburg, Russia Study program based in Ubeda (Spain) Aug. 20-Sept. 1 Land/River Cru ise, Rhine River and Oberammergau November 1-10 Study program based in Poros (Greece) November 1-21 Yangtze River cruise/land tour of China Ca ll (503) 725-4949 for details, or visit the PSU Alumni Association Web page at www.alumni.pdx .edu 13e apart ofhistory . • • buy a brick! Your $100 tax-deductible contribution will buy a brick inscribed with your name-or the name of anyone you choose--io be placed in the patio garden behind the Simon Benson House on the Portland State campus. I And that's not all Your donation will help save and re tore the Benson House, the future home of PSU's Alumni Association. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Mail your brick order or contribution to: Friends or Simon Benson House, PO Box 1326, Ponland, OR 97207 ~ ----·----·-·-------····--··--···-·-········--·----··----·--··-·--·-------·-·-·-----··-··-----------·----·--·--·-----·----·------·--·-·---···--··-----·-··---- Yes! I want to help save the Simon Benson House! NAME ________ ___________ TELEPHONE______ ______ _ STREET ADDRESS________ ________ CITY______ STATE ZIP ____ D I would like to purchase brick(s) at $100 each. D Enclosed is my check for $ made payable to Friends of Simon Benson House. D Please charge my D VISA D MasterCa rd . CARD o. EXP. DATE SIGNATURE _________________________________ _ Print in capital letters. Two lines per brick, up to 20 characters per line. Spaces count as one character. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD WINTER 2000 PSU MAGAZINE 19