PSu Magazine Winter 2002

AUMNI ASSOCIATION N E W S Kennedy speaks at PSU Weekend PSU Weekend successfully returned to campus November 2-4 with the help of keynote peaker Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The popular event was on hiatus last year as the Alumni Association worked on the Simon Benson House project.This year, Kennedy worked the crowd at a Friday evening patron event and de livered a talk on the environment and sustainability to an enthusiastic audi– ence at brunch on Saturday. Everyone seemed to really appreciate him." Schewerda and her volunteer com– mittee worked for nine months to plan the program, which included 27 lec– tures and presentations by PSU faculty "Robert Kennedy more than met our expectations," says Rosanna Schewerda Don and Ellie Sampson pose with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., at the weekend's patron event. and alumni. High– lights of the weekend included Prof. Grant Farr talking about Afghanistan, former congresswoman Eliza– beth Furse di cussing civil liberties in a time of terrorism, cartoonist Jack Ohman talking on political topic , and a winning Viking foot– ball game against '91, MT '93, PSU Weekend chair. "He was personable, engaging, and a great speaker with a wonderful me sage. Montana State, 33-21. Look for the next PSU Weekend on October 25-27, 2002. Association completes house funding The PSU Alumni Association recently helped out Friends of Simon Benson House by paying off $185,000 remaining on the Friends' construction loan. Last year the Friends took out a loan to keep P&C Construction on the job, rather than halt work to rai e more funds. The renovation project was completed in November 2000, and the Alumni Office moved into the second floor soon after. "Since the work was completed, it had become more difficult to raise fund for the project, so it was great that the Alumni Association stepped in," says Joan Johnson '72, Friends volunteer fund raiser. "Fund– ing is till needed for furnishings and history display materials, and we still have inscribed bricks to sell." The Alumni Board voted at its 20 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 2002 September meeting to use reserves to pay off the loan. "We really wanted to get the house ready to use as an alumni and visitors center and to be able to use the house for functions and small gatherings," says Dave Fitzpatrick, board presi– dent. "Now we can go forward with other plans for the house." According to Mary Coniglio, assistant director of Alumni Rela– tions and manager of the Simon Benson House, volunteer should enable the house to open as a visi– tors center early in 2002. Current tour hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For information about volunteer– ing, or to buy an inscribed brick (there are 60 left) or make a donation, call Coniglio at 503-725-5073 or email her at coniglio@pdx.edu . Show our old house Do you have a love of old hou es and their history? We are seeking volunteers to staff the imon Benson House vis– itors center. Duties include greet– ing gue ts and answering question about the historic home and Port– land State. Training provided. Three-hour shifts are avai lable weekday , 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Mary Coniglio, Alumni Office, 503-725-5073, or by e-mail at coniglio@pdx.edu. Getting together in Bend Alumni, friends, and parents of cur– rent students gathered in Bend this fall for a reception sponsored by the Alumni Association. PSU President Dan Bemstine updated guests on cur– rent initiatives at the Univer ity, and Roger Capps '60, association board member, entertained the group with a PSU 101 pop-quiz featuring fun fact about the University. Cathy Bostwick Williams '56, a PSU alumni ambassador from Sise rs, was one of the hosts of the event. Join– ing her were Alumni Board members Jackie Bell '71 and Gary Salyer '57. Bend alumni had news of their own to share. Judy Hoiness '65 is a painter, whose watercolor paintings have been exhibited in Portland as well a Bend. Her work was featured in the October is ue of Watercolor Magazine and on Oregon Public Broadcasting's Art Beat in November. Al Zemke '66 is the owner of American States Title Company in Bend. Renee Perrin '94, who works for Merrill Lynch, recently moved to Bend from Sisters. he and her husband own a fly fishing shop in isters. Many other alumni and friends attended, including recent graduate Andrea Roble '01 and her parents, Cary and Georgia Robles.