Co-President’s Message IN 2006, RAPS MEMBER Diane Sawyer traveled to Italy on a trip organized by Collette Tours. She had such a wonderful experience that she’s going back to Italy this November—on the very same program, “Italian Vistas,” organized by Collette. How’s that for a testimonial? The trip Diane and husband Larry are already signed up for is the one sponsored by RAPS. The 12-day program begins in Rome November 6 and moves to Pompeii and the Sorrento Coast, Capri, Florence and other Tuscan cities, Venice and the island of Murano, Verona, and Stresa. The program ends November 18 in Locarno, Switzerland, with an optional two-day extension to Milan. An insert in this month’s edition of the RAPS Sheet tells you all about it. Diane and Larry have traveled abroad extensively. I asked Diane why she decided to go back to Italy on a Collette Tour. “I can think of two reasons,” she replied. “First, the trip we will take with RAPS, like my trip in 2006, visits a good part of the country. I can’t imagine going all the way to Italy and seeing just two or three cities. There’s so much more.” “Second, the success of a trip such as this depends in large part on the skills of the tour manager. The Collette tour manager on this trip was the best of all I’ve traveled with. My expectations are high that we will have the same manager lead our RAPS trip. If not, I anticipate the same high level of service.” Diane especially appreciated the central location of the hotels. “A good example is our hotel in Rome. You step outside the hotel, look right, and there you see the Roman Forum, an easy few blocks away. Look across the street and you see a small church. Inside that church is Michelangelo’s statue of Moses.” Diane has already confirmed that this year’s group will use the same hotels she stayed in on her 2006 sojourn. RAPS is sponsoring another upcoming trip in 2018, this one closer to home. Sometime in May, RAPS member Scott Burns will lead a one-day tour to three wineries in the Willamette Valley, teaching RAPSters about the environmental conditions in which grapes are grown and introducing them to Oregon winemakers and the fruits of their labors. Scott led wine tours for RAPS in 2016 and 2017; perhaps this is becoming an annual event! Look for information coming soon about the exact date in May. These two trips have one thing in common: they help raise funds for the RAPS scholarship account. Whether you sign up for the one-day excursion to Oregon wine country or the 12-day visit to Bella Italia, isn’t it nice to know that worthy PSU students are going to benefit? —Dawn White Spring member events MARCH (Thursday, March 15) Annual Spring Potluck, followed by “Behind the Scenes of Benjamin Britten's Comic Opera, Albert Herring.” Presentation by Christine Meadows and PSU opera students; 333 SMSU. APRIL (Monday, April 16) – note departure from Thursday pattern – President’s Luncheon, hosted by President Rahmat Shoureshi; SMSU Ballroom. MAY (Thursday, May 10; please note the changed date and room) “The Importance of Norms: Trump vs the Press.” Presentation by Christopher Shortell, professor of political science and department chair, followed by Annual Ice Cream Social; 296 SMSU. 2
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