Retirement Association of Portland State Portland State University—RAPS Post Office Box 751 Portland OR 97207-0751 Campus Public Safety Building Second Floor, Room 212 SW Montgomery at Broadway Office Manager Eben Yemoh Telephone: 503-725-3447 Email: rapsmail@pdx.edu Office hours: Remote: 10 am-2 pm Mon, Wed & Thurs. In office: noon- 4 pm Tues, 10 am-2 pm Friday Campus mail: RAPS Web: psu-raps.org Board Members Co-Presidents Janine Allen & Bruce Stern Secretary Brian Lewis Treasurer Ansel Johnson Members-at-Large Kris Kern, Cheryl Livneh & Michael Taylor RAPS Sheet Editor Doug Swanson Website Editor Steve Brennan RAPS Representative to Regional & National Retirement Associations Larry Sawyer Committees Awards Steve Brennan, Chair History Preservation Eileen Brennan, Chair Membership Pati Sluys, Chair Program Pat Squire & Dawn White, Co-Chairs Scholarship Sherwin Davidson, Chair Social Nancy Eriksson, Chair The RAPS Sheet The newsletter of the Retirement Association of Portland State APRIL 2023 STEVE PERCY, in his final year as president of Portland State, hosts the President’s Luncheon for Retired Faculty and Staff Tuesday, April 18, beginning at noon in the third floor Ballroom in SMSU. The luncheon, an annual event for decades, returns after a three-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The program includes remarks by Percy followed by the announcement of the 2023 Outstanding Retiree awards. The recipient of this year’s RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship, Melody Park (see story page 4), will also be introduced. PSU is well served by public transportation, and we encourage use of TriMet, MAX, or the Portland Streetcar. Free parking is available in unreserved spaces in Parking Structure 1 (1872 SW Broadway), Parking Structure 2 (1724 SW Broadway), and Parking Structure 3 (1631 SW 12th Ave). Go to a pay station, enter your vehicle’s license plate number, select time needed (all day recommended), and enter coupon code 25280. Please allow extra time to obtain parking. Plan to arrive at the Ballroom in SMSU between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. to check in and get a nametag. Space at the President’s Luncheon is limited. If you plan to attend, please RSVP no later than Monday, April 3, to RAPS Office Manager Eben Yemoh by email (preferred), at rapsmail@pdx.edu, or by phone at 503-725-3447. RSVPs after April 3 cannot be accepted. We look forward to seeing you at one of the most highly anticipated events of the RAPS programming year. President Steve Percy headlines first President’s Luncheon since 2019 STEVE PERCY came to PSU in 2014 as dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs. In 2019 he was named by the Board of Trustees as interim president, and a year later he became the 10th president of Portland State.
2 RAPS SHEET n APRIL 2023 CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Scholarships provide money—and bolster confidence SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT to students. In many cases they enable students to afford college and earn the degree that will launch their careers. But scholarships also reinforce a sense of confidence in students knowing that someone believes enough in them to invest in their future. My own story demonstrates how important scholarships can be for students. When I graduated from high school, I received a scholarship from my school’s teachers association. As a student going to college on federal financial aid, the scholarship meant I could spend less time on a job and more time on my studies. But the scholarship meant something more to me. I had a rocky start to high school and my grades reflected it, but fortunately I experienced an upward trend in my grades at the end of my high school years. However, my dismal early record reflected in my overall GPA and put me out of the competition for most scholarships. But this group of educators saw beyond my overall GPA to recognize my potential. At my high school graduation ceremony, I was seated in the front row of graduates. As I proudly took my seat ready to accept the scholarship, a follow classmate said to me, “What are you doing here?” Because of the scholarship, I was able to square my shoulders, look that young man in the eyes, and say, “Because this is where I am supposed to be!” The scholarship not only bolstered my confidence, it also fostered a determination in me to do my best so I would not disappoint those who had believed in me. I wrote three thank-you notes to the members of that teachers association: one when I was first awarded the scholarship, another when I graduated from college magna cum laude, and finally, when I earned my Ph.D. While we acknowledge how scholarships benefit students, we don’t always think about what scholarships do for the donors themselves. A fellow RAPS member, Cathleen Smith, recently reminded me of what contributing to scholarships returns to the donor. The February RAPS program featured an outstanding presentation by the 2021-22 RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship recipient, Jett Koda, concerning the “mortality reality.” After this presentation, Cathleen expressed how proud and grateful she felt to be part of an organization that supports students like Jett who go on to make significant contributions and to serve others with compassion and dedication. Thanks, Cathleen, for putting into words what I felt in my heart upon hearing Jett’s presentation. In this issue of the RAPS Sheet Sherwin Davidson, the chair of the RAPS Scholarship Committee, introduces the current recipient of our scholarship and reports the results of the recent scholarship challenge. It is with a collective sense of pride and gratitude that the members of RAPS receive Sherwin’s good news. —Janine Allen A SPECIAL GUIDED TOUR of “Weaving Data,” the current exhibit at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU, has been added to the RAPS programming year. Scheduled for Friday, April 14, from 1 to 2 p.m., the tour will be led by Anna Kienberger, education and communications coordinator for JSMA. “Weaving Data” showcases nine contemporary fiber artists whose woven works are deeply connected to digital computing. Some use data analysis while others use metaphor. Some collaborate with computers to make their weavings while others weave by hand using data or internet memes as a basis for their woven designs. Curating the exhibit are Theo Downes-Le Guin and Nancy Downes-Le Guin. Theo Downes-Le Guin is the son of longtime PSU history professor Charles Le Guin and the late Ursula Le Guin. RAPS members should meet in the lobby of the museum shortly before 1 p.m. on April 14. The museum is located in Room 110 Fariborz Maseeh Hall, 1855 SW Broadway, with elevator access to both floors of the museum. The Broadway entrance to the building is unlocked during regular business hours. RAPS tour of Schnitzer Museum exhibit set for April 14
3 RAPS SHEET n APRIL 2023 Challenge adds $22K to RAPS Vogelsang Scholarship coffer FOR THE SECOND YEAR in a row, a generous anonymous donor gave RAPS members an opportunity to build the quasi-endowment for the RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship, and the membership responded enthusiastically. Last fall, the donor agreed to follow up the 2021 challenge with another challenge. This time the donor agreed to match every donation at 50 percent, match at 100 percent every donation from those who hadn’t given in the past three years, and match at 100 percent donations from those who increased their previous donation by 50 percent or more. Forty-five RAPS members responded, raising a total of $13,240. Based on the conditions of the match, the donor matched $8,820, meaning this year’s challenge raised $22,060. Among the donors were eight who hadn’t given in the past three years—and one of them made a sizable donation. In addition, the anonymous donor increased the momentum for building our quasi-endowment by donating an additional $3,000. The donor’s dedication to the RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship for two years in a row and the generosity of RAPS members are reasons to celebrate. Because the scholarship was converted to a quasi-endowment, each contribution further solidifies support for a student such as last year’s recipient, Jett Koda, who was our speaker at the RAPS general meeting in February. We were able to hear how she’s using her social work degree, reminding us that our contributions have an effect beyond the scholarship. On page 4 is a story introducing this year’s recipient, Melody Park, whose contributions we hope to learn about as they unfold. Thanks to all RAPS members for ensuring one of RAPS purposes: supporting an undergradute or graduate student scholarship award of $9,000, which nearly covers one year of tuition. That’s significant! —Sherwin Davidson Effort under way for new PSU history exhibit in Smith Center DEAR RAPS MEMBERS, This spring, we have a unique opportunity to celebrate the history of Portland State University by helping create a new exhibit that will honor the past contributions of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni—and the values PSU brings to the community. The RAPS History Preservation Committee is working with the University and PSU Foundation to create an inclusive timeline that celebrates many of our shared accomplishments. This timeline will be easily accessible to prospective students, current students, and visiting alumni and friends of PSU in a public area of Smith Memorial Student Union, just off the study space overlooking the Park Blocks. The hope is to have a mix of information, images, and artifacts presented in a variety of formats. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 for this important initiative. With the loss of the 50th anniversary history display, which was removed due to space-use changes in Smith, there is a need to tell the story of Portland State using elements of the previous timeline and to add significant points that have occurred since 1996. Just as importantly, we have an opportunity to expand and enhance our story by including more about PSU contributors from diverse backgrounds and the events that reflect the values of inclusivity on campus. This project will provide a more accurate reflection of PSU’s history while honoring the many innovative people who have helped build it. Your generous donations will help make this project a reality. To make those contributions go further, if you give now RAPS is offering a dollar-for-dollar match (up to $5,000) for gifts made to the timeline fund this spring. The PSU Spring Day of Giving takes place Tuesday, April 12. Please join us in supporting this timeline project and help make sure our University’s history is properly documented, accurately represented, and available for all members of the Portland State University community to discover. You can make your gift online here: https://psudayofgiving.org/sdg-raps Sending a check? Please make the check payable to the PSU Foundation and indicate RAPS History Preservation Fund in the memo line. Mail to: Portland State University Foundation P.O. Box 243 Portland, OR 97207-0243 Be sure to also send an email to michiec@psuf.org so your contribution can be counted for the Day of Giving. Curious about an opportunity to sponsor the timeline with a larger gift? Reach out to Claire Michie at michiec@psuf.org or 503-725-2678. —Claire Michie Senior Director, Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving PSU Foundation HISTORY PRESERVATION
4 RAPS SHEET n APRIL 2023 NOTES FROM THE SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR ‘Overflow’—Our scholarship’s unexpected effect I WISH THAT EACH of you could have had the experience that I just had, talking with Melody Park, the RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship Recipient for 2022-2023. You would have been as pleased as I was to have been a part of enabling the exciting promise of such an impressive student. This June, Melody will complete her graduate degree in speech and hearing sciences. She’s currently deepening her knowledge and gaining skill in her externship at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Chewelah, Washington. Since she hopes to practice her profession in a hospital setting, it’s been an excellent opportunity. The externship allows her to work with a wide variety of disorders and a range of age groups. Although this might change as she broadens her experiences, at this point she’s particularly interested in voice and swallowing disorders, the kinds of challenges patients with Parkinson’s or with head and neck cancers might meet. Although affecting patients at all ages, someone focused on these realms would likely be involved with an aging population. Melody arrives at her clarity about her fit with the speech and hearing profession after some very influential academic and personal experiences. Her talent as a pianist, combined with the capability to learn and play multiple instruments, drew her to music as a first undergraduate major. Inspired by a course in anthropology, she found a way to blend her appreciation of music with her curiosity about cultures, combining both into a minor in ethnomethodology—the very first to graduate with such a minor at the University of Wyoming. She recognizes that communication is both art and science, a reflection of her B.S. in communication disorders and her B.A. in theater. The potential for creative adaptation of these fields is apparent in her recently obtained certificate in applied improvisation for communication. When asked what the scholarship means to her, Melody described having faced the need to step back from her studies because of finances. But then she was awarded the $9,000 RAPS Robert Vogelsang Scholarship, boosted by the generosity of a thoughtful anonymous donor. In trying to capture the significance of the scholarship, she said, “The word that comes to mind is ‘overflow.’ Overflow,” she said, reflectively, “knowing that someone is trying to help someone else, to help me… I just overflow with gratitude and want helpfulness to overflow from me, too.” —Sherwin Davidson Melody Park PRESIDENT STEVE PERCY presented the Presidential Medal to Bill Lemman on March 3 in recognition of his distinguished advocacy and philanthropy to PSU and the Portland community. The Portland State University Presidential Medal, first bestowed in 1976, is awarded to those dedicated leaders who have made countless contributions to PSU and the community. The presentation was made at Hillside Retirement Communities in McMinnville, where Bill lives with his wife, Genna.
5 RAPS SHEET n APRIL 2023 Book Group THE BOOK GROUP met on March 21 and discussed Eminent Oregonians: Three Who Matter by Jane Kilpatrick, Steve Forrester, and R. Gregory Nokes. The book consists of three biographies, each written by one of the co-authors. Abigail Scott Duniway is presented by Jane Kilpatrick as a woman of enormous energy, raising six children, writing editorials, speeches, 22 novels, owning a newspaper, and most importantly campaigning fervently for women’s suffrage. Richard Neuberger is presented by Steve Forester, who is also the editor of the book. Neuberger was also a prolific writer, who after a trip to Germany in the 1930s predicted the ambitions of that country. Entering politics as a liberal Democrat, he was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1950 and to the U.S. Senate a few years later, these victories turning Oregon into a two-party state. R. Gregory Nokes presented Jesse Applegate, who was of the pioneering generation; he opened the Applegate Trail in Southern Oregon, homesteaded near Yoncalla, and had prosperous years raising cattle and sheep—then there were financial reverses and war with the Modoc Indians. Each biography was interesting, and each of us was particularly intrigued by a different one. We agreed that the book and the discussion deepened everyone’s understanding of Oregon history. In April we are going to read A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Because the President’s Luncheon (see page 1) is scheduled on the Tuesday afternoon when we usually meet, we will meet via Zoom on Monday, April 17, at our usual 1:30 p.m. time. All RAPS members are welcome to join the group. —Joan Shireman Bridge Group THE BRIDGE GROUP is in need of additional players; do you want to join us? We really could use some more players. We are a friendly group and we promise to welcome new players warmly. I would like to hear from any interested RAPS members or others you know who might want to play in our group. The Bridge Group does not require RAPS membership. RAPS Group Reports Your friends and relatives would be welcome to join us. Please rattle your social and family networks to see if you might be able to shake loose a bridge player or two. Please contact Steve Brennan, 503-889-0146. My email address is: the.steve.brennan@gmail.com. —Steve Brennan Hiking Group NINE PEOPLE participated in the March hike, walking the three-mile loop through the McLoughlin Historic District in Oregon City, the seat of the Oregon Territory’s first provisional government. We walked the bluffs above Willamette Falls and looked down upon the falls and surrounding industrial area, rode the only municipal elevator, and passed some of the state’s oldest homes. Many of the homes in the historic district had signs indicating date of construction, first owner, and type of architecture; we saw bungalow (1920s), colonial, colonial revival, Queen Anne, and vernacular (these last four were from the 1800s).We had lunch at Singer Hill Cafe. The April 19 hike will be at Catherine Creek/Coyote Wall in Washington. This is expected to be a wildflower hike, weather cooperating. The May 17 hike will be the Metro park, Chehalem Ridge in Gaston unless that is chosen for the August geology hike, in which case an alternative will be selected (probably May 10, Wilson River Trail). To be included on the hiking group mailing list, please contact Tom Dieterich at tgdieterich@earthlink.net. —Tom Dieterich Tom Dieterich photograph The RAPS Hiking Group saw this view of Willamette Falls and Portland General Electric’s hydroelectric plant, which has been in operation since 1895.
6 RAPS SHEET n APRIL 2023 Upcoming RAPS events APRIL 8FRIDAY, APRIL 14 Guided Tour at Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU, 1 to 2 p.m.: Exhibit of “Weaving Data,” with tour led by Anna Kienberger, education and communications coordinator at JSMU. Contact: Eben Yemoh, rapsmail@pdx.edu. See story on page 2. 8THURSDAY, APRIL 13 RAPS Board Meeting: 12:15 p.m., via Zoom. Contact: Eben Yemoh, rapsmail@pdx.edu. 8MONDAY, APRIL 17 Book Group: 1:30 p.m., via Zoom. Contact: Joan Shireman, joanshireman@gmail.com. 8TUESDAY, APRIL 18 President’s Annual Luncheon for Retired Faculty and Staff. 11:30 a.m. Hosted by President Steve Percy. PSU Ballroom. Contact: Eben Yemoh, rapsmail@pdx.edu. 8WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 Hiking Group: Catherine Creek/Coyote Wall. Contact: Tom Dieterich/Cilla Murray, tgdieterich@earthlink.net. 8TBA Bridge Group: Contact: Steve Brennan, the.steve.brennan@gmail.com or 503-889-0146. MAY 8THURSDAY, MAY 11 RAPS Board Meeting: 12:15 p.m., via Zoom. Contact: Eben Yemoh, rapsmail@pdx.edu. 8TUESDAY, MAY 16 Book Group: 1:30 p.m., via Zoom. Contact: Joan Shireman, joanshireman@gmail.com. 8WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 Hiking Group: Chehalem Ridge (unless used as geology hike in August; alternative hike will be Wilson River Trail on Wednesday, May 10). Contact: Tom Dieterich/Cilla Murray, tgdieterich@earthlink.net. 8THURSDAY, MAY 18 RAPS General Meeting: noon, S-17 Cramer Hall. “The World of Changing Ice,” in-person presentation by Andrew Fountain, PSU professor emeritus of geology. Note: S-17 is in the sub-basement of Cramer Hall, accessible by the elevator in the northwest corner of the building. Contact: Eben Yemoh, rapsmail@pdx.edu. 8TBA Bridge Group: Contact: Steve Brennan, the.steve.brennan@gmail.com or 503-889-0146. JUNE 8WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 Hiking Group: McIver State Park. Contact: Tom Dieterich/Cilla Murray, tgdieterich@earthlink.net RAPS MEMBERS enjoyed a preview of PSU’s upcoming spring opera, ‘The Magic Flute,’ at the March 16 member meeting. All smiles at the conclusion of the program are (left to right), Chuck Dillard, accompanist; Kelley Nassief, director of the PSU Opera Program; and students Krista Schaeffer (singing Pamina), March Steiger (singing Queen of the Night), and Isaiah Walker (singing Papageno). Four performances are scheduled in April, with tickets available at the PSU Box Office in Lincoln Hall or online at https://portlandstate.universitytickets.com/w/d efault.aspx?day=nextmonth&cid=171
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