2 I AM WRITING this column during the week of Thanksgiving. Like many of you, this is a time of year when I pause to take stock of the many things for which I am grateful. This year the process of reflection has been particularly significant for me. You see, earlier this month I found myself spending a week in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas followed by a 1,800-mile car trip back to Oregon across parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho. While I would not want to disparage Marion, Kansas, or any of the places we encountered along I-80 or I-84, upon arriving home, my husband and I had a renewed appreciation for what we have in Oregon in general and Portland in particular. We are fortunate to have the natural beauty found in Oregon, as well as quality health care we enjoy in Portland. While we were gone we missed good restaurants and, in some cases, even finding a restaurant other than Sonic Drive-in or Subway. Although we met some very nice people, we encountered situations where these same people’s hands were tied because of a lack of RAPS SHEET n DECEMBER 2023 CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Road trip renews appreciation for Oregon—and RAPS infrastructure. We even came to appreciate the Oregon District of the United States Postal Service’s Customer Service. I could go on in this vein, but you get my point about being thankful for Oregon and Portland. Last spring, during the President’s Luncheon for Retired Faculty and Staff, President Percy assured us that Portland and Portland State will continue to come back from some of the issues we have faced over the past few years. But he added that it is likely that the city and the university will not continue to do things exactly as they have in the past. Over the months, I have often thought about President Percy’s words and how almost every organization survives by continuing to evolve and grow. Now, as I think about what I am thankful for, and RAPS jumps to the top of the list, I am again reminded of President Percy’s words. I wonder if the RAPS Board is doing all it can for our membership. Are there changes you would like to see in RAPS? Are there things we could do to better serve you? Are there other programs you would like to see RAPS provide? Are there ways we might increase the membership of RAPS? The RAPS Board would like to hear from you about how we can improve. Please drop us an email at rapsmail@pdx.edu and share your thoughts with us. —Janine Allen Are there changes you would like to see in RAPS? Drop us an email and share your thoughts. Upcoming RAPS events DECEMBER 8THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 Annual Holiday Brunch, Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Avenue, Portland. Doors open 10:30 a.m. (See story on page 1.) JANUARY 8THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 “Divest Oregon: Confronting Climate Risks to PERS and the Planet,” presentation by Rory Cowal, instructor in the PSU School of Music and volunteer with Divest Oregon, a statewide grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations seeking to have the Oregon State Treasury divest pension funds of fossil fuel holdings. 333 SMSU. FEBRUARY 8THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 “Two Terroirists from Tualatin,” a joint presentation by wine experts Michael Alberty and Scott Burns. 333 SMSU.
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