2 RAPS SHEET n JANUARY 2023 CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE It’s a new year, but it’s the same old COVID HELLO FELLOW RAPSTERS. Welcome to 2023. I hope the new year brings you hope, health, prosperity, and satisfaction. Obviously the last few years with COVID and its variants have been difficult for all of us. The reality is, however, that it will be with us for a while. In the meantime I hope you will exercise caution and use safety measures. I know some, including one physician friend, who say masks are useless. I’ve been in stores, on airplanes, attending concerts and Trailblazer games, and I am amazed at the high percentage of people who walk around maskless as if the regular flu and COVID were not here. All I know, living in a world of probabilities, is if masks protect us even 40 percent of the time, I am going to wear them to cut the odds of me getting it and possibly infecting others. I see taking these precautions as an IQ test. You can fill in the blanks… Our December events, a tour of the Jordan Schnitzer art gallery and our annual holiday party, were great successes. A big thank you is due to Dawn White and Pat Squire for their wonderful programming and to Nancy Eriksson and Ansel Johnson for their considerable efforts to make the holiday party so enjoyable. Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for donating to our “enhanced” scholarship drive. If you are not aware, Pat Squire again worked with an anonymous donor to match your end-of-year donations to the fund. On February 16 our 2021-22 scholarship recipient, Jett Koda, who is now graduated and working in end-of-life care, will be the featured speaker at our monthly RAPS program. Given the rapidly changing COVID environment, we will be making near game-time decisions about whether the programs will be in person or on Zoom. We’ll let you know in advance. Our program this month will be on January 19 and will feature William Comer, who will discuss his thoughts on the Russia-Ukraine war. I know you’ll not want to miss his insights. Wishing you all peace and happiness! —Bruce Stern Living in a world of probabilities, if masks protect us 40 percent of the time, I am going to wear them to cut the odds of getting COVID. Upcoming RAPS Events FEBRUARY Thursday, February 16 “Facing the Mortality Reality: An Open Conversation Discussing Death as a Means to More Deeply Appreciate Life,” presentation by Jett Koda, RAPS’s 2021-22 scholarship student, now graduated and working as a medical social worker. Presented over Zoom. MARCH Thursday, March 16 Annual spring potluck in 333 SMSU followed by presentation in 225 Lincoln Hall by Kelley Nassief, new opera program director, and PSU opera students singing excerpts from the spring opera, Mozart’s The Magic Flute. APRIL Tuesday, April 18 President’s Annual Luncheon for Retired Staff and Faculty, hosted by President Steve Percy. PSU Ballroom.
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