Fall 2023 President’s Report

by Doug Whalley ‘63

Happy 100th Birthday!

On August 27, 2023, over 1,000 grads and guests gathered at the school to celebrate Roosevelt’s centennial. Former governor Dan Evans spoke, along with several honorees on the Wall of Honor. The event was sponsored by the Roosevelt Foundation. Golden Grads volunteers staffed a table with GG membership forms and copies of our newsletter. I was on the committee that selected members of the Roosevelt Wall of Honor, honoring outstanding graduates, teachers, and staff. (Not all my candidates were selected, so don’t blame me if your favorite was omitted.) Details of the event and the complete list of those selected are in this report, but I will mention one important honoree: Golden Grads founder Jeanne DeFriel Gardiner, class of 1930.

The 2023 Luncheon Was a Success

Our first luncheon in three years was successful, with a large turnout at the Nile Golf and Country Club. Please consider volunteering to be the luncheon chair for next year.  Our longtime luncheon chair, Cindy Dack ’60, is retiring. She has done a great job and will be missed. Cindy and other board members are very familiar with what is required and will work with the new chair.

Roosevelt Athletic Boosters

 Athletic Boosters published an impressive newsletter covering Roosevelt’s sports teams for 2022-2023. We previously emailed the link to members but if you missed it, just search for Roosevelt Athletic Boosters, and click on the picture of the Go Riders Athletic Newsletter. There is more information about Roosevelt sports in this issue of the Grapevine. Although newspapers rarely report on high school sports today, you will be glad to know that Roosevelt is doing exceptionally well.

Re-evaluating the Requirements for Scholarship Winners

The GG Scholarship Committee is reviewing our criteria for selecting winners. Although financial need has always been listed as a factor, members felt it was often overlooked. Many of our past scholarship winners attended expensive private colleges where a $3,000 scholarship is relatively insignificant in the total cost. The Committee agreed to place a new emphasis on a family’s income, with the hope that our scholarships will significantly increase a family’s ability to pay for college.

Roosevelt Memorabilia

Occasionally donations of Roosevelt memorabilia are given to Golden Grads. I currently have Roosevelt banners, green and gold cones and pom-poms, and table place cards. They are available for you to borrow for class reunions or any RHS alumni functions.

. To see what else is happening this spring, go to one of the websites below:

• High School
• Jazz
• Drama
• Orchestra
• Bands

For More on RHS Jazz Bands click here or visit the Jazz Boosters Calendar Page. For RHS Orchestra click here. For RHS Roughriders Band information click the Riders Band site. And for Roosevelt Drama events click here.

Don’t miss the chance to hear all the news and see your classmates and friends!

The event is going to be at the Nile Country Club. There will be a guest speaker we all know (being invited as we speak) and a raffle for a basket of goodies. That’s where you and I come in. We are collecting fun and meaningful items to include in the basket. We’re planning on selling raffle tickets and drawing a winner from those purchased.

A social hour before the luncheon is planned for 11 am. Stay tuned as we get closer to the Luncheon. We’ll keep you informed as we go.

by Grapevine Editor Janet Whalley

The Grapevine is much more interesting when you are in it!!!!! Try to scribble down some notes about what you’ve been doing or planning and send it to your Class representative or me as soon as soon as you can do so. It’s really easy to do.  Just a few sentences are fine!

Address your email to me at janet@whalley.net or your Class Rep as listed in the Grapevine. Class reps should solicit their classmates’ reports and/or compose a report to me for the Spring Grapevine and send, or better, email to me by March 24. (NOTE – Reports and articles received with GG Membership forms will be sent directly to me by the Membership Registrar to put into the appropriate class report section.) I need all reports and information by the deadline on March 29 in order to get the Grapevine out before the luncheon. All your efforts are greatly appreciated!

And remember, Grapevines are sent out by email (preferred) or snail mail to members who are up to date on their dues. Now is the time to catch up if you haven’t sent your dues in yet.

Start or renew Golden Grads membership today!

Print and complete the membership form (click on “membership form”) and print out and mail to RHS Golden Grads, PO Box 281, Edmonds, WA 98020-0281. You can add Credit Card instructions to the form or include your personal check in the envelope to pay your dues. 

All the News and Reminders from Your Secretary

by Cathie Hogue Huffman, ’63

Hello Golden Grads!

It’s time for The Elves to compile the Spring Grapevine.  Please let us know what’s new with you, how you spent the last few months, major and minor accomplishments, whatever you want to share.  Go ahead and brag about the wonderful weather where you are…those of us here in the rain will deal. The deadline for your input is March 29th but the Editor would appreciate it as soon as possible.  Send news to: janet@whalley.net

Meanwhile the students are busy!

The Jazz band is in the final 15 again at Essentially Ellington in New York May 9-11.  Garfield and Bothell are going as well making Washington the most represented state at this year’s competition. I have watched parts of the finals on Jazz at Lincoln Center website but cannot find details for this year’s event yet.

The Drama Department presented Chicago March 7-10 at the RHS Main Stage (Sorry for the late notice on this!) I know it was a smashing hit, though.

Tuesday May 21, at 7 pm the Spring Musical, Mean Girls will be presented free for Golden Grads (and “their kids, grandkids, whoever” according to Drama Teacher Ben Stuart).

The Thespys is an annual national competition for students in every aspect of theater.  Several Roosevelt students received “Superior” scores at the regional level which makes them national qualifiers.  Many received “Excellent” scores making them State Honorees in categories including Solo musical, Costume Design, Duet Musical, Duo Scene, Group Scene, Monologues, Musical Theater Dance and Playwriting.

That’s all for now. I hope you’re enjoying your Spring season, regardless of the weather! Stay tuned!

Cathie Huffman

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