Fall 2024 Golden Grads President’s Report

Doug Whalley ‘63

The 2024 Luncheon Was a Big Success

I know I say that about every luncheon, but this one, organized by our new luncheon co-chairs Ann Reid ’68 and Heidi Liniger Olson ’72, was exceptionally fun and entertaining. The award-winning Roosevelt jazz quartet played for the 146 attendees which included Golden Grad members, RHS representatives, scholars and their parents. Our special guests were Principal Tami Brewer, Head counselor Carrie Richards, Head football coach (and former NFL player) Sam Adams, Assistant football coach Saul Patu, and Athletic Director Danny Thompson. Our student guests were academic scholarship winners, Don Harney sports scholarship winners, Roberge football scholarship winners, and the recipient of the 2024 Visual Arts Award donated by Don Strom ’64 and Jane LaFazio. We heard from a Golden Grad member who represented Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity. One parent for each scholarship winner was hosted by a generous donation from two Golden Grad members.  

Luncheon Lost and Found: The Nile gave me several items that were left behind at the luncheon, including a nice pair of eyeglasses. If you left yours there, please give me a call.

A School to Be Proud Of, As Reported in the Roosevelt News

“The Jazz Ensemble has participated in the Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition multiple times and has taken first place four times since 1999, most recently in Spring 2019. Our “Hands for a Bridge” program explores cultures in conflict through dialogue and the arts and travel to Northern Ireland and South Africa. Our Girls Soccer Team is the 23/24 state champion. Our Girls Ultimate Team is the 23/24 state champion. Our Boys Golf Team came 2nd in the 23/24 state championship. Our Unified Soccer Team is the 23/24 state champion. Our Girls Lacrosse team are Metro Conference Champions.” And if you don’t know what a “Unified Soccer Team” is, Unified Sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team, inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

One New GG Committee Chair, and Another Chair Opening

Pamela Katims Steele ’64 has kindly volunteered to lead our Scholarship Committee, replacing the retiring Chair Judy Crossett Cromwell ’60. Judy did a wonderful job leading the Scholarship Committee and we will miss her. Jean Druby Birdsall ’64 is retiring as our Finance Chair after several years of service, and we are looking for a successor. The job entails overseeing our financial policies, our investments, and our budgets. (Treasurer Mike Bush ’64 handles the day-to-day expenses and scholarship payments.) If you have a background in banking or finance, please consider volunteering. Our Board meetings are held online, so you do not have to live in or near Seattle.

Remember Our Boys and Girls Clubs?

Roosevelt now has clubs for every conceivable purpose, among them: Animal Rights, Aquarium Club, Board Game Club, Cat Club, Climbing Club, Crossword Club, Fiber Crafts Club, Fruit Club, Future Authors Club, General Aviation Manufacturing Association, Girls Who Code, Hands For A Bridge, Heavy Metal Club, Irish Music Club, Jorts Club, K-Pop Club, Project Hugs, Poly Club, Queer Voices, RHS Kindness Collective, Investment Club, Outdoors Club, Suicide Prevention Team, Thespians, The Not Losers Club, The Paranormal Society, UNICEF Club, and the Womanism Club. (Don’t misread that last one.)

Just in from President, Doug Whalley:

The Golden Grads Spring 2025 Luncheon will be held June 10, 2025 at the Seattle Yacht Club. See all the details and sign-up information in the Spring Grapevine newsletter.

Mark your calendar now!

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. 

Here’s how to see us on Facebook:
• Log in to your Facebook page.
• Type “Roosevelt Golden Grads” in the search
box at the top.
• Roosevelt Golden Grads will pop up as a choice.
• Click on us to see our page.
• Underneath the banner with our name, select
“Like” & “Follow”.
• Start reading our posts 

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.

More News from Your Secretary

by Cathie Hogue Huffman, ’63

Hello Golden Grads!

The elves have compiled the Grapevine and sent it out by email and snail mail to Golden Grads near and far.

I hope you have all received your Spring Grapevine and are keeping up with news on the Golden Grads website (rhsgoldengrads.org).  You can also follow student activities/opinions/news in the school paper on Instagram @therhsnews! or at therooseveltnews.org.

Meanwhile the students are keeping busy!

The Jazz band competed successfully in the final 15 at Essentially Ellington in New York May 9-11, which just finished four days ago. They won several honors and distinguished themselves as usual.

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). Tickets are also available for purchase for performances May 23 through June 2.

Happy Spring to everyone!

Cathie Huffman

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 next Grapevine and send, or better, email to me. (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 in order to get the Grapevine out on time. 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.