by Mike Peringer, Class of ’53

It was an unusually damp and cool morning in June when the phone rang. You do remember phones, right?

A pleasant voice – “This is Meredith Reis. I’m calling from 30 Rock in New York” Yes she actually said that! “I’m a producer on the TODAY show here at NBC and I want to talk to you about Urban Artworks. Your non profit was nominated for a Pepsi Challenge prize of $100,000 and I’m pleased to announce that Artworks was one of four chosen out of 700 nominations” Silence .. More silence ….

“Wow!”, I cleverly opened with. “That’s really neat.” “Yes,” she continued, ” your group was nominated by your Program Coordinator and the judges immediately put Artworks on the top of the list. Now we need to arrange for a film crew to visit Artworks and produce your segment on the show, the one that will determine the winner by national vote.” Well, that’s how it started.

A few days later, a four person film crew showed up and spent the day taping over 8 hours of Artworks material from the studio, of our kids, some murals and other projects we have done over the years in the Greater Seattle area.

For those of you who don’t know Artworks, it is an organization I started some 15 years ago to clean up the industrial area of town we call SODO (SOuth of DOwntown). To do that we began using at risk adjudicated youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, mid level felons 13-17 years old. Over the years we have used over 6000 kids creating over 2500 public art projects mainly murals and contruction site panels.

It seems that Kathleen, our talented Program Coordinator, while getting ready to come to work, was watching the TODAY show and saw the story about the Pepsi Challenge and simply submitted out story. She didn’t even mention it to me but she too got the call from our new friend, Meredith, the producer.

So at 3 AM on July 1, we and our friends with the film crew were all at the studio when the announcement was made live from NYC (the show is delayed on the West Coast). Well, we didn’t win the top prize. it went to a gulf coast nonprofit. How can you compete with that? But, we were all delighted to be told by the Pepsi lady being interviewed by Meredith Vierra, that the runners up were going to get $50,000!!!!! And, believe me we were all yelling and screaming when they made that announcement. It couldn’t have come at a better time since most nonprofits are struggling big time right now.

That’s it. Should you want to see the 58 second piece that appeared on the show, you can go to https://urbanartworks.org/.

It was a good, fun experience, particularly the positive outcome.

The Annual Business Meeting, Election of Officers and 29th Annual Luncheon will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the Nile Country Club located at 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA. (1 block west off I-5 on 205th). Free parking is available in the Country Club parking lot. RHS grads MUST BE current dues-paying GG Members to attend. Non-grads can attend as guests or spouses of members. Reservations are required and must be in our hands by Monday, May 23th, 2011. For reservation form to fill out and mail in, click here.

Tuesday, May 24th is Golden Grad’s opportunity to see the RHS musical “Titanic – the Musical” free at the dress rehearsal, 7:30 PM in the RHS Theater.

Roosevelt Theatre has consistently created world-class, internationally recognized theatre education. And we always have a wonderful time at Roosevelt High School productions. It’s like a mini-reunion for Golden Grad members who attend, and especially those who performed in RHS productions in the day. Don’t miss it!

Tuesday, May 25th is Golden Grad’s opportunity to see the RHS musical “Curtains” free at the dress rehearsal, 7:30 PM in the RHS Theater. Don’t miss it! For more information contact: Dick Follis, acting interim President; John Fahnestock, Vice President (’53); Joyce Hitt Butchart, Secretary (’53) and GG Secretary for the Class of 1953; Marcia Hixon Mahaffey, Scholarships Chair, or Tad Bigelow, Teachers’ Wish List; Grapevine editor Dick Follis.

We are saddened to tell you of the loss of the beloved leader of the Golden Grads, President Bob Berst, class of 1948.

Bob passed away on January 27, 2010 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle after losing his battle with melanoma. He was an inspiring leader and steadfast in his service to GG, handling so many areas so capably. We will miss him terribly.

Bob lived his life to the fullest with his hands into many things, of which some were music (loved jazz bands as he had his own at one time), piloting his plane, bird hunting, gourmanding, wine tasting, travel, friends, relatives, strangers and charities all in living his life zestfully, fruitfully and fully.

At different times in his life he was President of the Young Men’s Republican Club, Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, President of the King County Bar associations Senior Lawyers Section and at his death, President of RHS Golden Grads. He is survived by his wife Evalie, daughters Carla & Kay, his brother Chuck and sister-in-law Roelina and nieces Nelina and Caroline.

A memorial celebration will be held at 3 pm Friday, February 5, 2010 at the Seattle Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Roosevelt High School Golden Grads, Bob Berst Memorial, P.O. Box 98442, Seattle WA 98109-1442.

Continue on your journey Bob–we will miss you!

May 19, 2009 is Golden Grads night at the 2009 RHS Spring Musical. Be at the RHS Theater at 7:30 PM for a rollicking production of ‘CATS’! Don’t miss it!

Make your plans now to attend the Golden Grads Board Meeting at 10 AM April 29, 2009, in the Alumni Room at RHS. All paid-up members are welcome, and class secretaries and committee chairs are urged to attend.

This year’s Pot Luck Picnic was at a new location – Matthews Beach Park, 95th NE and Sand Point Way – on Aug. 14, a beautiful sunny day. About 25 people attended. Food was wonderful, and everyone had a great time visiting and viewing pictures.

Golden Grads is planning to use email to contact members, send out reminders, and provide info on GG activities, RHS activities, etc., to help control postal expenses. The project has been taken on by Joyce Hitt Butchart, GG Secretary, who has been working hard to computerize the mailing list. But we are still missing some emails.

If you want to be on the Golden Grad email list AND haven’t provided it already, please email the following info to Joyce: First name, Maiden name for ladies, Married last name, Grad year, and, of course, your email address.

Toni Filigno Clark headed up a silent auction during the RHS Class of 1953 55th reunion July 18, 2008 to benefit the RHS Golden Grads Scholarship Fund. The auction brought in $895 for the Scholarship fund and was a lot of fun to boot.