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.)