The French Conversation Group’s annual Bastille Day party on July 14th was historic. It marked not only the 50th anniversary of our celebration of “le Quatorze, but also 50 years of Yolande Siki’s leadership. Since the late 1960’s our “professor”, mentor, and friend has guided our efforts to improve and maintain our French fluency with enormous wit and patience.
“Yolande Siki has not changed a bit”
With her help, beginners have blossomed, practiced speakers become more confident and the truly fluent have provided incentive and encouragement Everyone has looked forward to brief bi-monthly escapes into French and enjoyed the friendships grown from our shared experience.
The 14th’s festivities began on a familiar note: food, drink, talk, laughter. Our activity even drew a condo resident who followed the sound of his favorite language to the club room and asked if he could join the party. He could, and he did, running upstairs for another bottle of wine.
“Not a crumb was left”
And for dessert, a Bastille Day cake with a frosted Eiffel Tower and an inscription to Yolande. Happily, Francois Siki was with us to help toast his mother with ample champagne, thanks to hostess, Helen Szbalya.
Finally, Laurel Lisez led the ritual singing of La Marseillaise. We may still stumble in the shaky spots in words and music, but we clearly remember the past chorus of old friends, those who always took the high notes and the basses who boomed below. Fifty years of memories ……!
Sixty members recently provided written comments and preferences about possible topics for luncheon speaker. Here are the vote-counts:
30 – TRAVEL
28 – HISTORY
24 – ART
22 – MUSIC
22 – WORLD AFFAIRS
22 – SCIENCE
*****
17 – HOUSE & GARDEN
16 – EDUCATION
14 – COMMUNITY ISSUES
13 – HEALTH
11 – TECHNOLOGY
4 – FAMILY RELATIONS
The topics divided themselves quite nicely into two groups, with different core themes. The upper six are all “learning-intensive” and ‘objective’. The lower six seem rather more ‘psychological/social’ – oriented.
This result didn’t differ much from the results of a similar survey last year.
We will use the results in our search for interesting speakers – but nothing is either mandatory or forbidden! Your “Program co-chairs” -Susan and Eric- would appreciate any thoughts or contacts, regardless of which group or category they fall into.
Ever wondered how the Eastern part of Switzerland looks like? Here is your chance to listen to all the adventures of a group of Tuesday Trekkers, hiking in the Lower Engiadina.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018: Hiking in Switzerland, presented by Sandy Wood for the Tuesday Trekkers
Scrafitto-decorated homes, celebration of cows returning from the alms, “knoedel soup” in mountain huts, new snow on glorious mountain peaks, trains & buses never a minute late, larch forests turning golden, endless Heidi-land views, aching muscles and delightful camaraderie…. all were part of three unforgettable weeks that 19 Tuesday Trekkers recently spent hiking in the Swiss Alps. Ten days based in Peter & Tina Schiess’s tiny village of Sur En in the far eastern Alps, and then ten days traveling by scenic train to hike in other parts of the Swiss Alps. Truly a trip of a lifetime!
“Hats for Sale, all proceeds go 100% to the UWFA scholarship fund, all hats are handmade and all hats are unique, come try them on and we have mirrors to let you see how good you look in them!”
Tina Schiess and Dagmar Shannon trying to convince a potential buyer
That was the rallying cry to bring in the customers at the Hat Sale on November 12th at Metropolitan Market on 5250 40th Avenue NE. The store manager had graciously agreed to let us sell our hats right in front of the store entrance on a Sunday between the hours of 11:00 and 3:00, their busiest time. So Kay Gordon, Gay Hardy, Hady de Jong, Tina Schiess and I went to work selling.
Well, sell we did and we made just over $1000 with the hat sale that day.
Well, you may ask where do these hats come from? The hat sale was introduced to us by our member Kay Gordon. Kay is so wonderful and generous that she has been knitting hats for years and has such a great philanthropic reputation that people give her yarn for her hat projects. Well guess what, Kay, who makes many of the hats herself, and we have recruited some of the knitters from the stitchery group to donate their hats also to this sale, lets us keep 100% of the proceeds we make from selling the hats at “our” sales.
Hady de Jong donning one of the hats
And the following Monday Kay, Hady and Tina did another sale at the UW Hub and again sold almost $400 worth of hats to benefit our Scholarship program. Taken together that is a serious infusion of $ into our scholarship fund and all thanks to the power of one!
The one who had the idea, who made the most hats and who is present and sets up at every sale, Kay Gordon. Kay, we thank you and we salute you!
Of course we also give much thanks for the many knitters who contribute their hats to us like Barbara Archbold, Lynn Bradley, Hady de Jong and many others and to the ladies who volunteer to sell the hats.
Table of the UWFA with hats
Well done, everyone, I suppose it is now time to knit more hats so we can replenish our supplies and get ready for next year’s sale.
We are still looking for more knitters and Kay has yarn and patterns that she will gladly share with us. So will you join us and knit for scholarships!
The three UWFA 2017 scholarship recipients, Michelle Davis, Hakikat Bains and Rayeong Chang: Left: Michelle Davis is a senior and majoring in education. After ten years of work primarily with children and having received an Associate Degree, she transferred to the UW. She wants to go to graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership. Michelle comes to Seattle from California and has a 10 year old daughter. She is heavily involved at her daughter’s school. Center: Hakikat Bains is a senior, double majoring in psychology and education. She hopes to pursue a career within child psychology. She is a second generation immigrant from India and grew up in Omak, Washington. She is a community leader and involved in numerous student organizations at the UW and received one of the Husky 100 awards in 2017. Right: Rayeong Chang is a senior in social welfare. She is a recent immigrant from Korea and started taking ESL classes in 2013 at Highline College before transferring to the UW. She wants to pursue a career as a social worker. She is a full time student, working and actively involved with the Organization of Students of Social Work. Ray Willman and Judy Rantz Willman, . Judy Rantz Willman, speaker of the scholarship 2017 evening and the daughter of Joe Rantz, the main character in the book, The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
2017 Scholarship Committee Report
The Faculty Auxiliary Scholarship Committee recognized three award winners on the evening of November 7th, 2017, at the University Club with dinner and a featured lecture program. The dinner and program were sold out and 88 people attended the combination.
Three UW senior women, Michelle Davis, Hakikat Baines, and Rayeong Chang each received a $5000 scholarship to be applied to their tuition for the 2017-2018 year.
They had submitted essays of application in August to the UW Scholarship office, administered by Linda Olsen. She had then forwarded them to the Scholarship Committee, Hady DeJong, Linda Rhines, and Joan Burton, chair.
The Committee had met in September to select three winners from the submissions. The three were notified of the awards and each one was personally contacted by a committee member. They were asked to prepare a short acceptance speech after the dinner to tell briefly the stories of their lives and their plans for the future.
In opening the program, Nancy Kenagy welcomed all the guests, both FA members and University Club members. Joan, as chair, introduced Linda Olsen, representing the University, and Barbara Garlid, founder of the Visiting Faculty Housing Service program, which helps to fund scholarships. Other sources of scholarship funding include personal donations by FA members and sales of knitted hats.
The lecture program was Judy Rantz Willman and her husband Ray Willman, speaking on the book, “The Boys in the Boat,” the story of her father, Joe Rantz, and the part she played in the research for the book. Many questions followed her slides and story, and Judy answered them thoroughly.
The Faculty Auxiliary thank- you gift was a $50 gift certificate from the University Book Store. Judy thanked the Faculty Auxiliary for its generosity.
The Tuesday Trekkers were lucky enough to be in the lower Engadin Valley for the Alpabzug or celebration of the cows coming down the mountains on September 23rd. The cows summered in mountain pastures above the towns of Ftan and Sent, and the villagers (and tourists) welcomed them with alphorns, big bells, traditional costumes, and, of course, fancy flowers and headdresses for the cows.
Wel-dressed cows Photo: Peter S
We took postal buses from Sur En to Scuol and then to Ftan, and milled around the central square and village streets and slopes waiting for the cows. Two alphorns led the procession, followed by a cacophony of bells, bells, bells. Beautifully decorated cows paraded down through the meadows and streets to a big pasture.
The Bell Ringers Photo: Peter SA family affair Photo: Peter S
While the cows meandered around the pasture, the villagers and tourists feasted on local food–wursts, raclette, plum cake and other pastries, and wine and beer. It was delightful to sit at long tables in the sunshine with cows and beautiful mountain scenery all around.
The trekkers recovering Photo: Peter S
After the Ftan celebration, some Trekkers went up a ski lift and then hiked back to Scuol or Sur En. Two members just kept running around the village looking for each other–and keeping the rest of us in stitches. And some of us went to Sent to watch more cows come down the mountains. The cows milled around the fountain in the main square, were sorted out and led off to their winter homes.
Amy Ruben took the initiative to create a new interest group called “Theater in my living room”. There was already a meeting of “four kindred people”. Another meeting is already planned and others showed interest to participate. You find the details on the home page (Theater in the Living Room) as well as contact information.
The Tuesday Trekkers had an opportunity to visit with Tina and Peter Schiess in Sur En, Switzerland, to explore their place and hiking grounds. Our “base camp” was Gasthof Val d’Uina in Sur En. It was a fun-filled week with hiking and sight-seeing. Below is a summary of all the activities while at Sur En. After that, some went on to ride the “Glacier Express and Bernina Express (UNESCO World Heritage Site)”. Others did some more hiking near Pontresina.
Tina’s and Peter’s second home Photo: PS
The first hikers arrived Sept. 19. and below you see the various activities.
Sept. 21: The early arrival took a bus to Scuol and gondola to Motta Naluns. From there we hiked up to Naluns) and then across and down to the Prui Hut where we had lunch. Then hiked down to Ftan and bus home.
Sept. 22: All here now. Took bus & train via Zernez to Ofenpass in the Swiss National Park. Hiked North over mountains to S-charl where we caught bus back to Sur En.
Sept. 23: Took bus to Ftan to see the cows come home and share in the celebration. Explored Ftan before returning home.
2017-09-23 Alpabzug Ftan Photo: PS
Sept. 24: Took bus east through corner of Austria and Italy to get ski lift at Wattles. Hiked over pass at border of Switzerland and Italy, with lunch at Sesvenna Hut. Then down Uina Valley and Schlucht to Sur En.
View of the Galleries Photo: PS
Sept. 25: Bus to Sent. Hiked from Sent via Val Sinestra to hut at Zuort. Then down road to Vna, bus to Crusch and walked home.
Sept. 26: Helmets, harnesses, carabiners! Some visited Sculpture Park in afternoon.
Sept. 28: Bus to Scuol and lift to Motta Naluns. Then hiked via Fuorcla Champatsch and Val Laver to Zuort Hut. Returned via Vna and Ramosch. Crusch and home.
Sept. 29: Took bus to Tarasp Castle. Afterwards some went to folk museum; some explored Scuol.
Sept. 30: Goodbye to Peter, Tina & Sur En and off to further adventures.
We will post more detailed reports about the various hikes and activities and in time you can visit the UW Photo Gallery for a sampling of the scenery and hikes.
The UWFA Past Presidents and current President Nancy Kenagy celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Past Presidents Friendship Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club on 10-24-2017.
Most of the Past Presidents attended and had a good time, talking about past and present events. The setting at the Seattle Yacht Club was nice as always.
If you missed the Annual Business Meeting you may not know that Dagmar’s husband was the hero of the day. We did not have the necessary quorum and people were frantically phone friends/relations to come so that we could get on with the business of electing next year’s board. Bill, who is a member, arrived and a vote was taken. Reminds one of frantic vote counting in another Washington.
I don’t know why so many stayed home. The talk by Dr. Davis was great and the homemade cookies made by volunteers was exceptional. Mary Albrecht outdid herself. Next year, I suggested we should rename it the April Cookiefest. Actually, I was glad so many of you stayed home as I was able to take some cookies “home for my spouse”. For more details, visit the newsletter.
In case you missed it, the new slate of board members are
