Another CWU school year is ending today with graduations tomorrow. It seems the years go quicker and quicker. I'm in the CWU Library today working on this newsletter and there are some frantic students sitting in here at 11:30 a.m. trying to get their assignments done for their professors. Some things never change as far as pushing deadlines to the limits. i smile as I watch them especially because it isn't me that has a 5 p.m. deadline today.

About 37 retirees joined us for a delicious dinner, meeting, and presentation on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Rodeo City Barbecue. Glen Bach, Professor of Graphic Arts at CWU, gave a beautiful and fun review of Central from the beginning through today. He had some incredible pictures and some of the members from the audience were able to identify several from a very long time ago. There was a lot of laughter as we saw Jim Brook's the day he became President, the first football teams that didn't have enough players so had to borrow some students from Ellensburg High School, the outdoor lines at Nicholson Pavillion for registration, etc.

The book is titled, "By Teaching We Learn - The Evolution of Central Washington University". It is available at the CWU Bookstore and it really is a beautiful book. A variety of contributors had their hands in bringing the project to fruition. Glen Bach, graphic design professor and program director, served as the book's art director. Research and interviews, conducted by Karen Blair, professor and Department of History chair, served as the foundation for the book's text. Elizabeth Street, chief planning officer and psychology professor, compiled statistics, wrote narratives, and provided fact checking. Editor Jennifer Collier Jennings skillfully blended all of the research into a cohesive narrative and W. David Smith lent his skills as a writer, editor, and proofreader. Many others provided photos, facts, and stories.

I made a three-week trip to New Orleans in May to visit my family. My Mama is doing well in the little bayou town of Houma with brother and sister-in-law. Most of the time I stayed in Houma, but spent a couple of days in New Orleans to see the rest of my family and we did some traveling around looking over the city. Once again, I tell you, there has been limited progress as far as rebuilding and bringing families back to the city. Many of the flooded homes have now been demolished by the city and that is a start. However, money for rebuilding has been slow in coming for many. I'm grateful my mother is residing away from all the tragedy, but she misses her city and her friends.

My sister and I brought Mama to New Orleans and stayed in a hotel for three days so she could catch up with some of her old friends. Two families had lost both of their homes with Katrina and were living together in one of their son's houses. Mama's friend, Evelyn, had children in grade school with our family and we were neighbors. They started a volleyball team for "moms" and played for several years. Mama was the oldest by over 10 years. Well, when we met Evelyn at her new home, she and Mama talked like they had just seen each other yesterday though it had been many years. My sister and I had a great time listening to them talk and laugh and talk some more. We went out to lunch - the talking and laughter continued. Mama said it was one of the best times she has had in years. And, my sister and I learned lots of new things about Mama.

We had a fun year in 2007-2008 with the following activities:
1. The 11th Annual Golf Tourney and Luncheon
2. Several Driver Improvement courses with Ron Hales
3. Liahna Armstrong - Stardom on the Silver Screem followed with wine and cheese
4. President McIntyre's Holiday Reception
5. Workshop with Wendy Ritterreiser
6. Evening of Music - John Pickett followed with a social time
7. Frenchman Springs Coulee - Professor Nick Zentner
8. Annual Meeting - Glen Bach - Central, Sepia to Color

If you have some ideas of activities or speakers you would like to see happen, please e-mail Rosco Tolman at tolmanr@cwu.edu.

Enclosed is the flyer for the 12th Annual Golf Tourney and Luncheon. Hope to see you there.

And, since this is my last newsletter, please know how much I have enjoyed being your president for the last two years. I am sure this will embarass him, but Ross Byrd is the one who encouraged me to do this and I want to thank him for doing so. So, Ross, thanks.