Water, Water, Everywhere

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Alumni College ’17: Water, Water, Everywhere

Program Description

Tuesday, June 6

Opening reception and Gorge preview talk (for full-program participants and those who are participating in the Wednesday session)

We’ll gather in Reed’s historic Parker House for a reception featuring fresh and local foods and beverages. Following introductory remarks, John Laursen ’67 will start things off with an illustrated presentation of the Columbia River Gorge before the dams. John will show images collected and crafted into his collaborative work with Terry Toedtemeier, Wild Beauty.  This is the perfect precursor to the Wednesday’s program.

Meals: appetizers, beer, wine

Schedule: 6-9 p.m. Parker House

Wednesday, June 7

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This Gorge was Made for You and Me:
An examination of a transportation corridor, an energy source, a drinking water source, and a habitat—among other things.

This will be a full day, running from breakfast through dinner.  We will weave multiple threads through the day’s programming.  The program begins with a presentation and discussion of water rights—both in history and today.  Then we will board our bus and head through the Gorge. With our trusty geologist Jim Jackson ’70 as our guide, we will see how water has shaped this land and the role that floods have played on the landscape.

Much of the activity will focus on the Washington side of the river, a side that gets far less traffic than the Oregon side. Our first stop will be the Army Corps’ adult salmon fish hatchery. Entrance to this facility is tightly controlled, and it is because of our resident tribal fishery expert, Henry Franzoni ’78, that we will be able to visit. Following a discussion of the tensions between competing uses and needs on the river, we will have a catered lunch at the dam.

During lunch, we will enjoy a conversation with Michelle Nijhuis ’96 about the challenges she faces as a science writer, trying to convey the issues to an audience that includes National Geographic and the New Yorker.

Mosier, Oregon is the next stop. We will head over the bridge that connects Bingen, WA and Hood River and stop in the tiny town that found itself the center of attention after an oil-train fire brought simmering tensions to the front page.  Local Reedies were quite involved in the issue, and we will meet with some of them.  Another issue in the region concerns whose water it is and the battle between Nestle and the residents of Hood River County over the proposed sale of water rights to the company.  Some of those residents will be on hand to share their thoughts as well.

The next stop involves us getting close to the river at Horsethief Lake State Park (back on the Washington side of the river). From this spot, we will be very close to the submerged village of Celilo.  And here we will not only learn about how the native peoples depend on water and salmon, but we will stay here for an early dinner consisting of fresh tribal-caught salmon and other local treats.* An added bonus will be the chance to visit the nearby petroglyphs and get a tour of “She Who Watches” (requested, but not yet confirmed).

While it is still daylight, we will head back to Reed.

*The five first foods of the local Indians were: water, salmon, deer and elk, roots (bitter root, etc.), and huckleberries.  We are planning on sampling all of these!

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Schedule (as of April 20)

8:30 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Welcome

9:15 a.m. History of water rights & current issues

10:30 a.m. Depart for Bonneville Dam via Bridge of the Gods

11:30 a.m. Tour fish hatchery

12:45 p.m. Lunch and science communication discussion

1:45 p.m. Depart for Mosier

2:15 p.m. Discussion: Oil and coal trains, drinking water and local tensions

3:15 p.m. Depart for Horsethief Lake State Park

4:00 p.m. Tour petroglyphs

5:00 p.m. Reception & early dinner

8:00 p.m. Projected return time to Reed

Thursday, June 8

From Bull Run to the Benson Bubblers:
Tracing Portland’s drinking water

This day will have three parts.  We will begin with a continental breakfast in the Reed canyon (weather permitting).  Here we will be treated to a discussion with current students who have used the canyon as a laboratory.  Participants will learn from Zac Perry, Reed’s canyon specialist, how he works with students to steward this precious resource.

Then it’s time to get on the bus and head up to the flank of Mt. Hood where the experts at the Portland Water Bureau give us a special tour of the Bull Run reservoir and watershed. When we are up on the watershed, we will learn about how fragile this resource is and how the bureau works to keep the water clean and the flora and fauna native. The experience will be highlighted by short hikes and a catered lunch at a very scenic overlook. On the way back, we will trace the water flow and visit a historic powerhouse that is being given a new life in a spectacular setting. The field trip will return in time for participants to enjoy receptions and dinners back on campus.

The day concludes with a talk by one of Reed’s alumni who are changing the world.  Sasha Kramer ’99 (biology) founded SOIL and has been working in Haiti to improve the living conditions by focusing on sustainable farming practices, innovate use of human waste that is turned unto usable compost, and effective water treatment.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Schedule (as of April 20)

8:30 a.m. Breakfast in the canyon & presentation of the canyon as a lab for Reed students

9:15 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Depart Bull Run (note: the water department staff will lead this part of the program and will manage the time until we return to Reed)

12 noon Lunch

4:30 p.m. Return to Reed from Bull Run

7:30 p.m. Keynote address

Sasha Kramer ’99:

“Transforming Wastes into Resources in Haiti: Reed graduates contribute to protecting water and rebuilding soil using human waste (or just call it poop if you think it is more appropriate :)”

Friday, June 9

Local to Global Issues:
A Look at Farms, Wildlife, and Water on Sauvie Island

After another canyon breakfast, we will board the bus for our brief journey to the local treasure that is Sauvie Island. Once on the island, we will visit the wildlife refuge and see the challenges that wildlife face on the island as well as in the city. This discussion will be led by Bob Sallinger ’91. In addition, we will get a chance to learn about wildlife photography from an expert, Steve Halpern ’83—from ethical issues to practical strategies to make better pictures. Then we will visit some farms and discuss farming with some local alumni. And since we are surrounded by fresh produce, we will enjoy some samples as well. Then it will be time for us to enjoy a lunch on the island, one that features local foods—including fresh strawberries! Then we will return to Reed for our concluding session.

Our final session will take some of what Sasha Kramer ’99 said the night before and combine it with commentary from Molly Case ’12 and Leah Page ’07 and Professor of Economics Noelwah Netusil on the issue of international development and the role that water plays in international politics and diplomacy.  And after some erudite and incisive concluding comments, participants will leave this year’s Alumni College with a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of these issues in Portland and the world.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Schedule (as of April 20)

8:30 a.m. Breakfast in the canyon & presentation of the photography ethics concerning wildlife

9:15 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Depart for Sauvie Island

10:15 a.m. Tour wildlife refuge

11:15 a.m. Visit farms

12 noon Lunch

1:15 p.m Return to Reed from Sauvie Island

1:30 p.m. Concluding session: “Going Global: National and international issues involving water”

3:00 p.m. Alumni College concludes

******

Alumni College Faculty:

John Laursen ’67 is a writer, designer, editor, and typographer. For four decades he has owned and operated Press-22, a Portland studio specializing in the design and production of high-quality books and text-based public art projects. Among the institutions for which he has produced books and art catalogues are the Oregon Historical Society, the Portland Art Museum, Whitman College, Reed College, Marylhurst University, Oregon Health & Science University, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council. His work in public art includes the creation of commemorative installations for the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission and serving on the design team for the Oregon Holocaust Memorial.

Laursen was born in Tacoma, Washington; as a child he lived in Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Arizona, and California. He first experienced the Columbia Gorge on his family’s many trips back and forth across the country. Laursen came to Oregon in the 1960s to attend Reed College, where he became further enthralled with the varied landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to his degree from Reed he holds a master’s degree in political science from UCLA.

Jim Jackson ’70 is a geologist who spent more than 20 years working for Atlantic Richfield Company before turning to the classroom.  He recently retired from Portland State where he was a popular professor of geology.  Jim gives talks and leads field trips all over the region and is a wealth of information about all things geologic.

Bob Sallinger ’91 has worked for Portland Audubon since 1992. His current responsibilities include directing local, regional, and national conservation policy initiatives, wildlife research initiatives, the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, and Wildlife Care Center. Bob’s passion for conservation was developed early exploring the woods of Massachusetts and later on solo hikes from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail and from Canada to Southern Colorado on the Continental Divide.

Bob has a B.A. in biology from Reed College and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School. He currently serves on the board of Humane Oregon and as an adjunct professor of law at Lewis and Clark Law School. He lives in Northeast Portland with his wife Elisabeth Neely, three children, and an assortment of critters including dogs, cat, goats, pigeons, chickens and a hedgehog

Henry Franzoni ’78 left Reed to play avant-garde rock, but then he became involved in Columbia Basin battle for the survival of salmon and other anadromous fish moving through the mainstream dams on in the Columbia Basin in 1997; it was at that time he got sucked into the fight which consumed him for the next 20 years. The problem of the dams and the fish was a specific case of the problem of equitable allocation and preservation of natural resources.  He aspired to become a true conservationist, factoring in human-resource consumption along with resource preservation. Franzoni co-authored a few peer reviewed papers for the Comparative Survival Study which became been minorly influential in the salmon pond of the Columbia Basin fish world.

After an interlude which involved other projects, he  then went back to the volts vs. smolts war in the Columbia basin to work for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission for eight years, leading the Inter-Tribal Monitoring Data Project, part of a team to build legally defensible accounting systems for tribal natural resources, and part of a larger team trying to put fish back in the rivers, restore the riverine environment, and express and defend the rights of the tribes and the tribal fishers.

Michelle Nijhuis ’96After 15 years off the grid in rural Colorado, Michelle now lives in White Salmon, Washington, on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge. A lapsed biologist, she specializes in stories about conservation and global change, but has covered subjects ranging from border security to wrestling with her daughter’s conviction that Bilbo Baggins is a girl.

Her work appears regularly in National Geographic, the New Yorker’s Elements blog, and the science section of the Atlantic, and she is proud to be a longtime contributing editor of High Country News, a scrappy institution that produces some of the finest journalism in the American West. Michelle is the co-editor of The Science Writers Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Pitch, Publish and Prosper in the Digital Age, published by Da Capo Press, and the author of The Science Writers Essay Handbook: How to Craft Compelling True Stories in Any Medium.  And she is also a contributor to the award-winning science blog The Last Word on Nothing.

Her reporting has won several national honors, including two AAAS/Kavli Science Journalism Awards and the Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism. Her writing has also been included in three Best American anthologies.

Dr. Sasha Kramer ’99, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of SOIL, is an ecologist and human rights advocate who has been living and working in Haiti since 2006. After Reed she received a PhD in ecology from Stanford University. She has been recognized as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and an Ashoka Fellow.

Leah Page ’07 spent many years as “SOIL’s Pro-Bono Development Director,” squeezing trips to Haiti between jobs with the United Nations, Mercy Corps, and other global relief agencies, before joining SOIL full time in 2010. What she most loves about SOIL is that its ecological sanitation efforts are designed in collaboration with the Haitian communities they are designed to benefit and that her colleagues are whole-heartedly dedicated to developing viable, ecological solutions to problems that were previously viewed as intractable. Leah and her husband are currently growing their garden and their two young sons in Richmond, VA while Leah telecommutes to work in Haiti over Skype. Leah was an alt-bio major at Reed and took as many economics courses as she could fit in her schedule.

Molly Case ’11 first joined SOIL after graduating from Reed in 2012 and now works as the Deputy Development Director. She loves getting to work on systems-based solutions and especially appreciates the SOIL team’s unwavering commitment to providing safe, full-cycle sanitation services to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. In her spare time Molly loves to travel as much as possible, usually to spend time with her Reedie friends who are scattered across the globe. Molly was an economics major at Reed, and loves to daydream about coming back for several more bachelor’s degrees someday.

 

 

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Literary Ireland: Joyce, Yeats, and Manuscripts

Dublin, Sligo, and Gort

The Ireland of James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and more!

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Whether you’ve been to Ireland before or not, you will not want to miss this custom program designed and led by professor of English Jay Dickson. We’ll examine the Dublin of James Joyce and experience the city on Bloomsday, June 16. But we will also enjoy special access to historic manuscripts, the Book of Kells included. Our trip will take in the Irish countryside as we explore important megalithic sites and stop to admire the miles of stone walls and learn to describe their different styles. On the west side of the country, we will be in Yeats country. And we will explore the areas that inspired his descriptive poetry including Rosses Point, Glencar Waterfall, and Thoor Ballylee. And for those wishing to explore other aspects of this great country, the program includes optional activities so travelers can take nature walks, ride bikes, or tour distilleries.

 

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Current Itinerary:

Monday, June 12: Departures from USA

Tuesday, June 13: Arrival into Dublin; check in; afternoon city tour; evening reception with area alumni. Raise a toast to one of our Irish literary heroes, for it is WB Yeats’s birthday.

Wednesday, June 14: Irish history morning talk by local expert; afternoon library and manuscripts

Thursday, June 15: Jay’s first lecture/talk (on Joyce); Writer’s Museum; Joyce Center; Sandycove trek

Friday, June 16: Bloomsday—talks, performances, and June 16, 1904 prices for those who patronize certain drinking establishments in period attire!
Saturday, June 17—to Sligo via megalithic site; lunch in Sligo; evening in Rosses Point, a subject of Yeats’s poetry (and where there is a Sea Shanty festival going on).

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Sunday, June 18: Yeats talk; Sligo to Yeats sites (Lissadell, Grave,
Glencar Waterfall); Strandhill.

Monday, June 19: to Gort via Wild Atlantic Way; lunch enroute; visit
ThoorBallylee Museum.

Tuesday, June 20: Options—visit Galway or the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

Wednesday, June 21: Departure day—from Dublin or Shannon

Cost: $2250 includes seminars, entrances, breakfasts and lunches, lodging, and ground transportation (excluding airport arrival and departures). $600 single supplement.

Minimum group size: 16 (minimum must be reached by February 28, 2017)

Reserve your space

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An Insider’s Amsterdam

A Guided Examination of the Art, Infrastructure, and Culture of Holland: Yesterday and Today

April 22-30, 2017

amsterdam-by-dan-rocha-flickr-creative-commons-1024x467Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is famous for its tourist attractions and their accessibility. On this trip, we will toggle between some of the more notable sites to others that often are missed, both in the city of Amsterdam and in its nearby surroundings. The variation on the theme is that we will look at what Simon Schama called “Holland’s Embarrassment of Riches” (do read the book in advance, if you can) not from the point of view of the visitor, but rather from the point of view of people who have spent a considerable amount of time living in Holland. Time being scarce, we have only a week to do it, so it will be a full week. In the seven days actually on site, five of them will be spent as a group (three in Amsterdam and two outside) and for the other two days, we will suggest a number of alternatives and assist you in planning your individual excursion.

Saturday, April 22. Departure day. Unless you are doing something in Europe before our week together, you will depart the USA for an overnight flight to Schiphol.

April 22-30, 2017. Welcome to Amsterdam. Most folks will arrive in the morning. Take a train to Amsterdam Centraal Station and then a tram (probably the #2 line) to our (or your) hotel.
• In the late afternoon, we will all take a Canal Boat ride through the city. This is one of those touristy things that just about everybody does, and for good reason. It is a wonderful way to orient yourself to the city and enjoy its unique character.
• Following dinner, we will walk over to the Rembrandsplein for a greeting rijsttafel dinner at Indrapura—one of the best Indonesian restaurants around. Local alumni are invited to join the group for conversation.

rmuseumMonday, April 24. Museum day. For our first full day in town, we will examine two marvelous collections. First is the Van Gogh museum, and then after a hosted lunch at a nearby restaurant, we will visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum. Your evening is free. You can catch up on jet lag, go to a concert or theatre, or check out the coffee shops and bars in neighborhoods close to the hotel or a short tram ride away.

Tuesday, April 25. The Golden Age of Amsterdam. We will go down to Dam Square and visit the Begijnhof (a sheltered place for women who took vows of chastity and charity—but most notably, not poverty—for a sheltered life), the Grote Kerk (main church where royalty is crowned), the Royal Palace, and the Amsterdam Historical Museum. We promise time for a hosted lunch. We will then see the Portuguese Synagogue and Rembrandt’s House, a short metro ride from the Dam and Centraal Station area.

Wednesday, April 26. Optional day. Wednesday is your chance for a side trip by yourself or with your besties. We offer a number of possibilities, both in Amsterdam and nearby.

Thursday, April 27. Tulip day. This is a very special day. First, we will take a train to Leiden and from there take shuttle busses to visit the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. People wishing to bicycle through the flower fields to and from Keukenhof can rent bicycles at the Leiden train station; the ride is about a half hour each way for casual riders. Lunch in Keukenhof is on your own—the tulip lovers and the orchid lovers and the windmill lovers may well wander off on their own.   

kgardenAt a designated time, we will regather at the Leiden train station (riding your bicycles or taking the shuttle busses back) and go to the home of Stephan deSpiegeleire (Belgian scholar at the Hague Center for Security Studies who specializes in Eastern Europe) and Zoe Farnsworth (American teacher at the American School of the Hague). We will be joined for this dinner by Dutch people who are conversant with Dutch and European politics, health care, information-technology policy, and who welcome conversations with Reed-type people. That evening, we will take the train (and tram) back to Amsterdam and our hotel.

Friday, April 28. Optional day. Friday, like Wednesday, is your chance to catch that great thing that you wanted to do but was not included in the schedule.

Saturday, April 29. The Zuiderzeemuseum: Fisherfolk 100 Years Ago. The Zuiderzeemuseum in an open-air museum of life in a West Frisian fishing village circa 1900-1910, as well as an indoor museum of ships used from the Golden Age to the present. Enkhuizen, at the northern tip of the province of North Holland, was a major international commercial port hundreds of years ago. After the Enclosing Dike shut off the Zuiderzee “Southern Sea” from the North Sea to create the freshwater Ijsselmeer, Enkhuizen is a recreational marina town. Decent seafood is to be found in town or at museum eateries. We will take a train from Amsterdam to Enkhuizen (45 minutes). Lunch will be on your own, as some folks will like the outdoor museum and some will like the indoor museum.

Following our return trip to Amsterdam, we will have a final group dinner.

Sunday, April 30. Tot ziens (Dutch for “au revoir”). Those people not staying on will depart back to the USA. For West Coasters, it will be a midmorning flight; for others, there are various options. Schiphol Airport’s duty-free shopping is one of the best around—those Dutch are still traders.

Some interesting things to do on your free days:

We offer here some possibilities; if you want further information, it can be provided, and if you want to know something about other possibilities, we can help. We will begin with options within Amsterdam, and then consider some possibilities out of town.

Option A. Wandering through Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a great walking city. If the weather is good, you can spend time in the Vondelpark (Amsterdam’s version of Golden Gate Park, and right near the hotel). For modern art lovers, the Stedelijk Museum (right next to the Van Gogh Museum) features contemporary art. Folks interested in antique stores (and maybe even antiques) can stroll in the Jordaan, on the other side of the Singel from the Rijksmuseum. There is an all-year, everyday flower market. People wishing to go more into depth into Jewish Amsterdam can see the Anne Frank House (you should do it at least once) and the Jewish Historical Museum. The red-light district has its attractions, even it is only checking out the serious visitors to the area. There are a number of street markets not far from the hotel, and the main shopping area is close to Dam Square. You could spend one or both optional days within the city limits and have a great time.

Option B. The Art of the Hague. Take a train to The Hague Centraal Station (50 minutes). Select from the Mauritshuis (treasure house of Golden Age painting, comparable to the Frick in New York City, but more intense—short walk from train station), the M.C. Escher museum (also short walk from train station), The Gemeente (Municipal) Museum (tram ride from train station) for 19th, 20th-century art featuring Mondriaan), Panorama Mesdag (360-degree view of Scheveningen by Willem Mesdag—the best-known Dutch impressionist), a Dutch impressionist museum (Mesdag’s home—for the cognoscenti). You can also walk through the Dutch seat of government, next to the Mauritshuis (while the capital is Amsterdam, because that’s where the palace is, the seat of government is in The Hague).

Option C. Haarlem. Visit the Frans Hals Museum (Hals and other art, leather wall coverings, interior garden of what once was a senior citizens’ home), St. Bavo church (one of the more impressive ones), open-air market (one of the better ones), Teyler Museum (technology).

Option D. Delft. Take train to Delft (20 minutes beyond The Hague). Visit Prinsenhof (historical and art museum), Old and New Churches, Town Square, Porceleyne Fles (Delft tile manufacture/historical display/sales).

Option E. Religious Utrecht. Take train to Utrecht (20 minutes). Visit (climb?) tower of the Dom—the highest church tower of the oldest cathedral in the Netherlands. Visit cloisters across the street. Visit religious-artifacts museum a block from the Dom. In train station, stroll through Hoog Catherijn—Utrecht’s answer to Lloyd Center. Stroll canals with shops and restaurants at street level and at water level, one floor down.

Option Day F: Rotterdam. This city was destroyed during World War II, and in its rebirth, it was designed as an automobile-oriented city. But it has undergone yet another transformation, and it is worth exploring.  From the train station to the city market, enjoy the many interesting aspects of this fascinating city.

Some of those devilish details:

Basics. The tour price includes double-occupancy hotel room, as well as breakfast each day from Monday through Sunday at the hotel.

In addition, attendees will receive a public-transit pass good for all busses, trams, and metros in the Amsterdam system from your hotel arrival through the next 168 hours, and train and bus fare for all group excursions not covered by the Amsterdam transit pass. Transit outside of Amsterdam, for optional day excursions you may choose, are not included.

Meals. Tour price includes the following:
• Breakfasts Monday through Sunday at the hotel
• Sunday (Rijsttafel), Thursday (Leiden house party), and Saturday (farewell) dinners
• Monday and Tuesday lunches
• Note that meals do not include alcoholic beverages—those are on your own

Attractions. Tour price includes the following:
• Sunday canal boat tour
• Monday Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum
• Tuesday Amsterdam Historical Museum, Grote Kerk, Royal Palace, Portuguese Synagogue, and Rembrandt’s House (Begijnhof does not have admission charge)
• Thursday Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse
• Saturday Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen (one ticket includes open-air and indoor sites)

Cost: $1750 per person, double occupancy; $500 single supplement

Minimum group size: 10
Maximum group size: 24

Reserve your spot

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Riding that Blues Train with Dr. Demento

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Join Us as We “Cruise Through the Blues”

October 12-17

Blues. Soul. Rock & Roll. Jazz. From Memphis to New Orleans, this five day program is designed to delight those who love these genres and want to explore their roots. With the expertise of our own legend, Barry Hansen who authored Cruise through the Blues), we’ll start with Memphis and indulge in that city’s musical history. Then we’ll board the famous “City of New Orleans” and pass farms and fields as we head to the Crescent City to soak up the weekend’s musical offerings coupled with some special experiences just for us Reedies. Join in the fun!

Cost: $995 double occupancy
Includes: Lectures/Talks, ground transportation, lodging, breakfasts and lunches, entrances
Excludes: Alcohol, dinners, cover charges, tips

Minimum group size: 14 travelers

Deposit:
$400 per person

A note about accommodations:
In Memphis, we have 5 rooms reserved at the lovely Talbot Heirs Guest House, an intimate and historic property one block off Beale Street. The first ten travelers will have choice of these rooms. Others will stay in larger hotel properties nearby.

Itinerary:
Wednesday, October 12 (arrival): you will be greeted at the airport and driven to your hotel. No programming—just time to get settled (and excited).

Thursday, October 13: Breakfast and program overview; Walking tour of downtown; Gibson Guitar Factory; Blues & Soul Museum; Sun Records (followed by a Graceland driveby). Optional Tour of Stax Records. Evening: Music on Beale Street

Friday, October 14: Breakfast and morning discussion; Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum; Central BBQ; Blues Hall of Fame. Free time. Evening: Free

Saturday, October 15: Train to New Orleans (note: early morning—6:00 a.m); lunch on train; arrival in New Orleans; hotel check in. Reception; Evening music

Sunday, October 16: Mississippi Queen cruise; Columns Hotel lunch; Lafayette Cemetery tour.

Monday, October 17: Breakfast at Historic New Orleans Collection; Collection talk and French Quarter Walking Tour. Departures.

 

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Reunions ’16: Celebrating You…with More Great Programming

Reunions, June 8–12, is packed full of many events and promises to be a great time for all. From the Marketplace to the Authors’ Reception to the annual poker game—there is something for everyone:

Check out the music!

Alumni College “Elementary Education: the kids, the school, and the community,” Wednesday, June 8 through Friday, June 10

This year, we have selected the topic of elementary education. More Reed graduates have had careers in education—be it elementary, secondary, or tertiary education—than any other field. Elementary education is controversial, with public disagreements about traditional vs. alternative schooling, how to assess achievement and evaluate teachers, centralized vs. decentralized school systems, and the eternal issue of how much funding elementary education requires and how to obtain that funding. Crosscutting those debates are emerging scientific findings about how children learn, how they become motivated to learn, and how schools and their surrounding communities can achieve synergistic effect. We’ll delve into these and other issues using Reed faculty and alumni as content experts and participants as engaged interlocutors.

The Alumni Authors’ Reception on Friday, June 10 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. is your opportunity to mingle with Reed authors. Published authors are invited to showcase their books. Contact Patrick Sandlin, book department manager, at sandlinp@reed.edu or 503/788-6659) for more information. (Participation will be limited to 12 authors.)

The 12th Annual Reunions Poker Game on Friday, June 10 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Come see if you know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em. Hosted by Mark Humphrey ’85 and Tor Jernudd ’84. Open play (dealer choice of game) or possibly a tournament, based on attendee choice. Your opportunity to pay off a tiny portion of your student-loan debt.

Foster-Scholz Club Annual Recognition Luncheon on Saturday, June 11 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. is the annual luncheon for the Foster Scholz Club (alumni who graduated 40 or more years ago). Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award will be honored and the Class of 76 alumni will be welcomed to the club. The keynote speaker will be Virginia Oglesby Hancock ’62, professor of music, speaking on her time at Reed.

The Marketplace on Saturday, June 11 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. showcases Reed-related chefs, bakers, growers, harvesters, vintners, brewers, distillers, and artists and gives visitors the chance to enjoy and purchase food, drink, and craft. Tables are filling up fast; contact Francesca Michel ‘15 at michelf@reed.edu if you want to be one of the purveyors.

Talent Show: This is a wacky and fun Reunions highlight on Saturday, June 11 from 8 to 9:45 p.m.. We’ve showcased poets, singers, jugglers, pianists, joke-tellers, even banjo players, all in a fun, supportive atmosphere. If you want to perform, please send a message to Francesca Michel ‘15 at michelf@reed.edu , and we’ll pass the message along to the show’s coordinator, Mateo Burch ’82. Or, sign up in Reunions Central when you arrive on campus.

We want to celebrate you in words AND PICTURES
Do you have favorite images of you and your friends while you were students at Reed? Perhaps pictures that are “pure Reed”? What about other memorabilia? We are attempting to gather as many images as possible and curate them to fill Kaul Auditorium with evocative displays, videos, and miscellaneous Reediana. We will be sending out information and permission forms in short order! On May 1, we will gather what we have and supplement from the archives to create an impressive series of displays!  The reveal will be on Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. in conjunction with the celebratory Fanfayre (where we will be honoring you as well as retiring faculty members Virginia Oglesby Hancock ’62 and Tom Wieting. Help Reed celebrate you by sharing!

Register today, check out the full list of who’s coming, the schedule, and join more than 650 Reedies and friends who have already signed up.

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Travel & Study with Reed: 2016 and beyond

As you plan your adventures for the year, consider incorporating Reed’s travel study program into your plans.  Whether you want to venture near or far we have a suite of opportunities for that will sate your wanderlust.  Here’s is what is on tap (additional information on all programs being added regularly as information firms up):

Alumni College-Elementary Education: the Kids, the Classroom, and the Community. With Jennifer Henderlong Corpus, Professor of Psychology, and others, June 8-10, 2016.

Celebrating Shakespeare’s 400 in London & Stratford. With Robert Knapp, Reginald F. Arragon Professor of English and Humanities, July 20-31, 2016

Savoring the Food and Art of Oaxaca. September 23-October 2

Memphis to New Orleans–Ridin’ the Blues Train with Dr. Demento. October 12-17

NOTE: Long Weekend programs may be added as well and will be announced approximately 90-120 days in advance.

2017 Programs include:

Cuba: A Look at Havana’s Heritage and more!

Amsterdam: Art, Architecture, and Infrastructure with local alumni experts

Sicily with Ellen Millender, Professor of Classics and Humanities

Alumni College, 2017: Scientific Literacy

Ireland: a Joyce and Keats Adventure with Jay Dickson

Full Solar Eclipse in Eastern Oregon: the best viewing with Robert Reynolds, David W. Brauer Professor of Physics, Emeritus

 

 

 

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Oaxaca Culinary and Cultural Adventure

Oaxaca Culinary & Cultural Adventure
September 23-October 2, 2016

Back by popular demand! Organized by Jewel Murphy ‘82, this will be an intimate experience for those who value travel and learning experiences that touch all the senses. Oaxaca is a world heritage site that is unlike any other Mexican city. Sitting in the south-central part of the country at an elevation of 5,000 feet, this is truly vibrant colonial city with a rich and textured heritage.   The group who went with Jewel in 2014 raved about their experience.

Highlights and costs include:
• Private lectures, tastings and hands on activities exploring the history and uses of corn and chilies.
• Visits to two different indigenous markets that are only slightly different from what the Conquistadores found when they first came to the Americas. Sample everything to be offered and prepare for tastebud overload!
• Visits to small, home based, local, women-owned food businesses. Get an authentic glimpse of life in rural Oaxaca and explore the countryside. Learn about microfinance. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to help make tortillas or other traditional foods.
• Visits to archaeological sites and colonial churches where we’ll follow the unbroken thread of habitation from the first cities to the present day.
• Private cooking class with one of Oaxaca’s most renowned chefs. The opportunity to see first hand how mezcal is made including tastings!
• Most meals, including dining at many of Oaxaca’s finest restaurants. (Note we have allowed for two dinners on your own so that you may sample at your leisure from Oaxaca’s many offerings or we can arrange a dinner at the casa for you) Also included, homecooked, traditional meals at the casa and the best of local street food. Enjoy Alice Waters and Rick Bayless’s favorite places to eat in Oaxaca.
• Highly charming, entertaining, and educated English-speaking guides during most excursions. We have gathered some of the best guides in the region who can speak to the cultural history, politics, economy, food, and art of the region.

Full itinerary by our fearless leader, Jewel Murphy ’82.

Accommodations:
• Nine nights lodging at one of Oaxaca’s most charming bed & breakfast operations–home to a tropical garden, a fantastic folk-art collection, and a wonderful library. This is a very special place to stay where you will feel pampered and taken care of.

Cost $2,395 per person.  Note: This is a small customized tour limited to a maximum of 10 participants (single supplement $300) that includes lodging, airport transfers, ground transportation, some meals, classes, and tours.

Tour cost does not include:
• Airfare or transportation to Oaxaca
• Gratuities or tips (which we encourage for guides and hotel staff)
• Alcoholic beverages (except during mezcal tastings)
• Shopping, personal, and other incidental expenses (note that we’ll have lots of opportunities to shop and there will be lots of temptation)

NOTE: There is a possibility of a four day post program add on for those who want to spend four relaxing days on the coast and studying tropical permaculture and local eating in a very beautiful, off-the-grid, hand-built cabin about 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

optional 4 day add on where
we travel to the coast and relax and  study tropical permaculture and local eating in a very
beautiful, off the grid, handbuilt cabin 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean?

For additional information or to register, contact alumni@reed.edu.

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Shakespeare 400 in London and Stratford

StatueCCElliotBrown430Immerse yourself in London’s theatre scene with seven plays over 10 days! Limited seats for guided discussions, expert insights, and special access to behind-the-scenes programs for the group.

Shakespeare died in 1616. So did Cervantes. This was also the year in which a folio volume, The Works of Benjamin Jonson, made its appearance, thereby claiming for the first time that modern plays could rival those of the ancients. In commemoration of these cultural milestones, lots will be going on in London and Stratford during 2016. Under the leadership of Robert Knapp, R.F. Arragon Professor of English and Humanities, a contingent of Reedies will sample these pleasures in late July.

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The London season has been announced, and we have secured tickets at the Globe to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and Macbeth to supplement our four plays at Stratford (Dr. Faustus, The Alchemist, Cymbeline, and Hamlet), and we have made arrangements to visit the Garrick Club (that shrine to British theatre, and to the actor-manager who did more than anyone else to establish the cult of William Shakespeare). We will be sure to see a couple of shows at “Shakespeare’s Globe,” that Bankside recreation of the Burbages’ 16th and 17th century venue. And while in and around Stratford (where Shakespeare lived, filed lawsuits, and owned property) we will investigate the countryside whose flowers and birds have been transmitted into popular culture through the plays.

In addition to playgoing, conference-style conversations about texts, contexts, and productions, and some organized touring of Stratford sites and the surrounding countryside, there will be ample time for individual exploration of London.

Planned Itinerary

Wednesday, July 20: Depart USA (for most Reedies and friends)
Thursday, July 21: Arrival into London. Check into Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel.  Evening reception (with London Reedies).
Friday, July 22: Opening seminar, program overview.  Matinee: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Evening free.
Saturday, July 23: Morning free: Afternoon-Evening: travel to Glyndebourne; explore grounds, collections, and enjoy a performance of  Béatrice et Bénédict  (excursion and ticket prices are extra–currently showing as sold out, so we’ll have to see who wants to go and if we can get tickets).
Sunday, July 24.: Free day.  Optional activities offered.
Monday, July 25:Victoria and Albert Museum  Evening: Shakespeare’s Globe theatre backstage tour and evening performance of  The Taming of the Shrew.
Tuesday, July 26:Visit to Garrick Club as special guest of William Cussans ’83 (to be confirmed closer to tour time).  Tour club and collection. Afternoon free.  Evening performance of Macbeth
Wednesday, July 27: Greenwich.  Take Thames River boat and tour Greenwich. Evening free.
Thursday, July 28: Depart Bloomsbury on private coach for Stratford via Oxford and the Cotswolds (Cirencester, perhaps). Check into hotel (the Stratford). Evening: performance of Doctor Faustus.
Friday, July 29: Stratford seminar. Walking tour of Stratford. Possible countryside walk to Anne Hathaway’s cottage. Evening: performance of Hamlet.
Saturday, July 30: Afternoon: matinee performance of Alchemist. Evening: performance of Cymbeline. Final celebratory, post-performance drink.
Sunday, July 31: Morning countryside walk and departures.

shakesglobeCost: Based on requests from travelers, we are pleased to offer some pricing options: $2,800/person double occupancy  (includes hotels, opening and closing receptions, guided seminars, private coach transport from London to Stratford,  mid priced seating at plays).  Single supplement $400.

Option: London 3 plays, talks, tours over 7 days with hotel: $1750/person. Double occupancy.  (Call for single supplement or other special requests)

Option: Stratford 4 plays over 4 days (3 nights) including talks, countryside transit tour. $1150. Double occupancy.  (Call for single supplement or other special requests)

To reserve your spot (only 16 available) and for additional information, contact alumni@reed.edu.

 

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A Phalanx of Reedies Descend Upon Greece

The rolling Hum conference that is Reed’s travel study program stopped in Greece for a ten day program that showcased the best of Reed professors. Ellen Millender served as the content expert as more than 30 Reed alumni and friends toured Athens and parts of the Peloponese, visiting historic site and digging deeper into ancient Greek culture.

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Inside Scenic Curaçao with Prof. Laura Leibman

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Inside Scenic Curaçao: Jewish History, the Slave Trade, and more!

Until 1825, the exquisite Caribbean island of Curaçao had the largest, wealthiest, and best-educated Jewish community in the Americas. Join Laura Leibman, professor of English & humanities, and a small group of travelers for this in-depth examination of Curaçao’s historical legacy.  Part of the Dutch Antilles and located three hours south of Miami, this island is distinguished by a rich and layered history, fascinating material culture, and picturesque and natural beauty. The capital, Willemstad, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the small island boasts wonderful diving, birding, and hiking opportunities as well. What better way to start off 2016?

To sign up, fill out and return this form.

Program features:

  •  Academic focus: experience the birthplace of Jewish American life.  Gain a deeper understanding of how objects of everyday life reflect religious and cultural change.
  •  Sights to see: world-famous synagogue, cemeteries, and domestic architecture. Amazing wildlife on land and below the water’s surface.
  •  Memorable activities: Gothic cemetery tour. Experience the synagogue’s sand floor. See live corals and tropical fish up close and personal. Eat fresh tropical fruits and vegetables from the floating market. Photography: whether you like to capture shots of animals, people, underwater vistas, or historic buildings, this island is a photographer’s paradise.

Group Leader’s Statement

“I am offering this opportunity to examine and experience Curaçao because I wish more people knew that American Jewish history really began in the Caribbean.  The island’s main synagogue helped fund almost all early North American synagogues and provided rabbis to lead many of them.  Because the island’s economy collapsed at the end of the slave trade and because of later preservation efforts, a wealth of exquisite Dutch colonial architecture remains.  The island is a living museum to early Jewish American life.”

– Professor Laura Leibman

DAILY ITINERARY

Please note: Times and/or order of activities may be subject to change depending on the opportunities provided by the host communities and/or unforeseen circumstances.

Day 1: Monday, January 11: Arrival

Arrival: Depending on where leave from and how you choose to route yourself, you may be spending an evening in Aruba or taking a red eye before landing in Willemstad (or both).  No matter your routing, you will be greeted at the airport and driven to your accommodations in a boutique hotel in the heart of Curacao’s historic district and only a short walk to the beach and floating market.  In the evening, those who have arrived in time will gather for a reception and program overview.

Day 2: Tuesday, January 12:  Synagogue, Fort Amsterdam, Slavery Museum

We begin in the beautiful Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods, the oldest portion of the island’s major port of Willemstad. Key historical sites to introduce us to the three major cultural influences on the island: the Mikve Israel Synagogue (Jewish), Fort Amsterdam (Dutch), and the Kura Hulanda Slavery Museum (African).

Day 3: Wednesday, January 13: Cemetery & Art Gallery

Curaçao’s Jewish community was deeply mystical and some of most elaborate expressions of their beliefs can be found on the gravestones in the island’s oldest Jewish Cemetery (Beth Haim Blenheim), the most significant Jewish cemetery in the Americas.  Following the cemetery we will relax at the Art Gallery and Cultural Center at nearby Landhuis Habaii (Habaii Mansion), once the residence of some of the island’s most important Jewish families.

Day 4: Thursday, January 14: Plantation Houses, Nature Preserve, Snorkeling

Although almost all Jewish families had a house in Willemstad, they also often owned plantation houses around the island.  We will visit some of the most famous of these at the island’s West End, including one that was the site of a slave rebellion and another that is now a nature preserve.  In between plantation houses, we will relax and snorkel at the island’s incredible Little Knip beach.

Day 5: Friday, January 15: Urban Villas, Gothic Graves, Curacao Liquor

By the nineteenth-century, most Jews had moved out of the Punda into nearby Scharloo where they built urban villas.  Our tour of the Scharloo neighborhood includes the famous Wedding-Cake House (now the National Archives), the gothic nineteenth-century cemetery, and the nearby Chobolobo estate, home of Curacao Liquor.

Day 6: Saturday, January 16: Observe the Sabbath/Free Day.  Make an excursion back to the beaches, take a guided diving expedition, charter a sailboat, take a day trip to Bonaire or just enjoy the casual rhythms of the island.

Day 7: Sunday, January 16: Departure day

Departure day.  Depending on travelers’ schedules, we’ll have a concluding breakfast and discussion with some optional educational activities to enjoy before the program concludes.

Program Cost: $1750 per person (double occupancy–$300 single supplement).  This includes ground transportation, 6 nights lodging, two meals per day (breakfast and lunch), entrances, and facilitated discussions. Not included: airfare, travel insurance (recommended, including med-evac), alcohol, personal items, tips, and upgraded hotel accommodations.

Group Size: 10-20 passengers.

Deposits: $500 per person with registration, balance due within 45 days of departure. Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. The following per person fees are applicable on this tour:

30-45 days prior = 25 % refund

46-90 days prior = 50 % refund

91 days or more prior= full refund- $150.

Registration deadline: October 10, 2015.

To sign up, fill out and return this form.

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