WWURA NEWS
Welcoming retired WWU Faculty and Staff and others
March 2021
President’s Notes
A perfect Bellingham late winter day; 10:15 AM and the sun is starting to break through the clouds, the forecast calls for no rain and almost 60 degrees, and we are meeting some friends (socially distanced and masked, of course,) on our patio after we all get our second vaccine shots today. We have a ways to go…but the light at the end of this tunnel is getting brighter.
And that is where we currently are situated as an organization. In addition to the general public health issues our membership is pretty much at a significant level of increased risk for contracting the virus. So we’ll keep trying to find ways of connecting (hopefully not adding to people’s Zoom fatigue) members without our normal face- to-face contact.
The Board was recently approached by the Squalicum Yacht Club about usage, but we are holding off using the space for several months. The Board has begun discussions about when we “normalize,” and what events and activities should be on our schedule. And that might include revitalizing the travel program. I’d be interested in any thoughts you might have about organizing future travel activities or any other services/ events.
Finally, we spent some time to look at WWURA finances and discussed the nominations process for new and continuing Board members and officers.
Enjoy the sun breaks in our weather, keep hope alive that we’ll all make it through this crisis, and will soon be sharing food and stories with each other.
Kevin
(360) 733-8145
For Your Calendar
WWURA’s Upcoming Travelogues
March Travelogue: Around the World, Part 2
Wednesday, March 17 4:00 PM
David Carroll and Susan Donnelly return for the third leg of their global travels. Zoom in for visits to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Thailand, and the Maldives.
April Travelogue: Australia
Wednesday, April 21 4:00 PM
Mark your calendar for a visit to Australia with new friends Andy and Michelle Goerdel. Details in the April Newsletter.
May Travelogue: Around the World, Part 3
David and Susan take us on one last adventure, leading us across the rest of the globe and home! Mark your calendar. Details will be in the May Newsletter
- Writers Group -
Old Expressions
There are some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexplorable march of technology.
These phrases included, “Don’t touch that dial,” “carbon copy,” “Hung out to dry.”
We discover that the words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent as oxygen have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and our keyboards.
“Heavens to Betsy! Gee whilikers! Jumpin Jehoshophat! Holy moley! We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley and even a regular guy couldn’t accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill.”
We, of a certain age, have been blessed to live in changeful times. For a child, each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age.
We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthly stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory.
It’s one of the greatest advantages of aging. We can have our cake and eat it, too.
Interest Groups
BOOK GROUP
We will meet March 16th at 2:00 pm on Zoom to discuss Mama’s Last Hug by Frans de Waal, discussion leader-Minda Rae Amiran. Lina will send a link for Zoom.
- April’s book is Paris in the Present Tense by Mark Helprin
- May’s book is Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Donna Moore
360-733-5769
OPERA GROUP
Metropolitan Opera streaming: Update on Metropolitan Opera streaming dates:
March
- 8th (Manon Lescaut—1980)
- 9th (Cav and Pag—2015)
- 10th (Adriana Lecouvreur—2019)
- 11th(Francesca da Rimini—2013)
- 12th (Fedora—1997)
- 13th (Andrea Chenier—1996)
- 14th (Tosca—2018)
March 19th at 9 p.m. On KCTS (Great Performances at the MET): “Renee Fleming in Concert”
CBC Radio is playing operas of the MET from previous years. Start at Saturday 1pm PST. King FM broad- casts Seattle productions 10 am on Saturdays.
Radio broadcasting of operas: the following stations offer opera each Saturday:
CBC Radio 2 at 105.7 (starts at 1 pm with Ben Heppner). King FM (98.1) at 10:00 am (try computer if your radio/stereo does not connect). Note: Metropolitan Opera 2020-2021 season is cancelled.
Evelyn Ames
360-734-3184
WRITER'S GROUP
Troy Faith Ward, 425-299-4924, troyfaithward@gmail.com.
Meets twice a month. The groups are kept small so there is time for reading and critiquing each other's work. Our writer’s group now has an opening for one female.
A second writing group has started and is accepting new members. Meets twice a month. Call Bill Smith 360-920-6390, billsmith1545@yahoo.com if interested.
Tidbit
Worthy Non-Profit—Anansi Education
Note from Bob McDonnell
This is about an NGO that daughter Leigh and I have been associated with and supporting for almost 10 years. As the material below tells you, it is Anansi Education, which supports poor village kids in Ghana through high school. For poor, you can substitute desperately poor. The kids are recommended to Anansi by their junior high principals. Anansi does a home visit to verify the level of need. My daughter Leigh, her daughter Maureen, and I visited Anansi in Ghana about 6 years ago and visited some of our students' homes. The poorest of the poor. For them a high school education can be life transforming. A number of Anansi graduates, having gone on to university are now business executives, one is a physician, several are nurses, quite a number are teachers. About 18 months ago, I went a second time. You can read my report on the Anansi website.
Almost no one is searching for a NGO to support. We all have our own worthy causes. But if you have room for just one more, Anansi might well be it... Please consider a tax-deductible donation today via paypal on our website (www.anansieducation.org) or by mailing a check written to Anansi Education to Alisa Roe at 8810 NW Lakecrest Ave. Vancouver WA 98665.
For more information about Anansi Education see their following invitation to attend a Webinar on March 14th.
On March 14th at 1:00 PM PST join us to learn more about Anansi and our 17 year mission to educate young people in West Africa. There will be stories, trivia, and a Q&A.
- Attend the informational session to learn about Ghana, reflect on the difference that Anansi is making and how to become a part of the project.
- Visit the Anansi homepage and the webinar informational page to learn more about Anansi and the upcoming program.
- The Zoom link will be posted on the webinar informational page by March 8th.
COOKING FOR ONE (OR TWO)
WWU retiree Lina Zeine first arrived in Bellingham happy to cook, as long as the recipes came from her native Lebanon. After a while, however, she wanted to try creating some of the more Bellingham-style dishes. Encouragement came from English professor and friend, Evelyn Wright, who was widely known for her excellent soup. Evelyn convinced Lina to try a few of her recipes and together they created several success stories.
But eventually, Lina felt the need to expand her repertoire of Evelyn’s soups and her family’s Lebanese specialties. In addition, she determined that such expansion should include not just new recipes, but opportunities for experimentation, exploration, and even courage!
Today’s recipe is a result of Lina’s creative efforts. She suggests we peer into our herb-and-spice pan- try and choose whatever speaks to us. Flavorful success is almost guaranteed.
While you need a one-pound roast, they are rarely sold in that size. Plan to buy a two-pound roast and save half for later.
- Suzanne Krogh
Lina’s Creativity Roast Beef (for one or two with leftovers)
A two-pound top round roast beef (bottom round also acceptable)
2-4 fresh garlic cloves (if desired)
½ - ¾ teaspoon mixed herbs of your choice, fresh or dried or a combination
½ teaspoon salt Ground pepper to taste
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the beef in two equal pieces. Wrap one piece well and place in freezer for later use.
- In a small bowl, pour in ¼ cup olive oil, salt and pepper. Add ½- ¾ teaspoon herbs of your choice. I used dried Italian seasoning and fresh rosemary. Lina likes to try different combinations each time.
- If using garlic, make 2 to 4 random slits in the meat. Insert a clove in each one.
- Using a small spoon, pour a bit of the mixture over the top of the meat. You can then either rub it in by hand or with the back of the spoon. Cover the entire piece of the meat, probably using up the herbed solution. While you are doing this, heat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Place the meat on a rack and roast it at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the roast and turn the heat down to 250 degrees.
- After about 30 more minutes, check the thermometer. If it registers at least 160-165 degrees, the meat is ready. Check the center of the roast for the degree of doneness you prefer. A light pink and not overly juicy will classify as “medium” and will probably be best.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before carving. Be sure to include some of the herb-encrusted exterior with each slice. It is delicious!
Tips
- Unless you are very, very hungry, you will have leftovers. Some suggestions: reheat in a crockpot with potatoes, carrots, onions, etc.; slice for sandwiches; add to marinara sauce and your favorite pasta; re- heat and serve with a side of mashed potatoes; chop and add to a meal-size salad.
About Western Washington University Retirement Association
Email: mal.iaap@clearwire.net
Website: https://www.wwu.edu/wwura/
Phone: (360) 733-6052