President's Page

This newsletter will be provided several times per year to provide the membership of the RA with information on campus events and activities, as well as updates and notification of RA activities. If you have suggestions for items to include in this newsletter please direct them to me, Dean, at the Retirement Association Office.

HOLIDAY PARTY

The Retirement Association held its annual Holiday Party on December 7 at Carlton Oaks Country Club. The Women’s Association, joint sponsor with the RA, provided beautiful center pieces and a platter of cookies for dessert at each table. I especially liked the chocolate chip cookies. Approximately 80 members enjoyed the entertainment provided by The Friendship Connection, who sang a selection of holiday songs and carols. Many RA members felt obliged to assist The Friendship Connection by singing along when the spirit moved them. A good time was had by all.

OSHER INSTITUTE

The RA will be forwarding to you an email from the Osher Institute at SDSU. Osher offers a series of classes each semester to older folks, like us. Some of the classes meet just once, for a couple of hours, and others meet for several weeks in a row, much like a university class. Some of the classes are current event oriented, “The Panama- California Exposition Centennial Celebration at Balboa Park,” some are general interest, “German Wines,” and others are historical or academic in orientation, “History of North American Art.” There are courses on “Fun With Genealogy,” “Mornings At The Opera,” “Tea With Mrs. Roosevelt,” The Anthology of American Folk Music: The Old Weird America” and many more. The courses are offered through the College of Extended Studies and the course catalog is available online or in hard copy. The phone # is 619-594-2863.

SOUTH CAMPUS PLAZA

Many of you have probably noticed the construction activity taking place just west of College Avenue and just north of Montezuma Road. This project has been named South Campus Plaza and is a mixed-use complex consisting of street-level commercial storefronts and upper-level student housing. It includes a public parking structure, green space and outdoor casual space. It will create a community friendly interface with the nearby neighborhood and convenient goods and services for the campus. If someone from Facilities Planning on campus is available I will attempt to have them speak to any interested members of the Retirement Association. For more information you may go to: http://sdsu.edu/plazalindaverde.

ALBERT W. JOHNSON RESEARCH LECTURE

Al Johnson, Emeritus Vice President for Academic Affairs and a member of the RA, has provided funding to sponsor an annual research lecture to the campus. The speaker this year is Dr. Joanne Ferraro, Professor of History who will deliver her lecture titled “The Historian as Detective: Sex Crimes in Early Modern Venice” in AL 201 at 3:00 PM on March 20, 2015. Dr. Ferraro is an outstanding historian and highly accomplished scholar of marriage and the family, prolific author with four scholarly books, numerous book chapters and refereed articles. The lecture is offered free of charge and is open to the university community.

SDSU STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

On March 6th and 7th SDSU students will present poster or oral presentations on their research, scholarship or creative activity. The event this year with be held in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union and it is anticipated there will be in excess of 400 student presentations. Members of the RA are invited to serve as judges to assist in evaluating the presentations. You can find more information about this event and register to judge at: http://srs.sdsu.edu. If you have questions you may contact Keven Jeffery, Chair of the Student Research Committee at 619-993-4679.