PWA
March 7, 2005
Vol. 17, No. 23
Lives and eats organic
Spanish teacher Renée Couture says her last name means "fashion" in French. "Ironic, isn’t it?" she says, laughing. She dresses attractively, but with practicality a clear priority.
Renée is new to the area, but she feels right at home. "I love small communities, and the recreational opportunities are wonderful here." She grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa, and attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. "It was just about the size of UCC, very comfortable," she says. In 1999 she got a bachelor’s in studio art and Spanish, with a minor in women’s studies. Then she continued her education at "the school of life," beginning with a year in AmeriCorps in Washington, DC, where her work included firefighting and home-building.
Next she joined the Peace Corps and went to Bolivia where she says, "I really learned to speak Spanish." She spent more than two years in the small town of Tarija, helping beekeepers and grape growers to expand and improve their production, assisting with health needs, and teaching workshops for young people on topics such as goal-setting, communication and self-esteem. While there she met her fiancé, Werner Krueger, who was also a Peace Corps volunteer.
In 2003, Renée left the Corps, traveled in South America and the U.S. She worked in Arizona for a while as an interpreter for JP Morgan Chase Banks, but was happy to move here when Werner was hired last June as a forester for BLM. The couple is looking for property to buy and plans to stay.
Renée enjoys working part-time at UCC, though she wouldn’t mind teaching full-time in the future. "I’m just learning the ropes now, so part-time is fine." On Fridays when she doesn’t teach, she works for Sun Glo, an organic farm, for "a small wage and all the produce we can use." She says the outside, physical labor balances her academic work, "plus I’m learning a lot there, and we’re so well-fed."
Creating ceramic sculpture is another of Renée’s talents–her work is featured in the current Whipple Fine Arts display, "Walking the Talk." She and Werner enjoy hiking, skiing and cooking together, and she is also a "voracious reader" in both Spanish and English. "Knowing a second language opens your world so much," she says, enthusiastically. "It’s wonderful to share this with students, to help them succeed."
Condolences
Our condolences go to Dave Clifford whose father passed away at home in his sleep last Wednesday.
“Godot” group discounts
Instructors are invited to bring student groups to “Waiting for Godot” at the discount rate of $6 per person for groups of 15 or more. Tickets need to be purchased at one time and in advance of the day of performance from the fine arts office. The play is unique as illustration of existentialist philosophy and of theatre of the absurd.
Educators Dinner
The US Army in inviting all Douglas County high school and college faculty to a free dinner at Elmer’s Restaurant on Tuesday, April 12 from 5 to 7pm.
The dinner will include a guest speaker who will discuss how the Army can provide students with tuition assistance. You will learn about their new college programs and other benefits they offer students. Please RSVP by March 16 by calling 672-6718.
President’s Forum
Wednesday, March 9, 3:30pm in Whipple Fine Arts.
Umpqua Singers new CD
Buy the new Umpqua Singers CD in the Fine Arts Office for only $10 each.
Art exhibit closes this week
This is your last chance to see the “ Walking the Talk” exhibit by artists who are local school teachers in the Whipple Art Gallery.
TRIO in jeopardy
President Bush’s proposed 2006 Fiscal Year Budget does not provide funding for Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound or GEAR UP programs.
If this budget is supported by Congress, 600 middle and high school Douglas County youth will be affected. UCC’s ETS is in the third year of a five year grant. ETS has been able to provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds opportunities enroll in college. This year we have 139 seniors and we anticipate 65% of them will be attending college.
The ETS staff is asking for your support in convincing Congress to maintain these worthwhile programs. If you would like to help, e-mail Kia Gregory.
What’s a wahoo?
The wahoo is a close relative of the king mackerel also called a barracuda, oahu fish, and Pacific kingfish.
The wahoo was originally found to be plentiful off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The Hawaiian word for this fish, ono, meaning "good to eat," is an appropriate description of the sweet, white, flaky flesh.
The world record is a 158 lb. fish taken off Baja California, in 1996. ~ fieldandstream.com
Calendar
Monday, March 7
3pm Personnel Policies Committee, Admin, Board Rm
Tuesday, March 8
11am Associated Students of UCC, CC, Club Union Rm
Noon Engineering Club, JH, Rm 15
7pm UCC Board Meeting, Admin, Board Rm
Wednesday, March 9
8:30am Check Cashing Workshop, CC, Indian Rm
9am Army Recruiting, CC, Lobby
10am Check Cashing Workshop, CC, Indian Rm
Noon Spanish Club, CC, Club Union Rm
Noon Computer Club, ESB, Rm 9
1pm Eastern Oregon University Orientation & Degree Planning, ESB, Umpqua Rm
3pm Internal Budget Committee, Admin, Board Rm
3pm Writer’s Group Mtg, JH, Rm 17
3pm Academic Standards, Library, Moody Rm
3:30pm UCC President’s Open Forum, Whipple Fine Arts, Rm 11
7:30pm “Waiting for Godot,” Preview Night, Centerstage Theatre, Whipple Fine Arts
Thursday, March 10
10am College Now Articulation w/High School, CC, Indian & Timber Rm
11am Community Relations Marketing Committee, Library, Moody Rm
Noon UCC Senate, ESB, Rm 9
2pm ESD/UCC Technology Mtg, Admin, Board Rm
3pm Phi Theta Kappa, CC, Club Union Rm
3:30pm Instructional Council, Snyder, Rm 18
7:30pm “Waiting for Godot,” Centerstage Theatre, Whipple Fine Arts
Friday, March 11
7:30pm “Waiting for Godot,” Centerstage Theatre, Whipple Fine Arts
Saturday, March 12
7pm Junior Miss Pageant, Jacoby Auditorium
7:30pm “Waiting for Godot,” Centerstage Theatre, Whipple Fine Arts
Sunday, March 13
2pm “Waiting for Godot,” Centerstage Theatre, Whipple Fine Arts
Birthdays
Janet Gadwah 03/10
Kristin Moser 03/12
Nancy Nowak 03/13
Hire Dates
Corrie Sommerfeld 03/10/03
Campus Cafe
Monday, March 7
Minestrone Chicken & Beef Soup
New Orleans Shrimp Creole Soup
**Amarillo Chicken Wrap
Tuesday, March 8
Wild Willy’s White Bean Chili
French Onion Soup
**Ponderosa Burger
Wednesday, March 9
Vegetarian Italian Noodle Soup
Jerk Seasoned Chicken Soup
**Spinach Salad
Thursday, March 10
South Western Corn Chowder
Cream of Mushroom Soup
**Beef Eater
Friday, March 11
Steak Man Jack’s Chili
Clam Chowder
**Wahoo Taco
** Indicates a daily special
Hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30am-2pm