100 East 8th Street, Suite 270
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 395-7919
Number 287
Website: www.hope.edu/hasp
Monthly Bulletin
July 2012
Email: hasp@hope.edu
Date:
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Time:
9:00 a.m. coffee, 9:20 announcements and program
Place:
Haworth Conference Center, Hope College
Program:
Milton Nieuwsma, “Thomas Jefferson and the First Independence Day”
(Please note that during the next year as we approach the 25th Anniversary of HASP we will begin at 9:20 in order to
hear a different speaker each month share a bit of history about HASP!)
Milton Nieuwsma (born Sept. 5, 1941) is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary writer and producer and the
author of Kinderlager, an account of three young concentration camp survivors which has been acclaimed as one of the
top 10 books written on the Holocaust. This has been his most acclaimed work but his primary interest is early American
history. Over the years he has written and lectured extensively on Thomas Jefferson.
Nieuwsma was born in Sioux Falls, S.Dak., the son of a Dutch Reformed minister. In 1945, after World War II, his family
moved to Bellflower, Calif. At the age of 5, he met Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch-born concentration camp survivor and
author of The Hiding Place whose family had hidden Jews in their Netherlands home during the war. Ten Boom was a
guest at the Nieuwsma parsonage in Bellflower. In a 2001 interview, Nieuwsma recalled "sitting on (ten Boom's)
lap...listening to her talk and wondering to myself, 'who is this woman.' She reminded me of my grandmother." Ten Boom
inspired him to learn more about the Holocaust.
Nieuwsma started his writing career as a reporter for the Holland (Mich.) Evening Sentinel while in high school. After
graduating with an English degree from Hope College in 1963, he worked as a public information officer at Wayne State
University in Detroit and hosted a weekly radio program, "The Fifth Freedom," on WQRS-FM, a Detroit fine arts station.
He also wrote programs for a public television series, "Our America," which later was canceled for lack of funding.
In 1969 Nieuwsma began a series of public relations and fund-raising jobs that took him away from his first love, writing,
for the next decade. In the late 1970s he began contributing historical features and travel articles to the Chicago Tribune.
In 1978 Nieuwsma received a master's degree in literature and communication at the University of Illinois-Springfield. A
year later he became a vice president of Grant Hospital in Chicago and continued to write for the Chicago Tribune.
In 1990 he took an administrative position at New Brunswick Seminary in New Brunswick, N.J. and taught journalism at
Rutgers University. While in New Brunswick, Nieuwsma met Tova Friedman, believed to be the youngest survivor of
Auschwitz, which inspired him to write Kinderlager (published 1998). Friedman is one of three children – all Auschwitz
survivors – featured in the book. In 2001 Kinderlager was selected by the Hogere Europese Beroepen Opleiding (Institute
for Higher European Studies) in The Hague as one of the top 10 books written on the Holocaust. In 2005 the book was
reissued under the title Surviving Auschwitz: Children of the Shoah as a companion book to a PBS documentary of the
same name, which Nieuwsma wrote and co-produced. Released in 2005, the film received an Emmy Award from the
Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for best historical documentary. The film also
won a First Place Gold Camera Award at the International Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles. Nieuwsma won a
second Emmy in 2006 for writing and co-producing "Defying Hitler," a documentary about a Jewish fighter in the Polish
Resistance.
Since 1997 Nieuwsma has lived in Holland, Mich., where he continues to write. In 2001 he co-founded the Amicus
Group, a consulting firm. He has since written, They Will be Victors, with Robert Wollack (published 2010), and Earth
Angels with Peter VandenBosh (published 2011), and received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Hope College in
2009.
He and his wife, Marilee, have three children, Jonathan, Greg and Elizabeth, and seven grandchildren.
MONTHLY MEETING PARKING:
Lot Z – behind Anderson-Werkman building is reserved for HASP members (marked
with orange cones), there are some available spaces in Lot U (for Haworth guests, behind the Kepple House by Dykstra Hall), Pillar
Church parking lot, street parking where available, and the lot behind New Holland Brewery and 84 East where available. The newer
downtown parking ramp is also a great option! If you live at Freedom Village, please consider taking their bus over.
MEMBERSHIP
HASP Annual Dues notices and renewal forms will be sent to you via mail in July. Our yearly membership fee
will again be $100.00 per member for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Please DO NOT send payments prior to
receiving your notice and renewal paperwork in the mail.
We welcome the following new members:
LAWRENCE DEN UYL
Profession:
Accountant
Education:
Grand Rapids Junior College, Davenport University
Hobbies:
Golf, yard work, sports
Mentor:
Jim Chamness
LINDA DEN UYL
Profession:
Education:
Hobbies:
Mentor:
Teacher
Hope College, B.A.
Reading, walking, sailing, kayaking and travel
Dorothy Chamness
ANDRE DION KENEAU
Profession:
Artist
Education:
Wayne State University, B.A., National Accreditation in Public Relations, Graduate
Leadership Holland
Hobbies:
Travel, arts/architecture, economic and community development, special events, writing
Mentor:
Ann Weller
We welcome back Emily Jean McFadden to active membership after taking a leave of absence last year. She is
a retired professor of social work and currently serves on our social studies sub-committee for curriculum.
We express our sympathy to the friends and family of member Bill Bloemendaal who died May 30, 2012. Bill
was a past HASP President, Distinguished Service Award recipient, Curriculum Director, course presenter and
participant and champion of HASP.
COMMUNICATIONS
If you were not at the Annual Meeting June 5th and still need your 2012 HASP Review it is waiting for you in
the HASP office. One copy per household. If you need it sent to you please contact the HASP office via phone
or email.
Summer is here, but the HASP anniversary year is as well! HASP will be 25 years old in 2013! We all know
the line "Everyone has a story", so what's yours? What will you be adding to the 25th anniversary year Review?
We hope to see you between the covers of this special edition. It’s not too early to get started!
The Communications Committee
CURRICULUM
July Courses:
Serendipity in Science – Monday, July 9
Books and Writers – Tuesday, July 10
Great Conversations, Tuesday, July 10, 17, 24, 31, 1:00 p.m.
War of 1812 - Wednesday, July 11, 18, 25
Writing Memoirs – Wednesday, July 11 and 25, 1:00 p.m.
Ragtime Piano – Thursday, July 12 and 26, off-site
WWII in the Netherlands – Tuesday, July 17
Abstract Art History Overview – Thursday, July 19
Computer Experiences – Tuesday, July 24, 1:00 p.m.
Contemporary Grandparenting – Monday, July 30
The Big Bad Wolf – Tuesday, July 31
SERVICE
The Service Committee of HASP has decided to accept the invitation of the Greater Ottawa United Way to
participate in the Day of Caring on Thursday, September 20th, 2012. This is a county wide effort for teams of
local volunteers to provide services for non-profits. It would involve less than 4 hours of service and we would
be assigned a project suitable for seniors, perhaps tutoring, a food bank, etc. Please consider joining our HASP
team of volunteers for this event. For further information or to put your name on the list please contact Janice
Fike, jfike9@gmail.com. THANKS!
SPECIAL EVENTS
REGISTRATION FORMS FOR THESE EVENTS ARE ON THE LAST PAGE!
(Please send in separate checks if registering for more than one event)
Michigan Shakespeare Festival in Jackson, MI, Wednesday, July 25th
The Special Events Committee has planned a trip to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival in Jackson. This will be
a one-day trip scheduled for Wednesday, July 25th. The event includes a visit to the Ella Sharp Museum, lunch
at the Granary Café followed by a short ride to the Potter Center at Jackson Community College where we will
see “Love’s Labour Lost”. After the performance we will go to the Sandhill Crane Winery for dinner and wine
tasting. Those interested may tour the winery. This is a minimal walking trip. We will depart at 8:00 a.m. and
return to Holland at approximately 9:30 p.m. Please indicate your luncheon and dinner selection on the
reservation form and return with your check for $94.00 per person to the HASP office by July 20, 2012.
Grand Kids Day! Thursday, August 9, 2012 – STILL room – don’t miss out with the special young person in
your life!
An inter-generational trip is being planned for Thursday, August 9th, to Muskegon. The outing will include a
visit to the Great Lakes Naval Museum with guided tours of the U.S.S. Silversides (WWII submarine). At noon
we will enjoy a box lunch/picnic at Margaret D. Elliot Park. Afternoon activities include a tour of Muskegon’s
Coast Guard facilities and a demonstration in building and flying your own kites presented by personnel from
the MacKite Company of Grand Haven.
It is suggested that “grandkids” be between 6 and 12 years old.
Don’t have children nearby? You might consider taking your “Kids Hope” student, or borrow a neighbor’s
child for this end of summer event! The bus will leave the municipal parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and return
approximately 4:30 p.m. The day’s events will cost $29.00 per person. Price includes travel, lunch, kites with
lessons, admissions, coffee, juice and donuts. Please note on the reservation form any special dietary
restrictions. A permission slip/release of liability form for grandkids will be sent to registrants at a later date.
HASP Office News
With the addition of the art hanging system to our HASP classroom we have the ability to hang artwork or other
“hang able” materials of interest. The Fine Arts Committee would like to feature HASP artists work –
photographers, painters, craftsperson’s, etc…
Last spring, Karen VanDam Michermerhuizen and Mary Porter each displayed some of their paintings. In June
we have featured the photography of member Ralph Gutierrez. July will feature the work of Ruth Donaldson.
If you have material you would like to display please contact either Kim Mendels in the HASP office (3957919) or Mary Porter (335-2904, m.porter95@yahoo.com) and take this opportunity to share your work!
Summer office hours have started. Please note the office will be closed on Fridays and most afternoons.
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012
$94.00 per person
Yes, I/we will attend (no.): __________
Name(s): ___________________________________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: ___________________
Emergency Contact Info (name and #): ___________________________________________________
Granary Café Lunch:
______Half turkey Rueben sandwich and soup*
______Half chicken salad sandwich and soup*
______Very veggie gyro and soup*
(*Gazpacho of Soup of the Day)
Sandhill Crane Vineyards Dinner
(Dinner served with mixed green salad with dried cherries, blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette, cheddar
potato gratin and sautéed seasonal vegetables)
______Herb stuffed chicken breast
______McLaughlin beef with cabernet bouguignon
______Asparagus and red pepper lasagna
HASP TRIP – GRAND KIDS DAY
Thursday, August 9, 2012
$29.00 per person
Yes, I/we will attend (please indicate # attending): ______________________
Name(s): ___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Age of child attending: ____________
Amount enclosed: ____________