Lisa Crane and Erin Machen Epsilon Kappa, Fall 2004 April 2009

The Lyre Notes
April 2009
Lisa Crane and Erin Machen
Epsilon Kappa, Fall 2004
We are in the nursing program at CSUF. It is an Entry Level Masters Degree of
Science in Nursing (EL-MSN), this program is for people with a non-nursing
bachelors degree. We both have our undergraduate degrees in science, which
is to our advantage, but is not a requirement for the program. We both spent
approximately one year doing the prerequisites, which include: anatomy (plus
lab), physiology (plus lab), biochemistry (plus lab), basic biology,
developmental psychology, and health science statistics. Last year 500 people
applied to the program and they admitted 64, but this year due to the budget
cut they are only admitting between 32-36 students. It is a 36-month year
around program that is divided into two parts. The first part is pre-licensure
work in which we learn all the basic nursing foundations and then take the
NCLEX, the licensure test to become a registered nurse (R.N.). In this portion
we also get to work in all the different departments of the hospital where we
can get an idea of what kind of nursing we like and don’t like. The second part of the program is the graduate
coursework, which ends with a specialty in clinical leadership, or women’s health/midwifery, which we are both
hoping to get into, but you have to apply to change your track from clinical leadership to midwifery after the prelicensure portion. We’ve found that there are more loan repayment or forgiveness programs for midwifery and we
think it might be more exciting than the clinical leadership track.
We really like the program, although it is a little harder than what we had imagined. We joke sometimes
that if we knew how hard nursing school was going to be, we may have applied to medical school instead. We are
definitely some of the youngest people in the program. A majority of the students are in their late 20’s to mid-40’s.
We have chosen not to work outside of the program because we don’t
have a lot of extra time between spending two to three days in the
classroom and one 12-hour shift and one 9-hour shift per week at
the hospital, but in our spare time we have been traveling. We went
to Costa Rica for a few weeks over Christmas and New Years and we
will be spending about 12 days after the spring semester and before
summer semester starts in Spain and France. We are really happy
with our decision to stay in school and have made some new great
friends in the program. We both still live close to school in Fullerton
and keep in touch with our fellow sorority sisters.
It’s an AXO Baby Boom!
Shannon Taggert Berg is due April 4th. The Berg’s are waiting to be surprised when the baby is born.
Jennie Moreno Volkert is expecting a baby boy, Blake Allen, on April 24th.
Kay Marie Wetherbee Stahler is expecting her first, Sadie Kay on April 29th
Michelle Dominguez Morales is due May 1st. She and Pi Kapp hubby Eric are going to be surprised
with a girl – Alessandra Victoria or a boy - Bryson James.
Cora Holmes Wilson is due May 6th with twins. Boys, girls or one of each? She and Pi Kapp hubby,
Duffy, aren’t finding out until the little ones arrive.
Marie Lippert Botvinick is due June 5th. Big sister Zahava will welcome a little brother, Ari.
Allison Wells Mangiafico is expecting twins – a boy and a girl – due June 9th
Nicole Harmon Brown is due June 10th. She is having her 3rd girl!
Marla Cheifer Silverman is expecting a girl and is due July 21st.
Julia Palasik Barr is due August 3rd. She is having a boy, Jakson Robert.
The Next Great Event…
FABULOUS FLORAL PARK
Sunday the 26th at 10:30 AM
Memphis Café, 209 W 2nd Street, Santa Ana 927o1
Spring in style! Alpha Chi sisters and guests are invited to enjoy brunch at Memphis Café in downtown Santa
Ana followed by a tour or vintage homes in the beautiful and historic Floral Park neighborhood.
For more information about the Floral Park Home and Garden Tour, visit www.floral-park.com or click here for
important pre-sale ticket info. Pre-sale tickets are available now for $25, tickets are $30 on the day of.
Philanthropy: 15 percent of the ticket price for the Tour benefits Santa Ana non-profit organizations and causes.
News from Alpha Chi Omega Headquarters
Are you interested in making a lasting impact on Alpha Chi Omega? Alpha Chi Omega’s Foundation Board of
Trustees and National Housing Corporation Board of Directors are seeking qualified candidates to serve.
The Foundation Board of Trustees is given the corporate authority and responsibility for the achievement of the
Foundation’s mission, which is to support the educational and philanthropic purposes of Alpha Chi Omega
through effective fundraising and stewardship of financial resources.
The National Housing Corporation’s mission is to enhance the experiences of Alpha Chi Omega members
through the promotion, support and development of appropriate, desirable and safe facilities. The NHC Board
of Directors provides the framework to bring local house corporations and property management teams
together in a partnership that is guided by that mission.
Please submit a “letter of interest” and a resume to Headquarters to the attention of Susie Mariutto at
smariutto@alphachiomega.org. Letters must be received no later than Monday, April 20, 2009 to be
considered. Additional information regarding this opportunity is available at www.alphachiomega.org and upon
request from Susie Mariutto.
‘Orange Blossoms’ an Auxiliary of the Assistance League of Orange
invites you to their annual
A Taste of Orange
April 26th from 4-7pm
124 South Orange St, in Old Towne Orange
After DOD’s April event – Fabulous Floral Park – join new member Beth Gates for this great fundraiser.
Admission is only $25 and that includes a taste from EACH restaurant, including Pomodoro, Zito's,
Bagel Me, Taste of Sicily, McDonald's (sampling new espresso-based coffee)... and many more!
Singer/guitarist Tim Downey will entertain guests with a mix of oldies and classic rock while they enjoy
wine, beer, and food tasting... including Orange Blossom Ale! There will be opportunities to purchase
wonderful silent auction items and win exciting opportunity
items such as spa gift certificates. All proceeds will benefit the
philanthropic projects of the Orange Blossoms such as the
Ronald McDonald House, Mariposa Women & Family Center
and the Friendly Center. (See attachment for more details.)
Contact Beth Gates (pictured, far right) at 714-401-7191 or
Beth.anne.gates@gmail.com for more information
Delta Omega Delta Presented a 75-year Badge!
On Sunday, March 22, four members of Delta
Omega Delta presented a 75-year badge to an Alpha
Chi Omega sister who was initiated in 1934 at our
Gamma chapter at Northwestern University. Nina
Lemen was this very special badge recipient and Dee
Maxson (also a Gamma initiate), Val Welham, Jessica
Taylor and Maria McFarland were very humbled to
honor her with this ceremony.
Nina has end stage Alzheimer’s disease and is living in
an assisted care facility in Huntington Beach. Her dear
friend, Kathleen Gerkin, helped to arrange this
ceremony because she knew how important Alpha Chi
Omega was in Nina’s life. Nina never married and has no family, so Kathleen is managing Nina’s care.
We enjoyed visiting with Kathleen and eating the delicious gourmet cupcakes she brought.
We presented Nina with a red carnation before the ceremony. When asked what Alpha Chi Omega
means to her, she answered “loyalty”. Yes, 75 years of loyalty!
Loyally submitted by Maria McFarland
Delta Omega Delta & Epsilon Kappa is part of the
new Central Province of California!
The National Council recently approved a proposal to add a third province to California.
California will now have Northern, Central and Southern California Provinces. The alumnae and
collegiate provinces will mirror each other in terms of geography in an effort to make it easier
for PAC’s and PCC’s to work together. Geographically speaking, the Central California province
will not truly be what natives of the state would consider the central part of the state.
The provinces were created based upon the number and location of our current alumnae and
collegiate chapters. The provinces will officially be divided beginning June 1st.
The National Council has appointed Amanda Rodriguez as the PAC for Central California.
Job Opening!
We are recruiting a high energy driven sales professional for Southern CA (potential territories include
Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and Orange County) selling refreshment services for largest food service
company in the world... competitive salary, commissions, benefits, and company car!
Please contact Allison Wells Mangiafico if interested. allison.mangiafico@mac.com
Congratulations to the Gregory Family!
Angela (Thomas) & Jason welcomed Grace
Rose, 7lbs 11oz and was 20 inches, on Feb 2nd.
Five more new members took
advantage of our ½ price membership!
Please welcome to DOD
Gerry Garner Baird
Helen Bujdoso Davis
Beth Gates
Barbara Scott Kollin
Mary Ruth Ames Daggett
Do you have an AXO friend that is not a DOD
member yet? Tell them to take advantage of
our special membership offer today! We have a
form at the end of this newsletter to pass on.
DOD Members, are you still looking for that special AXO sister you have lost touch with?
Let Delta Omega Delta help you! Email deltaomegadelta@hotmail.com and let us know who you are searching
for! We will post your lost sister request in our next newsletter and watch the connections begin!
The National Panhellenic Conference has created a new web site for
“The Sorority Life”. Visit them at: www.thesororitylife.com
This new Web site is a resource designed for potential new members to learn
about the real world of the sorority experience
Greek Week 2009 at CSUF!
Wednesday – Sunday, April 15th- 19th
Greek week is almost here again, and the EK members have been working really hard to get ready! Below is
some information for the event. Please let me know if you would like to help, or if you have any questions.
 Greek Week Theme: Regions of the United States
 AXO’s Region: The Mid-West (They have some amazing ideas for this!)
 Partners: Sig Ep’s and Sigma Kappa (Also paired with a sorority b/c of the lack of available fraternities.)
Sports/ Events: Events are Thursday- Saturday: 10:00A.M. – 6:00P.M., Sunday: 11:00A.M.
Thur (4/16): Softball
Fri (4/17): Football
Sat (4/18): Volleyball
Sun (4/19): Lip Sync
Ways you can help: It would be great if AXO alums could come out to support the girls. Even stopping by
for a few minutes reminds the girls that we’re still in touch, and we are interested in what they’re doing!
 EK is in need of a new AXO flag. Can you or someone you know help? Please contact me!
Donations: Donations for Greek Week, supporting Camp Titan will be accepted through the PHC/IFC
website (link below). Simply click on AXO name and fill-out the information; you will receive a letter in the mail
with the Tax ID information for your deduction. Thank you to Hillary Polk, who made a large donation last
year! http://webcert.fullerton.edu/supportCSUF/sa/GreekWeek/index.htm
Recycling: The chapter is collecting bottles and cans at the house. Just drop them by the house, and one of
the girls will put them in the garage. (The last day to collect is April 8th).
Thanks in advance for your support! See you out there supporting our girls!
ITB,
Ashleigh Peterman, Greek Week Advisor
ashleighpeterman@gmail.com
More Spring Events!
Add them to your
calendar now and join in the fun!
MAY – Hall of Commitment
JUNE – Ladies Night at the Lanes
Sunday the 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Friday the 5th at 6:30 p.m.
Epsilon Kappa House
300 Anaheim, Anaheim Garden Walk
700 E Chapman Ave, Fullerton 92831
321 W. Katella Avenue, Anaheim CA 92802
Join us for song, ceremony and a reception to welcome a
new generation of Alpha Chi’s to a lifetime of sisterhood.
A “strikingly different” Girl’s Night Out…300 Anaheim is
the trendy alternative to your “typical” bowling alley.
Philanthropy: Contribute an item for EK from the House
Corp. wish list at www.axo-dod.org/philanthropy
Philanthropy: Join “Life Loyal” for the perpetuation and
enhancement of The Lyre Magazine. www.lifeloyalaxo.org
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