Choose Children - Alpha Xi Delta

Transcription

THE
OF A L P H A X I D E LT A
Choose Children
Philanthrophic focus expands
.
to develop eager readers.
FALL/WINTER 2005
THE
T H E
OF ALPHA XI DELTA
Dear Sisters,
What Can I Do?, written and illustrated by Alpha Xi
Deltas, is a beautiful and inspiring new children’s book. I
could hardly wait to obtain my copy so my husband and I
could read it to our son. The theme of this magnificent book
is that you can go many places, meet many people and experience many things, all by reading a book.
The title of this book caused me to think What can I do
for Alpha Xi Delta as your 30th National President? I have a
few answers to that question and look forward to hearing
from you if you would like to add to my list.
Volume 101/Issue 3 Copyright 2005
by Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity
Deadline Dates
Summer issue—February 15
Fall/Winter issue—June 15
Spring issue—October 15
Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity Headquarters
8702 Founders Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Telephone: 317-872-3500
Fax: 317-872-2947
E-mail: fhq@alphaxidelta.org
Web: www.alphaxidelta.org
Executive Director
Sara L. Nash, CAE
Managing Editor
Jennifer Emerick
jemerick@alphaxidelta.org
Editor
Ruth Goodman
rgoodman@alphaxidelta.org
Art Director
Jody Stinson Toth
National Council 2005–2007
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Deborah Fenwick Maas
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
Ann Ward Adams
Patrice Orr Bryon
Diane Curtis Gregory
Nance Lucas
Michelle Supplee Reda
Melanie Smith Vanderpool
NPC DELEGATE
Deanna Wollam Detchemendy
Founders
Cora Bollinger Block
Alice Bartlett Bruner
Almira Lowry Cheney
Frances Elisabeth Cheney
Bertha Cook Evans
Eliza Drake Curtis Everton
Julia Maude Foster
Lucy W. Gilmer
Harriet L. McCollum
Lewie Strong Taylor
Printed
in the U.S.A.
C
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
I Can:
l Live our values.
l Focus on academics and facilitate mentoring.
l Guard against over-programming.
l Increase emphasis on member recruitment and
retention as keys to our success.
National President
l Use our heritage and founding principles as a basis for
decision-making and visioning.
Lead the Fraternity’s strategic planning efforts.
Support the better use of technology.
Develop better ways to serve our members and promote a positive image of our
Fraternity.
Truly appreciate our staff and volunteers.
Be a cheerleader for our Foundation (which is easy because there are many things
to cheer about!).
Provide resources for and input to our National Housing Corporation.
Embrace our involvement in the National Panhellenic Conference.
Volunteer for community projects that serve children.
Encourage members to have fun and be safe.
I talked about many of my inspirations and thoughts for our future at Alpha Xi Delta’s 46th
National Convention this summer in Tucson, Arizona. If you’re curious, you can read my
Rose Banquet speech in its entirety at www.alphaxidelta.org/convention.asp. (If you like
shoes, I hope you’ll give it a glance!) The Welcome Banquet speech from Past National
President Jane Hooper Sutton can be found on the Fraternity website, too. It will make you
proud to be an Alpha Xi Delta.
Speaking of being proud, I am very proud of the numerous and deserving award winners
who were highlighted at Convention. Our Tucson experience is definitely a time to be cherished.
Alpha Xi Delta has so many exciting things going on across the country. Iota Chapter at
West Virginia University celebrated its 100th anniversary in September, Alpha Beta Chapter
at Cornell University was re-established and Gamma Eta sisters at Georgia Tech are living in
their newly constructed chapter house. Chapters and alumnae associations are successfully
recruiting and retaining new members, sisters are learning from each other and, in turn, are
being inspired to do great things.
I know we can all be proud of our new children’s book and reflect on its title, What Can I
Do? As Alpha Xi Deltas, we can help our chapter become accredited; accept a leadership
position in an alumnae association or college chapter; volunteer; give to the Foundation; sign
up for the AJD Career Alumnae Network; focus on academics, career and family; and be
safe and have fun. What can we do? The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves.
S
C
F
Alpha Xi Delta® is a member of the Center for
Study of College Fraternities,
B O X
I Can, We Can
The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta is published three
times a year in the fall/winter, spring and
summer by Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity®
. Annual
subscriptions are $1.50. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to THE QUILL OF ALPHA XI
DELTA, 8702 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN
46268.
2
I N
Truly,
National President
the College Fraternity Editors Association
and National Panhellenic Conference
The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta/Fall-Winter 2005
66
CONTENTS
Jennifer Hubert Kinney (seated),
Iowa State ’91, and Sara Gray, Northern
Iowa ’03, help children discover the joys
of reading now that Alpha Xi Delta has
partnered with First Book, a national
nonprofit organization that gives
preschool and kindergarten children
the opportunity to read and own their
very first books. Choose Children, our
philanthropic focus, has also been
broadened with the addition of the new
children’s storybook What Can I Do?,
written and illustrated by Alpha Xi
Deltas, and Reading Day, a philanthropy
service activity that helps children from
low-income families become eager,
skilled readers. Read more about the
exciting new additions to our philanthropic focus beginning on page 5.
Photography by Fisheye, Hiawatha, Iowa.
4
Children from low-income families will receive new storybooks now that Reading Day and
First Book are part of the Fraternity’s Choose Children efforts.
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10
Tucson was the place to be in July as alumnae and collegians learned, laughed and lounged
in the Arizona sun at Convention 2005.
Fraternally,
Jennifer Emerick
Managing Editor
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16
Leading Ladies
Who’s on National Council and what does it do? Learn about the Fraternity’s governing
body and the seven women who are leading the Fraternity through 2007.
34
New Digs at Georgia Tech
After a successful capital campaign, Gamma Eta sisters are tickled pink with their new chapter house, named after two outstanding alumnae: Shirley Clements Mewborn and Gay Dull.
38
Foundation Coverage
Every gift you gave this year made a big impact on collegians, alumnae, campuses and communities. Thank you for your generosity!
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From the Editor
I’m excited about Alpha Xi Delta’s
new partnership with First Book! (Read
more on page 8.) You might be saying,
“I’ve never heard of First Book; why did
we partner with them?” Simply, First
Book is an outstanding organization that
will augment our work with children.
With the support of First Book, Alpha Xi
Deltas will give children from lowincome families the opportunity to read
and own their first new books. First
Book has corporate support from
Borders, Cheerios, Verizon, Build-ABear Workshop, Google and major children’s publishers, just to name a few, so
you know it’s a first-rate organization.
You can become involved with First
Book in several ways; through an Alpha
Xi Delta chapter or association, or by
serving on a community board or in an
advisory role. Since 1992, First Book has
given more than 35 million books to children in need. I know that with your support, Alpha Xi Delta will play a major
role in giving away the next 35 million.
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Developing a Love for Reading
National Convention Highlights
On the Cover
66
Jiljuana Coleman,
Christy Kelley and
their two newfound friends had
a great time at
the Build-A-Bear
workshop hosted
by the Knoxville
Alumnae
Association and
Gamma Lambda
Chapter at
Tennessee.
Learn more about
chapter and
association
happenings
starting on
page 20.
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Also In This Issue
Fraternity Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Member News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Honor Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
News Around Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Memorial Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
AJD Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Chapter Eternal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Educational Leadership Consultants . . . . 26
Quill Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Founders’ Day Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Realize Your Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
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F E A T U R E
4
What a Difference
a Day Makes
By Ruth Goodman
Northern Iowa, ’80
“Reading Day was so much fun for the kids.
They truly had a blast and came home
wanting me to read all of their new books
to them! My daughter was so inspired by
What Can I Do? that she started trying to
write her own book . . . and she’s only 5!”
—An appreciative parent from the Texas El Paso
Reading Day event
F E A T U R E
5
At some point in your life, you’ve probably participated in a brainstorming
session. You know—one of those meetings where you get together with a group of
sisters or business colleagues and toss out ideas to solve a problem or situation
you’re facing. One caveat of brainstorming is that all ideas must be written down
because nothing is too wild or too off-the-wall to be considered.
In 2002, several staff members at Fraternity Headquarters held a brainstorming
session to find ways to breathe new life into Choose Children, our philanthropic
focus. What happened next changed the way Alpha Xi Delta helps children.
“How about publishing a children’s book?” someone
said. The room was silent as sisters pondered the idea.
Was it too wild? Too off-the-wall? Not at all! This
provocative idea led to the creation of What Can I Do? a
children’s storybook at the center of yet another innovative idea: Reading Day.
During Reading Day, members of college chapters
and alumnae associations hold events in their communities to introduce books to preschool and kindergarten
children from low-income families. The event includes
reading What Can I Do? aloud, talking about the character’s adventures, and playing games that build readingrelated skills. At the end of Reading Day, children
receive their very own copy of What Can I Do?, not only
to remember the day, but to help them develop a love of
reading as they build a home library of favorite stories.
Children also take home a letter that tells parents about
the book, Reading Day and how to help their son or
daughter become a skilled reader.
Reading Day, which actually lasts 45- to 90-minutes
versus all day, can be held in a variety of settings, such
as schools, libraries, Head Start programs and even
parks. Several chapters and associations held Reading
Day events at various locations this winter, while many
more have events planned for the spring.
Cincinnati Alumnae Association philanthropy chair
Martha Riggs Bonvillain, Kentucky ’65, organized a reading event for her association. “The children are excited
to have a book of their own,” she said. “We’re building a
bridge to their success as readers and learners. Our
association really appreciates the generosity of the
Alpha Xi Delta Foundation to make this possible.” What
Can I Do? and Reading Day materials are subsidized by
the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation.
Planning Reading Day is easy. A Reading Day guide
is available from www.alphaxidelta.org/choose
children.asp or by contacting Fraternity Headquarters.
The guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to find
a Reading Day site, how to publicize the event, how to
read to children in an entertaining way and everything
in between. It’s Alpha Xi Delta’s goal to distribute 7,000
copies of What Can I Do? to children by the end of 2007.
For a limited time, members can read What Can I
Do? and order an autographed copy at www.choosechil-
dren.org. You can also log on and order up to 30 copies
of What Can I Do? for your chapter or association at no
charge.
The Quill staff would love to publish stories and photos of your Reading Day event. Send them to jemerick@alphaxidelta.org or to the Fraternity Headquarters
mailing address listed on page 2.
F E A T U R E
6
A Creative Journey Unites
Two Talented Artists
Introducing Anne Beiser Allen and Margo Pullman, the creative
team behind What Can I Do?
“W
The little girl
in What Can
I Do? can travel
anywhere, just
by reading a book.
Author Anne Beiser Allen
hen people ask me what I write, I tell them, ‘Just about
anything, if someone will publish it!’” said Anne Beiser
Allen, Middlebury (VT) ’60. Anne’s “just about anything” turned out to be the newly published What Can I Do?, a lively
little children’s story about a youngster who visits foreign lands,
makes new friends and accomplishes fantastic feats by reading books.
Anne’s story and sample illustrations created by Margo Pullman,
Iowa State ’79, were selected from dozens of entries last fall when
Alpha Xi Delta began its search for a creative team to bring a children’s book together.
“I was thrilled when I heard my story had been chosen,” said Anne.
“And I love the finished project. Margo did such a wonderful job with
the illustrations, and that’s what really makes a children’s book come
alive.”
What Can I Do? is about a reading journey, which inspired Margo to
create illustrations that show the main character traveling to various
places in her mind’s eye, always accompanied by her ruby-red backpack. “The target readers of board books are of the age where they
strongly react to bright colors and bold images,” Margo said.
As an accomplished artist, Margo’s illustrations have been used in
various advertisements and by a company that produces limited-edition paper dolls. “I have illustrated several children’s book proposals
for myself and other authors, but they haven’t been picked up for publication yet. That’s another reason why it was so thrilling to see the finished book. Illustration is a very competitive field, and it’s always
rewarding to have your artwork appreciated, especially by an organization like Alpha Xi Delta.”
Anne has been writing for quite a few years, having what she calls “a
decent amount” of poetry published. She has also written articles on
historical subjects, one of which won a prize in 2003 from the Iowa
State Historical Society. In 2000, Greenwood Press published Anne’s
biography of Mrs. Herbert Hoover as part of its Contributions in
American History series. Altogether she’s written five books and has
two more in the works—another biography and a collection of poems.
Even though most of her published work is for adults, Anne was
attracted to Alpha Xi Delta’s call for authors because writing a children’s
story sounded like fun. “Like the little girl in the story, I love to travel
and have grand adventures through the pages of a book,” she said.
As the daughter of an Army officer father, Anne lived in Japan and
France, and attended eight different schools during her 12 years
before college. “This taught me two things: people are pretty much the
same everywhere you go, and the world is full of lovely and fascinating
F E A T U R E
7
people and places.
Living in different
places also instilled a
love of history—
American, European,
Asian, African, you
name it—and a fascination with the background of people who
make history, the
famous and not-sofamous.”
Now that their five
children are grown and
more or less settled,
Anne and her husband,
who live in Rochester,
Minnesota, travel quite
Illustrator Margo Pullman
often—but not so much
that they miss out on
seeing their four grandchildren, who range in age from 4 months to
6 years. “I’ve presented them with copies of Grandma’s book,
which I think they will enjoy… for Margo’s pictures if for nothing
else!” Anne said with a laugh.
As a child growing up in Geneseo, Illinois, Margo studied with
local artists, then earned her bachelor’s degree in commercial art
from Iowa State. After college she worked as a designer and art
director in various areas, including giftware design, advertising,
package design and logo development. Throughout her career she
has continued to paint and draw, and is currently concentrating on
teaching art in her studio, plein air painting (painting outdoors in
natural light) and illustrating children’s books.
“I have enjoyed my ‘journey’ with this project and can’t wait to
implement it in the area where I live,” said Margo, who lives in
West Newbury, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children. “It was a pleasure to bring a visual picture to Anne’s story. I’m
pleased with the product, but even more excited about what the
book will do in a child’s life.”
Connect with Anne at abftallen@earthlink.net.
Connect with Margo at margopullman@comcast.net.
F E A T U R E
8
The World Just Got
Bigger for Little
Children
A new Fraternity partnership brings books
and a new outlook to children.
“It’s mine? You mean I don’t
have to share it with my brothers?” said the girl in pigtails,
hugging her new board book.
This little girl was one of the
Tucson-area children who received
a book this summer during Alpha
Xi Delta’s National Convention.
Her book was one of 600 donated
by First Book, a national nonprofit
organization with a single mission:
to give children from low-income
families the opportunity to read
and own their first new books.
Since its inception, First Book has
provided nearly 35 million new books to children in
need in hundreds of communities nationwide.
First Book’s donation was made to
Make Way for
Books, the organization Alpha Xi
Deltas volunteered
for during National
Convention. Giving
the gift of reading
was the perfect way
to announce Alpha
Xi Delta’s new relationship with First
Book, which focuses on working
together to give
books to children in communities where Alpha Xi
Delta has chapters and associations.
“By participating with First Book, Alpha Xi Deltas
will experience the true meaning of philanthropy,”
said Marilyn Whitmer, Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropy
service chair. “Sisters will determine the recipient
agency in their communities, keep
the funds they raise working in
their communities, witness how
their donation directly impacts children and serve as role models.”
Working with First Book is not a
requirement, but a recommendation. First Book will complement
the mission of Choose Children by
giving chapters and associations
flexibility, and the opportunity to
be creative and have fun. Our relationship with First Book will not
replace the existing commitments
of our college chapters or associations. Rather, it gives chapters and associations a way
to continue their good work.
How It All Works
First Book activities are coordinated by Campus
Advisory Boards (CABs) and Advisory Boards (noncollege community groups). Once an advisory board
is formed, First Book helps board members identify
agencies in the community that assist low-income
children. From this list of agencies, the Alpha Xi
Delta advisory board selects one agency to be the
recipient of the book grant.
Next, the chapter or association raises funds and
has its monies matched with a First Book grant up
to $1,000. The books are chosen by the agency or
program administrators who work directly with the
children.
First Book makes it easy to get these much-needed
books to children by coordinating the grant paperwork, book orders and the distribution of books. The
Alpha Xi Delta CABs and Advisory Boards assist the
agencies or programs with distributing the books to
children to take home and keep.
F E A T U R E
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The First Book model provides one book per
month to each child enrolled in the program. For
example, a literacy program in El Paso, Texas, serving 50 children from low-income families could
receive 50 books each month for a year from First
Book and Alpha Xi Delta’s University of Texas-El
Paso CAB. “We scheduled our First Book grant in
December,” said Michelle Campos, Iota Eta Chapter
philanthropy chair at Texas El Paso. “The process
was easy and rewarding.”
With the support of First Book, these agency programs are able—often for the first time—to develop
curriculum around the books they select, share the
books with participating children, and enable these
children to share the magic of their new books with
family members.
Because of special grants, chapters in Idaho can earn
up to $3,000 per semester in book grant funds.
Alpha Xi Delta alumnae associations may form a
First Book Advisory Board, work with existing community advisory boards, or support a CAB. Advisory
boards receive similar staff and online resources
from First Book, but different financial support.
There are no fund-raising requirements, but it is
First Book’s and Alpha Xi Delta’s goal that CABs and
Advisory Boards raise $500 during the year (two
semesters). First Book understands the many
demands on our members’ time and is flexible and
responsive to collegians’ busy schedules.
You might be asking, “How does the Alpha Xi
Delta book What Can I Do? fit in with the First Book
Program?” The programs complement each other, as
both are to give children from low-income families
the opportunity to read and own their first new
books. Chapters and associations can expand their
Reading Day program to include First Book. Or
groups working with First Book can give What Can I
Do? in addition to the books received through the
book grants. First Book has reviewed What Can I
Do? and fully supports Reading Day.
Getting Started
Seven Alpha Xi Delta chapters are already working
with First Book. Individuals who are not part of an
alumnae association yet want to help First Book can
serve as mentors or First Book advisors to an Alpha
Xi Delta CAB. To start working with First Book, contact Jennifer Emerick at jemerick@alphaxidelta.org or
(317) 872-3500 ext. 116.
First Book Support
First Book asks advisory boards to perform three
main functions: promote literacy through outreach
opportunities to local children in need; give new
books to an existing local tutoring, mentoring, or family literacy program chosen by the advisory board;
and raise funds to continue granting books to these
local programs.
By partnering with First Book, Alpha Xi Delta chapters become First Book Campus Advisory Boards. At
the University of Texas-El Paso, for example, the CAB
is known as the First Book—AJD Texas El Paso
Campus Advisory Board.
First Book will launch their work in the chapter’s
community by providing:
l dedicated staff to assist with beginning and
building a successful CAB;
l printed and online resources, including “how-to”
information for CAB activities and fund-raisers;
l 1,000 to 5,000 (depending on the number of
children) free starter books to all new CABs;
l up to $1,000 in matching funds and incentives
made possible by a grant from the NFL Charities.
Facts about First Book and Literacy
l
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l
61% of low-income families have no books for their children.
First Book is an efficiently run organization with overhead of less
than 5%.
Forbes magazine named First Book one of the top 10 “Gold Star”
charities in its 2003 annual survey.
Charity Navigator, an online resource that evaluates the
financial health of charities, awarded First Book its highest
rating of Four Stars for two consecutive years.
Involvement will position Alpha Xi Delta with First Book’s
Campus-Based Partners, including Mortar Board, Inc., the
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Campus Compact, the
Campus Outreach Opportunity League and others.
First Book does not accept contributions from the tobacco,
alcohol or firearms industries.
First Book offers comprehensive printed and online resource
materials.
The average cost of a book from the First Book catalog is $2.50,
with free shipping and handling.
N A T I O N A L
10
C O N V E N T I O N
AJD Inspires Me
More than 400 sisters find inspiration at National Convention in Tucson, Arizona.
“
On Saturday morning, 50 sisters watched the sun rise over the mountains
on scenic Tucson as they took part in the Foundation’s 5K Run-Walkand-Talk. Each participant made a $25 contribution that will be put
toward Alpha Xi Delta’s educational and leadership-development
programming, scholarships and children’s programs. As sisters and
friends spent quality time walking and talking, they also raised $3,000.
During Convention, sisters donated $15,797 to the Foundation.
T
hree simple words have changed each person’s life in this
room. Alpha – Xi – Delta,” said Jane Hooper Sutton, 29th
National President. “As members of this grand Fraternity, we
claim these words, we wear our letters, we don our lavalieres, we cling
to the secrets of our Initiation Ceremony, we keep our Quills close and
our sisters even closer. And we do this because we’re proud of our
past, proud of the sisters making a difference today and proud of the
women who are the future of this great organization.”
With these comments, Jane set the tone for the 2005 National
Convention. Every alumna and collegiate sister left the opening banquet full of Alpha Xi Delta pride, and received double-blue bracelets
bearing the words “AJD Inspires Me.”
As the four days of business meetings, educational sessions, awards
presentations and service events took place, the bracelets were visible
on sisters of all ages. “This bracelet should remind you to let Alpha Xi
Delta inspire you to realize your potential, enrich your mind, pursue
your goals, keep your values, touch your community and do your best
every day,” said Jane.
More than 400 Alpha Xi Deltas were inspired throughout
Convention as sisters came together to conduct business, become
motivated by speakers and educational sessions, and share good times
with new friends.
Inspired to Learn
Attendees
learned
essential job-search skills
from speaker Brad Karsh,
president and founder of
JobBound, a company
that helps college students and recent graduates find their first job.
Brad presented the general session “Confessions of
a Recruiting Director,”
which Britta Krantz,
Embry-Riddle (AZ) ’02,
thought was excellent. “His session was interesting and he answered so
many important questions.” Alumnae and collegians were also inspired
by general session speaker Marianne “Mimi” Blackburn Drew, U of
N A T I O N A L
C O N V E N T I O N
Washington ’64, who spoke on “Living Leadership: Do I Need to be
Different to Make a Difference?”
Educational sessions were divided into six tracks: collegiate leadership, alumnae leadership, chapter advising, the Realize Your Potential
Member Development Program, housing corporations, and member
recruitment. Session topics focused on values-based recruitment, how
to host a State Day, risk management, NPC recruitment changes, the
new Choose Children program and Ritual education. Housing corporation volunteers discussed insuring facilities, corporation/chapter relations and fund raising. One advisor said, “Great speakers! This has
been very valuable for our women.”
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Inspired to Help Children
Rulers, pencils,
backpacks, paper
and crayons of every
color filled three
long tables in the
Alpha Xi Delta
Marketplace.
Convention attendees were asked to
bring school supplies
for children in the
Tucson community,
and they delivered. Donating the supplies to three Tucson schools,
each serving students from low-income families, kicked off the great
philanthropic work during Convention.
At Friday’s Choose Children breakfast, attendees were in a celebratory mood over the loads of school supplies that were donated, the
hands-on service event to promote literacy, Alpha Xi Delta’s new children’s book What Can I Do?, our new relationship with First Book and
the presentation of a Foundation Grant.
In National Convention years, the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation awards
a Choose Children grant to an agency benefiting children in the host
community. The Parent Connection received a $10,000 Choose
Children grant for a weekly play-based learning group for young children and their parents. The group will offer parents and children the
opportunity to learn together through developmentally appropriate
play, as well as reduce isolation by helping young parents interact with
other young families, learn more about their child’s health develop-
Elizabeth Veneman Lyles
Inspired to be a Woman
of Distinction
During each Convention since 1986, the Fraternity recognizes women who exhibit extraordinary achievements and
outstanding leadership in their professions or service to
their communities. Three of the four 2005 Women of
Distinction attended National Convention, each sharing
thanks and words of inspiration with sisters to volunteer,
work hard and follow their dreams. Each Woman of
Distinction exemplifies the ideals of Alpha Xi Delta.
Elizabeth Venemann Lyles, Purdue ’30, became president of a growing California business after her husband’s
death. She has been recognized by numerous organizations
for her business savvy and philanthropic work. Verna
LeMasters Gibson, Marshall ’61, became the first woman
appointed to lead a Fortune 500 company when she was
named president and CEO of the Limited Stores. The
Limited was the first specialty store in nation to reach the $1
billion mark. June Jacobs, Northwestern ’60, has taught
cooking for more than 18 years. She is president and executive chef of Feastivals Culinary Education and Consultation
in New York and has published a cookbook. Donna Deane
Schneider, San Diego State ’70, is recognized for her exceptional work in the field of human resources. Donna made
school-to-career programs an initiative in her job and volunteer work.
To nominate a sister for the 2007 Woman of Distinction
award, contact Development Director Kendra Lewis at
Fraternity Headquarters, (317) 872-3500 ext. 117, or
klewis@alphaxidelta.org.
N A T I O N A L
C O N V E N T I O N
12
Women dressed in all white started the day off on Thursday as the 2003–2005 National
Council initiated four women into Alpha Deuteron Chapter: Sarah Anne Spitzer Herndon,
Shirley René Maddox, Susan Kathleen McDonald and Catherine Zimmerman Cooper.
Beau Brummels, the men and boys who join their Alpha Xi Delta ladies at Convention, serenaded sisters at the Choose Children breakfast. The chorus was led by National Music Chair
Michelle Herbst Evink, South Dakota State ’86.
Sisters updated their style with new apparel and
jewelry from the Alpha Xi Delta Marketplace.
N A T I O N A L
C O N V E N T I O N
ment and gain positive parenting skills. “We
are honored by your decision to support our
work,” said Marc Kellenberger, senior vice
president of The Parent Connection. “You
are so important to the 38,000 Arizona children and families who we serve annually.”
Forty attendees spent a morning with
preschool children reading, helping with
crafts and enjoying some playtime. The
Tucson community service event was a
model for Alpha Xi Delta’s new Reading Day
program (see page 5) that enhances early
literacy and pre-reading skills; promotes
family literacy; and provides books, at no
cost, to preschool children. Convention
attendees volunteered with Make Way for
Books, an organization that promotes early
literacy in low-income areas of Tucson. Each
child served by the agency, regardless of
socioeconomic status, race, or gender, has
daily exposure to books and reading. The
community service event was sponsored by
the Tucson Alumnae Association.
The books read that morning were donated by First Book, an organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity
to read and own their first new books. First Book gave 600 books to
Make Way for Books for distribution to area children. Since the organization’s inception in 1992, First Book has provided more than 35 million new books to children in hundreds of communities nationwide. Alpha Xi Delta chapters and associations began working
with First Book this fall. Learn more about this new relationship
on page 8.
13
After a jam-packed agenda of business meetings and educational
sessions, attendees were ready for a break. Nearly 40 sisters jumped
in Jeeps for a tour the Sonoran Desert. From running creeks to
majestic mountains, guides led the women through some of the most
beautiful desert regions in all of Arizona. Many sisters enjoyed the
nearby shopping and restaurants.
Inspired to be an Alpha Xi
The final event of Convention 2005 was the Rose Banquet,
where there was much to celebrate. During the course of
Convention, Alpha Xi Delta had recognized more than 50 chapters and 36 associations with awards. At the banquet, top collegiate awards, Alpha Xi Delta’s newly created Greek Advisor of
the Year award and the biannual Women of Distinction awards
were presented. The new 2005–2007 National Council was
installed, and our new National President, Debbie Fenwick
Maas, Marshall ’83, shared her vision for the Fraternity for the
next two years. Debbie thanked sisters for their support and
encouraged them to be proud of our great organization.
“I have met many new sisters at this Convention, and you
inspire me because you care enough about our Fraternity to be
here,” said Debbie. “Alpha – Xi – Delta. You are here to learn
about it, support it, cheer for it, cry for it, reminisce about it, plan
for it and celebrate it. I hope you have met sisters from different
states, different generations and with different ways of thinking. I
hope you have shared some of yourself with these sisters and
taken what they have to offer. I hope you have discovered something about Alpha Xi Delta of which you can be proud.”
Stephanie McAvoy, Wingate (NC) ’03, experienced exactly
what Debbie described. “This was so amazing! My life as an
Alpha Xi Delta has been changed. Thank you!”
As sisters left the Rose Banquet, they were excited about all
they had learned and accomplished in a short time, and discussed plans for Convention 2007 in Indianapolis, home of
Fraternity Headquarters. We hope to see you there!
Martha Small Greenlaw, Texas
’65, teaches sisters how to use utensils and place settings in her educational session about etiquette for
alumnae and collegians.
And the Winner Is . . .
N A T I O N A L
14
C O N V E N T I O N
Alumnae and collegians were recognized for their good deeds and hard work during An Evening With the Stars, a
high-energy awards presentation complete with spotlights, a red carpet and popping flash bulbs. The recognition
continued later in the week as alumnae and collegians received the Fraternity’s highest honors during National
Convention’s most elegant affair, the Rose Banquet.
Congratulations to all of the alumnae associations, chapters and members who received awards during National
Convention. A complete list of award recipients can be found at www.alphaxidelta.org/convention_awards.asp.
Xi Achievement Certificates of Merit
Gertrude M. Anderson Newsletter
Award
Recognizes superior achievements in chapter
operations and programming. Based on
receiving or exceeding 95% but less than 100%
of Chapter Accreditation Points.
Psi, Ohio State
Mary Emily Kay Academic
Achievement Award
Gamma, Mount Union (OH)
Delta, Bethany (WV)
Rho, Nebraska Lincoln
Theta Gamma, Delaware
Given to the chapter with the highest scholastic ranking on its campus among campuses
with seven or fewer women’s fraternities.
Gamma Epsilon, Fresno State (CA)
2.97 GPA. (Panhellenic GPA: 2.4)
Rose Award
Recognizes the greatest improvement in
chapter operations for the biennium.
Pi, Ohio
Psi, Ohio State
Zeta Chi, North Carolina Wilmington
Theta Rho, Cal State San Marcos
Frances Fullmer Blocker New Member
Award
Given to the chapter that has the best new
member combined record of academic
achievement, member retention and fulfillment of the basic requirements of the New
Member Orientation Program.
Zeta Nu, Miami Ohio
Member Recruitment Excellence
Award
Recognizes excellence in the membership
program as shown in the chapter’s recruitment plans and timely reporting, by maintaining membership size equal to other groups
on campus, and by initiating and retaining at
least 90% of the members pledged.
Delta, Bethany
Gamma Eta, Georgia Tech
Theta Epsilon, Marquette
Karen Frey Stoudt, Cincinnati Alumnae
Association president, accepts her Alumnae
Appreciation award from Jane Sutton.
Greatest Membership Increase
Zeta Chi, North Carolina Wilmington
57% increase. 35 members in spring ’04; 58 in
spring ’05.
Alice Bartlett Bruner Academic
Achievement Award
Given to the chapter with the highest scholastic ranking on its campus among campuses
with eight or more women’s fraternities.
3.375 GPA. (Panhellenic GPA: 3.201)
Anna Grandin Baldwin Award
Financial Efficiency Award
Recognizes the highest GPA for the
biennium.
Given to chapters demonstrating sound fiscal
responsibility in reporting, payment of invoices and preparation of the budget.
Phi, Albion (MI)
3.4275 GPA
Delta, Bethany
Beta Mu, Bowling Green State
Epsilon Eta, South Dakota State
Greatest Academic Achievement
Improvement Award
Public Relations Excellence Award
Overall PR Efforts: Delta Psi, Texas State,
for txstatealphaxidelta.com, chapter philanthropic activities and a Battle of the Bands
community event
Single Event: Beta Alpha, Texas, for their
annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament
Website: Beta Alpha, Texas, www.texas
axid.org
Delta Nu, Indiana U of Pennsylvania
GPA increase from 2.63 to 3.18
Elizabeth Roberts Quackenbush
Leadership Award
Given to outstanding college senior
members.
Lindsey Marie Eppleman, Central Florida
Hillary Adele Madsen, U of Washington
N A T I O N A L
C O N V E N T I O N
Philanthropy Service Award
Given for the quality and quantity of volunteer
hours, the amount of money raised and the
number of items donated to charitable organizations in the community.
Theta Alpha, Millersville (PA)
Second Place: Dallas, TX Alumnae
Association
How Did They Do That?
Being successful often comes down to
the small things. . . doing just a
little extra here, a little more there.
If you want to learn what the
Alumnae Awards
following associations and chapters
Edna Epperson Brinkman Award
did to become Alpha Xi Delta award
For alumnae who have given long-term service and loyalty to the Fraternity and their
communities.
Kathy Moore Dwight, Texas
Linda Orrell Fligg, Kansas State
Jo Ellen Gilmore Gamble, Oklahoma State
Martha Small Greenlaw, Texas
Katie Beckner Parsons, Nebraska
Lincoln
Sharon May Vickery, Indiana
recipients, get in touch with their
president, whose contact information
can be found in the summer
issue of The Quill or at
www.alphaxidelta.org/chapterlisting.asp.
Advisor Excellence Award
Given to chapter advisors who demonstrate
outstanding guidance to a college chapter.
Jill Foster Bortel, Defiance (OH),
Chapter Advisor, Bowling Green State
Karie Clearwater, Embry-Riddle (FL),
Chapter Advisor, Embry-Riddle (FL)
Andrea Fouberg, South Dakota State,
Chapter Advisor, South Dakota State
Missie Rogers Steigerwalt, West Chester
(PA), Chapter Advisor, West Chester
In recognition of alumnae who have
made a significant volunteer commitment to Alpha Xi Delta on a local level.
For meeting standards of excellence in
the association’s operations, and support
of the mission of the Fraternity and
Foundation.
With High Honors
Akron, OH
Albany-Schenectady, NY
Cedar Rapids, IA
Central Iowa, IA
Cuyahoga West Shore, OH
Greater Milwaukee Area, WI
Oakland County, MI
Oklahoma City, OK
Pikes Peak Area, CO
Fourth Place: New York City Alumnae
Association
Alumnae Appreciation Award
Ruth Simmons James
Association Excellence Award
With Highest Honors
Ann Arbor, MI
Arlington, TX
Atlanta Fulton County, GA
Boston, MA
Cincinnati, OH
Corvallis, OR
Dallas, TX
Diablo Valley, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Knoxville, TN
New York, NY
North San Diego, CA
Orange County, CA
Orlando, FL
Palm Beach, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Pinellas County, FL
Pittsburgh, PA
San Fernando Valley, CA
Tucson, AZ
Western North Carolina, NC
Western Wayne County, MI
Third Place: Northern Virginia Alumnae
Association
Jill Foster Bortel, Defiance
Joanne Buttz, South Dakota State
Lois Gray Coe, Iowa Wesleyan
Paige Faries, Western Kentucky
Laurie Howard Felton, Virginia
Heather Forbush Hook, Towson (MD)
Jennifer Lee Foreback, West Virginia
Wesleyan
Dee Stutz Fracier, Wittenberg (OH)
Colleen Martin, Oklahoma State
Katie Beckner Parsons, Nebraska Lincoln
Lori Plazinski, Maryland
Teresa Carson Propst, Towson
Susannah Prucka, Southwestern (TX)
Laura Riggs, Maryland
Lisa Shenkle Schiappacasse, Maryland
Leslie Stevens-Day, Central Oklahoma
Karen Frey Stoudt, Ohio Northern
Gamma
chapter
sisters from
Mount Union
(OH)
Beta Mu
chapter sisters
from Bowling
Green State
(OH)
Greek Advisor of the Year Award
With Honors
Bloomington-Normal, IL
Brevard County, FL
Northern New Jersey, NJ
Salt Creek, IL
Philanthropy Service Award
Given for the quality and quantity of volunteer
hours, the amount of money raised and the
number of items donated to charitable organizations.
First Place: Atlanta Fulton County, GA
Alumnae Association
In an effort to develop partnerships of mutual understanding and appreciation with our
host institutions, Alpha Xi Delta created the
Greek Advisor of the Year Award, which was
presented for the first time this year.
Nominations were made by chapter members, chapter advisors, Area Facilitators and
Assistant Executive Directors. The award was
based on the nominee’s initiative to affect positive change on a college campus; advocacy
for the Greek system; and advocacy for Alpha
Xi Delta.
Michael Warfield, Student Development
Center Coordinator at the University of Texas
at El Paso
15
Leading Ladies
N A T I O N A L
A
C O N V E N T I O N
Alpha Xi Delta’s new National Council leads the Fraternity through 2007.
16
t every Alpha Xi Delta National
Convention a new National Council is
elected to lead the Fraternity for a twoyear period. During the 2005–2007 biennium,
National President Deborah Fenwick Maas
and six National Vice Presidents will focus on
the overall direction of the Fraternity while
using Alpha Xi Delta’s Ritual, mission and
vision as their guide.
“AJD Inspires Me” was the theme of this
summer’s National Convention. Take a
moment to meet your new National Council
and learn how they are inspired by Alpha Xi
Delta.
National President
Marshall (WV) ’83
Debbie brings many years of Alpha Xi
Delta experience to her position as National
President. Debbie served as a Foundation
Trustee during the last biennium and as a
National Vice President from 1999–2003.
Debbie served the Fraternity for 12 years
prior to that time in various volunteer positions, including National Recruitment Chair,
Regional Collegiate Director, Regional
Recruitment Advisor, New Member Advisor
for Gamma Beta Chapter at Marshall
University and Colony Specialist for Iota
Alpha Chapter at George Mason University in
Virginia.
Debbie received her bachelor’s degree in
accounting from Marshall and her MBA from
the University of West Virginia College of
Graduate Studies. She is also a CPA. Debbie
worked for 17 years in various professional
and managerial positions in the natural gas
industry in both the accounting and marketing areas. She recently stepped down to
become a homemaker, raise her son, and
focus on making and selling handcrafted bath
and body products for Little Creek Lotions
and Potions, a business she started with her
sister Vicki, Marshall ’90.
Leading Alpha Xi Delta for the 2005–2007 biennium are Nance Lucas, Ann Adams, Michelle Reda, Debbie Maas, Patrice Bryon,
Melanie Vanderpool and Diane Gregory.
N A T I O N A L
Debbie is an active member of Aldersgate
United Methodist Church, a member of the
Junior League of Evansville, Indiana, and
enjoys volunteering in her community with
agencies focused on children and homelessness. Debbie, her husband Rick, son Henry
and dog Cody live in Evansville, Indiana.
“Alpha Xi Delta inspires me to be myself
and to know I can make a big, positive impact
on our organization and its members through
the help of others. Alpha Xi Delta has brought
so many friendships and so much fun to my
life. It’s inspirational to be around so many of
our members to see what they’re doing, see
what they have accomplished and hear of
their dreams for the future.”
Ann Ward Adams
National Vice President
Nebraska Lincoln ’66
Ann has been involved with Alpha Xi Delta
for many years, serving as Academic Support
Team Leader, National Collegiate Vice
President, Regional Collegiate Director,
Province Secretary and as a member of the
National Scholarship Committee. On the local
level, Ann has served as Chapter Advisor and
Membership Advisor for Rho Chapter at the
University of Nebraska Lincoln. For her dedication and commitment, Ann received the
Rho Chapter Outstanding Advisor award and
the Advisor Appreciation award.
Ann received both of her degrees from
Nebraska Lincoln: a B.S. in English with a
teaching certification and an M.A. in adult
and continuing education with emphases in
psychology and sociology, and training and
development.
As an educator for the Lincoln Public
Schools, Ann teaches English, psychology, literature and composition to at-risk students at
an alternative high school, The Bryan
Community. She has held this position for
eight years. Ann also serves as the writing
facilitator, coordinating all writing classes to
provide instruction for students needing to
pass the Lincoln Public School’s Writing
Graduation Demonstration Exam. Ann is the
English department chair for her building
and is a member of the School Improvement
Committee.
In her free time, Ann enjoys doing volunteer work, going to the mountains and spending time with her family, which includes
daughter Amy Adams Pytlik, Nebraska
Lincoln ’92, son-in-law Keith, granddaughter
Rayna, daughter Lori and son Jeff.
“Alpha Xi Delta inspires me to reach out to
others and to grow and learn in many ways. I
have gained courage and graciousness by volunteering for Alpha Xi Delta. It’s important to
C O N V E N T I O N
Alpha Xi Delta’s Mission
To enrich the life of every
Alpha Xi Delta. We will:
Nurture unity and cooperation;
Foster intellectual, professional and
personal growth;
Exemplify the highest ethical conduct;
Instill community responsibility;
Perpetuate Fraternal growth.
Alpha Xi Delta’s Vision
Inspiring Women to Realize
Their Potential
give back to this wonderful Fraternity which
has helped me become the person I am.”
Patrice Orr Bryon
North Carolina Asheville ’89
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in
political science and economics, Patrice
served the Fraternity as a 1992-1993
Educational Leadership Consultant; three
years later she became the Regional
Collegiate Director for Region 10. Patrice has
also been the Support Team Leader for Alpha
Xi Delta’s C.A.R.E. (risk management) team.
Patrice’s advising experience includes serving as Membership Advisor at Western
Carolina University, Panhellenic Advisor at
the University of Texas and an advisory board
member for Sigma Nu Fraternity at the
University of Texas. This is Patrice’s second
term on Council.
Patrice lives in Marietta, Georgia, and is a
member of the Atlanta-Fulton County
Alumnae Association and Eastside Baptist
Church. Professionally, she is an assistant
vice president at AMVESCAP, one of the
world’s largest independent global investment managers, and oversees client account
administration and service for AMVESCAP
National Trust Company. Patrice says her
most rewarding title, however, is that of
“mom” to two beautiful Alpha Xi Delta legacies: Jordan, 6, and Sydney, 3.
“I have been blessed to meet so many
amazing Alpha Xi Deltas. Whether she’s an
honor student receiving a Foundation scholarship, a businesswoman at the top of her
industry, or an Order of the Rose recipient, so
many Alpha Xi Deltas have inspired me to
make the most of the talents God granted me.
I have Alpha Xi Delta to thank for my first job
out of college, my maid of honor, contacts
when I moved to a new city, numerous leadership positions and many friends across the
country. Each new Alpha Xi Delta friendship
is not only a reminder of the honor and privilege it is wear our badge, but the responsibility I have to live our Ritual each day.”
Diane Curtis Gregory
Wittenberg (OH), ’61
New to Council this year is Diane Gregory,
Alpha Xi Delta’s former National Executive
Director and Foundation Executive Director
from 1982–1995. She has served as president
of the Bloomington, Indiana, Alumnae
Association and was Chapter Advisor for Beta
Pi Chapter at Indiana University from
2001–2005.
Diane received her bachelor’s degree in
English from Wittenberg University and her
master’s degree in adult reading programs
from Indiana University. In her post-career
life, Diane is having great fun working as a
part-time sales associate at Chico’s, a
women’s clothing store. Diane also likes to
read, travel, volunteer, garden, work around
the house, and spend time with friends and
family.
Diane and her husband Tom, a retired
Indiana University professor, live in
Bloomington, Indiana, and have two sons:
Tom, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with
wife Lynn and children Ian, 5, and Evie, 3;
and Bob, who lives in Rutland, Vermont.
Diane and Tom see their grandchildren fairly
often since they enjoy sailing their sailboat on
the Chesapeake Bay.
“Alpha Xi Delta inspires me because of the
leadership opportunities it offers women at
the collegiate and alumnae levels. Few
women have the opportunity to be involved in
a national organization of women who share
values, ideals and experiences. By seeing the
link with women all across the country—in
The Quill, at leadership training opportunities, at Convention, during philanthropic
activities—I feel a sense of sisterhood that
has greatly enhanced my life.
“The Fraternity has given me leadership
experiences that I never would have had otherwise. I volunteer for the Fraternity so that
other women can have the opportunity to
experience that sense of empowerment the
Fraternity has offered me.”
17
N A T I O N A L
Nance Lucas
18
C O N V E N T I O N
Penn State ’81
You Know Who They Are,
Now Here’s What They Do
Nance Lucas joins Council for her first
term as National Vice President. Nance has
served the Fraternity as Chapter Advisor
and House Corporation president for Pi
Chapter at Ohio University. In 2003 she was
honored as an Alpha Xi Delta Woman of
Distinction for her broad influence and outstanding accomplishments in the academic
and leadership arenas, both nationally and
internationally.
Nance received her bachelor’s degree in
industrial psychology and her master’s
degree in college student personnel administration, both from Penn State. Her Ph.D. is in
college student personnel administration with
a professional concentration in leadership
studies and ethics from the University of
Maryland. Nance is widely published in the
leadership development field. One of her
most notable works is Exploring Leadership:
For College Students Who Want to Make a
Difference, which she coauthored with mentor
Dr. Susan Komives.
Nance was recently named associate dean
and professor at George Mason University’s
New Century College, which offers a fouryear degree in integrative studies. When
she’s not working or volunteering for the
Fraternity, Nance enjoys cooking, entertaining, golfing, traveling, and spending time with
family, friends and her golden Retreiver,
Scout Hepburn, named after the character in
Nance’s favorite novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,
and her favorite actress, Kathryn Hepburn.
Nance lives in South Riding, Virginia.
“My sorority experience made a difference
in my life for it ultimately led me to a fulfilling
career in higher education. As an undergraduate I gained confidence in my leadership
abilities and developed lasting friendships.
I’m amazed by the range of opportunities
Alpha Xi Delta provides at the collegiate and
alumnae levels! It truly is a lifetime of membership, memories and involvement. And I’m
inspired by those who have gone before me,
those who have dedicated so much of their
time and energy to carry out the ideals and
values of our Fraternity.”
What is National Council?
The Fraternity’s executive and policy-making
body that focuses on Alpha Xi Delta’s strategic
plan, our mission (To Enrich the Life of Every
Alpha Xi Delta) and our vision (Inspiring Women
to Realize their Potential).
Michelle Supplee Reda
Rider (NJ) ’89
Michelle returns to Council this biennium
after having served as a National Vice
President during 2003–2005. Prior to her election to Council, Michelle was the Fraternity’s
National Extension Chair. She has also been
an Alpha Xi Delta Regional Membership
Advisor and a Regional Collegiate Director.
Who can serve on National Council?
Any alumna member in good standing.
Who elects National Council?
The National Chapter, which is made up of
chapter and association delegates, National
Council members and Past National Presidents
in attendance at Alpha Xi Delta’s biannual summer Convention. The National Panhellenic
Delegate, who is an invited guest at Council
meetings with a voice but no vote, is elected by
the seven National Council members.
How long can an alumna serve?
No more than two consecutive terms, or four
years, in the same position. An alumna can
remain on Council and serve in a different office
after her four-year limit is reached, however. For
example, an outgoing National President could
become National Vice President.
Do Council members live in Indianapolis
and work at Fraternity Headquarters?
Council members live and work in various states
and go to Fraternity Headquarters four times
each year to conduct business in person.
Otherwise, National Council has a monthly conference call to discuss Fraternity business.
Is being a National Council member a
paid, full-time position?
Most Council members work outside the home
and serve Alpha Xi Delta on an unpaid, volunteer basis.
Michelle graduated with a degree in early
childhood and elementary education, and
American studies. Following graduation,
Michelle traveled as an Educational
Leadership Consultant. Since that time she
has worked in the education field in New
Jersey as a teaching assistant and a learning
center director.
Michelle is a member of the Daughters of
the American Revolution and the First
Presbyterian Church in Red Bank, New
Jersey. She and her husband Chris live in
Middletown, New Jersey, with their daughters, Kathryn, 4, and Morgan, 2. When she’s
not volunteering for Alpha Xi Delta, Michelle
enjoys spending time with her family. Her
daughter Kathryn attends a cooperative
school, and Michelle has the opportunity to
teach in her classroom. Michelle and her
daughters love to go to parks, visit with
friends and bake.
“I’m inspired by all of the members who
have come before me, and I’m thankful I have
the opportunity to lead, serve and, most of all,
make a difference. I’m inspired by the women
who become empowered and find their voice
through Alpha Xi Delta. I’m also inspired by
chapter advisors who go to every chapter
meeting, Area Facilitators who guide our
chapter members, alumnae who are consistently there for their sisters, staff members
who are so great at their jobs and collegians
who continue to give the gift of sisterhood.
It’s because of these women that we can
reach our full potential intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually.”
Melanie Smith Vanderpool
Marshall (WV) ’88
Melanie continues as National Vice
President for the second consecutive term.
Melanie has extensive Fraternity
Headquarters experience, beginning with her
travels as an Educational Leadership
Consultant. She later became the Fraternity’s
Extension Coordinator, Educational
Programs Coordinator, Director of
Educational Programs and Director of
Member Services. Melanie currently works
for sanofi-aventis Pharmaceuticals in the respiratory division as a district sales manager
for Arizona and West Texas.
Melanie received her bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice/legal studies from Marshall
University and her MBA in organizational
leadership from Butler University in
Indianapolis. She is a member of the
American Quarter Horse Association and
North Ridge Community Church in Cave
Creek, Arizona. Melanie is a volunteer for 4-H
and Race for the Cure, and volunteered for
the Fraternity as Chapter Advisor for Gamma
Beta Chapter at Marshall University.
In her free time, Melanie enjoys riding
horses, playing the piano, reading books, and
playing with her dogs Travis, Sam and
Roscoe. Melanie and her husband Leddy live
in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“During my tenure with Alpha Xi Delta,
both as a staff member and a volunteer, I
have enjoyed and appreciated many aspects
of the Fraternity. As Chapter Advisor for my
initiating chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed helping Gamma Beta achieve the goals set by its
members and officers. I gained a new appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our
volunteers and for the countless hours that
are required to support and mentor collegiate
members. More importantly, I gained a deeper appreciation of what the Fraternity offers
its members and the valuable experiences
gained while an undergraduate member.
Alpha Xi Delta has been such an important
contributor in my life and is largely responsible for the person I’ve become. I feel forever
indebted to her.”
2005 Biennial Report
N A T I O N A L
I
C O N V E N T I O N
Jane Sutton updates members on the state of the Fraternity and Alpha Xi Delta’s Strategic Plan.
t has been the practice of the Fraternity to
be guided by a strategic plan. Our current
plan began in 2002 and will end in 2006.
The overarching goal of the plan is to become
the model for all women’s fraternities and
sororities. This is a lofty goal, but with our
continued dedication and perseverance, I
believe that goal is attainable.
There are three primary goals of the strategic plan that will assist us in reaching our
desired outcome: Enhance the Relevance of
Alpha Xi Delta Membership; Promote
Positive Relationships with Alpha Xi Delta
Publics; and Ensure the Viability of Alpha Xi
Delta. I am pleased to share with you some of
the most exciting results from the strategic
plan, beginning with Enhance the Relevance
of Alpha Xi Delta Membership.
We surveyed members to see what we can
provide to make them more engaged in the
Fraternity. One thing we heard loud and clear
was the need for career and professional mentoring. The Alpha Xi Delta Career and
Alumnae Network, referred to as AJD CAN,
is an exclusive member benefit provided
through a partnership with MonsterTRAK, a
division of Monster.com, the world’s leading
online career network. Through AJD CAN,
you can search for job opportunities, compare
the cost of living and working in different
areas of the country, and contact Alpha Xi
Deltas who have volunteered to serve as mentors to other members. AJD CAN was
unveiled in the spring, and I am proud to say
we already have 197 collegians signed up in
search of a mentor and more than 200 alumnae willing to mentor sisters looking for professional support or guidance. If you haven’t
signed up for AJD CAN, go to the Quick
Links box at www.alphaxidelta.org.
Renewing our commitment to Alpha Xi
Delta’s Ritual is another step in ensuring relevance in the lives of our members. It is important for each of us to continually reflect upon
our founding tenants and beliefs. I encourage
you to utilize the Ritual in your chapter and
association meetings, or anywhere Alpha Xi
Deltas gather, to reflect on our common bond.
The second goal of our strategic plan is to
Promote Positive Relationships with Alpha Xi
Delta Publics. Many of our efforts thus far
have been in developing partnerships of
mutual understanding and appreciation with
colleges and universities. At the beginning of
each academic year, I have written to the vice
presidents of student affairs of our host institutions to share the Fraternity’s focus for the
school year as well as the Accreditation Plan
results for our chapter on that campus. If the
chapter isn’t accredited, I share steps the
Fraternity will take to support the chapter in
realizing its potential. I also ask for the vice
presidents’ support of and assistance to our
chapters, both accredited and nonaccredited.
It has been rewarding to receive communication from vice presidents, thanking the
Fraternity for realizing we are partners in
assuring their students receive an outstanding education and a well-rounded college
experience.
We’ve also reached out to campus administrators through visits made by our four
Assistant Executive Directors. Campus vice
presidents are not used to hearing from
Fraternity Headquarters staff members; they
usually leave that to the Greek advisor. Our
AEDs have attempted to schedule an appointment with the vice president of student affairs
or dean of students when visiting the campus
to ensure our chapters are contributing positively to the campus and Greek community,
being good citizens and supporting the mission of the university. Not all deans or vice
presidents will schedule an appointment, but
we have been successful in meeting with
these decision-makers on 60 of our campuses.
The third and final goal of our strategic
plan is to Ensure the Viability of Alpha Xi
Delta. We have developed several initiatives
for our alumnae associations, which we
believe will result in stronger associations.
The Alumnae Association Manual has been
revised, and a copy has been sent to each
association in good standing. As associations
return to good standing, a copy of the manual
will be sent to them. To help further strengthen our associations, an Alumnae Support
Team Leader and four Alumnae Directors
have been added to our volunteer structure to
assist our alumnae and our alumnae associations.
It has been an incredible biennium, and I
am always humbled by the sacrifices made by
so many to ensure our Fraternity succeeds.
But we cannot rely on someone else taking
care of the Fraternity for us. It takes the comThe Quill of Alpha Xi Delta/Fall-Winter 2005
mitment of each of us working individually
and collectively to ensure Alpha Xi Delta
remains a strong, healthy organization that
will fulfill our mission of Inspiring Women to
Realize Their Potential.
AJD at a Glance
At the close of the 2003–2005
biennium:
134,853 women have been initiated since
our founding
112 college chapters are active
126 alumnae associations are active
The chapter GPA was 3.05
(The Panhellenic average was 3.0142.)
The Alpha Xi Delta Foundation received
7,269 gifts totaling $989,737
443 graduating seniors made their first
Foundation gift
233 parents honored their daughters with a
Foundation gift for Valentine’s Day
320 joined Foundation annual giving circles
giving $250 or more
10 members joined The Society of 1893
recognizing members and friends who have
provided for Alpha Xi Delta in their will or
financial plans.
Scholarships and continuing education grants
in the amount of $112,670 were awarded to
232 collegiate and alumnae members to
realize their educational goals and prepare
for tomorrow’s workplace.
The Foundation funded the participation of
8 collegiate Alpha Xi Delta’s at The
LeaderShape Institute and Undergraduate
Interfraternity Institute, where participants
learn to lead with integrity and create positive
change.
The lives of 3 sisters with emergency needs
during difficult times were touched by Alpha
Xi Delta Heart Fund grants.
Askey Grants were awarded to 6 chapters to
sponsor educational programming on their
campuses. Topics included leadership
development, prevention of violence against
women and creating understanding
communities.
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M E M B E R
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N E W S
Alpha Xi Deltas are star performers, leading their Greek
communities in scholarship, leadership and Greek Week
activities. This issue’s Member News showcases
collegians and chapters that are making a difference,
and alumnae and associations that are impacting their
communities and the lives of children.
Creating. Leading. Inspiring.
Sisters.
I CALIFORNIA I
Fun for All Ages
Beth Hardison, Jessica Wellons and Ashley Guild from North Carolina Wilmington.
this change and hopes the interest in Greek
life will increase. The chapter welcomed exceptional women into their sisterhood and continued to recruit to total in the fall. —Hope
Stensland, stens257@uni.edu
Members of the Orange County Alumnae
Association gathered for their annual Bunko
Night at the home of Cherie Groff Letcher.
The age range within the association continues
to expand as sisters welcome new members
into their group. Marj Anderson, at the youthful age of 90, was the oldest sister in attendance, and Jenny Burghardt brought her threemonth-old son, Sean. Association members
approved the slate of officers for 2005–2007 and
collected two boxes of food for the group’s
local philanthropy, Families Forward. —Cherie
Letcher, cherie328@yahoo.com
During the spring, members of the Central
Iowa Alumnae Association enjoyed dinners
out and the Founders’ Day Ceremony. During
their dinner outings, donations were collected
for the Young Women’s Resource Center. The
association proudly donated more than $100
worth of diapers, baby clothing and monetary
gifts to the center. —Melanie Clark,
Melidoodls@aol.com
I IOWA I
I NEW HAMPSHIRE I
Shakin’ Up the System
Tau Focuses on Service
This fall, the Greek system at Northern
Iowa went through a major change. Instead of
formal recruitment taking place during the
third week of classes, it was switched to the
week before classes started. This change was
made last year by a unanimous vote of the
Panhellenic Council. Everyone was excited for
Tau sisters at New Hampshire have been
involved in a variety of service projects, including reading to local schoolchildren, participating in the annual Relay for Life weekend and
organizing a road race with proceeds going
toward scholarships.
Gathering and Giving
Phoenix Alumnae Association members Carol
Schinka Sailer, Anne Linsley Robinson and June
Simpson Chartrand prepare to greet members of
the West Valley panhellenic community for the
annual Phoenix West Valley Panhellenic
Luncheon. Carol provided music during the
event, Anne chaired all arrangements, and June
served as event chair and mistress of ceremonies.
—June Chartrand, bjchartran@aol.com
I NEW YORK I
Alumnae Reach Out to Others
Members of the New York City Alumnae
Association raised more than $2,600 to help
M E M B E R
N E W S
Sisters and Family Forever
By Jackie Campbell Dowell, Cal State San Marcos ’01
More than $4,200 was raised at North Carolina
Asheville’s haircut fund-raiser. Proceeds helped
support local causes, including Children First
Asheville and the pediatric oncology ward at
Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital. —Natalie Jones,
ntjones@bulldog.unca.edu
I pledged Theta Rho Chapter at Cal State San Marcos
in the fall of 2001. I met a lot of great women, and I am
privileged to call them sisters. One of these women
stood out: Amber Dickson Dowell. Amber was initiated into Theta Rho in 2003, and I was her Big Sister.
In June 2001, Amber was married to Nick
Dowell. As member of the U.S. Marine Corp, Nick
served in Iraq from January through July 2003, and
again from February through October 2004. While
Nick was away, Amber and I spent a lot of time
together. She needed to get her mind off of the news,
and I needed to get my mind off some things that were
troubling me. Helping Amber helped me just as much.
Amber encouraged me to email Nick’s brother, Chris, who
was also in the Marines and had been serving in Iraq
since January 2003. Soon after our first email, Chris and
I became pen pals.
Amber and I would sit around and talk about what
it would be like if we were “real” sisters in the same
family. We didn’t really think it would happen, but it
did! In July 2004, I married Chris Dowell. Now Amber
and I are Alpha Xi Delta sisters as well as family.
I never thought that being part of Alpha Xi Delta
would change my life in so many ways. It was Alpha Xi
Delta that brought us together. I can never thank Amber enough for introducing me to her brother-in-law.
These days, with our husbands safe at home, Amber and I talk about how we want our future daughters to
join Alpha Xi Delta so we can share our story with them.
I have a lot of great memories of Alpha Xi Delta. The one that changed my life forever started with
Amber, my Little Sister turned sister-in-law.
“I never thought my Little
Sister could impact my life so
much,” said Jackie Dowell,
right. “My life is what it
is today because I met
Amber.”
Jennifer Hurt signs a program for a fan after winning the Miss Cumberland Pageant. Jennifer
went on to compete in the Miss Maryland
Pageant and placed in the top 10. Both pageants
are part of the Miss America system. Jennifer is a
2005 graduate of Frostburg State (MD) and
attends graduate school at Towson State (MD).
—Laura Knight, lknight0@frostburg.edu
increase awareness and funds for women’s
cancer research, counseling and outreach programs through the Revlon Run Walk. Event
chair Traci Cappiello and sisters braved the
elements with 40,000 other participants as rain
poured during the 3.1-mile walk from Times
Square to Central Park. After the walk, sisters
enjoyed a Health Expo in Central Park’s East
Meadow.
In June, alumnae gathered for their annual
Networking Fund-raiser. Sisters raised hundreds of dollars for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Everyone enjoyed gift bags from Sephora, as
well as door prizes from Jive Records, Talene
Riley and Liz Claiborne. Attendees networked
with fellow NYC professionals who were invited by NYC alumnae.
Later that month, the association held a
clothing swap. Sisters brought their lightly
used clothing to swap with other sisters and
Connect with Jackie at jackie_dowell@hotmail.com.
Connect with Amber at ramsie739@yahoo.com.
Epsilon Zeta Chapter at Eastern Washington held a basket raffle with Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity to
raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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The ABCs of Alpha Xi Delta
By Georgia State sisters Kim Bovia,
Drew Dotson, Marui Hartley, Laura Hilton,
Hillery Hogan, Julie Kim, Angela Radford and
Laura White
22
A is for Alpha – the beginning of it all
B is for Beautiful – everyone involved
C is for Caring – sisters true are we
D is for Dominant – the best sorority
E is for Exhilarating – as in the air
F is for Friendships – which we share
G is for Glorious – the songs that we sing
H is for Heart-Selling –true sincerity we
bring
I is for Inspiring – what she hopes to be
J is for Justice – the equality we see
K is for Kinesthetic – there’s energy everywhere
L is for Loyal – the secrets we don’t share
M is for Motivated – we do everything with
glee
N is for New Sisters – the lifeblood of
Alpha Xi
O is for Original – all our sisters are unique
P is for Positive – the spirit that we seek
Q is for Quill – the symbol we wear
R is for Remembering – the good times we
share
S is for sisterhood – all that we do
T is for Time – I like to spend with you
U is for Unique Personalities – differences
combined
V is for Vibrant Qualities – some of every
kind
W is for Wonderful Ladies – that are all
here
X is for Xi – extra-special friendships sincere
Y is for Youthful – energy at its best
Z is for Zenith – above all the rest
left with several fun, new additions to their
summer and winter wardrobes. Leftover
clothing was donated to Wearable
Collections, a nonprofit women’s organization
that ensures the clothing gets to those who
need it the most, even as far away as Africa,
Central America and South America.
—Jeanette Pickel, jeanette.pickel@lehman.com
Banding Together
Eta Chapter at Syracuse held its first
Battle of the Bands contest in April to raise
funds for Franklin Magnet School in
Northern Syracuse, which is a school for the
arts that recently lost its government funding
due to statewide budget cuts. The event drew
Pittsburgh Alumnae Association members, including Judy Maxwell Schaeffer, Amy Johnston Herne,
Allison Nee Calderone, Phyllis Rochelle Forte, Dana Koluezez Brown and Dawn Klimas, participated
in the Jared Box Project to lift the spirits of chronically ill children.
Big Sisters at Marquette proudly hold pillows that were made for them by their Little Sisters. Enjoying
their “family” bond are Kristine Schlachter, Sarah Sincock, Ali Wessendorf, Molly Dinolfo, Kerry
Honkamp and Rachael Shanahan. —Sarah Sincock, sarah.sincock@marquette.edu
more than 150 students and nearly 100 Greeklife members. In addition to ticket sales, more
than 30 T-shirts were sold to raise money for
the cause. The chapter plans to make this an
annual event.
Marathon weekend. Chapter sisters Nicole
Bruffy and Stephanie Melillo biked 185 miles
to help raise money and awareness for children
treated at Mercy Children’s Hospital. —Sally
Brocious, sallyb@bgnet.bgsu.edu
I OHIO I
I PENNSYLVANIA I
Dancing/Biking for Those in Need
Boxes of Love
Several Bowling Green State sisters participated in Dance Marathon to raise money for
Mercy Children’s Hospital. Three sisters
served as steering committee liaisons, eight
sisters danced and eight sisters were morale
boosters. There was also a bike ride from
Cincinnati to Bowling Green during Dance
The Pittsburgh Alumnae Association
filled plastic boxes with toys, crayons, stickers,
books and games as part of the Jared Box
Project, which provides ill children with a
diversion during chemotherapy or dialysis-type
treatments. The boxes were labeled for the
appropriate age group and decorated with lots
M E M B E R
AJD
N E W S
News Around Campus
Helicopters Deluge Campuses
Campus officials across the country are seeing an increase in the number of helicopter parents—those over-involved moms and dads who hover over their children,
meddle in registration, and interfere with students’ dealings with professors, administrators and roommates. At the University of Georgia, students who get frustrated
or confused during registration have been known to interrupt their advisors to whip
out a cell phone, speed-dial their parents, hand the phone to the advisor and say,
“Here, talk to my mom,” said Richard Mullendore, a University of Georgia professor.
The cell phone, he said, has become “the world’s longest umbilical cord.”
Every year at homecoming, Marshall (WV) sisters
invite their alumnae to the chapter’s annual Chili
Fest. This year the chapter added a Hall of Fame
to recognize outstanding alumnae. The first
inductee was Verna LeMasters Gibson, ’61, who
was recognized for her business and philanthropic
accomplishments, and for being the first female
CEO of a Fortune 500 company (The Limited).
Former chapter president Allison Plymale presented Verna with her award. —Michelle Southworth,
southworth2@marshall.edu
of stickers and paint, with blue and gold being
popular colors. Each box also contained a personal note from an association member while
identifying Alpha Xi Delta as the donor group.
Project chairman Amy Herne delivered 25
boxes to The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
For more information on the Jared Box
Project, visit www.thejaredbox.com. —Phyllis
Rochelle Forte
I VIRGINIA I
Rockin’ for Ronald
Delta Mu’s annual Battle of the Bands contest at Old Dominion has become a great
fund-raiser for Ronald McDonald House
Charities. The Ronald McDonald House is
located in downtown Norfolk and offers lodging to families of children who require medical
treatment far from home. The chapter
increased its yearly donation by 25 percent,
raising just over $3,000. Sisters sold raffle tickets and had door prizes, and several awesome
bands rocked the night away hoping to win a
cash prize. —Kristy Pagan, kpaga001@odu.edu
Julie Nutting Kronbach,
Michigan ’66, and
Barbara G. Rice,
Michigan State ’66,
discovered their
Fraternal connection
during the 40th class
reunion for Grosse Ile
High School in Grosse
Ile, Michigan.
Part of this shift toward more involved parenting reflects societal fears about campus
safety: murders, mental health problems, rising alcohol and drug arrests. Soaring
college tuitions play a role too. Parents see an institution as a product and they’re
consumers; they want to know their investment is being protected. Colleges and
universities are moving rapidly to build or expand programs to help parents strike a
better balance between over- and reasonable involvement.
High Stakes Stimulate Drug Use
Students have long taken stimulants, ranging from caffeine to cocaine, to help them
stay up all night writing papers and cramming for exams. According to interviews
with students, parents, test tutors and doctors, some high school and college students are using prescription drugs in hopes of improving their performance on highstakes admissions tests where minor swings in scores can be important in getting
into the “right” college or graduate school. The current drugs of choice for many
students are Adderall, a fast-acting mixture of amphetamines, and the stimulant
Ritalin, both which are used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). Spokeswoman Chiara Coletti of the College Board, the nonprofit administrator of the scholastic aptitude test (SAT), isn’t aware of students using drugs illegally to help with tests. The board has no rules explicitly prohibiting drug use, but
“we certainly do not recommend that students take any drugs or stimulants in
hopes of affecting their scores,” she said.
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Contrary to popular belief, long-distance relationships tend to last as long and
sometimes longer than other relationships, says Purdue University relationship
researcher Mary Carole Pistole. Based on Pistole’s findings, at least one-third of college students are involved in a relationship with someone in another city or state;
even more have had such relationships in the past. These relationships last longer
because they work differently than other types of relationships, says Pistole. For
example, long-distance partners have more open communication, talk more about
the relationship, have fewer trivial arguments, segment work and relationship time
and have high-quality time together, which might create a closeness not seen in
those who see each other every day. “Couples who live far apart are more likely to
talk about their partner in conversations, wear something that reminds them of their
partner, display pictures of their partner, and kiss and hug their partner hello.
People who see each other every day don’t feel like they need to do those things,”
says Pistole.
News gathered from The Wall Street Journal Online and the National On-Campus
Report.
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A L P H A
AJD
X I
D E L T A
S I S T E R S
Trends
Alpha Xi Delta to Colonize at Monmouth University
Alpha Xi Delta is thrilled to accept the invitation to colonize at Monmouth University in West
Long Branch, New Jersey. The Princeton Review named Monmouth one of the nation’s best
institutions for undergraduate education in its 2006 edition of The Best 361 Colleges. Alpha Xi
Delta will become Monmouth’s sixth National Panhellenic Council sorority, joining Alpha
Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma, Theta Phi Alpha and Zeta Tau Alpha.
Colonization activities began in mid-November. To learn more about the colonization or how
you can assist the colony, contact Gretchen Knight, Extension/Marketing Manager, at
(317) 872-3500 or gknight@alphaxidelta.org.
Online Reporting
24
Chapters can now submit most of their chapter reports through Bravelo, a web-based
Fraternity workspace. Reports that do not require signatures may be filed online, while reports
that do require signatures must still be mailed to Fraternity Headquarters. Reports that require
signatures include, but are not limited to, new member and initiation paperwork; suspension
forms; new member release forms; inactive status petitions; alcohol and hazing reports; semiannual reports; and both accreditations. Reports that may be submitted online will be in a
Word document format and will be posted on Bravelo and in the Resources area of the
Alpha Xi Delta website.
Chapter presidents, corresponding secretaries and chapter advisors receive Bravelo log in
information; additional chapter members may be given access as the online reporting
process is perfected. Fraternity staff members and national volunteers have access to the
online reporting section as well. This allows Area Facilitators, Support Team Leaders and
Specialists to see the chapter reports without having to wait for them to arrive in the mail.
If you have questions about online reporting, contact your Member Services Coordinator or
email memberservices@alphaxidelta.org.
New Policy on Co-Sponsorship of Functions
The National Council of Alpha Xi Delta adjusted the Fraternity’s policy on the co-sponsorship
of functions in men’s fraternity facilities to provide more flexibility for chapters when planning
alcohol-free events. The former policy stated, “Alpha Xi Delta chapters have resolved to
co-sponsor functions at men’s fraternity facilities (e.g. house, lodge) only if the facility itself is
alcohol-free.” This policy is no longer in effect.
The new policy, effective August 1, 2005, states, “Alpha Xi Delta chapters may co-sponsor
functions at men’s fraternity facilities (e.g. house, lodge) only if those functions are alcoholfree.” This change means that if a chapter wants to co-sponsor a mixer or social with a fraternity, hold a philanthropy event, enjoy a dinner exchange, host an educational program, or
build a homecoming float (all alcohol-free functions), these events can be held in a men’s
fraternity facility, provided there is no alcohol present during the event.
Chapter leaders and other 2005 National Convention attendees had the opportunity to
participate in a session regarding this change. It is our expectation that chapters, associations
and individual members will adhere to all Alpha Xi Delta and campus policies, as well as state
and federal laws.
Keeping It in the Family
Sisters from the newly formed Stanislaus, CA
Alumnae Association spent a warm summer
night at a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game and
cheered the team on to victory. —Stacy Oliveira,
StacyMarie982@aol.com
I WASHINGTON I
Help Make Wishes Come True
Sisters at Eastern Washington teamed up
with the men of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity for a
weeklong basket raffle benefiting the Make-AWish Foundation of Alaska, Montana,
Northern Idaho and Washington. Collegians
manned the tables from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
each day and sold single raffle tickets for $1 or
six tickets for $5. Full-basket donations from
Ben and Jerry’s, Target, Scrappin’ Memories
and Safeway helped make the raffle a success,
along with partial-basket donations from Carl’s
Junior, Subway, Pizza Hut and others. The
event raised $300. —Christina Woodard, novella2003@aol.com
Welcome Nu Alumnae!
On June 1, 16 graduating seniors from the U
of Washington were welcomed into the
Seattle Alumnae Association. This annual
event, which was held at the home of Becky
Kern, included healthy as well as “sinful”
desserts. Later in the week, alumnae took ice
cream and toppings to the Nu chapter house to
give the sisters a break from studying for
finals. —Elaine Bailey Jones
I WEST VIRGINIA I
It’s Better With Butter
Alpha Xi Delta’s legacy policy has been expanded to include nieces. A legacy is the daughter,
granddaughter, sister, or niece of an Alpha Xi Delta, including step- and half-relations. All
legacies must be invited to the first round of formal recruitment, meaning she can’t be
released by the chapter until after the first round. Any legacy who attends a preference round
must be placed on the chapter’s first bid list. If a chapter receives a reference form for a legacy
and would like to release the legacy, a representative from the chapter must first call the alumna sister who sent the recommendation.
In April, Gamma Beta Chapter at Marshall
held its 54th annual Strawberry Breakfast at the
chapter house, which was sponsored by the
Gamma Beta Mothers’ Club. Tickets were $5
for the public and $4 for Marshall students.
Hungry patrons had the opportunity to eat
breakfast at the chapter house as mothers prepared pancakes, sausage, eggs and biscuits.
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Breakfast fare also included chocolate-covered
strawberries and the chapter’s homemade
strawberry butter. Free delivery service was
available to local businesses, dormitories and
homes. Nearly 900 orders were delivered and
more than 200 people ate on site. The Mothers’
Club holds this event to raise money to help the
collegians make chapter house improvements.
“After 54 years, this has become an event
that people look forward to,” said public relations vice president Michelle Southworth. “We
received positive recognition on campus
because this event allows students, faculty
members and people in the community to
come into our house and get a glimpse of what
Alpha Xi Delta is all about. Working as a chapter and with our mothers creates a wonderful
bond between the mothers and sisters.”
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Proceeds From Pasta
Beta Psi sisters at Carroll held their third
annual spaghetti dinner in April and raised
nearly $800 for Camp Heartland, a camp that
benefits kids affected by HIV and AIDS. The
chapter had a great time and received a lot of
support from the community, family and
friends. —Becky Schillinger, rschilli@cc.edu
Northern Virginia alumnae participated in a one-day workathon to improve the condition of Eastern
High School in the District of Columbia. These ladies sponsored the school through the Hands on D.C.
program by providing volunteers and a $500 donation, which paid for all of the supplies. Alumnae,
along with husbands and boyfriends, spent the day painting, cleaning and repairing rooms. —Shiela
Corley, sdcorley@ukalumni.net
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Brunch and Bonding
The Madison Area Alumnae Association
held a summer event at Lynn Christensen’s
home on Lake Mendota. Brunch was served in
the sunroom where engaging views of the lake
were visible. April 22 a Founders’ Day
Celebration will be held at the Nakoma
Country Club. For more information about the
association, contact president Mary Goers at
(608) 221-1728 or mpgoers@charter.net.
—Bridget Hudzinski Buell, bhud77@
hotmail.com
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Sisters at Marquette showed their new
members a hilarious time on bid day, which
was celebrated at Comedy Sports. Comedians
performed skits relating to sorority life as sisters shouted suggestions from the audience.
Some sisters even put their acting skills to the
test and participated in skits. Chapter sisters
had a great time, and it was a perfect way to
introduce new members to Alpha Xi Delta.
—Sarah Sincock, sarah.sincock@mu.edu
25
Amee Bhalakia, Jennifer Bellas Lee, Nealy Patty Wheat, Laura Medlin and Chrissy Robertson from the
Atlanta Fulton County Alumnae Association sold tickets for a 50/50 raffle benefiting the Atlanta
Braves Foundation and Special Olympics. —Jennifer Lee, msjenniferlee@hotmail.com
Alumnae from the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area
held a picnic and brainstormed ideas for the coming year’s events. Enjoying
the day were (clockwise
from left) Mary Lou Hook
Allen, Marie Runyon, Barb
Reinhardt Vraa, Laura
Robinson Ramsey, Marie
Lorbieck and Pam
Gardiner Enger. Sisters
who want to get together
with other alumnae in the
area can contact Laura
Ramsey at (612) 306-2318
or robin444@umn.edu.
Special Help for Special Athletes
Sisters at Wisconsin Oshkosh volunteered
for the Special Olympics at the Kolf Sports
Center on campus. Several members assisted
during the gymnastics and basketball tournaments by keeping score, refereeing and selling
items at the sports booth. Other members
helped athletes sign in and tested their hearing, eyes, flexibility and endurance. The chapter looks forward to volunteering at this event
for many years to come. —Meghan Metzig,
metzim86@uwosh.edu
A L P H A
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D E L T A
S I S T E R S
The Fantastic Four
New ELCs help chapters realize their potential.
26
“After attending The Leadership Conference (TLC) in 2002 and
being mesmerized by the speakers’ messages of sisterhood and
inspiration, it became a dream of mine to work with the staff at
Fraternity Headquarters,” said Brynne Obeid, Delaware ’02, “and I
have not been disappointed. On the road I have found our chapter
women to be equally as enchanting and had a very special year in
their company.”
Comments like these don’t come along every day. But then
again, it’s not every day that a young woman gets to travel the
country for an organization she loves, be a change agent and mentor, and forge strong relationships that last long after her travels
are through. Alpha Xi Delta offers this outstanding opportunity to
our Educational Leadership Consultants each year.
These Fraternity staff members are on the road right now, visiting our newly installed chapters as well as chapters that need a bit
more assistance with recruitment, public relations and other
aspects of chapter operations. The ELCs are also working with
alumnae volunteers, including Area Facilitators, Colony
Development Specialists and Recruitment Directors, to connect
chapter officers with as many resources as possible to increase
their chapter’s strength on campus and within the Fraternity.
After having a fantastic first year, ELC Brynne Obeid is back for
another. “I decided to seize the opportunity and learn from my sisters for one more year so that when I look back on this time in my
life, I can say I carried my experience to its fullest and became better for it.”
Brynne is from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a community of
8,000 residents in the eastern part of the state. As an undergraduate at the University of Delaware, Brynne served her chapter as
president and received the Female Greek Leader of the Year
award from the Greek community. She graduated with a degree in
elementary education and has been teaching children in a variety
of subject areas since she was 15 years old. After her travels are
through, Brynne plans to teach her own classroom of middle
school students.
New to the Fraternity Headquarters staff is Nikki Seffron,
Nebraska Omaha ’01, a cum laude graduate with a marketing
degree. Nikki served Gamma Delta Chapter as programs vice
president and membership vice president. On campus, Nikki was
a member of the Student Marketing Association, Omicron Delta
Kappa national leadership honor society, Order of Omega Greek
honor society, and Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma honor
societies. She was also co-director of the Greek Week Committee.
Nikki’s decision to apply for the ELC position was an easy one.
“Alpha Xi Delta has so much to offer a woman. I was excited about
the opportunity to assist in this mission on a national level.”
Nikki grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. In her free time she enjoys
making smoothies, being outdoors, and making jewelry and other
crafts.
Prior to becoming an ELC, agricultural economics major Shelby
Krebs, New Mexico State ’01, was chapter president for two consecutive years and also served as Theta Omega’s new member ori-
entation chair. Shelby broadened her Greek experience by serving
as the NMSU Panhellenic vice president for recruitment and executive vice president for recruitment. She was also a student government association senator. The NMSU Greek community honored Shelby as the spring 2002 and fall 2003 President of the
Semester, the 2002–2003 Greek Woman of the Year and the
2004–2005 All-Greek Woman.
A chapter visit from 2003–2004 ELC Raquel Jackson inspired
Shelby to apply for the ELC position. Theta Omega needed some
recruitment assistance, and Raquel encouraged sisters to focus on
Continuous Open Bidding. “Raquel said COB is nothing more
than making a friend. As simple as that sounds, it was just what
the chapter needed to hear. As an ELC, I want to be a resource for
members and help chapters that are in similar situations. I want
our members to know that help is available. I hope I can inspire
women as much as Raquel inspired the women in my chapter.”
Shelby grew up on a sheep and cattle ranch in Ione, Oregon, a
community of 300 people in the central part of the state. Shelby
has a variety of interests, including camping, traveling, hiking,
photography and golf. After her ELC travels are through, Shelby
plans to work in higher education or in the production or marketing aspects of the livestock industry.
Jennifer Lause, Ohio State ’02, was Psi Chapter’s public relations vice president, house manager and chapter life vice president, and served as a recruitment counselor for her campus panhellenic association. As a double major in psychology and philosophy with a women’s studies minor, Jennifer also gained valuable
experience as a Suicide Prevention Services hotline volunteer, a
Speakers’ Bureau presenter and a Sexual Assault Response
Network volunteer.
Jennifer’s decision to apply to be an ELC was also impacted by a
former ELC, Melissa Richgels. “Through her support and guidance, our chapter made improvements in risk management and
recruitment, and we grew in sisterhood. Being recognized as a
Rose Award recipient as the most improved chapter in the
Midwest Territory during National Convention 2005 was a tremendous honor. As an ELC I look forward to working with chapters as
they realize their potential within the Greek community and with
the National Fraternity.”
Jennifer is from Findlay, Ohio, a community of 40,000 residents
in northwestern part of the state. She has four younger sisters who
she hopes will become members of Alpha Xi Delta some day.
If you’re a self-motivated, Fraternity-focused leader with strong
relationship-building skills—and you love to travel—download a
2006–2007 ELC application from www.alphaxidelta.org. But you’d
better hurry. Applications are due at Fraternity Headquarters by
January 15, 2006.
Connect with Jennifer at jlause@alphaxidelta.org.
Connect with Shelby at skrebs@alphaxidelta.org.
Connect with Brynne at bobeid@alphaxidelta.org.
Connect with Nikki at nseffron@alphaxidelta.org.
66
M E M B E R
N E W S
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These Tau chapter sisters at New Hampshire
were truly meant to become Alpha Xi Deltas.
From left, Vered (which means “pink rose”)
Tomlak, Ashlee Quill Reilly and Betsy (BetXi)
Rose.
66
New and In View
66
Since the chapter’s installation in February,
sisters at St. Norbert have participated in several service projects, including the Up ’Til
Dawn letter-writing campaign that benefits St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The project
raised more than $63,000 for St. Jude.
Sisters also took part in American Red Cross
blood drives, the American Cancer Society’s
Relay For Life and Habitat for Humanity’s
Shackathon. During this overnight poverty
awareness and education campaign, sisters
lived in a cardboard box on the Campus Center
lawn. An Iota Lambda chapter sister also coordinated the service project TV Turnoff Week,
which got children away from television sets to
participate in various activities. —Sarah
Decker, sarah.decker@snc.edu
Every Penny Counts
Sisters at Wisconsin
LaCrosse hosted a fund-raising event called A Mile of
Pennies, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle
Network. The goal of the event
was to have enough pennies donated to create
a mile of pennies across campus. The band
The Camel Junkies provided entertainment
during the event, which also included a prize
and gift certificate raffle.
The chapter put on an anti-hazing program
for the UW LaCrosse Greek community. The
program included skits, a video and reminders
about hazing laws. —Jodi Heinz, Heinz.jodi@
students.uwlax.edu
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New News Deadlines
2005–2006 Educational Leadership Consultants
(back row) Nikki Seffron, Shelby Krebs, (front row)
Jennifer Lause and Brynne Obeid.
The Quill is now produced three times per year
instead of four. Please make sure we receive your
association/chapter news by the following dates:
Spring: October 15
Summer: February 15
Fall/Winter: June 15
Send news and photos to jemerick@alphaxidelta.org
or to the Fraternity Headquarters
mailing address on page 2.
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F O U N D E R S ’
D A Y
Ten Women with a Dream
Chapters and associations celebrate Founders’ Day 2005.
29
Members of the Maryland Metro and Chesapeake alumnae associations, Maryland Order of the Rose and Order of the Pearl recipients, and Towson
collegians celebrated Founders’ Day together.
April 17 has special meaning for every Alpha Xi
Delta, for it was on this date in 1893 that 10
friends with flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes and
proud postures entered the Lombard College
chapel wearing pink roses and knots of doubleblue ribbon over their hearts. Faculty members
and fellow students looked quizzically upon these
young women until the men of Sigma Nu
Fraternity led congratulatory applause, welcoming Alpha Xi Delta to campus.
What a momentous day for these young
women and Alpha Xi Deltas everywhere! It’s fitting that at least once a year we honor the 10
women who worked to bring into living reality
the sisterhood of women. Here are just a few
ways in which collegians and alumnae celebrated
our Fraternity’s 112th year during Founders’ Day
2005.
Founders’ Day Draws Sisters from Near and Far
The Maryland Metro Alumnae Association hosted a Founders’ Day gathering
at the Beta Eta chapter house at the University of Maryland in College Park. The
alumnae association, the Corporation Board of College Park, the Chesapeake
Alumnae Association and collegians from Theta Delta Chapter at Towson sponsored the day’s activities. More than 140 women attended, including alumnae from
Maryland, Virginia, Florida, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
The day’s activities began with the initiation of nine women into Theta Delta
Chapter, which was followed by a buffet brunch. The Founders’ Day Ceremony was
held, along with a touching Memorial Ceremony for sisters who had entered
Chapter Eternal, and an Order of the Pearl and Order of the Rose Ceremony for sisters celebrating 50 and 60 years of membership in Alpha Xi Delta. Twenty-eight
women were recognized as Order of the Pearl recipients; seven women received
gold pins as Order of the Rose recipients. Sisters from the Chesapeake Alumnae
Association shared their beautiful voices, along with keyboard accompaniment, to
lead the group in song during the ceremonies.
Kathryn Abbot Waesche, Maryland ’38, who served as chapter advisor to many
of the Order of the Rose recipients, attended the ceremony, as did Alpha Xi Delta
Area Facilitator Liz Hakemian Muirhead, Millersville (PA) ’94.
The day of celebration also included a book and stuffed animal drive. The ladies
collected 81 books, 29 stuffed animals, and a beautifully decorated crate and a wick-
F O U N D E R S ’
30
er basket to benefit the Watkins Mill
Elementary summer reading program for atrisk readers in grades 1, 2 and 3. The stuffed
animals serve as “reading buddies” to encourage reading aloud. These donations allowed
at least 30 additional children to be served by
this worthwhile learning program.
It was wonderful to see the many generations of Alpha Xi Deltas, share the bonds of
sisterhood, view old photographs and scrapbooks, and learn about college life more than
a half century ago. Everyone was inspired by
the 20 women initiated between 1953 and
1955 who meet regularly and socialize. They
are excellent examples of lifetime membership in Alpha Xi Delta. Equally rewarding was
the connection that the collegians made with
the older alumnae. They were heard sharing
thoughts about that day in the future when
they too would be together to receive their
Order of the Rose and Pearl pins. —Sheri
Edwards O’Connell
A Delightful Afternoon in
the Mountains
Sisters from the Denver Alumnae
Association gathered at Mount Vernon
Country Club in the beautiful mountains west
of Denver for a Founders’ Day luncheon. The
lovely setting was enhanced by herb centerpieces at each table signifying the various
D A Y
attributes all members strive to live by. For
example, the sage in the centerpieces represented wisdom while spearmint represented
virtue.
To continue the spirit of remembering our
Founders’ philanthropic beliefs, members
brought more than 100 teddy bears for contribution to local children’s charitable organizations. President Cindy Gray Bowers presented the Ruth B. Callan Award to Loma Bowers
Proctor (Ruth was one of the founding members of the Denver Alumnae Association) and
the President Award to Virginia Herzog
Carver for Virginia’s outstanding work for the
association. Barbara Nelson Stover shared
highlights from Judy Wolf Canady’s life as
Judy received her Order of the Rose designation for 50 years of membership in Alpha Xi
Delta. The Founders’ Day Ceremony was the
final touch to this delightful afternoon. —Sally
Cline-Beerman, sclinebe@jeffco.k12.co.us
Sharing Lunch, Sharing
Bears
The Madison WI Area Alumnae
Association held a Founders’ Day luncheon
on April 16. During the event, association
members collected and donated more than 50
teddy bears to the West District of the
Madison Police Department. The officers told
alumnae that the department had given out
Raffaella Savarino Tasca, Meghan Agatep,
and sisters from the New York City, Southern
Connecticut and Westchester County alumnae
associations celebrated Founders’ Day with a
springtime brunch in Times Square. A ceremony was arranged by sisterhood chair Jennifer
Dabnor. Members also reminisced about
chapter days, recent alumnae events, and
discussed association goals and accomplishments. —Jeanette Pickel, jpickel@lehman.com
all of their bears earlier in the spring, so the
timing of the donation was perfect. The association also installed officers and recognized
those sisters in attendance who are past
Order of the Rose and Order of the Pearl
recipients: Patricia Young Allen, Mary Pat
Paterson Hale and Lorraine Hubbard
Orchard. —Bridget Hudzinski Buell,
bhud77@hotmail.com
Celebrations in Alabama,
Florida
Members of the Ann Arbor, MI Alumnae Association met at Weber’s Inn and enjoyed the company of the guests who joined them: Western Wayne County Alumnae Association members
and Area Facilitator Jessica Kotas (back row, left). —Marian Sayward West
Alumnae from across Alabama and collegians from Auburn, Jacksonville State and
Alabama Birmingham gathered at Prince of
Peace Catholic Church in Hoover, Alabama,
to celebrate Founders’ Day. More than 150
people attended the event.
Alumnae members also gathered at the
home of Past National Vice President Gina
Willis Hawkins in Vestavia to see old friends,
and enjoy good food and conversation. More
than $300 was raised for the Alpha Xi Delta
Foundation that night. —Kathie Pepper
The Jacksonville FL Alumnae Association celebrated Founders’ Day by recognizing Order of the Diamond recipient Helen
Crooks Gibbons and collecting donations for
the PACE Center, a therapeutic educational
program for at-risk girls. Alumnae also held a
garage sale and raised more than $400 for
PACE. —Christy Cook, clc80@bellsouth.net
F O U N D E R S ’
D A Y
The Tradition Continues
Two mother-daughter
legacy pairs attended
the Pittsburg Alumnae
Association’s Founders’
Day celebration: Joan
Williams Wright,
Bethany ’68, and
Courtney Wright,
Bethany ’04, and
Lauren Myers, Slippery
Rock (PA) ’04, and
Paula Schmeck Myers,
Clarion (PA) ’80. More
than 60 alumnae from
the Greater Pittsburgh
area and collegians
from Bethany, Slippery
Rock, and Indiana U of
Pennsylvania attended
the association’s annual
luncheon, which was
held at the home of
Paula Schmeck Myers.
—Paula Myers,
schmeck-myers@verizon.net
Gertrude (Trudy) Clarke Skade was the
quintessential hostess for the Northern New
Jersey Alumnae Association’s Founders’
Day Luncheon at Rock Spring Country Club
in West Orange, New Jersey. Trudy had
lunch served on the sun porch of the club
overlooking the Manhattan skyline. She
placed five long-stemmed Killarney roses in
the center of the table on a white tablecloth;
our double-blue and gold ribbons surrounded
Order of the Diamond and Order of the Pearl
pins that were given to Trudy and Joan
Hagerty Krystow, respectively.
Lively conversation added so much to the
hearing of the traditional ceremonies. Joan
Rohde Preston, Elfriede Thiele Kelso and
Virginia Drick Messing attended the luncheon to celebrate the bonds of sisterhood
among members of all ages. —Virginia
Messing, vdm1000@comcast.net
Jean Mason Swartzendruber (right) received
her Order of the Pearl pin from Past National
President Lois Kopper Stump during the Pikes
Peak Area Alumnae Association’s celebration
in Colorado Springs. Ruth Leck Cummins
received her Order of the Rose pin. Association
members enjoyed a tea, the Founders’ Day
Ceremony and put together a basket of baby
items for the local panhellenic auction, with
proceeds going toward college scholarships.
—Evelyn Volza Cedrun, coloradonomads
@surfglobal.net
The Birmingham Alumnae Association and collegians from Alabama Birmingham gathered at the
home of Kathy Beam Peeples in Mountain Brook. Association members provided a salad supper
and collegians presented the Founders’ Day program.
A Day to Remember
Founders’ Day was doubly special for sisters at Georgia Tech as they unveiled their
new chapter house to Past National President Jane Hooper Sutton, Georgia Tech president
Dr. G. Wayne Clough, countless alumnae and sisters from Alpha Xi Delta chapters across
Georgia. Learn more about Gamma Eta’s chapter house on page 34. —Halley Espy,
gtg420x@mail.gatech.edu
31
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S I S T E R S
It’s Great to Be an Alpha Xi
Sisters and chapters are recognized for outstanding achievements.
AJD
A Decade of Dominance
32
AJD
Epsilon Gamma Chapter at Western
Carolina (NC) was crowned Greek
Week champions for the 10th consecutive year. Greek Week was based on
community service activities, along with
other events during the evenings, which
allowed members of each organization
to showcase their talents.
Each fraternity and sorority member
completed at least one hour of community service throughout the week by
participating in such projects as chopping firewood for the elderly, working
at the Jackson County Public Library,
or assisting with landscaping at shelters
for battered women and their children.
Western Carolina sisters (front row)
Natalie Carswell, Miranda McKinney,
Karen Jameson, Jeanna Martin,
Brittany Bennefield, (back row)
Carmon Everhart, Dusty Vanhoy,
Heather List and Chelsea Arthurs
helped beautify the community by
removing trash from the Tuckaseegee River. At the end of the
week more than 500 hours of labor were given to the people of Jackson County.
During the evenings, sisters participated in their favorite event: Greek Games. Competitions included a hula
hoop contest, tug-of-war, a donut-eating contest and dizzy bat races. A talent show, rib cookoff, variety show
and Greek Goddess competition rounded out the week’s activities. —Jenna Layton, jlayton22@yahoo.com
Smart and ServiceOriented
During Greek Week at Western
Michigan, Theta Eta Chapter was recognized for having the highest GPA on
campus. Chapter sister Jennifer Wilner
and Peter Ruppe won the Greek Couple
competition by being the most involved
on campus and in the community, and
by raising the most money. The
Alzheimer’s Association was the recipient of the $1,700 that was raised, which
was given in honor a sister’s mother
who had Alzheimer’s. —Meggie
Fletcher, megs08@hotmail.com
A
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which is higher than the all-sorority average of 3.3398 and
the all-campus average of 3.1634.
Several chapter sisters received individual academic
awards. Kelly Chaney received the Jerry R. Allison
Chemistry Award and the Leonard Emory Yurko Award
for the highest GPA in pre-med studies. Vanessa Plumly
received the Leonara Balla Cayard Prize as the outstanding German student. Sharon Brown and Ann Morley
received the Vira I. Heinz Travel Study Award, and
Whitney Wilding was awarded the Theodore R. Kimpton
Prize as the outstanding French student. —Eleni
Evangelia Elderkin, eelderki@bethanywv.edu.
AJD
The Awards Keep Coming at FIU
Gamma Beta Chapter was crowned Greek Week champion at Marshall (WV). Sisters won the banner competition, Greek Olympics and received accolades for Best
Cheering Section. Their Greek Sing performance also
brought home top honors with “Alpha Xi Delta Sister Act,”
based on the movie Sister Act. —Michelle Southworth
AJD
Sisters, Chapters Bring Home Honors
At Miami Ohio, Kait Wolfe was accepted into Order of
Omega and Emily Barlow received the Got Character award.
At the Greek Awards program at Texas State San Marcos
Delta Psi Chapter received Excellence awards in scholarship,
recruitment, new member education, risk reduction, community
service and leadership training.
Zeta Tau Chapter at North Carolina Asheville won the
Organization of the Year award while three sisters won individual awards: Whitney Blume, Emerging Leader of the Year;
Stephanie Hendrick, Community Service Leader; and Heather
O’Dell, homecoming queen and Best Internship in Management.
During Kent State’s Greek Songfest competition, sisters won
second place overall and first place for ticket sales. Their sales
efforts raised more than $1,300 for Hattie Larlham, an agency
that serves adults and children with mental retardation and
developmental difficulties. The chapter also won second place in
Delta Zeta Sorority’s lip sync philanthropy, first place in Delta
Gamma sorority’s Anchor Splash relays and third place in Sigma
Chi Fraternity’s Derby Days.
Sisters at George Mason were crowned intramural volleyball
champions for the second year in a row. Even though the chapter placed third in Greek Sing, Iota Alpha’s performance was the
topic of conversation on campus because of sisters’ unique and
creative performances.
Bethany Academic Achievers
Following their win during the fall 2004 semester, Delta
Chapter at Bethany (WV) once again won the Anna Ruth
Bourne Award, which is given to the women’s group whose
active members earned the highest scholastic standing for the
semester. The chapter had a 3.5098 GPA for spring semester,
During the Greek Awards Ceremony at Florida
International, Theta Xi Chapter received the following
awards: Outstanding Community Service, Outstanding
Community and Public Relations, Outstanding Financial
Program, Outstanding Scholarship, Outstanding Recruitment,
and The Fraternal Award of Excellence. Mari Lourdes Cabrera
received the Whatever it Takes Award.
Alpha Xi Delta was the only sorority nominated for an award at
the Student Life Awards Ceremony. Theta Xi Chapter was nominated for the Shining Star Award and won the Outstanding
Organization Service Award out of all the organizations on campus.
During Student Government elections, Nidia Cruz was elected
Honors College representative, Marbely Hernandez was elected
lower division representative and Mari Cabrera was chosen as representative at large. The greatest achievement of all was having
chapter president Christine Denton elected as Student
Government vice president.
At Dance Marathon, FIU’s largest student-run philanthropy,
most sisters participated as dancers, morale captains and committee members. Jessica Franchi-Alfaro was the 2005 overall
director. Theta Xi Chapter won the Spirit Cup, which is given to
the organization that raises the most money.
Sister Brittany Juliach was named Pi Kappa Phi Fraternty’s
Miss Push America; Elizabeth Pena was named Pi Kappa Phi’s
Rose Queen and Greek Goddess. Janing Vela was named Sigma
Alpha Mu Fraternity’s Sweetheart, and Angie Alfonso was named
FIU’s Golden Idol. —Stephanie Alvarez, OoSTEPHY101oO
@aol.com
33
New Sisters Gain Recognition
Iota Alpha Chapter at St. Norbert (WI) received the
Norbertine Leadership and Service Award for Outstanding
Alumni Relations for an alumnae reunion they held last fall.
Sisters used the weekend event to discuss with Alpha Sigma
Chi alumnae the importance of colonization and to explain the
opportunities that await sisters as alumnae initiates. (Alpha
Sigma Chi local sorority affiliated with Alpha Xi Delta in
February.) The chapter was also recognized for its work with
Alpha Xi Delta alumnae advisors and its continual contact with
alumnae members.
Iota Alpha was recognized by the De Pere girls’ softball
league for its help with the construction of a field house during
Make a Difference Day. A brick was dedicated in the name of
Alpha Xi Delta at the field house site. —Sarah Decker, sarah.
decker@snc.edu
AJD
34
On April 16 more than 200 alumnae, family members and friends celebrated Gamma Eta’s
50th anniversary on the Georgia Tech campus with the dedication of The Shirley Mewborn Gay
Dull House, honoring two outstanding Gamma Eta alumnae. Cutting the ribbon at the dedication ceremony are Wayne Van Leer and Blake Van Leer Peck (grandsons of alumna Ella Van
Leer); Georgia Tech president Wayne Clough; Duke Mewborn, Michele Mewborn Shapley and
Marie Shapley (husband, daughter and granddaughter of Shirley Mewborn); AJD Past
National President Jane Sutton; alumnae Gay Dull and Kelli Keb (capital campaign cochair); Jim Dull (husband of Gay Dull); Annie Sistrunk (Gamma Eta chapter president);
and alumna Cheryl Weldon (capital campaign co-chair). Photo courtesy of Gary Meek and the
Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
First at Tech, First in Sisterhood
Gamma Eta celebrates 50 years of sisterhood and
a new chapter house at Georgia Tech.
I
By Kelley Kitta Hund, Georgia Tech ’85
n 1954 Georgia Institute of Technology enrolled 5,000 men and
just five women: Shirley Clements, Elizabeth Cofer, Helen
Kimbrough, Diana Michel and Caroline Seale. On a sunny afternoon in ’54, these five young women attended a tea party at the
home of Ella Wall Van Leer, California Berkeley ’13, wife of
Georgia Tech president Blake Van Leer. The collegians discussed
the bond they felt with one another as the first women admitted to
the previously all-male school. In turn, Ella spoke about the camaraderie she felt with her Alpha Xi Delta sisters.
As the co-eds walked home after the party that afternoon they
expressed how impressed they were with Ella’s fraternity. It was
from this conversation that the collegians decided to start their own
Alpha Xi Delta chapter at Tech. With guidance from alumna June
Crause Jones, Stetson ’36, this small but mighty group was granted
permission to become a chapter. On April 24, 1954, Shirley,
Elizabeth, Helen, Diana and Caroline became charter members of
the first women’s fraternity on the Georgia Tech campus.
During the early years, Gamma Eta chapter meetings were held
at the Van Leer’s home at the corner of Techwood Drive and Sixth
Street. Unfortunately, this white clapboard house was torn down in
the early 1970s and the corner lot remained vacant.
Shirley Clements Gamma Eta alumnae search for their names
Mewborn’s lifelong on the engraved bricks on the back patio,
dream was to see her which they purchased for $50 to augment the
chapter’s capital campaign. Any Alpha Xi
beloved chapter in a Delta interested in purchasing a brick can
new house of its own. contact Tammy Purves at tpurves@clc.com.
Shirley teamed up
with June Crause Jones and Gay Kimbrough Dull, Georgia Tech ’63, to
form the Gamma Eta Building Corporation. In 1984 these women used
their own money to purchase a small four-bedroom house just within
the borders of Tech’s growing campus.
Twelve years later the Greek community at Tech experienced a
housing boom as the campus became the site of the 1996 Olympic
Village. Fraternities and sororities scrambled to build new homes or
renovate their existing structures. As chapter houses grew larger and
more lavish, it was clear to Shirley, Gay and others that a new, larger
house was needed for Alpha Xi Delta to maintain its leadership position on campus.
The first steps in this undertaking were to develop architectural
plans for the chapter house, develop a construction budget and secure
financing. Janice Nease Wittschiebe, Georgia Tech ’75, a principal in
the architectural firm Richard + Wittschiebe, provided conceptual
H O U S E
D E D I C A T I O N
35
ABOVE: Gamma Eta
collegians Carol Ford
and Nicole Maser.
LEFT: The library,
named after Janice
Nease Wittschiebe, is
both beautiful and
functional.
drawings while Gamma Eta Chapter
Advisor Tammy Tuley Purves, Georgia Tech
’86, began working with campus planning
officials to find an appropriate location for
the new residence.
Georgia Tech’s campus had undergone
several master plan revisions during the
previous 10 years to accommodate new conChapter house architect
struction. Because of these modifications,
and Gamma Eta alumthe first two sites that had been identified
nae Janice Wittschiebe,
for Gamma Eta’s chapter house had to be
and capital campaign
abandoned. The third location was a charm.
co-chair Kelli Keb, were
In fact, it was a location familiar to Shirley
thrilled to see the comClements Mewborn: the corner of
pleted chapter house.
Techwood Drive and Sixth Street where she
and her chapter sisters held their meetings more than 50 years ago.
Once the location was selected it was time to start raising funds for
the project’s $1.7 million budget. The Building Corporation had some
money, yet a substantial loan was needed and additional capital had to
be raised. Gamma Eta initiated its First at Tech—First in Sisterhood
capital campaign, co-chaired by Georgia Tech alumnae Kelli Hennessy
Keb, ’75, and Cheryl Johnson Weldon, ’81. With the help of an active
steering committee and representatives from various new member
classes, the campaign surpassed its $200,000 goal and raised a phe-
nomenal $270,000. Of Gamma Eta’s 500 alumnae, approximately 40 percent contributed to the campaign. In addition
to capital campaign funds, the Building Corporation
secured a bank loan, and several alumnae provided personal guarantees for a portion of the loan.
While the capital campaign was in full force, Janice Wittschiebe
continued with her design plans. She conferred with Shirley and
the two agreed that using the skill and expertise found in femaleowned firms was appropriate for the completion of a sorority house.
Therefore, in addition to Janice’s architectural firm, three other
female-owned design engineering firms were involved in the project. Unfortunately, Shirley was unable to witness the completion of
the chapter house as she lost her battle with cancer and entered
Chapter Eternal in July 2003. Everyone involved felt extreme sadness over Shirley’s passing, yet they held tight to Shirley’s dream.
In February 2004 construction of the Gamma Eta chapter house
began.
The interior design work, which was handled by Tech alumnae
Cindy Nora Hart, ’80, and Alethia Bigbie Thompson, ’76, incorporates ideas from collegians as well as alumnae to give the chapter
house a young, contemporary look. The foyer of the two-story, cottage-style house leads to a large living room with an inviting fireplace flanked by double French doors opening to a private patio. A
library/meeting room is adjacent to the foyer, and down the hall is
the chapter/dining room that can accommodate 90 members. The
first floor also has a commercial-grade kitchen and a small kitchen
where members can prepare food when the meal plan is not offered.
Twenty-six women can live in the new chapter house. There are
two- and three-person bedrooms on the second floor and a handicapaccessible suite on the first floor. The finished basement is used as a
study room.
After years of hard work, The Shirley Mewborn Gay Dull House
was dedicated on April 16, 2005. It is appropriately named for two
women whose decades of service to Gamma Eta Chapter and its
Building Corporation have been instrumental to the chapter’s success on campus and within the Fraternity.
I N S T A L L A T I O N
36
Alpha Beta’s August 28, 2005, installation signified the chapter’s much-anticipated return to the Cornell University campus.
Coming Home to Cornell
Alpha Beta Chapter returns to campus after a 40-year hiatus.
hen a group of collegians establish a local sorority with
the express purpose of affiliating with a national organization, you know this is a resolute bunch of women. That’s exactly
what happened on Thanksgiving Day 1916 when 19 coeds
formed local sorority Delta Pi Alpha with the goal of receiving an
Alpha Xi Delta charter. This fledgling group met with success on
May 21, 1918, when Alpha Xi Delta’s Grand President Lena
Grandin Baldwin installed Alpha Beta Chapter at Cornell
University in Ithaca, New York.
Alpha Beta enjoyed great success at Cornell. Membership
numbers continued to rise and local alumnae helped collegians
purchase a chapter house in 1923. When the 1960s rolled
around and students rebelled against tradition and organization,
the number of women interested in sorority membership drastically declined. In 1964, much to the dismay of the Fraternity,
chapter alumnae and collegians, the doors of the Alpha Beta
chapter house closed for what many thought was forever.
In early 2004 Alpha Xi Delta was invited by Cornell’s Greek
community to reopen or “recolonize” and become the university’s 12th National Panhellenic Conference sorority. Alpha Xi
Delta established a strong presence on campus, and the colony
began to flourish as more and more women were attracted to
W
Numerous alumnae were on hand to welcome our newest sisters
and the return of Alpha Beta Chapter to Cornell. Celebrating this
milestone are chapter president Kate Lyden, Harriet Cross Vorhis,
Cornell ’37, Harriet’s daughter Virginia Vorhis, Rochester Institute
of Technology ’80, and former colony president Melissa Murphy.
Congratulations to the
Chapters Celebrating
Anniversaries in 2006!
95 Years
Pi, Ohio
90 Years
Psi, The Ohio State University
85 Years
Alpha Eta, Purdue University
60 Years
Beta Pi, Indiana University
our Fraternity and her ideals. After months of preparation and
hard work, reminiscent of the efforts of the 19 Delta Pi Alpha
sisters, 45 collegians and one alumna were initiated into Alpha
Beta Chapter.
“Returning to a campus that was home to one of our earliest
chapters was really moving,” said National President Debbie
Fenwick Maas, who conducted the Installation and Initiation
ceremonies. “It was wonderful to see the pride and excitement
on the faces of alumnae who were initiated in the 1950s and
early 1960s. Being on Cornell’s beautiful campus and holding
the ceremonies at the chapter house just added to the magic.”
Former Educational Leadership Consultants Courtney
Hankins and Heather Kershaw, who assisted the women during their colonization period, were among the guests present at
the ceremonies, as was former Chapter Advisor Heather
Noftall, Embry-Riddle (FL) ’96.
“Our sisters at Cornell are an amazing group of women,”
said Heather. “Passionate and dedicated, they’re all making
their mark on campus in individual ways. As I visited with our
newest sisters prior to Installation, I was so excited to share
with them full knowledge of Alpha Xi Delta. Knowing all that
they had been through to reach this point, it was hard to keep
the tears from my eyes.”
Following the ceremony, a congratulatory luncheon was
held for the new initiates, special guests and Alpha Beta alumnae to celebrate the chapter’s return to campus. During the
luncheon, a gavel and Alpha Xi Delta flag were presented to the
chapter as gifts from the National Fraternity. Alpha Beta alumnae and housing corporation members Judie Baker Byndas,
’60, and Joyce White Cima, ’49, gave chapter president Kate
Lyden a special gift from fellow chapter sister Beverly Pratt
Schaufler, ’45. Beverly donated her pearl Quill badge and pearl
chapter guard to the chapter so the president can wear them
during her term in office.
The chapter also received the original Alpha Beta charter to
display alongside their reestablishment charter. Though yellowed and wrinkled with age, the 1918 charter serves as a daily
reminder of Alpha Beta’s rich history and the 19 visionary
women who brought Alpha Xi Delta to campus.
Cornell University is named after Ezra Cornell who made his
fortune through early involvement in the telegraph industry.
More than 20,000 students are enrolled at Cornell’s Ithaca campus, which is located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate
New York.
50 Years
Gamma Theta, East Tennessee
State University
45 Years
Gamma Psi, Frostburg State
University (MD)
Gamma Omega, Henderson State
University (AR)
Delta Alpha, University of
Wisconsin LaCrosse
40 Years
Epsilon Gamma, Western Carolina
University (NC)
Epsilon Zeta, Eastern Washington
University
Epsilon Theta, West Liberty State
College (WV)
35 Years
Zeta Eta, West Chester University (PA)
20 Years
Zeta Upsilon, Alma College (MI)
15 Years
Theta Zeta, Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University (AZ)
Theta Eta, Western Michigan
University
Theta Theta, Brooklyn College
Theta Iota, Florida Atlantic
University
10 Years
Theta Upsilon, Youngstown State
University
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space holder. This is the last page of
the Foundation section.
C H A P T E R
E T E R N A L
Names reported from May 1, 2005, through August 15, 2005.
Members are listed alphabetically by chapter order. The year following the name is the year of initiation.
Gamma Chapter
Tau Chapter
Alpha Upsilon Chapter
Mount Union College
Christine Anderson Halls ’38
Lucile Eatwell Turner ’51
University of New Hampshire
Sally Barnwell Chapman ’40
Brenau College
Mary Overby Tibbetts ’30
Phi Chapter
Alpha Phi Chapter
Epsilon Chapter
Albion College
Ardyce Chaffin Rector ’35
University of Pennsylvania
Janet Eileen Loeb Hulme ’40
University of South Dakota
Cleo Trenker Morency ’42
Edith Obele Reese ’37
Norma Jean Westre Samuelson ’46
The Ohio State University
June Holstein Masters ’37
Zeta Chapter
Omega Chapter
Psi Chapter
Wittenberg University
Jeanne Freeburger Stevens ’38
Stetson University
Hazel Jean Camp Carter ’46
Eta Chapter
Alpha Beta Chapter
Syracuse University
Julia Crichton ’92
Vera Keeney ’22
Theta Chapter
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Edna Speth Seifert ’36
Iota Chapter
West Virginia University
Katherine Rae Thompson
Dannert ’37
Cornell University
Lucy Boldt Shull ’32
Alpha Delta Chapter
Oregon State University
Clara Nelson Slonecker ’35
Josephine Athel Barlow
Sunderland ’29
Phyllis Corbett Sundquist ’32
Alpha Eta Chapter
Purdue University
Mae Robertson Mallory ’29
Nu Chapter
University of Washington
Beverly Robinson Lycette ’47
Alpha Kappa Chapter
Kansas State University
Dawn Boyer Neumeyer ’63
Omicron Chapter
University of California, Berkeley
Betty O’Neal Jamison ’37
Rho Chapter
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Marlene Mecke Petersen ’50
Alpha Mu Chapter
Ohio Wesleyan University
Margaret Schlientz Eicher ’29
Ida Lanpher Johnson ’29
Evelyn Seely Yochem ’43
Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity encourages
you to make a specific provision in
your will as to where your Quill badge
should go when you die. Your Quill
should be buried with you, returned
to Fraternity Headquarters, or
donated to a chapter to be used as a
rotating recognition or award pin.
If you have questions
contact Fraternity Headquarters
at fhq@alphaxidelta.org
or (317) 872-3500.
Alpha Omega Chapter
Florida State University
Elizabeth Malcolm DuBois ’29
Margaret Bradley Pasto ’77
Beta Eta Chapter
University of Maryland
Mary Frances Baxter Lichter ’52
Beta Kappa Chapter
Baldwin-Wallace College
Margaret Oetjen Wood ’46
Beta Psi Chapter
Carroll College
Melanie Bruski Wearing ’72
Gamma Delta Chapter
Alpha Xi Chapter
University of California at
Los Angeles
Mitzi Archer Kearney ’46
Alpha Pi Chapter
Middlebury College
Helen Abel Brown ’25
Alpha Tau Chapter
University of Nebraska-Omaha
Linda Ann Richards Keyser ’63
Delta Nu Chapter
Indiana University of
Pennsylvania
Cathy Hassinger Olynyk ’71
Delta Psi Chapter
Texas State University-San Marcos
Hope Lea Hurley ’96
University of Alabama
Elinor Adele Mahaffey
McCormick ’37
Start a New Holiday Tradition
Send shipping and payment information to:
Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity Headquarters
8702 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268
2005 AJD ornament Quantity: _________
Shipping Information
Name: __________________________________
Address: _________________________________
________________________________________
The first in a series of collectible holiday ornaments is now available from Alpha Xi Delta. This year’s
limited-edition pewter ornament, our beautiful Quill with 2005 engraved on the back, comes beautifully packaged in a blue velour pouch and is just $19, which includes shipping and handling. Future
ornaments include Alpha Xi Delta’s crest, rose, double blue and gold colors, and BetXi Bear. Order
your keepsake ornament today in the Marketplace section of www.alphaxidelta.org or use the order
form to the left.
Payment Method:
q Check q Visa q Mastercard q Discover
Card#: __________________________________
Exp. Date: _______________________________
Signature: _______________________________
2005 collectible Quill (front)
(back) Ornament size: 3 3/4” W x 3/4” H
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with the attention his disabilities caused, it
came to me clearly that how I reacted to peoples’ stares and questions would greatly affect
their acceptance of Alex and me. If I felt
uncomfortable for Alex, myself, or other people, it would only make the situation more difficult. My full, open acceptance of Alex’s conditions would be contagious and make him
more approachable. I also promised Alex that
no matter what happened in the outside
world, he would always be loved and accepted at home. Together we learned creative
ways to deal with the situations presented to
us. I’m proud of both of us!
In the U.S., Alex is the only dancer in a
wheelchair who has obtained a degree in
dance. Since 1992 he has run his own professional dance company called Spitzer Dance
Company www.spitzerdancecompany.org. Alex
is remarkable in so many ways.
Again, thank you for sharing of other sisters’ experiences. These stories always give
solace and perspective.
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More Accolades for
Special Children
I can’t thank you enough for the articles on
special needs children (spring 2005). My 2year-old niece was born prematurely. She was
not developing properly and was being
labeled by doctors as having the condition
“failure to thrive.” She was admitted to the
hospital for dehydration, and within 24 hours
of admission, she was diagnosed as having a
disorder called Kabuki Syndrome. Hers is
one of 300 cases known worldwide. Doctors
feel it is underdiagnosed, and genetic testing
is not currently available. If your child is
labeled as failing to thrive, please fight for
your child!
I don’t know if my sister will be able to handle reading the articles on special needs children at this time. I’m saving them, however,
for her to see that she’s not alone and that
she can look at these wonderful mothers as
role models. As for the moms in the articles,
thank you for providing inspiration to others
and for sharing such a personal part of your
life to help others cope.
Sincerely,
Elise Hyman Bernstein
Rider (NJ) ’91
When I read the stories on children with
special needs, I realized I had an experience
much like my sisters in the article. My son
Robert was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 2. Robert’s joints were stiff
and swollen much of the time, he had difficulty with fine motor skills and large motor activities, and his emotions were extreme. As a
preschooler, Robert longed to play like a normal rough-and-tumble kid, but he couldn’t
because of the pain.
When Robert was 5 the rheumatologist prescribed a chemotherapy drug. My fear of the
drug’s side effects sent me searching because
I knew there had to be something else I could
do to bring true healing and not just temporary, symptomatic relief. I was led to
Oklahaven Children’s Chiropractic Center in
Oklahoma City www.chiropratic4kids.com, a
nonprofit clinic that believes in the restoration
of children’s health in a natural, drug-free way.
Today Robert is active and healthy, an outstanding student and a school leader. He is
also an accomplished pianist, and his musical
interests have expanded to the guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoys basketball and played
on two teams last year. Best of all, he is free of
arthritic symptoms.
As we strive to realize our potential as Alpha
Xi Deltas, our children’s full potential can be
reached when their bodies are properly
aligned, allowing the life force to flow freely
within them and empowering them, without
labels or diagnoses, to live a drug-free, happy
life.
Mary Lou Gresky Mudge
Tennessee ’65
Sincerely,
Paula Barnes
Oklahoma State ’79
Leslie Moscato, OTR/L
Ohio State ’98
Thank you for publishing the article on
special children. I, too, am the parent of a special “child,” Alex Spitzer, who is now 32 years
old. Alex was born with a congenital disability
called arthrogryposis congenital multiplex.
While I am not glad to learn that others have
had to deal with similar challenges and opportunities in raising special needs children, it’s
comforting to be reminded I’m not the only
one.
As I tried to sort out my love for Alex, the
loss I felt for his disabilities and how to cope
It was touching to read the “Children with
Special Needs, Mothers with Special Joys”
stories in the spring issue. I’m a school-based
occupational therapist (OT) and work with
children with disabilities on a daily basis.
Occupation is considered “the ordinary
things people do every day.” A child’s occupation is education, play and self-help skills.
When a child with special needs has difficulty
in these areas, it’s the OTs job to assist with
such things as fine motor, visual motor and
sensorimotor skill development to help the
child succeed.
One of my students with autism recently
mastered his goal to tie his shoes. I had tears
of happiness in my eyes. That evening I
received at phone call from his mother,
thanking me. I assured her that her son did
all the work. We must remember that every
child can learn, and we must find the way
they do it best.
As I was reading the letters to the editor in
the most recent Quill concerning children
with various disorders, I wondered if readers
are aware of NORD—The National
Organization for Rare Disorders www.rarediseases.org. NORD is a great resource for
patients and families, and they provide support, networking and educational conferences. They also have a drug administration
program. NORD’s toll-free number is (800)
999-6673.
Karol Bradwick Hitt Rowan
Syracuse ’49
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Editor’s Note: Thanks to everyone who
shared their experiences and offered information to help children with special needs. The
overwhelming response to these stories shows
that no matter what you’re going through,
there’s another Alpha Xi Delta who’s facing a
similar situation. I encourage you to continue
to educate and support one another by sending
us your feedback and suggesting topics to be covered in future issues.
Learning to Accept Our
Bodies
I read “Putting the Squeeze on Body
Bashing” in the spring 2004 issue and can
relate to the topics covered in this article. I’ve
struggled with my weight and body acceptance since high school. In 2003 and 2004 I
totally spiraled out of control with my weight
obsession. I’d been through a lot of stressful
events, gained a few pounds, and then
freaked out about it and completely overcompensated. I started counting every calorie that
went into my mouth. My life revolved around
food and how I could cut every calorie and
burn off the few calories I actually consumed.
I became irritable and was always tired. I
avoided social events where there was food
because I didn’t want to eat too many calories. Then I would get so hungry that I would
binge-eat to make up for the calorie deficit my
body was experiencing. My family was always
worried and thought I looked sick. I thought
they were all jealous and just trying to hold
me back. Looking back now, they were right
about everything.
I’ve been in therapy since August 2004
when I finally realized I had a problem. I have
a wonderful, supportive husband, and with
his love and the support of family and friends,
N O T E S
and a lot of wonderful counseling and some
medication, I am now recovering and actually
feel better than I have in a long time. Now I
can eat and enjoy what I’m having instead of
worrying that every little calorie is going to
make me fat. I’m a nicer person and more giving to others. I like myself better now. I’ve
gained some of the weight back, but I feel
better physically.
Letting go of your obsession is scary and
difficult, but it’s also liberating. Your family
and true friends love you regardless of what
you look like or weigh. That number on the
scale doesn’t make you a better person. What
matters is how you treat and respect others
and yourself.
I know there are a lot of people out their
struggling with this issue, and I want them to
know they’re not alone. I wish I would have
known someone in this situation a long time
ago so they could have helped me sooner.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hilliard
Indiana ’95
Editor’s Note: Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your pain and your eventual triumph over
your illness. Your words will impact so many
people.
According to the National Eating Disorders
Association www.nationaleatingdisorders.org,
the average American woman is 5’4” and
weighs 140 pounds. The average American
model is 5’11”, weighs 117 pounds and is thinner than 98 percent of the women in America.
Let that sink in: Models are thinner than 98
percent of the women in America. Dieting,
purging and compulsively exercising to be in
this hard-to-attain 2 percent category is a dangerous goal.
New Series!
To be
released in 2009
The first in a series
of collectible holiday
ornaments is now
available from Alpha
Xi Delta. Complete
details can be found
on page 57.
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If you or someone you know is struggling
with an eating disorder or body acceptance
issues, I urge you to seek help, uncover the reasons for your pain and work toward self-acceptance. Perhaps Elizabeth’s story is the inspiration you need to start loving yourself.
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A Look Ahead
As a magazine written, edited and designed
by Alpha Xi Deltas for Alpha Xi Deltas, we
want to continue to bring you stories that
focus on topics that interest you. What would
you like to read about in future issues? Who
would you like to see featured? Have you
always wondered about a particular aspect
about our Fraternity but weren’t sure who to
ask? Send your story ideas, photos and suggestions to jemerick@alphaxidelta.org or to
the Fraternity Headquarters mailing address
on page 2. In the meantime, give the following topics some thought.
Alpha Xi Delta/Sigma Nu Partnerships.
When 10 young women at Lombard College
asked the men of Sigma Nu Fraternity for
assistance in organizing their new sorority on
campus, the men happily obliged. In recognition of this tremendous support, our
Founders considered Sigma Nu the unofficial
“brother” fraternity of Alpha Xi Delta. Today
109 campuses had or have both an Alpha Xi
Delta and Sigma Nu chapter. Did/does your
chapter consider Sigma Nu your “brother”
fraternity? If so, tell us about this special relationship. Did you marry/are you engaged to a
Sigma Nu? If so, did you meet your husband/fiancé through this AJD/SN connection? Deadline for stories and photos:
February 15.
Is “Wonder Woman” an Alpha Xi
Delta? There are some interesting Alpha Xi
Delta stories floating around out there. Is
Lynda Carter, the actress who played Wonder
Woman, an Alpha Xi Delta? Was the
Muppet’s Fozzie Bear named after Alpha Xi
Delta’s former mascot Al Fuzzie? Sorry, the
answer is “no” to both questions. Have you
heard some Alpha Xi Delta stories and wonder if they’re true? Do you want to know if a
famous personality is an Alpha Xi Delta? In an
upcoming issue we’ll share your questions,
provide the answers and tell you some Alpha
Xi Delta facts you may not know. Deadline for
questions: February 15.
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Submission Specifics
2005 Edition available NOW!
To be released in 2007
Order today in the Marketplace
section of www.alphaxidelta.org.
Items chosen for publication may be edited
for length, clarity and adherence to editorial
policies. The Quill staff welcomes photos
taken with a film camera as well as tif and jpg
images taken with at least a 3.2 megapixel
camera.
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Realize Your Potential
If there’s a successful event on campus, in town, or in the
workplace, there’s bound to be an Alpha Xi Delta leading
the charge. Every day, alumnae and collegians are making a
positive impact and realizing their potential by putting their
leadership and human relations skills to work. Share your
accomplishments by sending news and photos to
jemerick@alphaxidelta.org or to the Fraternity Headquarters
mailing address on page 2.
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Andrea, Donald and Logan Culver with dogs Abby and
Elliott.
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Andrea Andrejcik Culver
Kent State (OH) ’94
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Andrea worked from home in the
mornings and conducted interviews
with job candidates in the afternoon.
“Having a child and being a working mother is not easy. There’s guilt
that you’re not spending enough
time with your child and that you’re
missing out. I like working, and
while at times I think about staying
home, I’m not sure if I could do it
100 percent of the time!” Andrea
currently works from home on
Fridays and has the option of putting in a
reduced work week if she chooses.
With her busy life, Andrea still has time to enjoy activities with her friends in the New York City Alumnae
Association. “Alpha Xi Delta has played an important
role in my life and helped me when I moved to New
York City by allowing me to meet other sisters. My closest friends here are Alpha Xi Deltas. I still keep in touch
with my collegiate sisters and had the opportunity to
share pregnancy with one of them who had a baby a
month before me.”
Andrea is also sharing pregnancy with another chapter sister who will give birth to twins in January. Yes,
Andrea and her husband Donald are expecting again at
the end of March.
Connect with Andrea at Andrea.AndrejcikCulver@ey.com.
A beautiful woman with a contented smile graced the
cover of the July/August 2005 issue of Working Mother
magazine and a three-page article inside focused on how
Andrea successfully balances her career as a recruiter
for Ernst & Young in New York City with her roles as
wife and mother.
“I attended a breakfast for Working Mother readers in
New York,” said Andrea, mom to Logan Miles Culver
who recently celebrated his first birthday. “Afterward, I
emailed the magazine and thanked them for the event.
The email back to me asked if I would ever consider
being a cover mom. It all went from there.”
Andrea had been at Ernst & Young for just three
months when she learned she was pregnant. (Ernst &
Young is one of Working Mother’s “100 Best Companies
for Working Mothers.” Throughout her pregnancy,
Valerie De La Rosa
Texas ’99
The Dallas Business Committee for the
Arts (DBCA), a nonprofit organization committed to expanding business support for
and involvement in arts and cultural organizations, selected Valerie De La Rosa to the
2005–2006 Leadership Arts Class, a program specifically designed for emerging
leaders in the arts in North Texas. Now in
its 18th year, Leadership Arts also provides
board training for businesspeople and arts
administrators during a nine-month program that features workshops, lectures, interactive participation and
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exposure to arts and cultural events, The program also
focuses on challenges facing arts organizations in today’s
economic, political and artistic arenas. At the completion
of the course, each student is offered placement on a
board of a local arts/cultural organization. Each year
only 40 business leaders and five arts administrators are
chosen to participate in the course.
“If I didn’t say Alpha Xi Delta was responsible for this I
would be lying,” said Valerie, who was an art history
major at Texas. “My leadership positions in Beta Alpha
Chapter gave me the confidence to apply for the
Leadership Arts program. Although I’m only 24 years old,
I know can be an effective member of a nonprofit board.”
Valerie is employed by Good Fulton & Farrell
Architects in Dallas where she handles public relations
and marketing. Her community accolades include selection as a Clarice Tinsely Hometown Hero from Fox affiliate KDFW Channel 4 in Dallas for her five-year summer
volunteer commitment to the Harrington Public Library.
Valerie was also chosen as Role Model of the Week for
Dallas-Fort Worth’s locally produced Hispanic news
magazine show La Vida for the scientific research she
completed in Yellowstone National Park as part of the
JASON Project, which inspires in students a lifelong passion for learning in science, math and technology
through hands-on discovery.
Within the Fraternity, Valerie is the 2005–2006 corresponding secretary for the Dallas Alumnae Association.
She also spearheaded an offshoot of the association
called the Dallas Quill Connection that focuses on events
of interest to women in their 20s and 30s, and for those
young at heart.
“Membership in Alpha Xi Delta was another early
leadership opportunity which, I am sure, helped give me
the confidence to assume I could, with the help of my
husband Mark, start a de novo bank in Central City,
Nebraska, at the age of 28 and later a national bank in
Richmond, Missouri,” said Alice. “This led to the preparation for being CEO of Cornhusker Bank for 22 years
and an active participant in the community.”
Alice is a founding director of First Nebraska Trust
Co. and Charter Bank of Johnston, Iowa. She became
president and CEO of Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln in
1975. Her son John is the current president and Alice is
chairman.
Alice earned the Nebraska Builder Award from UNL
in 1989, one of the university’s highest honors. Earlier
this year, Alice accepted the Kiwanis Award for
Distinguished Service, an award bestowed upon only
four other women in its 79-year history.
Alice graduated with a bachelor of science degree in
1952 and her master’s degree in finance and management in 1955. She is a 1986 Alpha Xi Delta Woman of
Distinction and a 1999 Order of the Rose recipient. Alice
has an Alpha Xi Delta daughter, Dawn Dittmer
Coronado, Nebraska Lincoln ’78, who lives in Austin,
Texas, and two sons, John and Doug. She is currently
serving as co-chair of Rho Chapter’s Capital Fund
Campaign.
Connect with Valerie at valerie.delarosa@gff.com.
Described by fellow authors
Marianne Williamson and High
Prather as a book that “tells truth and
tells it well” and “warm, wise, personal and welcoming,” Change Your
Mind and Your Life Will Follow,
Karen Casey’s latest release, will
open your eyes and heart to how you
can move through life in a peaceful
more fulfilled way.
Change Your Mind offers a
dozen simple principles to live by,
such as Stop Focusing on
Problems So Their Solutions Can
Emerge,
Give
Up
Your
Judgments, and Remember That
You Are Not in Control. Each principle
makes up a chapter, each chapter includes meditationstyle essays to help readers access peaceful, life-changing responses to just about any situation.
“If I have learned anything through nearly three
decades of sobriety it’s that dramatic life changes happen by these small steps,” said Karen. “My recovery
from alcoholism, along with my commitment to helping
others heal themselves and their relationships through
my books, workshops and lectures, are the activities that
drive my life. I am lucky to have a wonderful husband
and two grandkids who are great reminders of why anything is important.”
Alice Frampton Dittman
Nebraska Lincoln ’49
Alice Dittman was invited
to participate in Masters
Week at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, a program
started in 1964 to connect
outstanding alumni with
UNL students. Masters are
invited back to campus to
meet with students in the
classroom, in living units and
at student organization meetings to share ways in which
students can apply their formal education to work situations and career goals.
Professionally, Alice has accomplished a lot of firsts.
She was the first female bank president in Lincoln and
one of only a handful around the country in 1975. She
was the first female chair of the Lincoln Chamber of
Commerce, the first chairwoman of the Bryan Hospital
Board of Directors in Lincoln, the first female chair of
the State of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, the first
woman president of the Nebraska Bankers Association
and the first chairwoman of the American Bankers
Association Community Bankers Council.
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Connect with Alice at AliceD@cornhuskerbank.com.
Karen Casey Elliott
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Purdue ’58
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Karen began her alcohol recovery program in 1976
and wrote her first book, Each Day a New Beginning:
Daily Meditations for Women, in 1982. She has been writing ever since. Change Your Mind is Karen’s 17th book.
Karen is a sought-after speaker at recovery and spirituality conferences across the country. In her free time,
Karen enjoys playing golf and tennis, reading, playing
bridge, and riding her Harley. She and her husband Joe
Casey, divide their time between Florida, Indiana and
Minnesota.
confidently. The skills I learned through Alpha Xi Delta
have been very important in developing me into who I
am today.”
Jennifer is a tenured first-grade teacher for Rochester
Community Schools in Michigan. Her master’s degree is
in the art of teaching; Jennifer plans to work toward her
doctorate in the near future. In addition to teaching children, Jennifer has also been teaching professional development to educators for more than seven years. She is
the founder of Foundations Publishing.
Connect with Karen at karen@womens-spirituality.com.
Learn more about Karen, her work and when she will be
speaking in your area at www.womens-spirituality.com.
Connect with Jennifer at jhood@buildingabetterme.com, or visit
buildingabetterme.com.
Siri Derrick Mitchell
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U of Washington ’88
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Jennifer Cherniak Hood
Alma (MI) ’96
As a Michigan school teacher, Jennifer Cherniak
Hood saw the need to play an active role in developing
positive character traits in today’s children and acted on
it. Driven by the desire to help children reach their
potential and have a successful life, she developed a fullyear character education classroom curriculum titled
Building A Better ME! What sets this curriculum apart
from the limited number like it is that Jennifer’s program
engages the parents as well as the student. “When the
school and home are in unity, using the same approaches and expecting the same result, true character growth
is fostered,” she said.
The Building A Better ME! curriculum uses role-plays,
teacher-created opportunities and student reflections so
children can learn how to apply the character trait in
daily life. Traits range from respect and kindness to selfcontrol and believing the best.
Jennifer received a Bernice Askey Scholarship from
the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation in 1997. As an outstanding
senior member, Jennifer received the Elizabeth Roberts
Quackenbush Leadership Award in 1999. “Being part of
Alpha Xi Delta gave me confidence to try new things.
During my service in various positions in my chapter, I
had the opportunity to implement my ideas and see them
succeed. Recruitment taught me how to approach people
With three novels under
her belt, some might call Siri
Derrick Mitchell an overnight
publishing sensation. But it’s
been 10 years since she first
started writing. “It took a lot
of persistence. As a Christian
fiction writer, I’m now honored to be part of the fastest
growing segment of the publishing industry.”
Siri’s novels draw on her
extensive travels throughout
Europe and Asia. Her first
novel, Kissing Adrien, was
released by Harvest House in
July. “Reading this book is the next best thing to visiting
Paris! It’s all about French men and French food. It’s
about faith being fun and discovering that sometimes
God doesn’t look at all like we expected.”
Siri’s second novel, Chateau of Echoes, helped launch a
new fiction line by publisher NavPress in September. In
this novel, two love triangles and two worlds collide in
the same chateau in Brittany, France. Siri’s third novel,
Something Beyond the Sky, will be released in January. It
depicts life at the intersection of four very different military wives.
“This novel was fun to write because one of the characters was a member of an unnamed sorority, which just
happens to have the same location as Nu Chapter, near
the University of Washington campus. The sorority
years are in the character’s back story, but it was still fun
to relive the time I spent there. And I promise that none
of my sisters, past or present, are the basis for any of my
characters!”
As an undergraduate, Siri served her chapter as chaplain, vice president and president. “One of my characters
posed a question to another: When someone tries something they have never done before, do they become
more or less like themselves? In my case, in taking
advantage of the opportunities provided by Alpha Xi
Delta, I definitely became more like myself.”
Connect with Siri and learn more about her books at
SiriMitchell.com.
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R E A L I Z E
Y O U R
P O T E N T I A L
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Laurie Moore
Elise Morrison
Texas ’73
Dartmouth ’04
Edgar-nominated author Laurie Moore has had five
mystery-thrillers published since 2002, including the
young adult novel Simmering Secrets of Weeping Mary—
A Dueteronomy Devilrow Mystery. Laurie, a former police
officer, district attorney investigator and now a practicing
attorney in Fort Worth, Texas, writes the
first in the Deuteronomy Devilrow series
under a pseudonym: Merry Hassell Frels.
“As a responsible author, I didn’t want kids
looking for my grown-up books until they
turn 18,” Laurie said.
Simmering Secrets of Weeping Mary is
the first in a series of three Deuteronomy
Devilrow mysteries scheduled for release
over the next two years: Delivering
Dauphine (2006) and De-Frumping Mrs.
Drizzlewater (2007). The series is suitable for readers ages 8–15.
The Deuteronomy Devilrow character,
which has become wildly popular with
reviewers, first appeared in Laurie’s
fourth police procedural, The Wild Orchid
Society, in May 2004. She reappears in Laurie’s sixth
novel, Constable’s Wedding, published in October 2005,
which merges characters from her Fort Worth Police
series with her Tarrant County Constable series.
Laurie was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best
Mystery 2004 for Constable’s Apprehension, as well as an
Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery 2006 for
Simmering Secrets of Weeping Mary. This novel has also
been nominated for a Christopher Award, which honors
books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit;
the Amelia Bloomer Project Award, which honors children’s books featuring strong female characters; and the
Mark Twain Award, which honors books that enrich the
lives of fourth- through eighth-grade students in
Missouri.
Laurie received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish,
English, and elementary and secondary education from
the University of Texas. As a member of Beta Alpha
Chapter, Laurie said, “Alpha Xi Delta gave me camaraderie with other girls my age, as well as a sense of
belonging. I knew from the encouragement I received
that I had the capacity to distinguish myself in areas that
I loved and to be a good example for others, as well as an
ambassador within my own community.”
After graduating from UT in 1979, Laurie entered the
law enforcement field rather than using her teaching certificate. She completed six years of patrol work and one
year of criminal investigations prior to being promoted to
the rank of sergeant and working as a district attorney
investigator for several DAs in the Central Texas area for
the next seven years. In 1992 Laurie moved to Fort
Worth and gradated from Texas Wesleyan School of law
where she received her juris doctor in 1995.
“I had a growth spurt when I was 14,” said Elise
Morrison, the starting center on the Dartmouth women’s
basketball team. “That year I went from being a little
chubby and 5-feet 9-inches, 5-feet 10-inches, to being a 6foot 2-inch giant.” And the rest is history. By her junior
year in high school, Elise was already one of the most
heavily recruited basketball players in the country. She
led her Detroit Country Day, Michigan, high school
team to a 26-1 record her senior year and helped the
team clinch the state championship title. The Blue Star
Recruiting Service ranked Elise 28th among high school
seniors; some coaches named her among the top five
centers in the country.
After graduation, Elise thought she would end up at a
Big Ten school and play “big-time” basketball like her
sister Suzanne, who played for Northwestern. Because of
her mother’s strong encouragement and the appeal of an
Ivy League education, Elise chose Dartmouth instead.
“My academic career is as important to me as my basketball career,” said this international government major.
“Dartmouth gave me the best of both worlds.”
During her first year at Dartmouth, Elise earned Ivy
League Rookie of the Week honors 10 times in the 13week season en route to being named Ivy League Rookie
of the Year for the 2003–2004 season. Elise finished in
the top five in the league in scoring, rebounding, field
goal percentage, free throw percentage and blocked
shots. During her sophomore season, Elise helped
Dartmouth to a co-Ivy League championship and a spot
in the NCAA tournament. After recording 11 double-doubles during the regular season and averaging around 15
points per game, she was named Ivy Player of the Week
three times in the season and landed a spot on the All-Ivy
First Team as its only sophomore.
During games, Elise can count on her Theta Psi sisters to cheer her on. “Last year a few of the girls made
signs. It was great to look up in the stands and see all the
girls there cheering. Even when I messed up on the
court they were always yelling supportively.”
Connect with Elise at Elise.G.K.Morrison@Dartmouth.edu.
Connect with Laurie at Laurie@LaurieMooreMysteries.com.
Learn more about Laurie’s books at
www.LaurieMooreMysteries.com.
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Help Build Tomorrow’s
Leaders…Today!
“TLC is an amazing experience. I am a better
leader and person because of it.” —TLC attendee, 2004
Do you want to help young women learn to produce
extraordinary results, respect differences, work with others
to achieve common goals and strengthen Alpha Xi Delta
relationships? You can when you become a sponsor for
The Leadership Conference (TLC) 2006.
Your generous gift of $250 funds the educational
programming for one up-and-coming leader. Learn how you
can make an investment in a young woman’s future by
contacting Development Director Kendra Lewis at
klewis@alphaxidelta.org or (317) 872-3500.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME
The Leadership Conference
June 28–July 1, 2006
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
PARENTS of Alpha Xi Deltas: While your daughter is in college, The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta is sent to her home address, and we hope you enjoy reading it. If she is no
longer in college and is not living at home, please send her new permanent address to Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity. Any Alpha Xi Delta member should use this form to change
her name/address. Send this form to: Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, 8702 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268 or email fhq@alphaxidelta.org.
q Please remove me from The Quill mailing list.
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Choose Children - Alpha Xi Delta

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