Alumnae Panhellenic - Twin Cities Alumnae Panhellenic Association

MN TCAPA Fall Newsletter
mntcapa@gmail.com I www.mntcapa.com
Twin Cities
Alumnae Panhellenic
Dear Twin Cities Alumnae Panhellenics,
Welcome new delegates! Welcome back returning delegates! In its sixth year, Twin Cities
Alumnae Panhellenic Association (TCAPA) continues to grow. The 2014-2015 will be another
great year for us. We kick off every year assisting with formal recruitment at the University of
Minnesota, and year after year, it has proven to be a success, a growing success may I add.
At our Fall Council Meeting, we reunite with familiar faces and welcome new faces. No matter
where we came from, whether it’s ABC Sorority in MN or XYZ Women’s Fraternity outstate, we are
all Panhellenic sisters breathing the same Panhellenic air. I am so excited for what the year will
bring.
Here’s to another year of Socials, Council Meetings, Badge Day and the Philanthropy Event.
Looking forward to continuing our traditions and incorporating stellar new ideas! You are a part
of something special, and this group is a part of a bigger community which is so supportive
of Greek life. Thank you for being a part of TCAPA and part of a growing Greek community. We
wouldn’t be here without you!
In Panhellenic,
Hoang Uyen Nguyen
President
Twin Cities Alumnae Panhellenic Association
Executive Board
President
Hoang Uyen Nguyen
DG
Vice President
Kathryn Fletcher
ADP
Treasurer
Cathy Gies
Upcoming Events
September 30
Fall council meeting 7pm
Brookdale Library
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy
Brooklyn Park
October 17
Forever Greek Event
University of Minnesota
McNamara Alumni Center
7-11:30pm
Details: http://www.minnesotaalumni.
org/s/1118/social.aspx?sid=1118&gid=1&pgid=5
050&cid=7958&ecid=7958&crid=0&calpgid=375
9&calcid=7957
(not required, but encouraged to come)
November 11
Fall Social 7pm
Dingby’s at Rosedal Mall
854 Rosedale Center #1010, Roseville, MN 55113
December
No event
Happy Holidays!
KD
January 6
Winter Social 7pm
Location TBD
Secretary
Joy Horkey
February 3
Winter Council Meeting 7pm
Location TBD
SSS
Past President
Alicia Liebel-Berg
FM
March
International Badge Day
Location and Date TBD
April 7
Philanthropy Event 7pm
Location TBD
May 5
Spring Council Meeting 7pm
Location TBD
Details and RSVP for events on our event
page: www.mntcapa.com/events.html
Recommendation Letters Update
Recommendation Requests
This summer TCAPA piloted a new Recommendation Request Form on our new & improved website:
www.mntcapa.com/request-a-reference.html
Through this process, we received numerous recommendation requests from young women in the greater Minneapolis & St. Paul area. They participated in recruitment at the following schools:
·
Auburn University
·
University of Alabama
·
University of Mississippi
·
University of Nebraska
·
Texas Christian University
·
University of Texas
·
Vanderbilt University
·
Mississippi State University
Obviously many of these rec requests came from young
women who were headed to Southern campuses, where
there is heavy emphasis on the importance of securing
recommendations. Throughout the summer, TCAPA
forwarded these requests and information to the TCAPA
delegate, or provided the woman with the appropriate contact, depending on the organization’s preference. We
spoke with many young women and ensured that they had exhausted their own contacts first, and many of them
did prior to seeking help from TCAPA. Many of the young women seeking recs were the first people in their family
to participate in Greek life.
As we move forward with TCAPA this year, we will continue to tweak this process to ensure that delegates get the
information in a timely manner, and to ensure the PNMs are better prepared as they head off to recruitment. We
appreciate everyone corresponding with these women in a timely manner, as many of them are nervous about
the process. Here is some feedback we received this summer from two PNMs who completed recruitment:
“I just wanted to thank you all again for writing my letters of recommendation for my sorority
recruitment at Alabama. It was an eight day process that was hot, long, but rewarding! It was very tough to
choose between 16 wonderful sororities. They are all very successful and reputable down here. I received a bid
which I happily accepted. I am elated to be a part of this chapter. I know some of you were anxiously awaiting my
decision. Thank you again for your support. Your words of advice and stories of sisterhood made me extremely
excited. My new sisters have been amazing and I’m hopeful that I will have the same positive experiences you all
have had. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer. Thank you again for your generosity.”
“Just wanted to let you and TCAPA know that I accepted a bid
from Delta Zeta today! Thanks for all of your help with
letters of recommendation and your support!”
Recruitment at the University of
Minnesota
An exceptional group of enthusiastic and dedicated women volunteered to assist with Formal Recruitment
at the University of Minnesota on August 31, September 1, September 5 and September 7, culminating in
Bid Day on September 8. The University of Minnesota started recruitment with 611 Potential New Members.
They started recruitment out with 611 women and had 406 women accept bids at bid day. Quota was 40
and chapter total is 138.
Each evening of recruitment, our volunteers would assist PNMs with ranking their preference in the
Computer Lab at Coffman Union at the conclusion of that day’s events. Several volunteers had contributed
their efforts during previous Recruitments, and we also had the chance to work with many first time
volunteers. Twenty seven women, representing 11 different sororities, volunteered to work with PNMs
in the computer lab over the four days of ranking, and several volunteers worked multiple shifts. We
volunteered a total of 257 hours. On Bid Day, 24 alumnae of 11 different sororities, gathered at Northrop
Plaza as the new members received their bids. Alicia Liebel- Berg and Katie Fletcher did a marvelous job
of photographing Bid Day activities. Following the conclusion of Bid Day, our volunteers shared dinner at
Loring Pasta Bar in Dinkytown.
Our TCAPA volunteers make the process of Recruitment run more smoothly for the PNMs and our efforts
are appreciated by Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Updates from our local organizat
ions
National Panhellenic Conference and TCAPA
This summer, we were once again awarded the Citation of Merit
and recognition for Programming Excellence for 2014.
Phi Mu
The Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter sent three representatives
to the 2014 Phi Mu National Convention in Boca Roton,
Florida - Lynn McGraw, Alicia Liebel-Berg and Loni Aadalen.
The chapter got to see member, Lynn McGraw elected
onto Phi Mu’s national council. The chapter also took home
the “Founders’ Cup” as an exemplary and high-functioning
alumnae chapter over the last bi-enium.
In honor of fall recruitment, the TC Alumnae Chapter also
provided their local collegiate chapter out of the University
of River Falls in Wisconsin with merit awards for outstanding
collegians who have shown dedication in recruitment for their
chapter. Members were given Phi Mu creeds and Lilly Pulitzer
Phi Mu frames.
Gamma Phi Beta
Several members from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae Chapter
(MSPAC) of Gamma Phi Beta attended Convention 2014 in Seattle
from July 9th - 13th with over 900 other Gamma Phi’s. MSPAC
took home two honorable mentions for
Newsletter Excellence and the Clara Worden Award (showing
continual growth over a 4 year period).
Our alumnae chapter held a Bunco Benefit on August 26th that
raised $940 for the capital campaign of Camp Tanadoona (a Camp
Fire MN camp). We are so proud to be women Building Strong
Girls! We are super thankful for our friends, family, collegians and
Panhellenic sisters that came out to join us in the fun and help
raise money for a great cause!
Updates from our local organizat
ions
Delta Delta Delta
Our chapter won the Eleanor Dorcus Pond award for our region.
This award is given to an Alumnae Chapter who has exhibited
overall exceptional and rewarding experiences to their members
while maintaining a stable or increasing membership, promoting
Life Loyal membership, offering diversity in activities and schedules,
all that reflects the commitment to sisterhood ideals and the
Purpose of Tri Delta
Delta Delta Delta
Donna Mathiowetz Larson received the National Volunteer Service Award. This award honors a Tri Delta alumnae member’s
years of national volunteer service and continued commitment. Donna has served in just about every position imaginable at the national level over the years. Donna is currently
serving as the Alumnae Chapter Services Coordinator.
Delta Delta Delta
Jannette Quast Paulu first runner
up for the Ernestine Block Grigsby
award. Jet was honored for her loyalty
and dedication to Tri Delta. She has
given 40 plus years of outstanding
service to our chapter. Jet has served
as Alumnae Chapter President, Treasurer,
house core member, Alumnae District
Officer and chapter advisor to just name
a few of the positions she has held. Her
dedication, enthusiasm and ability to
mentor has been an inspiration to many women.
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Our chapter received the Website
of the Year Award for the 2013-2014
year. We recently found out over this
summer, that our chapter received a
$2,500 grant from the Robbie Page
Memorial Fund of the Sigma Sigma
Sigma Foundation to give to HCMC’s
Child Life Program to help purchase
Medikin Dolls and Patient Puppets to
help the children understand their
surgeries. This past May our chapter
got together at the Paint Pub and had
fun painting the Stone Arch Bridge.
Tarah Bjorklund, our communications
director, participated in Ragbrai in
which she biked across the state of
Iowa (300 miles total) in five days.
Delta Zeta
This summer we had 5 women attend the Delta Zeta National
Convention in Tucson, Arizona where we were recognized for
Alumnae Chapter Achievement!
Additionally, on Sunday July 20th, we had a number of women
volunteer at the Starkey Hearing Foundation Annual Gala.