Chi Omega Houston Alumnae Newsletter November 2012

Letter from Our President Dear Chi Omega Sisters: This fall certainly has been a busy one for the Houston Alumnae Chapter. Our Welcome Back Fall Coffee held in September was a lovely event and I was so pleased to have my Epsilon Gamma sister and former S.H. Jean Mermoud Mrasek attend and speak to our group. Then last month on October 17th we held Chi Omega Kaleidoscope, our biennial fundraiser and speaker’s luncheon with Ali Wentworth. Ali was truly entertaining and had us all laughing with her stories. It was such a treat to get to see so many of our sisters and support our beneficiaries at the same time. Continued on page 2

Join us as we celebrate our sisterhood this holiday season and recognize our newest Chi Omega members

Sunday, December 16

2 - 4 p.m.

Home of Geyer Wise Dybesland 5 Crestwood Estates Drive, Houston, Texas 77024

Please RSVP by December 13th Light refreshments will be served

Contact Geyer Dybesland or Vita Dougherty at recruitment@chiomegahouston.com with questions

Chi Omega Alumnae Association of Houston

cordially invites you to the

New Member Holiday Party

Welcome Back Fall Coffee special guests Mary Evelyn Merritt White, Iota, former Governing Council S.T.B., and Jean Mermoud Mrasek, Epsilon

Gamma, former Governing Council S.H. and current N.P.C. Vice Chairman

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Loyally in Chi Omega, Mona Barron Epsilon Gamma, 1985 president@chiomegahouston.com

Welcome Back Fall Coffee September 18

At this time of year I find myself reflecting on all that I am thankful for. To my Board and Committee Chairs, I thank you for your efforts, your advice and guidance and your support. Your commitment never ceases to amaze me. To our membership, I thank you for your support of our organization. Through your generosity and our Kaleidoscope fundraiser, I am thrilled to announce that we will be able to gift $35,000 to The Center and $15,500 to Scholarships, along with a gift to the Chi Omega Foundation at our national headquarters. What a wonderful gesture to such deserving beneficiaries! I want to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season! And don’t forget to check our calendar of events – there are so many opportunities to share some time with friends and sisters! I look forward to seeing you at an event in the future!

Epsilon Gammas Leianne Whittle Sanclemente, Jean Mermoud Mrasek and Mona Barron

Iotas Gayle Perry Saunders and Farrell Harris Saunders

Margie Baldwin Esse, Iota Alpha; Carol Kullick Kors, Gamma Beta; Julie Lenehan Bailey, Kappa Zeta; and Karen Barnard Comiskey, Iota

Mona Barron, Epsilon Gamma; Drue Terry DaSilva, Psi Zeta; Melinda Holley Byrd, Epsilon Zeta; Joni Hruska Fichter, Alpha Zeta; and Cathy Coers Frank, Psi Zeta

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Chi Omega Kaleidoscope Committee

The Chi Omega Alumnae Association of Houston hosted its fifth biennial Chi Omega Kaleidoscope Luncheon on October 17th at the River Oaks Country Club. The luncheon featured actress, comedienne, and writer, Ali Wentworth, and benefitted The Center, the Chi Omega Alumnae Association of Houston Scholarship Fund, and the Chi Omega Foundation. Our hard-working and dedicated Chi Omega Kaleidoscope Committee, led by Erin Chambers Packwood, Psi Zeta, organized yet another successful and highly entertaining event. There was almost continuous laughter among the roughly 200 attendees as Ali Wentworth shared hilarious stories about her life with her husband George Stephanopoulos and anecdotes from her best-selling book, Ali in Wonderland. Several attendees won one of the fabulous raffle prizes, while others took advantage of the chance to meet Ali in person and have her sign their copies of her book. We look forward to continuing our support of the Chi Omega Foundation this year with a contribution from the proceeds, as well as to being able to grant more scholarships to outstanding collegians in the spring. A contribution of proceeds from the event will be presented to The Center during the next general meeting of the Alumnae Association on November 14th. All members are invited to join us as we continue our long-standing tradition of providing financial support to The Center!

From left to right: National Consultant Amanda Van Tilborg, Psi Zeta; Foundation President Shelley Eubanks

Potter, Xi Kappa; Ali Wentworth; Former Governing Council S.T.B. Mary Evelyn Merritt

White, Iota; Foundation Trustee Leslie Blackwell Oliver, Iota Alpha; and

Joni Hruska Fichter, Alpha Zeta

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I AM a Chi Omega. We ARE Chi Omegas — true yesterday, today, tomorrow, and beyond.

We belong to a network of Sisters that

provides lifelong friendship and support to women of all generations.

Chi O Fun Facts

Did you know?

Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world with the number of collegiate chapters (174) and in the number of women ever initiated (over 310,000). Chi Omega has over 234,000 living members, including 5,841 in the Houston area alone. There are over 20,000 current collegiate members – the most in recent history. We initiate over 6,000 collegiate members per year. Chi Omega has over 240 alumnae chapters and more than 3,000 alumnae volunteers. One in every four sorority women is a Chi Omega. Chi Omega was the first Greek organization to publish significant literature and to do broad research on women’s achievements. A Chi Omega ran for President. Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, Pi Beta, represented Colorado’s 1st district from 1973-1997. While in Congress, she became the 1st woman to serve on the House Armed Services Committee. In 1988, she ran for President on the Democratic ticket. We have our own Fraternity Whistle. Try it.

The Night Owls, led by Susan Rudolph, Xi Lambda, and Siri Hinze, Epsilon Alpha, had a great start to their year at the Royal Oak Bar & Grill on September 26th. The annual evening kickoff event was attended by a number of young Chi O professionals. Check out the calendar for all of their upcoming events. Many fun programs are planned throughout the year.

Night Owls Kickoff

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November 14th

Open Executive Board Meeting & Kaleidoscope Check

Presentation 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Center, 3550 West Dallas Building 2, Houston 77019

December 6th Chi O Cocktails 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Corkscrew 1308 West 20th Houston 77008

January 9th General Meeting

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. To be determined

November 14th Chi O Cocktails 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Under the Volcano 2349 Bissonnet Houston 77005

December 16th New Member Holiday Party

2 – 4 p.m. Home of Geyer Dybesland

5 Crestwood Estates Houston 77024

January 20th Chi O at the Movies

12:30 – 4 p.m. Edwards Marq*E Entertainment

7620 Katy Freeway Houston 77024

November 18th

Psi Zeta Holiday Social & Alumnae Mixer

2 – 4 p.m. Psi Zeta home, UH

5019 Calhoun, TH 8 Houston 77004

January 24th Chi O Book Club

The House at Tyneford 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Home of Sally Reed 4710 Willow

Bellaire 77401

November 13th Thanksgiving Gathering

6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Lola’s in the Heights

1102 Yale, Houston 77008

December 11th White Owl Gift Exchange

7 – 9 p.m. Home of Kristen Martin

1219 West 16th, Houston 77008

January 12th Tour of St. Arnold Brewing Company

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2000 Lyons, Houston 77020

Contact Night Owls Chairs, Susan Rudolph or Siri Hinze, at

nightowls@chiomegahouston.com for more information

Night Owls Events

Upcoming Events – Please join us….

To receive notices to these events, select Cocktails, Movies, Walking Group, Night Owls or

Book Club on your member profile. Log onto

www.chiomegahouston.com, then go to Member, Preferences.

Chi Omega volunteers

Teen volunteers

Dawn Ogletree Murphy, Kappa Zeta; Margie Davis, Epsilon Delta; Susan Rudolph, Xi Lambda;

and Siri Hinze, Epsilon Alpha

Two Houston Chi Omegas were recently chosen as Distinguished Alumna by their universities. Dr. Linda Gregg Fields, Alpha Zeta, was honored October 12th by Texas State University at San Marcos and Melinda Hill Perrin, Iota, was honored by the University of Texas at Austin on October 19th. Congratulations to each of these ladies who have given largely of themselves to their alma maters and to Chi O!!! Sue Walk Burnett, Psi, is being honored on November 16th as a role model of service in our community as the Business Woman of the Year by Inspire Women. Amy Picket Leibman, Alpha Zeta, is serving as Co-Chair of the luncheon honoring Sue. Tau New Member, Josephine Overton, from Memorial High School was voted as a candidate for Parade of Beauties. Josephine will represent Chi Omega at this annual beauty pageant at the University of Mississippi. Lynn Talbot Miller, Phi Gamma 1940, recently joined the Omega Chapter.

Chi Omegas, friends, and a contingent of their teen-age family members helped 40 residents of The Center celebrate the third annual Halloween Party on Saturday, October 27th. The residents eagerly waited for the party, led by Carolyn Laib Mata, Psi Zeta, and Barbe Boland Bozeman, Omicron, to begin in the newly renovated Cullen Residence Hall lobby.

Halloween arts and crafts included decorating individual paper pumpkins and real pumpkins too. Party guests enjoyed participating in all the fun surrounding this fall celebration and were served an assortment of refreshments, including sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies and lemonade. The residents were delighted to play several games of Bingo, the highlight of the day. Volunteers and residents alike look forward to next year’s party.

Halloween Party at The Center

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Extreme Makeover

The Center held a reception to recognize donors and volunteers who helped make The Center's recent makeover a reality. Ron Nixon of the Catalyst Group, Bradley Freels and Shon Link of Midway, and Lauren Prestenbach of Inventure Design worked closely with The Center's Executive Director, Eva Aguirre, and other staff members to create a functional living environment for residents and clients of The Center. The Center's new look is simply amazing thanks to $750,000 in donations, plus that much again in in-kind gifts. "To whom much is given, much is expected; and to those who are entrusted with as much, comes great responsibility." Those who worked on this project most certainly exceeded all expectations and have given those served by The Center a home of which they are very proud. Eva said, "This project has been an unexpected blessing that far exceeded our expectations. All of our clients and staff are delighted with the new look. We are truly grateful." The project would not have been possible without the support of groups like Catalyst Group, Midway, Inventure Design and many, many more! Chi Omega Kaleidoscope proceeds from recent years helped fund the Cullen Residence Hall Lobby renovation and The Center Board of Governors V.P. Joni Hruska Fichter, Alpha Zeta, accepted a lovely plaque on behalf of Chi Omega from Jerry Anderson, C.F.O. Joni proudly showed off the dedication plate honoring Chi Omega and Chi Omega Kaleidoscope which now hangs in the beautiful new lobby, home to 200 residents with developmental disabilities.

Page 7 Jerry Anderson, C.F.O. of The Center, and Joni Hruska Fichter, Alpha Zeta

The Psi Zeta’s year is off to a splendid start. They had a very successful recruitment, resulting in the largest new member class in their history at 26. The chapter is now 72 strong! Their recent Wish Week, which is composed of several philanthropic fundraising events, raised an impressive $8,600 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and will help make a dream come true for a child with a life-threatening medical condition. This semester, the Psi Zetas hosted a well-attended Parent’s Day, revealed Big and Little Sisters and enjoyed a very fun Roller skating Owl-A-Ween Sisterhood Retreat. They also placed 1st at Delta Gamma Anchor Splash, 1st in sorority at Delta Zeta Gong Show, and received the Spirit Award and 2nd place at the Phi Mu Field Day. The Psi Zetas won Homecoming Week overall with their fraternity partners, Kappa Sigma, which included 1st place at the talent show “Strut Your Stuff”. Congratulations on a fantastic semester!! We are very proud of you!

Before It Is Too Late…

Join the Chi Omega Alumnae Association

TODAY!

www.ChiOmegaHouston.com

Psi Zeta News

www.TravelChiO.com

Psi Zetas Fall 2012 Bid Day

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As we near the end of 2012, support the

CHI OMEGA FOUNDATION as part of your annual philanthropic giving.

To make your gift online, visit

http://everyday.chiomega.com/ifund/iFund.aspx or mail your check to Chi Omega Foundation,

3395 Players Club Parkway, Memphis, TN 38125.