Summer 2007 Newsletter

From the President
Hello “Hot” and Amazing AOII’s. Happy Belated 4th of July! Well, summer is in full swing and Convention is already gone! I am very proud to report that the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter and our Valley were wonderful hosts. Governor Napolitano and Mayor Gordon even proclaimed an Alpha Omicron Pi Week for both the state and the city of Phoenix. I, like many of you, spent hours determining my clothes, trying to find white closed-toed shoes for Ritual, and looking up other attendees on InCircle.

Convention also proved to be beneficial for the Phoenix Alum Chapter as we received the Ruby Award for meeting all of the Standards of Excellence. The chapter was given a certificate and a new Bible inscribed with the Chapter name as well as signatures by Kathy Jensen and Susan Danko. The chapter’s Panda Presentation tradition was also highlighted at a brunch with our own city firefighters as guests of honor. While the majority of my time was spent gabbing or in business meetings, the entire experience was beyond my expectations. There were amazing speakers, like our own Bobra Doiron, and lots of opportunities to see both old and new sisters and remember the good ol’ college days and our ritual.

Our chapter had a fantastic spring with lots of beginnings like new babies and new marriages. Congrats to Laurie Baugh and Alison Bachus on the births of their beautiful legacies. Caylen Jane Baugh was born May 20th and Kate Victoria Bachus was born on June 30th.

We also had a great turnout at our regular events such as the annual Arthritis Walk held in May.

For the most part, the entire month of June was devoted to Convention, but we have many activities and get-togethers planned throughout the summer that will get us out of the heat for a cool time :o) Have wonderful summer and thank you to all of the Phx sisters who volunteered or attended to help support us during our time to shine at Convention.

Roses and Alpha Love,
Maggie

Alumnae Chapter Membership
We are now accepting checks for the 2007-2008. Dues are $40 and go to fund the many ways we make a difference among our collegians, alumnae and community. If you are unable to participate in many of our activities, a financial contribution is still appreciated, to help support our collegians, purchase pandas, and other community service projects. Make out checks to: Alpha Omicron Pi Send to: Audrey Stewart 2201 N. Comanche Dr #1100 Chandler, AZ 85224 Please Put "Dues 2006-07" or "Donation" in Subject Line

Calendar of Events
July 14
Summer Sisterhood Tea Party – Come be a little girl again as we join sisters from across the valley for a full four course tea party 11:30 on Saturday at Abbey Gardens Tea House. Cost is $19.50 plus tip. 1837 W. Guadalupe Rd #107, Mesa 85202. Please RSVP to Maggie by July 7 at maggie_aopi@yahoo.com.
July 19
New Graduate Luau – We will be celebrating new members and recent graduates that have moved to the Phoenix area in grand Hawaiian style at the East Valley Happy Hour at TGIF (see below). If you are interested in adopting a new grad for our Sister to Sister mentorship program, please contact Maggie at maggie_aopi@yahoo.com. Flower dresses and leis optional :o)

Regional Social Events

EAST VALLEY:
3rd Thursday Happy Hour - Once a month we get together to catch-up with old friends and make new ones. Feel free to bring a friend or just yourself! We meet at TGI Friday’s near the Fiesta Mall at 7pm (1310 S. Longmore St., Mesa). June 14, July 19, August 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18
July 29
Join your sisters for brunch! Mimi’s (1050 S Alma School Rd, Mesa) near the Fiesta Mall, Sunday, July 29 at 2 pm.
August 25
Dinner and a movie - Join your sisters for dinner and stay to go the movies. Chili’s (1637 S Stapley Dr, Mesa) near the AMC movie theatre Saturday, August 25 at 5 pm.
Wanna host an East valley event? Please contact Amanda Lewis at http://us.f529.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=tjslchina@hotmail.com or 480-789-1618.

CENTRAL VALLEY:
Contact Mary Michel http://us.f529.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mary.r.michel@marsh.com&Subj=AOII for more information on Central Valley events.

WEST VALLEY:
Mimi’s ( 7450 W. Bell Road Glendale , AZ – Near the Arrowhead Mall) West Valley Lunch/Brunch Sunday August 4 at 12:30 pm.
Call Maggie for more info at (602)639-8577 or email at maggie_aopi@yahoo.com

Other social events: YOU TELL US!
Have any awesome summer ideas? Do you like scrapbooking? Movie nights at a local theater? Mom’s events? Email us and tell us what you want and we'll promote it for you. We rely on your input to create new events, in new locations! If you want to help plan these events, let us know that too!

More events may be posted on InCircle <https://incircle.alphaomicronpi.org/>. Please log on and sign up for the PHX Alum group at https://incircle.alphaomicronpi.org/alphaomicronpi/groups/10176/index.html to receive details.

SAVE THE DATE!
“AOII Through the Decades” Fall Brunch – October 6, 2007

• Guest speakers
• Vintage Fashion Show featuring lovely Theta Omega models.
• Emporium Trunk Show

Let us know if you want to showcase your vintage clothing or pictures from your college days at maggie_aopi@yahoo.com

THETA OMEGA NEWS
Congratulations to the ladies of Theta Omega for all of their hard work this last year! The Theta Omega Chapter is being removed from the Chapter Development Program. This program was designed to provide assistance to chapters. The Theta Omegas were also recognized with an award during Convention!

Recruitment
Fall recruitment is quickly approaching. It will be held over the Labor Day weekend. If you are able to donate a gift card to Wal-Mart, Target, Michael's to defer the cost (any amount is appreciated). Please send to: Amanda Lewis, 18151 E Via Jardin, Gold Canyon, AZ 85218
If you are interested in helping out with recruitment please contact Cherylyn Henry at: henry1@illinoisalumni.org or 602-670-3339. A group of Phx based people will be traveling to Flagstaff to give support during this exciting time. Let us know if you would like to bake goodies to fuel recruitment which we will pick up and take with us.

Advisors
Any support you can offer would be appreciated. There is a time commitment but we only travel to Flagstaff as a group for a few hours every other month. The AAC is very flexible and will work with your schedule. Please contact Cherylyn for more details.

PANHELLENIC UPDATE
In May, Phoenix AOII Treasurer Audrey Stewart was initiated as Treasurer for the Phoenix Panhellenic Association. Panhellenic also awarded 17 scholarships to Greek women from across the Valley, specifically 13 for collegiate recipients and 4 for continuing education. Congratulations to Audrey Stewart who received a continuing education scholarship. Monthly meetings will resume in September.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pitter-patter….Congratulations to the sisters who were recently visited by the stork! Laurie Baugh, Becky Pusch, and Alison Baccus are now mothers to new baby girls (or future AOII Legacies!).
Undergrad no more: Maggie Kipp graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 as valedictorian of her class at Grand Canyon University in May. Maggie received a double-degree in History and Secondary Education with a minor in Journalism.
Congrats to Mary Michel who became President of the Board of Directors of Crisis Nursery in May. Their mission is breaking the cycle of child abuse. Crisis Nursery provides 24 hour shelter services for children who have been abused or neglected or for families who are in crisis. They also operate 4 head start preschools. If you want to see what the children need, you can go to the Crisis Nursery website, http://www.crisisnurseryphx.org/
Wedding Bells: Merry Marriage to Cherylyn Henry who recently returned with her new husband from their honeymoon on a Scandinavian Cruise!

AOII FACTS: Did you know that…
The 2007 Convention commemorated 110 years of AOII history!
AOII is................by Stella George Stern Perry, Alpha Chapter Barnard College
a family watching solicitously, let us believe, each of its members, not only for family
friendship and for love...but watching
for a light going into dark places, the light of Alpha Omicron Pi,
for a ladder on which man may climb upward, the ladder of Alpha Omicron Pi,
for a rule of life that shall build a city four-square, the rule of Alpha Omicron Pi, and for a
sword that shall protect the sanctities of Always against the intrusions of Today.

If you have any fun AOII facts, please email phoenixaoii@cox.net.

AOII InCircle:
Find out about other local AOII events on-line by joining the PHX Alum group on InCircle. Events are often added after the newsletter comes out. It is also a great place to network with sisters from around the country! https://incircle.alphaomicronpi.org/