SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA
Golden Glimpses Winter 2014
Save the Date for Golden Violet Celebration Please save the date for our second Golden Violet Celebration Weekend being held at the Mabel Lee Walton House in Woodstock, VA October 9-11, 2015. It will be a fun-packed weekend with lots to do, places to visit, and sisters to catch up with. The theme of the weekend will be Our Perpetual Bond of Friendship. Lodging will be available either at the Walton House or at a local hotel. Those who stayed at the Walton House in 2012 will surely agree it was the most fun, with accommodations that were similar to a dorm or sorority house. One participant said, “It just proved that we are still young at heart!” The weekend will be scheduled with time to talk with sisters, gather updates about the Sorority’s initiatives, and explore the Shenandoah Valley. More information will be forthcoming, but please save the date. We promise it will be a weekend to remember!
National Archives Now is an exciting time for the history of Tri Sigma! The National Archives Committee is hard at work organizing and preparing our National Archives and the history of the Mabel Lee Walton House for the 50th anniversary celebration in May. In October, committee members met for a weekend in Woodstock to begin moving important Tri Sigma documents into safe storage containers, revamping the display of our chapter dolls, and taking an inventory of Triangle articles and artifacts within Walton House. Follow our progress on Twitter at @TriSigmaArchive or e-mail us at archives@trisigma.org.
From the National President
Ever Forward...on a Bicycle “I ride because I am addicted to the endorphins and the adrenaline. I ride because the second my legs start turning circles I become a happier person. I ride because I love to feel the wind on my face and listen to the birds and bugs. I ride because it allows me to take out my aggression and anger. I ride because it stabilizes my life and creates balance. I ride because going downhill at 40 mph makes me feel wild and free. I ride because I can’t cry and pedal at the same time. I ride because it allows me to play with the boys. I ride because I can go alone. I ride because even though I have ridden the route a 1,000 times, I never know what is around the next bend.” – Emily Kachorek
This summer I had an opportunity to go to Des Moines, Iowa with my husband to spend a long weekend, see a band that we like, and just hang out. It was a wonderful weekend of listening to great music, eating great food, and spending time together. It had been years since we had been to Des Moines and we were also really excited to spend some time checking out the city bicycle trails. We had been doing a lot of research on the bike trail system there and learned that it is really quite extensive. On Sunday morning, we set off on a ride and we anticipated covering 15+ miles that day. I always lag behind David, but on this particular day I was way behind and struggling every bit of the way. No matter how hard I peddled, I just couldn’t catch up. I finally caught up to him at a local park and he seemed rather perplexed as to why I was moving so slow. I explained to him that I was working as hard
as I could to keep up but no matter how hard I worked I just couldn’t match his pace. He looked at my bike and noticed that the brake was on. I had been peddling with the brake firmly clamped on my tire. No wonder I was so far behind that day! I have had my bike for over 12 years and it has been a really, really good piece of equipment. I have logged hundreds of miles on this bike and it has always been there for me. Fast forward one week and I find myself at our local bike shop looking for a new bike. I have to admit that I was a bit traumatized in thinking about a new bike. After all, this old bike had served me very well for many years. But, it was time to make a change. I started to think a lot about how bike riding is like Tri Sigma. What if we looked at the bicycle as a metaphor to Tri Sigma? Here are the top four things I have thought about as it relates to my bicycle and Tri Sigma. 1. Life moves constantly forward and change is the only constant. Like it or not, life will never cease to move forward and as an organization we must never, ever be satisfied with the
status quo. Just as the road continues on into the horizon, so does our beloved Tri Sigma. We have to be aware of every bend, of every pothole, of every change in course and stay current and relevant in order to remain upright. 2. No matter how challenging the conditions are, you need to constantly move “ever forward.” Riding a bike is hard work! Sometimes there is rain and wind making travel challenging. Sometimes in Tri Sigma moving “ever forward” is challenging too. Just like riding a bike, you can’t pedal backwards and you can’t stand still because you will fall down. The same applies to Tri Sigma. Even the smallest step is significant for it plays a vital role in the creation of the whole.
Looking at your estate plans?
3. My bicycle gives me huge freedoms to explore things I have never seen before. Because bike trails are often surrounded by nature, I see things that I would not see from the car. I am able to go places that a car can’t go. I am able to enjoy the solitude or ride with a group of friends amidst constant chatter. Tri Sigma has given me many gifts as well. The gift of friendship has introduced me to women from all over the country and allowed me to explore my thoughts and beliefs with others.
consider adding the
4. Sometimes there might be a brake clamped on our organization. Just like the clamped brake was a restraining force on my Des Moines bike ride, we also have restraining forces in Tri Sigma that prevent us from our peak performance. It is sometimes easy to identify restraining forces and sometimes more challenging. But one thing is for sure – once they are identified they need to be resolved to keep the organization performing at its highest level. Some have said that riding a bicycle is one of the greatest metaphors for life. Perhaps that’s true. But one thing I do know for sure is there are a lot of similarities between riding and keeping Tri Sigma moving “ever forward.”
When you review your financial and estate plans this year, why not Foundation to your will as a beneficiary? Our legal name is Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, 225 N. Muhlenberg St., Woodstock, VA 22664. Your gift through your estate may help save taxes and can be directed to any of the Foundation’s programs (leadership, scholarship, RPM). For more information,
P.S. Take a look at my new bike! Isn’t it awesome?!
contact Nancy Benedict in the Woodstock office: nbenedic@trisigma.org or 540.459.4212.
Kaye Schendel Gamma Phi Sigma Sigma Sigma National President
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From your Golden Violet Coordinator
From the Director of Alumnae and Volunteer Services
An Exciting Year
Celebrating Golden Violets
Happy fall to all of you. It has been a very busy and exciting year for new Golden Violets. Founders Day saw a large number of Tri Sigma alumnae receiving this treasured designation. It makes me proud when I tell other sorority women about our tradition. Many say their sorority doesn’t do anything for their 50 year members. I’m pleased that Tri Sigma does! Tri Sigma is on the move. Many events will be taking place in 2015. In May, our National Memorial Headquarters will celebrate the 50th anniversary at the Mabel Lee Walton House. You are invited to come to Woodstock, VA on May 2, 2015 for the big celebration. Our new Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and Foundation National Headquarters are located next door to the Mabel Lee Walton House and will be available to tour as well. Also, our second Golden Violet Celebration Weekend will take place the weekend of October 9-11, 2015 at the Mabel Lee Walton House. There is a lot going on in Woodstock; we hope you can plan to enjoy some of the activities. I want to tell you about my alumnae chapter, the Greater St. Louis Alumnae chapter. At a meeting in September, we celebrated Golden Violet, Nancy Greenwood, Chi, who received her pin. In the weeks planning the event, I was told we were going to be doing an “Ice Bucket Challenge”. I was reluctant to think that some of our members might be going home wet and cold, but, as it turned out, our younger members changed clothes and the older members watched as a video was made and the younger members got drenched! All this was done to raise money
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and we did so to honor the memory of a Tri Sigma Golden Violet who suffered from the disease, Alma Tournour Lewis, Alpha Lambda and Omega. It turned out to be a fun activity and we raised money for a worthy cause. Please find the list of eligible Golden Violets later in this issue and nominate a sister you to know to receive her Golden Violet. A Tri Sigma must be nominated and meet the qualifications in order to be granted this designation. Receiving a Golden Violet does not happen automatically, nor does every Tri Sigma who reaches her 50 year membership mark receive it. She must also have paid at least 20 years of alumnae dues and be nominated by a fellow Tri Sigma sister. There are many sisters out there who qualify for this honor. You can get a nomination form from me or you can call or e-mail Toni Dinges, Alumnae Membership Coordinator, at National Headquarters, 540-459-4212 or TDinges@trisigma.org. You may also find the nomination form on Sigma Connect under the Alumnae Resource Center. As always, we would love to hear from you about a Tri Sigma sister who has done something worthy of a feature article in the Golden Glimpses. Maybe a sister has traveled far and wide, or has a fun and interesting hobby, or perhaps a sister whose job gives back in a big way. I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me your article ideas, wlbeiter@swbell.net. In closing, I want to give you a quote by the late Joan Rivers that I thought was worth mentioning. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present.” May all of you have a wonderful present day!
With the start of the school year, comes the start of recruitment for many of our collegiate chapters. Do you have a legacy entering college this year? What about a neighbor or a close family friend? Tri Sigma’s collegiate chapters are looking to you to offer alumnae recommendations for women to join our outstanding sisterhood. If you’re interested in recommending a woman for potential membership, please contact Tiffany Curtis, Director of Chapter Services, at 540-227-0493. The spring 2014 Golden Glimpses offered information about the assessment project Alumnae Services was just beginning. The project has been progressing wonderfully and a team of volunteers met in October to discuss trends among our alumnae as well as to create strategic initiatives to better support Tri Sigma’s alumnae experience. The spring 2015 Golden Glimpses will offer a summary of the direction of this project. We’re excited to report that Tri Sigma’s State Days are gaining great momentum. State Day is an event for all Tri Sigmas, alumnae and collegians, living within the state to attend a day’s event planned by an alumna committee with the sole purpose of connecting and celebrating our Sisterhood. The 2014-2015 State Days are being held in the following states: Minnesota – November 15, 2014 in Lakeville, MN Keynote Speaker will be National President, Kaye Schendel. For more information, contact Christina Miller, 507-354-4560, or christina.sigma3@gmail.com Visit their website: http://trisigmamnstateday.weebly.com North Carolina – February 21, 2015 For more information, contact Lauren Clouse, 704-609-7417 or lclouse@email.unc.edu Visit their website: http://nctrisigmastateday.weebly.com South Carolina – February 21, 2015, Location to be announced. For more information, contact Emmy Smith, 843-991-0803, emsmith57@gmail.com Arkansas – March 7, 2015 in Little Rock, AR For more information, contact Danielle Kloap, 870-830-2489 or danisigmagirl@yahoo.com Visit their website: http://artrisigmastateday.com State Days are also in the planning stages for Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. We hope to see you there! Ever Forward,
Violets to all of you,
Marilyn Beiter, Beta Xi Golden Violet Coordinator
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Aimee Jensen Boland, Eta Iota Director of Alumnae and Volunteer Services
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From the Foundation Chairman
Foundation Update What an exciting two months it has been! It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting at our board meeting in June, where I became Chairman and Meghan Ward-Bopp began her role as our new Executive Director. I’m so grateful for the time spent this summer with Meghan and the sorority’s leadership that has allowed for great vision and learning. I’m so excited about the great things that we are accomplishing, and the great things still to come. I’m happy to share that we have completed our scholarship and Robbie Page Memorial (RPM) grant process. It is incredibly rewarding to know that we’re sending scholarship and RPM grant checks to 55 deserving recipients. This is the final step in a long process for our recipients, as we know they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of these funds. These funds allow undergraduate and graduate sisters to breathe a sigh of relief. They now know that they can afford their books or make their next tuition payment. For our RPM grant recipients, this means a number of different things. Our grant to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital means funding part of a clinical fellowship in recreational therapy and child life-pediatrics. This fellowship was established in 1995 and 20 talented individuals have been trained in the field of recreational therapy since that time.
how to provide children with appropriate outlets for expressing feelings and anxieties. These fellows also learn how to offer emotional support for siblings of patients and educate parents on how to promote normal development of their sick or injured child while in the hospital and when transitioning home. Our grant to the Denver Children’s Hospital South Campus in Highlands Ranch, Colorado will provide funding for a playroom for children. In 2013 the Foundation, Denver Alumnae Chapter and Eta Pi (Metropolitan State University of Denver) combined efforts for a pilot program to fund a playroom for children in the new Denver Children’s Hospital South Campus. Over 15,000 children are estimated to visit Children’s Hospital South Campus in 2014, ensuring the Tri Sigma Activity Room will have a tangible positive impact on the community. For our local RPM grants, it means providing funding for iPads, musical instruments, toy models of CT and MRI scanners, and books for a Family Resource Library, just to highlight a few.
The North Carolina Children’s Hospital was the first in the country to establish a recreational therapy fellowship program, and continue to be the lead innovators for training young-in-practice professionals. The Tri Sigma Foundation Robbie Page Recreational Therapy Clinical Fellowship creates opportunities for new therapists in search of critical hands-on experience and guided learning.
All of these grants and scholarships would not be possible without the support of Tri Sigma sisters like you. Without you we cannot achieve our goal of addressing three of the most important issues facing our society today: lack of women leaders in top management positions, the escalating cost of education, and an over-burdened health system where our children need help to heal.
Our grant to the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas also provides funding for a Child Life fellowship. This fellowship was established over 25 years ago, with the Tri Sigma Foundation’s support. The Child Life Department at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas was founded by Sally Francis, who received a Tri Sigma Foundation graduate assistantship while attending the University of North Carolina.
With the holiday season right around the corner, the Board of the Tri Sigma Foundation hopes that you will remember the Tri Sigma Foundation in your fiscal year-end giving! With only 2% of Tri Sigma’s membership supporting the future of Tri Sigma by donating to the Foundation, you can understand why we’re so grateful for your support.
These Child Life fellowships provide professionals with the opportunity to learn how to help children cope with their medical condition and the hospital environment, as well as
Jennifer E. Holtsclaw, Delta Pi Foundation Chairman 6
Recent
GoldenViolets
Mandy Meehan Chocheles Mandy Meehan Chocheles joined Sigma Sigma Sigma at Gamma Eta Chapter at Loyola University in New Orleans, LA. Mandy was a junior when she joined Tri Sigma, but has been involved ever since. While in college she served her chapter as secretary and was nominated as Best Pledge, a true honor since she was only a collegian for three semesters. She credits a neighbor and friend, Carol Stevens Purcell, as starting her on her Tri Sigma journey. Mandy was attending Loyola when Carol, who was a Tri Sigma, told her about our sorority and the rest is history. After 50 years, Carol and Mandy are still close friends. As a 1966 graduate of Loyola, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with a minor in English. She has taught elementary school for 27 years, retiring in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina hit. She decided to start Ms. Mandy’s Early Learning Center in 2012 and retired in 2014 as director of that day care. Mandy’s family includes her husband, Pete, whom she has been married to for 45 years; daughter Susan and her husband, John; son Chris and wife JoAline; and son, David and wife Ashlie. She has five grandchildren – four girls and one boy. The New Orleans Alumnae Chapter is fortunate to have Mandy as a member. She has been involved as President, The Triangle Correspondent, Secretary, and the 1989 New Orleans Convention Hospitality Chairman. Her service with our National Officer Service is just as involved. From 1989-2001 she was an Alumnae Chapter Coordinator; from 2001-2007 she was Alumnae Director; and from 2007-2010 she was our National Alumnae Vice President. Most recently she served as the Alumnae Editor of our magazine, The Triangle. Mandy has attended every convention from 19772013-13 in all. Attending Convention is always special for her. She has also participated in many National Officer meetings. As National Alumnae Vice President, she attended all Executive Council meetings, as well as made visits and presentations to many alumnae and collegiate chapters throughout the United State. She says that serving on the Executive Council was a humbling
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experience because she learned so much about our sorority and met so many wonderful sisters wherever she traveled. She has many memorable moments in Tri Sigma. One of the biggest was at her installation as National Alumnae Vice President at the 2007 Nashville Convention and meeting Carrie Underwood that same evening. Another favorite memory is meeting Barb Stone, Beta Tau, at their very first Convention in Chicago in 1977, and their continuing sisterhood experiences, including serving on the Executive Council together. Another wonderful memory for Mandy is being involved with her steadfast New Orleans alumnae sisters since 1973 when she moved back to New Orleans. Something few people know about her is that she is originally from New York City and still has family there. Her paternal great-grandfather came from Ireland and was once the mayor of New York City! Her advice for Tri Sigma sisters is, “Cherish the lifelong aspect of our sisterhood. The college years fly by, but you have decades ahead with Sigma friends and experiences. Make a goal of receiving your Golden Violet!” Mandy has received the Alumna Recognition Award from Tri Sigma in 1980. She is a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church and sings in the choir, serves as a Eucharistic Minister, and volunteers in their fund drive. She loves to travel, read, and attend Tri Sigma activities – both local and national. She is also fortunate to have all her children and grandchildren nearby and is involved in their lives as well.
Kay Maureen Cummings Broyles Kay Maureen Cummings Broyles attended Central Michigan University (CMU) and while she was there pledged the Alpha Phi Chapter of Tri Sigma. Her collegiate life was filled with lots of memories, especially living in the Panhellenic dorm with her sorority sisters and members of other sororities. She became President of her chapter and that experience helped her later when she joined the Dayton Alumnae Chapter and served as their President. Upon graduating from CMU in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in education and minors in English, Spanish, and Sociology, she taught school in Dayton for a few years and then became a programmer/systems analyst for a Department of Education site in Miamisburg, Ohio. She is happily retired now. Kay’s family includes her husband, William Broyles, and son, Scott, and his wife, Emily, who have given her a granddaughter, Anya, who is 10 years old. She also has a daughter, Kelly Broyles. Kay is close with her mother who is
95 years old. Kay and William moved to Weeki Wachee, FL to enjoy retirement. An interesting coincidence happened in 1965 when she attended Convention in New York City. She met two alumnae from the Dayton Alumnae Chapter and told them she was getting married and would be moving to Dayton. When she arrived in Dayton, she befriended the same two Tri Sigmas! She joined the Dayton Alumnae Chapter where she received an Alumna Recognition Award in 1974. Her advice for Tri Sigmas is, “Be sure and become involved with an alumnae group wherever you move. I really enjoy having sisters wherever I am. Even in this small golf community where I live now, there are Tri Sigmas. Donna Johnson, Lola Borieko and I contacted Tri Sigma sisters in this area. For some time we were able to get 7 to 10 sisters together for lunch twice a year.” Activities and Accomplishments: Kay enjoys playing golf and bridge. She has also done genealogy research into both her and her husband’s families. She says her favorite hobby is reading. Kay is Treasurer of Glen Lakes Ladies Golf Association and she belongs to a book club.
Nancy Dunham Greenwood Nancy was involved with the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter where she served as Secretary. She is now affiliated with the Greater St. Louis Alumnae Chapter. Something few people know about Nancy is that when she was in high school she was able to go to American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program and that spurred her interest in civic activities and opportunities. Her advice to Tri Sigma sisters is, “Never assume you have your path planned. Life is full of wonderful opportunities if you are willing to try.” Nancy has taught her daughters to never, never give up.
Pittsburg State University (PSU) in Pittsburg, KS, is the home of Chi Chapter and is where Nancy Dunham Greenwood pledged in 1962. She graduated in 1965 with a major in business education and minor in English. Later she finished her master’s degree in business education. Nancy remembers holding the offices of President and Rush Chairman while she was at PSU. A Tri Sigma memorable moment happened at the end of her time as a new member. While she was attending the Spring Formal, it was announced that she was Pledge of the Year. She was shocked and totally surprised to receive this honor. Nancy’s family includes husband, Steve; three daughters, Stephnee (Scott) Leathers, Carrie (Peter) Swaney, and Olivia (Peter) MacSwaney; and one grandson, Grant Leathers. All her children live out of town, so she has to travel to enjoy her grandson. She taught for many years but is currently retired from her position as Professor of Computer Science/Multimedia at St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, MO. Nancy still works as a councilperson for the City of Chesterfield, MO, where she had been the mayor for four years.
Activities and Accomplishments: Nancy received a Woman of Distinction award from Tri Sigma in 2001. The Teen Center at the Sachs Branch of the St. Louis County Library was named in her honor. She is a board member of the Sue Shear Institute for Public Life and is an Oasis Volunteer. She enjoys traveling and reading as her hobbies.
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Patricia Knitter Janik Alpha Psi is home to Patricia Knitter Janik at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, IL. She was initiated December 1963. During her collegiate years, she served as Treasurer and Panhellenic Representative. During her time at EIU, Pat majored in elementary education with a minor in English, graduating in 1966. Later she would go on to get her master’s degree in education. Pat taught third grade for 37 years before retiring. Nancy and her husband Glenn enjoy traveling and her recent picture here was taken when they were at a dinner in Budapest. They have been married for 47 years. Pat’s memories of college life are the wonderful times with wonderful women that have given her wonderful memories of the Tri Sigma days. She also says, “I have many memorable moments from Tri Sigma, and they all involve the friendships during that time of my life. I cannot help but smile when I think back to my college days at Eastern, living in the house and sharing such good, silly, fun times with so many wonderful women. Not only did I receive a great education, but these women helped me become who I am today. I am so thankful that Tri Sigma was a part of my college experience.
She went on to say, “Jackie Myers has been in my life for over 50 years and Tri Sigma brought us together. We have laughed together, cried together, planned together, and comforted each other. Jackie was a true, true friend to me while I was going through my chemo treatment. Had it not been for Tri Sigma, we would never have met.” When asked about something that no one or few people know about her, she replied, “My brother is a Catholic theologian.” Her advice for Sigma sisters is to cherish your friendships. Activities and Accomplishments: Pat enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, and walking. She also volunteers at the Wellness House, a cancer support facility in Hinsdale, IL. As a cancer survivor, she feels it is important to offer support to others who are experiencing struggles that she faced in the past.
Michaele Lux A member of Gamma Eta Chapter at Loyola University in New Orleans, Michaele Lux joined her chapter in 1964. She graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in speech and later attended the University of New Orleans to get her master’s degree in education. While in college, Michaele served as The Triangle Correspondent for three years. She presently is a member of the New Orleans Alumnae Chapter and has served two terms as Treasurer. She attended Convention when it was held in New Orleans in 1989. As an only child, Michaele was thrilled when she joined Tri Sigma because she immediately had many sisters. She remembers back in 1965, Hurricane Betsy hit New Orleans. Rush was postponed and her home was flooded in five feet of water. Her Tri Sigma sisters helped by providing clothes and cleaning up her house. Tri Sigma’s National Headquarters also provided assistance and her family was able to rebuild. That is her most memorable moment of Tri Sigma and endeared her sisters to her heart forever. For 38 years, Michaele was a teacher of speech and English for the St. Bernard Parish School System in Chalmette, LA. She retired in 2005 while teaching at Andrew Jackson High School following the destruction of the school and community by the devastating flooding of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She held the position of English Department Chairman for 25 years.
Hurricane Katrina was the second devastating hurricane Michaele had lived through. This time the floodwaters were completely over her roof top and her family could not rebuild. She has since moved and presently takes care of her 97-year-old father in Metairie, LA. When asked about something no one knows about you, she answered that she has a phobia about winged insects, even butterflies. Her advice for Sigma sisters is, “Be yourself and enjoy our wonderful sisterhood.” Activities and Accomplishments: Michaele was awarded an Alumnae Recognition Award in 1995 from her New Orleans Alumnae Chapter. She volunteers for the Jefferson Parish Performing Arts Society’s productions and also for the Rivertown Theater in Kenner, LA. Other volunteer positions are with the Saenger Theater in New Orleans and the Mahalia Jackson Performing Arts Center in New Orleans. She also enjoys volunteering with Community Theater, attending plays, ballet, and other performing arts. Michaele takes tap dancing lessons, line dancing, and other forms of dancing classes. She also takes exercise classes and enjoys playing Mexican Train dominoes with her friends once a week. 9
Jonna McKendree Merritt Jonna McKendree Merritt became a part of Tri Sigma when she pledged Nu Chapter at Central Missouri State University (CMSU) in Warrensburg, MO. She graduated from CMSU in 1956 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in reading. Later she attained her master’s degree in reading and was certified in adult education. After graduating, she taught second grade remedial reading and eventually worked for 18 years as the Coordinator of Reading in her school district. She was also the Director of Adult Education and Coordinator of Community Education. As a member of Nu Chapter, she served as Treasurer. Jonna recalls that Nu didn’t have a chapter house, but had a wing in the dorm. This allowed the Tri Sigmas to become close and to support one another. She remembers getting pinned. Her boyfriend’s fraternity brothers sang to her when it happened and all her sorority sisters were hanging out the windows in support. That boyfriend is now her husband, Bob, whom she met while working as the office manager in her dorm. Bob and Jonna’s family includes three daughters, Melissa, Amy, and Julie. They also have three granddaughters, Katie, Allison, and Mary. All her daughters have attended the same university she and Bob
did. Julie became a Tri Sigma and now two granddaughters, Katie and Allison, are attending and they have also joined Tri Sigma. A real Tri Sigma family! Jonna is a member of the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter in Missouri. She says we should try to stay involved in our alumnae chapters although it is hard to do with small children and being involved with educational organizations. For her, involvement came later in life and even then not as much as she would like. Breast cancer has limited her involvement, but her local alumnae chapter has been so kind to help her keep up with their activities. When she received her Golden Violet, she was honored to have her two granddaughters, Katie and Allison, plus our National President, Kaye Schendel, present to share in her special ceremony. Actives and Accomplishments: Jonna is a breast cancer survivor. She is active in an International Reading Association, local and state. She is also involved as the International State Treasurer for five years; Delta Kappa Gamma, local treasurer; Adult Education, (State Director); and president of the CMSU Alumnae Board.
Dr. Jacqueline Kay Myers Dr. Jacqueline Kay Myers began her Tri Sigma life as a member of Alpha Psi Chapter at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, IL, in 1964. She graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in education and went on to earn her master’s degree in education at Arizona State University where she later received her Ph.D. in Educational Administration. As an undergrad, Jacqueline held offices in the sorority as a Panhellenic Delegate and Treasurer. She was employed as an English teacher for 21 years, counselor for two years, and then Dean of Students at Consolidated School District 230 in Orland Park, IL. for 10 years. Altogether, she as been in the education field for 36 years. Jackie was President of the Illinois State Deans Association for a year. Now retired, she travels back and forth to her vacation home in Arizona and her home in Palos Hills, IL. Jackie has many fond memories of her years in college. She says, “I had lots of fun as a Tri Sigma pledge and as an active 10
member as well. The friendships I formed have lasted 50 years and I am still connected to several sisters with whom I share stories and laughter regularly. What a blessing it is to enjoy their friendships. Sorority life not only taught me about love and laughter, but leadership as well. So, overall, being a Tri Sigma has significantly affected my life, not only in the past but in the present also. In truth, I think Tri Sigma taught me so much more than college classes! I am still grateful for the experience.” Jackie attended Convention in Chicago in 1977. Her advice to Tri Sigma sisters is to leave everything a little better than you found it. Make your mark in life by improving everything you touch. This may go unnoticed by most people, but you will know that you made a difference.
Phyllis Marie Truckenbrodt Prange Her national service has been extensive as well. She has been a National Officer for many years and has attended all Conventions since the early 1970s. Her jobs within the National Organization have included Alumnae Panhellenic Coordinator for nine years, Sigma Sigma Sigma National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Second Alternate Delegate for six years, Area Advisor for Central Texas Alumnae Panhellenic, and NPC Collegiate Awards Committee. Phyllis said her most memorable Tri Sigma moment was when she was asked to be on the NPC Delegation to represent Tri Sigma. She and her husband have recently moved to Lake Conroe north of Houston where it feels like living in a resort – she feels like she is on vacation every day! Her advice to Tri Sigma sisters is, “There is so much more to Tri Sigma after your college years. I can’t tell you how many opportunities for growth that Tri Sigma has given me.”
Phyllis Marie Truckenbrodt Prange pledged Tri Sigma in 1964 at the University of Illinois in Champaign with the Gamma Alpha Chapter. Later she attended Western Illinois University for a short time. While she was at Western, she helped the chapter move into a beautiful new house and teach sorority the proper table manners she learned from the University of Illinois. One more university would be in Phyllis’s future and that was Southern Illinois University from which she graduated in 1968 with a degree in Elementary Education. After college, Phyllis began her career with Continental Airlines where she worked for 28 years as an Executive Accounts Reservations in sales. Phyllis’ family includes her husband, Victor; two daughters, Shelley Washburn and Amy Woolf; and granddaughter Lily Woolf, who is 1 ½ years old. Phyllis met her husband while she was at the University of Illinois and followed him to Southern Illinois. They were married their senior year and have been happily married now for 48 years. She remembers him giving her a special Tri Sigma box for her sorority badge when she was initiated into Tri Sigma. Phyllis has been very active in the Houston Alumnae Chapter serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Collegiate Relations. She has also been active in the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association (HAPA) since 1972, having served in most of the board positions, including President from 1986 to 1988.
Activities and Accomplishments: Phyllis loves traveling with her husband and friends and recently returned from a trip to Russia with her husband. She is currently an honorary board member emeritus of the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association. She serves on the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) at Sam Houston State University for our Eta Omicron Chapter which she helped install in 2002.
Activities and Accomplishments: Jackie received awards for teaching, for being an administrator and was nominated as Teacher of the Year in the school where she taught English. Jackie has taught aqua aerobics for the past 10 years in a medically affiliated health club and a local community college. She volunteers at Harvest Bible Church. She enjoys swimming and art. 11
66 Years Later This past February at a Denver Area Alumnae Chapter meeting, Tri Sigma Sisters, Pat Hobson King and Shirley Wilson McKimmey Alsager, both of the Iota Chapter at Colorado State College of Education, Greeley, CO met for the first time in 66 years. This was a wonderful surprise for all who witnessed their reunion. Shirley Wilson was the Recruitment Chairman for the chapter when Pat pledged Tri Sigma during the Winter Quarter of 1948. They became fast friends during their active membership in the Iota Chapter.
Homemade Cracker Jack This is for those of you who loved this treat when you were young, although no toys in this version!
Pat graduated in 1951, moving to Denver where she taught first grade in the Denver Public Schools. She met her husband in 1954 and they will celebrate 60 years of marriage this year. Pat has been an active member of the Denver Area Alumnae Chapter since 1951. She attended the 1978 Tri Sigma National Convention at Tyson’s Corner, VA. She has offered her home for the kick-off Denver Area Alumnae Chapter meeting for many years. Both Pat and Shirley have been loyal supporters of Tri Sigma for 66 years.
Combine all the remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Stirring over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the mixture to the hard-boil stage (260 to 275 degrees). This will take about 20 to 25 minutes or until you notice the mixture turning a slightly darker brown.
4 qts. popped popcorn 1 cup Spanish peanuts ½ stick butter 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup light corn syrup 2 tbsp. molasses ¼ tsp. salt
Upon Shirley’s graduation in 1949, she met her husband Bill McKimmey and followed a career in education. Sadly, Bill passed after 48 years of marriage. Shirley was an active member of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Alumnae Chapter. She then moved to Lakeland, FL. She married Perry Alsager and was active in the Lakeland Alumnae Chapter. Shirley moved to Denver in 2012 and has now become an active member of the Denver Area Alumnae Chapter.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine the popped popcorn and peanuts in a metal bowl or on a cookie sheet and place in the preheated oven.
Remove the popcorn and peanuts from the oven and, working quickly, pour the caramel mixture in a fine stream over the popcorn/peanuts. If you can have someone else stirring the mixture constantly while you add the caramel over the popcorn, this will help ensure all the popcorn gets coated. If you work too slowly, the mixture will become difficult to combine. Next, place the coated popcorn mixture back into the oven for 10 minutes. Mix well after 5 minutes. Cool and store in a covered container to preserve freshness.
Cryptoquote Puzzle The first Tri Sigma to solve our puzzle in the spring issue was Angela Ciccone, Beta Theta. The correct answer was: Founders Day is always a perfect way to celebrate our sorority’s birthday.
This was an exciting time for all the Denver alumnae to see such a marvelous reunion of two Tri Sigma Sisters who hadn’t seen each other since their college days 66 years ago. Tri Sigma Sisterhood is a cherished lifetime relationship.
Pat King and Shirley Alsager
Remember, you have to figure out what letter stands for another letter. For example, if X equals O, then all X’s will be O’s. E-mail your solution to Marilyn Beiter at wlbeiter@swbell.net and be the first to correctly solve the puzzle!
RVIS RSTSADGNS VPD OHONJ JSGDX GN NQS IGAST TSS LGTNVM QVPXS HM IGJ. HN LGTT AS G QPZS AGXQ! 12
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Corrections from the Spring Issue of Golden Glimpses: Front page story should have stated, Angela Ciccone began her career in 1949 and has been active for 65 years. This photo of Marion D. Lewis was omitted from the “Recent Golden Violets” section of the spring 2014 issue.
Eligible Golden Violets and find the form under Alumnae Resources, Forms. The Golden Violet honor is given only to those special Tri Sigmas who have proven their vow of lifetime commitment through their friendship and steadfast love of our Sorority for 50 years. Ensure another loyal and steadfast member is cherished the same way you are and nominate an eligible Golden Violet today!
Did you know Golden Violets who are nominated automatically receive their Golden Violet? It’s just that easy! You can access the two page form one of two ways. You can contact National Headquarters by phone, 540-459-4212, or by email, Sigma@TriSigma.org, to ask a nomination form be sent or emailed to you. You can also log into the Members Only section of the National Website called Sigma Connect
CHAPTER
ALUMNAE CHAPTER NAME
FIRST
MIDDLE / MAIDEN
LAST
BETA
Central Florida
Joy
Trover
Borgman
GAMMA
Patricia
Kovach
McMann
KAPPA
Lonnie
Huffman
Baughman
LAMBDA
Karen
Askey
Owens-Pote
MU
Janet
Cornwell
Logan
PI
Patricia
Schulz
Foster
FIRST
MIDDLE / MAIDEN
LAST
BETA IOTA
Adeline
Kemmet
Wentz
BETA KAPPA
Edith
Lucy
Ferrell
BETA KAPPA
Barbara
Mathewson
Rohrbacher
BETA KAPPA
Nancy
Domb
Simmons
BETA KAPPA
Kay
CHAPTER
ALUMNAE CHAPTER NAME
Trimble
BETA MU
Northwest Arkansas
Carolyn
F.
Walker
BETA MU
Oklahoma City
Michelle
Phipps
Wallace
BETA XI
Diane
Koch
Schuttenhelm
BETA XI
Sandra
Nahlik
Wynn
BETA PI
Joan
Smeltzer
Sachs
BETA TAU
Mary
Ceckowski
Fisher
BETA PSI
Mary Jane
Cunningham
Walker
GAMMA BETA
Pamela
Hall
Hathaway
GAMMA DELTA
Christine
Dubuc
Hammer
GAMMA DELTA
Anne
Priestley
Morgan
Carolynn
Berger
Newman
GAMMA DELTA
Annamarie
Long
Pelham
PI
Wichita
Jamie
Keyes
Katzenmeier
RHO
Triangle Area
Bessie
Meetze
Covin
RHO
Phoenix
Suzanne
Guthrie
Evenstad
RHO
Central Florida
Nancy
Carlson
Gavaghan
GAMMA DELTA
Ruth
Hitchens
Ritchie
RHO
Phoenix
Constance
Fluhr
Geyer
GAMMA ZETA
Carol
Mehaffay
Szoke
Paula
Hollimon
Hodges
GAMMA ETA
Margaret
Volz
Thompson
Donna
White
Snyder
GAMMA THETA
Sharen
Wakeley
Cinotto
Cheryl
Stalker
Bailey
GAMMA LAMBDA
Charlotte
Hurd
Blair
Veda
Holt
Lanum
GAMMA LAMBDA
Mary Catherine
Thorson
Whitney
ALPHA DELTA
Marjorie
Sossaman
Sidebottom
GAMMA MU
Houston
Sybil
Roy
Jaeger
ALPHA LAMBDA
Sandra
Lochbihler
Davis
GAMMA MU
Seattle
Martha
Ferguson
Payne
ALPHA NU
Ann
Smith
Carter
Annette
Lightner
Raup
ALPHA SIGMA
Cynthia
Miller
Calvert
ALPHA UPSILON
Paula
June
McLaughlin
ALPHA UPSILON
Joan
Perry
Patterson
ALPHA PSI
GeorgeAnn
Snapp
Miller
Nancy
Deister
Sprague
BETA DELTA
Betty Lou
Hagerty
Hatfield
BETA DELTA
Bonita
Fitz
Monk
BETA DELTA
Carolyn
Ewan
Schneider
BETA DELTA
Marion
Pyle
Stone
BETA DELTA
Helen
Fisher
Whitmer
BETA EPSILON
Virginia
Raye
Allen
RHO CHI
Springfield Area
PSI ALPHA GAMMA
ALPHA RHO
BETA GAMMA
Denver
Harrisburg
Fort Wayne
14
GAMMA DELTA
Toledo Area
Omega Golden Violets since spring 2014 Golden Glimpses Jeanne Perdue Brownlee, Alpha Chi LaVeta McQueen Daniel, Alpha Epsilon Joan Pollock Gibbs, Beta Upsilon Alma Tournour Lewis, Alpha Lambda Dorothy Sayre Reamer, Alpha Xi Corrinne Pierce Way, Pi
New Golden Violets since spring 2014 Golden Glimpses Cynthia Miller Calvert, Alpha Sigma Louise Cushing Dowd, Alpha Epsilon Nancy Carlson Gavaghan, Rho Jamie Keyes Katzenmeier, Pi Darlene Ruth Miller, Alpha Psi Judith Olson Zumwalt, Beta Beta
15
Darlene Ruth Miller
SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA
GoldenGlimpses Golden Violet Celebration Save the date!
October 9 -11, 2015 Mabel Lee Walton House • Woodstock, VA
Sigma Sigma Sigma 225 North Muhlenberg Street Woodstock, VA 22664
Golden Glimpses is published twice a year for the Golden Violets of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Editorial Staff: Marilyn McGraw Beiter Design: Aimee Jensen Boland Laura Manthey Design Toni Ritenour Dinges Meghan Ward-Bopp Paden
Production and Mailing: Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation