Content
Message from Kim
Symphony Update
Redistricting
Founder's Day
Chapter Pictures
Memorial
| | |
|
|
Message from our National President - Kim Crawley
"No problem Mon"...
In September my husband, Mike and I took a vacation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica to celebrate 25 years of marriage! As we were relaxing on the sandy, beautiful beaches, I thought of some lessons this beautiful country and her people can teach us as Americans AND as Psi Ote sisters.
- Take vacations even if it's a weekend getaway. Our bodies and minds need frequent rest and time to renew our energy. It's a great time to re-focus on the important things we do each day and to maybe re-prioritize our lives.
- The Jamaicans are in no hurry! I am a little OCD and this actually stresses me out, but really, it's important to slow down! When we hurry, we don't always do the best job. We aren't always nice to those we love or with whom we work.
- Probably the most famous phrase the Jamaicans say is "No problem Mon" and I sure wish that this was true---we all have problems in our lives, but these people are trying to say "everything gonna be alright" as Bob Marley says in a famous Reggae song! And, really problems do occur in our lives. It's a fact, but it's HOW we deal with those problems and the outlook that they give us. Have my husband and I had some problems during 25 years of marriage? Oh yes, but together we have worked to solve those problems head on. Those problems really made us grow as a couple and thus, persevere for the long haul of marriage. I see this in our chapters as well. Those that have chosen to stick it out, work together and overcome challenges ARE stronger for facing them, and it has made them closer as sisters and as a whole. I try to look at the lesson that God has in store for me when a problem arises. Say to yourself-what can I learn from this? Ask for wisdom in dealing with the problem and work together to be able to say and mean, "No Problem Mon!"
- Be thankful for our blessings! Although parts of Jamaica are beautiful, it is a very poor country, and this breaks my heart. The people there are grateful for any job where jobs are difficult to come by, thankful for food and make wonderful dishes with whatever they have. Be thankful that we are blessed to have been born Americans--the land of great opportunities; be thankful for houses we live in verses shacks; be thankful that we are blessed enough to help those less fortunate and not be less fortunate.
- In the States, we have many famous people that are insanely rich, and that really don't have the right perspective on life, but one legendary Jamaican, Bob Marley has been someone that I have always appreciated for his thoughts on life--although his current legacy--Rastafarian lifestyle isn't something I understand or embrace. His famous quote on humanity is a quote that I hope to be my legacy:
"The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
Are you positively affecting those around you? Are you the bully in your chapters that we say we don't tolerate in schools, but do in our chapters? I want you to look at your attitude and actions and think of those in your chapters that we call sisters. Would you really treat your real sisters this way? Is your negativity affecting the chapter numbers--are sisters quitting; are you having trouble obtaining new members because no one wants to join an organization that can't get along?
Do you want this type of legacy? I don't! I want us to be women of integrity and women who ARE able to affect those in our lives, our chapters and in the communities with love and positivity. Think about the communities we live in and how wonderful our world could be if we had this attitude of: MY actions affect those around me--whether it is in a marriage, our kids, churches, our jobs, or in our day to day lives.
Let's think "One love, One heart, One destiny."
Pax Vobiscum,
Kim Crawley
|
Indianapolis Symphony Update
Many of you may have heard that the contract with the Musicians' Union expired on September 2. An agreement on the next contract has not yet been reached. While negotiations continue, it was necessary that the ISO cancel its first two weekends of concerts at Hilbert Circle Theatre and the first concert at The Palladium.
If your concert has NOT been cancelled, the ISO asks that you refrain as much as possible from calling the ISO Box Office as they are experiencing a high volume of calls at this time.
For an exchange, please call the Box Office at 317.639.4300, or email subscriber@IndianapolisSymphony.org. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday, 12pm-4pm. The Box Office is closed on Sunday.
The ISO will be providing daily updates via their website at IndianapolisSymphony.org and their social media channels. They encourage you to take advantage of these resources for the most up to date information.
You can also send questions or comments to ISO@IndianapolisSymphony.org. or you can contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely, Brenda Bonner National Project Chairman psiotegirl@gmail.com
|
Chapter Redistricting
In June 2011, your National Council reorganized some chapters to better balance the number of chapters within a district that would allow each District Officer to better balance her time among the district chapters. As new chapters are installed and chapters disband, the balance becomes challenging for district officers.
Approximately twenty chapters were impacted by recent changes, and redistricting was necessary. If you have any questions about your chapter and its assigned district, please contact your District Officer:
Northeast : Pat Menge
Northwest: Cindy Fairfield
East Central: Andrea Niedenthal
West Central : Beth Keeney
Southeast: Nancy Ricketts
South west: Connie McDaniel
Contact information can be found on the Psi Iota Xi website under "Members Only" tab -- click National Council.
|
Chapter Happenings
 | Eta Omicron has a new legacy! Daughter of Past President Kristin Hammond. |
 | Betty is overwhelmed with her Alpha Chi Birthday Surprise! All brought her 90 of something!!!! What Fun! Happy Birthday from all your Psi Ote Sisters - near and far! |
 | Indiana State Association President, Mo Dix, presides at State meeting in Indianapolis using the Psi Iota Xi National Office conference room! |
 | Alphaladies Valerie Helms and Beth Lang promoting Candy Cane Lane at recent Founder's Day Celebration! |
Since 2005, the Alpha Chapter of Psi Iota Xi has been sponsoring Candy Cane Lane each Saturday before Thanksgiving at Cornerstone Center for the Arts in Muncie, Indiana. Cornerstone Center for the Arts is transformed into a magical place with a gingerbread house, many decorated trees, sparkling lights, a red and white lane bordered with large candy canes and, of course, Santa. This is a free event for children and is open to the public. Special invitations are given to A Better Way, Christian Ministries; Motivate Our Minds, Boys & Girls Club, United Day Care, and Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and other youth and family organizations. The children enjoy refreshments, games, face painting, crafts, and tattoos and have their photo with Santa. The children then are greeted by elves and are allowed to pick a toy of their choice.
Our event began with 200 children and over the years we have had over 550 children and an actual attendance (including parents, grandparents, and other family members) of more than 1,000.
This year our chapter was awarded the Psi Iote State Rotating Grant of $1000. These funds will help cover the cost of film, crafts, refreshments, decorations and toys. It is a challenge to make sure we have a sufficient number of toys so that the last child has a choice. With all of your help in donating one toy, we can meet that challenge.
Candy Cane Lane is Saturday, November 17th from 10:00-Noon. Ball State student volunteers play a significant role enabling our chapter to host this event. Chapter members are needed to help organize refreshments, games, activities, crafts, and toys and to work the day of the event from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Please contact Marilyn Cleary at 765-744-7265 or mecleary@comcast.net if you too want to be part of the magic of Candy Cane Lane.
Founders' Day
 |
Alpha celebrates Founders' Day by taking a picture of all prior chapter Presidents!
|
HAPPY 115TH Birthday, Psi Iota Xi! Did you know that Founder's Day was September 19th? Our "Founding chapter," Alpha/Muncie celebrated in so many ways! They had a Memorial Service to honor those ladies who have passed in the last year. They presented yellow roses to their past chapter presidents in attendance and recognized their 2011-2012 Psi Ote of the Year, Mary Barrett. They have six"Golden Honorary" Active ladies, who have been active for more than 50 years. Isn't that positively amazing!!!! Thanks to our National Treasurer, Susie Lewis and Alpha member Cindy Davis for sharing this memorial occasion. Psi Otes are Sisters Evermore
 | Thanks to Vice President Marcia Mohre for sharing this -- just perfect for Psi Iota Xi! |
Ladies Night Out in Frankfort!
 | The Ladies of Beta Tau have a great time at their Ladies Night Out! |
Ladies Night Out was introduced to our chapter by a member who had been to a similar event in Bremen, IN. It started out with a delicious steak dinner, with linens and silverware, at our Frankfort Country Club. We have held this event in our 4-H building, Moose Lodge and a local catering venue. We had entertainment several years in a row. One year we had the "Tons of Fun" gals entertain. Another year the Purdue Glee Club sang for us. We do not have entertainment anymore due to it making the evening last too long. We have always given away, in a count down $1,000.00, and held several raffles throughout the evening. Once we had 300 women attend! That was a goal of one of our sisters and her mother one year. Ticket sales are now limited to 200. Several businesses in our community donate items.
Members donate items and we have parties to earn products. We have jewelry, basket, food and kitchen ware parties throughout the year. Some of our members scout for good bargains all year to add to the raffle baskets. We now limit the raffles to ten. Our Master or Mistress of Ceremonies makes the evening more fun as they help announce the numbers drawn, raffle winners and thank you to the donors. There is a different theme each year. One year we had a cruise theme with a member and her husband as the captain and first mate. The ticket price includes a catered meal, including dessert. And of course, we have cheese balls and crackers on the table for all to enjoy. Last year we were able to sell a few as well. I see "Ladies Night Out" as sort of a "mini convention".
This is a fundraiser the women of our community look forward to each year. Some families have three generations in attendance. The committee begins meeting and planning in January. Ladies Night Out is usually held in April. We have to apply for a Charity Gaming License. It needs to be applied for approximately nine weeks in advance. This year's theme was "Arabian Nights". One of our members made her own costume and others searched the used clothing stores for items to wear. After we finish cleaning up we relax and go over the survey sheets. We get a few laughs and a lot of great suggestions. This all helps to build the great bond of sisterhood we share. This fundraiser is successful, but a lot of work, which in turn gets us recognized in our community.
Contact this chapter for more information - use Website
2012-2013 President's Directory.

|
Psi Iota Xi Founder's Day
In this bright future, you can't forget your past. - Bob Marley
The future is bright for Psi Iota Xi: a new long-term National Project was adopted at Convention 2012; our beautiful yearbook, The Helicon, now has a permanent home on the Internet; National Council, State Associations, Chapters and Sisters are all working together to make Psi Iota Xi stronger in our communities and vibrant to our Sisterhood.
But even as we look forward, it is important to look back, and to honor those who have come before us; Founders Day gives all Psi Otes an opportunity to say "thank you" to those who had the gumption and foresight to start a woman's organization dedicated to knowledge, philanthropy and personal growth.
Near the close of the 19th century, "Greek letter" organizations were
becoming popular on the East Coast, and when Mayme Johnson, a student at Central High School in Muncie, Indiana, returned home from her summer vacation in New York, she was determined to found just such a group at her school. She and four of her friends, Mary Louise Carmichael, Huda Smith (Kimbrough), Ethelyn Dowell (Hinkley), and Sue Derexa Smith, sought out the advice and support of three of their teachers, Miss Emma Cammack, Mrs. Martha Ivins, and Miss Eve Kessler, and these eight women forged together the name, purpose and focus of our organization. Their original purpose was to publish a magazine which would "benefit and entertain" their fellow students, but their purpose soon grew into the area of philanthropy, as well. They met with obstacles - for a time, "secret societies" like Psi Iota Xi were prohibited in Indiana - but they were determined to succeed. This first group, known as "Alpha" soon gave way to a second group of like-minded women from Evansville, and Beta Chapter was founded. Psi Iota Xi grew, one Chapter at a time, to the thriving organization it is today.
How exciting it must have been for these young women to begin this adventure into sisterhood, and how fortunate are we that they were determined to succeed.
Many Chapters celebrate the founders of our organization each year in September with a dinner, party, or simply a reading of our founders' names, followed by a moment of silence and thankfulness. Alpha Chapter, Muncie, celebrates in grand fashion each year; go visit their chapter website at www.psiiotaxialphachapter.org to see an amazing list of Psi Iota Xi "Firsts" that will make you proud!
If you don't celebrate Founder's Day in your Chapter, I would suggest you start. You don't have to wait until next September 19 - take a few minutes at your next meeting to share the Psi Ote story with your Chapter. Further, celebrate the founding of your own Chapter. What year was your Chapter chartered? Who were your founding members? For some of our older Chapters, this might be a tough question; for members of our newer Chapters, it might be as easy as looking over the meeting table and chatting with one of your founders. Invite Honorary sisters to your meetings (especially your social events) and ask them to recall what they know of the history of your Chapter. Read through your Chapter scrapbooks (these are always good for a giggle - I wore extremely large and round glasses when I was initiated - yikes!) And if you need further help tracing your Chapter's history, remember that it can be easily found in the pages of the Helicon; all past Helicons are housed in the National Office, and are available for you to look through and photocopy, if you like.
Honor our founders. Honor our history as a valuable women's organization. Honor the women who brought Psi Iota Xi to your community, and helped to establish your Chapter as a vital community member.
And if you have special stories of our founders, or the founding of your Chapter, please share them on your Chapter's page on the website! Or even better send pictures for publication in the newsletter so we can all share in your celebration!
Georgiann Coons, National Conductress
|
Eta Eta Awarded Summer Clinic Grant
Eta Eta Chapter, La Porte, Indiana received notification that the chapter had once again been granted monies to support their Summer Speech, Language and Literacy Clinic. The grant was in the amount of $2000.00. This is the fifth year the chapter has written a proposal to the Unity Foundation of La Porte County requesting funding for the Summer Clinic. Eta Eta has maintained a summer clinic for 25+ years with the clinic scope changing to fit the needs of the children they serve. As all chapters face "financial" needs the writing of grants has allowed Eta Eta to continue to sponsor this summer clinic. These funds along with the collaborative cooperation of the La Porte Community School Corporation providing space during their summer program has allowed Eta Eta to continue to support this summer program. It has become a win, win situation for the community and the children of La Porte County. All chapters are encouraged to check their local grant resources to help with funding of your project goals. |
Eta Eta Basket Sales Soar in La Porte
 | Eta Eta baskets at the La Porte Sunflower Fair! |
Basket sales at the La Porte Sunflower Fair fundraiser continues to be a really successful project. Eta Eta has participated in this project now for six years ! Each basket has a theme -- Halloween, Pampered Chef, Warm and Cozy -- and raffle tickets are sold. The basket contents are donated by both members and community organizatons. We are beginning to be recognized as both the "basket ladies" and the "cheese ball ladies" in our community! For more information about this unique fundraiser you may contact our Co-Presidents, Debe Meyer and Gwen Baxmeyer. They have led this fundraiser since the beginning and could provide valuable information for your chapter to consider this fundraiser! Their contact information can be found on the National Website under the President' Directory. After all -- basket raffles are not unique to our chapter -- look at the tickets we all purchase at both convention and state meetings!
|
Psi Iota Xi Deadlines - Mark Your Calendar Now!
November 1
National Fees
State Fees
Letters of Interest for NW, SE and WC District Officers
November 30
National By-Law Suggestions
April 1, 2013
Chapter By-Law Change Approval
If you need more information check with the National Treasurer Susie Lewis or National Vice President Marcia Mohre!
|
Farewell to Our Sister
Psi Ote, Anitia Campbell passed away on September 18, 2012 in Hazard, KY following a slow decline in her health. She was born in Hazard, KY, but lived most of her adult life in Lexington, KY. She was employed by Tinder Krauss and Tinder until she retired.
Libby Polack, her daughter Carol Bailey ( Meers), and Anita formed the Theta Nu Chapter, 40 years ago (1972 ) in Lexington, KY. She loved the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center and worked hard to find ways to earn money to help children less fortunate.
Anita served as President, Vice President and Treasurer of Theta Nu and served as President of the State Association. She was a fierce believer in the key values of Psi Iota Xi. She was involved in hosting the Psi Iota Xi National Convention when our very own Janet Simpson became National President. Anita gave one of the most touching memorial services at National Convention. She loved her sorority and her church and worked faithfully to honor both. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Pat, also a Theta Nu Psi Ote.
|
Mark Your Calendar for 2013 "NOW"
Natio nal Convention June 28 - 30, 2013 at Crown Plaza Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana -- Welcome Party is planned for Friday June 28.
|
|
|