|
Contents
Messages from National Council
From Dr Gabel
From Chelsea Backus
Chapter Highlights
2013 Convention
State Meeting
Dates to Remember
And MORE!
| | |
|
|
|
Message from our National President - Kim Crawley
Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you", "I love you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself - plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment."
This has been my mantra for quite some time now, but this is more relevant as the final preparation for Convention 2013 is closing in for my chapter and me. I feel like I am running a marathon and getting nowhere some days-do you ever feel like that?! I am sure that you do...but, this simple reminder helps me to remember to breathe and enjoy the moment, to thank those who are working so hard for me, for you and for our organization. Remember this mantra when you are feeling overwhelmed in your responsibilities as a woman of today-a working woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a chapter member, an officer for your chapter, or whatever you are trying to accomplish....slow down, breathe and enjoy the journey!
Pax Vobiscum
|
|
Message from Dr. Gabel
About Our Newest Long-Term Project
Hello Psi Otes,
I wanted to contact you all in regards to the Psi Iota Xi Long Term Project (LTP), my Northwest Ohio Intensive Stuttering Clinics. With the direct support of Psi Iota Xi, I am able to offer the Intensive Stuttering Clinic for Adolescents and Adults again this summer. The clinic will run from July 15th-July 26th 2013. The therapy will cost $325, a greatly reduced cost. Also, a room is being made available for each participant traveling from outside the Toledo area. These rooms, and partial salaries for my staff, are being made available because of the $10,000 gift provided by Psi Iota Xi last summer. Thank you again for your ongoing support. I could not be more appreciated of this partnership with Psi Iota Xi.
Because of the momentum generated by being awarded the LTP last year, I have been able to develop a new clinic this summer, the Intensive Stuttering Clinic for Children and their Families. This clinic is scheduled for June 24th-July 3rd. This clinic is supported by the University of Toledo, though other funding sources are being identified. The LTP has been very motivational for the University, and there has been growing support for my work due to this success.
Being awarded the LTP has generated both support and momentum for me to develop a new research, clinical, and service center at the University of Toledo. This center, named the Center for Innovative Therapy for Individuals with Communication Disorders. This center will provide the structure needed to continue to expand services for stuttering, but also individuals with other disorders. Currently, there is a well-supported program at my university, offered by a colleague of mine, for individuals with hearing disorders. We are hoping to merge our efforts to make the Center for Innovative Therapy for Individuals with Communication Disorders a viable center for research, treatment, and service.
As with last year, I would love to include individuals from your communities in the clinics. We are quickly filling up for this summer, with the maximum of 8 participants for each clinic, but I would be eager to include adults, adolescents, or children from your communities. Please contact me and view the website link below if you have any questions. Thank you again for all your support.
Rod
Rodney Gabel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BRS-FD
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Speech-Language Pathology
College of Health Science
University of Toledo, MS 119
2801 Bancroft Street
Toledo, OH 43606
Rodney.Gabel@utoledo.edu
http://www.utoledo.edu/eduhshs/depts/rehab_sciences/speech/shutteringclinic.HTML
419-530-6682
|
Beta Tau Frankfort - Ladies Night Out
This year the theme was "Pirates"
 
 | | Beth and a new member of Beta Tau |
 | | Rae and Barbara |
Great time had by ALL! In spite of the fact that none of our council guests won the grand prize, or raffle items, or door prizes etc. They did enjoy their time with Beta Tau. Great job sisters.
Diana Lamb and ladies from Lebanon also attend each year. Thank you ladies.
|
|
Message from Chelsea Backus
Do you have a passion for Riley Hospital?
Hello Friends,
I hope you are doing well! I am writing to you to ask for help.
In an effort to better care our Riley families and supporters, the foundation has started a program to identify individuals in all 92 counties to serve as Riley Ambassadors for the counties in which they live. As a County Leader an individual would receive information about the latest developments at the hospital, news about Riley services impacting your specific community, and supportive publications which you can share. We would also contact them to represent Riley when an opportunity arises in their community.
We are still in need of a representative in the following counties:
LaPorte, Starke, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Whitley, Fulton, Newton, Wells, Carroll, Warren, Clinton, Blackford, Jay, Montgomery, Putnam, Clay, Union, Franklin, Decatur, Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Washington, Sullivan, Crawford
Do you know someone that lives in one of the counties listed above, with a passion for Riley that you would recommend? If so, I'd love to get in touch with them and discuss the program further.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration!
Warm Wishes,
Chelsea
|
|
Convention Miscellaneous
Convention Teaser Ts
Get your own commemorative convention T-shirt in a great summer color of ocean blue-torquioise. Sigma chapter members will be wearing the hot pink version during Convention. Pictured here is Paula Sibbitt wearing the commemorative T. Order Form
Awards - Don't Leave Them Behind
This is a reminder for all chapters who won awards last year at convention. Please remember that you need to bring your award with you to Convention this year. We ask that you return them in the same condition as you received them - polished, cleaned, etc. Thank you in advance!
Remembering our Sisters and Others
- Memorial Fund Donations--complete the form here to donate to a Psi Iota Xi fund.
- Memorial Service Reminder --If your chapter has lost a member this year, please complete one of the memorial forms and follow the directions on the form.
Sigma says Thank You!
We are overwhelmed with the generosity of our sisters!!
This table is full of donations from PIX chapters for our convention raffles.
Sigma Does Cleansburg!
Sigma sisters take time away from convention planning to participate in Cleansburg! They and hundreds more Greensburg citizens, took to the streets and collected carelessly discarded cigarette butts, fast food wrappers, and gum melded to sidewalks, among innumerable other items of revolting refuse in the campaign aimed at eliminating all manner of errantly-thrown eyesores throughout the Tree City.
"Go Greensburg! Keep it a Cleansburg!!" Our Sigma sisters participated in an annual clean up event in their home town.
|
|
From the Editor's Desk
The 2013 Helicon: Your chapter should have received a copy of this letter requesting your article. This letter also contains instructions that will help me to keep your articles organized as they come in. Your Chapter's article is to reflect the summary of your activities and accomplishments from Convention 2012 to May 2013
. Please e-mail your article to Heather
no later than May 10.
The website: Sign up, Log-in, Stay Connected! If you have any trouble signing up let me know.
Heather Mitchell, Zeta Theta -Niles, MI
Interim National Editor
heliconheather@hotmail.com
|
|
Another Psi Ote Rose Petal Falls
 Theta Tau, Midland Nyla Ann (Ayres) Lebsack, 67, of Midland, went to be with the Lord, Saturday evening, March 23, 2013 at her residence.
She was born in Peru, Indiana in 1945, daughter of the late Hoyt and Vera (Spranger) Ayres. Nyla was a graduate of Peru High School in 1964 where she was active with the Student Council, Y-Teens and the Band Majorettes. Nyla was on the Homecoming Court and was crowned Starlight Ball Queen her senior year. After her graduation from high school, her desire to become a teacher, led her to Western Michigan University. To help offset her tuition, she was employed as a switchboard operator at Hadley Hall and as a co-op with the Science Department, as an office professional. After graduating with her B.S. Degree in Education, Nyla returned to Peru High School to teach Business Education. Over the next several years she earned her Master's Degree. While attending WMU, she met Richard "Dick" Lebsack on her 21st birthday. They began dating and later were married June 26, 1971. The couple then moved to Midland where Nyla began her career, teaching in the Business Department, at Midland High School. While at MHS she helped start the Pom Pon Program and also served as advisor for the Business Professionals of America (BPA). She retired in 2002. With God's grace and the help of their church, Nyla and Dick adopted two children, Eric and Lisa. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland. She enjoyed spending twenty-two years at their cottage on Glen Lake, by the Sleeping Bear Dunes, playing golf, bowling, traveling, fishing and especially spending time with her grandchildren. Close to Nyla's heart were her Sorority, Psi Iota Xi, and her many sorority sisters. She was instrumental in starting the Midland Chapter of Theta Tau of Psi Iota Xi Philanthropic Sorority in 1974. She later went on to serve as State President, twice Chapter President and was a charter member for thirty-nine years.
Surviving besides her husband Dick are her two children, Eric Lebsack and his special friend Jessica Hauser of Asheville, N.C. and Lisa Moore and her husband Daniel of Midland; four grandchildren, Madison, Alexandra and Isaac Moore and Makena Kellogg and her brother, Kent Ayres and his wife Deanna of Nashville, TN. and many nieces and nephews and loving cousins. In addition to her parents, Nyla was predeceased by an infant brother. *Please help us keep our National Council records accurate and acknowledge your passing sisters by sending death notifications to your District Officers and National President. We'll include them in the following newsletter once we receive the information. Please keep yours and national records accurate when a member passes or transfers, etc. |
|
Indiana State Meeting
The 36th Indiana State meeting was held April 20,2013 in Fort Branch, IN. Psi Otes are angels on Earth was the theme of the day. There were 192 Psi Ote Angels in attendance, 9 of those were from our National Council.
We were able to award $10,000 to our worthy projects and $3000 to our rotating grants. It's a privilege for our votes to be counted.
Our hand bell choir entertained the members before the meeting. The Melody Makers entertained us after a tasty lunch. Zeta Gamma members brought the angels to visit. We installed our new board members and our day ended with some happy gals. They took home some special raffle items.
Zeta Gamma had a good time getting ready for your visit.
Mo Dix and Zeta Gamma Chapter
|
|
Meet Chloe
 Chloe is an 8 year old with two cochlear implants. She received her first implant when she was 5 years old. She wore her implant and a hearing aid for about two years. It became apparent that the hearing aid wasn't working as well, as Chloe has had progressive hearing loss. It was then decided she would get her second implant at the age of 7. Chloe uses the Advanced Bionics system. While in the process of getting her second implant, new technology was developed so that the implant could be worn in water activity. Up unitl this point Chloe was a deaf child when it came to water activities. In February, shortly after her second implant, we took a family trip to Florida where, Chloe, for the first time was able to swim and play with her new implant in water. Her first hearing experience in water was swimming with dolphins. What would have been a silent experience for her, was now filled with the sounds of splashing, laughing and squeaking dolphins.. It was fantastic! (Chloe's mother is a member of Eta Gamma, Valporaiso, Indiana)
|
Amber Rourke Charity Softball Classic
Amber Rourke (Benefiter)
530 Peacock Road
Richmond, In, 47374
Psi Iota Xi,
My name is Amber Rourke, 17, a sophomore at Richmond High School in Richmond, IN. I had Cochlear Implant surgery when I was two years old on my left ear in 1997
at Carle Clinic in Champaign, Illinois. Then in 2005, I had my right ear done as well, but then had to have it replaced due to a recall. Now, in 2013, I found out on April 5th that my Cochlear device in my left ear, my dominant side that deals with speech, is going out an must be replaced as soon as possible. My surgery is going to be at the end of May and I am required to pay $10,000 dollars upfront before I can even start my procedure and recovery process.
In 1997, the cost of my surgery on my left ear was $35,000 dollars. Then in 2005, my right ear cost $85,000 but now due to technological advances in these devices, my surgery is going to cost approximately $115,000 dollars. After my parent's insurance pays their share, our remainder will be roughly $25,000 dollars. My mother runs a local daycare service in the community and my father works for a tooling company. I have two sisters and one brother. My older sister is a sophomore at Indiana State University, my younger sister is freshmen in high school and my older brother works for a field-tiling company. Unfortunately with the extremely high cost of the surgery, we can not possibly afford it.
We are asking for charitable donations from local companies, as well as hosting the Amber Rourke Softball Classic tournament here at the local Park's and Recreation Fields. We have never done anything of this nature before and the financial and emotional stress is rising by the day. We are asking of any help you could possibly give us in the form of a donation. We would gratefully put your sorority logo on the back of every single tournament shirt as well as any other advertisement/credit we could give for your sorority in extreme appreciation.
We gratefully appreciate you all taking the time out of your day to read and consider our cause. We were referred by a local member of your sorority here in Richmond and we are all so thankful for your sororities involvement in helping kids, like myself, that are in situations such as these.
Respectfully, The Amber Rourke Charity Classic
Tessa Crouch
Mother of Amber Rourke
Her account is set up at WAYNE BANK AND TRUST
|
|
The "Love Gift"
 Our Michigan Psi Otes have found a wonderful way to help one another and spread camaraderie and commitment. The "Love Gift" is a Michigan project intended to encourage and promote a Michigan chapter in its community. Each year one chapter announces its "Love Gift" project, and the other chapters each make sizable donations toward that project. The "Love Gift" rotates among the chapters. When the Michigan State Association disbanded, we decided to continue this project, presenting our love gifts at an informal Spring luncheon at a place designated by the recipient chapter. Our hope is that this will keep our chapters connected and networking, feeling less isolated by our distances. The 2013 Spring luncheon was held on April 27th at Arnie's Bakery & Restaurant in Rockford, Michigan. This year the love gift was presented to Eta Sigma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Eta Sigma who has chosen to support Fosters Forward with these funds. Fosters Forward is an organization that assists children and young adults within and aging out of the foster care system. Go to www.fostersforward.org for more information.
|
Chapter Highlights
Chapter Visit, Beta Sigma - Austin, Indiana
 | | Nancy Ricketts visits Beta Sigma, Austin, IN |
January is one of our coldest months but you could not tell it when you entered the meeting room for the Beta Sigma Chapter in Austin. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Members are socializing with food and inviting us to help ourselves. Yummy!!! They have a new meeting place which is all theirs!!! They have free use of a building owned by a local company. They have their name on the door and places to hang pictures and shelves for memorabilia.
Austin is a small town but this Chapter does so much for them. They provide year round beautification. They make marvelous homemade ice cream that they sell at several community functions in addition every 3rd Tuesday they make it and take it to one of the local nursing homes for their afternoon "ice cream social".
They provide financial assistance to the 4th of July fireworks, support Girl's State participants, local school music programs, local literacy and speech and hearing needs. At their January meeting they also voted to help 2 local students in fund raising for leadership programs. They were preparing to sell chili at a basketball game and members were providing the chili and peanut butter sandwiches.
They are involved in a project called "Circles" which is actually a National Campaign to assist those in need. The project provides meals, child care and classes to assist the attendees. The attendees really appreciate the meals that the Chapter provides especially the fried chicken and homemade chicken and noodles!!
As part of a project called "We Care" the Chapter partners with the Scottsburg radio station's annual telethon. The Chapter mans the phones during the telethon which goes on overnight. I can recall one member saying-"You relieved me at 4am." Yes, 4 am!!!! Now this is dedication. When the telethon is over the Chapter receives a specific amount of money to use in their We Care project. The Chapter purchases coats, gloves, shoes and socks for school children in need. This past year they assisted 549 children!!! They begin purchasing coats as soon as they are on sale so the funds go further. When they have extra funds they give the children vouchers for Walmart so they can select their own coats.
Austin may be a small town but the heart of it has to be the Beta Sigma Chapter. Keep up the good work.
Nancy Ricketts, Senior DO
Southeast District Officer
Highlight Your Chapter
What do you and your sisters do for your local community? What special events do you have scheduled in the upcoming months? Did your group just celebrate a significant milestone? Is one of your sisters being recognized by the local community for something?
Task someone to take photos and right after the event send us all the details and include a photo or two of your sisters doing what your chapter does best. Please also identify whomever is in the photo, including their job title if they happen to be receiving a check or hold a leadership position. Describe what's happening in the photo and tell us why it's significant for your chapter. Send to heliconheather@hotmail.com Heather will compile everything she receives and get approval from National Council to include in an upcoming newsletter.
|
Hearing the World with PIX
The Top 3 Reasons Why Your Chapter Needs a Copy
- To share with your daughters and granddaughters. Our legacies and the future of Psi Iota Xi.
- As a gift to new members to give them a glimpse into what Psi Otes have and will continue to do in your community, our state, nationally and even internationally.
- To be used as literacy donation to the local public or school library. You can double your impact by reading it at a story time at the library or school and count that time as service hours. Triple your impact by distributing Ears Are Forever (or other age appropriate options) and 4 pack crayons to the children in attendance counting it as a donation speech and hearing. AND maximize the impact by preparing a sheet about what your chapter does in the community with contact information to each child's parent, teacher or the librarian - all of them are either potential Psi Otes or are married to someone who is!
You can realize all these benefits for the low cost of just $15 a copy. Contact Pam Gunterman @ 574-546-4768 or tpgunterman@hotmail.com.
|
|
Got Supplies?
This is the time to think ahead of what you will need this spring as far as supplies from the National Office. Look at the supply list form that is located on the website under members only. Think what your new officers or new members will need.
Note there are starred items* and those can be ordered from the office and emailed to you at no cost. Some items are even free from the website-so, check it out! You still have the option of the printed versions mailed or brought to you at the IN State Association meeting or National Convention in June. Soon more and more items will be available by email and/or online.
You can also make copies of the order form and mail it to the office with your check, or you may order in advance and pay at the IN State Association meeting or Convention. Whichever is most convenient for you or whomever is ordering the supplies for your chapter. You may also pre-order by email.
There are no shipping charges for orders delivered to the state meetings or Convention.
Note-We will no longer supply the little blue books for your chapters since most chapters are going with the larger binder for their information.
Come visit with me at the National Office Table at Convention. I would love to match faces with names!
Loyally, PIX Administrative Assistant
Liz Dale,
|
|
Please Don't Forward the Newsletter
 Most of you receive this newsletter because you'd previously provided your email address to your chapter president who gave it to National Council. A database full of emails was uploaded to our website and carried over to our 3rd party email company, Constant Contact, so that we could send you our monthly newsletter and other Psi Ote communications.
Each month, when the newsletter lands in your inbox full of the latest highlights and upcoming events, many of you are tempted to share the newsletter with your fellow sister Psi Otes. Like many emails you receive, many of you click "Forward" and proceed to send away. Then, you get replies from your sisters that say, "hey, there were no photos in that email you sent." or "it was a bunch of jumbled up words that I couldn't read" or maybe "I got the photos, but I didn't see any words." Of course, that's frustrating because you know it was there when you got the newsletter, right? Indeed, however, the newsletters, with all their awesome news, are not meant to be forwarded, and they won't look the same when your sisters receive one from you. So how do you share them with your sisters?
You get them to register on the website so that their email is included within the Constant Contact database. That's right, it's as simple as that. Sister Psi Otes register for the website, and their email is held safe and secure within several layers of online protection. Plus, all emails are now held within Psi Iota Xi's master database and Constant Contact to keep you all informed of all that's essential to being a valuable Psi Ote. Newsletters will be sent out each month, and everyone who's registered will receive their copy automatically.
Consider this: If you have your sisters' email addresses, why aren't they registered on the PIX website? Why are you forwarding something they should already be receiving themselves? Instead, discuss the convenience, and importance, of registering online during your next chapter meeting. Everyone who has an email address should be registered. It's win-win for you and Psi Iota Xi.
Got questions regarding website registration? Do you have suggestions and/or ideas about the newsletter? Contact your National Editor, Heather Mitchell.
Your Web Gurus,
Tony & Donna of Aradise
|
|
Back Issues
Have you missed previous issues of our electronic newsletter? If so, click below and find a complete listing of our previous issues. Be sure to share this link with your other sisters who may not be opening their newsletters.
|
|
Psi Iota Xi Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendar Today
April 30 - All Chapters Close Books
May 10 - PCRs due to District Officer
May 10 - Helicon Articles due to Editor
May 15 - Convention Registration Deadline
|
|
|
