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Contents
Message from National President, Cathy Etzler
Dates and Deadlines
2014 Psi Ote of the Year
Survey Results
Spirited Sisters
Publicity Tips
Message from the Editor
New National Council Officers
Presidents Directory
Newsletter Archive
Convention Invitation
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A Message From your National President.
Recently, I ran across a date in history as I was reading a novel. The date is Aug. 26th and this date is celebrated in Texas as Women's Independence Day. It is based on the date of the 19th amendment concerning women's right to vote.
I guess it is my theme of our Founders, but my thoughts immediately went to all the history that OUR MEMBERS have lived through and experienced, and specifically all the accomplishments of women throughout these years.
In 1897, the first symphony written by a woman was performed, and in 1914 the first woman conducted a symphony. In the 1920's, the Pulitzer Prize was won by a woman. The 1930's brought us Amelia Earhart and the first woman Cabinet member. The 1940's were highlighted by a Nobel Peace Prize winner and the first woman to win the Purple Heart. The first woman to undergo astronaut training happened in the 1950's. The 1960's brought us the first woman to be nominated for the Presidency. The first woman to ever conduct at the New York Metropolitan was a highlight of the 1970's. The 1980's were graced by the first Supreme Court judge and the first woman in space. The 1990's saw historically the first woman Attorney General and Secretary of State. The first decade of the 2000's saw the first woman president of Harvard, and presently a woman is the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
As I researched and traveled through this quick summary of some very prominent women and their accomplishments, I couldn't help but to reflect on the pride that I have in my gender, and more specifically in the women who have honored us since 1897 by serving Psi Iota Xi. They have all been such strong, independent women and thinkers.
As you look to the planning of your chapter's year and goals, take in consideration all our history and all the eras our chapters have crossed. I can't help but think of our chapters during the Depression, and how they "made it work." Really, we think times are tough NOW. There is no doubt that membership is an issue for us and again let's "tell the world" what we stand for and what we do in our publicity.
At this year's Convention, listening to our keynote speaker, she challenged us to come forth with ideas to the microphone, and there were so many wonderful and creative ideas. Take time in your meetings to think "outside the box" and share thoughts. Many times on our surveys, members comment that the sharing is the BEST. This is so important to the "health of your chapter" and for sure will bring forth new ideas.
The definition of independent in the dictionary shows synonyms free-thinker, unconventional, free spirit and a trend-setter. WOW, that says it "in a nutshell". These words have carried all the women of Psi Iota Xi through the years 1897-2014 and will continue to do so. I HAVE NO DOUBT!!!!
Love and Loyalty,
Cathy Etzler
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Psi Iota Xi Upcoming Events
Coming Your Way
Lots of information is coming your way in August in anticipation of your meetings that will be resuming. Please watch for:
- An introductory letter that will be emailed to you from your District Officer.
- The National President's Letter from Cathy Etzler
- Student Symphony Ticket letter, schedule, and request form from Project Chair, Connie McDaniel
- Bylaw letter and District Officer recruitment letter from Vice President, Susie Lewis
- Convention Synopsis from Secretary, Brenda Bonner
- Fee Statements from National Treasurer, Beth Keeney
Presidents and Chapter Officers:Please pay special attention to dates and deadlines. The efficiency of our total organization depends on this.
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Psi Ote of the Year Award Presentation by Georgiann Coons 
It is an honor to serve as your National Conductress. It is a joy to help celebrate the history of our organization and to help honor those who have made extraordinary efforts toward furthering our goals and sisterhood. Those efforts are highlighted in the presentation of the National Psi Ote of the Year.
You probably believe as I do that every sister who wears the diamond pin, who gives her time to our volunteer organization and who thrives in the heart of our sisterhood is a candidate for Psi Ote of the Year. So I'd like you all to stand up and give yourselves a hand. You may be seated, but if you have served as president of your chapter, please stand up. (Pause) If you hosted a presidential welcome dinner and treated your entire chapter to dinner at a winery, please remain standing. (You may be seated) If you've stirred up a cheese ball, rolled a cheese ball or eaten a cheese ball, please stand up. Remain standing if you organized a cheese ball recipe tasting for your Chapter to boost enthusiasm for your fundraiser! If you are a mom or a daughter, please stand up. If you encouraged each sister to bring her mother's favorite dish to a meeting and set up a game of "Match the Mother and Daughter" for a special Mother's Day event, remain standing. If a sister in your Chapter had a new baby this year, please stand up. (Pause) If you planned a surprise shower for your chapter sister and took her dinner every night for the first week that she was home with her new baby, please remain standing. If you sold flowers for your Chapter this year, please stand up. If you set up a tour of the greenhouse where your flowers are grown so that your chapter could have a better understanding of where they come from and how to care for them, please remain standing. If you thought last winter was too cold and too snowy, please stand up. If you planned a "fun in the sun" party by asking your sisters to wear summer clothes and bring lawn chairs to the February meeting to "melt their blues away," remain standing. If you believe in the power of volunteerism, please stand up. If you helped your chapter in their volunteer efforts this year by planning a coffee mug painting event, and then, with your chapter, distributed them to a senior citizen ce If you love cookies and flowers, stand up. Keep standing if you brought a baker to your chapter meeting who taught sisters to decorate cookies - Valentines cookies which were given to a local w omen's shelter and a food pantry. Keep standing if you organized your chapter to plant spring bulbs at the nursing home and then did a craft with the residents. If you believe in the miraculous things that art and music can do, please stand up. If you came up with the great idea to have your chapter sisters design a fire sticker to be placed in the windows of hearing impaired children and adults, keep standing.  If you were initiated 10 years ago or less, please stand. If you were initiated in 2007, remain standing. If your Chapter is in the Southeast District, please remain standing. If you are a member of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Richmond, please remain standing. If you are Marla Mitirone, please remain standing and come up here with me, because you are our 2014 Psi Ote of the Year. Sisters, please join me in congratulating our sister Marla. 
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Surveys-
An Important Factor in Convention Planning
As with every Convention, your input through the use of the survey is very critical to the next chapter hosting Convention. Thank all of you this year that completed the survey.
Please understand that many factors go into this planning:
- Geographical Location for Host Chapter
- The Time Factor of Signing Contracts
- Survey Results
- Cost for Chapters
With this being said, I would like to summarize the survey results:
1. As far as shortened schedule- 113 surveys were completed, some by chapters, some individuals, so this was a significant number. 81 had positive comments, 21 negative comments, and 11 did not answer this question. So that is 72% that had various parts of the shortened schedule that they liked. The most frequent comment was the money that was saved for chapters that find it a struggle to pay the expense of Convention.
RESPONSE: My response is that yes, I am contracted in to the shortened schedule and I believe it deserves a 2-yr. trial. Now as we all know, schedules can be "tweaked" and some items changed or adjusted. Trust that we will do what is possible.
2. Saturday AM- Time- Many creative comments on how we can use this time to offer some displays or rooms to just sit and share.
3. Publicity and Membership- Almost 100% of surveys agree that these are areas of need for the future of the organization.
RESPONSE: We NEED YOU to help us as a National Council by sharing your best ideas. Be sure to pass them on to any Council members so that we can turn them around and share with all CHAPTERS during the year, not just at the next Convention.
4. Awards- Many ideas shared, the awards are in the process of being appraised, and will be part of our historical display. As far as awards that are now given, there are so many thoughts coming from large and small chapters on how to recognize our chapters and we will take in consideration all your comments. I would like to emphasize that a majority of the comments shared that they love those "pats on the back" and Bright Idea Awards.
A special thanks to Theta Kappa and Marcia Mohre for studying the surveys from the previous years and giving this shortened schedule a try. We only learn when we try and that is a great lesson for us as we move through each of our chapter's business for the coming year.
Individual ideas were shared about Memorial Service, District Meetings, and Project Speakers also. Please understand that National Council will take into consideration all comments and are doing to the best of our ability to always make National Convention effective for the future of Psi Iota Xi.
Loyally,
Cathy Etzler- National President
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We all need to keep the SPIRIT up in our chapters, we need to take care of ourselves FIRST and foremost for us to be an effective organization.Spirited Sisters- As you begin this year with your chapters and its members, please take time to cherish your PIX friendships.
Friendship That Lasts A Lifetime
Friendship that lasts a lifetime
Is one that will give and take.
It's built on truth and honesty
And offers a firm handshake.
A friend will stand beside you
When others turn away.
If distance separates for a season,
In your heart they'll forever stay.
When burdens are heavy to carry,
A friend will stretch out a hand.
Obstacles that you couldn't overcome,
With a friend's help you often can.
Friendship that last a lifetime
Can keep secrets that were told,
For it's about loyalty and kindness
And shines forth as pure as gold.
Friendship that last a lifetime
Is built on love and trust and care.
It's a bridge that's easy to cross over
If made for both to share.
Linda Grazulis
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WAYS TO GET YOUR WORD OUT
Word of Mouth
Probably the best medium of all is word of mouth. Once you have put together a publicity committee, it must sell your event to the public. If everyone talks up the event in classes, parties and cafeterias, people will become interested. Social Media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are also great ways to market your event to a specific group.
GET PEOPLE TALKING AND INTEREST WILL SPREAD.
 Cathy Etzler, National President
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From the Editor's Desk
The 2014 Helicon is in the works. Thank you all for your articles and photos.
Reminders:
- Memorial Information Send memorial information and a picture, if possible, to your editor so we can honor them in the next newsletter.
- Pictures, Pictures, Pictures! We all love to see pictures! They are a fantastic way to share your chapter ideas, fundraisers and community events that shout out, "We love Psi Iota Xi!" They are also great to use on the website so interested visitors can see the fun we have and join us! Forward your images via email. And don't forget to post them on our Facebook Main Page and Group Page.
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New Members to National Council
 Beta DeltaEast Central District Officer
Sixteen years ago, my cousins Betty & Kathy Miller approached me about joining sorority. I had never heard of Psi Iota Xi let alone a philanthropic organization that gave financially and donated time to the community. I joined in 1999 and five years later our chapter hosted the 2004 national convention. I truly understand how a small number can make a huge impact.
Two years ago, I served on a national committee and found it incredibly moving how ideas are shared, acted upon and especially the camaraderie of the ladies. The thought crossed my mind if the ECDO position became available I would be interested. Now here I am serving as your new district officer and feeling very blessed.
My fiancé, Greg Crisenbery, and I will be married April 25th, 2015. My son Nicholas and daughter-in-law Trisha have blessed us with three wonderful grandchildren, Lawson age 6, Leighton & Leila, 20 months. In addition, Greg has two sons, Kyle & Jacob, and last but not least our two dogs Nitro and Dobby. We enjoy spending time at our house on Pleasant Lake, riding bicycles and of course the grandkids.
I work at Trupointe Cooperative, Ft. Wayne, IN, as Location Administrator.
I am enthusiastic and looking forward to meeting and getting to know as many of you as possible during these next two years.
"There are those who look at things the way they are and ask WHY? I dream of things that never were and ask WHY NOT? ~ Robert Kennedy.
Rhonda McNall
 Maureen Dix, Zeta Gamma
Southwest District Officer
It is my pleasure to be serving as your new Southwest District Officer. As some of you may remember (I guess you long time Psi Otes) I served in this capacity in the nineties. I met so many long time friends during that time I thought I'd try it again. Locally I wasn't acquainted with any of my Psi Ote sisters. Just think of all the friendships I would have missed out on.
I've always said it is so rewarding to work together in all our projects so we can give to those less fortunate. What would our communities do without our support?
I hit my 30th active year with my Chapter and I have held all the offices and several of them more than once. I wouldn't trade my association with Psi Iota Xi for anything.
My family is very important to me. They are my biggest supporters. I am the second of 5 children. My dad is gone and mom is 92. Look out ladies I may be attending National Convention at 90. My husband Herb and I have been married for 45 years. We have one son Chad and a daughter-in-law Jaynell. She gave us a grandson Gavin. We're thrilled to become grandparents.
As we were told at convention take a look around your communities to see who you might invite to become a member of this wonderful organization. They can be a variety of ages from the newly graduates to the just retired and anyone in between. Remember to nurture after you initiate them. Let's all work together and help our membership grow.
I'd love to visit your Chapter during my term so if you have a special event or a meeting please invite me. Herb is retired so he can travel with me. We like to do road trips. I can attend your meeting and he can entertain himself.
Maureen "Mo" Dix
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Chapter Presidents Directory
Please Keep us updated
We know changes are always happening. People move, get new phones, change email, etc. Please forward any changes to the Presidents Directory to the National Editor so the directory is always current. Log in and visit the "Member's Only" section on the website for the most current version of our Presidents Directory.
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Newsletter Archive/Social Media
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.
Several of you have mentioned that the first article in each of the archived newsletter is not archived in its entirety, I'm working on that for future articles, I'm not yet sure how to get those complete articles back into the archives.
Archived Newsletters Are you on Facebook? If so, stop by and say hello.
We have two pages with two different purposes. Main Page (accessible by this icon), is public and has posts from Psi Iota Xi that you may comment on. The Group Page is where you can opt in and post questions or ideas and get input from your sisters. It's currently public but, if you prefer, it can be made a private/closed group for members only. On this page, you can also announce events and activities with all of us there as well as recap the fun with photos! Don't forget that you can also add images to your comments!
Let us know what's going on in your chapter, post images from chapter meetings and events, let us know about significant happenings in your life - new baby/grandchild, new job, promotion, retirement, marriage, engagement, or whatever you'd like to share with your Psi Iota Xi sisters. We'd love to celebrate with you!
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