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Contents
Message from National President, Cathy Etzler
Dates and Deadlines
Historical Tidbits
Sisterly September
Spirited Sisters
Publicity Tips
Message from the Editor
Message from National Vice-President, Susie Lewis
Presidents Directory
Newsletter Archive
Convention Invitation
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A Message From your National President.
As summer winds down and life starts to be pretty scheduled again with school in session, I know it is time for me to "get it together" and get organized with my children and grandchildren's schedules, my own part-time substitute teaching schedule, and my husband's school bus driving schedule. Well, the key word for my lifestyle has always been: FLEXIBILITY
Basically without a full-time job, I want to part-time teach, attend my family events, fulfill my church obligations, work on hobbies, fulfill Convention 2015 plans, exercise, work on National President duties, and continue working with my chapter events and projects. But I'm fortunate that I can use FLEXIBILITY to work it in to my timeline.
Two of the definitions under FLEXIBILITY in the dictionary are the ability to be easily modified and willingness to change or compromise.WOW! These two definitions pretty much say what we as PIX members in 2014 need the most for the future of our chapters and national organization. Think on your own of all the situations in a meeting, in a committee meeting, in an officer's meeting, at a fundraiser, or at a PIX event where FLEXIBILITY was needed.MODIFY- COMPROMISE-WILLINGNESS
We could ALL write a book about these three words and how much they are needed in a thriving, viable, philanthropic organization. Ladies, what do we have to do to modify, compromise, and be willing in our chapters to make the below list WORK:
New Members New Projects Filling or Modifying Slates of Officers Never Giving Our Chapter Up Accepting and Being Open To New Ideas or Formats Serving our National Organization National Council is so open and ready to listen to ideas and so willing to help you as much as we are available. FLEXIBILITY is our motto word, so to speak. We have to be FLEXIBLE in our job descriptions, in our quarterly meetings, in our Convention plans, in our Chapter visits, and in our communications to you. One last definition of FLEXIBILITY is, "will bend, but won't break". When times are not easy, no matter what the situation, in your chapter, at a National Council meeting, at Convention, I believe we will all bend to make it work, but we won't break! We are strong women as were our Founders. CELEBRATE THEM THIS MONTH. Cathy
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Psi Iota Xi Upcoming Events
Coming Your Way
Many informative documents and notices came to your Presidents and Treasurers in August and early September as you see from the list below. Please make sure you have all on the list and if not contact your District Officer.
- 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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 The date September 19th, 1897 holds such wonderful significance for all present-day members of Psi Iota Xi that are still working in 2014 for the betterment of others. In our Chapter Highlights book there is this statement, "these ladies will long be remembered for their gracious manner, deep concern, modest and generous appreciation of the efforts of others." Would any one of us not want to be remembered with those words?
Is this how your community views you and your chapter? I know it is! But as this new year begins for all our chapters, please remember to focus on "all you do for your communities." Your chapter and each individual member have left such a legacy in your towns and communities.
Take time in September to honor our Founders at your meeting. Thank you, the founders of Psi Iota Xi for giving all of us the opportunity in 2014 to be members of a wonderful philanthropic organization. It is an honor to serve as your National President.
Cathy
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Sisterly September
As your chapters are "kicking off" another productive year in September, we want to wish all of you the very best of luck with your moneymaking endeavors, your new membership plans and your ideas to publicize all the great work you do. Most of all we wish for wonderful healthy relationships among all of your Sisters.
You know, this is the key to a successful chapter. Nothing works until we TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. This should be our number one priority.
We often speak to chapters with concerns. Our diagnosis is always the same. "Are you taking care of each other and having fun with each other?" Sometimes we have to even "cut back" our activity to have a healthy and productive outlook.
We love the lyrics of Irving Berlin's song, "Sisters." Even though some of the lyrics are about romance, there are still some lyrics that fit the PIX connection. See if you agree:
Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters.
Caring, Sharing
All kinds of weather, we stick together.
We think and act as one.
Those who've seen us know that nothing can come between us.
Be a PIX sister this year and take care of each other.
P - Promote Sisterhood
I - Inject Fun Into Your Chapter
X - Go the X-tra mile for each other.
Your 2014-2015 National Council
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Traveling around as an officer on National Council, I've seen some fun meeting activities, here are two to share.
 A fun activity for your meetings could be to hand everyone a mini candy bar ( have various ones available) as they enter the meeting. Then the candy bar they receive designates where they will be seated for the meeting. I'm sure at many chapter meetings ( if it is like church), everyone magnetizes to the SAME seats. Mix it up, and get to know the member you've never gotten to know. What a benefit it will be for the health of your chapter.
Have a Friendship Plate, put something on the plate- not a lot of work or expense, a cookie, a card, a new recipe, a flower etc. etc. Deliver that to a member that you don't know very well or any member depending on the size of your chapter. Continue the process until all members are checked off the list.
Cathy
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Labels- Stickers-Signs- Shirts
Tip of the Month  Are you hosting an event, are you ushering for a concert, and are you selling cookies??? ARE YOU WEARING YOUR PIX shirt????????????? I hope so; everyone needs to know who we are and who is working an event.
Also when that product goes out from your fundraiser, is it labeled with a label and contact number from your chapter? If a bag is used a small flyer can be put in the bag of all your chapter's donations to your community.
And of course, always thank your community for their patronage.
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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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A Message From Your
Vice-President, Susie Lewis 
Updating Chapter and National Bylaws
Each year chapters are asked to send any changes to your chapter bylaws to the National Vice President for approval, along with a copy of your current chapter bylaws. This year, and going forward, your National Council is asking that all chapters send a copy of their current bylaws to us (if you have not already done so), in an effort to maintain IRS regulatory compliance. National Council also encourages all chapters, in an effort to simplify guidance and communication, to move toward only having "Standing Rules" for your chapter and adopting our organization's National Bylaws as Chapter Bylaws. Standing Rule number 1 would be, "_____________ chapter of Psi Iota Xi has adopted the organization's National Bylaws as our Chapter Bylaws." If your chapter cannot approve this, and has any changes to bylaws this year, please get them to me by April 1st of 2015 for approval.
Please submit any recommendations for changes in our National Bylaws to Susie Lewis, National Vice President, prior to November 1st. These need to be a recommendation from your chapter. The National Bylaw Committee will be meeting to consider these and any other amendment considerations, in mid-November as a part of our Winter Council meeting.
How to Be a Bigger Part of Psi Iota Xi
Your National Vice President also names those who will serve on national committees next year. Please let me know if you would like to serve on any of the following committees:
- Future Planning (meets in August)
- Project Screening (meets in January)
- Nominating (email communication only)
If you submitted a survey at National Convention, I already have your name and interest, but please feel free to contact me again to confirm.
Next year the Southeast and Northwest District Officer positions will be open. If you are interested in either of these, or any other District Officer position please let me know of your interest before November 1st. Sooner would be better, as our National Council meeting is in mid-November. If your District's officer position is not "vacant" this year, I would be glad to pass your name on to officers following me on National Council. Please submit your letter of interest, ALONG WITH a letter of support from your chapter, to:
Susie Lewis, National Vice President
POB 215,
Economy, IN 47339
You can also send information electronically, to Susie's Email.
I recently told the non-Council members of the Future Planning committee, "Being on National Council is like being able to attend three additional "mini-conventions," as Council meets three weekends each year, outside of our National Convention, to conduct the business of the organization. We work hard for several days ahead of the meetings, to prepare, as we do prior to convention. We meet most of the day on Saturday, then finish any business on Sunday morning. Saturday night we enjoy a meal and sisterly fellowship together, and usually have some type of FUN following dinner.
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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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