Pi Phis with the holiday spirit!

Members of the San Juan Pocket in Southwest Colorado gathered December 6 at the home of Lisa Scott for a Christmas luncheon and angel gift exchange. They also collected food, household items, and toilettries for those in need. Members are posed here with the some of the multiple bags of goods they donated to Mountain Recovery, a sober living home for women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.

Standing form left: Carole Howard, Marcia Thomas, Maribeth Hill, Mary Bailly, and Melissa McDonald.
In front: Lisa Scott, Lynn Constan, Marilyn Chipps, and Donna Gregory.

Merry Christmas!

The San Juan Pocket also organized the fifth annual luncheon for Panhellenic women in Southwest Colorado on September 25. A record 34 women from 29 different universities and 17 different sororities attended!
Standing L-R: Donna Krueger Gregory, Lynn Devaul Constan, Carole Munroe Howard and Mary Buckley Bailly. Seated L-R: Maribeth Garnett Hill, Marcia Farley Thomas, Marilyn Kelso Chipps, Ann Struble Norris and Lisa Gamel Scott.

These dedicated ladies keep very busy!

The San Juan Pocket alumnae and spouses recently celebrated their sixth annual Beaux and Arrows gathering. This is one of San Juan's very successful annual traditions.

Portland and Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Founders' Day

The Portland and Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe alumnae clubs celebrated our Pi Phi founders at Waverley Country Club. The Portland Alumnae Club planned the event this year and did a beautiful job. The display boards created by Lisa Walcott Frank were informative and fun to read. The newest Golden Arrow in attendance was Beverly Hobson (initiated in 1960) and the most senior G.A. in attendance was Elizabeth Duke (initiated in 1937).

Vancouver Alumnae Club Fraternity Day of Service

On March 2, 2010, members of the Vancouver Alumnae Club participated in a literacy event to commemorate Pi Beta Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service and Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The event, held at Harry Hooge Elementary School in Maple Ridge, B.C., included a Dr. Suess video for the Primary Grades, reading of Dr. Seuss books by members in the individual classrooms and refreshments. First Book bookplates were also distributed for the children to decorate.

In addition, a check presentation was made to the school to purchase additional books for their “Home Reading Cart”. The Vancouver Alumnae Club has supported the school for the past three years with donations of books and monies for the book cart. The purpose of the “Home Reading Cart” is to provide the appropriate level of books for the students to check-out for home reading. Many of these students do not have books at home to practice their reading skills; therefore, it is necessary for literacy progress to have access to these books.

Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club Fraternity Day of Service

The Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and Pi Phi's Fraternity Day of Service by hosting an event with local Brownie Girl Scout Troop 42387. The Brownies decorated First Book® bookplates, divided into two teams for a First Book Speed Read™, and enjoyed cupcakes and juice provided by the alumnae club. The two teams were evenly matched and came within four seconds of each other!

Alumnae Organization Advertising Policy Change

Many alumnae organizations have chosen to sell advertising for fundraising purposes or to help offset the costs of printing and mailing. There are a number of issues that arise from this that has caused us to review this practice.
Unfortunately, because of potential legal and tax implications of alumnae organizations generating income that would be taxable and possibly have implications as to the status of Pi Beta Phi as a private organization, effective April 2010, we are no longer able to allow alumnae organizations to sell advertising. Continuing this practice may also increase liability exposure to the alumnae organization and its officers. This decision has been reviewed and recommended by the Fraternity’s General Counsel and Internal Legal Counsel.
This practice also applies to the selling of advertising on Web sites. In addition to the dangers of generating income that would be taxable and potentially cause us to lose our status as a private organization, there are dangers of privacy and security issues of members, as well as potential jurisdictional issues in the event a court becomes involved. Therefore, alumnae organizations may not sell advertising on Web sites.
With either printed or Web site materials published by an alumnae organization, advertisers may advertise for free and may donate financially to the alumnae organization. It is recommended to include a statement in printed or Web site materials that indicates no fee was received for any advertisements.
Please contact Maja or Cindy Svec, Grand Vice President Alumnae with any questions.

Cowlitz-Chinook Founders' Day‏

Happy Founders' Day

Dear Pi Phi friend,
We all lead busy lives with many demands for our time through our commitments and obligations to our families, work, church, friends and much more. However, within these demands lie opportunities. Opportunities to grow as individuals, learn from others and lead by example for our children.
Within our alumnae organizations and through our Fraternity, we also offer our members many wonderful opportunities — develop friendships with other Pi Phis, serve in leadership positions, develop personal and intellectual growth and make a difference in the lives of many others in our communities through philanthropic service.
Just as our founders formed a special bond and shared their dedication and passion with others in April 1867, we too can continue their efforts by choosing to be active members of Pi Beta Phi today and throughout our lifetime.
How can you get involved and become an active member of Pi Beta Phi? How can you get others involved and what more can you do for the Fraternity? It may be as easy as paying your alumnae dues, writing a RIF for a graduating senior preparing for fall recruitment or reaching out to a Pi Phi sister in need. Maybe you join the efforts of your alumnae organization and invite a friend to attend one of the upcoming events with you or serve as an AAC or CHC officer for the local collegiate chapter or as a Fraternity or alumnae organization officer. Big or small, there are many opportunities for us to become active members of Pi Beta Phi. Just imagine if each of us, all 136,291 alumnae members, were active and shared the passion of our founders; collectively, we could make a huge difference in our communities and in the lives of so many others! I encourage you to make time in your busy lives and become an active member of Pi Beta Phi today.
Please join me in honoring our founders and all Pi Phis who continue to live the core values of our Fraternity each day as lifelong committed members of Pi Beta Phi.

In Pi Phi,
Cindy Rice Svec
Grand Vice President Alumnae

Wenatchee Alumnae Club Emma Harper Turner Leadership Nominee

Cathy Marboe and Connie Bean, the Wenatchee AC Emma Harper Turner Leadership Award nominee, at their Founders' Day celebration.

Denver Cluster Meeting

On Saturday, March 13 Maja, Marnie, and Ashlee traveled to Colorado to meet with our wonderful leaders from the following alumnae clubs: Aurora, Evergreen, Colorado Springs, Denver, Evergreen, and Highlands Ranch. The meeting was held at the home of Lia Strahan of the Aurora Alumnae Club. It was a wonderful afternoon of sharing information and spending time with our sisters.

The Colorado alumnae leaders in attendance.

Colorado Spring Alumnae Club Emma Harper Turner Leadership Award nominee

Crazy sock game winners.

Thank you to those who spent their afternoon with us and we hope that you all will be able to join us at the Region Five Leadership Summit in Seattle, Washington on June 5, 2010.

Honey Mustard Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

This recipe was submitted by Lia Gravino Strahan of the Aurora Alumnae Club and was served at the Region Five Denver Cluster Event on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

Honey Mustard Chicken with Roasted Potatoes

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
salt and pepper
6 tablespoons Dijon mustard
9 tablespoons honey
3 minced shallots
1 ½ tsp dried thyme
2 pounds red potatoes, cut in half
Olive oil and cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Place in 2 13x9 glass baking pans lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Combine mustard, honey, shallot and thyme in a small bowl, whisk to form a paste. Spread over the chicken thighs, covering them completely.
Add potatoes to the pan and spritz with cooking spray (use olive oil spray). Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper.
Bake uncovered for 50 minutes, turning the potatoes once about halfway through.

San Juan Pocket Day of Service

The San Juan Pocket's Day of Service was celebrated at a luncheon at member Victoria's home. Chairman Lisa Scott supplied a bounty of stickers and colored pens for decorating their bookplates. Lisa also updated the members on the Arrowmont task force on which she serves. The photo will appear in their local newspaper on March 11.

San Juan Pocket 10th Anniversary Celebration

Members of the San Juan Pocket decorated bookplates for children's books as part of National Day of Service and their 10th anniversary celebration. Here they hold a memento listing their pocket's community service and other accomplishments over the past decade. Seated is Lisa Gamel Scott, Colorado Alpha, who has been president of the group since its founding March 20, 2000. Standing from left are Mary Buckley Bailly, Colorado Beta; Carole Munroe Howard, Oregon Beta; Lynn Devaul Constan, Pennsylvania Beta and Marilyn Kelso Chipps, Missouri Alpha. In honor of their anniversary, the ladies are purchasing a wireless mike for Lifelong Learning Lectures and other educational programs at the Pagosa Springs Library.

Seattle Alumnae Club Literacy Walk

This year the Seattle Alumnae Club held its 5th annual literacy walk in Green Lake Park. Over 120 Pi Phis from two collegiate chapters and two alumnae clubs came to spread awareness, donate books, decorate bookplates, and just have fun. In the five years this event has been held, they have collected over 700 books and $1,300 for a total donation count of nearly 1,000 books. By partnering with the local organization Page Ahead, they are able to provide these books to children in Seattle and the surrounding areas. The day is enjoyed by all and has become something to look forward to for alumnae and collegians alike - a time to bring everyone together and do something to help their community all while enjoying a little exercise and some great company.

Key Lime Pie

Alumnae Region Five Membership Specialist Ashlee Christofferson made a Key Lime pie using the recipe found on page 119 in "Angel Sweets & Arrow Treats," the Pi Beta Phi dessert cookbook. It was an extremely easy recipe and was very tasty.


Key Lime Pie
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup Key West lime juice
1 (9-inch) pie shell, baked
Garnish with whipped cream or topping (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Blend milk, egg yolks and lime juice until smooth. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with whipped cream.

San Juan Pocket Christmas Luncheon

When members of the San Juan Pocket gathered on December 7 for a Christmas luncheon and angel gift exchange in Pagosa Springs, CO, they did not forget the needy. Here they pose with some of the canned goods they donated to their local Operation Helping Hand food drive (left to right) Carole Munroe Howard, Oregon Beta; Maribeth Garnett Hill, Oklahoma Beta; Marcia Farley Thomas, Colorado Alpha; Donna Krueger Gregory, Colorado Gamma; Mary Buckley Bailly, Colorado Beta; Lisa Gamel Scott, Colorado Alpha and Marilyn Kelso Chipps, Missouri Alpha.

Portland Trail Blazers Speed Read

The Portland Trail Blazers are donating $750 to First Book® on behalf of the Portland Alumnae Club and Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club!
On February 9, 2010, Jerome Kersey, a former Trail Blazer, faced off against an alumnae member from each club and two Oregon Gamma collegians in an exciting Speed Read™ just before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Missy Gerber, co-president of the Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club, wore her Cat in the Hat outfit and led the cheerleading effort.
Club members Ashley O’Hollaren, Melissa Murray and Laura Garratt skillfully planned the event. International officers Heather Butler Skogen, Collegiate Regional Director-Region Seven; Maja Tanaka Berge, Alumnae Regional Director-Region Five; and Mari Lou Psihogios Diamond, Fraternity Housing Corporation member were in attendance.
Several members of the Oregon Gamma (Willamette University, Salem, Oregon) and Oregon Alpha (University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon) chapters drove up to Portland for the event.

Jerome Kersey participating in the Speed Read.

Pi Phi Ladies post Speed Read

Cowlitz-Chinook Pocket Dinner and Cookie Shine

The Cowlitz-Chinook Pocket hosted a dinner and Cookie Shine on November 5. They covered the table with a light blue sheet, had some Pi Phi decorations and then spread a delicious array of cookies and candies across the table. They each signed the cloth with blue glitter pens and hope to continue adding memories to this "table cloth" at future Cookie Shines. Those in attendance were: Theresa Beisse, Carol Bern, Jackie Evenson, Jill Johanson, Marion Metke, Mary Pease, and Wendy Sweet.

Alumnae Leadership Summits 2010

Plan on attending the Region 5 summit in Seattle, Washington on June 5, 2010. It is confirmed that Grand President Mary Tatum will be joining us!