We have a new website!

We are pleased to announce that we have a new website with a much shorter address!

Please change your bookmarks to www.kcaoii.com!

This blog will remain for awhile, but it will not be updated. All of the posts have been imported into our new site, so you can still find the same information.

Please email us at kcaopi@gmail.com with any questions!

Jingle Bell Run

Join the AOII team in the annual Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis! It's a festive way to kick off your holidays, and you'll be helping the 660,000 people in Western Missouri/KC areas who live with arthritis. Participants are encouraged to wear holiday themed attire or costumes and tie jingle bells to your shoelaces! 5k and 10k routes are available. The registration fee is $25 until the day of the race; the day of the race, registration is $30. All participants receive a long-sleeve shirt. Visit the AOII Team page to sign up for the team or make a donation.

Founders' Day 2009

You are invited to celebrate Founders' Day and 90 years of sisterhood with the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. The event will be held on Saturday, December 5, at the Blue Hills Country Club located at 777 Burning Tree Drive, Kansas City, MO 64145. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 am. There will be a short Founders' Day presentation, along with awards for Outstanding Collegiate (voted on by Delta Pi members), Outstanding Alumna, and 25, 50, and 75 year members. RSVP's are required due to the nature of this event. The cost is $17 per person. Lunch choices are lasagna florentine (veggie) or pasta pomodoro (meat). Please email us for details on how to make payment.

Extreme Yard Rakeover Philanthropy Rescheduled

The Extreme Yard Rakeover Philanthropy project has been rescheduled at the request of the homeowner we were paired with. Apparently, the leaves on her trees have not started falling yet, so there wouldn't be much for us to do! The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2009. We hope to begin around 1 pm. Our projects will include raking leaves and other yardwork. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jenny at applebugg@gmail.com as soon as possible. There is some paperwork you will need to sign in order to participate. Hope to see you on November 21!

Happy Hour at The Sandbar in Lawrence!

The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter covers a huge geographic area- from the northernmost areas of Kansas City (Missouri), to the Johnson County suburbs, to the eastern areas toward our nearest collegiate chapter in Warrensburg. You may not realize that areas outside of the Greater Kansas City area are also technically part of our chapter. Since the Topeka/Lawrence alumnae chapter closed several years ago, there is not another alumnae chapter in Kansas. We welcome our sisters from those areas into our membership as well, and in fact a few of our officers live in Lawrence. We try very hard to schedule events in areas that are most convenient for our members, but with such a wide geographic area it can be difficult. For those of you who live in Lawrence or Topeka, you might be happy to learn we have an upcoming event that is much closer to you! Join your sisters on Friday night, October 23, at The Sandbar in Lawrence for a happy hour social! The Sandbar is located at 17 E. 8th Street in beautiful Downtown Lawrence, near the corner of 8th and New Hampshire streets. We will meet at 6 p.m., but if you can't be there that early feel free to come later. The Sandbar is very tiny, however, and it fills up fast- so try to get there as early as possible. Drink specials on Friday nights are $3 wells and $2 dirty banana shots- The Sandbar's most popular shot that tastes like a chocolate-y banana shake. There is no cover charge until 8 pm, and we will have some snacks upstairs for you to enjoy. You don't have to RSVP, but it would be appreciated so we know who to look for! Hope you can join us!

Champagne & Chocolate Social

Join your Alpha Omicron Pi sisters for a fun evening of champagne, chocolate, and sisterhood! Our Champagne & Chocolate Social will be held on Wednesday, October 14 at Michele Park's home. We will be collecting items for a Finals Survival Kit for the collegiate members at Delta Pi (University of Central Missouri), and we'll also play a fraternity education game. Please bring an item or two for the Finals Survival Kit- such as popcorn, hot chocolate, candy, granola bars, or other snacks. We will compile all the items into one big gift basket for our collegiate sisters, to be delivered to them before finals this fall. RSVP by October 9 if you plan to attend this social.

Pictures from our Houlihan's Happy Hour!

The KC Alumnae group kicked off the year with a luncheon meeting on September 14, followed by a Happy Hour social on September 16 at Houlihan's in Olathe. Here are a few pictures of some of the ladies in attendance at Houlihan's: Next events:

• Luncheon on Monday, October 12, from 12-2 pm. Location: Kingswood, 10000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Cost for lunch is $8.50.
• Champagne & Chocolate Social on Wednesday, October 14, from 6:30-8 pm.

Extreme Yard Rakeover Philanthropy

The members of the Greater KC Alpha Omicron Pi Alumnae are planning to participate in an event called Extreme Yard Rakeover in November. Jewish Family Services and Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City Central are partnering to provide free yard clean-up services for older adults who can no longer do it on their own, and cannot afford to hire someone to do it for them. Our group will be matched to a home to clean up a yard(s), rake leaves and bundle debris in preparation for winter. Our group is planning to participate on Saturday, November 7th in the morning, with a back-up date scheduled for Saturday, November 21st, if the weather doesn't cooperate on our first choice. If you are interested in participating, please send us an email by Wed., Sept. 30th . We need to have a head count by next week so that we can get volunteer paperwork to you and then turned in by mid-Oct. Spouses are welcome! Let us know if you have any questions! (Click on "view my profile" on the right side of this page, and then click the "email me" link to send us an email.)

Happy Hour at Houlihans!

Join your AOII sisters in Kansas City tomorrow night! The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter will be hosting a happy hour social at Houlihan's on Wednesday, September 16, at 7 p.m. Houlihan's is located at 16411 W 119th St, Olathe, KS. Enjoy great food, drinks, and sisterhood! Meet new friends and reminisce with others. Please send us an email to RSVP, if you haven't already. Also, we have a new incentive for members to pay dues early this year! If you pay your $35 dues by or at the first meeting, you'll be entered into a drawing to win free flowers next spring during our annual flower sale! Bring a check along to the social tomorrow night, or you can pay by Paypal this year. For more information about this option, please send us an email. (To send an email, click on "View My Profile" over on the upper right area of the page. Then on the next page, there is a link to "Email Me.")

A New Year, New Events!

The fall edition of the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter's newsletter should be hitting your mailbox any day now, and it's jam-packed with information you won't want to miss. If you don't receive one and would like to, send us an email and let us know how you want to receive it- by email or by mail. There are over 800 AOII's in the greater Kansas City area and it's expensive to print and mail so many newsletters, so we are making an effort this year to convert as many people as possible to email. However, if you want to continue receiving a paper newsletter we will certainly be happy to send you one! New Fall Fundraiser We are initiating a new fall fundraiser to help us fund scholarships, Founder's Day, and other events this year. Since our plant sale is so popular every spring, we are selling mums from Greeson's Greenhouse (the same spring flower supplier).

• Orders are due THIS FRIDAY, September 11.
• Plants will be available for pickup in Olathe on Monday, September 28.
• All mums are in 2 gallon pots and cost $8 each.
• Available colors: orange/bronze, lavender, red, white, and yellow.
• If you didn't get a paper or email newsletter and want to order mums, send us an email right away and we'll get details to you.

Day Group Meeting The first day group meeting of the year will be next Monday, September 14, at The Forum. The group will meet from 12-2 pm and enjoy lunch. The cost for lunch is $9.50. Please RSVP to Cherie at 913-648-4980 if you will be attending the meeting. Happy Hour Social The first evening event will be held on Wednesday, September 16, at the Houlihan's restaurant located at 16411 W 119th Street in Olathe. We'll meet at 7 p.m. for snacks, drinks, and conversation. This was one of our most popular events last year, don't miss it! Send us an email to RSVP to the social. T.A.K.E. Self Defense Class Looking further ahead in the month, plan to attend the self defense workshop put on by T.A.K.E.- The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation. The event is located at Kauffman Stadium from 10 am to noon. Send us an email to RSVP to this event, so we can let the organizers know how many to expect. We can also arrange carpools and rides for those who are interested. We hope to see you at one of our events this month!

KC Alumnae Executive Board Meeting

The Greater KC AOII Alumnae Chapter officers will be meeting on Friday evening, July 24th to discuss the upcoming year. If you are interested in becoming involved as an officer or would just like to get more information on how you can get involved in planning or helping with upcoming events or activities, please join us! Who: Anyone interested in helping with the activities for the upcoming school year What: Board meeting and dinner When: Friday, July 24th at 6:30 pm Where: Granite City in Olathe (corner of 119th and Blackbob, just east of I-35) Please let us know by Wednesday, July 22nd if you will be joining us so that we can have an accurate count for the restaurant! RSVP to kcaopi{at}gmail{dot}com. Thanks!

Year End Wrap-Up

The Alpha Omicron Pi Greater Kansas City Alumnae had a great year this year! We enjoyed meeting lots of new members and getting back in touch with sisters. Here are a few pictures from our last events of the year. Several ladies met at Paint Glaze and Fire Ceramics and Coffeehouse in Overland Park for an evening of creativity. We picked out ceramic pieces and decorated them while enjoying some snacks and great conversation. Jenny even provided a picture of her finished piece- a Thanksgiving turkey platter. On May 16, we had a great turnout for the annual Kansas City Arthritis Walk. Thanks to Lori for coming out at 6:30 am on a cold morning to help set up for the event. Thanks also to Gina and Holly for volunteering to do face painting. A happy parent was overheard saying "I hear that the face painters are good this year!" The AOII team raised over $1000 in donations this year. Congratulations, ladies!

Delta Pi Chapter Needs Robes

The Delta Pi collegiate chapter at the University of Central Missouri is in desperate need of new robes for ritual. Many of the robes currently being used are the same ones that were originally purchased for the chapter when it began 40 years ago. An effort is underway to buy at least five new robes each year to replace those now worn-out. If you would like to make a donation or help in any way, please send us an email and we will provide more details. You can also send a donation to the Alumnae Chapter and note that it is for UCM robes, and we will make sure the donation is forwarded to the chapter.

Join us at Paint Glaze & Fire Ceramics!

Need to get out of the house for awhile and do something crafty? Join your AOII sisters at the local Paint Glaze & Fire Ceramics and Coffee House to paint a piece of pottery, next Wednesday, May 6! The store is located at 12683 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. We will meet from 6:30-8 pm. The group rate is $6, plus the price of the pottery piece you choose. If your birthday happens to be in May, visit their website to print a coupon that will save you the group rate and allow you to receive a free painting session. Please send us an email to RSVP so that we can let the store know how many of us to expect.

Arthritis Walk 2009

Once again, the Kansas City alumnae of Alpha Omicron Pi are participating in the Kansas City Arthritis Walk. This year's Walk will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m. It will be located at the Brookside Trolley Trail, 52nd and Brookside Boulevard, in Kansas City, MO. Our Vice President of Programs, Jenny, is not only leading our team this year, but she is also serving on the Arthritis Walk committee. Join thousands of people this spring in the Arthritis Walk to raise awareness and funds for arthritis, one of the nation's leading causes of disability. Arthritis research and education is the international philanthropy of Alpha Omicron Pi, and we are proud to team up with the Arthritis Foundation for the Arthritis Walk. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit the fundraising page to make a secure online donation. Be sure to select Arthritis Walk from the drop down menu and include the Walk location, team name, and AOII walker to ensure your contribution is credited properly. If you prefer to mail a check, please email us and we will provide a mailing address. Join the movement by committing to walk with us at the 2009 Arthritis Walk. Visit the AOII team page to join our team. Remember, every little bit helps!

Mary Johnson: AOII Woman of the Year

The board of the Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of AOII has nominated Mary Johnson as the chapter's Woman of the Year for the Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Greater Kansas City. The final award recipient will be announced at the Woman of the Year & Scholarship Brunch on Saturday, April 25. The brunch will be held from 9 am to noon and takes place at the Leawood South Country Club. Our thanks go to Mary for her many years of dedicated service and membership to not only AOII, but to many organizations in the Kansas City area. Congratulations on this wonderful honor!

Spike for Arthritis! Mud Volleyball Tournament

The women of Delta Pi at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg would like to invite area AOII alumnae to their first annual Spike for Arthritis Mud Volleyball Tournament. We will be spectators watching a lot of messy fun! The tournament will be held Saturday, April 25, beginning at 11 a.m. Spend a nice day in Warrensburg watching one big mess that YOU will not have to clean up! It's a great opportunity to meet some of our collegiate sisters and relive life on a college campus for a few hours. If you have questions or would like to attend, please contact Jenny at applebugg{at}gmail{dot}com.

Sunday Girls Luncheon

Join your fellow AOII sisters for a girls-only luncheon! We will meet at the Olive Garden restaurant on 95th Street, east of Metcalf Avenue, across from Metcalf South Mall, at 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 19. Please send us an email to RSVP so that we know how many to expect. See you there!

Delta Pi Chapter Alumnae Installation

The ladies of Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO, would like to invite all AOII alumnae to their Alumnae Installation Ceremony on Monday, April 20th, at 6 pm. If you have any questions or would like to attend, please contact Jenny, our VP of Programs and a Delta Pi advisor, at applebugg{at}gmail{dot}com. This is a great opportunity to join your sisters for a ritual ceremony and meet some of our collegiate sisters!

Share The Adventure! Attend AOII's 2009 Convention!

Join your AOII sisters at the 2009 International Convention in Tampa, Florida. This year's theme is "Share the Adventure!" Share a week of inspirational speakers, celebration, fraternity business, and special Convention traditions with over 600 sisters. The Convention will be held at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, from June 24-28, 2009. Events will include rituals, educational tracks, awards, business sessions, a candle lighting service, the Rose Banquet, Red and White Day, and the Past International Presidents' Skit. For more information:

• Register for the Convention
• Schedule of Events
• Information about Tampa

Convention is for everyone! You don't have to be an officer or a collegiate member to attend. Gather up a group of your sisters and have a girls' getaway to Florida! Registration is open through May 1, 2009.

Ritual, Senior Kit Assembly, and Game Night

Join us on Tuesday, April 7, for a fun evening of sisterhood activities. We will meet at Jenny's new home at 7 p.m. for our annual ritual and to assemble Senior Welcome Kits for the graduating seniors of Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri. If we have some time left over we'll break out some board games. Please bring snack items to donate for the senior kits. If you would like to join us, please send us an email to RSVP and we will provide directions to Jenny's home.

AOII Name the Nail Polish Contest

AOII and Be! Products have partnered to create two nail polish collections exclusively for AOII. The best part is that members get to name the colors! Cute and clever is the name of the game. Submit your best AOII-inspired polish name to AOIIOnline@alphaomicronpi.org. Winning submissions will receive one AOII signature collection FREE! All entries must be received by Wednesday, April 15. Visit the AOII website to see the colors and enter your ideas.

It's Time for our Annual Plant Sale!

Our annual spring flower and plant sale has been an incredibly popular event through the years. This year we will again order plants from Greeson's Greenhouse, located in Lone Jack, MO. Partial proceeds from the sale benefit the Arthritis Research Foundation, as well as scholarship funds, other philanthropic events, and chapter operations. Last year, we added tomato plants to the plant options for the first time, and it was a huge success. The plants produced mass amounts of tomatoes during a summer when many people barely got any tomatoes from plants purchased elsewhere. Orders are due April 10. Plants will be available for pick-up between April 30-May 2 at the home of Michele, our VP for Fundraising. This year we have a variety of plants available: French Marigolds, 10-12 inch size

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Gold
• Orange
• Yellow

Super Elfin Impatiens

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Coral
• Pink
• Red
• Violet
• White
• Orange
• Mix

Prelude Begonias, green leaf

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Rose
• Scarlet
• White
• Mix

Harmony Begonias, bronze leaf

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Pink
• Scarlet
• White
• Mix

Vinca/Periwinkle

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Lavender
• Pink
• Red
• Rose
• White
• Mix

Rose Moss/Portulaca

• $10 per 1/2 flat or $18 per flat (6 jumbo packs)
• Vivid Color Mix

Wave Petunias

• 3 1/2 inch pot
• $3 per pot or $40 per flat (18 pots)
• Dark purple
• Light purple
• Pink
• Purple
• Rose

Geraniums

• 5 inch pot
• $4 per pot or $25 per flat (8 pots)
• Red
• Pink
• Salmon
• Purple
• White

Super Producing Tomato Plants

• 2 gallon pots with 24 inch bamboo stakes
• $8 per plant

10-inch Hanging Baskets

• $17 each
• Zonal Geranium
• Super Elfin Impatien
• Supertunia Petunias
• Combination of annual plants/flowers

Buy More Incentive!

• If you order $125 or more, receive a free terra cotta planter of geraniums or super elfin impatiens!

If you are interested in ordering plants, please send us an email and we will get an order form to you right away. Checks should be made payable to AOII. Greesons Greenhouse reserves the right to make substitutions as needed.

You're Invited to the Annual Panhellenic Brunch

It's almost time for the annual Panhellenic Women of the Year and Scholarship Brunch...

The Alumnae Panhellenic Association of Greater Kansas City cordially invites you to the Women of the Year & Scholarship Brunch “Sisters in Service” Saturday, April 25th, 2009 9:00 am—12:00 pm Leawood South Country Club 12700 Overbrook Road Leawood, KS 66209 A silent auction will be held with proceeds going to the Panhellenic Scholarship Fund Program Please R.S.V.P. by April 10th, 2009 to Nancy Neal 12009 Fairway Road Leawood, KS 66209 913-663-5075

If you are interested in representing Alpha Omicron Pi at this event, please let us know right away. The ticket cost is $20, but the AOII alumnae chapter will pay for half of the ticket cost for alumnae who would like to attend. Please send us an email if you would like to go, and we will provide further instructions to you.

Colonization at Washington University

This is sort of old news, the press release was sent out in November, 2008, but better late than never, right? For quite awhile now, Delta Pi (University of Central Missouri) has been the only AOII chapter in Missouri. They will soon be joined by a new colony at Washington University in St. Louis. Here are the details from the press release: Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity will soon be the seventh NPC group to join the Panhellenic community at Washington University in St. Louis. Colonization is slated for Spring 2009. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Washington University is a mid-sized private institution, which enrolls 6,220 undergraduate students, 50% which are female. Washington University offers baccalaureate degrees in over 90 individual programs as well as a number of professional degree programs and these programs have consistently been highly ranked by US News and World Report. For more information regarding the university, please visit the University’s website at www.wustl.edu. Enrollment at Washington University as well as interest in sororities has been steadily increasing over the past few years and the Panhellenic Council voted to open for extension in April 2008. Formal presentations were made in October resulting in their invitation for AOII to join the Panhellenic community. The current NPC groups on campus include: Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi. The fraternity and sorority community also includes 11 NIC groups and students in each of the nine NPHC city-wide organizations in St. Louis. Alpha Omicron Pi will work with the Washington University Panhellenic Council to build a detailed colonization timeline including an extensive public relations plan. Representatives of the Fraternity will travel to St. Louis on December 1, 2008 to meet with members of the Panhellenic community and Greek Life Staff. In the coming months, AOII will train local area alumnae as advisers and hire a resident consultant who will move to St. Louis and work with the colony full time. The sororities rent suites from the University and are located in the Women’s Building. A comparable suite will be available to Alpha Omicron Pi, and renovations will be coordinated with the Greek Life Office. More information regarding the colonization process is forthcoming. AOII was founded in 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women’s fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the fraternity and community. This is exciting news for AOII!

Are You In School?

The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter sponsors scholarships at both the University of Kansas and the University of Central Missouri. The scholarship funds at both schools are open to junior, senior, or graduate level women. The women do not have to be members of AOII or any other sorority. At KU, the scholarship requirements include that the applicant have demonstrated financial need according to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The applicant must have completed the FAFSA by the date of the scholarship application so that our committee can accurately review the application. Applications for KU students are available on the financial aid office's website. For UCM students, the application is available in the financial aid & scholarships office. The FAFSA is not a requirement for UCM students. All applications are due April 1.

Comedy FUNdraiser Night!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! What: Comedy FUNdraiser Night Starring: Comedian L.A. Hardy When: Thursday, March 19 Where: Famous Johnny's Comedy Club (Overland Park) Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $10 Benefits: The philanthropic efforts of the K.C. Alum Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) L.A. Hardy has opened for well-known comedians such as: Chris Rock, Damon Wayans, Richard Lewis, Robert Schimmel, Dave Attel, Kathleen Madigan, Tony Rock and George Wallace. He's been seen on MTV, VH1, ABC's "According to Jim" and as the referee on "The Glutton Bowl." He's done stand-up on BET's "ComicView" and appeared in indie films such as "China Dolls," "Footsteps," "The Good Fight," "The Last Angry Black Man" and "Universal Remote" with Charlie Murphy. You also have seen him in national commercials for Blimpie, the NFL, Sears, Sylvan Learning Center, Capital One Credit Card and Febreze. If you haven't been to Famous Johnny's, it's an intimate place to watch comedy and get up-close-and-personal with the comic. (Or, if you prefer, sit toward the back and remain anonymous!) The club is located in Overland Park at I-435 and Metcalf behind Hooter's. More on the club: www.famousjohnnys.com More on the comedian: www.lahardy.com Want tickets? Send us an email and we will mail your tickets or meet you at the door with them! (Cash or checks payable to K.C. AOII)

Pictures from Our Steamboat Arabia Tour

We had a great time last week visiting the Steamboat Arabia Museum. Here are some pictures from the day: Check back soon for details about our next event!

Dues are Due!

The annual membership report for our alumnae chapter is due to Headquarters April 1st, and we need your help! If you have not paid membership dues for the current year, please do so right away. Annual dues are $35. Of this amount, $24 is paid to our International organization and $11 remains in the chapter for operating expenses. Please send us an email for information as to where to send your dues check, or refer to the most recent copy of our newsletter. If you do not receive our newsletter or e-mail updates, please let us know and we will add you to the list.

Tour Steamboat Arabia with AOII, March 7

We were planning to have a sisterhood activity tomorrow, but due to a lack of RSVP's (the fact that I didn't get the information online probably didn't help any), we are going to reschedule. Join your fellow Alpha Omicron Pi sisters on Saturday, March 7, for a tour of the local treasure, Steamboat Arabia in the Rivermarket. Tours begin every 30 minutes, so we will try to gather outside the entrance shortly before 10:30 a.m. Steamboat Arabia is located at 400 Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. The tickets cost $12.50 for adults, $11.50 for seniors who are 60 years of age or older, and $4.75 for kids between 4-12. Children 3 and under are free. Feel free to bring your kids, husbands, or friends! We will pick a restaurant for lunch afterwards. Even if you can't join us for the tour, come for lunch, or vice-versa. The phone number for the museum is (816) 471-1856 if you have any questions. Please RSVP to kcaopi{at}gmail{dot}com if you plan to attend. Hope to see you there!

Bridging the Gap

Last Monday several members of the KC alumnae chapter met at the home of member Melanie for a "green" presentation by a representative of Bridging the Gap. We learned about "Five Green Things" that we can all do:

1. Give up bottled water.
2. Wash your laundry in cold water.
3. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
4. Set the thermostat at 68 in the winter, 78 in the summer.
5. Cut your gasoline use by one quarter.

You can learn more about these things here. Bridging the Gap even has a cool green button you can click on and sign up to track your progress! Once you sign up, they will give you ideas for how to make the changes, and provide additional actions when you're ready. According to Bridging the Gap's website, making these small changes can help reduce your household's emissions by 4000 pounds, or 15%!

Welcome, 2009!

Well it's been awhile since we've had an update here, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy planning new events for the new year! Our next meeting will be this coming Monday, February 9, at 7 p.m. The location hasn't quite been determined yet- originally our Vice President of Programs, Jenny, was going to host the meeting, but she and her husband just bought a new house! They are in the process of closing and moving, so we aren't able to meet at her home. A representative from Bridging the Gap will be presenting information to us about becoming more "green." This is what their website says about the organization:

When BTG began in 1991 as a small group of concerned citizens, no one thought a volunteer-based movement could last. Today, BTG has evolved to include individuals, businesses, and government on both sides of the state line. Working with approximately 2,600 volunteers each year, we take action to make our world, region and community green, healthy and sustainable.

Bring your questions about how to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and join us for an evening of sisterhood! Please send an email if you are interested in attending, and we'll send details of the meeting location. You can find our email address by going to the upper right side of this page and clicking on "view my complete profile." Mark your calendars for our next event, a tour of the Steamboat Arabia in the Rivermarket, on Saturday, February 21!

Another Successful Founder's Day

The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter hosted our annual Founder's Day Celebration last Saturday. We tried out a new facility this year, the Prairie Village Community Building, and I think everyone agreed that it was a great place. There were about 18-20 ladies at our potluck luncheon, including a couple of collegiate members from Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri. Jenny did a great job planning the event. There were pictures from a variety of our past activities to enjoy, and we heard the Founders' Day messages from the AOII Executive Board and the Foundation Board. A jar was put out to help collect donations for the Ruby Fund and we raised $62! We also held a collection for non-perishable food items, which will be donated to a local food pantry. Thanks to everyone who joined us on Saturday, and for those of you who were unable to be there, we hope to see you at a future event! Check your most recent newsletter for updates on our upcoming events. If you aren't receiving the newsletter year-round and would like to, please send us an email. Once the pictures from Saturday are available, we'll post some here.

Founder's Day

The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter invites all members in the area to join us for Founder's Day! Saturday, December 13, 2008 11 a.m. Prairie Village Community Center 7700 Mission Road Prairie Village, KS Please bring a dish to share as we enjoy brunch together, present awards for Outstanding Delta Pi Collegian and honor our 25, 50, 70, and 75 year members. We will also collect cash donations for the Ruby Fund as well as canned goods for a local food pantry. Please email us to RSVP and let us know what dish you will share. We look forward to seeing you!

Pictures from the Roasterie Tour

Several AOII sisters enjoyed a fun morning tour at Kansas City's Roasterie coffee plant. Here are some pictures of the group: Don't forget our next event, Game Night, coming up next week!

Game Night

Join us in November for alumnae events! Monday, November 10 Meet fellow sisters for lunch at The Forum in Overland Park. The Forum is located at 3501 W. 95th Street. The group will gather from noon-2 p.m. The cost of the luncheon is $9.50. For more information, please contact Cherie Smith at 913*642*6073. Tuesday, November 18 Come out for Game Night! We'll play board games and assemble finals survival kits for the collegians at Delta Pi chapter. Please bring some type of snack to include in the kits, such as microwave popcorn, granola bars, cocoa mix, candies, or snack mix. We'll box everything up to ship to the chapter. R.S.V.P for game night by sending an email to Jenny at applebugg{at}gmail{dot}com.

Join us on Facebook!

The Greater Kansas City Alumnae Group has another new way for you to keep in touch with us and stay updated on our events and activities. We recently created a Facebook group dedicated to our alumnae in the Kansas City area! You can find the group here. If you don't already have a Facebook account, it's really easy to sign up. There are several other Alpha Omicron Pi groups you can join, including the official group managed by Alpha Omicron Pi, groups dedicated to specific collegiate chapters, and more. Many alumnae in the Kansas City area were initiated into Phi chapter. A Phi group was created this past week by another alumna member, and if you are a Phi alumna you can find that group here. Many other collegiate chapters also have groups available. We'll try to be diligent about cross-posting items on the blog, Facebook, and inCircle, as well as sending our regular email updates so we can try to reach as many women as possible. This blog has already been a great referral tool for new alumnae moving to the area along with women who have already been in Kansas City. If you have any suggestions or questions, let us know!

Tour KC's The Roasterie Coffee Plant with AOII

Join your Alpha Omicron Pi sisters on Saturday, October 18, for a free tour of Kansas City's very own coffee plant, The Roasterie! We will meet at 11 a.m. at The Roasterie, located at 1204 W. 27th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. If you need directions, go here to find directions from nearly every location. After the tour, we'll choose somewhere nearby to have lunch and conversation. A few years ago, our group took a tour of the Boulevard Brewing Company, and it was a big hit. We thought it would be fun to visit another local company to see how things run behind the scenes. If you are interested in joining us for the tour, please RSVP to Jenny at applebugg {at} gmail {dot} com. We need to give a number to the Roasterie so they know what to expect, and it's also nice for us to know who to look for! Spouses, friends, and (well-behaved) children are welcome to tag along. Hope to see you there!

A Successful Fall Kickoff Event!

Our "Girls Night Out" dinner event at Old Chicago last month was a huge success!

The "regulars" among us were thrilled with the number of newcomers who joined us for dinner. It was a diverse group of ladies from various chapters around the country, most of whom were new to the Kansas City area. We are all very excited about such a successful beginning to the new year of events, and all of us who are active in the alumnae chapter hope even more new members will join the fun! If you are not currently receiving our email updates or the printed newsletter, and would like to be added to the list, please send us an email with your information. Check back here in the next few days for an update on our next event!

Girls' Night Out at Old Chicago!

This week on Friday, September 19, the Kansas City area alumnae will host a Girls' Night Out and Fall Kickoff at Old Chicago in Olathe, located at I-35 and 119th Street. We welcome any and all alumnae in the area to join us. We'll be meeting at the restaurant at 7 p.m. for dinner, drinks, and conversation. Since we'll need to contact the restaurant on Friday to make a reservation, we'll need to have a somewhat accurate count of how many ladies will be joining us. If you haven't already, please send an RSVP email to Jenny at applebugg{at}gmail{dot}com. Please try to RSVP so we make sure to have enough space for everyone, but if you just show up we'll still be happy to see you!  

When you get there, just let the hostess know you are with the AOII group. Or, wear your letters and look for others with the same!

Don't Miss the AOII Beach Party!

The AOII Foundation Beach Party is almost over! If you haven't heard, the Foundation has been running a Beach Party campaign this summer, complete with a limited-edition pair of AOII flip-flops. Click on this link to see the presentation (music involved, so adjust your speakers accordingly!). At the end of the show, you will have the opportunity to make a $35 tax-deductible donation to the Foundation, and on top of that you will receive an adorable pair of AOII flip flops! But hurry up, the party is almost over!

Welcome to a New Year and New Members!

The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter has been on a break over the summer, but now that summer is rapidly coming to a close, we are busy getting ready for our best year ever! Our fall newsletter should be arriving in your mailboxes soon. If you aren't on our mailing list, or if you aren't sure if you are, send us an email and we'll be sure to add you. We mail four beautiful, full-color newsletters printed by Illustratus each year. Over the summer we've received more emails from potential new members than ever before! We are very excited to start this new year. Here are a few basic facts about our chapter:

• Chapter dues are $35/year. Of this amount, $25 is sent to AOII International. The other $10 remains in the local chapter and is used for chapter operating expenses such as our directory, supplies, and postage.
• Recent graduates are entitled to their first year FREE! Let us know if you are a recent graduate and would like to join our chapter.
• The Kansas City chapter has a "day group" and an "evening group." Many ladies meet for lunch and social time once a month on a Monday, alternating between a couple of locations. The evening group often has activities on weekday evenings. You are welcome to pick and choose your events or go to all of them!
• We try to hold a Founder's Day celebration on the first Saturday of December every year.

The day group will have its first luncheon on Monday, September 8, from noon-2 p.m. It will be held at The Forum, located at 3501 W. 95th Street in Overland Park. The luncheon cost is $9.50. For more details, please contact Cherie Smith, our day meeting coordinator, at 913-642-6073. The evening group will kick off the new year with a Girls' Night Out dinner on Friday, September 19, at the Old Chicago restaurant located at I-35 and 119th Street in Olathe. Meet us at the restaurant at 7 p.m. Please send an email RSVP to Jenny at applebugg {at} gmail {dot} com. Please email us with any questions and we look forward to meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones this year!

Become Life Loyal to AOII

"I am Life Loyal" More than 1500 of your AOII sisters have said those four proud words. Join them today and share that bond of knowing that you are a part of some of AOII's most loyal and caring members. You can join by going to www.lifeloyalaoii.org. You can pay the one-time cost of $299, or you may pay $29 per month over twelve months. Benefits of Life Loyal membership include:

• Beautiful Life Loyal pin to wear with pride
• Personalized membership card
• Lifetime subscription of To Dragma
• Recognition of Life Loyal status in To Dragma
• Automatic fulfillment of the AOII International Operating Fees portion of council dues
• Exclusive Emporium discounts
• Membership in Working Advantage for discounts on entertainment and family events nationwide

Plus, you get to choose one of three beautiful gifts: a silver beveled jewelry box, a silver business card holder, or a silver mirror compact! Information from a recent mailer from Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity.

Walking for Arthritis Research

Our VP of Programs, Jenny, organized a team to walk in the recent Kansas City Arthritis Foundation Walk, to raise money for Arthritis Research.

It was a beautiful day for a walk, and several Alpha Omicron Pi alumnae showed up to walk with Jenny. The KC Alumnae Chapter donated $50 to the team.

Here are some pictures Jenny sent:

Comedy Night Fundraiser

The KC Alumnae Chapter had a new fundraiser this year, and it was FUN! Jenny and Gina worked with Famous Johnny's Comedy Club in Overland Park to set up this fundraiser. The club gave us a bunch of tickets to sell for $10 each, and the chapter was allowed to keep $9 of every ticket sold! We didn't sell as many tickets as we'd hoped, but we had a fun group of 16 people at the club on Friday, May 2. A young local comic warmed the crowd up for the main act, Ken Rogerson. This was a great fundraising idea, because it required no money up front; very little work on our part; and we had great entertainment. We highly recommend Famous Johnny's as a fun night out for a group of friends and we hope to do something like this again sometime!

Founders Day Recap

Our Founder's Day celebration that was originally scheduled for December had to be cancelled due to icy weather. It was rescheduled for February 23, and we had a wonderful time.

Around 20 collegiate members from Delta Pi chapter made the drive into the city to attend, and 10-15 alumnae members also attended our potluck luncheon. One of our new members this year, Lori, graciously volunteered the clubhouse at her condo complex and it was a perfect location.

Jenny, our VP of Programs, did an excellent job of planning Founder's Day. She even found time to put together four fabulous prize baskets, each with their own theme, to be raffled as a fundraiser for the Ruby Fund. We gave each collegiate member one free raffle ticket, and additional tickets were available for $1 each.

We raised $89 for the Ruby Fund, which also includes two donations mailed separately from other member.

Below are some pictures from our celebration.

Girl's Day Out and Ritual

Join your fellow Kansas City alumnae for a girl's day out this Saturday! We will enjoy a luncheon at the home of our Vice President for Programs, Jenny, at 1 p.m. We will also conduct our yearly ritual ceremony at this gathering. One of our traditions each year is to assemble goodie bags for the graduating seniors at the nearest collegiate chapter, Delta Pi, located at the University of Central Missouri. The chapter provides us with the names of all graduating seniors. The kits include snacks, along with AOII goodies like pencils and notepads, as well as information about joining the alumnae chapter. New graduates should remember that their first year of alumnae chapter membership is free! AOII International does not charge any international dues (which total $25 this year and next) for the first year of alumnae membership. If you'd like to join us on Saturday for lunch and ritual, please send us an email so we know who to expect! Please also bring some type of snack item to include in the goodie bags, like popcorn, candy, or gum (approximately 10-15 items).

Kansas City Arthritis Walk

The 2008 Kansas City Arthritis Foundation Walk will take place on Saturday, May 17, at 9 a.m. Jenny, our Vice President of Programs, is leading an AOII Alumnae team in the walk, and currently the team is in 5th place overall, with $675 raised. The team fundraising goal is $1000. Currently the team has five members signed up to walk. Are you interested in helping? You can sign up to walk by going here. Click on "Join Our Team" and follow the instructions. Or, you can donate to the cause. Use this link and get credit for your donation through the AOII Foundation. If you prefer to mail a paper check, you can do that too. Make checks payable to AOII Foundation and send them to: Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation, Attn Arthritis Walk P.O. Box 395 Brentwood, TN 37024 Please be sure to indicate the following on every donation: --AOII name - Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter --Team name - KC Alpha Omicron Pi Alumnae --Walk location - Kansas City, MO 100% of your donations will be tax deductible, attributed to your local Walk, and the chapter will receive the credit!

Volunteer with Us

Every spring, our alumnae chapter chooses a philanthrophic project that we can do as a group, often one that includes our families and friends. This year, we will serve as clothes closet volunteers at True Light Family Resource Center, located at 712 E 31st St in Kansas City, MO. We will volunteer from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 29. You are welcome to bring husbands, significant others, friends, or even children who are capable of folding, sorting, and hanging clothes. Usually after we work on a project like this we also find a good restaurant nearby to eat and socialize in afterwards. Please email us if you are interested in joining us!

Order Spring Plants Now!

The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter's annual spring flower sale fundraiser is underway! Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit a variety of things including the Arthritis Research Foundation, the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation, scholarships, local philanthropic endeavors, and alumnae chapter operations. An order form was available in the spring newsletter that recently mailed. If you didn't receive the newsletter but would like to order plants, please email us as soon as possible and we will get an order form to you! Flowers and plants available include:

• Marigolds
• Impatiens
• Begonias
• Vinca/periwinkle
• Rose moss/portaluca
• Petunias
• Geraniums
• Tomato plants
• And a variety of hanging baskets

Plants will be available for pickup at the home of Michele Park in Olathe on May 2. The plants are grown at Greeson Greenhouses in Lone Jack, Missouri. We have had lots of compliments on the hardiness and growth of these flowers. Make sure to get your order in as well as orders from your friends and family!

Planning Ahead for Spring

We'll hopefully have an update soon about our Founder's Day celebration last month, but in the meantime, here are some of our upcoming events for this spring. First of all, our popular annual flower sale fundraiser is now underway! Partial proceeds from the sale benefit the Arthritis Research Foundation, as well as other philanthropic endeavors such as scholarships. Our plants are grown at Greeson Greenhouses in Lone Jack, MO. Flower sale order forms were provided in our most recent newsletter. If you are not on our year-round mailing list and would like to be, please let us know! If you would like to receive an order form- either to place your own order or to sell to family and friends- please send us an email.

• Monday March 10: The daytime group will meet for lunch at Kingswood Manor at noon. Please email us for more information or to RSVP.
• Saturday, March 29: Our annual spring philanthropic event will be at True Light Family Resource Center in Kansas City, MO. We'll be volunteering from 10 a.m. to noon and will assist with sorting and organizing clothes. Friends and family who are capable of folding, sorting, and hanging clothes are welcome to join us.
• Saturday, April 19: We'll have a girls' luncheon and our annual ritual at 1 p.m. We will also be assembling goodie bags for the graduating seniors at the Delta Pi chapter at UCM.
• Friday, May 2: Comedy Night FUNdraiser! We are selling tickets to Famous Johnny's Comedy Club in Overland Park. Tickets are just $10, and we get to keep a large portion of this for philanthropic donations and chapter operations.
• Monday, May 12: The daytime group will meet at noon for lunch at The Forum.
• Saturday, May 17: The Arthritis Walk, to raise funds for arthritis research. You can make a donation or join us to walk on the AOII team.
• Friday, May 23: Playdate at Deanna Rose Farmstead, 9 a.m. to noon.

More details will follow soon about all of these events, but we wanted to make sure you got them on your calendar!

Becoming a Money Diva

At our most recent evening meeting, we welcomed an investment expert from Morgan Stanley. She tailored her wealth-management presentation to topics of interest to women. Here are a few pictures from the evening. Thank you to Kristen for hosting our meeting!





Our rescheduled Founder's Day celebration was held last Saturday. Approximately 30 women were in attendance, including local alumnae as well as a large group of collegiate women from Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri. Pictures and highlights of the event will be posted soon!

February Events and Rescheduled Founder's Day

Happy Winter! After taking a break in January so everyone can recover from the holidays, the Kansas City alumnae are back in full swing with a variety of events in February!

1. Monday, February 11: Our day group will meet at The Forum, located at 3501 W 95th Street in Prairie Village. Any interested alumnae are welcome to join this group for lunch and fellowship from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Forum's phone number is 913-648-4980. For more information, please send us an email.
2. Monday, February 11: "Becoming A Money Diva!" A wealth management seminar tailored to women will be presented by an expert from Morgan Stanley. The meeting will be held at the home of Kristen McBride and will begin promptly at 7 pm. Snacks will be provided. Please send us an email to RSVP and we will provide directions to Kristen's home.
3. Friday, February 15: Bring the kids for a Children's Playdate at Wonderscope. Meet member Michele Park and her kids at 10 a.m. Admission cost is $3 to $6 per person. Please send us an email to RSVP so that Michele knows who to look for at the museum.
4. Friday, February 22: Join us to "Crop 'Til You Drop" and work on your scrapbooks! You can work on your own album or help with the alumnae scrapbook. Plenty of tablespace and tools will be available courtesy of Michele Park, a Creative Memories consultant and alumnae chapter vice president. Even if you don't scrapbook, come on over for the fun! We need help identifying women in some older photographs. Please send us an email to RSVP and we'll provide you with directions to Michele's home.

And finally, we have rescheduled our iced-out Founder's Day celebration!

Join us on Saturday, February 23 at the Clubhouse at Lakeview Condos and Townhomes, located at 13700 W 58th Terrace in Shawnee. Our luncheon will begin at 12 p.m. and conclude by 2 p.m. Please bring a dish to share. More details about the celebration will follow.

Please send an email if you would like more information about any of these events or to let us know that you will attend!

Be Included in the Next Newsletter!

Our next newsletter will be mailed in March, and we're looking for information to include! Please email us any news or other important information you would like to share, including things like:

• new babies
• engagements
• weddings
• graduations
• new jobs
• pictures
• philanthropy events
• anything that you think would be of interest to your fellow Alpha Omicron Pi sisters!

The deadline for the next issue is this Friday, February 1.

The Kansas City alumnae publish four newsletters per year. Our August issue is mailed to the entire list of alumnae in the Greater Kansas City area (as provided by Alpha Omicron Pi International). However, due to printing and mailing costs, we send the remaining three issues to a smaller list of women who have either requested to receive all the newsletters, or who have had some type of contact with the chapter in the last five years.

If you are not receiving all four newsletters (or any) and would like to be included, please send us an email!

AOII Mastercard

Did you spend too much money during the recent holiday season? Next year, earn great gifts for yourself while you shop! Apply for the AOII Mastercard and you can earn great perks such as cash, travel, merchandise, and gift certificates. The card features a beautiful, four-color photograph of the Alpha Omicron Pi headquarters. For additional information about this program, contact AOII Headquarters at 615-370-0920 or send an email to marketing{at}alphaomicronpi.org.

AOII Foundation Survey

The Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation recently sent out an email requesting members to participate in a survey to assist the Foundation Board with strategic planning for 2008-2010. You can participate in the survey by going here. If you have already participated in the survey via telephone, there is no need to do the survey on the web. The data will be compiled and presented to the board at the January 19, 2008, meeting. The survey closes on January 8.

Happy Holidays!

The Alpha Omicron Pi alumnae of the greater Kansas City area wish you a safe, happy, and fun holiday season! Check back here after the New Year for more information about our spring events, including a rescheduled Founder's Day.

Gift Ideas: Brick Walkway

Honor a special sister with a permanent marker at Alpha Omicron Pi International Headquarters! You can purchase an engraved brick to recognize a sister, honor your collegiate or alumnae chapter, or even for yourself. The brick walkway connects the front and rear parking areas on the south side of the Headquarters building, curving under the shade of tall oak trees. In the center of the walkway lies the Founders' Circle, which honors the four founders of AOII. The centennial time capsule, buried in 1997, lies in the center of the Founders' Circle. Click here to download an order form, or for more information you may contact Headquarters at 615-370-0920.

Gift Ideas: Rewards Magazine Program

Are you still looking for great holiday gift ideas? Any Alpha Omicron Pi member or friend can take advantage of this special opportunity to save up to 85% off newstand prices by ordering or renewing magazines through the REWARDS Magazine program. With over 650 titles to choose from, there is a magazine to appeal to any sister, so reward yourself with subscription today. How can you start buying?

1. Visit aoii.efundraising.com.
2. Type in the name of the alumnae/collegiate chapter you represent and click "Find."
3. Select the name of your chapter.
4. Click "Buy a Magazine" and start purchasing!

Magazines may only be ordered in the United States. Efforts are being made to make this opportunity available in Canada.

Founder's Day Cancelled

Thanks to the winter weather that has hit the area, we have had to cancel our Founder's Day celebration scheduled for today. Our alumnae chapter covers such a large geographic area- one could easily drive an hour and half or more from one member's home to another's- and it seems that iciness has descended upon all of our area. Parts of the interstate highways in the area are shut down and there are numerous accidents being reported on the news already this morning. We will reschedule the event for a later date. Big thanks to Jenny for all the hard work she has done on Founder's Day!

Gift Wrap Fundraiser

The Kansas City alumnae are trying out a new fundraiser this year! We will be volunteering to wrap holiday gifts at Barnes and Noble, located at Town Center Plaza in Leawood. The bookstore will provide a table and signs for us, and they will notify customers of the opportunity to have their purchases gift-wrapped. We're hoping that our gift-wrapping skills will bring us lots of donations from the customers! At this time, we have enough volunteers to fill our shifts. But, you can still help out by shopping a Barnes and Noble while we're there:

• Wednesday, December 12, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

You can finish your holiday shopping at Barnes and Noble, AND help out Alpha Omicron Pi at the same time! All donations received will be used for various philanthrophic projects at the local and national levels, as well as chapter operations. If you are interested in volunteering for this fundraiser in the future, please let us know. If it turns out to be successful and we have interested volunteers, we will definitely do it again!

Founder's Day- Mark Your Calendar

The Greater Kansas City Alpha Omicron Pi Alumnae will celebrate Founder's Day on Saturday, December 8, 2007. The event will be a potluck luncheon held in the Gallery Room of the Heartland Community Church, located at 8300 Lamar Avenue in Overland Park. The luncheon will begin at 11:00 a.m. If you would like to attend, please send us an email to RSVP. Please also let us know what dish you will bring to share. We will honor our 50 year members at the luncheon, as well as award one alumna member as Outstanding Alumnae Member. We will also have a raffle and door prizes to help raise money for philanthropic activities. And, we will be collecting nonperishable food items to donate to a local food pantry. We hope to see you there!

Game Night

Kansas City area alumnae gathered last Monday at the home of Melania Harris for food, conversation, and trivia.

We played the 90's edition of Trivial Pursuit and quickly decided that most of us were either not very good at trivia, or didn't remember much of the 90's.

Members also brought a variety of snacks- cocoa packets, granola bars, cookies, and candy- to pack up and send to the Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri during finals week.

It was a fun evening and we are looking forward to more game nights in the future!

National Philanthropy Day

National Philanthropy Day® is the special day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy - and those people active in the philanthropic community - have made to our lives, our communities and our world. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of this special day. Help the AOII Foundation celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 15. We encourage you to take this opportunity to either donate or get involved with your favorite charity.

Jingle Bell Run

Be a part of the 2007 Jingle Bell Run and help raise money for the Arthritis Foundation! There are three runs in the Kansas City area:

• November 18- Kansas City North
• December 8- Lee's Summit
• December 9- Overland Park

Individual and team prizes will be awarded for the best time, best costume, and most funds raised. Holiday costumes and jingle bells are encouraged! Run or walk a 5K route with your friends and help raise money for the nation's number one cause of disability. Click here for more information about how you can participate in these events. Don't forget- there are two area alumnae events tomorrow, November 12. Join us for a daytime luncheon or an evening game night, or both! Scroll down a couple posts for more details, or send us an email.

Girls' Night Out in Lawrence

A small but lively group of alumnae met at The Sandbar in Lawrence on Friday, November 2. It turned out to be a great night for us to be there since it was Homecoming Weekend at the University of Kansas; though many of our alumnae members had conflicts with this weekend that prevented them from being able to attend.



One of the highlights of the evening was the Bar Band, a small group of members of the Marching Jayhawks who travel around to several local bars on the nights before home football games. The Bar Band came in around 11 p.m. and entertained the crowd with the KU Fight Song, alma mater, and some other peppy tunes.

We hope to plan more girls' night out events at various locations around our (very large) geographic area, so if you have an idea for fun night out, please let us know!

November Events

Join the Alpha Omicron Pi alumnae this month! We have two social events scheduled:

• Monday, November 12th - Our Day Group meeting will be at The Forum this month. It is located at 3501 W. 95th St., Prairie Village, KS. The group meets for lunch and fellowship from 12 to 2 p.m. The Forum's phone number is 913-648-4980. For more information, please contact Cherie Smith at 913-642-6073.
• Monday, November 12th - Join us at 7 p.m. at the home of Melania Harris for a night of games and fun. Please bring a few treats (cookies, candy, popcorn, etc.) for the University of Central Missouri Finals Survival Kits. We may even break a few of the snacks open to enjoy while we visit and play games. Please email us to RSVP for the event and we will provide you with directions to Melania's home.

Phi Chapter House

Many of you who read this blog are probably alumnae of Phi (the University of Kansas). This email was sent out this week to Phi alumnae with information regarding the property at K.U.

November 1, 2007

Dear Sisters,

As an alumna of the Phi Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi, we want to keep you informed of news involving your Chapter. Since closing the Phi Chapter at the University of Kansas over ten years ago, Alpha Omicron Pi has remained in close communication with the university regarding recruitment numbers and the existence of the Phi Chapter house on campus. Because of the state of the house in comparison to other houses on campus, the Fraternity has always known that additional housing facilities would have to be arranged at the time of a recolonization of the Phi Chapter.

During this time, AOII leased the chapter house to the local chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity with the option to purchase the property at a later date. AOII has recently sold the chapter house at the University of Kansas as part of a settlement which concludes several years of litigation with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The litigation addressed the circumstances of that lease, as well as the rights of the parties under the option agreement.

Ultimately, the decision was made to sell the property as one means of resolving the litigation. The sale of the chapter house has brought a conclusion to this litigation that was unanimously acceptable to the AOII Executive Board.

Although AOII is committed to recolonizing the Phi Chapter at the University of Kansas, current recruitment numbers are not conducive with extension opportunities at this time. At the moment when the extension opportunity presents itself, we will make every effort to reinstall Phi’s tradition on campus and address proper housing developments that will ensure the chapter is competitive with other sororities on campus.

Fraternally,

Susan Danko

President, Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity

Jane Tessmer

President, Alpha Omicron Pi Properties, Inc

Girls' Night Out

Join your AOII sisters for a girls' night out on the town this Friday, November 2! Most of our activities take place int he Greater Kansas City area, but this event will be held in Lawrence. We know there are many alumnae in Lawrence, and since the Topeka/Lawrence alumnae chapter closed last year, we're making an effort to reach out to women in the area. We'll be enjoying tropical drinks, a large saltwater fish tank, and the best jukebox in town at The Sandbar, located at 17 E. 8th Street in beautiful downtown Lawrence. Most of us will be there by around 8 p.m. Our chapter president, Becki, has graciously offered her home in Lawrence as a meeting point prior to heading to the bar. If you are interested in meeting us at Becki's, please email us and we'll provide you with her address. Otherwise, we'll see you at The Sandbar this Friday night!

Crate and Barrel Shopping Event

We received this notice from the Alpha Delta Pi alumnae of Kansas City. It sounds like a fun and interesting event, and it benefits a great cause. Alpha Delta Pi is having their first annual event with Crate and Barrel, Sunday, November 4, 2007, 5-7PM, to raise money for the Ronald McDonald Charities, our national philanthropy. We want to invite you and your sorority sisters, your friends, relatives and neighbors to attend our event. Crate and Barrel will be serving wine, appetizers and dessert. They will be presenting table decorating for the Holidays. They will also be demonstrating some of their new appliances and gadgets for the Holiday shopping season. There will be a few items donated from Crate and Barrel for drawings that day. This is the first weekend that Crate and Barrel will be decorated for the Holidays! So, come out and see what's new for the Holiday Season at Crate and Barrel and help us raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

When you donate $20.00, Ronald McDonald House Charities will receive $10.00 and you will receive a $10.00 Crate and Barrel Shop card that never expires! Additionally, Crate and Barrel will donate 10% of the evening's sales to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. You can register online for this event by going here.

Making Mosaics

A group of alumnae women (and one young boy!) met at Mad About Mosaics last week to get crafty and socialize with sisters. The store is located at 6417 W. 119th Street in Overland Park, in a shopping center behind the Cheesecake Factory.

What a fun idea! At the store, you can select the piece you want to mosaic from thousands of options. There were small items like votive holders all the way up to huge pieces like furniture. Each item is priced to include all the supplies, like the mosaic tiles and grout, so you know up front how much it will cost to finish the project.

The women in our group chose things like Halloween decorations, crosses, platters, and picture frames. Then we got busy choosing our tiles- that was the hard part! The great thing about the store, though, is that they have plenty of examples hanging everywhere to inspire even the least-creative person. We glued tiles, snacked on candy, and chatted for a couple hours.

If you're looking for creative gift ideas or a fun afternoon activity, Mad About Mosaics is a great place to start.

Stonehaus Farms Winery

Our first event of the year was a great success!

Several "regulars" from the Kansas City alumnae chapter met up with some new alumnae friends at Stonehaus Farms Winery in Lee's Summit. We had a great time sitting on the back patio getting to know each other and sampling the great variety of wines at the winery. (We were underneath a shaded patio to avoid the hot sun...as a result the picture turned out with crazy shadows!)

If you've never been to the winery, it's a great day trip. The winery is located on beautiful grounds, with several buildings available for events, along with a gift shop, wine tasting, and wine to purchase and take home.

We have three social events planned for October and hope other alumnae women will be able to join us for one or all three!

Our First Social Event

Join your fellow Alpha Omicron Pi alumnae this Saturday, September 22, to kick off a brand new year of fun fellowship, philanthropy, and personal development. We will be gathering at the Stonehaus Farms Winery, located at 24607 NE Colburn Road in Lee's Summit, MO, at 2 p.m. Look for a group of women wearing red! Even if you've never met any of us or attended one of our meetings, come on out. And feel free to bring along any AOII friends! Please email us to RSVP as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing a lot of new faces on Saturday!

Delta Pi Chapter's Fall Recruitment

We have received the recruitment schedule for the Delta Pi chapter at the University of Central Missouri. Friday, September 7: Philanthrophy Day, Panhellenic Hall, 4-9 p.m. Saturday, September 8: Chapter Day, Panhellenic Hall, 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, September 9: Preference Day, Panhellenic Hall, 12:30-5 p.m. If you are an Alpha Omicron Pi alumna and would like to attend recruitment or help in any other way, please email us and we will get you in contact with the ladies of Delta Pi. Good luck to Delta Pi during this fall's recruitment!

Getting Ready for a New Year

It's August, and we all know what that means. Even if you aren't in school anymore, it's still back-to-school time. Maybe you have kids, or siblings, or friends who are still in school. Maybe you work at a school. Or maybe your life has nothing to do with school of any sort- but I bet you still get that urge to shop for new clothes, restock your home office supplies, and other activities associated with going back to school. August also means that it's almost time for the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter to start meeting again. Our first newsletter of the year will come out in the next few weeks. If you haven't ever received our newsletter, email us as soon as possible so we can get you added to the list. We mail four newsletters each year: the first newsletter of the season goes out to the entire area's mailing list provided by International. It's approximately 500 women. Because of the expense in mailing this, however, the remaining three newsletters are sent to a smaller list of of women. Our alumnae group gets together to go over the list, which includes any woman who has shown even a glimmer of interest in the group. Perhaps they paid dues a few years ago; maybe they came to one meeting last year; or maybe we only see them at Founder's Day. If you've received our fall newsletter in the past but then never received another, let us know if you'd like to be added to the year-round mailing list. We're happy to add you! Our Vice President of Programs, Jenny, has put together a fantastic lineup of activities this year with help from the board members. Instead of the typical Monday night meeting once a month, we have a variety of things going on at different times in an attempt to appeal to a wider group of women. We still have plenty of activities on Monday nights, but we've added mom-and-kids playdates, girls' night out on a Friday, a night of scrapbooking, and ballgames for the family. Our Monday evening get-togethers will include things from making mosaics to financial planning. And of course we still have the traditional Monday luncheons once a month. We've also been trying to reach out to new women in new ways by taking advantage of the technology world. We've searched inCircle for women in our area and personally emailed them. We've done the same thing on MySpace. And this blog has helped as well, we think. So what are you waiting for? If you've ever thought about becoming involved with the alumnae chapter, now is a great time. We'd love to add new faces and new ideas to our group!

Convention Photos

Our Vice President for Programming, Jenny, attended the Alpha Omicron Pi International Convention last month. She shared some photos from her time there. Here are some pictures of the gorgeous resort-like hotel where the Convention was held:





And here are some pictures of the women who attended. The first one is of Jenny and her roommates before the formal evening, and the other photo is of a large group of AOII's lined up on the stairs for a picture.




It was another successful Convention for Alpha Omicron Pi, and the Kansas City alumnae members are thrilled that we were able to send Jenny as our representative this year.