Sigma Sigma Sigma
South Florida Alumnae Chapter Newsletter
Vol. 5, No. 1
Spring/Summer '01
Web Site: https://sigma3sofla.tripod.com/

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Starting the New Triennium

Convention 2001

Kim Groome (President), Chris Quackenbush (Treasurer) and Jessica Zelman attended Convention 2001 held at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida north of Tampa. What a time to remember. I am very proud to say that our Chapter won its first award, Membership Recruitment Program for 2000-2001. I hope that this will be the start of a good trend. We also made the Chapter Honor Roll for the second year in a row.

Chris, Kim & Jessica
display the Membership Recruitment Award

The Charter and Bylaws were amended with some controversial issues. These amendments will be discussed at the August or September meeting. We met a lot of Sigmas and reacquainted ourselves with Sigmas from College, the Internet and other Conventions. The banquets were memorable, especially the Laurels Banquet when our award was announced. It was a very nice surprise. The following are highlights of Convention.

At Convention, it was announced that National Dues will be increasing to a flat rate of $35 a year per person. Individuals will not be required to pay the $1.00 Convention fee any longer. Instead, individual Alumnae Chapters will be paying $25 a year for Convention fees and $20 a year for Insurance.

The Festival of Lights Banquet is always so beautiful. Each Chapter name is called out while the room is dark. As each individual Chapter is called, the perspective members light a single candle. When the last Chapter is called, the whole room is full of light. It is very inspirational.

Kim & Chris at the Festival of Lights Banquet

A new Executive Council was elected at Convention and inducted at the Festival of Lights Banquet. They are listed below:

President:
Mary K. Barbee, Iota

Treasurer:
Marcia Cutter, Beta Gamma

Alumnae Vice President:
Penny (Browning) Robertson, Alpha Alpha

Collegiate Vice President:
Reatha (Cole) Cox, Alpha Zeta

Membership Development Vice President:
Joyce (Newcom) O'Daniel, Alpha Chi

Publications Vice President:
Jan (Stroker) Horner, Beta Xi

National Panhellenic Conference Delegate:
Laura (Ward) Sweet, Alpha Sigma

We have an exciting schedule planned for this Fall. If you have yet to make a meeting, please try and attend at least one this Fall. We always have the most wonderful time together. Just take a look at our activities from the Spring and make your own judgement.

Make sure to mark your calendars for some fantastic meetings planned this Fall!

January 20^th - Lunch at Monty Trainer's

A group of us and met for lunch, despite the rains, at Monty Trainer's located in Coconut Grove overlooking Biscayne Bay. Future meetings were discussed.

February 10^th - Reading to the Children at the Broward Partnership for the Homeless Center

We met at the Center at 10:30am for the Family Hour Project with books in hand to donate. Not many children were available for story time so we played Candyland instead with the children that were there. Afterwards we had lunch at TGI Fridays in Oak Square Mall and discussed upcoming meetings as well as this summer's Convention in Tampa.

March 10^th - Lunch at Titanic Brewery and Restaurant

We welcomed new member Rosemary Alfaro from Epsilon Tau Chapter to this meeting. We had a wonderful atmosphere and a delicious meal. We filled out National Award forms for everything we thought we qualified for and nominated Catherine Padgett for the Woman of Distinction award. We also planned for Founder's Day that was held at Sherry's home (see April 21^st). Afterwards, we walked next door to the Greek Shop and stocked up on Sigma paraphernalia.

Catherine, Sherry, Rosemary, Chris, Kim

April 21^st - Founder's Day

Sherry Tarrio graciously opened her home to us as we celebrated Founder's Day. A consignment box was ordered from Sigmaration and we all bought Sigma T-shirts and other Sigma things. We discussed who would attend Convention this summer as well as planned for the Fall meetings. Everyone participated in the wonderful ceremony and Sherry played Stately and Royal on the piano while Catherine's voice led the rest of us with the tune.

Front: Linda and Catherine
Back: Kim, Sherry, Aida, Chris, Jessica

Fall meeting dates

The following are dates set for Fall 2001. Please mark them on your calendars. These dates are also posted on the Chapter's web site; https://sigma3sofla.tripod.com/dates.htm.

All dates, locations and times are confirmed unless otherwise noted. Please make an effort to attend. If anyone would like to catch a ride with another Alumnae member, please contact Kim and it will be arranged.

September 8^th - BID Day for Zeta Epsilon - FIU - at University Park Campus - 11am

This has become an annual activity for our first meeting of the Fall. Relive the excitement of BID day with the FIU Chapter as they welcome their newest members. Show your support to this wonderful Chapter at one of their most celebrated times. Contact Kim for more information.

From Miami International Airport: Take 836 (Dolphin Expressway) West to the Turnpike Extension. Take the SW 8^th Street (Tamiami Trail) east to SW 107 Avenue. Turn right and use the second entrance into the campus. Follow the parking signs to the Graham Center Building.

From Ft. Lauderdale: Take the Florida Turnpike to SW 8^th Street (Tamiami Trail) east exit. Take the SW 8^th Street (Tamiami Trail) east to SW 107 Avenue. Turn right and use the second entrance into the campus. Follow the parking signs to the Graham Center Building.

For FIU map go here. We will meet at the Fountain which is between the following buildings - PC, GC, GL, DM which can be found on the FIU Map key.

October 6^th - Second Annual Alumnae/Collegiate Picnic Time: Noon

We have invited the Chapters of Eta Eta (Lynn University) and Zeta Epsilon (FIU) to join us for the Second Annual Alumnae/Collegiate Picnic at T.Y. Park in Broward County. Bring your favorite picnic food and your frisbee. Drinks will be supplied. Last time we met at the lake so we are going to try and get the same place this time. Make sure you look for the signs that say Sigma Sigma Sigma.

For Broward & Dade Counties: Take I-95 to Sheridan Street exit. Go west. At North Park Road turn right. The park's entrance will be on the right side.

November 3^rd - Pottery Project - Color Me Mine - Coconut Grove - Time: 11am

Color Me Mine is located in the heart of Coconut Grove, 3411 Main Highway, 305-447-0809. It is a place where you can create your own artwork on the pottery piece of your choice. You can paint a plate, mug, bowl or create a mural. Color Me Mine glaze and fire the pottery. They have pieces as inexpensive as four dollars. Glazing fees are between one and three dollars per piece, and the studio fee is a flat rate of $9.50 per sitting for adults. They advertise that almost everything in the store is under thirty-five dollars. This is the same company that was shown on "Friends" during the first season of the show. For more information, check out their website at: http://www.colormemine.com.

The directions below are to Cocowalk in Coconut Grove. Since the Grove is always so busy and confusing and parking there can be difficult, I thought that these directions would be the easiest way to get to Color Me Mine. We can have lunch somewhere in Cocowalk when we finish making our pottery. Once you park, go out onto the street and find the intersection where McFarlane, Grand and Main Highway meet. Color Me Mine is in the strip mall on the other side of the street (bay side) on Main Highway.

Directions to Cocowalk from Broward:
Take I-95 South until it becomes US1. Stay on US1 to the SW 27^th Avenue intersection. Take SW 27^th Ave. South (left) until you reach S. Bayshore Drive (approximately 5 minutes). At the intersection of SW 27^th Ave. and S. Bayshore Dr. turn right to the center of Coconut Grove. Turn left on Grand Ave. The Cocowalk Parking Garage entrance will be on your right.

Directions to Cocowalk from Dade:
Take US1 to the SW 27^th Avenue intersection and turn right on 27^th Avenue. At the intersection of SW 27^th Avenue and S. Bayshore Drive turn right to the center of Coconut Grove. Turn left on Grand Ave. The Cocowalk Parking Garage entrance will be on your right.

December 1st - Fourth Annual Holiday Brunch - 11am

Come celebrate the holidays with us. This meeting is one of the most fun meetings that we hold. Every one brings a brunch dish, items for the Collegiate's goody bags and an item off of the hospital wish list to send to Dallas and NC. This year, Catherine Padgett has volunteered to be the hostess. Please email Kim for Catherine's address, phone and directions to her house.

FIU Fall Rush

The following dates are for the Zeta Epsilon Chapter Rush at FIU. Please try to attend at least one of these parties. The girls really need our support. Although our September meeting is their BID day, please try to make at least one more party. All of the parties are held on the FIU Campus off SW 107 Avenue and SW 8th Street (Tamiami Trail) in the Graham Center which is off of SW 107 Avenue. (For Directions see September meeting above. FIU Map. For more information contact Kim.

If you do plan to attend try and make it to the Open House and I hear their Pref Night is gorgeous!!!!

Thursday, August 30^th - Open House
Tuesday, September 4^th - 1^st rotation
Wednesday, September 5^th - 2^nd rotation
Thursday, September 6^th - 3^rd rotation
Friday, September 7^th - Pref Night
Saturday, September 8^th - BID Day

Please Note: At the time of printing this newsletter, the times and locations of the Rush parties were not available.