A∆K

Welcome to the Family Colorado Adds New Chapter

Alpha Tau Colorado-Pueblo is the latest chapter to receive a charter. It officially became Colorado’s seventeenth chapter on October 16, 2021. Thirteen sisters became charter members. Jennifer Martinez and Theresa O’Brien share the office of president. Sisters from throughout the state attended the chartering in person and on Zoom.

Congratulating the new chapter, International President Mollie Acosta said, “Colorado Alpha Tau has been a dream for quite some time. Congratulations to Dana Winegardner, Immediate Past Colorado State President, and Jennifer Martinez, of CO Alpha Tau, who laid the groundwork for that dream to become a reality and to all who have paved the way for Colorado’s newest chapter.”

Attending the hybrid celebration in person were: International President-Elect Ann Marie Brown, International Vice President for Membership Betty Jo Evers, International Executive Board Member Mary Ann Gerdes, and Immediate Past International Vice President for the Southwest Region Kitty Nutting. Colorado state officers present for the ceremony were State President Karen Johnson, President-Elect Joy Shaw, Vice President for Membership Phyllis Robinette and Treasurer Sondra Browser. Guests attending virtually included International Executive Board Chairman Bev Card, International President Mollie Acosta, International Vice President for the Southwest Region Diane Best, Past International President Susan Pelchat and Past International Executive Board Member Marie Hurst.

Jean Hinck, Southwest Region Membership Chairman, sponsored the chapter, overseeing the application. Official chapter mentors are Tina Cervantes Dewar and Phyllis Robinette of CO Eta, Dana Winegardner, CO Alpha Iota (who will transfer to the new chapter on October 16) and Jeanne Callahan and Lois ConatareHoupe, who will transfer to the new chapter from CO Tau.

FL Alpha Sigma

To celebrate sixty years of dedication to the mission of A∆K, FL Alpha Sigma and D.R. Brokaw, a chapter charter member, donated a bench to the Florida Scholarship House at Florida State University. Alpha Sigma had 12 members when the chapter was chartered on March 21, 1961. It now has 36 members. Co-presidents Karen Lakin and Mary Carpenter, Scholarship House Committee Chair Cheryl Jackson and Trish Parsons, a local artist, delivered the bench to A∆K Scholarship House Manager Elicia Alston. Members of AL Beta Lambda (l-r) Sheikla Blount, Edwina Aaron, Shirley Mulhorn and Sherry Sublett welcome new member Olivia Snyder, the recipient of the chapter’s annual Lamp of Learning Scholarship for the Butterfly Garden Project maintained by her special needs students. The chapter awards the scholarship to a first year teacher who has need for funding for a special project.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Halfway through the biennium, the Arizona State Executive Board was finally together for their group photo. One member was unable to attend in person but joined the meeting on Zoom. This is what a hybrid meeting looks like.

Front row: Robin Leebardt, President of the Council of Chapter Presidents; Barbara Sundust, Sergeant-At-Arms; Patricia Trias, Corresponding Secretary (on Zoom); Betty Ehret, Immediate Past President. Back row: Mary Henderson, Historian; Helen Valiere, Recording Secretary; Kristi Koziol, President-Elect; Nancy Martinez, State President; Chris Sanzo, Treasurer; Betty Smith, Chaplain

CA Alpha Lambda

England’s Queen Elizabeth and the members of CA Alpha Lambda chapter share an interest. They both enjoy playing bocce ball, also known as Italian lawn bowling. The chapter invited all members of CA Peninsula/South Bay Council to join them in their first try at the world’s oldest lawn game earlier this year. The event also offered a zoom tribute to International President Mollie Acosta. Each member was able to personally congratulate her fellow Californian on Mollie’s installation.

“A wonderful time was had by all, especially as we were able to ‘share the love’ with Mollie on a memorable and glorious afternoon,” said chapter member Anita Brown.