President’s Letter: Something For Everyone!

Dear Sisters,

I find it hard to believe that a year has past since I attended the International Convention in Orlando and I began my term as president. I think there are true advantages at having a 2-year president’s term, and I look forward to my second year with as much enthusiasm as the first!
2006•2007 was a great year. Many thanks to Linda, Anita, Ashley, Carey, Lisa, and all who contributed by serving on the Board. We hosted several all-chapter events and many satellite group events. My favorite was the Founders’ Day Luncheon at the River Oaks Country Club. It was fun to see so many familiar faces, to hear Amy Boe Brown speak, and to honor the Founders with a ceremony.

One thing that I am particularly proud of is that we increased our membership numbers significantly. In 2004•2005, we had 57 dues-paying members, and in 2006•2007, we had 70! I want to thank all the sisters who contributed this year; we could not continue without you. Dues help our chapter operate and pay for things such as this newsletter, our webpage, and donations to Texas collegiate chapters. Many of our dues-payers for this year are new to Houston and many have returned to the roster after years of inactivity. We welcome each and every one of you back into Alpha Phi Alumnae life! The dues form and survey that we adopted last year was very helpful to the Board and gave us great information about our membership. Our members are a variety of ages, but we need to make a real push to recruit members in their late 20s and 30s. Dues-paying members from that age group are the chapter’s future and will provide the leadership that will help the chapter grow in the coming years. Our members have occupations in diverse fields ranging from fashion, public relations, and marketing to law, teaching, and medicine. We also have a good number of retired sisters and stay-at-home moms. We all have busy schedules and it’s often difficult to balance home, work, and other interests, but I hope that you will take time to spend with your sisters.

The Board recognizes the diversity of membership. We want the Alpha Phi Alumnae Chapter of Houston to have something for everyone. In addition to the main chapter events sprinkled throughout the year, we have placed an emphasis on smaller groups. Linda Ray has managed the Lunch Bunch and Supper Club for many years and both are great opportunities for Alpha Phis to get together for a meal and fun company. The Ivy Circle has really taken off in the past year. Although International envisions the group for more recent graduates making the transition to alumnae life in the first ten years after college, our group has an extended age range, including women who graduated this year and those from the mid-nineties. We welcome everyone! Ivy Circle is another excellent chance to get together every month to visit and relax after work. Group leader Maggie Wessel has some great ideas for the next year, and I hope that you will join us! Finally, the chapter is developing a new group, the Bordeaux Babes, for those women who want to meet during the day. Lunch meetings will be in West Houston and Lyn Flynt has taken the initiative of hosting the first one. This group should be a great way to bring women who like to meet during the day back to the chapter.

I think that our Board is doing all that we can to try and make the Houston Alumnae group a success, but we can’t do it without you. We need our sisters to support this chapter with their attendance at events and by paying dues. The more alums who are involved in the chapter, the more we can accomplish and the more fun we can have together. I look forward to seeing you and kick-off our year at one of the September satellite events or the Founder’s Day Phi-esta on Saturday, October 20.

AOE,
Sally Anne

Our chapter is composed of women that range in age from recent college graduates to 50+ year members. Although many members graduated from Texas colleges, some of our most active alums attended universities from across the nation. Each year, we hold a variety of events throughout the year and also sponsor satellite groups such as the Lunch Bunch, Supper Club, and Ivy Circle.

If you are new to the Houston area or are simply new to the Alumnae Chapter, we look forward to meeting you at our next event! Click here to contact our executive board and to request more
information.

MAY
Thursday, 5/1, 10:30am
Annual Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Luncheon benefiting the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Foundation Scholarship Awards, Junior League Tea Room -- 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, $50. Contact Virginia Wood, 713-572-0139, to purchase tickets.

Wednesday, 5/7, 11:45am
Lunch Bunch: Denis Seafood – Katy Freeway at Bunker Hill

Friday, 5/9, 7:00pm
Supper Club: Call Linda Ray 713-331-1770 for more info

Saturday, 5/10, 11:00am
Garden Party Luncheon
Bring your daughters, mothers, and sisters and celebrate in the garden at Shelley Canada’s beautiful home – 14 Shadow Lane. $20 per person. RSVP to Linda Ray 713-331-1770