Spring Newsletter

AOII Indianapolis
Alumnae Chapter

Connections | Spring 2017

"Of all of the blessings we count over and
over, it seems to me none is greater than
the consciousness of belonging to a family

of thousands of sisters."
Stella George Stern Perry

Table of Contents

03 FOUNDERS' DAY MESSAGE
04 RUBY FUND MESSAGE
05 A PARTY WITH PURPOSE
06 INDIANAPOLIS ALUMNAE

PANHELLENIC
07 UPDATES
08 MEMBERSHIP DUES
09 PROGRAMMING
11 MEMBERSHIP FORM

Ruby Fund Message

Happy Founders’ Day! In celebration of our 120th year, let us be reminded of the four women who began our sisterhood
so many years ago. Stella referred to the other Founders, and herself, as "four regular college girls.” AOII and our
sisterhood still reflect and value the humbleness and modesty on which Stella, Bess, Jessie and Helen founded our
Fraternity.

Today, our undergraduate sisters may hold an elected office on campus, may be the only female in her chosen
academic discipline, or she may be a sister fighting the daily battle of living with a mental illness.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 25% of collegiate students have been treated or
diagnosed by a professional for a mental health condition within the past year. Chances are, you or someone you know
is battling this illness. It is comforting to know that as AOII sisters, we pride ourselves in celebrating our differences, being
authentic and supporting each other in our greatest time of need.

When we think of the Ruby Fund, we often think of helping a sister who has suffered a loss through a natural disaster, or
who is physically ill for a temporary period, or even one who has experienced domestic violence. What we may not have
considered is the sister whose difficulties are a part of who she is, a part of her inner make-up, so to speak.

Recently, a sister was awarded a Ruby Fund grant to help pay her living expenses after losing her job during her fourth
hospitalization for psychiatric care. This sister recently shared, "My hospitalization gave me the opportunity to take a step
out of the stress of daily life, allowing me to focus fully on my mental health. My recovery has been a long road after being
diagnosed bipolar in 2014. While hospitalizations can greatly benefit my recovery, you can only put your life on hold for
so long. The Ruby Fund allowed me to get back on my feet after four hospitalizations in one year. I am so grateful to have
such loving and supportive sisters.”

As you consider donating to the Ruby Fund this year, we ask that you remember the challenges that our sisters face
every day—the challenges that you cannot necessarily see. May we always vow to be “regular girls” who hold true to our
deep roots. Thank you for your support of our sisterhood and of AOII.

Fraternally,
The Ruby Fund Committee

Tracy Herand McCarty, Chairman, Upsilon Alpha
Debbie Welsh Koenig, Beta Lambda
Theresa Ngo-Anh Ludvigson, Chi Psi
Toni Flowers Morgan, Alpha Chi
Michelle Lopez, Foundation Board Liaison, Delta Theta

Founders' Day Message

Dear Sisters,

Happy Founders’ Day! In celebration of our 120th year, let us pause to salute the founding of our sisterhood and
especially the four young women who set us on a path of lifelong friendship. What began as four with Stella, Bess,
Jessie and Helen, now numbers a sisterhood of almost 190,000 initiated members.

Stella Perry charmingly wrote in 1936, “...in the ‘90s [1890s that is], we were just four regular college girls, very like
yourselves. I used to say that, if the clock could turn back and put us four on your campus as students, you’d know the
difference only by our clothes. Remembering our young days, with their many un-heroic phases, it amuses us and
makes us feel apologetic, too, to appear before you so often as on pedestals.”

While our founders may not have chosen the word “brave” to describe themselves individually, we know they were
brave and quite deserving of our praise. Opportunities for women in higher education, and in society, in the late 1890s
were limited at best. Our founders were four determined young women, with unwavering passion for the high ideals
they shared. They knew that they were seeking, “...a fraternity that should carry on the delightful fellowships and co-
operations of college days into the workaday years ahead and do so magnanimously, both in school and afterwards.”
They also understood that they, “... wanted a high and active special purpose to justify existence, a simple devotion to
some worthy end.” Rather than settle on membership elsewhere, we are the beneficiaries of their labor of love.

A few years earlier, in 1930, Bess Wyman shared her wish for our AOII sisterhood, “Let us be young together, savoring
the sweetness of comradeship and mutual endeavor. Let us grow old together, uplifted by the consciousness of
younger hands that will carry our banner on to greater heights of idealism and service.”

For our youngest new members to our oldest alumnae, we invite you to, once again, relive these moments of Alpha
Omicron Pi as reminisced by Stella Perry in 1936:

“Now, having determined to make this democratic, unostentatious, simple society, we climbed up a little winding stair
into the stackroom, a small upper chamber of the old Columbia Library, a beautiful Gothic building, now demolished.
This was a little tower room, rarely used, where Anglo-Saxon tomes and ancient vellum manuscripts were stored. We
sat in a deep seat built under a mullioned window of that quiet room, pigeons outside and snow lightly falling, and
there, with what emotion you can imagine, we pledged one another, at the very beginning of the year 1897. And you
were all there, though we did not know it!”

As we look to our bright future, may we always hold true to our deep roots. On behalf of the AOII Executive Board, we
send our warmest greetings to AOIIs young and old on this 120th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Omicron Pi!

Fraternally,
The Executive Board

Gayle Fitzpatrick, Alpha Rho, International President Grace Houston, Lambda Tau, Vice President
Susan Bonifeld, Nu Beta, Vice President of Finance Jessie Wang-Grimm, Phi Chi, Vice President
Crystal Combs, Nu Beta, Vice President Krista Whipple, Omega, Vice President
Amber Countis, Pi, Vice President Allison Allgier, Epsilon Omega,
Susan Danko, Phi Upsilon, Vice President Past International President

You're invited!

A

Partywith
Purpose

Help us ‘Strike Out Arthritis’ with our first annual ‘Party with Purpose’
cocktail and hors d'oeuvres evening.

Friday, April 21, 2017 from 6:30pm-9:30pm
McCormick and Schmick’s

110 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Your $40 ticket includes: 2 beer/wine tickets, hors d'oeuvres, ‘thank you’

favor & a donation to the Arthritis Foundation for Juvenile Arthritis
programming. A cash bar will be available as well as the option to dine

as a guest in the restaurant on a private ticket
A silent auction will also be held

Street, garage, and valet parking will be available
Pay via PayPal (link in email) or mail cash or check to Kate Robison

at 7522 Blue Willow Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46239

Once Every 52 Years!

When we think of the topic of rare occurrences, we don’t usually consider Greek events. However, assuming the role of
Chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference is indeed a rare and special event!

All 26 member groups of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) hold the various leadership roles on a schedule by
rotation. The rotation order is determined by the group’s date of entrance to NPC. The Executive Committee positions are two-
year terms. That means the opportunity to hold the Chairman’s role then comes around every 52 years! Alpha Omicron Pi will
assume the Chairman’s position in October, 2017 when Carole Jones (Alpha Delta) becomes NPC Chairman. More information
about the 2016 Annual NPC Meeting and this historic time for AOII can be found in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of TO DRAGMA.

Our local Panhellenic organization follows the same leadership rotation model. The Indianapolis Alumnae Panhellenic has 23
member organizations. The leadership roles are one-year terms based on the same rotation order as NPC. AOII’s turn in rotation

comes about every 20 or so years. In 2016, our delegate, Jennifer Grainger, entered the rotation order. She will serve as 3rd
Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, 1st Vice-President, and begin her year of leadership as President in the fall of 2019.

The Indianapolis Alumnae Panhellenic (IAP) holds several open events each year, in addition to the delegate meetings. The
November luncheon features a speaker on a topic of relevance to the member organizations. We also recognize the recipients

of the annual scholarships awarded by IAP to area young women attending Indiana colleges or universities.

Part of IAP’s mission is to support a local philanthropic endeavor, too. The holiday auction in December provides support for
local organizations on a rotating basis and Circle of Sisterhood, an organization founded by Ginny Carroll (Alpha Xi Delta) to

remove barriers to education for girls around the world.

The Tasters Luncheon is the spring event-fundraiser. IAP members prepare an array of salads, appetizers, breads, and desserts
for sampling. Attendees also receive a book containing the recipes for all the dishes prepared. The proceeds from the Tasters

Luncheon fund the annual scholarship program (details about the Tasters Luncheon can be found on the next page).

In the spring, IAP recognizes an outstanding Greek woman who will be graduating. This award winner is recognized for her
Greek leadership and participation. The winner receives a cash award and small gift.

Overall, IAP seeks to promote interfraternity friendship and cooperation. Those that have served as AOII delegates to IAP over
the years can attest to the warm friendships that have been formed through this extension of our Greek sisterhood.

Please join us soon at one of our events and help support the leadership of Jennifer Grainger as she represents Alpha Omicron
Pi and all of us in the Indianapolis Alumnae Panhellenic.

UPDATES & EVENTS

AOII INDY NUT FUNDRAISER INDIANAPOLIS ALUMNAE
PANHELLENIC TASTERS LUNCHEON
This year we raised over $1300 dollars through
our nut fundraiser! Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Seatings at 11:00 am and 12:30 pm
Congratulations to our top sellers!
Cost: $15.00
1. Karen Brewer with 238 bags!
2. Diana Ruschaupt Enjoy a delightful lunch of fabulous breads, appetizers,
3. Anne Wilmes salads and desserts while socializing with your AOII sisters
4. Mindy Cripe and friends. ALL are welcome! You will go home with a
5. Joan Shepperd
recipe book of all the food items tasted. Proceeds from
Also, we still have a few extras, if anyone would the luncheon fund scholarships for Panhellenic women.
like some, please contact Diana @
Reservations are needed by March 1. Please contact
[email protected] or (317) 439-3781 Jennifer Grainger (317-385-9916 or

[email protected]) to reserve your space today!

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION UPDATE

Lots of exciting things are happening with the Arthritis Foundation and our partnership.

With International President Gayle Fitzpatrick serving as the 2016 Jingle Bell Run Chair, AOII chapters and
members have more than DOUBLED our JBR fundraising efforts over last year! While dollars are still coming in until
December 31st, AOII had already raised over $140,000. Our Indianapolis Alumnae Chapter team was the biggest
in years! We have 14 registered members and also raised the more money than in years past, too, $1,251. Thanks

so much to everyone who donated to the team's fundraising efforts, which goes directly to the Arthritis
Foundation.

The Arthritis Foundation Walk to Cure Arthritis will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the University of
Indianapolis at 1400 E. Hanna Avenue. Mark your calendars and more information will be provided as the details
are available. This events features a three-mile and one-mile course. We'll have information about arthritis and fun

activities for the entire family. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs.

And keep collecting those pandas! The Arthritis Foundation found that holding separate JRA conferences that
are more regional allowed more families to participate. In 2017 one of the conferences will be held from August

10-13 at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Indianapolis. This is a national AF sponsored event. There will be
volunteer opportunities and the registration will be on the national site. Once registration information is available
we will share the link as well as provide more details about the event's schedule. We will have the opportunity to

meet and participate with the AOII HQ staff attendee in handing out the pandas to the young JRA patient

Don't forget about your
membership dues!

Have Questions: Contact Jesseca Lyons at [email protected]

Membership Dues

Rose Membership = $50.00
Life Loyal Membership = $34.00
Panda Membership = $25.00

(For recent alumnae/ graduates)

How do I pay my dues? Where do my membership
dues go?
-Complete the membership form
found at the end of the newsletter $2.00 Archive Fee
Mail form and a check/cash to $7.00 Education & Training Fee
Jesseca Lyons (address on $10.00 Technology Fee
membership form) $16.00 Operating Fee (Life Loyal
Or pay via PayPal and submit
form via email members do not pay this
Links for PayPal account can be found fee)
within the email. Please note, a $2 .00 is $10.00 AOII Foundation
added to process your payment $1.00 Indianapolis Panhellenic
online. $4.00 Misc. local expenses

Current dues-paying members

Julie Ashabraner Marilyn Faris Susan Montgomery
Marcelle Bell Ann Gilchrist Diane Ruschhaupt
Diane Bondus Jennifer Grainger
Sharon Boison Kelsie Hinders Traci Schath
Diane Killingback Kate Sureck
Joanne B. Cline Barb Kinzer Barbara Temple
Liz Coffey Jesseca Lyons Glenna Timmons
Lori McCain Amanda Wakefield
Louanne Condreay Carolyn Mears Anne Wilmes
Linda Connell
Leslie Dann

2017 Programming

FEBRUARY

Lunch Bunch.
Date: Friday, February 17
Place: Taste Cafe (5164 N. College Ave.)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos @ (317) 403-7360

MARCH

Book Club
Book: Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
Date: Thursday, March 2
Place: Jesseca Lyons Home
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Hostess: Jesseca Lyons @ (937) 620-5022

Coloring and Cocktails
What is better than coloring and cocktails? Bring your favorite cocktail recipe and a coloring book (coloring pages and colored
pencils, crayons and markers will be provided).

Date: Thursday, March 9
Place: Andrea Strapulos' Home
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos @ (317) 403-7360

APRIL

Breakfast Bunch.
Date: Saturday, April 8
Place: Northside Kitchenette (6515 N. College Ave.)
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos @ (317) 403-7360

Book Club
Book: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Date: Thursday, April 13
Place: Joan Pais Gardiner's Home
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Hostess: Joan Pais Gardiner

A Party with Purpose
Join us as we "strike out arthritis" at our inaugural "Party with a Purpose" event. Check out the event page on Facebook for more
information and to purchase your ticket!

Date: Friday, April 21
Place: McCormick & Schmick's
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Hostess: Kate Surek Robison @ (812) 774-7157

MAY

Race into Sisterhood
Experience the Month of May and Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Main St. in Speedway. We will be doing beer sampling at
Daredevil Brewing, followed by dinner at 1911 Grill. Those who are adventurous can do indoor go-kart racing after dinner.

Date: Thursday, May 11
Place: Daredevil Brewing & 1911 Grill (1151 W Main St.)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos @ (317) 403-7360

Dinner Bunch
Date: Thursday, May 18
Place: Rick's Cafe Boatyard (4050 Dandy Trail)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos @ (317) 403-7360

JUNE

Book Club
Book: The Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Date: Thursday, June 1
Place: Andrea Strapulos' Home
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Hostess: Andrea Strapulos

Pool Party
Date: Saturday, June 24
Place: Diane Killingback's Home
Time: TBD
Hostess: Diane Killingback

Indianapolis Alumnae Chapter

Membership Form
2016 – 2017

Thank you for becoming a member of the Indianapolis Alumnae
Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. Please complete the information below
so we have the most up-to-date information.

Name: __________________________________________________ PAYMENT INFORMATION

Maiden Name: ___________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
Address: ________________________________________________  Rose - $50.00
City: ________________________ State: ______ Zip: ___________

Contact Phone #: _________________________________________  Panda - $25.00 (Recent college
Email: __________________________________________________ graduate/full time student)
Chapter: ________________________________________________  Life Loyal AOII Members - $35
 Optional: I am enclosing additional
To ensure that records are as accurate as possible, please be sure support for the programs and projects
that AOII Headquarters has updated address/name information. of the Alumnae chapter $ _________
Send updates to: [email protected]. Please make checks payable to:
Indianapolis Alumnae of
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Alpha Omicron Pi

• Payment of International fees which includes: Return this form and payment to:
Operating, Technology, Education & Training and Archival fee Jesseca Lyons
13535 Shelborne Road
• AOII Foundation Contribution Carmel, IN 46074
• Local expenses (Phone: 937-620-5022)
• Postcard mailings Memberships are due by January 1, 2017
• Local AOII newsletters emailed directly to you
• Electronic announcements of upcoming meetings, social events,

luncheons, philanthropic activities and much, much more!
(Email address required for this benefit)

CREDIT CARD MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS:

We are now accepting credit card payments for membership dues.
You may complete the information in the box at the right or visit
The Indianapolis Alumnae website at: www.indianapolisaoii.com
Click on the membership tab.
A Processing fee is added for this service.

Local chapter expenses include: Postage, postcards, membership materials, meeting expenses, local collegiate
support, local Panhellenic support, philanthropic contributions (Arthritis Research, AOII Foundation) and delegate
expenses to attend International Convention and/or Leadership Institute.