Fall 2022 - To Dragma

The Location Come to Convention

The Gaylord Texan is located in
Grapevine, Texas, which is only minutes
from the Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport and just 20 miles from Dallas
Love Field Airport.
Grapevine is known as the heart of the
Texas wine industry and home to the
Cowboys Golf Club, Historic Downtown
Grapevine, SEA LIFE Grapevine
Aquarium, and LEGOLAND® Discovery
Center. In addition to the attractions
located in Grapevine, the greater Dallas/
Fort Worth area boasts a plethora
of attractions and activities such as
the Fort Worth Stockyards, Dallas
Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and
plentiful shopping, dining, and outdoor
activities.
The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention
Center is a 4-star resort located on the
shores of Grapevine Lake and features
a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor
pools, lazy river, Paradise Springs Water
Park, and four-and-a-half acres of airy,
indoor garden atriums.

Convention 2023 Highlights

Attending AOII Convention is a great way
to experience sisterhood with hundreds of
AOII sisters
• Participate in Rituals and Candle Lighting

with members from across North America
• Witness Fraternity business sessions and

the election of the new Executive and
Foundation Boards
• Celebrate AOII's past biennium and
the accomplishments of members and
chapters
• Meet the Fraternity's leadership and
reconnect with old friends

Consider hosting your class reunion or alumnae chapter retreat in conjunction with Convention.
There will be special opportunities (and swag!) available exclusively for reunion groups registering as
part- or full-time attendees. Visit the Events area on the AOII website for more information.
Registration for Convention will open in April 2023 and all AOII members are invited to attend!

51

BACK TOGETHERThisisastoryofsixdearfriendswhoseconnections

ainbegan as Alpha Pi sisters at Florida State University

in the 1960s. For Anne Carr, Leslie Smith Bakker,
Michele Purdy Noullet, Mary Anne Potter Hensarling,
Judy Lowe Wells, and Wendie Nowlin Highsmith,
their collegiate days were filled with happy memories.
Between 1965 and 1967, they graduated, and family lives and careers scattered them across the
United States filling almost thirty years with busyness and distractions. Their friendships were
kept alive mostly via cards and calls for Christmas, weddings, births, and other such milestones.
One friend, who had moved overseas, would even occasionally send the group audio cassette
tapes just to keep connected. When they finally reunited in person, it took an ambitious e ort that
launched the next chapter of their friendship.

One of the sisters, Michele Noullet, explained how Alpha Pi Reunion
they came back together, “In 1994, as we were The trips are all memorable and great fun, but one
heading toward our 50th birthdays, one of us picked trip stood out as being their greatest challenge. In
up the phone and called three others. After the 2019, their reunion destination brought them together
screaming ended, we said there's nothing to be outside Rapid City, SD near Mount Rushmore. They
done but to get together. There were four of us at had rented a very nice cabin located at a higher
our first gathering in West Virginia. It was as if those elevation than the town itself. Michele described
intervening years hadn't happened; we just picked the troubles that followed, “There was a late spring
up where we left o all those years ago and we had snowstorm, the most snow there in 10 years. We
such fun!” When a photo of their first reunion was were totally snowed-in; power went out; water was
published in To Dragma, two more sisters saw it and from a well that needed power to work. So, no water
joined the group. In the early years, they planned to and no flush and the phone reception was spotty.
host reunions every three years, mostly in National The driveway out was a mile long and it had a foot
Parks across the country. Michele added, “Our of heavy snow on it. We tried to reach the cabin
second reunion was in Jackson Hole, WY, in a cabin owners. After a day and a half of these challenges,
one of us had helped build when she was living in the owners were able to have a neighbor come over
the area.” Since then, the sisters have travelled to with a large farm tractor with a plow attached to clear
Glacier National Park; Sedona, AZ; Grand Canyon the driveway. Thankfully, we were all able to get out
National Park; Acadia National Park; Rocky Mountain and make our flights home, and on time.” Even on
National Park; Santa Fe, NM; and many others. In this adventurous trip, the group still managed to build
more recent years, Michele shared they decided great memories and were glad to enjoy their visit to
to hold the reunions every two years because they Mt. Rushmore and Badlands National Park before the
were getting older and had more time to travel. snow event interrupted their reunion.
Their most recent reunion this summer was held
in Yellowstone National Park, a special destination These six refer to themselves as The Rosebuds.
because three of the sisters had worked there during Michele adds, “We consider our friendships to be
their college summer breaks. a wonderful side benefit of having pledged AOII
To make these reunions manageable, the six Alpha during our college years so long ago. Some things
Pi sisters all share in the planning. That includes are very special about our friendships. We have
picking the lodging, menus, recipes, or car rental. become a family. We have supported each other
Michele says, “We seem to work well together when when life events happen, both good and bad, and
we finally convene. Mostly we act stupid and eat too we have been there for one another when needed.
much, but we also hike a few miles to take in our Thank you AOII!” Though their hiking activities have
magnificent surroundings.” slowed down a bit as the years have rolled by, they
are forever bonded over their love for one another,
nature, hiking, and Alpha Omicron Pi.

Photo on opposite page, L to R: Mary Anne Potter Hensarling, Judy Lowe Wells, Michele Purdy Noullet, Anne Carr, Leslie 53
Smith Bakker, and Wendie Nowlin Highsmith have experienced many reunions together like this one in Yellowstone
National Park this summer. Others include West Virginia in 1994, and Sedona, Arizona in 2003 pictured above.

Introducing Ever Blooming Napa Valley

Alpha Omicron Pi is excited to announce our new premium wine brand, Ever Blooming Napa Valley.
Alumnae of Alpha Omicron Pi have the unique opportunity to continue the Fraternity's mission to
Inspire Ambition by becoming a member of the Jacqueminot Club. With every purchase, members of
the Jacqueminot Club will advance alumnae programming, events, and Fraternity Services. Alpha
Omicron Pi will receive 20% of all sales. Alumnae who join the Jacqueminot Club will receive two
shipments annually (three bottles or six bottles each) of wines made exclusively for the sisterhood of
Alpha Omicron Pi. We would love for you to consider joining the Jacqueminot Club to celebrate our
great Fraternity and give back to the organization that has such a special place in our hearts.

Introducing our Inaugural Release varietals and Labels

The Four 1897 Reserve CHARDONNAY
2018
2018 Red Wine Sparkling Blanc De Noirs
-Napa Valley - Methode Champenoise -Napa Valley RUSSIAS RIVER. VALLEY

Winter's Drift
2018 Chardonnay
- Russian River Valley

----------

The inaugural release of Ever Blooming - Coming Fall 2022
Learn more and join the Jacqueminot Club!

everbloomingnapa.com

*The Jacquminot Club is open to any alumnae member who is 21 years of age or older

Inulliquam, sim qui

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Fall Photos

FALL
PHOTOS

56 | Fall 2022 Theta Iota (California State U, San Marcos)

Nu Omega (Northern Kentucky U) Chi Lambda (U of Evansville) Fall Photos

Beta Sigma (Boise State U) 57

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Zeta Pi (U of Alabama Birmingham)
Gamma Phi (Seton Hall U)

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59

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Kappa Kappa (Ball State U) Epsilon Alpha (Pennsylvania State U)

60 | Fall 2022

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Delta Xi (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
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61

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Theta Psi (U of Toledo)
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62 | Fall 2022 Omega Sigma (Oklahoma State U)

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Phi Delta (U of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) Sigma Theta (Sam Houston State U)

Lambda Psi (Arizona State U) Xi (U of Oklahoma) 63

B.

Inulliquam, sim qui B. C. E.

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available individually (B. and C.), or as a
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F.

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1 | Summer 2022



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66 | Fall 2022

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1 Purple AOII Alumna Shirt – $25 67
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3 Text Me When You Go Alpha O Tote – $12.50
4 It’s a Good Day to be an Alpha O Yellow Crew – $48

Shop now at aoiiemporium.com

International Headquarters
5390 Virginia Way

Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

JUNE 21-25, 2023

a n erna i na

CONVENTION

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS

e he a e
CONVENTION 2023
JUNE 21-25

GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER | GRAPEVINE, TEXAS