February Luncheon

Rain or shine, Phoenix alums are dedicated about attending our luncheons/meetings! On February 20th, about 30 alums and a few guests trekked to Marie Callender’s Restaurant in Mesa. The Valentine theme added a cheerful note to the tables. Lots of conversation took place, as we hadn’t met since early December. A candle ceremony announced a pregnancy and two engagements; very happy news!

Lorna Green (Alpha Beta) won the turtle planter, complete with miniroses and potting soil, that was donated by Deb Willey (Zeta Chi). Numerous other prizes included a darling “kissing” turtle salt and pepper set from Mary Pat Pepping.

Be sure to come to the next meeting, in April. But before that, we need your help with the taco-salad buffet for the Pi Zetas on March 22!

Wearing authentic pioneer garb, Shirley Weinreich speaks on “Sisters of Courage,” the women of the Oregon Trail.

Lorna Green and her new “friend,” a turtle planter donated by Deb Willey.

Need a creative way to memorialize your DZ T-shirts?

I recently had this fabulous quilt made with some of my collegiate Delta Zeta T-shirts. I got the idea from another sister and did a little Googling to find Campus Quilts online. After you place your order online (www.campusquilts.com) the company sends you everything you need to send back your shirts ready for quilting. I am impressed with the quality of the quilt and very happy with the final product. Dusty boxes of shirts in storage is not nearly as fun as a fabulous quilt with all your memories in one!

-Erin Maher, University of San Francisco

Sister Update...

Just returned from a Las Vegas field trip. Every year I take my Hospitality Interior Design Class to Las Vegas to attend the World Market Center to preview new furnishings and we tour various hotel properties. This year we toured the Palms Place Hotel and Spa and the new City Center Center which includes 3 hotels and a shopping center. The photo shows me leading my 26 ASU students on the City Center tour.

Susan Norman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Out and About with Sisters

Mary Peterson (Parsons College), Cindy McParland (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) and her friend Lynn, and Ann Santos (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point) and her husband Phil and friend Linda Chiles had a fabulous dinner at the Landmark Restaurant in Mesa before attending "Mark Twain Tonight!" at the Mesa Arts Center. Hal Holbrook's performance was humorous as well as thought-provoking, and it's too bad more alums couldn't be there. But stay tuned for more sisterly outing opportunities throughout the coming months!

So much to celebrate!

We will be passing the candle at the February meeting—once around for pinning, twice for engagement, three for marriage, four for pregnancy, five for grandchildren. Come to the meeting to find out who and what!!

Gina Kruckenberg (Delta Omega, Fort Hays State, Kan.): “At the end of 2009, we found ourselves at the beginning of one of the biggest adventures of our lives. We are starting a new ministry! In May 2009, my husband Brian earned a doctorate of ministry, and the whole family traveled to Minneapolis for his graduation. That was nice, but our 10-year anniversary trip to the Riviera May in October was a tad better. Trips to the Grand Canyon, Denver, and Kansas City also dotted our calendar. ” [In addition, the Kruckenbergs recently moved to a house in Phoenix's Willo district.]

Alicia Nowinsky (Pi Zeta, Arizona State University) reports her wedding plans are going well. “May 1 is just around the corner, and we all are getting really excited!”

Carol Sweeney (Epsilon Phi, University of Detroit): After spending Thanksgiving at home in Michigan, my husband and I headed to South Carolina to run a half marathon with family members on December 12 at beautiful Kiawah Island, near Charleston.

Marilyn Collins (Alpha Alpha, Northwestern): “Over the Christmas holidays, I took a cruise to the Western Caribbean on Holland America's MS Maasdam. Too soon the cruise was over. But there is always next year!”

It's official! Joan Morgan (Beta Sigma, Colorado State) is again Joan Dovilla. She and a friend plan to cruise through the Panama Canal in March.

Ann Santos (Zeta Chi, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point) stayed home in Litchfield Park for the holidays. Ann will fly to Wisconsin in April for her mother’s 92nd birthday. She and husband Phil will vacation at their timeshares at Lake Tahoe in May and Maui in September.

Deb Willey (Zeta Chi, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point) has been globetrotting the past few months. “I was lucky to spend the month of December in Hawaii. The Big Island has too much lava rock and dry land. I did get to see lava flow into the ocean. Spent the second half of the month at my cousin’s house on Oahu.”

I had a fantastic holiday…it was extremely busy but great! Mike and I managed to look at quite a few wedding venues. Nothing is confirmed yet. The church we like is the oldest Christian church in Hawaii – built in the 1800s. Royalty used to attend it back when Hawaii had a monarchy. While I was home, I also got my “real” ring!

-Cathy Handen (Gamma Kappa, Kent State University, Ohio) I had a quiet holiday season for the most part, except for the time when I looked out my bedroom window and a coyote was looking back at me!

- Arlis Legler (Zeta Upsilon, Winona State, Minn.) [Arlis lives in the Pebble Creek development in Goodyear.] My family took a weekend cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. My two sons and a daughter-in-law also came. It was the first time in ten years that we all were together.

- Georgia Souris (Nu, Knox college) Madeline is going to bed later, so I have very little time of my own. I’ve been trying to start up my own photography business and we’re also trying to sell our house, so I have to spend a lot of time keeping it picked up and clean just in case. Hope to see everyone at the February meeting.

- Katie McCarthy (Beta Kappa, Iowa State)

Arlis Legler (left, Winona State) and Ann Santos (Univ. Of Wis., Stevens Point) toast their birthdays, which are just 14 days apart. Arlis celebrated in January, and Ann is getting ready for her “big day” in February.