Sister Update...

My son, Dan McParland is getting married here in Phoenix on October 2nd. His bride to be is Danielle Keirsted of Chandler, AZ They met at NAU in 2006. They have been engaged a little over a year now. They are both teachers at Milestone Charter School in Phoenix. Dan also just received his Masters degree in secondary education from the University of Phx.

On another note. I have a spring vacation to tell you about. I took a two-week trip to Turkey with 40 of my closest friends from People to People International. It was an educational/humanitarian mission. We visited a rehabilitation center in Istanbul and delivered school supplies to a small village school. Culturally, Turkey is a fascinating place and I highly recommend the visit.

—Cindy McParland, EK, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. 72'

Cappadocia in a hot air balloon.

A visit to Ephesus. I am photograped here with DZ sister, Irma Idell.

Our visit to deliver school supplies in Karakaya,Turkey.

Dessert Anyone?

Is this a perfect DZ dessert, or what??? It’s from Taste of Home’s Holiday Celebrations 2009 cookbook. I think we need to have it at a meeting this year. Any takers???

—Ann Santos

A New Home

We will be moving to the house sometime the week after next. Looking forward to more elbow room, a yard, new wall colors, and reconfiguration of several things to fit my wheelchair better. Boy, are the cats in for a surprise!

-Laura Lattimore, Delta Chi (Cal State Chico)

Zeta Chi Reunion

On the weekend of July 9–11, members of Zeta Chi chapter of Delta Zeta at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point reunited at the home of Kathie Vavra in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. This is on the “thumb” of Wisconsin, with Green Bay on the west side and Lake Michigan on the east. I was visiting my family in the Green Bay area at the time, and Phoenix alum Deb Willey was spending several weeks with her family some four hours away, so we were able to attend! It felt strange to be together in Wisconsin! Most of the alums who attended do not belong to a chapter, and they were all from the same era (Deb’s!), so they knew each other. It was interesting to listen to how differently they acted in college than when I was there. I loved seeing their mementos from college days, but the best thing was seeing how in touch they have remained. We had a campfire on the beach, tried singing some of the old sorority songs, visited a farmer’s market, and floated in tubes before lazing in the hot tub. Zeta Chi may have closed in 1983, but the sisterhood remains forever.

–Ann Santos

Wearing a bathing suit in public is possible if you have a fun cover-up and can hide behind a huge innertube! Ann Santos gets ready to take the plunge into Green Bay.

One of the Zeta Chi alums broke out her Delta Zeta jacket—much jazzier than anything we had when I was in the collegiate chapter!

Phoenix alums Deb Willey and Ann Santos visit the master gardens at the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Facility in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The reunion group had lunch there after visiting the local farmer’s market.

Sister Update...

My husband and I just had our wedding on April 3, 2010, and we will be moving to the Bay Area in California next week for him to attend medical school. I just completed my masters in education back in April and my husband just joined the Navy Medical Officers program. I am not sure we will have too many exciting things happening this fall since I believe our lives will be overrun by medical school. Ha ha.

Jessica Gorman (Kratzke)

A Sisterly Adventure

Phoenix alum Jennifer Jaeckels (right) and her Pi Zeta sister, Missy Clarin, experience the Windy City at the end of "the trip of the lifetime." Jenn volunteered to accompany Missy on her move back home to the Chicago area, and the girls took the long scenic route, stopping to visit other DZ sisters along the way. Details will be in the fall newsletter.

Traveling Sister

Phoenix DZ alum Carol Jean Birch (Zeta Beta, University of Wisconsin-Stout) and her husband enjoyed three weeks in Provence, France early this summer. They had a wonderful time!

A Word from Our Delegate...

It was my first convention and I really enjoyed it. I was able to connect with my chapter, Theta Rho, and my old alum group, Pasadena Foothills. It was fun to see old friends. Can't wait till 2012 in San Antonio.
-- Mary Pat Pepping

More from Convention!

Phoenix Alumnae Chapter President, Ann Santos (Zeta Chi), receives an Achoth Award from Delta Zeta National President, Michelle Smith. Achoth awards are given each convention to alumnae who have demonstrated, by their long and faithful service on the local level, their continued loyalty to Delta Zeta. Phoenix alum Sue Norman received an Achoth award in 2008.

Phoenix delegate Mary Pat Pepping (seated, middle) joins up with her sisters from Theta Rho, Cal State- Los Angeles.

The 2009 Delta Zeta Woman of the Year, actress/humorist/25 year breast cancer survivor Marcia Wallace, was disappointed to learn that Phoenix alum Mary Peterson, Marcia's Delta Nu sister, wasn't at the July 2nd luncheon. Sue Norman stands in for Mary in this photo op!

Delta Zeta National Convention 2010

Phoenix alums at the National Convention in Tucson on Friday, July 2nd (from left) Karen Lange, Susan Norman, Mary Pat Pepping (delegate), Ann Santos, Lorna Green and Lee Ann Witt (Regional Director). Nicole Barnett Farr, Pi Zeta CCD, was busy with her delegation and not pictured here.

The Phoenix alums are happy after a lovely lunch of chicken Caesar salad, rolls and banana creme brulee! What's not to like?! More fun was to follow, as celebrity Marcia Wallace, who played "Carol" on TV's "Bob Newhart Show," was honored as Delta Zeta's 2009 Woman of the Year and had everyone in stitches with her humorous remarks.

At the luncheon on July 2nd, national staff member Cindy sat at the Phoenix alum table.

From left: Mary Pat Pepping, national awards chair Karen Moffitt and Lee Ann Witt.

And the Award Goes To...

I am so honored to be named Outstanding GWA Alumna Sister of the Year! What a surprise to learn this news after Region Weekend. Thank you so much, GWA, for this recognition, but it really belongs to the entire Phoenix Alumnae Chapter — all of whom are outstanding sorority women. I post this on the blog so I can share it with you all. -- Ann Santos

Our Tasty Contribution

The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter contributed cowboy-boot-shaped sugar cookies for the delegates’ goodie bags at the DZ National Convention in Tucson this week. Each cookie was sprinkled with pink and green sugar and wrapped in appropriate colors! The tag reads, “Cowgirls and Delta Zetas rule! Have a great convention. The Phoenix alums.”

Belated Holiday Wishes!

I have been a little off my blogging game as of late. In the last few weeks I have worked at an arts day camp, spent a week and a half in San Diego very sick only to come home early and recover for another week and then just got back from a long weekend in San Francisco for July 4th. No worries though I am back and ready to post!

I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday!

-Erin Maher