DZ's Dining Divas!

"Cheers" to those of you west valley alums who missed our terrific dinner at Toscana's Grille, Pebble Creek, in Goodyear. The meal was absolutely delicious, and we had a wonderful time talking for a couple of hours. The time flew by! We look forward to another such gathering in the near future. 

Seated, from left: Joan Dovilla Morgan, Mary Georgeson, and Jane Gale Prall. Standing, from left: Ann Santos, Ann Haggerty, and Arlis Legler. Don't forget you can always 'click' on a picture to enlarge it! 

Building Bears and Sisterhood

Build-A-Bear staffer Kathleen (right) leads the ceremony giving each bear a heart

Pat Wells and Ann Santos demonstrate stuffed and unstuffed

So many choices for Mary Z. Chandler! 

Decisions, decisions- Pat Wells and Ann Haggerty making tough decisions!

The DZ fashion coordinators dress their bears

Dressed in his little Arizona t-shirt and holding his birth certificate, Susan Warner's bear gets his "hearing aid" 

Build-A-Bear Pictures courtesy of Susan Warner. Thanks!

On July 18, several Phoenix alums "partied" at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Build-A-Bear Workshop. We were like kids in a candy store as we oohed and aaahed over all the darling clothing and accessories for our bears—from purple flip-flops with bling, to black "leather" Harley-Davidson jackets! The results were adorable, and the recipients—at a camp for kids with hearing impairments—will love them, as each toy will have its own little hearing aid. We're sending them to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, at the request of Delta Zeta National Philanthropy. 

Pictured are (front row, from left) Susan Warner (Theta Kappa), Faith Kruckenberg and her mom, Gina Kruckenberg (Delta Omega); (standing) Ann Santos (Zeta Chi), Mary Z. Chandler (Delta), Millie Homan (Phi Beta), Ann Haggerty (Beta Kappa), and Pat Wells (Gamma Lambda).

If anyone would like a copy of my "crash" diet, I'll be happy to share it! Actually, we had a beach-theme party to celebrate some birthdays at my office—and it was the perfect occasion for me to wear this swimsuit coverup! You can bet we had lots of laughs with this. Ann Santos (Zeta Chi)

Working with Pi Zeta...

Our alumnae are at it again... Phoenix alums Jane Gale Prall (Gamma Zeta), at left, and Arlis Legler (Zeta Upsilon) cut fabric for balloon-weights for upcoming Pi Zeta activities. This is just one of many interactions the alum chapter has with our collegiate sisters at ASU.

Tacos, Tequila and Sisters!

Late last month 15 of our sisters got together at Cien Agave in Old Town Scottsdale for tacos and tequila! The ladies had a great time and the event was definitely a success... just look at the pictures!

Picture ID's:

1. Pi Zeta alums Christina Gonsalves, Ashley Peterson, Whitney Lewis, Kara Kissell and Alicia Nowinsky
2. Lee Ann Witt (Zeta Psi), Nicole Barnett Farr (Delta Beta), Rebecca Ensley (Pi Zeta)
3. Sharon White (Lambda), Karen Lange (Delta Mu), Debbie Gately (Beta Iota)
4. Pi Zetas Tori Flanagan, Amanda Rolph, Jen Jaeckels, Christina Gonsalves

Pug Puppies!!

These adorable puppies were born May 2nd, 2009. The puppies are purebred pugs. They are now 10 weeks old and ready for a new home and loving family to care for them. My sister rescued the mother and was surprised only a few short weeks later when she gave birth to these 3 pups. There is one female and 2 males (the black puppy is a male). They have spent the last ten weeks with 2 other chihuahuas so we know they get along with other small breeds well. They are playful and full of energy. 

There are no papers for the puppies, as the mother was a rescue, but they have been regularly seeing the vet since birth and are up-to-date on their shots. The puppies have been raised in the home and we would like to find a family willing to allow them to remain indoors. We would like to find a home where the puppy will be accepted as a member of the family and as a blessing, deserving of love and attention. If you are interested in adopting one (or more!) of these puppies into your family please contact me, Erin Maher, emaher1@cox.net. 

When the Pi Zetas graduate, they "will" their Delta Zeta T-shirts to other girls. Phoenix alum Christina Gonsalves (Pi Zeta) had this T-shirt quilt made for her chapter sister Kara Kissell. What a wonderful way to save some great memories!

Sister Update...

It was party time in Las Vegas this summer for Phoenix alum Kristen Thurmond (third from right) and several of her DZ sisters from Delta Chi Chapter, CSU-Chico. The high-tech group planned their reunion on Facebook.

Head of the Class

For the 23rd year, the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter presented a scholarship to a graduating senior of the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf. This year, the award was renamed the Phoenix Delta Zeta Alumnae/Claudia J. Hosking Scholarship, honoring our chapter's long-time Philanthropy chair, who passed away on May 17th as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in April. Class valedictorian Michael Lewis is the 2009 recipient. He has been accepted at Arizona State University. The ceremony took place on May 20th, with Pat Wells, Mary Chandler, Lorna Green, Mary Peterson, Ann Santos, and Carol Birch (and son) representing the alums. Claudia's daughters Allison and Wendy and grandsons also attended.

Photo Caption: On behalf of the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter, Lorna Green (Alpha Beta) and Pat Wells (Gamma Lambda) present a scholarship to Phoenix Day School for the Deaf graduate Michael Lewis.

End of the Year Fiesta!

On May 16th, alumnae gathered at Aunt Chilada's for the year's final meeting. We enjoyed socializing, eating, and laughing together. Officers installed were Ann Santos (Zeta Chi), president; Mary Pat Pepping (Theta Rho), vice president; Pat Wells (Gamma Lambda), recording secretary; Lorna Green (Alpha Beta), treasurer; Karen Lange (Delta Mu), corresponding secretary; Arlis Legler (Zeta Upsilon), Panhellenic delegate; Sue Pickles (Gamma Lambda), Panhellenic alternate; and Erin Maher (Xi Lambda), Lamp editor/blog coordinator. Susan Norman (Zeta) performed the installation, based on each officer as an ingredient that together make a superior batch of cookies (i.e., our alum chapter)!

Photo Captions:

1. Susan Norman samples the wonderful Mexican-food buffet at Aunt Chilada's.

2. Officers installed at the May 16 meeting are (from left) Arlis Legler; Katie McCarthy (Beta Kappa), standing in for Erin Maher; Karen Lange, Mary Chandler (hidden, standing in for Pat Wells); Sue Pickles; Mary Pat Pepping; Sue Norman, installer; Lorna Green; and Ann Santos.

3. President Ann Santos presents an appreciation gift to Sue Pickles, the chapter's dedicated Panhellenic delegate for the past several years.

4. A special proclamation honors June Walthers (right), a frequent guest at alum meetings.

5. Annette Hebert (Iota Upsilon) signs a "prayer quilt" for Claudia Hosking, who unfortunately passed away on May 17th.

 

When: Tuesday June 23rd @ 6pm

What: Tacos and Tequila with your DZ sisters  ($1 tacos on Tuesdays)

Where: Cien Agave  (In Old Town Scottsdale) 

Why: To Socialize and Have Fun

 
RSVP:  Please email me at kara.kissell@gmail.com and let me know if you're able to come so we can let Cien Agave know. Its also best to bring cash with a large group so the bill is easier :) Hope to see you all there!

DZ Love,

Kara Kissell (Pi Zeta, '08)

Happy Memorial Day!

Have a safe and wonderful weekend. Make time to enjoy your family, friends and of course great food!

The Phoenix chapter concluded its year with a luncheon meeting and officer installation on May 16th. Plans are already underway for special social activities during the summer!

Picture Captions:

(1) At the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter's annual taco-salad buffet for their Pi Zeta sisters at Arizona State University, three of this year's graduates show off their "diploma bear" invitations to the alums' Seniors Recognition Luncheon.

(2) Pi Zeta senior Morgan Wolters (left) and Joan Daniels Morgan (Beta Sigma) focus on the program at the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter's Seniors Recognition Luncheon. The alumnae honored 29 graduates this year.

Sister Update...

     I have been busy, busy and MIA from DZ events as of late, but I am still around and trying my best to get through the semester. In the short time since I joined the alumnae chapter my life/schedule has changed so much, so quickly! I know I will look back on this time and be amazed by the experience I have gained, but from day to day it has often felt like I am barely keeping my head above water. Things will have slowed down (partly by choice and partly because some things will have ended) by next Fall and I plan to be around a lot more.

     I haven't been setting a very good example by not posting my own sister update soo... here it is! I figured I could at least share with everyone some of the things, rather people :), who have been keeping me very busy! The first picture is of my first grade class and the second is my Daisy Girl Scout troop.

Erin Maher (Xi Lambda, University of San Francisco)

The official Cinco de Mayo celebrations are over, but the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter continues with an end-of-year "Fiesta" on May 16th. We're meeting at Aunt Chilada's, at the Point Squaw Peak, for lunch at Noon. Registration is at 11:30. The cost is $20, and the catering staff is creating a buffet just for us! Please RSVP to Ann Asndrln@aol.com by Monday, May 11th.

Don't forget to bring your sample-size toiletries for the Sojourner Center, as well as any items you wish to contribute to the Support Our Troops Project (suggestions include crackers, breakfast/cereal bars, dried fruit, packaged chocolate chip cookies, microwave popcorn, trail mix, canned tuna, unshelled peanuts, hard candy, men's and women's razor packs, shaving cream, deodorant, foot powder, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, Q-tips, mouthwash, CDs, greeting cards, books, and magazines).

On May 4, several Phoenix Delta Zeta alumnae attended the annual Phoenix Panhellenic Association (PPA) Awards Banquet and Officer Installation. The event also recognizes PPA Woman of the Year (WOY) nominees submitted by the member alumnae chapters as well as its scholarship recipients. Thanks to all the Greek women and their families and friends who worked at the FBR Open, PPA received $42,500 for their volunteer hours and was able to award 29 scholarships. Taylor Roegnik, from Pi Zeta, was one of the recipients. Mary Pat Pepping was the Phoenix DZ Alumnae Chapter's WOY nominee, and although someone else was selected WOY, Mary Pat definitely gets our vote!

Photo captions

First Picture:

Proud dad Tom was on hand when Taylor Roegnik (Pi Zeta) accepted a Phoenix Panhellenic Association scholarship.

Second Picture:

(From left) Phoenix DZ alums Pat Wells (Gamma Lambda) and Ann Santos (Zeta Chi) cheer Woman of the Year nominee Mary Pat Pepping (Theta Rho) at the Phoenix Panhellenic Association Awards Banquet. Pat is a past PPA president. Not shown, Phoenix DZ Alum PPA delegate Sue Pickles.

Ann Santos

Looks like I am the filling in this "Sweeney sandwich." The three of us recently met at Mimi's Cafe when Carol A. Sweeney (left, Epsilon Phi)) visited from her home in Northfield, Mich. A former part-year Arizona resident, she is the Phoenix alum chapter's Web coordinator. Carol A. brought to lunch her sister-in-law, Carol J. Sweeney, who lives in Buckeye, Ariz. We had a great time recalling sorority days and laughing at the hilarious stories Carol J. shared about working at the Jobing.com arena and University of Phoenix Stadium.

Senior Luncheon

The annual Senior Recognition Luncheon was held this past weekend. "Snoop Kitty and the Rosettes" led seniors and alums in a rap version of "Dream Girls of Delta Zeta." "Snoop Kitty" was Ann Santos and the "Rosettes" who helped keep the beat were alum Alicia Nowinsky and Pi Zeta senior Shannon Kane.

Taco Night

On March 23rd our chapter hosted the annual Taco Night for our Pi Zeta sisters. The buffet table was colorful, the food delicious and of course the sisters fabulous! Thanks to all the alumnae who came to help set up and socialize with the initiates. Pictured above: Susan Warner, Gina Kruckenburg and daughter and Mary Pat Pepping. 

News from Ann...

Here I am at the Las Vegas Gun Club, where my husband Phil competed in a trapshoot on March 6-8, 2009. Although I didn't participate in this event, I did take a few shots using his shotgun. I began trapshooting in 1997, when actor Robert Stack, an Olympic champion shot, gave me a wonderful shooting lesson. I met Phil at a shoot in California. Although I "retired" from the sport a couple years ago due to an injury, I do own two Beretta shotguns, and I may ease back into it one of these days. By traveling to various shoots, we have made many friends around the country. 

Ann Santos (Zeta Chi)

It's Time for a "Fling!"

The annual Pi Zeta Senior Recognition Luncheon, also known as the "Spring Fling," is coming up very soon! The luncheon will take place on April 18 at noon at Sam's Cafe in the Biltmore Fashion Park, 26th Street & Camelback. Cost: $20. We want a good showing of alums to meet and mingle with the seniors and let them know how special they are and what a great thing the next level (alumnae) of sorority life is! Contact ASNDRLN@aol.com by April 6th to make reservations.  

Beans, Guacamole, Lettuce, Ole!

Our annual Taco-Salad Buffet is quickly approaching! On March 23rd we will be hosting a buffet for the ladies of Pi Zeta. We are still in need of food donations including: cookies, bars, ice, guacamole, tortilla chips, sourcream, ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa and shredded lettuce. We are also desperately needing a few fabulous alumni to staff the event! Email Ann Santos, Asndrln@aol.com, if you are interested in donating or helping on the day of! Gracias!!

History or Memories in the Making!

Our brand new Historian, Susan Warner (Theta Kappa, U of New Orleans), would like to chronicle your experiences and memories in a formal way for our chapter! She would love for you to send via email or snail mail your pictures and memories from your time as a Phoenix Alumnae. She is happy to scan your pictures and return them to you if necessary.

Contact Susan Warner with any questions...

warner_susan@hotmail.com