Pi Beta Phi: The Sky's The Limit!

Just a reminder that the Region 2 Alumnae Leadership Summit is coming up at the end of this month - June 26.

We would love to have you and your club members join us in Atlanta for the summit. Registration is available on the Pi Phi Web site www.pibetaphi.org under Events.

Hope to see you in Atlanta!!!

Chattanooga, TN - Fraternity Day of Service

The Chattanooga, TN Alumnae Club’s philanthropy recipient was Chattanooga Room in the Inn. The club donated preschool and activity books and presented the organization with a check to use toward their literacy and tutoring program. Chattanooga Room in the Inn provides help and hope to homeless women and children.

Photo is of Chattanooga Alumnae Club member Pam Johnson (Georgia Alpha) presenting check & books

Pi Beta Phi Celebrates Founders' Day

In 1867, 12 Monmouth College students wished to enjoy the benefits of a secret society similar to those formed by collegiate men. On April 28, 1867, I.C. Sorosis was formed. More than 140 years later, those 12 women have touched the lives of more than 241,000 members across North America and have set the stage for a premier organization for women. See the Founders' Day video and share it with your Pi Phi sisters.

Little Rock Alumnae Club - Fraternity Day of Service

The Little Rock Alumnae Club celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday, March 2 by taking books, drinks, and smiley face cookies to the Fair park Early Childhood Center. The club members read Dr. Seuss and other books to the classes and played games with them. All children and teachers were dressed in pajamas for Dr. Seuss's birthday. The club donated 60 books to their library. The books were brought by alumnae to their annual Christmas Mother/Daughter holiday party. This is a preschool that the Little Rock School District operates at no cost to parents. It is for four year olds. We read to seven classes of children.

Brevard County Alumnae Club - Fraternity Day of Service

The Brevard County Alumnae Club, FL donated a basket full of books to Serene Harbor Women's & Children's Domestic Violence Shelter. The club also donated to First Book and sent numerous book labels!

Elaine Butts, Literacy Projects Coordinator for Brevard Co Alumnae Club, Melody R. Keeth, Exec. Dir of Serene Harbor, Linda Wise, Co-Treas. Brevard County Alumnae Club, FL Pi Beta Phi.

Pi Beta Phi Celebrated Fraternity Day of Service

March 2 was Pi Phi's Fraternity Day of Service. Please don't forget to send in your bookplates to Headquarters! For some great ideas, check out the official page.

International Badge Day - March 1

The 26 member organizations of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) are celebrating International Badge Day March 1, 2010, an annual event during which sorority women everywhere honor their Greek affiliations by wearing their badge or letters. This year's theme is "Keep Your Fraternal Experience Close to Your Heart."

Watch for a Pi Phi on American Idol

Illinois Eta Katelyn Epperly is in the Top 24 of the TV show "American Idol." Did you tune in on Tuesday to watch her perform? First round of results is tonight.

Spotlight on Programming: Literacy!

Spring Spotlight: Fraternity Day of Service! This annual Pi Beta Phi event unites members of all ages through our effort to advance literacy.

Pi Beta Phi’s Literacy Vision:Pi Beta Phi is dedicated to philanthropic and community service efforts that will remove the barrier of illiteracy.

How can alumnae organizations support the fraternity literacy vision? Alumnae support literacy in a number of ways: through unique partnerships with organizations on a local and international level, through financial support, through club programming and so much more.

Why Literacy?

• People who can read tend to be more successful and have more earning capacity.
• Literate parents set their children up for successful and healthy lives.
• Illiteracy is a factor in the rate of homelessness, domestic abuse, poverty and lack of healthcare.
• 80 percent of citizens in prison didn’t finish high school; half of those can’t read or write at all.
• Increasing high school graduation rates by just one percent would save $1.4 billion in costs associated with jails and prisons.

The Fraternity’s commitment to literacy dates back almost 100 years to the founding of a settlement school in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Pi Phi was solely responsible for all education in Gatlinburg from 1912-1969.

Pi Phi continues to support literacy and education for children and families. Pi Beta Phi will once again be celebrating Fraternity Day of Service with the Make your Mark for Literacy Bookplate campaign. Your event should be planned on or around March 2, 2010 — Dr. Seuss’ birthday!

After last year’s Fraternity Day of Service, many Pi Phi alumnae clubs provided Headquarters with feedback about their events. Many groups began planning their events months in advance. Because of this, we wanted to get your bookplates to you even earlier to make your planning easier.

All alumnae clubs will receive 50 bookplates for their 2010 Fraternity Day of Service project. For those clubs planning large events, we would be happy to send your club additional bookplates. Please e-mail Special Events Coordinator Julie Ravensberg at julier@pibetaphi.org to order. Additional bookplates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Arrow is now Online

The Winter issue of The Arrow is now online! Check out the PDF to learn more about the history of The Arrow (we celebrated our 125th anniversary this year!), relaunch of our Leading with Values program, latest news at Holt House and our A List. Go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pibetaphi) or Twitter with us (www.twitter.com/pibetaphihq) and let us know what you think about our latest issue

Arrowmont Update

Pi Phi Posts Arrowmont Lease Update

Confusion resulting from a recent Arrowmont press release has prompted the Fraternity to issue the following clarification regarding the lease extension. Log into eSisters to read it now!

League of Women Voters celebrates 90 years

Ninety years ago, Carrie Chapman Catt* first proposed a League of Women Voters to "finish the fight" and work to end all discrimination against women. And so the League of Women Voters was founded on Valentine's Day in 1920, six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

More information on how the League is celebrating this anniversary milestone can be found here

*Carrie Chapman Catt, Iowa Gamma (deceased)
Suffragist. One of the driving forces behind the 19^th amendment and founder of the National League of Women Voters.

"To the wrongs that need resistance, to the right that needs assistance, to the future in the distance, give yourselves."

~Carrie Chapman Catt (Iowa Gama) from her commencement address to Iowa State University's graduating class of 1921

North Carolina Triangle Alumnae Club – Holiday Heritage Tea

Group Photo: NC Triangle Alumnae Club wrapping up a great afternoon tea (12/13/2009)
Listed from Right to Left
Renee Rosiek (in the back behind piano), Amy Dailey, Lori Haight, Margaret Forbes, Diane Woodard, Elizabeth Chacon, Theresa Sprain, Amy Lorenzen, Kim Van Horn, Ginger King

The North Carolina Triangle Alumnae Club hosted its third annual Holiday Heritage Tea at The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, NC on December 13, 2009. The afternoon was filled tasting new teas, sampling sweet and savory treats and socializing with sisters.

Philanthropy and Literacy was the theme of the event and there was a fun corresponding program for the attendees. The Pi Phis were arranged into teams, with a team captain, and then participated in a Pi Beta Phi Literacy Timeline “Scramble”

Each team captain was given a list of dates and scrambled Pi Beta Phi literacy initiatives. The women were asked to match-up the literacy program with the correct date. After the team captains presented their answers the entire group discussed the dates with the matching initiative. It was an interactive way to highlight Pi Beta Phi’s commitment to literacy. For almost 100 years, Pi Bet Phis have been helping children and families read. It is an incredible feat and one that continues to grow. The literacy timeline was pulled from the Pi Beta Phi website and the Fraternity Heritage Manual: Arrows, Angels and Admiration.

The tea was a lovely event. The women enjoyed the Pi Phi Fellowship and it was nice time to reflect on Pi Beta Phi’s dedication to literacy and it’s almost century of innovative programs.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all Pi Phi angels...

and a very happy birthday to Region 2 Alumnae Director Sande!

Louisville Alumnae Club shares literacy with community

The Louisville Alumnae Club (above) donated over 100 books to Churchill Downs Learning Center.

Please share how you are helping spread literacy throughout your community. Leave a comment or send us an email.

Leadership and Nominating Committee Identified

Pi Beta Phi has chosen nine women to serve on its pilot Leadership and Nominating Committee: Chairman Kim Durand, Jody Al-Saigh, Jeannie Bickhart, Madalyn Jones, Rebecca Jones, Jennifer Perfetti, Katie Perrine*, Leigh Thiedeman and Brenda Wirth. These women possess a wealth of past Fraternity experience. Professionally, these women work in event planning, human resources, retail management, ministry, student life and legal capacities. Please join us in welcoming these women!

*editor's note -- It has been a pleasure working with all of the talented alumnae volunteers throughout Region 2. I will continue to work with Sande and Marilyn until the new Programming Specialist is identified.

~Katie Perrine

How will you celebrate Chapter Loyalty Day?

January 9, the birthday of Iowa Gamma Carrie Chapman Catt, was designated as Chapter Loyalty Day at the 1946 Swampscott Convention. The day is set aside in special recognition of the example Carrie set for the Fraternity in her deep, lifelong loyalty to her chapter. On this day, each alumna is to remember her own chapter.

Pi Beta Phi invites you to join us in celebrating this year by wearing narrow wine and blue ribbons under your badge .