Arthritis Walk News

Bummer news: The Wilmington Arthritis Walk will NOT be held this year due to a national directive to have all walks held in May. Since May is too close to plan an entire walk event, they have decided to skip this year. Hopefully the Arthritis Foundation will make the decision to hold a walk in Wilmington next May.

If you would like to participate in a walk this year, there is the Triangle Arthritis Walk on May 10th, and there is always the festive Raleigh Jingle Bell Run on December 6th! 

I have created a team for the Triangle Arthritis Walk already here. Join us in walking or donate to support our team and philanthropy! See more info below.

Roses,
Cathy

Team website: http://walktocurearthritistriangle.kintera.org/teamaoiinc

Address for start of Walk:
Imperial Center- Winchester Building
4309 Emperor Blvd.
Durham, NC 27703

Event Schedule:
May 10, 2014
Registration                                         9:00 am - 10:00 am
Entertainment & Program                 9:30 am - 10:00 am
1 and 3-mile Walks                           10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fundraising Prizes, Raffle                 11:00 am - 11:30 am

‘13 - ‘14 Dues

Sisters! We need your dues!! Our chapter’s paid membership list is due to HQ by March 1st. So we need your payment to our Treasurer, Rhonda, or by PayPal BEFORE March 1st to get you on the list. 

Please send your checks to Rhonda (email her or Cathy for the address) or pay via PayPal – emails and PayPal links are on the right hand side of this website.  Dues are $85 for regular members and $69 for Life Loyal sisters.  Our dues consist of International dues, local dues, and a $5 donation to the Foundation – which is a Standard of Excellence we can check off by doing this!

If you are having trouble paying dues, please let Rhonda or Cathy know and we can set up a payment plan. We do need the $35 International dues before March 1st to be included in the chapter membership.

So far we have received dues from: Sam D., Elizabeth N., Vicki N., Carol P., Cathy S., Alyson S., and Rhonda T.   Thanks ladies!

Check out our Facebook page and join our group! Email us for more information!

Roses,
Cathy

Wilmington Alumnae Panhellenic

The schedule for the rest of the academic year has been posted!  All meetings are on Tuesdays at 6:30pm.

November 19 @ McAlister's
January 21 @ Hops Supply Co.
February 18 @ McAlister's
March 18 @ Henry’s
April 15 @ McAlister's
May 20 @ Oceanic

Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend!  I am trying to make as many meetings as I can now that the Arthritis Walk is over. 

Roses,
Cathy

Sister Pizza Night

Last night, Rhonda, Sam, Elizabeth, and I met at Slice of Life Pizza for our November meeting.  Small turnout, but we had a great time!!

We chatted about the Arthritis Walk, Jill’s wedding (congratulations again Mrs. McMillan!!) and upcoming meetings.

December 8th is our 3rd Annual Cookie Swap at my house.  It will be at 2:00; bring a plate of cookies, and copies of the recipe to share! 

January 12th will be a BBQ Business Meeting with Ritual at Rhonda’s.  More details to come, but mark your calendars!  We will discuss the rest of the year then as well.

Hope to see you in December!  And keep checking our Facebook page for updates as well!!

Roses,
Cathy

2013 Wilmington Arthritis Walk

Sunday, October 27th was this year’s Arthritis Walk.  We had such a great AOII turnout!  Unofficially, our team had 52 members and raised $1,929 for Arthritis Research!!  A large group of Zeta Psi sisters from ECU came to join the Port City Chapter in our “AOII Goes Blue for Arthritis” event. 

Here are a few highlights from the day!

Setting up, blowing up balloons, and looking awesome in our AOII Goes Blue shirts!!


Volunteering!

AOII/Zeta Psi alumna sister Elizabeth was the 2013 Wilmington honoree!! She suffers from RA.

AOII Love!!!

Thanks to everyone who made it this year, whether you walked or volunteered, as part of the planning committee, we really appreciate it.  Can’t wait to do it all again next year!!

Roses,
Cathy

Crafting with Sisters – September Meeting

Join us on September 8th for a Crafting Party!!!  We will be etching glass items (custom wine glasses anyone?) and possibly some other crafts -- glitter ornaments, vinyl stickers… suggestions welcome!!  We will be meeting at Sam’s house at 2:00pm.  For more details email Cathy!  Wine is always welcome, but this event is for sisters only ;)

If you have suggestions for more crafts we could do, please let Cathy know! 
Hope to see you then… and don’t forget to bring a glass item to etch!!

Roses,
Cathy

International Convention 2013 – Part I

Wow!!! AOII International Convention 2013 in Chicago was such an amazing experience.  “A Magnificent Celebration” was a great tagline… because it was true!!  About 975 AOIIs took over the Marriott on Michigan Ave. from June 26-30, and we painted the town red! 

Wednesday started out a little rough, with a flight time change from 7:00 am to 6:45 am, and I had NO IDEA.  Me and my bag barely made it.  Things didn’t go so well at my layover in Atlanta as well.  Got off the plane and saw my connection as at Gate A33.  I was at D2.  Took the train over to Concourse A.  Walked all the way to A33.  Gate changed to A28.  Found another AOII – Amanda from Appalachian State (just finished her freshman year!).  Found more AOIIs (Meg & Monique).  Flight delayed 1 hr due to weather in Chicago.  Found more AOIIs.  Flight delayed 1 more hour.  Gate changed to A12.  Found more AOIIs… there were a couple flights to O’Hare and Midway from Atlanta so there were quite a few AOIIs roaming around. 

Got to Chicago about 2 hours late.  Eight AOIIs met at baggage claim and decided to split into 2 cabs to get to the hotel faster than the subway.  Meg, Amanda, Shelby and I shared what I thought was a crazy ride to the hotel.  Little did we know the other cab behind us had run out of gas on the highway.  Yikes!!  We checked in, grabbed one of the 12 elevators up to our rooms, and quick changed for Candle Lighting. 

What a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.  Each collegiate chapter (active and inactive) is represented by a sister and a candle.  Each candle is lit, then the name of the chapter and its sub motto is read.  It was long, but the moment I heard the words “Wisdom and Grace” I almost cried.  I knew it was a Sigma Chi (Hartwick College) sister and I HAD to meet her. 

After Candle Lighting, we went to our Network Celebrations.  We are Network 2… which had a baseball theme!!  Our NSs were awesome and really made us feel welcome.  And I got to finally meet my roommate, Liz, the Triangle Alumnae Chapter President! 

After going back to the room to change outfits again (seriously, there is a lot of costume changes!!!) we headed off to take over Navy Pier.  Liz, Krystal and I walked to Navy Pier, walked to the end, grabbed some grub, then watched the fireworks.  It was a really warm, beautiful night. 

 

All for now.  Part II, and more pictures, coming soon!!

Alpha Love,
Cathy