Alpha Chi Omega - University of Missouri

4 Lyre Notes A s a pediatric physical therapist at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Jean Horan O'Mara '05 gets great joy teaching children how to better move and interact with their peers and environment. She knew that physical therapy was the career for her after suffering an injury in high school, but there were a variety of other skills that she uses today that still needed some fine-tuning. Alpha Chi Omega became a part of Jean's life at the perfect time to mold her into a Real. Strong. Woman. "Alpha Nu provided me with a wide range of opportunities that ultimately helped build my confidence, leadership skills and encouraged high personal standards. Recruitment, however much you liked or disliked it, helped me hone my interview and conversational skills," Jean said. "Positions I held in the chapter taught me about event planning, budget and conflict management. The development of these skills, along with interactions with sisters and alumnae, helped me become a more rounded individual today." Jean's Mizzou and Alpha Chi roots have both remained strong while living in Fort Worth. She has made new friends while volunteering with the ΑΧΩ chapter at TCU, attending Mizzou game watch parties and participating in a variety of alumnae group social events. Even through some of Jean's other hobbies, she has made more ΑΧΩ friendships. "I started teaching barre and cycle at The Dailey Method-Fort Worth a year ago through an Alpha Chi Omega connection," Jean shared. "The studio owner recruited another instructor and I through the local alumnae group. It's been fun being a part of the studio community and connecting with new people." Some of Jean's favorite memories at Mizzou involve her sisters and campus activities. Jean fondly remembers Greek Week 2009 when the dance captains decided that she and her now-husband, Patrick, should be dance partners in their Beauty and the Beast skit. "We still laugh about our experience and teaching him how to body roll," Jean said. "I also loved living in the chapter house. Living and spending time together allowed me to really get to know my sisters and bond over random adventures and late-night study sessions." The past year has been an exciting one for Jean and Patrick, as they celebrated the birth of their first child, Grant, in October 2018. The ideals of ΑΧΩ have once again come in handy as Jean gets used to everything motherhood has to offer. "It's been a whirlwind of little sleep and a lot of spit up, but such a fun adventure," Jean said. You can connect with Jean at jean.horan@gmail.com. A REAL. STRONG. WOMAN. How ΑΧΩ Prepared Jean Horan O'Mara '05 for Career and Motherhood Jean Horan O'Mara '05 with her son, Grant O nly three chapters were participating in spring recruitment when Tootie Grone Burns '86 walked onto Mizzou's campus mid-year. Finding her way to Alpha Chi Omega, she felt welcomed and valued by the young women she met. It didn't take long to know Alpha Nu was where she was meant to be. More than 30 years of membership later, Tootie still cheers the loudest for ΑΧΩ at each Homecoming parade. Tootie credits Alpha Nu for teaching her many valuable life lessons, including how to study effectively, budget her time, get along with people she didn't always agree with and eat vegetables. Recruitment and chapter meetings stick out as her favorite memories. Tootie recalls, "We were so passionate about our activities, and the issues of who was going to be in the house or where we were going to have our formal were of the utmost importance at the time." Today, Tootie lives just a five-minute walk from the ΑΧΩ chapter house, allowing her easy visits to campus. Seeing young women walking around campus in ΑΧΩ letters continues to fill her with pride. "I have always been impressed with the commitment of many of our members to stay involved and support the house and our dedicated local alumnae group," she said. Thanks to social media, Tootie has fun keeping up with the women she lived with in the late 1980s. Active in the Columbia community, Tootie serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission, City of Columbia Committee on Public Art, and the Bicentennial Park committee. Through her city involvement, Tootie was instrumental in achieving city approval in 2013 for the current Alpha Nu parking lot on Tiger Avenue. "I'm proud to participate actively in my community," she said. "I am proud of the decisions and actions of groups I am involved with that enhance and contribute to the community." Embodying Alpha Chi's commitment to the arts, Tootie works as a local artist in mixed media and mosaics, with a studio in the North Village Arts District of downtown Columbia. Additionally, she is active in the local art community and with the MU Museum of Art and Archaeology. In her free time, Tootie enjoys swimming and walking. She and her husband of 30 years, Richard, who spent a fair amount of time in the ΑΧΩ TV room, attend all the MU football games. She notes that "all ΑΧΩs have a standing invitation to come tailgate at my house!" No matter how many years have gone by, Tootie's love for Alpha Nu is everlasting. You can connect with Tootie at burnstootie@ yahoo.com. Living Her Symphony How Tootie Grone Burns '86 Is Making Her Mark in the Columbia Community

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