Alpha Xi Delta - University of South Dakota

Epsilon Calls Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta • University of South Dakota • Winter 2023 W ow, what a year it has been! Post- pandemic, Epsilon has been working to build our membership back up, and many thanks go to the chapter executive team and our recruitment advisor, Ashley Meiners '15. Building the bonds of sisterhood is a rewarding experience that lasts a lifetime. HOUSING UPDATES As the chapter works to get the house back up to capacity, the board faces many challenges trying to keep costs competitive with other sororities as well as all the off-campus housing that has popped up in Vermillion. Even with a new house, there are maintenance issues that continue to cause headaches for our hard-working house manager, Jessica Watkins Skelton '08. This year, we replaced one of three sets of washers/dryers with a commercial set in hopes that they will perform better and last longer. The other sets were moved over from the original house and will need to be replaced soon. We also experienced problems with water heaters and the dish sanitizer that were unexpected and expensive to repair. We also discovered the two large trees in the front of the house are ash trees, and while no emerald ash borers have been reported inside city limits, we need to prepare for either treatment or replacement. If your talents and/or connections can assist with any of these things, please reach out. If you can assist with the costs, donations can be sent through Venmo by visiting venmo.com/u/Alpha-XiDelta. If it asks for a code or phone number, please use 4949. You can also mail your gift to: Alpha Xi Delta Corporation Board PO Box 630 Vermillion, SD 57069 On a more exciting note, we were able to finish the walls of the chapter room over the summer! A huge thanks to all who contributed to the 119 Challenge that made it possible. ALUMNAE EXPERIENCES As we are always looking for ways to enhance the membership experience, an idea has come up to share the talent and experience of our alumnae with the chapter through programs. Many thanks to Megan Jo Christopherson '93, our first speaker, who was able to share her insight as a mental health professional with the women. If you have a talent or professional experience you would like to share with the chapter, please reach out to the board. STAY CONNECTED To reduce costs, the board has made the decision to only do a newsletter once per year rather than twice. We would also like to move to an electronic newsletter distributed through email and social media sites due to the cost of postage. This has been a difficult decision, as we want to keep in contact with all our members! If you could please keep us updated with your mailing/email address changes, we would appreciate it. As always, if you have any questions or ideas, please reach out to the board. HAVE YOU NOTICED A THEME? The corporation board consists of a group of alumnae who donate their time and efforts to the continued success of Epsilon Chapter. We welcome participation from alumnae in any way you can think of—no idea is too big or too small. If you have an idea or question, please reach out to the board. I would like to thank each of these members for their continued support of Epsilon Chapter: Patti Nies Hoffmeier '70 Bonnie Untereiner Bjork '73 Karen Nelson Kirkebak '79 Carla Johnke Ewald '82 Heather Swartzbaugh Forney '88 Ginny Moser '01 Jessica Watkins Skelton '08 Emily Christiansen '13 Kendra Mulder '13 Faithfully in Xi, Kim Jensen Dietrich '87 President Alpha Xi Delta Corporation of Vermillion, S.D. axid.epsilon.corpboard@gmail.com (605) 201-3561 Alumnae wrap gifts for the Rapid City Club for Boys. From left: Betsy Lamont Groves '67, Heather Thompson, Rho Chapter, Jolaine Townsend Pokorney '75, Bonnie Untereiner Bjork '73, and Tracy Bloch Perdue '89. Serving the Sisterhood ALUMNAE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN BONDS Serving the Sisterhood Providing Guidance VOLUNTEER FOR THE ALUMNAE AUNTS PROGRAM A lumnae Aunts is a program in which an alumna is matched with a current sister. We attempt to match members by field of study, interest, hometown, or current city. This past year, 44 alumnae were matched with active sisters. The process is quite simple, and the matches make contact through the mail, text, video visits, and Facebook. One of the goals of the program is to emphasize the value and benefits of lifelong relationships and connections with your Alpha Xi Delta sisters. Ame VanHove '91 and Lainey Pomrenke '21 have participated in the program for the past two years. Ame and Lainey were originally paired because Ame is a dental hygienist and Lainey was exploring a major in that field. Ame said, "It's been so fun to connect with Lainey—it takes me back to my college days! I love being able to mentor and use my life experience to hopefully help her in setting the course for her future. I have benefited in so many ways from the sisterhood, and it's amazing to share it with others. I absolutely recommend the alumni program to others." Lainey agrees, "It has been great to have a mentor such as Ame. She is always willing to listen and help to guide me through life as an Alpha Xi Delta and college life in general. Just talking to her over the phone has been very rewarding and fun. I always have a place to stay if I end up in her area, and she has even invited me to ride horses!" If you are interested in becoming an alumnae aunt, please send an email to bjork10@pie.midco.net. We will add you to our list and match you either this spring or the coming fall.

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