Chi Omega - University of California, Berkeley

3 CHI OMEGA A Growing Sisterhood Committed to Philanthropy and Involvement Mu Chapter Embraces a Busy Fall W ith August came fall primary, where we welcomed 58 new members into our sisterhood, and Recruitment Chairman Layla Nasseri '22 is all to thank. The chapter house is filled with the most sisters since the pandemic, and we have had the privilege of enjoying brand-new amenities: the new blinds, desks, and chairs have been sparkling additions to the rooms, and as the temperature starts to drop, the brand-new furnace is sure to be put to work. Our new members are spending their days getting involved in every little activity our busy house organizes from our Chi Scream for Ice Cream fundraiser for Morocco (organized by DEI Chairman Kimia Adibi '22) to game day get-togethers in the second old bathroom, all while learning about the core history and values of Chi Omega with New Member Educator Veronica Jurado '22. Our semester has been busy, especially in October. We started with Parents Weekend and Presents, where we showed off our two newest pledge classes then moved into our invite, Big/ Little reveal, initiation, and annual corporation board meeting. Our national leadership consultant, Ava Penoyer, stayed in our Chi home the last few days of October. The month concluded with Cal Football's rivalry game against USC and Halloween! After the jam-packed month died down, Chi Omega Mu directed its efforts to what we love: philanthropy. Our iconic Wake Up for Wishes was held in November, and shortly after was our annually anticipated slating process. Chi Omega has had the amazing honor of holding the Panhellenic president position for the second year in a row, and Roma Bedekar '21 has operated our Greek community with unparalleled leadership skills and a loving heart. With a new executive board, we'd like to thank our recent officers and the Chapter for giving us the opportunity to give back to our beloved sisters, mentors, and best friends. Mu Chapter has always prided itself on the quality of our members, and we hope that as 2023 comes to a close, our home at 2421 Piedmont has made a lasting impact at UC Berkeley. Loyally, Ashley Yoon '22 President calchiomegapresident@gmail.com Ready for game day! Pictured: Yasmine Caraiscos '23, Ellie Conner '23, and Sofia Labatt '23. Omega Chapter Bettie Brown Robarts '43 – June 20, 2022 Shirley Fletcher Saxby '48 – July 14, 2022 Margot McMahon Heltne '49 – Feb. 6, 2022 Avonia Marsh Dondero '49 – August 30, 2023 Edith Sedgwick Larson '56 – Feb. 14, 2022 Liz Dobbins Simmonds '57 – March 26, 2022 Katharine Abrott Brady '59 – Jan. 11, 2022 Alumnae News Frances Carter Bidstrup '50 lives in Pollock Pines, Calif., and shares that life is never dull with five sons, several grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. Email: francesbid@directcon.net Melody Tennant '67 is a plastic pollution prevention volunteer, is building a solar cabin, and manages an Airbnb log cabin and other rentals. She is a mom, wife, and grandma/ mimi. She resides in Raphine, Va. Email: melodytennant100@gmail.com Dana Weiss Weiler '78 lives in Alamo, Calif., and is still working as a realtor in the Diablo Valley area of the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves to entertain friends and family and loves her garden. She hikes and snowshoes in Tahoe where she has a second home. She has also gotten back to domestic and international travel. Email: dana@danaweiler.com Suzy Wilson '81 moved to Washington, D.C., in February 2022 to become the general counsel of the U.S. Copyright Office. Email: wsuzy61@outlook.com Jen Kline Vallina '92 lives in Silver Spring, Md., and is still running her business, One Sock On Photography. Email: jenvallina@gmail.com Avalon Johnson Fitzgerald '07 made partner in her law firm and recently had baby number two. She resides in Sacramento, Calif. Email: avalon.fitzgerald@gmail.com Shaya Barry '18 moved to Los Angeles after graduation and is a senior data analyst for AEG, the world's leading sports and entertainment company that produced the Taylor Swift Eras Tour among many others. She resides in Tiburon, Calif. Email: shayabarry@gmail.com What words come to mind when you think of Chi Omega? "Camaraderie, friendships, laughter." –Laura Piccirillo Waste '45 "Friendly, welcoming, joyful." –Jan Kemp Leaton '59 "Discovery, caring, loyalty." –Alexa-Renee Simpson '62 "Sisterhood, friendship, family." –Denise Howell Marchant '75 "Owl, friendship, Cal." –Nina Grose Senn '84 "Supportive, fun, warm." –Brodi Kemp Kotila '99 "Second new, West Coast Pizza, sisterhood." –Melonie Holzinger-Coates Parrish '01 "Fun, friends, home." –Taylor Andelman '14 What keeps you connected to Mu Chapter? "Always interested in what the house is doing. I like to read about my classmates. Since my mom was also a Mu Chi O, it's fun to follow the history and future of Mu." –Wendy Camp '67 "Friendship bonds I made. The unbelievable support I have been receiving on GoFundMe for my treatment in Germany." –Julia Scalise Burke '78 "Zoom meetings we started during the pandemic; Facebook." –Caroline Holland Kennebeck-Hale '86 "Email. Would love more events in South Bay area in California (Palos Verdes, Torrance, Manhattan Beach)." –Stacy Stebner McAlpine '95 "One of my closest friends from middle school and high school is also a Mu. I love that it is a part of our long friendship!" –Avalon Johnson Fitzgerald '07 Alumnae Updates

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