Alpha Chi Omega - University of Missouri

The chapter celebrates its spring 2019 new member class with a Bid Day theme of "Seeking the Heights." New members posed with Vice President of New Member Education Alli Klusmeyer '17 (in white hat) and Vice President of Recruitment Amy Snow '17. 3 Alpha Chi Omega From One Rewarding Experience to Another Why Alpha Nu Was One of Susan Veidt '71's Best Decisions U nfamiliar with sororities and uncertain of what life as part of one would be like, Susan Veidt '71 stayed away from them as a freshman at the University of Missouri. Soon, though, she met two Alpha Chis—Karen McNeill '71 in her Spanish class and Jeanne Heligman Juergens '71, who lived next door in her dorm. They invited her to a spring recruitment party and after attending, Susan was sold. "Like Karen and Jeanne, the Alpha Chis I met were warm and welcoming, down-to- earth, easy to talk to and lots of fun," she shared. "Saying 'yes' to joining ΑΧΩ was an easy decision." Following graduation, Susan entered into a 44-year-long career in public relations in St. Louis. Thirty-two of those years were spent at FleishmanHillard, a global public relations firm, where she began as an account executive and retired as president of their central region. During that time, she served clients such as AT&T, Ralston Purina, Energizer, and many more large corporations, drawing heavily on her education from Mizzou. Opportunities within the firm were abundant, and Susan was able to travel the country, work on business mergers and transformations, develop campaigns, launch products, travel with celebrities and work on a presidential summit. Susan retired in January 2018 from FleishmanHillard and a month later was inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame. "I was lucky to be part of such a dynamic profession where I had a chance to be involved in some of the most challenging communications issues of the time," she said. Regarding her induction, she noted that "to be included with people who broke ground in communications and whom I revered during my career is an honor." Susan remains active on the boards of several high-profile St. Louis institutions and not-for-profit organizations. "I am still gaining skills," she said. "I like interacting with the fascinating people also involved and to do my part, in some small way, to ensure that St. Louis remains a great place to live." Susan's generosity includes Alpha Chi and Alpha Nu. She shared her time, talent and treasure with the 2012 capital campaign thru a large donation as well as serving on the House Corporation Board, assisting with the communications for the capital campaign and editing the twice- yearly alumnae newsletter. Susan was president of Alpha Nu chapter her senior year. "It is very important to me that current members have a beautiful and safe place to bond and grow as Alpha Chi women," she said. "My parents and the Alpha Nu alumnae at that time worked hard to give me that special experience and to ensure I had a comfortable and safe home near the center of campus activity. It is a privilege to preserve and share that gift with other young women and to help them to successfully navigate the challenges of attending a large university." "I can't put a price tag on my Alpha Chi or career experience and all that I have received from those experiences," she notes. "Alpha Chi enriched my life thru the friends I made while in college. Membership also provided opportunities for leadership and to build my confidence, especially socially. From those opportunities I learned to appreciate others, how to find the best in them and how to establish common ground between all types of people – even in stressful or tense situations. I have many happy memories that always bring a smile to my face, even 45 years later." Susan's advice to current members? "Living in the ΑΧΩ house is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure," she shared. "Embrace the drama, the unconditional support, the fun, the friendships. Savor every moment of this precious gift." You can connect with Susan at susan.veidt@outlook.com. Welcome to our new members: Barrett Bentzinger | St. Louis, Mo. Emma Boatman | Centennial, Colo. Kira Bond | Allentown, Pa. Grace Boyd | Kansas City, Mo. Alexa Boyette | O'Fallon, Mo. Christine Burris | St. Louis, Mo. Annie Casburn | Shawnee, Kan. JaMya Dean | Springfield, Mo. Amanda Gosche | Oran, Mo. Kolbie Houf | Wellsville, Mo. Kaylee Kneemiller | St. Louis, Mo. Kate Kurtzman | Riverwoods, Ill. Shelby Lewis | Scottsdale, Ariz. Drew Lockhart | Paris, Mo. Isabel Miller | Kansas City, Mo. Danielle Mintzlaff | Richmond, Mo. Elizabeth Price | Plano, Texas Sarah Slobaszewski | Warrensburg, Mo. Jamaine White | Kansas City, Mo. Stephanie Wibbenmeyer | Arnold, Mo. Alpha Nu Welcomes 20 New Members After Spring Recruitment A t the end of January, Alpha Nu welcomed 20 new members to the sisterhood through Continuous Open Bidding. The 17 freshmen, two sophomores and one junior were initiated on March 3 after a six-week new member period. Potential new members were invited to two recruitment events at the chapter house, followed by Bid Day on January 31. Alpha Nu now has a total of 254 members. Thirteen of Mizzou's 15 National Panhellenic Conference chapters participated in spring recruitment this year.

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