Gamma Phi Beta - University of Missouri

2 ALPHA DELTA HILITES Martin '12 from the Beta Upsilon chapter at Kansas State University and Anya Anokhin '12 from the Gamma Tau chapter at Saint Louis University. CHAPTER BONDS THROUGH EVENTS We participated in RAMS in February, also known as Rockin' Against Multiple Sclerosis, and helped raise $380 along with the other chapters on campus. We also raised $336 for a small non-profit organization called Camp Kesem that helps support kids who have or have had parents with cancer. For our philanthropy weekend next fall, we are planning on having Grilled Cheese on Friday, but decided to add a sisterhood event on Saturday at Venture Out, an outdoor obstacle course, and move Crescent Classic to Sunday. The executive board is hoping to instill a new sense of sisterhood into our chapter this year! EXECUTIVE BOARD GRATEFUL FOR EXPERIENCE The executive board is excited to announce that all seven officers will be attending convention in Seattle this summer with our wonderful advisor, Jenn Wood, Saint Louis University '08. Thank you so much to House Corporation for funding this amazing opportunity for us! Please stop by at Alpha Delta anytime, especially at senior brunch on April 27 at noon. We are always more than happy to welcome our amazing alumnae into the 808! Love in IIKE, Samantha Peterson '12 Chapter President sspf44@mail.missouri.edu (314) 479-9511 ALPHA DELTA HAS SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER (Continued from page 1) Members of Gamma Phi Beta coached the men of Pi Kappa Phi during the Crescent Classic. Importance of Alumnae Involvement Chapter Advisor Values Membership T he path toward sisterhood is not always the same, but the rewards are always plentiful. As an undergraduate, Jenn Wood, Saint Louis University '08, joined a local sorority and enjoyed that time with her sisters, but she felt disconnected after graduation. "I felt that I still had the ability to give back in some way to a sorority, but did not have the opportunity to do so with my local organization. When I first met the women in Gamma Phi Beta, I knew that I had found a home where I could have the alumnae experience that I was missing," Jenn said. Jenn became an alumna initiate of Gamma Phi Beta in 2008, when she was initiated at the biennial convention. "I was one of three initiates at a ceremony witnessed by more than 600 sisters," she said. "I cannot imagine a more spectacular introduction to our ritual!" Wasting no time, Jenn got involved with her local alumnae chapter in St. Louis and has held the position of collegiate relations vice president since 2009. Through that role, she serves as liaison between the St. Louis alumnae and the four collegiate chapters they support. She has enjoyed traveling to those chapters and getting to know the sisters better. Her first introduction to Alpha Delta came in 2011, when she volunteered to help the chapter with their initiation ceremony. She later served as their ritual advisor. Jenn remained involved with Alpha Delta over the next two years, until she was asked to officially serve as chapter advisor in April 2013. She said, "Although I was very surprised to be asked, I am extremely glad that I was as the experience has been amazing." Joyce Onions Pharriss '59 lives in Menlo Park, Calif., the home of Facebook, with her boyfriend of 16 years. In retirement, she has become a shameless stage mother who wants you to know that her daughter, Lotti Pharriss Knowles, wrote and produced the new horror-comedy film "Chastity Bites," now available on DVD at Amazon. She has three grandcats, all of whom live in Los Angeles. Carol Buchmueller Stelmach '58 and her husband, Bob, have been going to Tiger home football games for over 40 years and at least once every season visit the Alpha Delta house. Even though Bob graduated from Northwestern University, he is a loyal Tiger fan. The couple lives in Sunset Hills, which is close to their two daughters and their families. Six grandchildren ages 5 through 13 keep them "young" and are the joy of their lives. Carol meets with six Alpha Deltas regularly for lunch or dinner and has been for years. E-mail: cstelmach67@gmail.com Elaine Reinhardt Fleig '73 is doing well and lives with her husband, Terry, in quaint and comfortable Kirkwood, Mo. Though she is a stay-at-home housewife, she said "I wear many hats." Life keeps Elaine busy with parents who are 91 and 92 and are still living well and independently in O'Fallon, and a sister, Diane. Elaine spends her time with family and friends sharing many memories and laughter. Travel has always been on the agenda for Terry and Elaine, including attending all Tiger football games in Columbia. Jenny Stelmach Merlo '90 lives in Sunset Hills, Mo., where she is a full-time mother to four children, ages 5 to 13. She enjoys volunteering with the Lindbergh School District. Jenny and her husband, Dan, will celebrate 17 years of married life this April. She writes that she is "looking forward to the summer when kids can sleep in and I can have a little free time!" E-mail: jendanmerlo@gmail.com Crescent Corner Alpha Delta alumnae recreate old memories on the chapter house steps. First row: Sharon Kountzman Bower '60, Barbara Mester Degnan '58, and Nancy Willis Litzinger '59. Second row: Carol Buchmueller Stelmach '58, Janet Nentwig Schoedinger '59, and Sue Dorsey Durrett '59.

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