Chi Omega - University of California, Berkeley

2 MU NEWS Chapter Officers President Chloe Virgil '14 Laguna Niguel, Calif. (949) 228-7519 / chloevirgil@berkeley.edu Vice President of Scholarship Emma Fisher '14 San Gabriel, Calif. Treasurer Jenna Feraud '14 Encino, Calif. Secretary Taylor Andelman '14 Fullerton, Calif. New Member Educator Clara Murphy '14 Moss Beach, Calif. Personnel Chairman Sarah Whitelock '13 San Diego, Calif. Recruitment Chairman Stacy Kellner '14 Colorado Springs, Colo. (719) 439-4111 / sskellner@berkeley.edu Panhellenic Delegate Emma Fine '13 Denver, Colo. Facilities Manager Kayla Stafford '14 Valencia, Calif. F or alumnae who have attended the annual corporation board meeting held on the fourth Monday in October, you've heard our Chi Omega association corporation mission statement: We were established for the sole benefit of the active chapter, with a main purpose of owning and operating the chapter house according to the guidelines of the national fraternity and the University of California. We plan for the short-term operation of the house and long-term financial well- being of the corporation. That sounds simple enough, yet the time and attention needed to make that mission a reality require the talents and time of many volunteers. In this issue of Mu News I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our current elected directors. Without each of them I could not be the conductor of this "orchestra." Buffy Cereske, Psi Alpha '74, has served the dual role of vice president and treasurer for several years. She oversees all of the financial operations and encourages the active chapter officers to fulfill their contract requirements. She delves into the mysteries of Billhighway! Wynne Washburn Gill '79 has also served the corporation for many years as our corporate secretary. She fulfills the local and state obligations as a corporate officer and oversees the meeting minutes. She is joined in the keeping of the minutes role by General Director Elizabeth Adams, Omicron '70, who has used her skills to reorganize our corporation records and storage systems and to preserve some precious archives. General Director Janet Belton, Gamma Delta '90, has been the key to the revival of the Mu News, and General Director Judith Hulka, Nu Gamma '64, has been valuable as an analyst for our forward thinking projects, guiding us to look at an issue from many angles. Last and far from least is Mary Lou Berg '49 who has probably served the longest as an elected general director on the board. She is our institutional wisdom and the one who shines brightest in her love for Chi Omega. This synopsis barely touches the surface of the value each brings to our sisterhood. All serve out of selfless love for Chi Omega and the principles for which we stand. I cannot thank them enough. I invite anyone who is interested in learning more about serving on the corporation board to contact me directly. We would be beyond thrilled to have you join us. Loyally Yours, Helen Nicholas, Psi Theta '67 President, Chi Omega Association (510) 504-7986 hnicholas@juno.com W hen Kristin Bonarius Garvin '82 joined Chi Omega as a freshman, she had no idea that her daughter, Justine Garvin '15, would make the same choice 30 years later. It has now become a decision and a bond that they both cherish. As a freshman, Kristin was looking for a college experience that went beyond the classroom and would give her a place to belong. She felt that Chi Omega offered that and so much more. "The women of Chi Omega stood above the crowd of the other chapters on campus. Ultimately, it was an easy decision to join." Chi Omega came to be a home away from home for Kristin. She and her sisters enjoyed going to Cal football games rain or shine. She particularly enjoyed being in the stadium for "the play" against Stanford. "To this day, I have a hard time wearing red, as I recall the chants of 'take off that red shirt' to any hapless fan who forgot the never-wear-red rule." Her time with Chi O was not all fun and games; she worked hard, too. Through her sisters and their leadership, Kristin grew into the woman she is today. She found support and encouragement from all her sisters, their belief in her abilities giving her confidence and driving her forward. The upperclassman women became role models for her and helped her discover leadership and social skills within herself. This is an experience that she hopes Justine will have, too. "Words can't express how excited I am to share in Justine's time at Chi Omega, something I missed doing with my own mother. I watch her take a path that felt so very right for me. I often think someone should pinch me; that this can't all be true. She is following in my footsteps and not just believing in my advice, but reliving it through her own choosing. "She'll potentially live in some of the same rooms I did during my stay at the house, and she'll stand on the same roof of the Chi Omega house, admiring the San Francisco Bay view, the lights of the Campanile tower, and the beautiful campus, just as I did when I was her age, dreaming about my Kristin Bonarius Garvin '82 Shares the Chi Omega Experience with Her Daughter, Justine '15 Interested in serving on the board of directors? Contact Helen for more information! With Praise for Our Elected Board Members (Continued on page 4)

• Cover