Welcoming Our Newest Beta Eta Alumnae

 

Dear Recent Beta Eta Chapter Graduate,

       It is with great pride that we congratulate you on your recent graduation from The Florida State University, and your entry into another chapter in your lives as an alumna of the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. You will forever remember the time you spent at 518 West Park Avenue, forever cherish the time spent with your sisters whom have become your life long friends, and forever be a member of Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity.

       As you begin this journey, there are a couple things we hope you will do to keep in touch with Alpha Chi:

1. Be sure to join the Beta Eta alumnae group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6054394572&ref=ts

2. Follow the chapter on Twitter: @axo_fsu

3. Sign up for our Yahoo Group Emails: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/axobh2000s/

4. Join a local alumnae chapter in your new town (please let Britain or Amy Z know if you need help finding one, or you can use this link:http://www.alphachiomega.org/index.aspx?id=96)

5. Join Beta Eta's very own Virtual Alumnae Chapter, Xi Omega Xi: http://axofloridastate.blogspot.com/p/joinrenew-alumnae-chapter.html

6. Check out the Xi Omega Xi blog: http://axofloridastate.blogspot.com/

7. Come back to 518 for Homecoming festivities and other events!  Beta Eta's calendar will be updated on the chapter's website: www.axofloridastate.com and on the Xi Omega Xi Blog...

8. Update your address with HQ, to ensure you receive mailings: http://www.alphachiomega.org/sindex2.aspx?id=138


       If you decide to check out Xi Omega Xi, (we of course hope you do) and you decide to become a member, please note that you can do so by paying your annual dues on the blog thru Paypal. Xi Omega Xi offers a discount for the 1st year for recent grads with dues of ($19) ... (much cheaper than chapter dues, heh?)!

       If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at Axofloridastate {at} gmail {dot} com

Beta Eta Featured in National Housing Corporation Newsletter!

It was so nice to see a photo of the upstairs TV room featured in this article in the Alpha Chi Omega National Housing Corporation's monthly newsletter. To see the full Housing Happenings newsletter, click here.

Linking the Past to the Present by Erin Boyce, Lead Specialist-Local House Corporation/Chapter Relations Erin Boyce, House Corporation President for Alpha Chi House Corporation at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, shares her story about creating a “Founders Room” for the chapter. In the Summer of 2009 during one of my frequent visits to the Alpha Chi Chapter house at Butler University,  I discovered boxes and boxes of old photos from the 1940s to the present sitting in a dark room in the basement.  Also discovered was the original chapter charter, a handwritten story of the chapter’s founding and a shadow box with the pin and charm bracelets of one of the chapter’s founders.  I gathered these items together and took a trip to Headquarters to share these treasures with Vicky Harrison who serves as the staff Archivist.  While at Headquarters, Vicky and I discussed what to do with these discoveries.  From our conversations, I was inspired to create a Founders Room in the chapter house.  Vicky shared pictures from other chapters who had created such a space in their home and I began to visualize how the Alpha Chi house at Butler could has its own “historic” space also. After tapping into the talents of a local alumna who was an interior decorator and soliciting additional items from the alumnae using the chapter newsletter, the project began to take shape.  Getting chapter “buy-in” was critical because the house corporation was converting the “Bum Room” into a more formal area.  The buy-in was easy as the chapter members began learning about their heritage.  One of our local alumnae, Katie Mathis donated a glass block from our original chapter house.  She came to the house during a Founders Day event and presented it to the chapter with many stories to share.  My husband’s boss (the son of one of our national past presidents, Rose Mary Hittle) donated everything and anything he had from his mother which included her initiation certificate, diploma, a watch, many pictures, and other articles.  The chapter members were thrilled to be able to have these cherished items in their home. The house corporation and the chapter have found incorporating the past into the chapter facility can be beneficial in several ways!  The collegians benefit from seeing the longevity of the chapter’s home and the wonderful items reflecting the history of the chapter and its members.  The alumnae gain a real connection to the facility and the knowledge and recognition the chapter values all its members.  And, hopefully, the connection will grow causing collegians and alumnae to monetarily support other future housing projects! For additional support and/or information, contact Erinvia email. Other heritage examples: Alpha Chapter, DePauw University Karen Bushouse, House Corporation Board President. Alpha Chi Omega Headquarters and Alpha Chapter alumnae helped to contribute to memorabilia for the chapter’s wonderful display of the heritage of Alpha Chi Omega’s founding chapter. Beta Eta Chapter, Florida State University Britain Dwyre, Chapter Advisor Britain worked with the Housing Department and the collegiate chapter to also incorporate memorabilia  from the past throughout the Beta Eta Chapter’s home.  Please send your pictures and ideas telling the Housing Department how you are preserving your chapter’s heritage and making it come alive in your chapter house.

Xi Omega Xi Founder - Jessica Harwood Bouwsma

This will be a new weekly spotlight. Each Friday, we will get to know one of the founding members of Xi Omega Xi. First up, Madame President:

Jessica (Harwood) Bouwsma 

Jessica (Harwood) Bouwsma was initiated into the Beta Eta chapter of Alpha Chi Omega in 1997 at Florida State. During collegiate membership, she held positions as Vice President of Fraternity Relations, Caucus Leader, Cultural Chair, Alumnae Chair and served on many committees. She continues to hold the office of Class Agent for PC 1997, sending out monthly email updates to the group and helping locate and reunite sisters.

     Other organizations she was a member of at FSU include: Sigma Alpha Iota - Professional Music Fraternity (President & VP Membership), Order of Omega, Phi Sigma Kappa Sweetheart - 1999, University Symphony, School of Music Board of Advisors, Women's Glee Club, Mas 'n Steel - Steel Drum band, African Drum & Dance Ensemble, and Children's Choir Mentor. She graduated with two degrees - Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Arts in Music.

     After graduation, Jessica spent some time in Colorado working at a private school, and then moved to Atlanta where she was employed by Robert Half International for nearly five years, and then at RussellPhillips - a boutique Executive Search firm - for nearly 3 years. She assisted with Georgia Tech, Epsilon Phi recruitment in 2005. She began her membership with the Alpha Gamma Alpha Alumnae Chapter in Atlanta that same year, and served two terms as the Recording Secretary on the Executive Board. Community involvement included volunteering with the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House and Samaritan House of Atlanta. 

      Jessica recently moved to Melbourne, Florida with her husband, Nathan and Weimaraner, Dezmund. She will be attending Convention 2010 as the Xi Omega Xi President/Delegate, and will be a member of the Convention Choir.  

     

Congratulations to Beta Eta's Scholarship Winner! Part 2

On April 23rd, we announced Jenna G as the winner of a Clearwater Alumnae Panhellenic Scholarship. Today we're excited to share photos from the event!

Clearwater Alumnae Panhellenic held their annual Scholarship Brunch at the Dunedin Country Club on Saturday, May 8th. Here an officer introduces Jenna:

Jenna accepts her scholarship:

Alpha Chi Omegas in attendance to support Jenna. What a great group we have in Clearwater! They had the best attendance of all the Panhellenic member organizations!

Here are all five young women who were awarded scholarships at the event:

Special thanks to AXO alumna Susan E (Zeta Upsilon, CWRU) for the photos!

In Memory of Valerie Stubbs Mecutchen

Beta Eta alumna Valerie Mecutchen passed away April 24, 2010. She initiated Alpha Chi Omega in 1935 at Florida State College for Women, just six years after Beta Eta chapter was installed on campus.

Valerie lived a full, rich life and in many ways was a woman ahead of her time. She will be greatly missed by Alpha Chi Omega alumnae all over the country but especially by those in Alpha Epsilon Alpha alumnae chapter in Washington, D.C. and Gamma Phi Gamma in Tampa, FL. Condolences can be shared on the Blount & Curry website: http://www.blountcurrymacdill.com/obituaries/tribute.html?url=http://stei-23784.tributes.com/show/Valerie-Mecutchen-88459033

MECUTCHEN, Valerie Kathryn Stubbs, 94, of Tampa, died April 24, 2010. She was born June 17, 1915, to Rose Dombrowsky Stubbs and William Oscar Stubbs in their Hyde Park neighborhood home. Mrs. Mecutchen attended Gorrie Elementary and Wilson Junior High, and graduated as valedictorian from Plant High School in 1923. She continued her studies at the University of Tampa, then transferred to the Florida State College for Women, where she received a bachelor' s degree. She began her career teaching school in Williston, Fla., before teaching five years in Tampa at Memorial and Wilson Junior High Schools. During World War II, she worked in the Office of Censorship in Miami before transferring to the office in Washington, D.C., in 1943. Mrs. Mecutchen retired in 1970, after working for Military Intelligence, Department of the Army, The Industrial College of Armed Forces, the office of Chief of Military History, Department of the Army and earning a master' s degree from American University. 


Mrs. Mecutchen returned to Tampa in 2003 to reside at Canterbury Tower, after living 60 years in Washington, D.C., and Silver Spring, Md. She was a 75-year member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, The Women' s Club of Chevy Chase, Md., Woodside United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, and Hyde Park Methodist Church in Tampa. Her hobbies were oil painting, travel and playing bridge. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Taylor Mecutchen, who was a budget analyst with NASA and its predecessors; her sister, Daisy Stubbs Mickler Dickerson of Tampa; her brother, William O. Stubbs Jr. of Dade City; and her nephew, Brian Ellis Mickler of San Antonio, Texas. She is survived by her sister, Smithy Raeburn Stubbs Ingley of Vidalia, Ga.; her nieces and nephews, Martha Tillman Stubbs Vasquez (Ernesto), Martha Jan Mickler (Peter Temko), Karen Alison Mickler (Bruce DeGroot), Lindsay Rae Mickler (John Elbare), Dennis Ingley (Therisa), Paul Ingley (Susan) and Alan Ingley; and 17 great-nieces and nephews. A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. May 7 at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park in Tampa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions go to the University of South Florida Suncoast Alzheimer' s & Gerontology Center, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, FL 33613 or to the Alphi Chi Omega Foundation,www.alphichiomega.org
Blount & Curry Funeral Home 
605 S. MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL. 33609
(813) 876-2421

Alpha Chi Omega's FSU Greek Awards Winners!

Best Philanthropy of the Year

Cheyenne was one of two FSU students inducted into the Greek Hall of Fame

Britain was named FSU Panhellenic Advisor of the Year!

"Greek Week has come to an end and we are proud to say that the week was a success.  The students donated well over 1,000 non perishable items to Second Harvest and the DOS Food Pantry, 80 pints of blood to the Southeastern Community Blood Center, and $300+ to the American Cancer Society. The week ended with a celebration of staff, students, and alumni that have truly been inspiring to the community."

Congratulations to Beta Eta's Scholarship Winner!

Congratulations to Beta Eta collegian, Jenna G., pictured at left, winner of a $1,100 scholarship from Clearwater Alumnae Panhellenic!

She'll officially receive the award at the Clearwater Alumnae Panhellenic Brunch on Saturday, May 8th at the Dunedin Country Club. If you'd like to attend and cheer Jenna on, here is the information:

Saturday, May 8, 2010
10 a.m.
Panhellenic Achievement Award, scholarship presentation, and installation of officers.
Dunedin Country Club
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by sending checks made out to Clearwater Alumnae Panhellenic to the Panhellenic Treasurer, Pat Moriarty, 2975 Whisper Lane N, Clearwater FL 33762. Pat's email is tmoriart@tampabay.rr.com if you want to email to let her know your check is on its way.