REUNION 2005
The lyrics to "Sweet Alpha Chi girl, Lovingly calling her my girl" echoed throughout the week of July 18-24, 2005 as sisters of Gamma Lambda chapter (1950-1973), Kent State University gathered for their second reunion in forty years.
The Rock of Ages guesthouse, located on the shores of Lake Erie in Marblehead, Ohio, became a sorority house for the 31 women who stayed either at the house or nearby, and spent either all or part of the week renewing the bonds of sisterhood.
Each day, there was unstructed time to travel, shop, or stay at the guesthouse. Many chose to visit Kelley's Island, Put-in-Bay at South Bass Island, the Marblehead Lighthouse and other historic sites. Other sisters dined on Lake Erie perch as often as possible and shopped at the local stores and farm stands. Each evening became a special occasion.
Monday evening all were treated to a pizza dinner complete with salads and desserts provided by sisters who'd volunteered their time and talent. Lots of wine flowed.
Tuesday began early with a two-hour trip to Kent, Ohio where we visited our former sorority house at 167 N. Prospect Ave. The current owners, Dr. and Mrs. Schreve, allowed us to tour every room and space, where memories of our Alpha Chi collegiate experience seemed to linger. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at Ray's in downtown Kent. We then assembled at Kent State University for a tour of the campus. We returned from our busy day to enjoy a five-course Mexican dinner planned and prepared by Susan Walsh Knieriem, one of our talented sisters. That evening Pat Roof Ellenwood played her newly released CD of romantic ballads from the 1930s and 40s titled After All These Years. Addtional copies were burned and shared with sisters during the week.
Wednesday evening included a catered dinner and the arrival of our guests, Jennifer Diederich, National Vice President, and Heather White, Province Alumane Chairman for Ohio. After dinner, a formal meeting was conducted by Judy Ziegler Phillips. Jennifer and Heather encouraged the Gamma Lambda initiates to petition the Fraternity to become a virtual alumnae chapter. The twenty-seven sisters in attendance signed up to pursue this idea. Dee Astbury Erickson and Vickie Dodds Urban volunteered and were elected to serve as our official historians. Dee will be responsible for creating a website and Vickie will be responsible for our written records. The highlight of the formal meeting was the presentation by Judy Ziegler Phillips of her check for $15,000 to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation to endow a fund in recognition of the 55th anniversary of the founding of Gamma Lambda. Financial assistance will be provided to collegians who are members of new and re-chartered chapters up to five years from the date of installation. Lillian Pollack Cawley and Judy Phillips were notified they had both reached the Medallion Level of Giving to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation! They both plan to attend the 2006 National Convention to personally receive their medallions and encourage other sisters to join them in Chicago.
Thursday morning a representative from the Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter in Sandusky, Ohio arrived in Marblehead to receive gifts and donations. Cash donations totaled $400.00 ($250.00 from the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and $150.00 from Gamma Lambda sisters) while gifts included paper products, detergents, socks, diapers, make-up and personal care items! The day concluded with a program presented by Joyce Ziegler Robinson and Judy Ziegler Phillips about their 10-day experience riding and walking with the Ohio Bicentennial Wagon Train in the summer of 2003.
This wonderful week of sisterhood was organized by Kathy Berghian Watts and Susan Pratt Brown. Recognition is also due to Susan Walsh Knieriem who started a new Gamma Lambda tradition when she personally contacted many "lost" sisters and organized our first reunion in Las Vegas in 2004.
Gamma Lambda sisters traveled from Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Virginia, Washington state, and Ohio. We enjoyed a week of laughing, reminiscing, singing, knitting, sharing and talking. Sisters in attendance were: Diana (Dee) Astbury Erickson, Kathy Berghian Watts, Nancy Bierworth Chrien, Aileen Braun Thompson, Barb Bischoff Bardes, Carolyn Canning Freer, Ruth Cline Paton, Vickie Dodds Urban, Mary (Honey) Francis Heinz, Suzanne Gearinger Burley, Nancy Greene Richter, Joyce INgham Yahner, Rose Macek Jisa, Janet Kadowaki Brothers, Carol Kay Krispinski Blatnicky, Gretchen Letzelter Corban, Wanda Linerode Strott, Gayle Morrow Robinson, Lynn Overmeyer Fulop, Lillian Pollack Cawley, Susan Pratt Brown, Pat Roof Ellenwood, Bonnie Salay Shane, Jeanne Scharf, Linda Shearer Oggel, Joyce Towne Gorss, Rose Trbovich, Susan Walsh Knieriem, Marlene Wierick Lewis, Joyce Zielger Robinson and Judy Ziegler Phillips.
Suzanne G. Burley and Pat R. Ellenwood volunteerd to plan the next reunion, tentatively set for Cape Cod. No facilities large enough to accomodate our group were available at Cape Code so our next reunion will be held again at the Rock of Ages, July 16-22, 2007. We invite all Gamma Lambda initiates to join our alumnae chapter and maintain contactwith our website.