Xi Chi News

Congratulations!  Fran Harris-Shaffer for being installed as our new Illinois State Council president. Fran we hope you have a wonderful year as you “Let Your Dreams Take Flight with ESA." Other members of Xi Chi serving on the executive board and appointed board are Wanda Harris as corresponding secretary, scrapbook coeditor, and state convention co-chair; Sue Osborne as chaplain; Blyth Wilson as scrapbook coeditor and state convention co-chair; Adrian Sperduto as state convention co-chair; and Chip Shaffer as Hope for Heroes coordinator. Thanks to the members of Omega Nu for a fun filled convention weekend. The Friday night mixer was hilarious and entertaining and Saturday evening was very elegant.

We had several of our members attend the ISC convention as we prepared for Fran's installation. Our members in attendance were Adrian Sperduto, Blythe Wilson, Sue Osborne, Chip Shaffer, Fran Harris-Shaffer, Wanda Harris and our three Elans: Aiyana and Chenoa Stokes and Sydney McMurphy. Xi Chi was proud to receive several awards at this year's awards luncheon- HFH participation, 3^rd place Easter Seals, 3^rd place Camp New Hope, 2^nd place publicity, Gold Link for publicity, 1^st place philanthropic hrs, 1^st place philanthropic money, 3^rd place St Jude hrs, and our most cherished- Outstanding Chapter 2012-13.

Other chapter activities:  in May we held our annual awards banquet at the Trenton House in Trenton, Illinois. ISC state president Celeste and her sister corresponding Sec. LeeAnn were on hand to help present the awards. Chip received his third and fourth degree Pallas Athene, Sue Osborne received her fourth degree Pallas Athene and Blyth Wilson received her Jewel Pin and first Pearl + 1. Our pledge of the year was Blythe Wilson and Chip Shaffer was chosen as our member of the year. A special “Thumbs up ”award was presented to our volunteers in attendance for coupons clipping and Chip was crowned “Shrink Wrap King” complete with his own crown. Other mementos included a pink flamingo for Blyth's RV, bubble bath and a rubber ducky for LeeAnn, a giant eraser for Adrian, and Fran received her travel companion, “Flutterby “. It was a fun filled evening with everyone really enjoying themselves. June was a busy month with us having our annual yard sale June 13 and 14^th with the proceeds going towards Ways and Means. The 21st through the 23rd Chip, Fran and volunteers helped out at Camp Hope in Farmington Missouri with the female wounded warrior float trip. They had a large turnout this year and the weather turned out great for a float down the river.

Upcoming activities include a booth at the O'Fallon Township high school homecoming football game September 28, a booth at the Taste of Southern Illinois in Lebanon Illinois September 27 and 28^th, our annual barbecue is scheduled for October 20 and our St. Jude fundraiser (dinner and auction) scheduled for November 9^th. Of course we will have a few members attending the fall board and workshop in Mattoon Oct. 5 plus we are making plans for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Fran Harris-Shaffer will be headed to Denver Colorado for the ESA Leadership Conference.  This is to help future State Presidents be more prepared for our positions.  Fran will be State President starting in June 2013.  Very Exciting!!  She is busily putting her Board together at the present, too!  Everyone is being so wonderful about "volunteering" when she asks them to be on my Board for next year.  :) 

Xi Chi is very busy supporting our troops in 2013.  We just received a donation of some lumbar pillows and DVD's that our State Hope for Heroes Coordinator, Chip Shaffer, is packing up to send to Afghanistan.  We also just donated 8 baskets to Minds Eye for their annual Fundraiser.  Some of our members will be attending a Trivia Night to support Hope for Heroes.  We get to play this time!!  Chip has put together 10 baskets for a Chinese Auction for the Trivia Night.  We are also busy with finishing up our 6 Educationals for the year.  During one of these Educationals, we'll even learn how to make Boo-Boo Bunnies! 

The Illinois State Council's Winter edition of the ESA'ly Yours Newsletter was just completed by Co-Editors Fran Harris-Shaffer and Deb Kehrer.  Our next issue's deadline is March 25, 2013. 

Xi Chi At a Glance

The excessive heat has come and gone and the trees are showing their yellows and reds and rusts. We rounded out our summer activities with a BBQ and rock painting at Blyth Wilson’s home. Blyth's mother, Jo, instructed us on how to paint turtles, ladybugs, cats, and deer on rocks.  It was a lot of fun and we got to see the creative and artistic Side of our members. In September Blyth presented a very informative educational on the Amish way of life at our September meeting. We held our annual yard sale in Troy at the home of our DESAs, Aiyana and Cheona Stokes. The weather cooperated and we ended up with a great yard sale. September 29 we had a great turnout for the ISC workshop and fall board meeting. Thanks to all who were able to attend. October started out with our monthly meeting where Sandy Wentz, our educational director, did a presentation on hummingbirds. We learned there is a local group that bands hummingbirds each year in our area and you can actually participate in the banding. Her presentation was really quite cool. October 5 and 6 we had a booth at O'Fallon's Oktoberfest where we joined in the ESA Chocotober membership rush. We displayed posters featuring Xi Chi, ESA, St. Jude, Easter Seals and Hope for Heroes. We raffled off 4 baskets, one of which was full of chocolate goodies.  We also handed out chocolate candy and had applications ready for signing. We have signed one new member and have prospects of two more. Our newest member is Carma Lopotenco who was pledged by Chip Shaffer. Also in October Fran Chip and Wanda attended the MARC conference in Kansas City. We had a great time especially at Friday night's trip to Arnold's where we had a sock hop with a live band. We also attended some really informative workshops. Also for the coming year Chip has been appointed MARC’s first Hope for Heroes coordinator. Congratulations Chip!

With the change in seasons it's now time for Xi Chi’s members to begin their holiday preparations. To start off the season we will be having our annual St. Jude fundraiser November 3. This year we are working with MECCA doing a dinner and auction. Xi Chi has put together over 100 baskets for the auction. We are also planning on participating in the St. Louis Veterans Day parade November 10. On November 17 we will be gearing up for our annual Christmas shipments to our military members serving in Afghanistan by packing backpacks and Christmas stockings. And we will be taking Christmas stockings to the veterans at Marion VA Hospital December 1. Through the Christian Charities organization we will be adopting a Secret Santa child who we hope to fill some Christmas wishes. Also through our Hope for Heroes program we are looking into adopting a family from Scott Air Force Base. And of course our holiday would not be complete without our annual chapter Christmas party.

Great picture of most of our Chapter!!  Proud to be a member of Xi Chi/ESA!!