December 2006

Dear Sisters,

It is hard to believe that another year is almost behind us! As the fun we had in Stuttgart becomes a distant memory, most of us are already getting into the full swing of the holiday season! For many of us this means lots of Christmas parties, extra calories and memorable moments with friends and family, either here in Europe or in the United States. We hope it is a wonderful month for everyone!

Recent News

As new co-presidents, Tessa Visser and Deborah Bronner-Westerduin are easing into their new positions. We recently met for an entire weekend to review the presidential role and plan for the year ahead. After two days of hard work, we think we finally have a handle on things! Also, in early January, an officers' business meeting will be held at Deborah's home in The Hague. The main objective of the weekend will be to write up the annual report along with clarifying details of officers' roles and responsibilities. As new officers, we want to ensure that we do the best job possible for the chapter. A summary of the meeting will be sent to everyone afterward.

Another addition of our SKattered Sigmas newsletter is currently in the works. Magi Boogaard and Donna de Wick are already working on this and aim to get the issue out by the end of January 2007.

The January e-mail message will be sent after the officer's meeting on January 13th and 14th so that details from the meeting can be included in the message. After this, we will get back into the habit of sending the message at the beginning of every month.

Sigma Kappa Photos

Many of us took pictures during the EAC weekend in Stuttgart. Some of you may have already placed your pictures on www.photobox.com. If you do not how to do this or prefer to use another site, our historian, Tana Richards, has suggested that photos may also be uploaded to a site of your choice and then invite Tana to view or download them from this site.

SK_Europe Yahoo Group

Teri Centner set up a Yahoogroup for us quite some time ago. Recently you may have received an invitation to join. The Yahoo group is a great tool to communicate what is happening in your life to EAC sisters or to announce SK events and spontaneous get-togethers.

EAC Events

UK

On Saturday, December 2, a number of sisters met for a lunch in Cambridge organized by Helen Chuah. We hear a good time was had by all!

On Thursday, December 7, Donna de Wick held a Christmas party at her house. Helen Chuah, Judith Goddard, and Maria Lopez traveled into London for the evening, and were joined by Londonites Maria Rankine and Athena Tsiokris, and Danielle Rodriguez, a collegiate sister from UC Riverside. It was an evening filled with lots of fun and a special Christmas treat from Judith.

The ever busy Sigma Kappas in the UK are hoping to host another musical trip, perhaps to 'Avenue Q', this coming spring. Any other suggestions may be mailed to Donna at: donna.dewick@gmail.com. Also, Donna will be sending out a survey regarding activities to be added to the event calendar. UK members should be on the look out for this shortly! More details on all events will follow as they become available.

Continent

Teri Centner and other German Sigma Kappas visited a Cologne Christmas Market again this year.

Crystal White is currently gathering ideas to add to the EAC event calendar for 2007. Some of these include a summer weekend at Kelli Smith-Orella's house in Finland, a weekend in Italy at the home of Gina Wills, and a German Oktoberfest weekend hosted by Nikki Camhout. If you have any ideas for a continental EAC event, please contact Crystal.

Sigma Kappas Here and There

Joyce Iacuelli and husband Dario met up with Linda Varner and her husband Don this November in Palm Springs, California.

Kara Hennessey, who is in the UK on a BUNAC visa, has found a position with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She majored in theatre and drama with a minor in communications at the University of Florida. Congratulations Kara!

Lynn Stebel-Catchpole is currently in the middle of a house move. We want to wish her all the best at this very stressful time!

Stef Sarles has found a new job with Spontex in France, and writes that she is looking forward to meeting sisters in 2007. Congratulations Stef!

Maria Rankine is part of the organizing committee for a balcony party at the English National Opera for the upcoming performance of La Bohème on February 28, 2007. Good luck with the preparations Maria!

Sarah Pikett is off to North Carolina for the holidays with her children Abbey and Jack.

Deborah Bronner-Westerduin and her husband will be in Houston with her family for Christmas. Deborah's family consists of three generations of Sigma women; her grandmother, mother, and sister.

Tessa Visser is now taking in the spectacular holiday scenes in New York City and is then off to be with her sister's family for the holidays in Boston.

Keep your EAC sisters informed!!! To add your whereabouts to the next monthly message, please e-mail us.

Upcoming Birthdays

05 January Julie Fenwick
16 January Lindsey Jones
20 January Brenda Eckles Head
30 January Maria Lopez

Paris 2007

Plans are also well under way for our 10th anniversary celebration this November 2007 in Paris. It looks like it is going to be another fantastic EAC weekend with many special events planned to make this a truly worthwhile celebration! Enclosed please find a summary of Maria Rankine's preliminary plans for the weekend.

Collegiate News

Work is still being done on the alumnae-collegiate relations idea of a 'Grand Chapter'. In the near future, you will receive a separate mail asking for feedback on this idea. More information can be found in the annual meeting minutes sent last month or from Helen Chuah, our Alumnae/Collegiate Liason Chairman.

As for further news on the collegiate front, some time ago we received the following note from Delta Psi (Radford):

"For Founders day this year our chapter is getting together with Virginia Tech's Chapter for dinner. We are looking forward to that for they are a group of amazing girls! The weekend after Founders Day is going to be a fall banquet! We are very excited for that and hopefully we will be able to get some fun pictures to send you afterwards!"

EAC Membership

We would like to remind everyone that it is time to renew your membership!!!!

Please send your dues as follows:

20 British Pounds (cash or check) to Donna DeWick

25 Euro (cash only) to Deborah Bronner-Westerduin

30 US dollars (either an international check or a check drawn on an US bank account and written to "Lynn Strebel Catchpole")

Please note that since we will both be out of town for the holidays, official EAC business will begin again in early January 2007.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday!

Love in Sigma,

Deborah Bronner-Westerduin and Tessa Visser
Co-Presidents
European Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Kappa

"Love Strongly"