A letter from the President…

Welcome to another year of connecting with Thetas in Austin!

A new year of social events, service, and sisterhood has kicked off! Starting my second term as President of the Austin Theta Alumnae Board, I am excited to work with our dedicated board members once again. This year, we happily welcome back Lindsay Kaplan, our past president, to the board as treasurer & Panhellenic delegate. We eagerly recruited a new membership coordinator, Brooke Knudtson, to help us transition to a new online tool for all Theta members to use (ChapterSpot). We welcome their help and look forward to their fresh ideas!

As we reflect on a rewarding year, including receipt of the coveted Golden Kite Award at Grand Convention in July, our board continues to challenge ourselves to provide quality alumnae programming and increase opportunities for giving back. Another notable win from last year was hosting our signature philanthropy event to support CASA for the second year. Lovingly called “CARBS for CASA” – a pasta dinner at Mandola’s and silent auction was held to benefit our local CASA chapter. The dedication of the board and our chapter members to pull this off was outstanding! We raised $800 and had more than 40 attendees, including numerous friends and family members. We look forward to growing this event each year and hope this is something alumnae put on their calendars early (September 12th) for the whole family to enjoy this year!

Other events we enjoyed last year included the ever-popular Antonelli’s cheese class and Theta hosted the Tri-Sorority event at Texas Blooms. Our kiddos enjoyed courtyard events for Easter, Halloween, and Cookies with Santa at the Alpha Theta house! We also hosted our annual Theta Career Panel event for the UT chapter in April. (If you’d like to serve on the panel this year, please reach to a board member.) We enjoyed everything from indoor rock climbing to coffee meet-ups! Our board works very hard to provide fun events and meaningful opportunities for connections with Theta women.

Although we saw a $1 increase in Fraternity dues beginning in January 2019 ($31 total), local chapter dues will actually be reduced by $1 to offset this change (minimum of $24 to Austin). The Annual Membership Form is included in this newsletter and online (austin.kappaalphatheta.org) for further details. Remember that Theta’s Life Loyal program allows you to pay your per capita dues for life, in one reduced payment. Then, annually you only pay chapter dues that go directly to support programming in Aust in. Vis i t the Li fe Loyal website for ful l detai ls : lifeloyal.kappaalphatheta.org.

A gracious thank you to our members who made 2018 so enjoyable. I continue to feel so privileged to be part of this sisterhood. To the Thetas who have recently moved to the Austin area - welcome! As our alumnae members remain some of the busiest and most philanthropic women I know, we will continue to organize events for our Austin chapter members to engage and unwind together this year. We hope to see each of you throughout the year!

Loyally,

Lyndsey Escobar, President Gamma Phi ‘02

P A G E 1

P A G E 2

Founders Day 2019 We raised

$657.50 for the

Friendship Fund!

Thank you to everyone who joined

us at Founders Day on January

26th at Hotel Ella!

Congratulations to

Lyndsey Escobar for earning the

Theta of the Year Award!

P A G E 3

Anniversary Thetas

75   YEAR RECOGNITION - INITIATION 1944  

Joan Sandidge Hill, Beta Zeta Elizabeth “Libba” Hurlbut Holder, Alpha Theta

Jane Worrill Truscott, Beta Nu

50 YEAR RECOGNITION - INITIATION 1969  

Alice Louise Aves, Alpha Theta Barbara Upshaw Blizzard, Gamma Phi

Lyn Mengel Cansler, Beta Tau Grace Hopkins Casstevens, Alpha Eta

Elaine Overley Dennison, Delta Eta Robby Kay Duffield, Alpha Theta Susan Tarlton Ellis, Alpha Theta

Pamela “Pam” Terry Fielding, Alpha Theta Karen Jessup Greif, Gamma Phi

Becky Shepherd Hopkins, Alpha Theta Deborah Janice Hornickel, Beta Gamma Koreen Prochnow Hughes, Gamma Phi

Elizabeth Ellen Jones, Alpha Theta Sonja Anderson Kever, Kappa

Rita Ramsey Kreisle, Alpha Theta Janis Wheeler Pinnelli, Alpha Theta

Bettye Ann Siddons Rogers, Alpha Theta Nancy Seewald, Alpha Theta

Carolyn Magnuson Soltau, Gamma Psi Mary Maxson Thompson, Gamma Psi

25   YEAR RECOGNITION – INITIATION 1994

Stacy Bratton Baugh, Beta Nu Sabra Dunnam Boone, Alpha Omicron

Erin Collier, Chi Margaret “Beth” Cowan, Alpha Theta

Christine Conn Dang, Epsilon Epsilon Valerie Gomez De la Torre, Alpha Theta

Shannon Stofer Dorsey, Alpha Theta Elissa L. Grassfield, Beta Zeta

Caitlin McAneny Giesler, Alpha Theta Melissa Duplissey Gravett, Gamma Psi

Kristen Hicks Hanson, Alpha Eta Kristin Cantrell Harrington, Epsilon Zeta Alison McBride Havens, Epsilon Epsilon

Amie Parks Henry, Beta Eta Christine Moore Jarrett, Alpha Theta

Cynthia “Cindy” Hilliard Keel, Alpha Theta Bridget E. Kenny, Beta Eta

Tracy Coalter Letzerich, Gamma Theta Meredith Dwyer Lewis, Epsilon Epsilon Celeste Urbanski Luxeder, Zeta Sigma Lindsay Taylor Mabry, Gamma Delta

Brynn S. Miller, Gamma Psi Kelly Gast Moore, Kappa

Carolyn “Carrie” Knowles Nichols, Gamma Psi Malaise Murphy Norfleet, Alpha Theta

Lauren E. Pace, Alpha Theta Karen Andrews Price, Epsilon Epsilon

Angelene Price, Delta Omega Natalie Jordan Robertson, Gamma Phi

Jami Cowan Robinson, Alpha Theta Jaime Krugel Thomas, Beta Pi

Sunshine O'Neal Webster, Epsilon Epsilon Dianne Pohoski Wood, Delta Omega

P A G E 4

Theta Events Save the Date:

Carbs for CASA

September 12 at

Mandolas

Upcoming Events: April 8: Career Panel at Alpha Theta

April 17: Easter Egg Hunt at Alpha Theta 3-5pm

April 26: Panhellenic Luncheon at Chez-Zee

Cookies with Santa

February Social at Lady

Quackenbush

Christmas Party

Keep up with all things Theta

austinthetaalumnae @gmail.com

@AustinThetas

Austin Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae

Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Dues and Directory Listing 2019 Welcome to the new year of Kappa Alpha Theta! We look forward to your active membership! Please

support the Theta Alumnae projects and activities by returning your form and check by July 1, 2019.

Note: Our fiscal year runs from January 1 - December 31, 2019 Please complete the following information for our records and for the 2019 Alumnae Directory: Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Please print: First Maiden Married Husband’s Name Theta Chapter, School and Pledge Year___________________________________________________________ Mailing Address and Zip__________________________________________________________________________ Telephone (Home) ______________________ (Work) _____________________ (Cell) _____________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Occupation/Employer____________________________________________________________________________ Employer or personal website (if you would like it listed) _________________________________________ An electronic version of the 2019 Alumnae Directory will be sent via email no later than Aug 1, 2019

_____ Please check if you prefer to receive a hard copy (indicate if you will need a new binder as well) I want to be more involved in Theta:

_____ Founders Day Committee _____ Alpha Theta Advisory Board _____ Career Panel/Mentor Program _____ Alpha Theta Facilities Board _____ Alumnae Chapter Officer Role _____ Alpha Theta Recruitment _____ Call me!! My skills might meet Theta needs!!

We need your input! What types of meetings/events/service projects would you like?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dues: _____ Benefactor** $ 100.00 _____ Twin Star** $ 75.00 _____ Theta Angel** $ 65.00 _____ Regular $ 55.00 _____ 2018 Graduate FREE for the first year

_____ Optional Donation to the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation $________ *Life Loyal members do not pay national dues, so deduct $30 from your total*

Total $________ **Benefactor, Twin Star, and Theta Angel Memberships provide additional funding to support our

organization and the donations we make to support the Alpha Theta chapter at UT-Austin. Make your check payable to Kappa Alpha Theta Austin Alumnae

Mail this form and your check to:

Brooke Knudtson Austin Theta Alumnae Group PO Box 1846 Austin, Tx 78767