The Arrow-HOLD Summer 2011 : Page 3
From our Readers Chance Encounters What a great edition of The Arrow . “Chance Encounters” was a delightful read. I especially enjoyed the “Divine Intervention” segment. Imagine: five months of visiting before discovering the Pi Phi connection. It reminded me of my own chance encounter in 1962. Shortly after moving to Richardson, Texas, there was a knock on my door. It was the “Howdy Neighbor” representative from Texas Power and Light welcoming us to the area. I invited this young woman — whose name was Mary Tatum — inside, and we visited. What should have been a quick, courtesy visit turned out to be much lengthier. We discovered we both were from Oklahoma, and we had both attended Oklahoma State University. Then Mary asked if I was in a sorority, and when I replied, “Yes, Pi Phi,” we both let out a squeal. That was the beginning of a friendship lasting almost 50 years. With Mary leading, we founded an alumnae club in Richardson. We were all young mothers with small children and enjoyed the sisterly support. Together with another Pi Phi and three other couples, we formed a dinner group. And when Mary moved to Virginia, we would periodically go there to visit. When Mary and her family returned to Texas several years later, our dinner group was intact again. Once again, I was tangled in Mary’s web and joined her in the organization of an alumnae club in Rockwall, Texas. Our little dinner group gradually shrank but the three Pi Phi couples still get together. In fact, we met for dinner in May. In the beginning, we had to schedule our dinners around our husbands’ schedules — now we work it around the Grand President’s schedule! LOYDELL NASH SEWARD PERSPECTIVE Lifelong Commitment I already knew the bonds of Pi Phi last through the years, but in my mind collegiate members seemed more focused on chapter activities than on the lifelong sisterhood they have joined. This week, I had a lovely experience suggesting I am wrong. In preparation for my trip to the University of Arizona, I invited the Pi Phi chapter to attend my Eating Disorders Awareness Week presentation. Not only did they attend, but they also contacted the Love Your Body Day coordinator to ask how they could contribute to the day’s events and spent the day manning information tables. They also provided two beautiful flower arrangements for the stage. I felt so welcomed by everyone at the University of Arizona, but the enthusiasm I felt from the Pi Phis was like nothing else. It is heartwarming to be reminded our collegiate members already understand and cherish the bond of sisterhood. From now on, I plan to contact the local Pi Phi chapters and alumnae organizations whenever, and wherever, I travel. JESSICA SETNICK SCHON Pennsylvania Iota — Dallas, Texas Sincere Friendship During a skiing accident in February, I fractured both ankles, sprained my left knee and tore the ACL and meniscus in the right knee. I was completely immobile. A member of the Boise, Idaho, Alumnae Club, TANYA MIKITA PARDY , Arizona Gamma, heard about the accident and set up a “Helping Hands.” To my surprise, fresh, fully prepared meals arrived at my door every day for two weeks. Some of the women I’d never met and most have small children and are working full time. I was so overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness, I weep every time I tell someone about what they did for me. Pi Phi friendships and connections last a lifetime. What we experience in college is just a preview for what is in store for us as we continue our affiliation with Pi Beta Phi. There are no words to express the sisterly love I received during my recent confinement. This is the true meaning of friendship. JUNE HOALST FITZGERALD Oklahoma Beta — Farmersville, Texas Idaho Alpha — Boise, Idaho THE ARROW | SUMMER 2011 3
From our Readers
Chance Encounters<br /> <br /> What a great edition of The Arrow. "Chance Encounters" was a delightful read. I especially enjoyed the "Divine Intervention" segment. Imagine: five months of visiting before discovering the Pi Phi connection.<br /> <br /> It reminded me of my own chance encounter in 1962. Shortly after moving to Richardson, Texas, there was a knock on my door. It was the "Howdy Neighbor" representative from Texas Power and Light welcoming us to the area. I invited this young woman – whose name was Mary Tatum – inside, and we visited. What should have been a quick, courtesy visit turned out to be much lengthier. We discovered we both were from Oklahoma, and we had both attended Oklahoma State University. Then Mary asked if I was in a sorority, and when I replied, "Yes, Pi Phi," we both let out a squeal. That was the beginning of a friendship lasting almost 50 years.<br /> <br /> With Mary leading, we founded an alumnae club in Richardson. We were all young mothers with small children and enjoyed the sisterly support. Together with another Pi Phi and three other couples, we formed a dinner group. And when Mary moved to Virginia, we would periodically go there to visit. When Mary and her family returned to Texas several years later, our dinner group was intact again. Once again, I was tangled in Mary's web and joined her in the organization of an alumnae club in Rockwall, Texas. Our little dinner group gradually shrank but the three Pi Phi couples still get together. In fact, we met for dinner in May. In the beginning, we had to schedule our dinners around our husbands' schedules – now we work it around the Grand President's schedule!<br /> <br /> LOYDELL NASH SEWARD<br /> Oklahoma Beta – Farmersville, Texas<br /> <br /> Lifelong Commitment<br /> <br /> I already knew the bonds of Pi Phi last through the years, but in my mind collegiate members seemed more focused on chapter activities than on the lifelong sisterhood they have joined. This week, I had a lovely experience suggesting I am wrong. In preparation for my trip to the University of Arizona, I invited the Pi Phi chapter to attend my Eating Disorders Awareness Week presentation. Not only did they attend, but they also contacted the Love Your Body Day coordinator to ask how they could contribute to the day's events and spent the day manning information tables. They also provided two beautiful flower arrangements for the stage. I felt so welcomed by everyone at the University of Arizona, but the enthusiasm I felt from the Pi Phis was like nothing else. It is heartwarming to be reminded our collegiate members already understand and cherish the bond of sisterhood. From now on, I plan to contact the local Pi Phi chapters and alumnae organizations whenever, and wherever, I travel.<br /> <br /> JESSICA SETNICK SCHON<br /> Pennsylvania Iota – Dallas, Texas<br /> <br /> Sincere Friendship<br /> <br /> During a skiing accident in February, I fractured both ankles, sprained my left knee and tore the ACL and meniscus in the right knee. I was completely immobile. A member of the Boise, Idaho, Alumnae Club, TANYA MIKITA PARDY, Arizona Gamma, heard about the accident and set up a "Helping Hands." To my surprise, fresh, fully prepared meals arrived at my door every day for two weeks. Some of the women I'd never met and most have small children and are working full time. I was so overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness, I weep every time I tell someone about what they did for me.<br /> <br /> Pi Phi friendships and connections last a lifetime. What we experience in college is just a preview for what is in store for us as we continue our affiliation with Pi Beta Phi. There are no words to express the sisterly love I received during my recent confinement. This is the true meaning of friendship.<br /> <br /> JUNE HOALST FITZGERALD<br /> Idaho Alpha – Boise, Idaho<br />
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