J U N E 2 0 1 5
SAI Chicago Alumnae
V I T A B R E V I S , A R S L O N G A
L e tt er from Our President U p c o m i n g E v e n t s
Lov e & Roses , Allison Smith Chapter President
My Dear Sisters, As we conclude our 2014-‐2015 chapter year, I would like to take a moment and thank all of our wonderful sisters and chapter executive board officers! You have truly done a fine job this year in fulfilling our theme, “Harmony from Within”. I am proud of the way we have supported new projects, welcomed four new members and improved our chapter meetings. It was been a wonderful year and I know the future of our chapter is bright!
This spring and summer many collegiate women will graduate and begin looking for a new home in an SAI alumnae chapter. We will have several social opportunities this summer for women to get to know the Chicago chapter and for us to enjoy many of Chicago’s summer music opportunities! If you have ideas for socials, please email me at your earliest convenience. We hope we may continue to grow our sisterhood and help connect SAI members throughout the Chicagoland area!
As we take our summer break from meetings, I hope you and your families are well and safe. I look forward to seeing many of you at our planning meeting in July and will keep you in my thoughts at National Convention.
S i g m a A l p h a I o t a C h i c a g o A l u m n a e C h a p t e r � C h i c a g o , I L � C h a r t e r e d i n 1 9 2 8
2015-‐2016 Chapter Planning Meeting Monday, July 13 at 11:30am Home of Gail Swerdlik (Glenview)
National SAI Convention July 23 – 27, 2015 Register online! (St. Louis, MO)
S u m m e r S o c i a l s Join the Chicago Alumnae Chapter this summer for socials around the Chicagoland area! To learn about specific outings and details please contact [email protected]
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J U N E 2 0 1 5 C O N T I N U E D
Minnie Davis Sherrill had an idea for a music sorority with high ideals and approached Professor Albert Stanley, in 1903, for permission to start a sorority. He gave his permission and assistance, and Minnie Davis Sherrill shared her ideas with her friends.
So it was then that Sigma Alpha Iota was founded on June 12, 1903 at the University School of Music, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Minnie Davis Sherrill became the first President of the group. It wasn’t until December 1, 1904, however, that the Articles of Association were signed by 9 members of the Sigma Alpha Iota original chapter and recorded with the Secretary of State, in Michigan, on December 15, 1904. Thus Sigma Alpha Iota was duly incorporated to be a nonprofit association.
The Founders did not have any idea of becoming a National organization. They did not consider the idea of establishing affiliated groups or chapters. The group was small and the officers’ inability to maintain regularly scheduled meetings left no time for matters other than those of their own group.
On July 19, 1904, an organizational meeting was held at the home of the newly elected President, Elsa Stanley, the daughter of Professor Albert Stanley. Among matters discussed were the possibility of organizing an SAI Chapter at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston (the birthplace of Sinfonia). That seemed like a good idea; however, there is no evidence that they made an attempt to complete this idea.
On October 29, 1904, the group received a petition from 11 young women in Evanston, Illinois. This petition was approved and the group was installed as Beta Chapter, the second SAI Chapter… And, so, SAI grew and grew and grew and continues to grow to this day –112 years later.
Written by Gloria Messerschmidt, Editor & Fraternity Education
A trend on social media is to post “Throwback Thursday” photos each week. Our social media chair Kali Maginity asked Chicago-‐area SAI’s to submit TBT SAI Photos! So far she has posted several collages on our chapter’s webpage and Facebook page. It has been a lot of fun seeing the different “throwback” photos and SAI sisters throughout the years.
At some point this summer, Kali plans to share one Throwback Thursday collage featuring pictures exclusively from the Chicago Chapter. It will be a special TBT post to celebrate our own members!
If you have not already, please send her a photo of yourself as a collegiate members or in earlier days as an SAI alum. Please email photos to [email protected].
Thank you for sharing your memories!!!
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J U N E 2 0 1 5 C O N T I N U E D
Allison Smith, President Kali Maginity, VP Membership Linda Parapetti, VP Program
Kay Bobis, VP Ritual Agnes Smith, Secretary Gail Swerdlik, Treasurer
Gloria Messerschmidt, Editor Sergeant at Arms, Viola Manning
If you would like to contact a member of the Chicago Alumnae executive board, please email [email protected]
Our final meeting of the 2014-‐15 year was a joyous event, as we welcomed two new members to our chapter. Kimberly Schlarman, a graduate of Epsilon Pi chapter (Truman State University), affiliated with our chapter, and Crystal Grant joined the SAI Sisterhood as a patroness member. We are so excited to have both women joining our cherished sisterhood.
Our delicious luncheon was prepared by Alberta Daniels & Lucy Almagro, our hostesses. We celebrated Founder’s Day and conducted installations for our 2015-‐16 executive board.
Please see the sidebar for list of our new officers. Thank you to all who helped in planning such a beautiful afternoon, particularly to our Vice President of Ritual, Kay Bobis, who led us through many beautiful rituals. Thank you!
We were so blessed to have our final 2014-‐15 meeting & luncheon hosted by Alberta Daniels & Lucy Almagro. Mother & daughter, Lucy and Alberta have been a part of the Chicago Alumnae Chapter for many years and will soon be moving to Texas. They will be dearly missed by the Chicago chapter! We wish them only the best in their new home!
This summer, many of our Chicago sisters will be traveling around the state, country, or world! In order to keep SAI as part of our travels, we will be taking photos with pictures of our seven founders! Where in the world is SAI!? Check our facebook page or fall newsletter to see where our founders ended up this summer!