M A Y   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

Roses , Alli  Harvey  Chapter  President  

 

 

My Dear Sisters, I  hope  you  are  all  doing  well  and  enjoying  this  beautiful  spring!  As  our  2014-­‐2015   year   winds   down,   I   would   like   to   take   this   opportunity   to   thank   our  executive   board   and   committee   chairs   for   their   hard   work   this   year.   Our  theme  was   “Harmony   from  Within”   as  we  worked   to   be  more  unified   as   a  chapter,  being  consistent   in  our  meetings  and  begin  several  new  projects.   I  am  so  proud  of  the  work  we  have  accomplished  as  a  chapter.  As  I  mentioned  last   month,   this   summer   we   will   meet   to   plan   our   2015-­‐2016   year   and  choose   our   new   chapter   theme.   Please   begin   thinking   about   the   direction  you  would  like  us  to  head  in  and  suggestions  for  our  new  theme!    

We  have   a   very   bright   year   ahead   as  we  begin   new   projects   and  welcome  new   members.   We   will   celebrate   the   installation   of   our   new   chapter  executive   board   at   our   May   meeting   and   luncheon—thank   you   to   all  members  who  are  stepping  into  leadership  positions!  As  I  was  reminded  at  a  workshop  at  Province  Day,  alumnae  membership   is  special  and  differs  from  collegiate  membership  as  we  have  many  more  varied  stages  of  life.  We  value  each  member’s   continued   involvement   in   our   chapter   and   look   forward   to  seeing   how  we   can   all   come   together   to   share   our   love   of   music   in   2015-­‐2016.  

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  

Kappa  Omega  Chapter  Senior  Commitment  Monday,  May  11th  at  9:00pm  Elmhurst  College  (Elmhurst)  

 May  Chapter  Meeting  

Saturday,  May  16th  at  12:00pm  Home  of  Lucy  Almagro  &  Alberta  Daniels  (Northbrook)  

 Beta  Chapter  Senior  Commitment  

Sunday,  June  7th  at  7:00pm  Northwestern  University  (Evanston)  

 Summer  Planning  Meeting  

Monday,  July  13th  at  11:30am  Home  of  Gail  Swerdlik  (Glenview)  

 SAI  National  Convention  

July  23rd  –  27th  St.  Louis,  Missouri  

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 Kay   Bobis   studied   Vocal   Music   Education   at   Northeastern   Illinois   University  (undergraduate)  then  went  on  to  earn  her  masters  degree  from  the  University  of   Illinois.  Kay  performs  on  both  voice  and  piano.  Northeastern  was  a  small,   close-­‐knit   school  with  only  100  students   in   the  music  department.  When  a   friend   in   the  band  program  shared  her  experiences  as  a  member  of  SAI  at  Bradley,  Kay  and  other  sisters  decided  to  start  up  the  Epsilon  Rho  Chapter.  The  sisters  were  very  close   to  each  other,  and  held  many   joint  programs  with  the  guys  in  Phi  Mu  Alpha.

Kay  describes  a  favorite  memory  from  college:  “Even  though  we  were  a  commuter  school,  we  still  got  together  quite  a  bit  because  many  of  us  were  in  more  than  one  group  and  had  a  lot  of  rehearsals.    Our  music  department  was  in  a  (temporary)  separate  building  from  the  main  school.    We  even  had  a  picnic  table  outside  the  building  that  Gail  Swerdlik’s  brother  made.    Many  of  us  would  practice  outside.    We  were  a  family.”

Aside  from  her  SAI  family,  Kay  also  has  a  big  family  of  her  own.  Kay  and  her  husband  Jerry  have  been  married  for  36   years.  Her   son  Carl  and  his  wife   Liz   have  one  son,  Wesley   (3),   another   due   late  September,   and   their  dog  Rambo.   Her   son   Peter   and  his  wife   Colleen  have   one   son,   Jacob   (2).   Kay’s   daughter  Monica   and  her   partner  Rachael  also  share  a  dog,  Hana.  Kay  grew  up  in  Chicago  and  later  moved  to  Morton  Grove  and  Glenview.

Kay’s  hobbies  include  crocheting,  reading,  walking,  and  playing  piano.  She  enjoys  spending  her  time  with  family,  playing  bunco,  eating  out  with  former  teachers,  and  being  part  of  a  book  club  with  SAI  sisters  Agnes,  Gail,  and  Linda.  She  sings  with  her  church’s  Festival  Choir  at  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help  in  Glenview.  Previous  to  this,  she  and  her  husband  Jerry  sang  with  the  choir  at  St.  Emily  church  in  Mount  Prospect,  where  she  taught  music.

Two  of  Kay’s  music  mentors  are  her  voice  teachers:  Sister  Maureen  Sauer  and  Marsha  Lewis.  They  taught  her  to  use  her  God-­‐given  talent  to  enrich  other  people’s   lives.  Kay  encourages  all  SAI’s  to  go  out  into  the  community  and  share  their  music  with  others. Kay  joined  the  chapter  shortly  after  she  graduated  in  1972.  She  says,  “Maris  Sternberg  ,  Gail  Swerdlik  and  Agnes  Smith  were  part  of  the  Chicago  Alums  and  I  lived  in  Chicago,  so  it  was  a  natural  fit.”  Kay  has  been  President,  VP  Membership,   VP   Program,   and   currently   serves   as   VP  Ritual   (her   favorite).   Some  of   Kay’s   favorite  memories  include  performing  at  the  retirement  homes  where  members   live  and  helping  the  Girl  Scouts  earn  their  music  badge   (she  and  her  entire  family  have  been  involved  in  scouts  at   their  parish).  She   remembers  when  she   first  joined   and   went   to   the   home   of   the   Thrasher   sisters,   who   were   Patronesses.   Kay’s   favorite   traditions   are  

Presently,   Kay   works   at   the   Glenview   Public  Library   selecting   classical   CDs   and   promoting  classical  music  through  programs  (Lyric  Opera  of  Chicago   and   the   Chicago   Philharmonic)   as  well  as   music   displays   and   blogs   on   all   types   of  music.   She   has   been   a   music   teacher   at   the  college,  high  school,  and  grade  school  levels  and  continues  to  teach  private  piano  lessons.

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M A Y   2 0 1 5   C O N T I N U E D  

 

Last  month,  several  members  of  the  Chicago  Alumnae  Chapter  attended   the  Gamma  A  and  Gamma  B  Province  Day.   The   celebration  was   hosted   by   Beta   Chapter   (Northwestern  University)   in   Evanston,   IL.  After   a   light   breakfast   and  meet   ‘n   greet,   the   event   kicked   off   with   an   opening   ritual   ceremony   and  subsequent  ice  breaker  game.  There  was  a  keynote  speech  from  Terry-­‐Ann  Saurmann,  who  shared  her  experiences  as  a  blind  musician.  There  were  two  breakout  sessions.  The  first  session  featured  a  “bottles  and  bins”  jam  session  and  a  music  cognition  workshop.  After  lunch,  the  second  session  included  a  “Life  Long  Sisterhood”  roundtable  (co-­‐mediated  by  Alli,  Kali,  and  two  representatives  from  Beta  Chapter!)  and  a  collegiate  recruitment  roundtable.  After  a  full-­‐length  musicale  and  Phlea  Phlam,  the  event  ended  with  a  closing  ritual  ceremony.  

Meeting  with  so  many  sisters  from  around  the  state  was  fun  and  exciting!  Seeing  the  different  types  of  crafts  up  for  sale  in  the  Phlea  Phlam  inspired  me  to  start  some  project  of  my  own  for  our  chapter’s  table  at  the  National  Convention.  I’m  looking  forward  to  sharing!  

Contributed  by  Kali  Maginity  

 

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Yes  !!    Just  89  years  ago  our  Chapter  began    -­‐-­‐    May  4,  1926.    Previous  to  this  date,  all  Alumnae  SAI’s  were  part  of  a  College  Chapter.    Eventually,  the  Alumnae  organized  their  groups  as  a  Club  and  were  given  a  Greek  name.    So,   it  was  on  this  date     -­‐-­‐    May  4    -­‐-­‐     that  our  group  was  given  the  Greek  name,  Omicron  Gamma.    Then,  in  1928,  the  group  received  their  Charter.      National  SAI  hoped  to  create  a  National  SAI  House  in  Chicago.    For  5  years  rooms  for  day  use,  were  head-­‐quartered  at  the  Allerton  Hotel.    Then,  the  National  Officers  decided  to  move  the  headquarters  to  the  Town  Club,  Tower  Court  and  Pearson.    After  one  year  at  this   location  the  SAI  House  was  moved  to  the  Fine  Arts  Building,   410   South  Michigan  Avenue.    Meetings,   initiations,   programs   and  musicales  were  held   in   these  locations.    Members  of  Omicron  Gamma  gave  many  special  programs   to  help  build  funds  for  the  National  House.    Then  came  World  War  II  and  the  dream  of  a  National  House  faded.    Our  share  of  the  House  Fund  became  a  solid  foundation  for  the  “Chicago  Alumnae  Special  Music  Philanthropy  Fund.”    Subsequently,  much  of  this  Fund   became   donations   for  many   of   the   philanthropic   arms   of   SAI   to   aid   in   the   furthering   the   cause   of  music.    We  regularly  continue  to  spread  the  “musical  word”  by  sponsoring  and  participating  in  projects,  both  on  the  local  and  national  levels  to  raise  funds  for  music  philanthropy  projects.    Among  these  are  the  presenting  of  Musicales  at  Senior  Citizen  Homes,  when  we  honor  some  of  our  members  who  may  be  living  there,  as  well  as  helping  Girl  Scouts  expand  their  musical  knowledge  during  specific  “Girl  Scout  Days!”  

Sisters, I give you a rose… Happy Birthday!

 

M A Y   2 0 1 5   C O N T I N U E D  

The  Fine  Arts  Building  (410  South  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago)  

Former  location  of  meetings,  ceremonies,  and  performances  of  Sigma  Alpha  Iota.  

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-­‐    

 

M A Y   2 0 1 5   C O N T I N U E D  

 

If   you’re   interested   in   joining   a  local   collegiate   or   alumnae  chapter,  you  can  visit   the  national  website   at   www.SAI-­‐National.org  to  learn  more  about  membership.    

If  you  are   interested  in  joining  the  Chicago   Alumnae   Chapter,   please  contact   Kali   Maginity,   Vice  President  of  Membership,  and  Alli  Harvey,   Chapter   President   by  emailing  SAIChicago@yahoo.com    

We  look  forward  to  hearing  from  you!    

 

 REGION  5  : :  GAMMA  A  PROVINCE  

Congratulations  to  the  new  initiates  of  Mu  Xi  Chapter!  The  chapter  had  its  official  installation  ceremony  on  Saturday,  April  18th.  Many  alumnae  were  in  attendance,   including  Gamma  A  Province  Officer  Cara  Ying  (third   from   left  in  the  back  row)  and  National  Vice  President  Ritual  Deb  Volker  (far  right).