Delta Pi Delta Starts Off the New Year at Windstar

The venue for the first Delta Pi Delta Luncheon of the new year was Windstar Country Club in Naples, Florida, on January 9, 2016. The featured speaker was nurse humorist, Carol  O’ Flaherty, aka “the nurse of mirth.” Her delivery was humorous, but her message was serious: we can reduce stress and anxiety by incorporating more humor and laughter into our lives. The health benefits are substantial--laughter improves the immune system, lowers blood pressure and reverses the chemistry of stress. Carol regaled  us with humorous tales from her 20 years of nursing experience, from her childhood memories and from day-to-day living. Carol demonstrated a simple but effective exercise to help manage stress and introduced us to the benefits of a “magic wand” that could shoo away annoyances; she then gave us all wands for our own use. The benefits of humor are twofold: if we can find the humor in everyday situations, we can relieve stress and live not only happier but also healthier lives.

The porte-cochère entrance to Windstar Country Club on Naples Bay

Becky, Susan, Sallie, Pat and Nancy at the entrance to Windstar

Jackie and guests Dvorah, Sheila and Nancy

Pat, Shirley and Ronda

Guest speaker Carol O’Flaherty on the right and Amy on the left. Continuing around the table are Betty and Maureen, Amy’s guests, Mary Lou, Carolyn, Scottie  and Rosemary. 

Our new Co-President for 2016-2018 will be Margi Shostedt.

Our new Co-VP will be Marcia Fink.

Our current Co-Presidents, Ann and Shirley, hold a short meeting before lunch.

Donna reports that when Pam Lawson and Debbie Phillips become Alumnae Initiates,
they will be initiated at the national convention in Orlando.

Sue discusses plans for future meetings.

Valary, Phyllis and Kathy

Donna, Susan and Linda

Darlene and Mary Ellen

Nancy and Sallie

Mary and Margi

Carol and Mary

Our entrée was sautéed Chicken Française (chicken in French lemon sauce) with herbed orzo and asparagus

Our dessert was Grand Marnier cheesecake.

Carol demonstrates a stress-reducing exercise.

Our members practice the exercise.

Carol and her magic wand

Carol and hostess Amy

Sallie going down the steps on her way out of Windstar

Christmas with Alpha Chi Omega at Imperial Golf Club

Members of Delta Pi Delta Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega met for a Christmas celebration at Imperial Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on December 14, 2015. Hostess Donna Porter provided a beautiful luncheon and included on the menu sticky buns, our perennial favorite at Imperial. They were every bit as good as we remembered them to be. As Christmas gifts, members brought women’s personal items and gift cards for women in shelters in Hendry, Lee and Collier Counties.

We welcomed two special young ladies to this luncheon: Gabriella is the first President of the newly formed Alpha Chi chapter, Kappa Chi, at Florida Gulf Coast University; and Rachel is the VP in charge of finance at the Kappa Chi Chapter. We are proud to call both of these young women "our sisters."

After our luncheon, Lydia’s Song, an a capella women's vocal ensemble from North Naples United Methodist Church, sang hymns celebrating the joy of the Christmas season. The group takes its name from a woman in the Bible named Lydia, who was a prosperous businesswoman. She dealt in purple cloth, as mirrored by the group’s attire, and may have been the first European to convert to Christianity. Lydia’s Song performs frequently at church functions, and several members of the choir teach music classes at the Village School, affiliated with the North Naples Church. The music this group makes is both inspired by the Christmas spirit and inspiring to listen to.

Scottie, Nancy & Darlene at the entrance to Imperial

Christmas decorations in the lobby of Imperial

Christmas Santa Claus in the lobby

Christmas tree in the lobby

Caroline, Rosemary & Marjorie

Nancy

Kathy and Anne

Sandi

Marjorie, Darlene, Teddy & Sandi

Anne, Teddy & Patty, Anne’s guest

Jackie, Carolyn & guests Donna & Judy

Nancy & Becky

Donna, Judy & Judith

Richard & Pat, Sandy & Don

Betsy, Donna & Bobbi

Phyllis, Carol & Kerry

Scottie, Donna & Pat

Gabriella & Sasha

Ann & Shirley

Linda, Sue, Sally & Valary

Judy & Brenda

Valary, Ronda & Margi

Pat & Judy

Joan & Jean

Brenda & Lynn

Guest Mary Helen & Zarie

Lydia’s Song vocal ensemble

Lydia’s Song

Alpha Chi audience

Lydia’s Song

Sitting in the center of our group photo is Sasha, Chapter Advisor to our new collegiate chapter. Gabriella, the new President of the Kappa Chi Chapter at FGCU, is on the left and Rachel, the VP in charge of Finance at the Kappa Chi Chapter, is on the right.