Annual Potluck Luncheon on Marco Island

On October 8, 2016, members of Delta Pi Delta Alumnae Chapter met in the Social Room of Prince Condominium on Marco Island, Florida, for their first meeting of the 2016-2017 season. Rosemary Zakoian was our hostess. Members brought their favorite salad or dessert, and the lavish buffet had something for everyone.


After lunch, award-winning photographer, Joe Parisi, gave a presentation on his world travels. In images, Joe took us to Deception Island in Antarctica to see penguins up close and personal and other wildlife around Whalers Bay, where there was a Norwegian whaling station from 1912-1931. Joe visited Cuba on a cultural exchange and photographed once-grand buildings and homes in Havana, as well as vintage American cars repurposed as taxi cabs. Joe went to two game reserves in Africa and to the Galapagos Islands, where boobies, both blue and red-footed, abound. Joe climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It was no easy feat, and Joe undertook a fitness program beforehand in order to be able to make the 5-7 day trek up the mountain. Of course, he made it to the top and photographed the different ecosystems on his way up. We admired all of Joe’s photos, but we also enjoyed the narratives of his adventures.

The lobby of the 13-storey Prince Condominium

The high-rise atrium is completely closed in by a glass ceiling.

Jean, Claire and Mary at the buffet table

Teddy and Margi

Marcia and Darlene

Hostess Rosemary, Judy and Caroline

The dessert buffet

Doris, Darlene, Nancy, Teddy and Jean

Darlene and Nancy Collins, Panhellenic President

Nanette, Claire, Sasha and Phyllis

Claire Emmack is the Chapter Consultant for Kappa Chi Chapter for the current academic year. Sasha is the Kappa Chi Chapter Advisor, and Phyllis is in charge of Kappa Chi Fraternity Relations. They cordially invited our members to the Kappa Chi initiation on October 15.

Sally, Linda, Shirley, Judy, Mary and Sandi

Margi, Carolyn, Barbara, Rosemary, Marcia and Pat

Ann and Dee

Co-President Pat Jolly conducts the meeting

Darlene received a gift in appreciation of her contributions to Naples Panhellenic.

Brenda, Barbara and husband Joe Parisi

Joe during his presentation

A photo of Joe and the National Geographic Explorer, equipped as an ice breaker, in Antarctica.

Teddy and Darlene on the way out after the luncheon

Lovely Lunch at Carrabba’s Italian Grill

On April 9, 2016, Delta Pi Delta members visited Carrabba's Italian Grill  in Naples, Florida. Carrabba’s is a  restaurant chain featuring Italian-American cuisine. It was founded on December 26, 1986, by Johnny Carrabba III, and his uncle Damian Mandola. Together, they opened the first restaurant in Houston, Texas. They consider themselves just two Sicilian boys from Texas who love to cook and eat. As of 2015,  of the 100 plus Carrabba's restaurants, there are more in the state of Florida than in any other state in the United States. (Texas is a close second.)  Many of the recipes for the dishes on Carrabba's menu are those of Damian's mother Grace and his sister Rose. These recipes were featured on the PBS cooking show Cucina Sicilia, (Sicilian Cuisine) hosted by Carrabba and Mandola.

Carrabba’s in Naples

The Kitchen Manager, Francisco, and his assistant, Barbara,  presented the cooking demo.

Both of them were lively and enthusiastic cooks and made the event fun as well as informative. For each course, we watched the demo of how it was cooked, and then we received the course they had prepared. We enjoyed watching the demo and then eating the food, course by course, even more.

Members are busy writing down recipes and cooking tips.

Amy, our hostess for the luncheon, Debbie and Marcia

Sally, Linda, Pat, Margi and Donna

Teddy, Darlene and Scottie

Carrabba’s presented each guest with a complimentary spatula or whisk.

Kerry, Sue, Carol and Jackie with the appetizers, Lettuce Wraps. The wraps consist of chopped chicken and veggies in a vinaigrette dressing. 

Ruth and Mary Ellen, 50-year pin honorees

Susan, Brenda and Rosemary

Julie, Phyllis and Ronda

Francisco and Barbara preparing the second course, mussels.

Mussels in a lemon-butter sauce 

Each of us received this generous portion of mussels. Some who had never had mussels before sampled them, and those of us who like mussels made sure none went to waste.

Marco with the sauce for the entrée.

Our entrée was Chicken Bryan, one of Carrabba's specialty dishes. 

It features an 8-ounce grilled chicken  breast, topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and a basil  lemon-butter sauce. The dish is named after the city of Bryan  (Texas), where the Carrabba family settled. In addition to the chicken was Zucchini Stefano and Picchi Pacchiu (PicPac) linguini. The chicken and goat cheese were a surprising but excellent combination. 

Warm, crusty  home-made bread in a basket

Our dessert was a mini cannoli with ricotta and mascarpone cheese

This meal was terrific, and we thank our hostess Amy for arranging it for us.

Co-President Margi with carnations for the Birthday Girls

Birthday Girl Linda

Birthday Girl Debbie

Marcia and Pat
Marcia was installed as Co-VP/Programs.

Mary Ellen received her fifty-year pin from Donna.

Ruth received her fifty-year pin from Donna.

Ruth and Mary Ellen wearing their pins after the ceremony

We closed our meeting on this day with the recitation by members of the “Rededication Bond,” and the “Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega,” as a reminder of the spirit of Alpha Chi Omega.

Hera Day Celebration at Worthington Country Club

On March 12, 2016, members of Delta Pi Delta Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega  gathered for Hera Day, a special day for Alpha Chis because it celebrates the altruistic tradition that has guided its members ever since the founding of the sorority in  1885. Shirley Blake was our hostess at Worthington Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida. 

The installation of three officers took place: Pat Jolly and Margi Shostedt as Co- Presidents and Brenda Griebahn as Co-VP/Programs. Marcia Fink, Co-VP/Programs,  will be installed at a later date.  The following officers will continue in the offices they presently hold: Jean Knight, VP/Membership; Sasha Williams, VP/Collegiate;  Donna Porter, Treasurer; Phyllis Leahy, Recording Secretary; and Brenda Blake-Manley, Corresponding Secretary. Arlene “Scottie” Flatley received her sixty-year pin, and each member received a red carnation in recognition of the time she spent on volunteer activities, more than 14,000 hours in the past year.  In appreciation of Shirley Blake and Ann Farrall, who have been Co-Presidents for the past four years, our chapter has given $100 each to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and Love and Loyalty Fund.

Our presenter for the day was Judith Anderson, former National President of Alpha Chi Omega from 1992 to 1996. Judith discussed how our sorority enriches the lives of members through lifetime opportunities of friendship, leadership, learning and service. She gave an overview of where our sorority has been in the past, where we are in the present and where we will be in the future. 

The meeting on this day closed with the recitation by members of the “Rededication Bond,” and the “Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega,” as a reminder of the spirit of Alpha Chi Omega and in celebration of forty-two years of sisterhood in Southwest Florida.

Approach to Worthington Country Club

Sasha on her way in to the luncheon

The porte-cochère of Worthington

Front view of Worthington

Guests Kathy and Cathy were sorority sisters in the Kappa chapter of the University of Wisconsin.

Phyllis, Jean and Sasha

Guest Debbie from the Beta Epsilon Chapter at Michigan State University and Phyllis

Kathy, Sue & Cathy were all sisters in the Kappa Chapter at Wisconsin

Rosemary, Barbara, Carolyn and Mary Lou

Mary and Judy

Susan, Shirley and Ann

Teddy and Darlene

Pat and Rosemary

Guest Paula and Brenda

Julie, from Beta Chapter at Albion College, and Ronda

Judy, Mary and Diane, also from the Kappa chapter at the University of Wisconsin

Phyllis and Jane in their Easter-time colors 

Sasha, Phyllis and Brenda

Our scrumptious dessert. It tasted as good as it looked.

Ann and Brenda during the initiation ceremony

New Co-Presidents, Pat and Margi

Scottie receiving her 60-year pin from Donna

Scottie

Birthday Girl Brenda and Becky

Judy Anderson