October - November, 2008

Volume 5, Issue 1

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE

Summer is over. It is time to welcome back to the desert many of our members who left for the summer. For those hearty members who stayed, I say, “Brava, you did it.” Now, as fall returns, it is time to renew friendships within our Coachella Valley Alumnae Panhellenic.

There was an exciting, first time event that happened this summer. For the first time there was enough interest in the Endowment Fund that part of it could be given as a scholarship. Please note, the benefit funds were not expended in any way to fund the sorority scholarships. The board decided to award two previous scholarship recipients who have pledged a sorority to help with their sorority expenses. I am pleased to announce that $1,000.00 was given to Brittany McGalliard, Pi Beta Phi, and Shandy Pinkowski, Delta Gamma. They were presented with this gift at the August Summer Luncheon at Olive Garden. All of us know the value of sorority membership and are so pleased to help these girls realize their dreams.

Your board has been working hard to plan places, lunches and programs for you during the coming year. To keep you informed throughout the year we are instituting a new position on the board – Communications Chairman. Pat Mauritzen will be Chairman. Each sorority needs to select a Panhellenic representative and give that name to Pat as soon as possible. When information needs to be disseminated quickly, it will be done by Pat through the representatives. There is a great need to contact people quickly, so please don’t delay choosing your representative. We would like to have a full roster of representatives by the start of our season in October.

Our CVAP website is www.coachellapanhellenic.org. This year we are going to get familiar using it. Those of you with email addresses will be able to access it to read the next issue of our newsletter, and find out other pertinent information. Those of you who do not have computers will receive your newsletter as usual. By using the website the information can be accessed again and again, and the cost of paper and postage will be saved.

This year we are going to insert a little fun at the November meeting. Since that month is the time when traditionally teams play their rivals, let’s wear our school’s colors to the November meeting! After all, it is not all business. We need a little fun also!

We have an exiting year planned for you. We are looking forward to seeing you at our first meeting and luncheon on October 9 at Le Saint Germain.

Fraternally,
Peggy Buenzli, President

2008 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Cristal Salow

Laura Braithwaite

Maribel Jaquez

Rita Sandoval

Kenya Aguiniga

Michelle Flores

Jacqueline Powers

Allison Walsh

Sarah Whipple

Holly Zack

Susana Salazar

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT – 2009

Our annual Scholarship Benefit Luncheon will be held on Friday, February 13, 2009, at the Desert Springs, JW Marriott Resort & Spa. The theme for the event is “Diamonds Are Forever” and will feature a Couture Fashion Show, Marketplace and Opportunity Prizes. At this event we are honoring Betty Ford as our First Annual Diamond Award Recipient. The Diamond Award is given to a woman who has distinguished herself in both character and service to others. Her legacy stands for itself. She is a woman whom all women can admire and emulate. Betty Ford will be honored for her lifelong leadership and distinguished and devoted service to public causes and helping others.

IN MEMORIAN

It is with great sadness that we report the deaths of members Marcia Larson, Jeanne Brown, Glenrose Hand, and Connie Rowles. With sorrow, announce the deaths of Holly Hogan’s husband Daniel; and Nancy Fischer’s husband “Duke.”

DR. LUCILLE FOSTVEDT received the highest praise as a pioneer and role model for women in “Healthsmart in the Desert” Spring 2008 magazine. She was the first woman to practice medicine in Palm Springs and a psychiatrist who helped organize Desert Regional Medical Center’s first mental health programs. Lucille received the Athena Award presented by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce to women who make meaningful and lasting contribution to the community. We are proud that Lucille is a CVAP member.

2008-2009 Officers Installed at May 8th Luncheon

Left to Right: Karen Parmer, Sandy Woodson - Co-Second Vice Presidents; Jodie Miller - First Vice President; Peggy Buenzli - President; Janet Renschler - Recording Secretary; Roberta Guy - Corresponding Secretary; Anne Grey – Treasurer.
Not pictured Sandy Dyer – Benefit/Scholarship Treasurer.

OCTOBER 9th LUNCHEON MEETING at Le Saint Germain, 74-985 Hwy. 111, Indian Wells

Social: 11:00 a.m. Meeting: 11:30 a.m. Luncheon: 12:00 p.m. Price: $26

Our October speaker will be MARK NICKERSON, Co-Owner of Prime-Time International, largest grower of much of the agriculture grown in the U.S. as well as in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys. Prime-Time has created a most impressive agricultural infrastructure in producing premium foods. It has dedicated itself to all new technological production techniques by employing top agronomists in find the best growing areas and building state-of-the art packing facilities. Some of the stores Prime-time supplies foods to are Costco, Albertson, Whole Foods, Safeway, and Kroger. How will the agricultural land in our valley be affected as it becomes more valuable for development? Mark will bring samples of the foods that are available this fall. Hostess Sororities: Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, & Kappa Alpha Theta

NOVEMBER 13 th LUNCHEON MEETING at Smoke Tree Ranch,
1800 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs

Our November speaker will be PATTI GRIBOW, CEO of Gribow Entertainment, Inc., who is the host of the Southern California talk show, Patti Gribow’s Roundtable. Patti is the perfect picture of the modern woman, a girl of the sixties and a woman of the new millennium. She has savored life’s opportunities by delving into new projects with passion and reinventing at every turn.

In the early 1970’s Patti was recruited from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music to become Caption of the Golddiggers on the Dean Martin and Jonathan Winter’s shows. She has had roles in over 30 television shows such as Happy Days, Days of Our Lives, Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island and Quantum Leap. Over the past 25 years, Patti has served on philanthropic boards and has volunteered for numerous non-profits in Los Angeles and in the Coachella Valley. Her passion as a women’s advocate led her to give birth to Strictly Speakers, Inc. which is a full service speakers bureau specializing in Southern California experts with an emphasis on Women’s Empowerment.

Hostess Sororities: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi & Pi Beta Phi

BOARD MEETING– Friday, October 3, 2008; 9:30 a.m. Please plan to arrive at 9:15 a.m.

Location: Home of Peggy Buenzli, 36-447 Crown Street, Sun City, Palm Desert (760) 360-8852

NOTE: The DECEMBER – JANUARY CVAP NEWSLETTER will be available at our new website which is www.coachellapanhellenic.org. Those members who do not have an e-mail address in our directory will be the only members to whom the newsletter will be mailed.

CORRECTIONS AND NEWS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE: Contact Ronda Ostergaard
e-mail: reoster2@verizon.net Phone: (760) 340-3714
or mail articles to 73-350 Desert Rose Drive; Palm Desert, CA 92260

Deadline: November 7, 2008