Participation in Activities develops us into well-rounded people.  We engage with others to develop outside interests and expose us to new and differing points of view.   By contributing in the larger world, we demonstrate that Chi Omega makes a difference in the lives of women.

9/14/2010 - Bridge Club
9/23/2010 - Potluck Dinner

congratulations to shaza andersen  Governor Bob McDonnell has announced the appointment of Shaza L. Andersen, CEO of WashingtonFirst Bank, to the Treasury Board of Virginia.  The seven member Board is comprised of the State Treasurer, the Comptroller and the Tax Commissioner, along with four members appointed by the Governor.  Among other responsibilities, the Treasury Board exercises general supervision over all investments of state funds, makes recommendations to the Governor on proposed financing arrangements, and approves the financial terms of lease purchases for state agencies. Ms. Andersen has been a banking professional for more than twenty years and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.  WashingtonFirst Bank, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, was started in 2004 and currently has ten branch offices serving northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and Washington, DC.

With the addition of these responsibilities, Shaza has resigned from the leadership team. We thank Shaza for her many contributions to the chapter over the years and wish her the best of luck in her new role!




survey about the northern virginia alumnae chapter  Please take a moment to share your thoughts and opinions on the Chapter and its activities by taking part in a survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9HC8ZBP.  The Leadership Team is looking for your feedback and suggestions on how the Chapter can better meet your expectations and needs.  The data we gather will be used towards planning events and activities for the rest of 2010 and into 2011.

ChiOmega.com
EveryDay
Update Personal Information
New Member Site
The Eleusis
Leading the Way Learning Center
Chi Omega Learning Center – Life Skills Library
Chi O Creations
Chi Omega Travel Program

To join the chapter or renew annual membership, download and complete the membership form. Send to Beth Velkoff with dues of $25 and, if you wish, a donation to our National philanthropy, Make-a-Wish.  Click on the link for the form:  Membership_Form_2010-2011.pdf.   The dues deadline for 2010 - 2011 is September 30th. After that date, dues go up to $35 for current members. Membership has its privileges!

For general questions or information contact Liz Staursky, the chapter's President, at staurskyl@icimutual.com or (202) 326-5475. 

To submit pictures, event information, or news items for the website, please contact Janet Roberson at janetroberson1@gmail.com or (703) 960-7450. 

Contact a member of the leadership team for additional information about our programs.  The names of the leaders and their e-mail addresses are listed in the Leaders section below.  Our chapter's e-mail address is: chiomeganova@gmail.com.

            

Friendship is what binds us to each other and to our Fraternity.  The friendships we develop in Chi Omega give us a home across geography and generations and give us lasting support throughout our lives.





 

Thinking about attending Graduate School? Use this tool from GradView.com to find a program near you!

Sisterhood and High Standards means that we are women of integrity and good character.  We have high expectations for ourselves and for our Sisters.  We strive daily to be role models to others.

Membership in Chi Omega is for a lifetime. Our network of Sisters and the spirit of Chi Omega are a home wherever you are. We invite you to connect!


JOIN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA ALUMNAE CHAPTER!

Liz Staursky	staurskyl@icimutual.com	President, Panhellenic Delegate Alternate
Dorothy Boyer	dorothyboyer@yahoo.com	Vice President
Beth Velkoff	bvelkoff@cox.net	Treasurer
Nancy Benson	mbenson20@cox.net	Collegiate/Alumnae Relations Chair
Whitney Jorns	whitneyjorns@gmail.com	Social Activities Co-Chair, Philanthropy Co-Chair
Lexi Elliott	mailtolexi@yahoo.com	Social Activities Co-Chair
Page Daggett	pagedaggett@gmail.com	Social Activities Co-Chair
Beth Jacob	FitchAnn1@aol.com	Panhellenic Delegate
Patsy Rutledge	pb-thr@cox.net	Bridge Chair
Jessica Schiele	jessicarschiele@hotmail.com	Newsletter
Rachel Levy	loanra@aol.com	ARIC
Shirley Sommer	sdsommer1@netzero.com	Alumnae Recognition
Yorvska Salazar	snow_owl@yahoo.com	Philanthropy Co-Chair
Angie Shineldecker	arthang@aol.com	Eleusinian Co-Chair
Jennifer Moltzan	jenferca@yahoo.com	Eleusinian Co-Chair

Chapter facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9392381223.

Northern Virginia Alumnae Panhellenic Association:  http://www.nvapa.com.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is Chi Omega Fraternity's National Philanthropy. Since the start of our alliance, Chi Omegas have made a difference in many children's lives through volunteering time, talents, and dollars. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has honored Chi Omega for the incredible volunteer efforts of our members.

Janet Roberson	janetroberson1@gmail.com
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It all began on April 5, 1895, at the University of Arkansas when four young women, with the help of a local dentist, established the secrets and symbolism that today bind over 260,000 women. This small band of women founded Chi Omega after realizing a need for an organization that would foster both friendship and respect for the potential and inherent value of women. Over the years, Chi Omega has provided its members with unique opportunities in leadership, scholarship, and lifelong friendship - striving to provide each Sister with a commitment to personal integrity, excellence in academic and intellectual pursuits, intergenerational participation, community service, leadership opportunities and social enrichment.

Career and Personal Development prepares us for life’s work and makes us marketable regardless of the path we choose.  Sisters serve as mentors and coaches along the way.  Chi Omega promotes personal growth and teaches us to work earnestly at whatever we choose to do.

new Mentoring Program   We are in the process of launching our new mentoring program for our Northern Virginia area Chi Omega alumnae.  One of the key values of Chi Omega is to encourage women to pursue a dream of life long learning and be successful in whatever career path they choose, and as they journey in that career path to do it with passion, sincerity and integrity.  Currently, we have a wealth of women who are very accomplished in both their home and work lives.  The whole purpose of the mentoring program is to share this wealth of knowledge with one another including:
 
     * Providing advice/mentoring to individuals just starting out in their career or to sisters trying to break     into management;
     * Supporting sisters in their job hunting efforts, particularly key for sisters who are just graduating College or who have recently been downsized due to the economy;
     * Advice is also needed in networking and making connections in chosen fields as getting a job is often more about who you know than what you know; and,
     * Help is needed around tips for resume writing and job interviewing skills.
 
Contact Dorothy Boyer via email:  dorothyboyer@yahoo.com by April 23rd if you are interested in being a part of the mentoring program as either a mentor or a mentee.   Once we better understand the interest level, we will then start a process to match respective Chi O mentees with potential mentors.

Chi Omega is FUN! Every year, over 5,000 young women across America join the largest women’s fraternity in the world for sisterhood and lifelong friendships.

Sincere Learning and Creditable Scholarship means that we care about our intellectual development.  We embrace the spirit and excitement of learning throughout our lives and encourage others to better themselves.

Community Service means that we want to make a difference on our campuses and in our communities.  We know that giving back to others unselfishly makes the world a better place and makes us better people.   Serving and giving helps to connect us.

Latest News We offered an option for alumnae to make a donation to the Make a Wish foundation when paying dues for 2009-2010. We received $175! The chapter also made its annual donation of $500. Many thanks to our generous donors.

We donated clothing and gift cards to a family we adopted during the holiday season in December 2009.




Our chapter made significant donations to Shelter House last year, including $600 and in kind donations at the Winter Brunch.  Every month, the Lunch Bunch donates items on Shelter House's wish list.

Have ideas or suggestions for this year's community service projects?  Contact Yorvska Salazar at  snow_owll@yahoo.com.

Congratulations to our graduating seniors at George Mason!
    We honored fifteen graduating seniors at a lovely tea, hosted by Nancy Benson at her home on Sunday, May 2nd and encouraged them to join an alumnae chapter after graduation and enjoy the benefits of Chi Omega for the rest of their lives!

Honors for our actives! Chi Kappa was recognized and honored for the following achievements at George Mason's Greek Excellence Awards Ceremony this spring:
       1. #1 Highest GPA for Spring '09 with a 3.1
       2. #1 Highest GPA for Fall '09 with a 3.13
       3. Community Standard Award for Philanthropy
       4. Membership Education Award
       5. Risk Management Award
       6. Commitment to Chapter Values Award
       7. Best of Best Award goes to Sister Cragin Winkler
       8. Outstanding Community Member goes to Alumna Sister Erin Mintz
       9. Outstanding Council Member for PHC Award goes to Sister Kim Farhood
       10. Chapter Achievement Award

SUPPORT FOR CHI KAPPA, OUR ACTIVE CHAPTER Alumnae-Active relations are important for insuring that our sorority and Sisters flourish.  Increased activities over the past few years with the Chi Kappas have been fun and have served to build a bridge for George Mason Chi O's to join our alumnae chapter and others.

Please contact Nancy Benson, the Alumnae-Active Relations Chair, to share your ideas for activities with the Chi Kappas.  She may be reached at (703) 440-0857 or mbenson20@cox.net.  

For more information on Chi Kappa, visit their website:  http://www.gmu.edu/org/chiomega. 

Chi Omega’s symbols are a visual representation of our purposes and ideals.

The Chi Omega Symphony has reflected the purposes of Chi Omega members since its composition in 1904 by Ethel Switzer Howard on the eve of her initiation into the Xi Chapter of Chi Omega at Northwestern University.


Know any Chi O's in Europe?   A listserv to connect Chi O's in Europe to each other is being developed and its growth can be assisted by us.  Some of our Chapter members have daughters and friends in Europe either studying abroad or working.  Some Sisters who worked in Europe have recently joined our chapter.  Chi O is becoming increasingly international!  The new European listserv is a great way for sisters overseas to connect, share travel ideas, and meet new friends.  Efforts to date have resulted in a meeting of Sisters in London and plans for a meeting in Paris.  Contact Christine Kurtz if you know any Sisters who are abroad and she'll send them invites to the listserv.  Christine's email address is: cad7@cornell.edu. 

Our Chapter is Your Chapter! Please join us at any of our events to become connected or reconnected with Chi Omega and your Sisters. If you are new to the area or have lived here for many years, but are new to the chapter, we welcome you! The Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter has many exciting opportunities to meet new Sisters, make new friends, and learn more about our community and our Sisterhood. There are organized events for our Young Alums, dinners for Owls on the Town, a Lunch Bunch which meets monthly, the Book Club, and the Bridge Group (open to experienced card players and novices alike). It's easy to join. Just send an e-mail to chiomeganova@gmail.com and provide your contact information. Membership allows you to stay connected, hear about National updates, partake in events and volunteer opportunities, receive newsletters, and keep in touch with Chi Omega and friends!