Newsletter Sep 2008

Convention 2008

Our delegate to Convention this year was new member, Jenny Smith (right), who reports that our Dallas Alumni chapter has plenty to be happy about. First and foremost, our chapter was selected as the South Central Province Alumni Chapter of the Year! Kudos to all of us for a great year. Thanks to Mary Williams, our newsletter once again won the award for best Alumni Newsletter! Sandra McMillen (left) was once again chosen as the Outstanding District Director of the year, no doubt because of her countless hours and efforts in reactivating chapters at SMU and UNT, as well as her dedication to other chapters in South Central Province, District 2.

Also, our chapter can celebrate having a newly elected member of the International Executive Board. Sandra McMillen was elected 2nd International Vice President (Collegiate Advisor), and sworn in by past President Wynona Lipsett (below). No doubt she will serve in this position well because of her years of experience as a distinguished District Director. For the first time in many years, multiple people were running for each board office. New officers are: Pres Fran Irwin, 1stVP Doris Braun, 2nd VP Sandra McMillen, 3rdVP Gerri Flynn, 4thVP Jeff Zeiders, and 5thVP Beverly Fernald.

Because election to the International Executive Board precludes Sandra doing dual service as District Director, Jenny Smith, along with recently recruited Phi Xi alumni Blair Williams, will now continue Sandra’s work as South Central 2 Co-District Directors. Jenny will also serve on the Standing Membership Committee for the next three years to represent the South Central Province. She is very excited to serve Mu Phi in this way.

Jenny will be giving a report of the convention at our first meeting and share with us her experiences. See more details and photos at Convention 2008.

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Message from Mary Ann

Dear Mu Phis—

1. If you have not done so, I urge you to pay your dues for the coming year. This is a duty, indeed, but it should also be a way of showing your love for the fraternity. Submit to Sharon Kraus as soon as possible.

Although my computer thought so, there is not a “2.” A great many other things are important, but at this time of year, only one gets its own number. Instead, I would like to thank and congratulate those who went to the convention this year. Reports have been positive, and we now have our own Sandra McMillan as the 2nd Vice-President/Collegiate Advisor on the International Executive Board. Jenny Smith is on membership. Success and involvement seem to go hand in hand with recognition. And, probably, some work. Congratulations!

The word “vicarious” comes to mind. The meaning “experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another” applies so perfectly to music. Whether we are playing or listening, conducting or composing, singing or remembering, the power of the experience can be either direct or vicarious. I cannot think of any other art form that can give such pleasure. This November’s meeting, a recital in honor of Frances Stuart, will be, then, important in its own right as a memorial to one person but also a celebration of the honorable profession of teaching. I believe it is likely to be the highlight of our year and ask all to support it. We may not have had Frances as a teacher, but we have all had teachers. We may not have taught, but we have all influenced others. As Susan Poelchau organizes this event, please assist her if you can and support the event with your attendance. It is a wonderful project. Choose more of the concert series programs to attend as well.

Best,
Mary Ann Taylor

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Chapter News

Meetings

We will begin our 2008-2009 season with a convention report, music and lunch.

Finding our Voice

TIME: Saturday, September 13, 10:30 am

PLACE: Home of Pat Suitt, 7006 Currin 75230
CO-HOSTESSES: Cynthia Wadley, Sharon Kraus
PROGRAM: Mary Ann Taylor and Jerry Taylor, flute and piano
Jenny Smith - Convention Report
POT LUCK LUNCHEON: Everyone please bring a lunch dish to share

See the list of meetings for the year at Meetings. The meetings are scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday (daytime) and Sunday (daytime), in hopes that your schedule will allow you to come to at least some of them. Remember we will not be having a meeting in December.

Notice there are open slots for co-hostesses and meeting performers. Contact Sadie Rowe or Sylvia Taylor Lerch to volunteer.

Treasury

Treasurer Sharon Kraus reported that though we have a healthy savings account balance, our regular checking balance is lower than it should be, due to not every member paying dues. We need everyone to be conscientious in supporting our chapter financially. A motion was passed to allow the Dallas Alumni delegate an amount up to $220 to be used for convention housing.

Dues

Dues are due!

If you haven’t done so, send your 2008-09 dues ASAP to Treasurer Sharon Kraus as she needs to pay our national dues Sept 15th. (Check your yearbook for information on emeritus dues if you are over 80.)

Your local dues pay for this website, your newsletter four times a year, your subscription to The Triangle, your yearbook, and support our concert series with programs and posters. You have the privilege of attending wonderful meetings featuring our own and guest musicians, book reviews, comradeship and delightful refreshments and the opportunity to hear fine concerts at our Sunday Concert Series.

Your national dues support the goals and administrative costs of running this organization. Remember that when you pay your dues you are supporting our mission to:

	Foster the ideas of service to school and community
	Develop an awareness that artistic gifts are to be shared
	Promote high scholarship, musicianship and friendship through service
	Provide opportunities for strong artistic and personal abilities

Patrons receive a one-year subscription to The Triangle and are welcome to attend all meetings, recitals and the Dallas Library Concert Series.

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Spring meetings

April Meeting

Performers Sadie Rowe and Christ Brunt played a beautiful program on the organ in Cox Chapel, Highland Park Methodist Church. Thanks to hostess Mary Ann Taylor who treated us to dessert at La Madelaine.

Pat Hill (below) was presented her 60-year member certificate by President Mary Ann Taylor.

May Meeting

A Saturday luncheon meeting at Chimneyhill Clubhouse featured Sandra McMillen who demonstrated public school music education techniques and shared information about changes in curriculum. Sandra also discussed and illustrated education through music concepts. Members sang a variety of old favorites and partner songs. We learned a lot and had fun too!

We enjoyed a great potluck luncheon. Mary Williams was hostess, assisted by Susan Poelchau and all the good cooks in our chapter.

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Sunday Concert Series

MaryAnn Taylor submitted our chapter’s report in June, answering: What service did you bring to your community? Give specific details below and continue on the back of this sheet if necessary. Attach any publicity and programs. She gave this information about our concert series:

“Members of the committee in charge of the programs and members of the chapter at large welcome performers to the auditorium and distribute programs to the audience members. The series itself has continued uninterrupted for an astonishing 71 years, beginning in 1937.

"Programs consist of local performers and international musicians as well, with the schedule filled months in advance and with a healthy waiting list. Local newspaper, radio, and websites support community publicity. A new e-mail program is likely to enhance the efforts of these media, and the public television station is spearheading a new website to coordinate the arts offerings in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The local music librarian, a supporting partner with Mu Phi Epsilon on the Sunday series, has begun meetings of all music groups in Dallas during which we discuss our goals and resources, with an emphasis on coordinating.

“The series itself presents a wide variety of music to audiences that include just as wide a variety in audience members. Friends, relatives, alumni members, students, library patrons, and the downtown homeless population make up a typical audience. The diversity suggests that the programs offer music not only to those familiar with the joys of performance but also to those for whom the atmosphere is a respite from the outside world.

"It remains our commitment to continue this vital service. As with any worthwhile project, we have challenges to overcome and fewer resources with which to meet them, but we believe that the library supports our efforts and that there are significant number of performers, young and experienced, local and traveling, traditional and unique, who benefit from this forum. It is our pleasure and privilege to offer this service to the Dallas community.”

Doesn’t that description make you proud of us?

Susan Poelchau spent a great deal of time this spring and summer on the piano at the Library. She reports meetings with Tina Murdock and Steinway Hall as well as other tuners. Steinway Hall has submitted a bid to the Library for an estimate for repair and tunings for the piano. It is not a full "take it to the shop" redo but some adjustments will be made in situ. A technician will be able to come over from his nearby apartment in case we have a last minute crisis - sticking key, etc. We will also have it tuned more often as well - four tunings at $119 each, plus an estimated repair charge of $354, which could be less. Frances Stuart's son John Stuart agreed to cover these costs! So the piano will be tuned before the fall startup, before the Frances Stuart memorial recital Nov 9 (to which John is coming), before the start of the spring season, and before the March 8 concert. So - some rejoicing is in order, and some planning about how to thank and/or recognize John.

Thanks to Susan for these efforts and for lining up a great schedule of performers. Let Susan know when you can announce. Be sure to put a concert (or several) on your calendar right now!

Let the webmaster know if you can put up a poster of our concert series somewhere or if you can e-mail or give a handout of the schedule to a friend or two.

See the complete schedule on Sunday Concerts. Biographies and programs are added as they are received. Note: There are sometimes changes, so check to be sure the program is still going to be the one on the original schedule.

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Member News

Tena Hehn returned home on July 31st from a fabulous time in Europe “to see, learn and be in places that have so much history--Prague is even better than expected. I went for Prague and Budapest; everything else was a bonus--really, really neat!!”

But she had digestion problems and had surgery on Friday Aug 22 at Roberts Hospital at the Baylor Center for a bowel blockage, a small abscess, and a hernia. Her surgery was a tremendous success in that her bowel blockage was repaired and NO traces of cancer were found. She will be hospitalized about a week (Baylor Hospital/Roberts Tower Rm. 1228), then will be recuperating at home for the month of September. Tena will be extremely sore and likely fairly groggy the first couple of days as she will be on pain medications to help with her initial rest and recuperation. Continue to email or leave messages at home. Someone will be around and relay information. Check with the webmaster for her cell phone number.

Our condolences to Sue Hewitt, whose son died in April. A memorial service was held at White Rock Methodist Church. Check the new yearbook or the webmaster for her new address.

Also, our condolences to Bea Carney who reports from her home in Bentonville, Arkansas the death from pneumonia of her sweet, wonderful husband Bill on June 19th. They would have celebrated their 67th anniversary June 21st. Her daughter Susan has moved into the house with her. Check with Tena Hehn or the webmaster for her new address.

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