All-chapter retreat: First meeting of '05!

HAPPY TO BE BACK AT BLOOM! A week after a highly succesful E-Board retreat, the rest of the sisters gathered to discuss how to make this year one of the best ever for Phi Sigma Sigma on campus....



Smiles all around: (L-R) Kelly Waugh (Alpha Xi, Winger Line), SDC Vanna Houck (Alpha Sigma, Frioni-Nye Line), Tribune Dominique Poaches (Alpha Pi, Cogan/Naughton Line) and Nicole Lamoreaux (Alpha Omicron, McCandless Line)



It's fun, not work: (L-R) Retreat feels less like work and more like a good time for everyone, including newly crowned Social Chair Lindsay Mauritzen (Alpha Upsilon, Frioni-Nye Line), Alumnae Chair Kristin Griffith (Alpha Upsilon, Dietrich Line), Founder Lisa Cellini Romero and her "Little" Kimberly Daidone!

Special thanks to Scotti Ward for sharing these pics with us!

Cindy Christos named Phi Sig regional leader

IT'S NOW OFFICIAL: Our own Cindy Christos (Omega) is among Phi Sig's rising stars at a national level -- putting the Epsilon Zeta chapter in the spotlight once again!



Cindy, who lives in Abington and works at the Cardiology Institute of Philadelphia, recently earned the title "Regional Alumnae Coordinator," a prestigious position where she'll be helping alumnae in our area connect with each other and work with collegians.

(You can reach her at cchristos@phisigmasigma.org.)

She's been one of our most active alumnae since graduating in 2001. Besides this position, she's also the current Vice Archon of Membership for the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter and one of nearly 10 Phi Sigs regionally who will be walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day next month. (Click HERE for more info.)

Please join us in congratulating Cindy! We're so proud -- and we're excited to work with her to boost alumnae involvement. (Remember: Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, always a Phi Sigma Sigma!)

E-Board retreat kicks off great new year

OH, YEAH... WE'RE TOO HOT TO HANDLE!
EZ's newest E-Board, led by Archon Justine Walter (seated, wearing black T-shirt), got down to work during its retreat weekend in late August. Forget that it was one of the hottest weekends all year – and that there was no air-conditioning! Even bees and a chipmunk running rampant in the house (don't tell Lisa's parents, who lent us their vacay place) couldn't keep the girls from their mission.

Just how much was accomplished? If the long hours spent brainstorming great ideas are any indication, this is going to be a great year for Phi Sig at Bloom! Great job to Justine, Vice Archon Ashley Forsythe, Member-at-Large Christina Pagano, Sisterhood Development Chair Vanna Houck and Membership Recruitment Chair Jamie Pruitt! (Even though Tribune Dominique Poaches and Scribe Katie McCorry couldn't make it, we know they'll do a fabulous job this year, too!)

MANY THANKS TO Former Archon Erika Hess, Ritual Goddess Michele Muller, Chapter Key Advisor Sharon Wilson Kerstetter and Founding President Lisa Cellini Romero for guiding the sisters, sharing inspirational stories and encouraging them to follow their dreams!

Homecoming ’05: What's Planned

What's in store for Homecoming ’05? Well, plans are still in the works, but here's what we know so far ...

• FOUNDER GINA LINDENMUTH MILLER IS HONORED: Gina was a whiz at softball back in the day. And now it's official: She was also one of the best ever. Come to the game to see Gina take a bow and accept a Hall of Fame award. READ MORE HERE.



• BEST FLOAT EVER? IT'S POSSIBLE! Phi Sig will be investing double its usual contribution to its Greek team's float. Could this be the year the chapter celebrates a win? The only way to know is to be there!



• FAMILY-FUN ACTIVITIES: You asked for it, you got it! We're in the process of arranging a hay ride, corn maze and other fun, family-oriented activities in lieu of the more "traditional" Homecoming festivities. If it's successful, we'll do this every year. Want more information?
  E-mail Lisa Cellini Romero.



• A COMFY ROOM AND SWIMMING FOR THE KIDS: At least 10 rooms (as of 9/7/05) are being held specifically for Phi Sig sisters and/or their families at the Hampton Inn on Lightstreet Road, just off Rte. 80. (First come, first served, and the rooms are the best they had left at $99 apiece.) Those attending the reunion at Knoebel's will remember this as the place where you could relax and catch up with friends while your kids knocked themselves out in the indoor pool! Woo hoo! For contact info, maps and more, CLICK HERE. Important: The group code is "PHI" and any remaining rooms not sold by Oct. 13 will be released to the public.



• GOOD OL' DAYS: If we've gotta spell it out for you, then you're not from Bloom. 'Nuff said.
  
  Any questions? ASK US HERE!

See you in October!

Help EZ sisters fight against breast cancer!

If you care about finding a cure for breast cancer or know someone who is suffering from (or is a survivor of) this terrible disease, here's your chance to make a big difference in a small way:

Three of our own EZ sisters -- Cindy Christos (Omega), Brenda Ey (Tau) and Michele Muller (Alpha Eta) -- will be walking a total of 60 miles in three days as part of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's widely celebrated walkathon, the "3 Day," scheduled for the first time in Philadelphia this September. It's a life-changing, highly challenging (dare we say, grueling even!) experience. And we're proud three of our sisters are dedicating themselves to such a great cause.

In addition to training weeks ahead of the event, each sister pledged to raise an impressive amount of money -- some collected through ongoing personal fund-raisers, some from donations by friends and family.

I donated to each today. It took less than 5 minutes. If you care, won't you consider joining me in helping them raise funds to find a cure? Donations are accepted from $5 up. (And those small donations definitely add up, so if that's all you can commit to, no problem!) Credit cards are accepted. Best of all, you can make your donation in honor or memory of someone you love.

Here are links to each of their fund-raising sites:

• Cindy Christos (Omega PC/Phi Delta-Elshisak line):
  Support Cindy's Walk!


• Brenda Ey (Tau PC/Miller line):
  Support Brenda's Walk!


• Michele Muller (Alpha Eta/McCandless line):
  Support Michele's Walk!

TO SEND A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, click here: E-mail these sisters
FOR MORE INFO ON THE EVENT ITSELF, click here: The 3 Day in Philly

IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOLUNTEER AT THE EVENT, please click here and we'll forward your name to local coordinators.

The FLING PICTURE BOOK

Are we Phi Sigs or what? Get us all in front of a camera for the first time in nearly 17 years, and ladies, we are picture perfect!



Together again: From front to back (L-R): Barb Meyer Hostetter (Gamma), Marganne Nye Hoffman (Founder), Sharon Wilson Kerstetter (Epsilon), Lisa Cellini Romero (Founder), Stacey Cochran Millheim (Founder), Angie Bistline Reighard (Founder), Joann "DiFran" DiFrancesco Reeser (Founder), Lori Moschella Kleist (Founder), Li'l Lisa Scott Wyatt (Founder), Michele Muller (Alpha Eta), Jen Moser (Alpha Mu), Kelly Waugh (Alpha Xi), Valerie Drake (Alpha Nu), Ashley Forsythe (Alpha Tau), Joanne McCandless Milligan (Founder), Georgann Ganas (Delta), Deborah Dietrick (Delta), Jill Winger Jacobs (Founder), Darla Dietrich Tate (Founder), Margie Naughton Towler (Founder), Michelle Dailey Moser (Eta), Erika Hess (Alpha Epsilon), Stephanie Sykes (Omega), and Justine Walter (Alpha Sigma). Not shown, but also attending: Sharon Altemose Felegie (Eta).



Founders reunited (plus Jimbo's arm in the way!): From front to back (L-R): Stacey Cochran Millheim, Lisa Cellini Romero, Marganne Nye Hoffman, Lori Moschella Kleist, Li'l Lisa Scott Wyatt, Darla Dietrich Tate, Margie Naughton Towler, Joanne McCandless Milligan, Angie Bistline Reighard, Jill Winger Jacobs and Joann "DiFran" DiFrancesco Reeser.



Macarena Mommas! Founder Joanne McCandless Milligan, 2005-06 Archon Justine Walter, 2005-06 Vice Archon Ashley Forsythe and Founder Angie Bistline Reighard show their stuff on the dance floor. And, how cool! Ashley's one of the newest sisters in Angie's family line!



Active sisters, still: Think your Phi Sig days finished in college? No way! They only get better. Just ask Erika Hess, Sharon Wilson Kerstetter, Lisa Cellini Romero and Michele Muller -- volunteers all!



Sisters and friends: Erika, Justine, Ashley and "Muller" pose for the camera. (Weeks later, all four worked together at Exec Board retreat – and became even closer sisters as a result!)



Raffle queen! Need someone who can rake in cash for a good cause? Founder Marganne Nye Hoffman (shown right) is your gal. Even co-Founding sister Jill Winger Jacobs agrees! (Or else!)



Smiles all around: The FLING was the first time plenty of sisters had a chance to meet. Here, Lisa Cellini Romero (third from right) chats with Michelle Dailey Moser (Eta), Sharon Felegie Altemose (Eta) and Georgann Ganas (Delta).

NOTE: We're ISO more pics -- especially a good group shot of all sisters attending the FLING! Please click here to share your digital photos! The best will become a semi-permanent feature on the front page of this Web site!