Sigma Alpha Iota

Fall 2019 2 PAN PIPES Dear Readers, T his fall issue of PAN PIPES comes to you from both SAI National Headquarters in Asheville, NC and from my new home office near Tacoma, WA. My family made the trek from Colorado to Washington this summer, stopping along the way to take in a bit of history at various points along the famous Oregon Trail. And unlike when we played the video game of the same name, we all made it to the end in mostly one piece (there may have been an unfortunate mishap involving my now slightly crooked nose and a sidewalk). Now the patter of Pacific Northwest rain showers have become the soundtrack for my daily activities. I am prepared with shiny new rain boots and a raincoat to help me weather…well, the weather. Right at this moment, I'm also enjoying the Metropolitan Opera's opening night performance of Porgy and Bess via the Met's LIVE audio stream while I work. I'll be adding the LIVE in HD schedule to my calendar, as well (see pg. 16), and watch for a special feature in future issues about SAIs in the cast. While my family was busy moving across the country this summer, a number of SAI members were traveling the globe for workshops, to attend unique performances, and to have once in a lifetime experiences. Countries visited included Germany, South Africa, Thailand, Slovenia, the US, and Portugal, among others. You can read about them in our larger "A World of Music" section, as well as in the accounts shared within the annual awards section. This expanded issue highlights a number of our SAI members' achievements, with articles about well deserved accolades, new project announcements, and of course, the annual awards section. We are so pleased to share their stories and hard work with you here. As always, PAN PIPES welcomes input from our readers. If you are interested in sharing a story or potential topic, please contact me at SAIPanPipesEditor@gmail.com. SAI Roses, Christine Bruns, Editor Dear Members of Sigma Alpha Iota, As we begin the middle year of the triennium, I want to welcome you back to another eventful year in SAI. For our collegiate women, that means "back to the books" with classes starting, recruitment events, and planning the chapter's activities for the semester and academic year. For our alumnae women, I have already started receiving alumnae newsletters with details about chapter meetings and musical events. The energy level is high among our members and chapters! I am happy to announce the theme for our National Convention to be held at the Sheraton-Greensboro/Koury Convention Center July 29–August 2, 2021 – "Music is Our Call." I invite each of you to join me for this important fraternity event that features incredible music, educational workshops, inspiring speakers, and fun! All chapters are responsible for sending a chapter delegate to our National Convention. Now is the time to start setting aside money to help support your delegate's attendance. We thank those sisters who are "hearing the call" of SAI and volunteering their time and energy to the fraternity. A list of our 2019- 2020 Officers is available starting on page 4 of this edition of PAN PIPES. In particular, we welcome Dr. Mary Frances Bushong as NVP, Alumnae Chapters. She brings tremendous experience to the position having served as Chi A Province Officer for nine years. Should you find yourself in or close to Asheville, North Carolina, be sure to stop by our National Headquarters so that you may spend time in our new Museum and Member's Only Rooms. It is truly worth the trip to our "home" to see our Fraternity's vast history on display. These rooms were made possible through the generosity of Edie Marshall, who flew in from California for our Grand Opening. We thank you, Edie, from the bottom of our hearts! Congratulations to our National Award Winners who are highlighted in this edition of PAN PIPES. I know you will be inspired by the creativity of our chapters as found in the write-ups of the service projects winners. As you make plans for your own service projects, remember to submit your projects for national consideration. Wouldn't it be great to see your chapter's name and service project highlighted in the fall 2020 PAN PIPES as a national award winner?! Best wishes for a productive and successful year! Fraternally, Leslie Odom Miller, National President A WORD FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT EDITOR'S NOTES

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