Sigma Alpha Iota

SAI Philanthropies, INc. waiting rooms of the VA hospital in Gainesville. According to Ms. Gordon, if they successfully complete the program, veterans are awarded a guitar or keyboard to take with them upon discharge/graduation from the HONOR center. "The chance to accomplish something tangible during their recovery is a big part of that recovery. So many other changes in their bodies or brains or spirits are harder to see as benchmarks than setting a simple set of goals and reaching them through daily discipline and practice. The stress reduction benefits of a good 'jam session' with their housemates are powerful, as much research on the therapeutic benefits of the arts shows. Getting into the creative 'zone' has health benefits we are just tapping into understanding." — Nan Gordon SAI CHAPTER EFFORTS During this academic year, SAI sisters from around the country have continued to support the work of the People-to-People Project. The Spring MIT class of Delta Chi chapter at the University of South Florida donated a beautiful Holton trumpet in a hard case that will be sent to Zanmi Lasante Band in Cange, Haiti; it has been sent to the Partners in Health office in Boston and will travel with a PIH staff member as carryon baggage to be hand delivered to Maestro McClay. The Iota Tau sisters at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have once again made a sizable donation to the P2P Project. They have donated 2 trumpets, 3 clarinets, and a flute that will sail on a cargo ship from Miami with other materials destined for our music colleagues in Deschapelles, Haiti. They will soon be in the hands of the members of the Fanfare Band affiliated with Sister Cities Essex-Haiti. The Midland Alumnae chapter also continues to support the work of the People-toPeople Project. This year, thanks again to the leadership of Wendy Hohmeyer, the chapter donated a violin to the Menri Monastery in India; 2 guitars and a keyboard to the HONOR Center in Gainesville, FL; and a variety of brass and wind instruments to the Fanfare Band in Deschapelles. The Des Moines Alumnae Chapter has acquired over 100 string instruments for the People-to-People project. Chapter member Marcia Isaac and her husband delivered 3 basses to Joplin HS in December. We are now working to place the remainder of the instruments with our colleagues in Ecuador, Nigeria, Haiti, Belize, India, and in the United States. Sarasota/Manatee Alumnae Chapter member Marilyn Allen in Bradenton donated her beloved cello to the project. It received some minor repairs from Tampa-based master violin and bow maker John V. Importuno and has already been sent to Ecuador. Often times, the People-to-People Project will learn of a needy program or school through contact with a fraternity sister. Thanks to Orlando Alumnae Chapter member Marilyn DuBrul, the P2P Project is currently working to fulfill a request from the Principal of St. Mary High School in Jamaica. A number of sisters and chapters are assisting to fill the request from Principal Lt. Col. Errol Johnson. Thanks to the organizational work of chapter Sergeant-at-Arms Clarie Santiago, the sisters of Delta Gamma at the University of Florida have already mailed a package to Jamaica containing 5 harmonicas, 5 sets of egg shakers, 3 valve oils, 2 packs of saxophone reeds, and 1 pack of clarinet reeds. They also completed a fundraising project and money raised has been used to purchase additional materials to be sent to Jamaica. Two of the larger items requested by St. Mary High School have been purchased by the project and are awaiting shipment to Jamaica. Phi Mu Alpha member Don Banks , owner of Don Banks Music in Tampa, FL, acquired a djembe and conga for the P2P Project to purchase. They will be shipped to Kingston, Jamaica where they will be held until Lt. Col. Johnson can pick them up. If you or your chapter is interested in donating to the People-to-People Project, please contact the P2P director at Liana@omegatower. com for the most up-to-date information. If you wish to make a monetary donation to the project, you can do so by sending a check made out to SAI Philanthropies, Inc. (with a note in the memo line that the donation is for the People-to-People Project) directly to National Headquarters. You may also make a monetary donation from the SAI Shop page on our web site: https://www.sai-national.org/shop Thank you for your continued support of the People-to-People project! An initiate of Gamma Rho chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dr. Valente holds degrees from the University of South Carolina, Columbia (DMA), University of Tennessee, Knoxville (MM) and the State University of New York, College at Fredonia (BM and NY State Teaching Certification). She has presented workshops and discussion sessions at three National Conventions, specializes as a performer of Contemporary American music, and is the recipient of the Sword of Honor. HONOR Center Music Program Director Nan Gordon, back row, center, and veteran Jose Bracero, front row, second from left. a corpsman's gratitude J oe Bracero is a patient at the HONOR Center. When asked about the music program he wrote the following; I have been a patient at the Honor Center for three months. This has been a wonderful experience for this veteran and many others who live here. I thank God for the Veteran Affairs Department for allowing me to participate in a program like this, it is saving my life. One of the many great programs that the HONOR Center Residence offers to us is the music program, run by an incredible lady by the name of Nan Gordon. She volunteers as the music instructor in charge of this program. She educates us in playing various instruments and as we attend her classes and do some projects we are given an instrument to continue learning with when we leave the Center. Music has been a great benefit in my Recovery. Not only have I discovered my talent with music, but I have been able to bless other Veterans by bringing music to the patients at the Gainesville VA and Shands Hospital during our outreach trips. These outings are always organized by Ms. Nan. The music room is also used throughout the week for us to practice, meditate, and to release our anxiety. I thank all the people who donate instruments to this program but most of all for Ms. Nan's direction and guidance to us veterans. She has a great disposition to help us, always available to serve and she puts her heart into whatever she does for us. Thank you very much for having this type of program for us. Grateful Vet, Jose Bracero US Navy Corpsman HM3 (Hospital Corpsman Third Class) Served 1980 - 1984 sai-national.org SPRING 2013 PAN PIPES 9

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