Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2023 3 Music Notes Missouri Music Educators Association The 85th Annual Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) Convention held in January 2023 at the Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach, had the theme "Grow MO: Telling Our Story and Influencing Our Future." The SAI booth in the exhibit hall saw about 80 sisters this year and assisted sisters in getting connected with both the St. Louis Alumnae and Kansas City Alumnae Chapters, as well as finding nine lost sisters. Again this year we had sisters sign up in advance for slots to work using SignUpGenius. We also had Pi A Province Officer Julie Hoffman there to assist. The collegiate sisters were really excited to see her and benefited from her knowledge; we felt it was very important to have POs and ROs at these events and any other executive board members that could make it. The Kansas City Alumnae Chapter was also helpful in organizing things for the booth. Roxanda Fenelon directed the step sing, which still had a small turn out due to Covid. — Submitted by Roxanda Fenelon, Corresponding Secretary, St. Louis Alumnae Chapter Texas Music Educators Association Attending the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) convention during my undergraduate was a moment that many college students looked forward to, including scouting the large exhibit hall for instruments, sheet music, and the occasional musical gadget. In the city of San Antonio, TX, you arrive at a table that sits close to home. The SAI booth is where many sisters — potential, current, recent graduates, and older alumna — come to say hi and grab that iconic SAI sticker to proudly wear on their TMEA badge. Of the 500 stickers that were given to pass out, 104 stickers were leftover. Approximately, 396 sisters stopped at the SAI booth. Many sisters that stopped by mentioned joining in their own local area and starting their own chapters. Some expressed interest in having alumnae chapters in west Texas considering that most chapters are in the east. There were so many wonderful conversations about grants, new chapters, how to help grow a chapter, and camaraderie between everyone. So many sisters were elated to see the booth after not being present since 2019. They are hoping to see this come back next year. I had the experience of working behind the booth for the first time this year. It was a no-brainer that the San Antonio Alumnae chapter had to bring this event back. The convention is held in this city every year, and the goal is to keep it standing for years to come. This booth is a sort of beacon for sisters traveling far and wide to have a resting stop and chat with a sister. It was amazing talking to sisters that wanted to be a part of the Fraternity as an alumna but didn't know how. Another wanted their musical friend or relative to join, even if they didn't have the chance to in their collegiate years. One sister was concerned about being the best advisor for her collegiate chapter. She stopped by to learn more, and we were happy to help. Others just wanted to say hi and were glad that they had a sister nearby. We know we will see each other again; "Nearer and dearer as the years go by." A night that keeps this sisterhood strong is the TMEA Sing. The TMEA Sing is an event held by the Texas State chapter, Theta Omega, where a room in the convention is reserved for SAI. Sisters gather and sing songs from the SAI Songbook, always ending with the SAI Chorale in a big circle, hand-in-hand. The room fills with SAI tears and cheer, until the next year, when we can do this again and for years to come at the TMEA convention. — Submitted by Crystal Zamarron, Editor, San Antonio Alumnae Chapter Continued on page 4

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