Sigma Alpha Iota

16 Summer 2023 • sai-national.org SAI Philanries, Inc. A service project for the Midland (MI) Alumnae chapter turned into a blessing for a sweet 93-year-old resident of a local senior residence. Helga Weber attended the spring concert of the Midland Community Orchestra where four Midland chapter members performed. In the lobby was a display table explaining Sigma Alpha Iota and mentioning our on-going service project, the Great Lakes Bay Musical Instrument Recovery (GLBMIR). We collect gently used instruments locally and repair and re-purpose them for needy programs and students through the People-to- People Project. Helga contacted us and asked if she could donate her late husband's beloved button accordion. GLBMIR committee members Cindy Mikulin and Mary Adams visited Helga and received the instrument; they acknowledged her preference to have it donated locally, hoping it would be used and enjoyed as it was in the past. Aer some effort by Cindy to find a person in the area who could evaluate the accordion, it was declared a gem. e recipient could play it and even had in mind two teen boys in a local musical family with whom it would be a good fit. Meanwhile, Mary reached out to Helga's assisted living community and offered a "thank- you recital" for Helga to which all residents of the building were invited. Our violin and cello duet, "Encore Strings," played music from Bach to Elvis for an appreciative crowd of forty-five residents. It was Helga's 93 rd birthday and her daughter brought birthday cake for all four generations of Helga's family who were present. It was a dream come true for Helga to see a video of the accordion being played again, and to realize that young people would continue with the instrument her husband loved. — Submitted by Mary Adams, Editor, Midland Alumnae Chapter Exchanging Musical Gifts At left, SAI Cindy Mikulin (violin), At left, SAI Cindy Mikulin (violin), Helga Weber, and SAI Mary Adams (cello). Helga Weber, and SAI Mary Adams (cello). Above, Helga Weber with her husband's Above, Helga Weber with her husband's Hohner button accordion. Hohner button accordion. At right, the two happy accordion recipients. At right, the two happy accordion recipients. https://linktr.ee/saiphilanthropiesinc A catalog of nineteen links to materials and resources for SAI Philanthropies, Inc. and SAI International Music Fraternity. S I G M A A L P HA I O T A P H I L AN T H R O P I E S , I N C . 197 4 T A P H I L AN T H R

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