Sigma Alpha Iota

People-to-people Above, Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter Patroness Eileen Nadzam with music students at a Himalayan monastery. At right, Tracy Wright, Director of the Band program for Ringgold Middle School, and two of his students with the keyboard during a visit by the First Lady of Georgia. Yungdrung Bon Monastic Center received violins provided by the project. These and future donations of instruments will serve to expand the music studies of the students at the monastery. In addition to teaching music during her trips to India, Eileen has been authorized by His Holiness, the 33rd Menri Trizin, to record, transcribe into western notation, harmonize and even orchestrate the beautiful chants and other sacred music of this ancient religion. UNITED STATES Midland, MI In March 2011, the Midland Alumnae Chapter organized a local Adopt-an-Instrument program to support the Midland Public School system orchestra. In addition to collecting lightly used and new instruments, the chapter created an additional project called Cases for Kids, with the goal of acquiring hard cases for the students' instruments. Spearheaded by president Wendy Hohmeyer, the chapter has also made substantial contributions to P2P this year, including instruments and music that have been sent to Ecuador and Haiti. Joplin, MO The May 2011 F5 tornado that ripped through Joplin left great devastation behind. Joplin High School received a sizable donation of music scores from P2P to help rebuild their extensive music library that was destroyed. The music program has also been the beneficiary of a fundraising campaign created by the Columbia, MO Alumnae Chapter. Spearheaded by Secretary/Treasurer Caroline Leemis, the chapter has been able to raise funds to assist Mr. Rick Castor, director of the bands, as he works to replace music, instruments and other equipment destroyed or damaged by the tornados. Ringgold, GA The F4 tornado that tore through Ringgold in April 2011 had a devastating impact on Ringgold Middle School. SAI chapters, including Lambda Sigma, and individual members began coordinating a fundraising campaign in June 2011. The project was able to purchase a replacement electronic keyboard and have it delivered to the school. If you or your chapter are interested in donating to the People-toPeople Project, please contact People-to-People Director Dr. Liana Valente 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 (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: sai-national.org/shop. 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). Prior to being appointed as Director of the People-to-People Project in late 2009, she served on the National Arts Associate Committee (2004 – 2006) after which she was appointed the chairman of the Honorary Membership Committee (2006 – 2009). Dr. Valente 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. CLICK FOR MORE To learn more about Bright Hopes, visit: brighthope.org sai-national.org SPRING 2012 PAN PIPES 7

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