The San Jose Alumnae Club

of Pi Beta Phi
FALL 2015
NEWSLETTER
PI PHI FOR LIFE!
On April 28, 1867, our fraternity was founded by 12 extraordinary young women to
cultivate sincere friendship, establish the real objects of life, and promote the
happiness of humanity. Could our Founders have predicted how far weve come,
and how our alumnae organizations offer so much more than just the college
experience?
More than 148 years after Pi Beta Phi was founded, our fraternity continues to offer
each of us the same things our founders valued. I witnessed firsthand at our
Reaching New Heights Convention in Chicago this past June the power that our
organization has to change peoples lives through Pi Beta Phi Foundation,
Read>Lead>Achieve, Arrow in the Arctic, just to name a few. Kathy Sykes Berger,
Virginia Delta, Co-President and I attended the convention together, and we have so
many things to share with you that we learned, what we saw, and what it means to
be a Pi Phi for Life!
To understand how far weve come, we need to look to our past and celebrate our
beginnings. We hope you will join us this year as we explore our heritage the
people, places and things that Pi Phis hold dear.
I encourage you to read our newsletter! Youll see that weve come up with monthly
opportunities for you to meet other Pi Phi alumnae, have fun, be charitable and try
new things! Hope to see YOU soon, angel!

Get to Know Us!

Prospective members are
invited to attend our
Angel Meet & Greet on
Monday, September 14,
2015, from 6-9pm. This is a
low-key, open-house style
event specially designed for
you to get your Pi Phi feet
wet again! See details on
our Event Calendar!

Yours in Pi Beta Phi,

Joanna M. Nouragas, Virginia Delta
Co-President, San Jose Alumnae Club

American Cancer Societys Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Silicon Valley 5K
Walk
SJAC will be Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on Saturday, October 31, 2015 for the 5th consecutive
year! It is a non-competitive walk to save lives and to inspire hope for a future free of breast cancer, and its
also HALLOWEEN! Lets dress up! How about pink halos, wings..?
Please sign up for our club team by going to our team URL: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/sjac2015 After
clicking the link or typing the address into your web browser, you will be on our team page. On the right
side, you will see 2 aqua colored buttons to either DONATE NOW or JOIN OUR TEAM. Click your choice
(hopefully both!) and follow the on-screen directions.
No registration fee or minimum donation amount is required to participate.
If you have any trouble, please contact Joanna Nouragas at akjn@comcast.net .
On October 31st, we will meet at 7:30 am at the corner of W. Santa Clara St. and N. Autumn St., across from
the SAP Center San Jose. The rolling start is from 8 to 10am, and the ceremonial start is at 8:30am.
Everyone is welcome to participate AND join our team! Our Club fundraising goal is $1500.
SJAC Angels at the 2014 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Silicon Valley Walk

SAN 2JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB

PAGE
NEWSLETTER

PAGE 2

Right: Bay Area

Halo Happenings,
March 2015
in Redwood City
with Grand
President
Paula Pace
Shepherd!

EXCITING NEWS! FRATERNITY DAY OF SERVICE IN BAY AREA FEBRUARY 25-27,

2016!
Fraternity Day of Service gives us the opportunity to inspire others through service in our
communities, uphold Pi Phis legacy of literacy and further the goals of Read > Lead >
Achieve. The Palo Alto, San Mateo, and San Jose Alumnae Clubs are sponsoring the Signature Fraternity
Day of Service 2016! It's a three day project that will commence from Thursday to Saturday on February
25-27 of next year. Only FIVE Signature Event Cities were approved, and Silicon Valley is one of them!
At this event, we receive support from Pi Beta Phi Headquarters and Grand Council TO GIVE AWAY
20,000 BOOKS to children of low income families and to 1000+ organizations that signed up for First
Book in the Bay Area. We will distribute books, promote literacy, and get children excited about reading.
While facilitating the gift of 20,000 books to organizations and children in need, we're also hosting a
"literacy fair" for children/families in the area which will attract from 100 to 200 children.
We welcome Pi Phis to participate - alumnae club membership not required, no experience necessary, and
training will be available. Please feel free to pass this information along and let potential volunteers know
they can contact us.
If you would like to be a part of the FDOS Silicon Valley team, please contact Jacqueline Vo at
408-930-3326 or jacqueline_vo@yahoo.com. The event is in its early planning stages, and 8 groups
have been formed. Each group needs anywhere from 5-30 volunteers. We will keep you posted on all
volunteer opportunities!! We are going to need lots of help, and lots of Pi Phis to do this!!

Angel Philanthropy and Service Opportunities.

Special Angel Contributions: Please consider making this financial contribution above and beyond our local
and international dues. These funds help support our local and Pi Phi philanthropies and help to defray some of
our convention expenses. See our membership form on page 3 for more information!
Emergency Housing Consortium Donations: We collect personal care items (travel size toiletries, towels &
washcloths) for the family shelter. Please bring unused items to meetings. For additional information, contact
Barbara Steffin: bsteffin@sbcglobal.net
Box Tops for Education: Save your box tops from various General Mills, Green Giant, Betty Crocker, and
other products you use, and bring to our meetings for collection. Look for the Box Tops for Education logo.
Blackford Elementary, our CAR program school, uses these to acquire additional funds to support the school.
CAR Reading Program: Assist 4th graders at Blackford Elementary with their reading skills. We will begin
reading in January, with the CAR Kick-Off on March 1, 2016, and the Awards Ceremony on March 29, 2016.
Please contact Barbara Steffin for scheduling: bsteffin@sbcglobal.net
Family Giving Tree: In August, SJAC participates in their Back to School backpack drive, and during the
holidays, we participate in their Holiday Wish Cards Program. Details will be available closer to the holidays.

SAN JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB NEWSLETTER

PAGE 3

SAN JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB LEADERSHIP 2015-2016

CO PRESIDENTS

Kathy Berger
Joanna M. Nouragas
SECRETARY
Mary Jane Reiter
CO TREASURERS
Claire Ribble
Gerri Hodson
VICE PRESIDENT
Barbara Steffin
MEMBERSHIP
Jenny Ludwig
ACRIC
Brooke Haskins
PHILANTHROPIES
Leslie Anido
CAR DELEGATE
Leslie Anido
CAR SCHEDULING
Barbara Steffin
PANHELLENIC
Ellen Evans
BAY AREA COUNCIL
Kathy Berger
AAC
Liz Theis
Audrey Jacob
Kathryn Meister
YEARBOOK
Gerri Hodson
COMMUNICATIONS
Sarah Gummersall
PROJECT WINE & BLUE Joanna M. Nouragas
SOCIAL MEDIA
Kathryn Meister
LUNCH BUNCH CHAIRS Flo Jones
Janelle Swanson
BOOK CLUB CHAIRS
Janet Niklaus
Claire Ribble
YOUNG ALUM CHAIRS
Darcy Ernst
Erin McMahon
FRAT.DAY OF SERV/
SIGNATURE EVENT
Jacqueline Vo

408-267-2459
408-871-7285
408-725-1239
408-978-0499
408-723-8918
408-266-8476
408-269-0741
650-349-8995
408-255-6771
408-255-6771
408-266-8476
408-924-0899
408-267-2459
815-546-0328
650-619-0833
510-552-8514
408-723-8918
408-395-5877
408-871-7285
510-552-8514
408-504-257l
408-395-1112
408-379-2545
408-978-0499
763-221-3147
408-218-4434

paulb70549@aol.com (general inquiries)

akjn@comcast.net (general inquiries)
mjreiter@sbcglobal.net
claire@ribble.net (dues, donations, expenses)
gerrih15@sbcglobal.net (dues, donations, expenses)
bsteffin@sbcglobal.net (meeting coordination)
jennylud@comcast.net
mail2bws@yahoo.com (RIFs, recruitment)
anido-family@comcast.net (CAR, FGT, 2nd Harvest)
anido-family@comcast.net (Blackford Sch. rep.)
bsteffin@sbcglobal.net (schedule, volunteer for CAR)
evanse3@pamf.org (delegate)
paulb70549@aol.com
liztheis14@gmail.com (Stanford Cal Alpha AAC)
audreydocs@gmail.com (Stanford Cal Alpha AAC)
kathryn.meister@me.com (UC Berkeley Cal Beta AAC)
gerri15@sbcglobal.net (club directory)
sarahgu@aol.com (phone outreach)
akjn@comcast.net (craft, birthday, get well, sympathy)
kathryn.meister@me.com
flo_jo@comcast.net (suggest restaurants)
boosterrocket@comcast.net (suggest restaurants)
jjniklaus@comcast.net (suggest books)
claire@ribble.net (suggest books)
Darcy.Kato@gmail.com (suggest venues, restaurants)
erinmcmahon11@gmail.com

408-930-3326

jacqueline_vo@yahoo.com (inquiries or to volunteer)

SJAC of Pi Beta Phi 2015-2016 Membership Form

Name (first, maiden, last) _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________________________________ State: _____________________________ Zip: ________________________
Telephone (home) ________________________ Work: _____________________________ Cell: __________________________________
Email address: _____________________________________ Current/Former Occupation: ______________________________________
**Most club communications are emailed to conserve funds & help the environment. If you wish to continue to receive a mailed
copy or a telephone call, please check here: ____
Birthday (Day & Date) _____________________________

Spouse (first name) ________________________________________________

Chapter: _______________________________ Initiation Year: ____________________ University: ________________________________

Please indicate your interests:
____ Out to Lunch Bunch

____ Social Committee

____ Reading/CAR Program

____ Meeting Coordinator

____ Young Alums

____ Website help

____ Meeting Co-hostess

____ Book Club

Club Membership Categories: _____ $55.00 Early Bird Membership Local ($20) and International dues ($35) if paid by
9/24/15

_____ $60.00 Regular Membership Local ($25) and International dues ($35) if paid after
9/24/15

Special Angel Contribution:

_____ Special Angel contributions beyond local and International dues, and is up to the

individual.
These funds are used for philanthropies and convention, & is a major part of the clubs
fundraising efforts.

Directory Only:

_____ $10 For those who choose not to pay club dues, but want to receive the directory

Mailed Directory:

_____ $2.00 Directories are distributed at club events beginning in the fall. If you cannot attend &
would like to receive your copy in October, please add $2.00 for postage.

$ _____ Total amount of check*

Due Date: On or Before September 23, 2015 >>> Dues and donations paid to Pi Beta Phi are not tax
deductible.

SAN 4JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB

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NEWSLETTER

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PI PHI FOR LIFE! San Jose Alumnae Club Event Schedule 20152016
service we hope you can join us! Meetings with ** denote our delicious meals made by our sisters. For these
meetings, we ask for an $8 contribution and a prompt RSVP (evite or email/call Kathy Berger) for planning purposes.
$10

at

the

door

without

an

RSVP.

For

additional

information

regarding

events,

contact

PiBetaPhiSanJoseAlum@gmail.com.

9/9/15 Wed: Young Alum Gathering, 6:30pm. Cin-Cin Wine Bar, 368 Village Lane, Los Gatos 95030, www.cincinwinebar.com 408354-8008.
9/14/15 Mon: Angel Meet & Greet, 6pm at Kathy Berger's home, 1569 Calle De Stuarda, SJ 95118, paulb70549@aol.com 408-2672459.
9/29/15 Tues: ** THE PLACES WE HOLD DEAR (first meeting), 6pm at Claire Ribble's home, 1531 Altamont Ave., San Jose
95125, claire@ribble.net 408-978-0499. Dinner served for $8 with prompt RSVP; $10 at the door without an RSVP.
10/2/15 Fri: Pi Phi Reads Book Club, 1pm. "Go Set A Watchman" by Harper Lee, presentation by Joanna Nouragas. At Janet
Niklaus' home, 139 El Porton, Los Gatos 95032, jjniklaus@comcast.net 408-379-2545.
10/8/15 Thurs: Young Alum Gathering, 7pm. Cascal Restaurant, 400 Castro St., Mountain View 94041, www.cascalrestaurant.com
650-940-9500.
10/16/15 Fri: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12pm. Lisa's Tea Room (Pruneyard), 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #165, Campbell 95008,
www.lisatea.com 408-371-7377.
10/31/15 Sat: Our 5th Annual Amer. Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" 5K Walk (Pi Phi Philanthropy),
Guadalupe River Trail & Arena Green. Register online http://main.acsevents.org/goto/sjacpbp.
Contact team captain Joanna Nouragas, 408-871-7285 for help registering or donating.
11/17/15 Tues: Second Harvest Food Bank (Pi Phi Philanthropy) 6-8pm at Cypress Center 4001 N. First St., San Jose, 95134,
www.SHFB.org Food sorting. Bring canned/non-perishable goods or monetary donations. Friends/family volunteers welcome. For
info, contact Leslie Anido, anido-family@comcast.net 408-255-6771.
NOVEMBER 2015: Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery outing (date/time TBD) in downtown SJ (date TBD). Contact Leslie Anido,
anido-family@comcast.net for details.
11/3/15 Tues: Young Alum Gathering, 6pm. Yard House, 300 Santana Row, San Jose, 95128, www.yardhouse.com
408-241-9273.
12/2/15 Wed: Young Alum Gathering, 6:30pm. Orchard City Kitchen (Pruneyard), 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell 95008,
www.orchardcitykitchen.com 408-340-5285.
12/6/15 Sun: CS Cookie Decorating, 1pm. Patti Constantakis' home, 725 Mariposa Ave., #102, Mountain View 94041,
patticonstan@hotmail.com 650-722-0456.
12/9/15 Wed: THE TRADITIONS WE HOLD DEAR, 6pm at Mary Grant's home, 20211 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 95070,
loydnetta@sbcglobal.net, 408-867-1775. Bring an appetizer to share and a wrapped angel ornament to exchange. Includes
Cookie Shine and small crafts sale.
DECEMBER 2015: Family Giving Tree (Pi Phi Philanthropy) volunteer warehouse shifts to sort & wrap holiday gifts (6-8pm). Specific
dates/warehouse location TBD. Holiday Wish Drive cards available mid-November. Bring your Holiday Wish Gifts to the 12/9/15
meeting at Mary Grant's. Contact Leslie Anido, anido-family@comcast.net for information.
JANUARY - MARCH 2016: CAR Reading Program (Pi Phi Philanthropy) at Blackford Elementary School, 1970 Willow St., San Jose
95125, 408-978-4675, http://blackford.campbellusd.org/ , on Tuesdays, beginning January 5, 2016. Contact Barbara Steffin,
bsteffin@sbcglobal.net for information and to volunteer to read with the students.
JANUARY 4th -7th: Vino Paint with Sonya Paz, location and date TBD. Contact Joanna Nouragas for details akjn@comcast.net.
1/14/16 Thurs: Young Alum Gathering, 7pm. Enoteca La Storia, 416 N. Santa Cruz, Los Gatos 95030, www.enotecalastoria.com
408-625-7272.
1/15/16 Fri: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12pm. Tomatina's, (Westgate area) 5245 Prospect Rd., San Jose 95129, www.tomatina.com 408380-0040.
1/21/16 Thurs: SJAC Board Meeting, 6:00 pm at Barbara Steffin's home, 5716 Coniston Way, San Jose 95118,
bsteffin@sbcglobal.net 408-266-8476.

SAN JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB NEWSLETTER

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1/23/16 Sat: Pi Phi Reads Book Club, 1pm. "Some Other Town" by Elizabeth Collison, presentation by member Beth Collison. At
Claire Ribble's home, 1531 Altamont Ave., San Jose 95125, claire@ribble.net 408-978-0499.
2/6/16 Sat: ** THE SYMBOLS WE HOLD DEAR (Golden Arrow Celebration), 11:30am. Joanne Rodgers' home, 15287 Top of
the Hill Court, Los Gatos 95032, joannerodgers43@gmail.com 408-356-1858. (Golden Arrows are our guests for luncheon; all
others please pay $8).
2/17/16 Wed: Young Alum Gathering, 6pm. Blue Line Pizza, 146 Castro St., Mountain View 94041, www.bluelinepizza.com 650938-7888.
FEBRUARY 25-27th, 2015: FRATERNITY DAY OF SERVICE SIGNATURE EVENT, Macys in Sunnyvale, more details to come! Contact
Jacqueline Vo at jacqueline_vo@yahoo.com for information or to volunteer.
3/1/16 Tues: CAR Reading Program Kickoff, Blackford Elementary School, 1970 Willow St., San Jose 95125. Contact Barbara
Steffin, bsteffin@sbcglobal.net for information or to volunteer.
3/1/16 Tues: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 1pm. Sweet Mango, 1040 Willow St., San Jose 95125, www.sweetmangosweet.com
408-293-2268.
3/10/16 Thurs: Young Alum Gathering, 6pm. Petroglyph Ceramics Lounge, 1140 Lincoln Ave., San Jose 95125,
www.petroglyph.com/willow-glen 408-971-4278.
3/12/16 Sat: St. Patty's Couples/Friends Party (potluck/BYOB), at Jenny Ludwig's home, 1610 Laurelwood, San Jose 95125,
jennylud@comcast.net 408-269-0741. Bring a St. Patrick's Day appetizer to share and your 'beverage of choice'.
3/29/16 Tues: CAR Reading Program Awards Recognition, Blackford Elementary School. (See March 1 for address).
3/29/16 Tues: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 1pm. Antonella's Ristorante, 1701 Park Ave., San Jose, 95126, www.antonellasristorante.com
408-279-4922.
4/13/16 Wed: Young Alum Gathering, 6:30pm. Firehouse No. 1 Gastropub, 69 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 95110,
www.firehouse1.com 408-287-6969.
4/15/16 Fri: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12pm. Orchard City Kitchen (Pruneyard), 1875 S. Bascom Ave., #190, Campbell 95008,
www.orchardcitykitchen.com 408-340-5285.
4/23/16 Sat: Founders' Day TBD.
MAY: An outing to the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University followed by lunch (date/time TBD). Contact Mary Jane Reiter at
mjreiter@sbcglobal.com for information.
5/17/16 Tues: Young Alum Gathering, 6pm. Jack Rose Libation House, 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd., Los Gatos 95030,
www.jackrosebar.com 408-395-3500.
5/20/16, Fri: Out-to-Lunch Bunch, 12pm. Steamer's Grillhouse, 31 University Ave., Los Gatos 95030, www.steamersrestaurant.com 408-395-2722.
5/20/16 Fri: Pi Phi Reads Book Club, 1:30pm (following lunch at Steamer's Grillhouse). "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah,
presentation by Flo Jones.
6/2/16, Thurs: A LIFETIME OF SISTERHOOD- OUR GREATEST TREASURE (last meeting), 6pm. Potluck - bring a summery
appetizer to share. Penny Elkins's home, 6558 Gillis Dr., San Jose 95120, sandia64@sbcglobal.net 408-268-8745.
6/15/16 Wed: Young Alum Gathering, 6pm. Rock Bottom Brewery (Pruneyard), 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell 95008,
www.rockbottom.com 408-377-0707.

At our international convention in Chicago this

past July, the San Jose Alumnae Club of Pi Beta
Phi was awarded Club of Superior
Performance. This is our 9th consecutive year
our club has won a top performance award! In
addition, Co-President Joanna M. Nouragas was
an Evelyn Peters Kyle Award winner for Region
6.
Congratulations!

> Please save your spare change to bring to each

meeting! Our ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
collection can will be available at each get-together dont
forget!! These funds will go toward our club team
fundraising total.
> Please save your wine corks for Joanna, and bring to
each meeting. Thank you in advance for your contributions
to my crafting!
> Please save any stationary boxes with clear plastic
tops, like those that your holiday cards come in. We need
them for a special project that will be revealed at a later
date! Again, the crafters thank you in advance!

SAN 6JOSE ALUMNAE CLUB

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San Jose Alumnae Club Leadership 2015-2017

Our Club:
Established in 1931, the San Jose Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi continues to be an award winning
organization. We are a strong and vibrant group of women who enjoy socializing, philanthropy,

Did you know we

have a club
Instagram page??

and remembering what brought each of us to Pi Phi. Our alumnae club membership is diverse
we have Pi Phis who were initiated in the 1940s alongside recent college graduates, retirees,
newlyweds, career women and new moms. Its an amazing group of women!
The mission of Pi Beta Phi is to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity,
cultivate leadership potential, and enrich lives through community service.
We are so excited about the 2015-2016 year, and are looking forward to all it has to
offer! Wont you please join us on our journey into the past and our Pi Phi heritage?
We cant wait to see you, angel!

Please visit us at
PiPhi_SanJoseAlum
Club, like us, and
comment! Also,
send any pictures
you would like
posted there to
Joanna at
akjn@comcast.net

Left: August 2015, helping sort

donated backpacks at the Family
Giving Tree Warehouse

Right: March 2015, CAR Reading Program Kick

Off at Blackford Elementary School.
Read>Lead>Achieve!!!
Left: February
2015, SJACs
Beth Collisons
book launch at
Keplers Books
in Menlo Park.

Like us on Facebook (Pi Beta Phi-San Jose Alumnae Club) & visit our website www.sjpiphi.org for
event updates!