IRD slideshow

Here is a link to download a PDF of the IRD slideshow. It is still a huge file, but smaller than sending the PowerPoint version. No music but for those of you who saw it the other day, just sing along.... "I hope you had the time of your life!" :)

http://www.mediafire.com/?mtnqtnnmxnz Once you get to page, click where it says Click here to start download. sorry for all the ads on the site. Free file hosting does not have to be pretty I guess. I can e-mail it out, but like I said, it is huge (15 MB) and I don' t want to crash anyone's computer!!

Reunion Photos: Send 'em to us!!

If you have some great pics of the reunion, please send them to agd.nwflorida@gmail.com. We want to send some to IHQ along with our report on International Reunion Day.

Thanks ladies!! We already miss everyone.

BBQ today

Attention all Alpha Gams: Come on out to UWF today for the final event of our 20th birthday reunion. Bring the family. BBQ starts at 11.

IRD photos

Theta Lambda president Amy Underwood shares remarks.
















Judy Tice, Theta Lambda Chapter Advisor 1990-2006, shares memories about the early years of AGD at the University of West Florida. Judy is very modest about her role in shaping AGD into what it is today, but we think she knows that she holds a special place in the heart of Theta Lambda sisters!
















Amy Zavadil, charter member and first Theta Lambda president, speaks about the experience of helping to colonize AGD at UWF and how amazing it is to come back 20 years later and see that the chapter is thriving.
















Kelly Walker Addington (1995) and Rebecca Gross Tieder (1995) are honored with the Impact the World Award for their work to provide sexual assault awareness and prevention and sexual empowerment programming.
















Eight members of Alpha Class accept the honor of Best Theta Lambda New Member Class.

IRD recap

Well IRD 2010 is over! It was a phenomenal celebration of our sisterhood with more than 100 Alpha Gams in attendance.

Here are some of the highlights:

Charter member and first Theta Lambda president Amy Zavadil spoke about what it was like to be part of installation and first years of AGD at University of West Florida. She noted that after 20 years, the spirit and sisterhood of AGD is reminiscent of those early years.

Elise McWilliams (Theta Lambda 2008) was awarded the Collegiate Scholarship Award for attaining the Highest Collegiate GPA.

Jessica Tarpley (Theta Lambda 2002) was honored with the Heart of Alpha Gam Award on behalf of the NW Florida Alumnae Chapter and Theta Lambda Chapter. This award is given in recognition of significant, faithful and dependable service at the local level.

Alpha Class was honored as the Best Theta Lambda New Member Class!! Eight charter members were present to accept the honor.

Alana Morrison and Ericka Roland (2005) were named the Best Theta Lambda Duo.

Honorary Theta Lambda member Van Holt (Gamma Beta 1951) was honored as Queen Squirrel (most years as a member) and Vanessa Novo.

Kelly Walker Addington and Rebecca Gross Tieder (1995) won the Impact the World Award (given for their work to provide sexual assault awareness and prevention and sexual empowerment programming).

Christina Genualdi (2005) was honored as the Rookie of the Year, given to a new alumna member who invests the most time and energy into the alumnae chapter.

Kris Thoma (2002) was honored with the Super Glue Award, given to a sister who has worked diligently to hold the collegiate and alumnae chapters together.

Judy Tice (Gamma Mu 1966; Theta Lambda Chapter Advisor 1990-2006) was presented with the Theta Lambda Award, presented to the best sister in all of Theta Lambda's history.

More to come later!

Hollie and Grayson

One of our Theta Lambda sisters, Hollie Barnett Ellis, is with her newborn baby Grayson right now at children's hospital in Birmingham. He was flown their Wednesday after being born unable to breathe on his own. He will undergo open heart surgery on Monday. A specialist flew in from D.C. over the weekend. He is expected to recover but Hollie and her family need your prayers and support. They will be in Birmingham for the next several weeks living on hospital food and sleeping on hospital beds.

Last night we sold rosette stickers at the Welcome Party and raised more than $200 to send to Hollie along with a card signed by everyone. We'll sell the rosettes again today, 10 for $5, which you can use to give to any sister who is special to you. All the money will go straight to Hollie and her family to help them get through this difficult time.

Honored guests

Approximately 125 Alpha Gamma Deltas are expected to be present today for the International Reunion Day luncheon. This includes about 65 collegiate women and 60 alums. Of the alumnae present all were initiated at Theta Lambda chapter except three: Judy Tice, Van Holt and Terri Noell. Though these sisters were not initiated at Theta Lambda, they each have contributed in numerous ways to strengthen our sisterhood and keep the collegians and alumnae connected. We are thrilled you ladies could join us today!

More thank yous!

Theta Lambda's International Reunion Day 2010 celebration was made possible with support from the following Theta Lambda Reunion Committee members:
Ashlee Mosley Brown
Elise McWilliams
Alana Morrison
Ericka Roland
Natasha Roberts Sluder
Jessica Tarpley
Kris Thoma
Amy Underwood
Judy Tice
Lyndsey van der Laan

In addition to those listed above, the following sisters helped plan and execute events as part of Theta Lambda Chapter’s 20th Reunion Celebration:
Kelly Walker Addington
Hannah Bahm
Becky Higgins Betz
Audrey Burch
Kate Kupka Chassey
Cassidy Cresswell
Laura Dernovsek
Kerry Elison
Aimee Fuller
Christina Genualdi
Alison Griffith
Ildi Hosman
Kristen David Klein
Brittney Lewis
Branda Williams Mauldin
Daryle Ostenberg
Cameron Pyle
Rachel Scharer
Samantha Snellgrove
Becca Gross Tieder
Anna Lee Uniacke
Lisa Vallin
Rachel Zick

With special appreciation to the University of West Florida
National Alumni Association for their support

International Reunion Day program

Today's IRD agenda will include:

11 a.m. WelcomeWelcome: Natasha Roberts Sluder and Ashlee Mosley Brown
Grace: Led by Trish Johnson
Meal

11:30 a.m. Program
In celebration of Theta Lambda Chapter’s 20th Birthday:
Video Presentation
Recognition of Theta Lambda Charter Members present
Remarks from 1st president: Amy Zavadil
Remarks from 1st chapter advisor: Judy Tice
Roll Call of Theta Lambda sisters present
Remarks from current Theta Lambda president: Amy Underwood
Recognition of new alumnae

BusinessReport from the Northwest Florida Alumnae Chapter: Kris Thoma

Awards and HonorsCollegiate Scholarship Award: Presented by Kristen David Klein
Collegiate Squirrelatives: Presented by Elise McWilliams
Recognition of wearers of the Honors of Epsilon Pi
Recognition of Membership by Number of Years
Alumnae Squirrelatives

1 p.m.Closing Remarks
Adjourn

Welcome charter members!

Judy Tice, the original chapter advisor of Theta Lambda, was blown away Friday by the number of Theta Lambda charter sisters who were present for the opening event of our 20th Reunion! Eight of 20 charter members were able to join us. Here they are from left to right: Jennifer Dolgow Seitel, Tanya Warren Silvester, Shannon Burke Nettles, Janice Gunter Palanjian, Stephany Dolliver Schlenker, Amy Zavadil, Tish Hargreaves Swenson, and Beth Padgett Edwards.

We are so glad you all could join us and we appreciate you for laying the groundwork for our chapter!!

Reunion kicks off

40+ sisters of Theta Lambda sisters came to Event #1, a Welcome Party at Native Cafe on Pensacola Beach. Here are some photos. Post more if you have them! Will see everyone tomorrow at Rededication and IRD!

Charter Members!!

So excited that 8 of our 20 charter members can be with us this weekend!!:
Amy Zavadil
Beth Padgett Edwards
Janice Gunter Palanjian
Jennifer Dolgow Seitel
Shannon Burke Nettles
Stephany Dolliver Schlenker
Tanya Warren Silvester
Tish Hargreaves Swenson

First AGD painted letters at Theta Lambda chapter

First dorm sign at the UWF AGD house

2009 Group photo

Reunion bag and T-shirt

Some thank yous

This weekend is going to be a blur with all the catching up going on, so we'd like to start early with some thank yous. These are from me and Jessica Tarpley. Please forgive us if we forget any of these names during the events, but just know that you are appreciated...

Lyndsey van der Laan -- for creating a magnificent video history of Theta Lambda chapter. Everyone bring your tissues if you are coming to IRD luncheon!! this video is very special.

Ashlee Mosley Brown -- Decorations Queen! Thank you for your attention to detail that will make each event even more memorable. And for helping Tash co-emcee IRD and being the greatest hostess we could ask for on the Friday night event.

Natasha Roberts Sluder -- We tasked you with planning the biggest event of our year and leading an hour and a half script!! We know you and IRD will be amazing.

Elise McWilliams -- You even cooked us dinner!! What more can we say? We love you so much. Thank you for being an incredible Alumnae Relations Coordinator and doing absolutely everything we asked you with a huge smile on your face.

Ildi Hosman -- For cutting hundreds of pieces of ribbon and tulle! We are going to miss you so much this weekend, but your presence will be known because of all you do for Theta Lambda!

Judy Tice and Christina Genualdi -- For sharing your culinary talents :) and being basically just all-around awesome. And Christina for picking out our awesome Reunion shirt!!

Rachel Zick -- For designing the beautiful invitations and being oh-so-patient with the never-ending stream of information and changes!!! You are fabuolous.

Kate Kupka Chassey -- For making the beautiful nametags!! Hope they come in on time. LOL!! Love you!!

Amy Underwood, Audrey Burch and Kerry Elison -- Thank you for being part of bag-stuff-a-palooza!! We could never have gotten it all done without you.

Cameron Pyle -- For letting us kidnap you and for only slighly rolling your eyes at Kris during bag-stuff-a-palooza. We love you!!!

Cassidy Cresswell and Laura Dernovsek -- For creating Reunion blog and Twitter feed!!! Hopefully we will be able to share the good times of this weekend with the many sisters who were unable to come and they will feel how much they are missed. Thank you!!!

Branda Williams Mauldin, Brittney Lewis, Rachel Scharer, Rachel Zick, Daryle Ostenberg, Becca -- for helping to get updated information so that Reunion information could be sent to as many sisters as possible.

Please add more Thank Yous if you feel that we have forgotten anyone!! We may just not be aware of something that someone has done! Or we might just be forgetting because as you can see we have had a lot of helpers!

Love,
Jessica Tarpley and Kris Thoma

The reunion is here!!!!

On behalf of the Reunion Committee, we welcome everyone... many of you have traveled a long way to be here and we are grateful and excited to see you over the next three days! Welcome back to Pensacola. Welcome back to your alma mater, UWF. We hope this weekend will uplift and renew your spirits just like AGD did when you were a collegian.

Couple points for the weekend:
-- If you are an alumnae, please be sure to pick up your welcome bag. It includes nametags for you and your guests. If you have any issues with nametags, please notify Kris. Collegians: Please see Amy for details on your nametags if you do not already have one.

-- At IRD the check-in table for Alumnae will be on the right, and the check-in table for Collegians will be on the left. Don't forget we will be in the Phinneas Phoggs room (the one with the hot air balloons and airplanes).

Any questions... call Kris at 850-377-5136

Our Installation, April 7, 1990

Some AGD Theta Lambda scenes through the years...

If you're in one of these photos, comment and tell us about that day in AGD!

Nine more days!!

I can't believe the Reunion is already almost here! Just nine more days!! Be sure to respond to Alana's request for Squirrelative nominations... pasted below for your convenience...

Please email morrisonalana@aol.com with who you would like to nominate for each award and why! Please only vote one person for each category. Nominations close APRIL 15th, next Thursday at 6pm.Please note that these are confidential, so you don't have to be ashamed to vote for yourself!

Theta Lambda Awards:

• Best New Member Class (if you think you have the best new member class vote for your class and list accomplishments/why)
• Theta Lambda Award (best Theta Lambda sister of all 20 years! tell us why)
• Most Jet Lagged (you think you are traveling the farthest, put it to the test and nominate yourself! tell us your travel plans like where from, how you're traveling, etc)
• Best Duo (think you and your BFF, who is also a Theta Lambda sister, were the best Duo of all time? well nominate and tell us why or nominate a pair that you think deserve it and tell why)

General Awards (may be won by any alumnae member):

• Impact the World (who does the most for their community, family, etc; list everything!)
• Guest of Honor (a non-Theta Lambda Alpha Gam who is attending our reunion; list chapter & university and accomplishments from there)
• Rookie of the Year (newest alum that puts in time, work, effort, etc)
• Queen Squirrel (nominate who has been a member the longest; please list year of initiation)
• Super Glue Award (nominate who has/is holding the collegiate chapter & alumnae together the best or the best in the past)
  

We have a few hidden awards too, but those won't be decided until the reunion! Once again last day to email me back is APRIL 15th, by 6pm!! Have fun! Email me your questions/nominations @ morrisonalana@aol.comAlana Morrisonmorrisonalana@aol.com

Paying for Reunion events

Just a reminder, payment for all Reunion events is requested in advance. Please contact Kris Thoma at 850-377-5136 for details on where to send your $$ or, if you are local, arrange a drop-off!!