Weekend hosts seated, Ann Lee Hancock Konneker and husband, Will, with Fraternity President Letitia Fulkerson and husband, Mike. Ann Lee and Letitia both initiated at Zeta Alpha/Ohio State U.
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Making a Difference - The Chi Omega Foundation
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A Foundation Weekend of Historic Proportions
Alumnae and Fraternity friends from across the country
gathered in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, during
the weekend of November 4 for our Foundation Weekend
. . . Destination The Greenbrier. Against the world-class
historic backdrop of The Greenbrier, with which Chi
Omega’s own past is so closely intertwined, each participant
engaged with the weekend’s theme of reflecting on
monumental successes and strategizing for an exceptional
future.
The gathering assembled major donors, special guests,
Chi Omega Foundation trustees, Foundation advisors,
and Governing Council members. The Foundation sponsors
these weekends to forge new and nurture existing
friendships, to enhance communication and understanding
of the Foundation’s work for Chi Omega, and to foster
participation of supporters and friends.
Attendees enjoyed a range of activities on the property
with beautiful fall weather and mountain foliage.
Throughout the weekend all had the opportunity to exchange
ideas about how to further elevate our remarkable
Foundation and Fraternity.
Our Foundation Weekend highlights included:
• Friday evening dining at the Golf Club. Attendees
mused about this resort’s tremendous golf history and enjoyed
the camaraderie of one another. Dr. Robert Conte,
historian of The Greenbrier, shared an overview of the
resort’s history since 1788.
• A Chi Omega update, led by Foundation President
Shelley Potter. This session featured Ellen Trappey, Chi
Delta/Millsaps College, volunteer chair of Chi Omega’s
risk management committee, who shared impressive outcomes
of a program implemented in the last year. Fraternity
President Letitia Fulkerson reminded attendees that
Chi Omega remains the largest American women’s fraternity
with 173 chapters, as well has having the greatest
number of initiates—more than 308,000. She underscored
that alumnae engagement will be the secret to Chi Omega’s
continuing preeminence. Endowment will define the
freedom and flexibility with which Chi Omega responds
to challenges not yet imagined. The session also included
remarks by development professional Jason Zajac, who
advises our Foundation. Jason has worked with us for
several years as we maneuver the current fundraising
environment. At the briefing’s conclusion, Shelley asked
that everyone continue on the mission to prepare this organization
to do for future generations what it did for us,
and all those who preceded us. She asked for insights to
determine how we can best engage a larger audience of
alumnae in providing major philanthropic support to our
vision.
• Lunch in the Crystal Room was hosted by The Wharton Business Group’s Matt and
Deborah Hofferman Delaney, Nu Gamma/Pennsylvania State U, and Jamie and B.J.
Webster. Lyn Harris, Psi Gamma/Mercer U, who serves as Chi Omega’s national archivist,
and Jan Boyd Blackwell, Rho Delta/U of Texas–El Paso, who serves as national archivist
emeritus, reminisced about The Greenbrier and Chi Omega’s 21 conventions held
on the property.
• Ann Lee Hancock Konneker and husband, Will, graciously hosted the weekend’s highlight:
a wonderful evening with all gathering in the North Parlor, followed by a delicious
dinner and dancing in the stunning Cameo Ballroom.
• Informative tours of the resort throughout the weekend reminded participants of all
that is possible with a strong commitment to institutions like The Greenbrier and Chi
Omega, two historically linked national treasures.
As the weekend came to a close, guests reflected that Foundation weekends reinforce our
ties and nurture meaningful friendships. Our strengthened bonds celebrate our pride in
Chi Omega’s dedication to leadership, service, and giving.
Ellen Trappey shared that in fall 2010, with significant support from
Foundation donors, Chi Omega rolled out its new risk-management
visits. This workshop is based on the Alcohol Skills Training Program,
a harm-reduction approach developed for college students.
• In a three-month follow-up questionnaire, almost 80 percent of survey
respondents report that the information they heard in the Risk
Management Workshop is still impacting them.
• One member reported, “This is, honestly, the best program I have
ever been to, and that is coming after years of mandatory alcohol
seminars in high school and college. The information provided was
relevant, honest, and enlightening.”
• Our Fraternity leadership has observed how the program has enhanced
chapters where it has been delivered. And we can now see
evidence that our members are changing the culture of their entire
campus as a result of participating.
Weekend participants heard from Ellen this first-hand account of
how Chi Omega is positively transforming lives.
• Ann Lee and Will
Konneker for serving
as our hosts and for
sharing with all our
participants an evening
to long remember,
and
• our participants,
who traveled at their
own expense and gave
of their time, resources,
and intellect for
the benefit of Chi
Omega.
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