2 Great Ways to Support Refuge House in November!

We are so lucky to have two upcoming events in Tallahassee that benefit our local domestic violence shelter, Refuge House. We hope you can attend one or both events!

“Twelve local bands will headline MusicFest 2009: Sounds of Hope on the grounds of Unity Eastside Church, 8551 Buck Lake Road in Tallahassee.” Festival runs from 1-5pm on Sunday, November 8th; gates open at noon. Details at http://www.refugehouse.com/MusicFest2009Poster.pdf

On Thanksgiving morning, November 26th, Gulf Winds Track Club hosts the 34th Annual Turkey Trot.

From their website: “Last year more than 3000 people finished one of the four Tallahassee Turkey Trot races helping make it the largest race ever. This year we celebrate the 34th running of this event. It is not your ordinary competitive event. While there is no doubt there will be fast runners, it is also a day for families and friends to come together. The Tallahassee community has responded to this event in a very special way to create a truly unique atmosphere. Thanksgiving Day is a day that brings us all together, gives us time to reflect on the positive things in our lives, and motivates us to share just a little bit extra with the community we call home. We hope you will be part of the 34th running of this race and it is your chance to be part of something special. Here's how:

* Celebrate your own health and fitness by finishing a 1 mile race, a 5K (3.1 miles), a 10K (6.2 miles) or a 15K (9.3 miles). Thanksgiving is the day we all like to share a big meal with family and friends. Why not get a head start on burning the calories this day demands we consume by starting the day with exercise. The Turkey Gobbler is a 1 mile fun run/walk that starts at 8:00 a.m. and is great for kids and walkers. The main course begins at 8:30 a.m. when the 5K, 10K, and 15K races start. Walking the 5K is a great way to participate as well. Big eaters are encouraged to go for the maximum calorie burn in the 10K or 15K.”

Sign up at http://www.gulfwinds.org/turkeytrot/index.htm

* Support the Refuge House with your race entry fee or sponsorship contribution. Since 2001 the main beneficiary of Turkey Trot proceeds has been the Refuge House. More than $60,000 has been raised for the Refuge House since that time. The mission of Refuge House is to provide direct services to battered women, their children and sexual assault survivors, as well as to work to eliminate the conditions in society that allow such violence to continue. Our goal is to help get that word out and provide support.

* Support The Shelter, Inc. On a day of plenty, a little help for those without goes a long way. A portion of the race proceeds will also go to The Shelter, Inc. Turkey Trot began supporting The Shelter in 1995 and in addition to all sorts of food and goods, the race has raised more than $20,000 for the organization. The race is one of the longest running friends of The Shelter and every year you will find the symbol of the homeless, the Turtle, in the race logo.

* Fill the U-Haul Truck - One of the most impressive things each year is to see the load that Judy Alexander and Brian Corbin drive away with in the big U-Haul truck. Bring your contributions of cash, nonperishable food, clothes or toiletry items to share, and Judy and Brian, courtesy of U-Haul, will make sure it gets to those who need it.

If plan to attend the Turkey Trot, you can also add the event on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=40436671445&ref=mf

(Alpha Chi Omega adopted domestic violence awareness as its national philanthropic cause in 1992.)

Cupcakes & Cold Case

We are excited to share one of the fun things we did this summer - an evening together taste-testing cupcakes (after a lovely covered dish dinner) and watching Tallahassee native (Leon High grad) Alpha Chi Omega Maddy Curley (Epsilon Chi, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill)  in the season finale of Cold Case. Maddy played the "victim" (Cadet Kate Butler) whose disappearance and murder is investigated by the Cold Case detectives. See a clip here.

We pitted our long-time favorite bakery, The Cake Shop, against the newly opened Lucy & Leo's in the cupcake challenge. We tried to pair similar cupcakes to make comparison easier; options included red velvet from both bakeries; The Cake Shop's chocolate with chocolate butter cream icing took on Lucy & Leo's grasshopper, a chocolate mint cupcake; and of course we had plenty of yellow cupcakes with butter cream icing from the Bake Shop (who can resist?) and Lemon Blue Sky (in center of photo at left) from Lucy & Leo's.

Then we had delicious and difficult decision-making to do! The individual winner *best cupcake* was Lucy & Leo's grasshopper cupcake. It was amazing! To be honest, I don't think there was a bad cupcake in the bunch - all were very good. Our winner for best bakery went to The Cake Shop for overall consistency - every cupcake was great, cooked perfectly, with variations of their famous butter cream icing.

In the top picture you'll see some (but not all) of the women who attended the event! Thank you everyone!

After watching Cold Case we all wondered if Maddy really shaved her head or if that was special effects. I think this video audition shows it was real!

Need some cute Alpha Chi Omega notecards?

ETE is proud to offer a line of professionally-printed Alpha Chi Omega themed note cards at a great low price!

Designs include

- The Alpha Chi Omega rock (from Alpha chapter at DePauw University)

- Sisters on the FSU Alpha Chi balcony (c. 1956)

- Lyre chairs

- FSU AXO House "old school" from a painting

that hangs in the chapter house foyer by Alpha Chi Omega FSU alumna Ann "Vera" Irvine

- Alpha Chi badge, BH guard and 50-year pin

- Alpha Chi letters at FSU's Westcott Hall

Each card is 5.5"x4.25" They come in packs of 4 cards with envelopes for $5 per pack. We'll ship anywhere in the continental U.S. for $1 additional per pack.

Proceeds go to our local programs and to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation.

Alpha Chi Omega's 2009 Young Alumna Award Winner!

We are so proud of Epsilon Tau Epsilon member, Britain Dwyre!

Britain is Alpha Chi Omega's Young Alumna Award Winner for 2009!

This is a huge honor and so well-deserved!

“Criteria for this award: the woman must have been initiated in the 12 years prior to the nomination; the woman has given outstanding service to Alpha Chi Omega on the local level, in several of the following areas: member of a collegiate chapter advisory board, member of a collegiate chapter house corporation /property management team, officer of an alumnae chapter, actively involved in support of a collegiate chapter, altruistic project, and/or in community activities in the name of AXO, submits recruitment information for prospective members, and participates in the alumnae Panhellenic.”

Britain does all this and more! We couldn’t be more pleased to have her recognized this way for her unwavering commitment to Alpha Chi.

Save the date: Thursday, October 15th at Founders' Day Dinner at the FSU Alpha Chi Omega house, Britain will officially receive her award! Hope you can join us!

See also this nice article on Alpha Chi Omega's National website:http://www.alphachiomega.org/index2.aspx?id=100

Kenan Fishburne - One of Tallahassee's 25 Women You Should Know 2009

ETE celebrated another alumna achiever when Kenan Fishburne (Gamma Chi) was listed as one of Tallahassee's 25 Women You Should Know in 2009. Read more about how this Real. Strong. Woman. exemplifies Alpha Chi's ideals:

Fishburne inspires, encourages others

By Will Brown, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • March 10, 2010

Kenan Fishburne came to Tallahassee in search of another degree. What separates the Quincy-based interior designer from her neighbors is she found it pertinent to share that knowledge with others.Maybe it was her exposure to the world as the daughter of an Air Force officer. Or the value of education instilled by parents Charles and Dot. But Fishburne has always sought to help others.

"A lot of the things I've been able to do have been because of my talent," Fishburne said of her good fortune to work on projects such as the Florida House of Representatives chamber throughout her 30-year career. "Design is about reaching into someone's environment and impacting them."

Fishburne, owner of Main Street Design Inc., was flattered to be considered one of the 25 Women You Need to Know, especially because so many of the women profiled are successful in business and in volunteering. She joked that her staff must really like her, since longtime employee Beverly White nominated her.

"(Kenan) has made such a difference in the lives of all who know her as she so unselfishly gives of her time and talents," White wrote in her nomination. "She is truly a woman that inspires and encourages those around her with her indomitable spirit and kind heart."

That was exemplified when Fishburne's close friend, Bill Sigmon, died from a brain-related injury following a bicycle accident. As the president of the Pilot Club of Tallahassee — a service organization that promotes brain safety — Fishburne's chapter provided thousands of helmets for young cyclists with the help of Pilot International.

It was while attending Stetson University that Fishburne realized she wanted to become an interior designer. It was also during those years that she knew giving back to her community would be a priority, as she and others were trying to tackle the social problems of the day.

These days, her son Ethan Treacy is the college student and Fishburne is the parent with the worldly knowledge to provide guidance in navigating problems that arise.

Fishburne said her only suggestions are to remember that every action matters to someone and one's life will be enriched by realizing the impact they may have on others.

"I have never let my gender interfere with my idea of what I can do," Fishburne said. "It's just not important. I am a person first, and I have things to offer."

----------

more about Fishburne's design firm from the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce

Main Street Design, Inc., located at 9 West King Street in Quincy, is a full service licensed interior design firm that has been serving Quincy, Tallahassee, and the surrounding area for nineteen years.

They have enjoyed assisting area businesses, schools, libraries, government facilities, and residents in making their design decisions, whether it be remodeling, additions, space planning or decorating new or existing structures.

In addition to their many residential projects, some of their notable commercial projects include the Water Street Hotel and Marina in Apalachicola, the Governor’s Mansion Legacy Library, the Gadsden County Library, and the Legislative Chamber for the House of Representatives.Past pro-bono work includes Big Bend Hospice, Refuge House, Ronald McDonald House, the Dezell House, and the Quincy Music Theatre.

Kenan Fishburne, the owner and head interior designer, has thirty years experience and a Master’s degree in Interior Design from Florida State University. Kim Newell, with a Master’s degree in Architecture, Mary Radcliffe, a full-time interior designer, and Beverly White, the office manager, complete their design team. For information, contact them at (850) 627-2662.