February has been a very busy month here at the Castle!

On Saturday, February 4th, Alpha Xis and their mothers braved the winter storms to have a great Mom's Day.  We went to the Lied Center to watch Mamma Mia.  It was so much fun, and everyone had a great time dancing and singing along to the ABBA hits.

The next week held many Valentine's Day festivities.  On the 9th, we had our annual Alumnae Valentine's Day party.  Alumnae and their children stopped by the house to decorate heart shaped cookies and make valentines.

The following weekend the ladies of Alpha Xi Delta had a great time cutting a rug at the Crush Dance with the gentlemen of Pi Kappa Alpha.  Everyone looked spectacular and had a great time dancing the night away with their crushes.

Freshman Lucy Kneifl and her mom at Mamma Mia

Looking good!

Alpha Xi Deltas Helping In the Community: Lied Center Black and White Gala

Dressed to the Nines

A great part of being an Alpha Xi is the opportunity to help around the community.  That's just what many of our girls did on Saturday, January 28th.  

Here in Lincoln, Nebraska we're lucky to have a performance hall like the Lied Center, and thankfully many community members feel the same! Saturday night was the annual Lied Center Black and White Gala, a fun-filled night that included a silent auction, a raffle, dinner and a dance. 

Our girls had a great time helping make the night a success. The evening was spent helping Friends of the Lied with the silent auction, and raising money to continue to bring world-class acts to Lincoln, in heels no less!

KARAOKE KAMPOUT TONIGHT!!

Alpha Xi Delta will host Karaoke Kampout TONIGHT from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Alpha Xi Delta Chapter House.  A ticket to KARAOKE KAMPOUT includes hot dogs, chips and s'mores.  There will also be, entertainment from students belting out their best version of karaoke hits and an opportunity to participate in a KARAOKE CONTEST starting at 11:00 p.m.!  There will be prizes awarded to winners of the BEST KARAOKE PERFORMANCE.  Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door.  Also, new this year Alpha Xi Delta will be giving away Blue Autism Awarness Bracelets to those who buy tickets in advance. 
All the proceeds from Fiesta Feed will benefit Alpha Xi Delta's national philanthropy, Autism Speaks. Approximately one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism and about 1.5 million people are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Speaks is dedicated to raising the funds necessary to find a cure for autism, and Alpha Xi Delta shares this dream.

To RVSP, go to the Facebook event page here. 

Karaoke Kampout this Friday!

This Friday, ALPHA XI DELTA will be hosting their NEW philanthropy KARAOKE KAMPOUT.  This will be held at the ALPHA XI DELTA CHAPTER HOUSE on NOVEMEBER 4TH from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m..  A ticket to KARAOKE KAMPOUT includes HOT DOGS, CHIPS and S'MORES!  There will also be, entertainment from students BELTING out their best verison of karaoke hits and an opportunity to participate in a KARAOKE CONTEST starting at 11:00 p.m.!  There will be PRIZES awarded to the winners of the BEST KARAOKE PERFORMANCE.  Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door.  Also new this year ALPHA XI DELTA will be giving away BLUE AUTISM AWARENESS BRACELETS to those who buy tickets in advance!  We will be selling tickets with bracelets in the union this week, so come stop by and get your ticket.


All the proceeds from Karaoke Kampout will benefit Alpha Xi Delta's national philanthropy, Autism Speaks.  Autism Speaks is held very close to our hearts because every year approximately one in every 110 children diagnosed with autism. There are also about 1.5 million people are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Many Alpha Xi's have family members and friends affected by this disorder and are committed to helping with Autism Awareness and helping others piece back the puzzle.  Autism Speaks is dedicated to raising the funds necessary to find a cure for autism, and Alpha Xi Delta shares this dream.  Come help support Austism this Friday !

Shmalpha Shmi's Rockin' Recruitment In The Big Ten

Recruitment Rap-Up

The Big Ten held big numbers for recruitment this fall with over 88O freshman girls going through.  Compared to a 500 from the year before, this made quite a difference.  Since there were so many girls going through, recruitment changed to manage the overwhelming number of girls.  Instead of a 3-party day week it turned into a 5-party day week with the first two days being open house parties.  This gave the freshman girls a chance to visit each greek house.

 As always Schmalpha Shmi brought their A-game under the leadership of our current Membership Vice-President, Amanda Francis.  Throughout recruitment week it was very busy full of laughs, songs and many memories.  Our house did very well throughout the week and finished with a very large freshman pledge class of 41 amaXIng new initates.

All of whom we'd love to congratulate because we are so excited you all our are new sisters!

Xi love,

Blogger

My Summer Playlist, Forever the Sickest Kids

Experienced "roadtrippers" Paige Hogeland and Caroline Pugh, two Seniors in the house, ventured on an AXID roadtrip to Denver, Colorado to see their favorite band Forever the Sickest Kids. 

There is one thing my roommate Paige and I have always known we have in common, music. That’s why when we heard our favorite band, Forever the Sickest Kids, was playing in Salt Lake City last March we jumped at the chance to take the 12-hour roadtrip there. It seemed like the only logical thing to do for spring break. Work on our tan? Sit under a palm tree? No, we were going to mosh at a concert.  It was my first time seeing Forever Sickest Kids in concert and Paige’s fifth. I felt like Paige, being the more experienced concert goer, was taking me on a whirl-wind music romance! That roadtrip continues to be one of the best memories I have in Alpha Xi Delta and it was not something we were willing to let go of so quickly. This summer, Paige and I decided to semi-recreate our Salt Lake roadtrip and take the 8-hour Denver roadtrip to see Forever the Sickest Kids again. After our drive to Salt Lake, Denver felt like we were driving just around the block. With double shots of coffee in hand at 6am we began our Forever the Sickest Kids Roadtrip Part II, making it to Denver that afternoon.  We spent that night yelling every lyric at the top of our lungs at their outdoor concert.  It’s always a great feeling to know Paige will always be there to take on those crazy adventures with me. There is one thing Paige and I will never argue over and that is what music playlist to jam to every morning. I feel so lucky to have found a music twin, a friend, and a sister in Paige.


Xi Love,
Caroline Pugh

Husker Baseball with Delta Upsilon

This year, Alpha Xi Delta decided to adopt the Husker baseball team to show our support for Nebraska Athletics. Our involvement with the baseball team includes attending games, making signs and partnering with other Greek organizations on campus for tailgates. Alpha Xi Delta had their first spring tailgate for Husker Baseball with the men of Delta Upsilon last Saturday, April 2nd. Both houses partnered to support the Husker Baseball team, and wore specially designed t-shirts for the occasion. The afternoon was a fun-filled day of grilling out and playing games before heading off to watch the game at the Hawks Stadium. Last Saturday was one of the many tailgates that the Alpha Xi's will be hosting this season. One Alpha Xi explained, "We hope to raise awareness for all athletic events on campus"-Elli Fugate PR and Quill Chair for Alpha Xi Delta.



Xi Love,
Blogger

We Live for Red and Light It Up Blue!

This Friday, April 1, Rho Chapter will be participating in Light It Up Blue with Autism Speaks in observation of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). 

WAAD is a global effort to raise awareness for a disorder affecting millions of individuals and families around the world. Last month, the CDC announced that autism now affects 1 in every 110 children in this country. More children are diagnosed each year with autism than with AIDS, diabetes, and pediatric cancer combined.

Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. The Rho Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta at is proud to support Autism Speaks, Alpha Xi Delta’s national philanthropic partner.

Alpha Xi Delta supports Autism Speaks by hosting local fundraisers, raising awareness throughout the community, and participating in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks. We would like to invite you to join us in supporting Autism Speaks; we invite you to help us Light It Up Blue for autism.

For more information about Light It Up Blue visit http://www.lightitupblue.org/. To learn about Autism Speaks visit http://www.autismspeaks.org/.

Xi Love, 

Alpha Xi Delta Blogger

How Alison Schutz will spend her summer

My name is Alison Schutz, and I am a senior member of Alpha Xi Delta. It's amazing how fast time flies, but I have enjoyed every moment of the past four years with the lovely ladies of Rho Chapter! I am in my fourth year of studying Dietetics and Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science. I intend to become a registered dietitian in the community or in corporate wellness upon graduating with my two degrees and completing a dietetic internship.

For the past two years, I have also been involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. Campus Crusade for Christ is a Christian ministry that is very active at UNL and on 3,500 other campuses in the U.S. and overseas. The Lord has greatly used this ministry to help me grow deep in my faith. Through Campus Crusade for Christ, Summer Projects are offered every year and this summer I have been accepted to serve in Vail, Colorado. There are few other environments like this opportunity!

June 4th through August 8th, I will live, work and enter into an intimate, genuine and open community of believers striving to grow as whole people in a real, vibrant relationship with God and others. This summer will equip me to do ministry in a real life context, such as in the student body at UNL and in my very near future, the workplace. I am excited to spend my summer serving God and living in a spiritual green house community, and I would greatly appreciate your prayers and thoughts as I prepare for Vail Summer Project 2011! :)

Also, If you have any questions, comments or would like to part of my ministry team and support me (financially or in prayer) on Summer Project please contact me at alison.schutz14@huskers.unl.edu. Thank you!

Xi Love, 

Alison Schutz

3-2-1 Pitch!

Beth Barmettler, an Alpha Xi Delta sophomore business administration major, was one among five winners to walk away with $1,000 last Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium at the 3-2-1 Quick Pitch Competition.   She competed with fifty- two other students of two-year and four-year colleges, as well as high school students.  They all came with their game face on as each competitor pitched their business plan in 3 min. or less to local judges who provided feedback on their plan.  Beth wowed the judges with her unique and creative business plan.  The business Beth sees herself owning in five years will be a non-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clinic in Omaha.  Where it will provide services and outreach to the community.   Beth was inspired to create this type of business by her nine-year-old cousin who is transgender.  Currently, she is in the research and development phase and is spending her prize money on conferences and networking groups.  She believed this experience to be extremely rewarding saying that “It was really helpful to get feedback from the judges and it gave me more confidence in the clinic, especially knowing now that others have faith in its success and not just me.”-Barmettler

Xi Love,

Blogger