April 2008         Happy Spring!

Don’t forget to register for Convention!  Early registration ends April 25!

 

Please post or forward The Buzz to share with your membership!

We’ve got your BUZZ!  This is the place to share your highlights, successes and notices! Put The Buzz on your Web sites, in your newsletters, on your bulletin boards, in your announcements…spread the Gamma Phi Beta Buzz! We want to brag about you too!  E-mail TheBuzz@gammaphibeta.org with your award-winning news and story ideas. 

 

We are preparing a special edition of The Buzz to spotlight the many individual and chapter awards being won by Gamma Phi Betas at the end of the school year.  Tell us about your successes at TheBuzz@gammaphibeta.org so we can include your accomplishments in our special edition.

 

Convention 2008

Connect in the Queen City for Convention 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 25-29, 2008.  Convention will be held at the breathtaking French Art Deco Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in beautiful downtown Cincinnati, make plans to attend! Look for the Call to Convention and registration materials online at www.gammaphibeta.org.

 

Be part of our inaugural event at Convention, Crescent Classic: Walk by the Light of the Crescent Moon.  This exciting philanthropy signature event will take place on Thursday evening, June 26, after the Awards Dinner.  Proceeds of the walk will benefit our International camping philanthropies and a local Cincinnati camp.  Watch for registration details by e-mail and at www.gammaphibeta.org.

 

PR Tip

To help break the negative stereotypes of Greek life, consider promoting the good things we do! Write a press release featuring your chapter’s philanthropic efforts and personally deliver it to the student newspaper or to a local community newspaper. Think about having a philanthropy section on your chapter’s Web site. Highlight the chapter’s Day of Service activity (maybe working with an after-school program) and your chapter’s fundraising event (Pancake Breakfast benefiting your local Camp Fire USA council/camp). Service and fundraising is what philanthropy is all about!

 

Changes to Your IRS Reporting

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 included a change in IRS Form 990 filing requirements affecting all of our chapters, both Greek letter and alumnae and our house corporation boards.

 

The new reporting requirements will be in effect for IRS 990 reporting due 12/15/08 for the fiscal year 8/1/07-7/31/08. ALL Greek letter chapters, alumnae chapters and house corporation boards will be REQUIRED to report to the IRS regardless of the receipts collected. No group will be exempt from reporting. 

 

Please watch for future communication from Gamma Phi Beta explaining the new reporting requirements for the fiscal year ending 7-31-08. In the meantime, if you have not yet filed Form 990 for the fiscal year ended 7-31-07, it is your responsibility as FVP of your chapter or treasurer of your HCB to determine your filing status. Significant fines may be assessed for failure to report or for late reporting. We recommend you consult with a tax accountant if you need assistance determining your filing status.

 

Hot Buzz!

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association recently recognized Paula Kluth (Wisconsin-Madison), author and independent consultant in the field of autism education, with the Forward Under 40 Award. This award honors accomplished University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni under 40.

 

Congratulations to Rebecka Hollon (Morehead State), who was recently awarded a communications internship with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). Rebecka was awarded one of twelve spots out of a field of more than 350 applicants.

 

Amy Trelenberg (Penn State) has been keeping busy after graduation and recently co-founded a new online boutique "Shopmamie.com".  Her mission, along with co-founder and best friend Megan Healy, is to provide young women with fresh, style driven fashions, paired with affordability to create a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

Karen Riley (Colorado State), Maura Ryan (Colorado State), and Katie Sidell (Denver) recently published a professional paper exploring the need for psychologists to work effectively with children and families with special needs. In particular, the paper focused on the Supplemental Security Income application, including qualification and difficulties the families may face during the application process. 

The Canada Council for the Arts awarded Shirley Cull Thomson (McGill) with the prestigious 2008 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. Shirley was recognized for her work as a cultural administrator, gallery director and arts advocate.

 

The Denver Alumnae Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta has nominated Patricia Crowley (Northwestern) for the Denver Area Panhellenic Woman of the Year Award.  This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Panhellenic community.

 

Marion Pfaender Downs (Minnesota-Twin Cities) has been nominated by the Denver Alumnae Chapter for the Denver Area Panhellenic Alumnae Achievement Award.  This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a sorority woman to career and community as well as to sorority/Panhellenic endeavors.

 

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) Masters of Communication second-year graduate student Brandi Boatner (Loyola-New Orleans) has been elected as the 2008-2009 National President for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Congratulations, Brandi!

 

Accolades

Members of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter (Penn State) celebrated the National Panhellenic Conference's International Badge Day on March 3, 2008 by dressing up, wearing their Gamma Phi Beta pins with pride, and promoting Greek Life throughout the campus. 

 

Congratulations to the Alpha Alpha Chapter (Toronto), winners of Toronto’s Greek Week.

 

The Alpha Upsilon Chapter (Penn State) collected more than $1,300 for Camp Fire USA at their annual Gumby’s Pokey Stick Bash.

 

Gamma Rho Chapter (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) members went home from Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s 50^th annual Winter Carnival with the coveted Guiles Cup, which is awarded to the winners of the carnival. The chapter was paired with Theta Chi and participated in mock game shows, ice sculpture competitions, a variety show and more. 

 

Foundation News

Visit the Foundation Web site at www.gammaphibeta.org/foundation for information about our 50^th Anniversary kickoff at Convention 2008. Don’t miss the Foundation Luncheon, featuring world-renowned violinist, Elizabeth Pitcairn, playing her legendary Stradivarius, the “Red Mendelssohn” that inspired the movie “The Red Violin.”  (Visit her Web site at www.elizabethpitcairn.com).

 

If you missed ordering your foldout travel makeup bag or flip flops, you can still order them at www.gammaphibeta.org/foundation/newsandactivities.  Click on the link under the cruise ship picture.

 

Reunions and Meetings

The Alpha Iota Chapter (UCLA) house corporation will hold its annual meeting on May 13, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., at the Alpha Iota Chapter house. For more information, contact Ashley Matkin at aematkin@gmail.com.

 

Nu Chapter (Oregon) announces its 100^th birthday celebration on May 16-18, 2008. To join the celebration or to receive more information, e-mail Patti Luse at pattiluse@comcast.net. You can also visit www.NuGammaPhi100years.com to see what fun events are planned. 

 

Deadlines

Details can be found on the collegiate master calendar available online in the spring officer packet.  Remember, all forms are available online at http://mail.gammaphibeta.org/OnlineForms/.

 

April 1

Collegians and Alumnae

-Expense reports due to IH for prior three months

-Form #58 – Service Roll Recommendation

-Form #59 – Merit Roll Recommendation

-Form #61a – Loyalty Award Recommendation

-Form #87 – Panhellenic Delegate Report

-Articles and pictures due for the summer issue of The Crescent

-Monthly collegiate officer reports due to the managing regional coordinator

 

April 15

Collegians

Form #15 – Collegiate Chapter Monthly Financial Statement

 

April 25

Collegians and Alumnae

Early Convention registration deadline

 

May 1

Collegians

-Monthly collegiate officer reports due to the managing regional coordinator.

-Convention delegate credential card due to IH

 

Alumnae

-Form #16 – Alumnae Chapter Zip Code Revisions

-Form #92 – Alumnae Membership Printout Order Form

-Convention delegate credential card due to IH

 

May 15

Collegians

- Form #15 – Collegiate Chapter Monthly Financial Statement

- Form #34 – HCB Quarterly Statement of Receipts/Disbursements

- List of summer addresses of collegiate chapter members

 

Alumnae

- Form #25 – Alumnae Chapter Officers List

- Form #27 – Alumnae Chapter President’s Report

- Form #55 – Annual Chapter Advisor’s Report

- Form #94 – Crescent Circle Report

 

May 26

Collegians and Alumnae

Final deadline to submit forms for good standing (for Convention delegate rebates and voting eligibility).

 

June 1

Collegians and Alumnae

Convention registration deadline