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PI PHI NEWS & NOTES
Thank you to the outstanding teachers from Mahi and more for donating their teaching time to benefit the Scholarship and Special Needs Fund. Our first mahjong lesson for beginners was a "crak bam" success (if you know, you know)! We were led by KS Alpha Jane Foster Emley, along with Leslie Blair.
↗️ Our heads were filled with all the new rules of this fun game!
↗️ Our stomaches were filled with delicious food.. thanks, Susan!
↗️ And our hearts were filled with happiness, as we met alumnae from Pi Phi chapters coast to coast!
It's final! 340 KC Pi Phis Paid Dues!
The final tally from the July to October dues effort was 340! As you might recall, we set a goal of having 10% of the 3,000+ alumnae in the metro pay dues. Thanks to you, we reached our goal!
We had 282 pay KC club dues, with 75% also supporting Pi Beta Phi by paying International Fraternity dues, which were forwarded to HQ. We also had 60 area alumnae pay International Fraternity Dues directly to HQ.
Special thanks to our generous Arrow, Carnation and Halo dues donors, who have gone beyond to make a difference for the club.
THANK
YOU!
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Calling all Pi Phi Initiates from 1951, 1976 and 2001
Congratulations! You're celebrating an important membership milestone in 2026, so you won't want to miss this important info!
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The poinsettias bloom, the laughter rings clear,
Our Pi Phi sisters gather with cheer.
At Kansas City Country Club we’ll meet,
For brunch that’s merry, warm, and sweet.
We’ll sip and savor, stories we’ll share,
Of angels who’ve served with Pi Phi care.
For those who’ve soared and given their best,
We’ll honor them — they’ve been our best!
Then one bright sister, full of grace,
Will earn “Pi Phi of the Year” — her place
Among our cherished hearts and friends,
Where sisterhood and joy never end.
So don your sparkle, your holiday best,
Come toast our club, and all the rest!
December 6th — don’t delay,
Your Pi Phi sisters can’t wait for the day!
(Thanks to ChatGPT for lending some rhyme —
Since poetry’s not my gift this time!)
KC PI PHI DIRECTORIES
We'll have printed copies of our club directory available at the Holiday Brunch on Dec. 6th.
This is just one of a long list of benefits that you receive when you pay your local dues of $25! 😇
Thank you for supporting KC Pi Phi.
Here's a reminder to bring two things to the Holiday Brunch on Dec. 6th:
1. Cash, if you'd like to have a cocktail with brunch (KCCC doesn't accept cards; you can charge back to another club, if you'd prefer)
2. A new children's book to be donated to Reach Out and Read KC!
GOLDEN ARROWS HALLOWEEN LUNCHEON
Our club's beloved 50-year members turned out in large numbers at past President Nan McConnell's house for a fun, Halloween-themed fall luncheon in early October.
Any time we can toast our Golden Arrows is a treat for all involved! Thank you to all who attended!
A special thanks to Nan and her husband Curt for ALL of the fabulous Halloween decor (and the beautiful fall landscaping). And a big hug to Jennie Neville, who served as hostess along with Nan. Finally, our warmest appreciation to Ann Hyde for pinch hitting as our photographer! So many cute candids!
See the photos below - it's great to be a Pi Phi alumna in Greater Kansas City!
October Dinner Club Heads to Park Place
Grab a Pi Phi friend and meet us for KC Pi Phi Dinner Club at Bamboo Penny's in Leawood on Thursday, October 23rd! We're meeting at 6 pm, and it won't be fun without you!
The restaurant is in Park Place at 5270 West 116th Place, Leawood, KS 66211. If you've never tried Bamboo Penny's, you are in for a treat!
The Club will pay for an appetizer, and you'll pay for your own delicious dinner! It's a fun way to take a night off of cooking, and enjoy a great meal with old friends and new ones.
Let us know you're planning to attend, so we can save you a spot! RSVP by Oct. 20th to Julie Koontz at 913-213-4042.
Ring Ching!
Regional Panhellenic Recruitment Dates for 2025 FFR
Listed in Chronological Order
University of Arkansas
Aug. 8 - 16
University of Kansas
Aug. 9 - 16
University of Alabama
Aug. 9 - 17
Pittsburg State University
Aug. 11 - 15
University of Missouri
Aug. 16 - 23
Baker University
Kansas State University
Fort Hays State University
University of Central Missouri
Wichita State University
Missouri State University
Emporia State University
Drury University
Truman State University
Missouri Western
Northwest Missouri State
UMKC
Washburn University
Aug. 16 - 19
Aug. 17 - 21
Aug. 19 - 22
Aug. 20 - 24
Aug. 20 - 25
Aug. 21 - 24
Aug. 22 - 24
Sept. 2 - 7
Aug. 22 - 25
Sept. 3 - 7
Sept. 5 - 8
Sept. 5 - 7
Sept. 5 - 9
Pi Beta Phi 75th Biennial Convention in Louisville
- Lisa Rinehart Hoffman, 2025-26 KC Alumnae Club President
What an absolute honor to represent the KC Alumnae Club at the 75th Biennial Convention. This was my second Pi Phi Convention, representing the Kansas City area. The first time was 25+ years ago in 1999, as a Night Group Co-President. Jennifer Wenzel was the delegate, and I was her "backup."
Needing to catch up on an ever-growing collection of podcasts, and a long list of phone calls, I decided to drive the 7.5 hours to Louisville. Summer road construction made the trip a bit longer than usual, so I had to hustle to check in and to get ready for the first evening's event at the world-famous Churchill Downs.
The theme for Churchill Downs was, naturally, Kentucky Derby, and the attendees did not disappoint! We saw some spectacular hats and fascinators. And most importantly, we met lots of new Pi Phi friends, while watching several horse races!
I paired a crazy, giant blue flower headband with the cutest Pi Phi needlepoint cuff from Stitch Girls. (They're local to KC, they're Pi Phis, and they have a huge selection of bracelets on Instagram: @stitchgirls_kc)
The next morning, we got to the business of Pi Beta Phi. Grand President Lisa Gamel Scott reviewed the top ten strategic priorities that Grand Council had identified for the Fraternity. Among them:
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Evolving our meeting ritual (more on that below)
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Addressing trends in membership
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Leveraging our volunteer power
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Sustaining Pi Phi with support of alumnae dues, donations
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Philanthropic impact
As you have likely read/heard in recent years, there has been an intense discussion about changes to Pi Phi's meeting ritual. When I first read about this in the Arrow, I worried that altering something we hold so dear would be difficult and could even be damaging to the Fraternity. I shared these concerns with our regional Alumnae Engagement Director.
Turns out, they did a beautiful job.
Led by Fraternity Historian Fran Becque, the committee chose new, poetic language that echoes many of our cherished Pi Phi ceremonies. It even mimics the original meeting ritual in tone and cadence. Pi Phis will recognize the symbolism in the new language.
As a reminder, the initiation ceremony remains the same, and the "whatsoevers" are still the same.
The delegates at Convention were the first Pi Phi body to recite the new meeting ritual, which was a moving experience. We were given a commemorative card for the occasion (see photos).
Other highlights included meeting with lots of other alumnae club presidents to exchange ideas (very helpful!), getting to participate in the initiation ceremony, meeting collegians from our surrounding chapters, and of course, the giant Convention Cookie Shine!
Pi Phi's 76th Biennial Convention will be June 24-26, 2027 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California.
