The true spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Pi Chapter! Anyone
who missed the December meeting missed one of the all-time high
points and most joy-filled and just plain FUN meetings in many
years. Our project this year was not the usual craft, but an
“adoption” of sixteen high-school kids who desperately needed our
help. And boy, did Pi Chapter come through for them! We began
taking up money in November, and members gave so generously
that we knew we could give these teenagers a wonderful Christ-
mas—but that was only the beginning! After our “personal shop-
per” Michelle Shory bought more than anyone thought possible with
that money, members still came into the meeting carrying socks, gloves, makeup bags, per-
fumes, food, gift cards—it was such a generous outpouring that even the most grumpy
Scrooge would have been moved to tears. While we were entertained with a wonderful se-
lection of Christmas carols by Ken and Cindy Leihkauff, members collaborated in filling huge
gift bags for “their” child, and Kathleen was happy to have her SUV there that night; there was
so much “loot” for the kids that it wouldn’t have fit into a “normal” car trunk. I still get chills
(and misty eyes) just thinking about it, and several members have suggested that we make
this project an annual event. I agree; I’ve never attended a more upbeat, positive, loving,
focused meeting; I was and am so proud of Pi Chapter that I could just burst! I’m posting both
a thank-you letter and a follow-up letter from Kathleen that I hope you’ll all read; look for the
link on the homepage.
January is, of course, named after the Roman god Janus—who had one face that looked
back and one that looked ahead, so besides basking in our December project, I’m also look-
ing forward. It’s exciting to think of members bringing books for a book exchange this month!
I know I’m always in the market for something good to read, and I know many others of us
feel the same way. In that vein, please notice that the “Pi Chapter Re