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Southern California -- Orange County Chapter
$5,000 RAISED in
25th Annual Winter Scholarship
Fundraising Event
For more... | In This Issue:
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 25th Annual Scholarship Benefit
Raises $5000
of Scholarship Funds and
Celebrates a Quarter of a Century
of Comraderie and Service
On Saturday November 17th, 2007, our chapter celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Scholarship Benefit. The event included our traditional dinner and Silent Auction at the Center Club in Costa Mesa. This year, along with familiar and new faces, we were honored to have three guests from the College including Marjorie Mathison Hance (Vice-President of External Relations), Susan Rudd (Admissions Representative for Southern California) and Pam McNulty (Senior Director of Gift Planning). In addition to the laughter and relationship building, we were excited to participate in both the Silent Auction and Raffle, raising funds to support young women from Southern California as they make the journey east to attend St. Kate’s. This year we are pleased to report that $5000 was sent to the College for the Scholarship fund!
Thank you to all that participated in this historic event. Though we say goodbye to the Center Club as our yearly gathering place, we look forward to new developments in the way this event occurs in the future. Please be sure to check your mail for information on this year’s fundraiser.
We Beat Last Year's Success!
Last year, members and friends together with donations from those who could not attend raised $4500! The money was sent to CSC and will directly support St. Kate’s students from Southern California. This incredible total surpassed the previous year’s total by $500, thanks to increased bids and opportunity ticket sales. Now we did it again, raising $500 more in 2007 than 2006!
If you think this effort is not worth it, consider the thank you letter we received from Robin E. Regan, one of the scholarship recipients:
"I am a student from a low income family and to attend a private college like St. Kate’s was a dream of mine, but it did not look like it would ever become a reality. However, you have helped made that possible for me. As a junior, it has been surreal to see my dreams come to fruition and realize that I am almost finished reaching my goal. Your contribution has been instrumental in assuring my attendance and subsequent graduation from St. Catherine's. I am very grateful for your generosity and hope to replicate that generosity as I leave St. Kate’s and go out into the world."
Thank you to this year’s Silent Auction and Raffle Donors:
Centerpieces - Gigi Atherton
Brunch - Balboa Bay Club
Membership - The Center Club
Karizma Boutique -Shellie Morrisett-Okon
Arbonne Products - Monica Peace
Chiropractic Care - Monica Peace
Wine - Al Nathe
Tickets - Pacific Symphony
Tickets - Philharmonic Society of Or Co
Dinner & Theater Tickets - Catherine Martin
Gift Cards - South Coast Plaza
Homemade Items - Mary Ann Schulte
Handpainted silk scarves - Anne Beale
$500 - CSC San Diego Chapter
Cookbooks - Lori Nadler
Waterford Crysta l- Collette Sfreddo
Body Design Gym, Pilates - Tracy Steele
Favors - Minda Suchan
Arbonne Products - Kelly Abanda
CSC Bookmarks & Candy - Pam McNulty
See’s Candies - Marge Foster
|  PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Chapter Appoints new Treasurer After Marge Foster’s service as Treasurer, we are both thankful to Marge for her service and pleased to announce that Catherine Martin has volunteered to assume her duties.
Catherine is a 1971 graduate of the College and currently works for Raytheon as a Quality Engineer. Catherine comes with a portfolio of valuable and coveted skills and experiences. We are confident that her attention to detail will serve our chapter well!We want to take this opportunity to give a big THANK YOU to Marge Foster. When Lori Nadler asked Marge to temporarily fill in as treasurer, she graciously accepted. Her temporary position has lasted for over three years! As Marge leaves these duties to attend to other volunteer commitments, we applaud her! Thank you for your heart to serve the College and our chapter. You are truly a shining example of all that a Katie strives to be!
Also, we were deeply saddened to hear that our dear friend Rita Gillach Otte (’49) died. She bravely fought cancer but succumbed to it early in March. Rita was a consistent and enthusiastic supporter of both our chapter and the College. She will be greatly missed. Please keep Rita and her family in your thoughts and prayers. A $100 donation was sent to the Joe and Rose Cashman Gillach Scholarship at the College in Rita's memory.
We want to hear from you! If you have news you would like to share, please contact us or submit it with your dues.
Minda Suchan, Ph.D. '95
CSC Orange County Chapter Alumnae President
Favorite Memory from St. Kate’s
One of my favorite memories of St. Kate's is walking out of St. Joseph's Hall after spring finals into the Quad, lined by lilacs. To this day, every time I catch the scent of lilacs, I remember the satisfied feeling of accomplishment I felt after a spring semester ends. |
 LOCAL ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT
MARIE A. Proulx '39
Marie, the eldest daughter of five children, has opened new trails for others to follow wherever she has gone. At a time when few women were gaining college education, Proulx attained a degree in business administration from the College of St. Catherine. Every organization with which she has been associated since has benefited from her keep financial skill and groundbreaking leadership.
To Marie, the Marine motto, Semper Fidelis, “Always Faithful,” has special meaning. When she enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II, women were not allowed overseas, so Marie worked in the civilian payroll department. In 1948, when the federal government authorized women in the military, she was one of the specially equipped women invited back to active duty. She became part of the original team to open a new recruit training program for women Marines at Parris Island, South Carolina. She eventually rose to the rank of staff sergeant.
In 1952, she transferred to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, where she still resides. After undergoing procedures for replacing a hip she accepted a medical discharge. She continued to work for the Marine Corps as a civilian and in 1964 became the accounting supervisor for Camp Pendleton’s Naval Hospital. She remained at Pendleton until her second retirement over thirty years ago. Never one to be idle, Marie obtained her realtor’s and broker’s license. Until 1985, she kept busy in the real estate business.
When the Women’s Marine Association was organized in Los Angeles in 1960, Marie became a charter member. Since 1984 she has been the treasurer for the Oceanside chapter, which she helped to organize in 1972. In 2004, when this chapter hosted the national convention, eighty-seven-year-old Marie handled all the finances and income tax reporting for the event!
Marie has amply demonstrated her faithfulness to the College of St. Catherine and its goal of educating women. In fact, Marie organized the San Diego Chapter of the Alumnae Association in the early 1990’s and served as its president until 2007. Each year she prepared and mailed out a chapter newsletter and membership renewals at her own expense so the membership dues could be contributed to the scholarship fund of the Orange County Chapter. She has attended alumnae leadership classes and enjoyed her 25th, 50th and 60th reunions.
Over the years, Marie has demonstrated the leadership qualities St. Catherine’s strives to nurture in its students in many community organizations including the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Oceanside (president and later secretary): the Idlewild Institute Fiesta (treasurer on the Board of Directors) which conducted a one-week girls summer leadership school: Girls Club of Oceanside (president and treasurer): Legion of Mary, Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside; and St. Margaret’s parish.
Last year, Marie was nominated by Chapter colleagues and selected by the Association Board to receive the Alumnae Association’s St. Catherine Alumnae Award. Since 1979, the Alumnae Association has recognized alumnae who are nominated by colleagues, friends and family members for being inspiring models and exhibiting excellence in their chosen fields of influence and service. In February 2008, we gathered to honor her at a surprise luncheon held at the US Marine Corps Miramar Air Station Officers' Club, located in San Diego. | Lorraine Majerus Nadler
Endowment Fund
Last year alumnae in Southern California received notice of the formation of the Lorraine Majerus Nadler Endowment Fund. It is the vision of our Founding President to create a lasting legacy from the Southern California alumnae to the College of St. Catherine. The goal of the fund is to commit at least $25,000 to the College. Proudly the fund has already collected $20,000+ and anticipates further contributions to reach at least the $25,000 goal. If you are intersted in partnering with this endowment, please contact Pam McNulty, Senior Director of Gift Planning (pjmcnulty@stkate.edu) or 651-690-6812.
Thank you to Lori for her continued pace-setting action and determination to make a difference in the lives of so many women. We are truly blessed to have a woman of your calibur in the history of this chapter!
St. Kate's FACTS
- 5 Southern California students visited the College in February
- 17 Students from Southern California have already been accepted Fall 2007 Enrollment was 5,238
- 23.3% of students are international or multi-cultural
- With 23.7% of students choosing it, Nursing remains the #1 major
- The campus has 24 Honor Societies
- 7 New degree programs were recently launched
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PAMPER PARTY MADE EVERYONE FEEL GOOD!
Our first Pamper Party was a great success. Women gathered together and had fun while being pampered. We shared our favorite memories of our time at St. Kate’s and memories flooded our minds. In addition, the gathering raised $150 to contribute to the Scholarship Fund. We are looking forward to more nights of pampering!
Favorite Memory from St. Kate’s
“The candlelight ceremony after first year orientation
—I knew I had made the right decision for college at that moment!”
Janel Lauer (’99) of San Diego | UPCOMING EVENTSPlease plan on joining fellow alumnae at these Chapter events:
- Chapter Meeting- Saturday May 3rd, 2008- 9am at Balboa Bay Club. If you would like to attend this meeting, please contact Minda Suchan. Breakfast is provided.·
- Summer Tea - Saturday July 19th- You will receive a mailing with details of this event soon. If you are not on the mailing list, please contact Christine Klejbuk '71 at the College of St. Catherine Alumnae Association:
ATTENTION ALL BUSINESS OWNERS! Our chapter is proud to embark on new endeavors and due to popular request, we are at it again! If you are a business owner of any type, we want to hear from you. We would like to start linking business owners together for networking and business building purposes. Undoubtedly, we have amazing, talented and successful women in the Southern California region and the Chapter looks forward to facilitating increased relationships which we hope will build not only personal efforts but also help support other Katie businesses! Advertising opportunities are also forthcoming! If you are a business owner, please contact Minda Suchan at mmsuchan@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you! |
Linking Generations Together
As you may know, many alumnae call Southern California home, including many that are unable to join gatherings due to health, age or mobility. If you are an alumni that would be interested in visiting elderly Katies, bringing cheer and a listening ear to them, we want to hear from you.
If you would like to visit alumnae/i in your area or if you would like someone to visit you, please contact Minda Suchan or
| Katie Energy and Community
"There always seems to be a special type of energy when CSC alumnae meet. I found at my first event through the Orange County Alumnae Association, I immediately connected with my fellow Katies. This has always held through at the many events I have participated in, and as your alumnae president, I hope to continue growing and supporting the college so other women may know the true community energy of the College of St. Catherine. If you have any suggestions or ideas for our alumnae association, please don't hesitate to contact me. I always look forward to meeting fellow alumnae!'
Minda Suchan, Ph.D. '95
CSC Orange County Chapter Alumnae President |
me="8">Start Talking Books -- 2008 Conversation with Books Titles!
The Sea Lady by Margaret Drabble, Harcourt, 2006
- Get a Life by Nadine Gordimer, Penguin ed., 2005
- Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007
- Consequencesby Penelope Lively, Viking, 2007
- Summerby Edith Wharton, Bantam Classics, 1993 (originally published 1917)
- Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee, Knopf, 2007
- Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Pastby Diane Wilson. Borealis Books, 2006
- To Sing Along the Way: Minnesota Women Poets from Pre-Territorial Days to the Present; ed., Joyce Sutpen, Thorn Tammaro and Connie Wanek. New Rivers Press, 2006
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver, 2007
- The Florist’s Daughter by Patricia Hampl, 2007
To read the highlights of last years' event, click here: 2007 CONVERSATION WITH BOOKS EVENT
Though the Conversation with Books events occur in St. Paul, you can join in the literary excitement by connecting with other alumnae and friends in book clubs to keep the Conversation with Books going in Orange County. Just take a look at the list of recommended books, and then choose some to talk about. You can use the comments of the panelists as springboards for questions and insights of your own.
| CSC ALUMNAE CHAPTER CONTACTS
Minda Suchan '95 -- President
Kelly Raetzke Abanda ’99 -- Newsletter
Catherine Martin '71 -- Treasurer
Lori Nadler ’53 -- Chapter Founder
Collette Sfreddo ’56 -- Chapter Board
Peggy Lutz Granger -- Chapter Board
Monica Peace ’88 -- Chapter Board
Marie Proulx '39 -- San Diego
Monica Peace '88 -- Chapter Board
Peggy Lutz Granger -- Chaper Board
Collette Sfreddo '56 -- Chapter Board
Marge Foster '42 -- Founding Member
For contact information, please email your request to alumnae@stkate.edu |
 "The Icons of Sinai" Spring Getty Exhibition Was Compelling
The majority of this magnificent exhibition traveled from the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine of Sienna, at the foot of the mountain where Moses saw the burning bush. We viewed some of the oldest surviving icons from the Byzantine world.
The Holy Monastery of St. Catherine hosts the world's largest repository of Byzantine icons, and these works have been in the continuous care of generations of monks at Saint Catherine's over the centuries. The works underscore the central role of icons in the religious practice and spirituality of the Christian world -- and this exhibit introduced us to the compelling history the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine.
After enjoying the museum and grounds, we joined for lunch in the Restaurant at the Getty. It was a time of bringing generations of Katie’s together.
The class of 1999 had a strong showing with four graduates!
Thank you to all that participated and we look forward to seeing more alumnae at upcoming events!
Southern California Alumnae engage in stimulating and fun conversations in the Getty restaurant after the tour of the Mt. Sinai Icon Exhibition.
Read Past Newsletters
Orange County/Southern California Newsletter, Spring 2006 (pdf)
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