Summer/Fall 2022 Newsletter

Staff Signals

Denver Alumnae Chapter, Xi C Province, Region 1 | Summer/Fall 2022 | Volume 72, Issue 1

At the DRO event, we had Carmen Coleman, Alyse Greenberg, Sarah Butler, Hailey Moy, and Magen Gore in attendance. The concert was a blast and you can watch it from home in case you missed it at these two links: Act 1 & Act 2. We met up at Denver Central Market afterwards and enjoyed some delicious food. (Pictures above left)

Sisters Marion Talley, Donita Banks, Mary Hanson, Jeanette Armbrustmacher, and Linda Rolf played holiday music for the Gathering Place in December

Pictured above: sisters gathering at Cheesecake Factory in Littleton for our annual Incorporation Day Luncheon. The Technology Committee (Krista Aliga, Alyse Greenberg, Sabrina Green, Kim Husted) enjoyed an outing of brunch in October to discuss and plan for our SAI year.

Keena Day was appointed the National Sigma Alpha Iota Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Dear Members of Sigma Alpha Iota.

The announcement was made on October 19 from Jessica Chichester, National President.

"On behalf of the National Executive Board, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Keena Day as the fraternity’s new Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

Keena was initiated by the Kappa Iota Chapter at Tennessee State University (TSU) where she served as Editor and VP Membership and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English Education. Musically, Keena plays the baritone and trombone as well as being a vocalist. Following graduation, Keena affiliated with the Nashville Alumnae Chapter where she served as VPR and President. In 2008, Keena was appointed as Psi B Province Officer, a position she served in until 2012. Keena also served as Region 4 Regional Officer from 2013-2015. Currently, Keena is an active member of the Denver Alumnae Chapter where she has served as VP Ritual, FrEd Chair and their 80th Anniversary Chairwoman. For her dedication and service to the fraternity, Keena is the recipient of the Sword of Honor, Ruby Sword of Honor and Rose of Honor.

As an educator for 19 years, Keena works with school leadership and organizations to dismantle inequitable practices and policies to improve educational achievement. She specifically focuses on areas including culturally and historically relevant pedagogy, instructional design for diversity, equity, and inclusion, equity audits, leadership coaching, data analysis, systematic programming implementation, and literacy best practices. Keena is the current Vice President of Curriculum and Assessment for DSST Public Schools, the largest open enrollment STEM charter secondary system in Colorado while working on her doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Administration at the University of Dayton.

Keena is also a freelance writer and journalist whose writing has been included in several media outlets such as the Tennessee Tribune, Boardhawk, and My Black Colorado Magazine. She is the author of two books and a contributing author for two best-selling books that were released in 2021: The HBCU Experience: Band Alumni Edition, and the Black Studies collegiate textbook Africana Paradigms, Practices, and Literary Texts. She has been a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows including EdCuration and Teach Colorado and has been a speaker at conferences focused on Black women's empowerment, education, and literacy instruction.

Originally from Detroit, MI, Keena is an avid community advocate; she serves on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commission for Commerce City, Colorado and is a board member of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action (CBWPA), a former board member for Prospect Academy which serves students with ASD and other special needs, and several others. Keena was recognized as a "Forty Under 40" Awardee for TSU's 2020 class, featured as one of the top 100 educators in Colorado by My Black Colorado Magazine and won the President’s Award for service by CBWPA."

Congratulations Keena!

Clarissa Constantine is a member of Skyline Chorus and competed in the finals of the Sweet Adeline's International competition in Phoenix, Arizona. You can watch their performance through this YouTube link and learn more about Skyline Chorus here. Congratulations to Clarissa and singers!

A FINE FALL MEETING
November 12, 2022
By Donita Banks

Nine members met in-person and six joined online for the November 12 regular meeting at the home of Alyse Greenberg.

After enjoying some tasty brunch items, Jessica presided over the formal business meeting. A great variety of holiday events was announced, including two caroling activities for SAI members in the community. Amber Sheeran provided the musicale: two delightful pieces on her clarinet. The meeting concluded with the affiliation ceremony for Carmen Coleman and the memorial ceremony for Joan Garver.

Joan Garver
August 4, 1938 - April 22, 2021

Joan Garver was initiated into Alpha Nu Chapter at Youngstown University in 1957, where she received a degree with piano as her major. She affiliated with our chapter in 1987 and, with the exception of 2 years, was an active member until 2017-18. Joan served as VP Ritual from 1990-1991. She also served on several committees, hosted meetings and performed on musicales. Joan received a 50-year membership certificate in 2007.

Joan was a Suzuki teacher for many years.

A memorial service for Joan was held at Faith Lutheran Church in Golden on Saturday, November 5. Marion Talley attended the service and took three roses and a card to present on behalf of our chapter.

Memorials can be directed to the Suzuki Association of Colorado: www.cosuzuki.org or Foothills Music Teachers Association: https://www.fmtamusic.org/scholarship funds.

MARCIA WHITCOMB
64-year-member of SAI
1938-2022

Marcia Whitcomb was initiated into Tau Sigma Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota on April 19, 1957. She was a student at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she majored in cello performance and theory. Marcia was the recipient of the Sword of Honor and the College Leadership Award (the Ruby Sword of Honor). She affiliated with Denver Alumnae Chapter in 1961, remaining an active member through 1972. Marcia served in many SAI capacities: VP Programs, chair or member of several committees, Alumnae Advisor to Alpha Phi Chapter, CU Boulder, and Omicron Province President in 1967-1968. She returned as an Associate member of the chapter from 2001-2017. A talented, accomplished cellist, Marcia performed on many SAI musicales through the years as a soloist and in a variety of ensembles. In 2017, the chapter presented her a 60-year membership certificate.

Marcia Ann (Crossley) Whitcomb was born September 6, 1938 in Moline, Illinois, the only child of Melvin and Amy Crossley. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1960. Marcia moved to Denver a short time later and resided here the remainder of her life. She was a professional cellist who played in several orchestras and performed on countless programs throughout her life. Marcia was an active member of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church for 60 years and a long-time member of Westminster Choir. She was a critical component in the establishment of the Montview Orchestra and the orchestra contractor for special concerts for many years.

Marcia died August 5, 2022, and a Celebration of Life was held at Montview Church on September 10. I attended that touching service which included two Mozart pieces arranged for string quartet by Marcia as well as other musical selections and loving tributes. One of the latter was written by Marcia’s granddaughter, Jessica Zeleniak. She shared that her grandmother was “magical”, giving of her time, talent, life experience and wisdom, as well as unwavering love, support and acceptance to her family and to all those she knew and loved.

Marcia was a beloved wife, mother of 3, grandmother of 4, great-grandmother of 8, and great-great grandmother of 3.

She is survived by son John Pearce and his family and daughter, Wendelyn Pearce Fauth and her family, as well as numerous extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Whitcomb, and her daughter, Dawn Pearce.

Memorial gifts may be made in Marcia’s name to Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Sacred Music Fund, 1980 Dahlia St., Denver, CO 80220, or the Women’s Committee/Robert and Yvonne Jameson Cello Scholarship, c/o University of Missouri-Kansas City, 4949 Cherry St., Performing Arts Center, Suite 408, Kansas City, MO 64110.

You can view all photos from our chapter events here!

Alyse Greenberg - July 7
Rachel Stone - July 13
Catherine Rands - July 26
Mary Nichols - August 3
Phoenix Gayles - August 12
Dorothy Nelson - August 16
Keena Day - August 27
Mary Hanson - August 31
Anna Maria Manalo - September 7
Kim Husted - September 30
Jessica Knieff - October 11
Sabrina Green - October 12
Dee Netzel - October 14
Haily Moy - October 26
Rachel Davis - November 18
Carmen Coleman - December 4
Juliann Pulliam - December 16

I don't know about you, but I cannot believe this year is almost over. It feels like it was just January 2022 yesterday! I want to thank all that contributed to this newsletter! Your contributions really help make our SAI year successful, well communicated, and personable...and they are greatly appreciated!

My husband usually drops our kids off at daycare in the mornings on his way to work. For anyone that doesn't know my husband, Chet, he's a high school band director for Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora. Chet decided one morning, on the way to their daycare, to play 'Sussex Carol' by a brass quintet. When he asked our son, Arthur, if he knew this song, our son closed his eyes, smiled, and replied, "it sounds like 'Christmas'".

I share this story because it brought once again to the forefront, how strongly music can give you an immediate feeling and take you back to a moment in time (even for a 3 year old!). And no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate, this time of year can bring out many memories and different feelings. My favorite music this time of year is 'The Nutcracker Suite: Act I'. Every year, right about November, I find myself listening to it, trying to play it on piano, challenging my siblings to play it on the piano with me.

No matter what music you find yourself listening to or memories you bask in, please never hesitate to reach out to your sisters if you are in need of help, good company, or musical collaborations. This year has flown by, but reflecting on our Staff Signals it's amazing how much our chapter has accomplished. We have so much to be proud of as a group, and with our members individually. Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and the most joyous New Year!

Stay warm!

Many Roses, Krista Aliga