President Gloria Fenton called the meeting to order. Gloria welcomed everyone. Lori introduced the new people and our guests. There are 30 people here tonight. It's the largest regular meeting. We discussed the Question of the Month.

The next meeting Olena will conduct an auction. Bring clothing, jewelry and shoes in good condition. She passed out flyers to explain.

Gloria talked with Jane Ellen and got suggestions for our National Speaker. She suggested Peggy Rudd, Virginia Prince, or Naomi Owens. We voted to pay $300.00 towards our speaker's expenses. Diane and Allie Vernon will host our speaker.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Balance in checking $1770.83. Charity and library fund $228.00. Petty cash $50.00.

Committees were set up.

GENERAL AFFAIRS: Diane Brennen, Cheryl, Peggy Thomas, Lori Taylor, Gloria, Marla and Elaine. They will meet at 6:00 p.m. before every meeting.

INTERVIEW: Lori Taylor, Peggy Thomas, Diane Vernon, and Kathleen Fenton.

OUTREACH: Lisa, Diane Brennen, Susie, Edie, Cassandra, Debbie, Olena, and alternate Peggy Thomas.

CHRISTMAS: Olena, Kathleen, Tabitha, Debbie, Melody, Cheryl, and Fran.

AWARDS: Diane Vernon, Tanya, and Cheryl.

NEWSLETTER: Susie, Tanya, Lisa, Diane Vernon, Tabitha, Kathleen.

FINANCE: Gloria, Marla, and Elaine. The committee will meet May 3^rd at 2:00 at Gloria's.

Our newsletter is online. If anyone wants to get their newsletter off the web, let Kathleen know. Gloria asked for a volunteer to read through the newsletters from other groups to see if there are any articles that are of interest that could be reprinted in our newsletter. Tabitha volunteered.

If you haven't paid your dues, do so immediately. Please, show your Tri Ess membership card. Olena brought copies of consignment shops in the area.

The May meeting will be our Red, White and Blue Summer Holiday meeting. The meal will be hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, potato salad, and macaroni salad.

Today is Debbie's birthday.

Cheryl put together a first aid box for the chapter.

Tanya made the motion we adjourn the meeting. Cheryl seconded.

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A four-year-old boy gets caught for the second time bringing a loaded handgun to pre-school. It seems he has a fascination for guns.

A thirteen-year-old boy and an eleven-year-old boy steal guns and ammunition; and the thirteen-year-old allegedly kills five people in cold blood, supposedly because a girl broke a date with him.

The Jerry Springer show becomes the number one rated day time talk show, largely because of its foul language, lurid subject matter, and violence.. This show is claimed to be a bastion of first amendment rights.

The President of the United States has become such a laughable figure that it's hard to take him seriously, or worse yet, to really know what the truth is.

And just recently I saw a commercial about some supposedly fantastic action figure toys targeted for very young boys because they are really macho. To me, the really crazy thing about the commercial is that the song "Macho Man" is played in the background to emphasize the boys' rise to manhood by buying this toy. Ironically, weren't the guys in the group, the "Village People", who sang the song chided for being gay?

Talk about mixed messages. And how many mindless variations of "Barbie" will there be until people say "Enough, already". Tell me, do they have "Farding Barbie" yet, with her car and makeup sold separately!

Let's see, there could be "Dune Buggy Farding Barbie", 4 x 4 off road "Farding Barbie", race car driving "Farding Barbie", School Bus driving "Farding Barbie", and so many more. Mattel has a gold mine. All they have to do is stick a piece of cloth on a piece of plastic, and call it a different name every day, and people will buy it. Go figure! We do live in a crazy world.

(Ed Note: For more about "Farding", see article later in this newsletter.)

I still haven't figured out what, with job security, decent wages, and great benefits, what can be so stressful about working at the post office, so that we now have the euphemism of "going postal" when someone goes over the edge of reason for a time. Obviously, no other job is stressful at all.

And if a kid just wants to goof off and cause trouble in school, well then they probably have Attention Deficit Disorder. Because of this, in time we will have to let them graduate even if they can't read or write above a third grade level. It does make me wonder how these kids will make it into college or get jobs. Supposedly, reading, writing, and arithmetic aren't really important to the Fortune 500 any more according to a survey that was done. It seems they look for communication and problem-solving skills more.

What I can't understand is how can you communicate or solve a real problem if you can't read, write, or solve a simple math equation. Can a child write a letter without a word processor? Can a child in school solve a math problem anymore without a calculator or a computer, and understand how they got the answer? Do we encourage them to understand?

I've heard some people intimate that with all the information on the Internet, and the chat rooms, etc., that groups like ours won't be necessary any more for people to express themselves. Well, maybe, but I sure hope not. I've never shook hands with a computer, or heard one laugh. Somehow HA, HA printed on a screen just doesn't do it for me. But that is me.

And besides, how can anyone truly understand or appreciate my rapier-like wit and the sparkle of my green eyes, or know what it is to see a smile, or be given a hug, except in person.

The "Information Superhighway" can open up a world of information, but it can also be a very tiny closet filled with a computer screen and keyboard. We live in a world where parents don't seem to care if their four-year-old can get his hands on a loaded handgun and take it to school. What is a thirteen-year-old dating for in the first place, let alone supposedly bragging for weeks about how "somebody's going to pay" because some girl broke a date with him. Didn't anybody notice anything?

Why is it that a television show that, to me anyway, preys on the absurdity and volatile emotions of people is so popular? We really don't need a show like this to profit on people's emotions. Oh, don't forget to send in your $19.95 plus shipping and handling for the videotape of the foul language, nudity, and violence, that had to be edited from the television show.

At one time these clippings would have been thrown away and considered garbage. Now you can buy this garbage because too many people think it's gold. Is this First Amendment rights, or plain, pure, profit from people's misery! You tell me!

For six years now the world has had to listen to how much of a crook and philanderer the President of our country is. You can bet there's been a few people who have made a lot of money too, again by playing on people's emotions. Are there any ethics in journalism any more, or is there even any true journalism in mass media? Unsubstantiated innuendo, flat out lies, hype, propaganda, biased opinion, and pure nonsense, is what the 6:00 news is really about any more. Film at 11:00.

Why don't you get good people running for political office? Because their competition and the media will tear their life apart and create dirt even if they can't find it. We all know that. And then there is another media targeting young boys to be big, tough "Macho Men", and targeting little girls with the total fluff of a blonde-haired doll and how they can't live without having to have every single one of them, plus accessories sold separately.

And when is humanity going to realize that business, and human beings, and life in general, do not move or think, or react with the speed and unemotional logic of a computer. Everything has to be instant gratification, or we go "Postal". Or how about this business scenario. Send me this part right away at your cost because I need it yesterday, and I'm too cheap to hold inventory; but you are supposed to, and oh by the way, I won't pay you for at least 90 days.

Adult or child, it would be and is refreshing to hear of someone willing to take responsibility for their actions, or lack of action. It can be flat out amazing when someone doesn't try to blame someone else for what they did, or says "how can I help." And I do get a little tired of hearing about some new syndrome or disorder which seems more like ways for people not to have to admit they don't care about anything or anyone.

Now you are all probably wondering what great dramatic point I am trying to make with all this amazing rhetoric. Well, it's like this. For each of us who is a part of Alpha Omega, there is the friendship, caring, and freedom to express ourselves, that is a fundamental right of being a part of our group. These are things we promote to potential new members, and they are vital for our survival and growth.

However, there is another part of equal importance. This other part is obligation and the acceptance of responsibility. These, too, are vital for our survival and growth, and should also be stressed to potential new members, and kept in mind for all of us. Newsletters just don't fall into envelopes like magic every month. Outreach doesn't happen if someone doesn't accept the responsibility to reach out. Even a silly little Christmas skit takes time, effort, and caring. Someone needs to check the message center, pick up the group mail, write a letter to someone asking about the group, or answer the questions of someone during an interview.

Even simple business needed to keep a group functioning doesn't happen unless people sit down, talk things over, and make decisions. Something as mundane as carrying a table and setting it up, or taking it down and putting it away, or washing and drying a dish are all facets of our group and having a meeting.

Our group has an obligation to be there for others because it was there for us and is there for us. The responsibility for that obligation never goes away. Things only happen when we make them happen, because we want them to. Anybody can be a pretty face, but a caring heart and a helping hand get things done. No task is too small to be important.

Being a part of Alpha Omega is a learning experience, as we have the time, the place, the caring, the support, and the freedom to discover the peace and joy of being ourselves. Conversely, being a part of Alpha Omega is a teaching experience as we provide the time, the place, the caring, the support, and the freedom for others to discover the peace and joy of being themselves.

I really don't expect anyone to understand the depth of commitment and obligation that I feel to Alpha Omega. You would have to understand just how empty my life felt to me until 9 1/2 years ago. I hope you never do understand that because you would have to feel it yourself to really know, and nobody deserves that. I do what I can so nobody has to know that feeling. That is my drive. Trying to balance that drive with the responsibilities of my wife and family, my home, my job, and all the other aspects of my life sure keeps things interesting.

I can't call or write to all of you as much as I might like or want to. So for about the last nine years I've tried to share part of my life and thoughts in a silly little article or two in the newsletters each month. It's how I try to say that each of you is special and has a place in my heart and life -- that I love you all. Part of what I hope to do is to inspire others to find their niche and the things they can do for Alpha Omega and for others. There is so much to experience that is wonderful.

I'm very proud of Marla for taking the step of being Vice President this year; and I hope she does decide to give the chair in the front of the room a try. Just think, Marla, if an old blonde bimbo like me can do it, imagine what an attractive, intelligent, brunette like you could do.

A lot of crazy things happen in the world. Alpha Omega can be a place for us to find a moment away from that craziness, and help somebody else, too. Find your own niche, and make it work the best you can, for yourself and for others. The OPPORTUNITY is all yours.

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1) Alpha Omega sisters will be asked to bring in personal items that can be tagged and sold that fit the following criteria:

a) Items such as clothing, shoes, hats, scarves, jewelry and miscellaneous accessories can be brought in for resale at a designated meeting for the Alpha Omega Chapter.

b) Items should be in relatively good condition since the items will be bought and worn by our fellow sisters.

c) Items can be clothing that did not fit or shoes that did not fit or any items that just did not quite work in one's wardrobe, etc.

2) Please bring and designate one of the items for resale as an item to be auctioned off.

a) Items to be auctioned off should have some interest to them, for instance a unique piece of jewelry, a fancy makeup case, wig stand, fancy mirror, Princess Diana's personal diary (just kidding), or any unique items that might be fun and interesting for one of our sisters to own. Use your  imagination.

Remember that all proceeds shall benefit our club and our sisters as well. That pair of shoes that just did not fit well the first time you put them on may very well be the perfect match for one of our sisters.

Thank you all for your time and effort.

Love,

Olena Maria

NOTE from Ed Elf: The auction will take place at our May meeting. The suggestion was made during the meeting that we make at least part of it a silent auction.

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A theater review of the last productions of "Rambobunny" by Gloria.

I must admit that this is my second go-around for this theater review. My earlier attempt at a review was stopped by a slight misunderstanding. My fellow sisters in Alpha Omega pleaded with me to review this latest production by Gloria. But I misunderstood the subject to be "Too Much Violets and Sets in Alpha Omega Theater Productions?" And after many hours of research I could not recount one single Violet or even any semblance of sets in Gloria's latest Easter Theater offering!

I was stumped and ready to give up when I was duly informed that the subject I was actually asked to write about was "Too Much Violence and Sex in Alpha Omega Theater Productions?" I was glad to hear that this was the actual title because truthfully I would not have made any conclusions except maybe that there were not enough violets and sets in Gloria's production.

Now, Violence and Sex is a great subject for theater reviews since this subject seems to permeate endless discussions in the Arts. I can certainly sink my teeth into this kind of subject and maybe we can all benefit from the insights we arrive at.

First of all I must make a statement before I tackle this controversial subject. I will try to my best ability to treat this review with utmost sensitivity, but I must in the spirit of good journalism also treat it frankly and boldly. So here goes.

At our last meeting Gloria surprised us with her newest offering of guerrilla Style Theater by bursting into the meeting unannounced dressed in the attire of "Rambobunny". Her attire was marked by a bullet vest, plastic burp gun (working model), and black camouflage paint on her face. The cute pink bunny ears atop a butch-cropped hairdo further heightened the effect. Her sudden appearance both stunned and excited the Alpha Omega group to new heightened sensitivities. For all intents and purposes we were made to believe through this illusion that our meeting was invaded by some sort of gun toting redneck "Rambobunny".

I must comment here on Gloria's totally realistic portrayal of a male pink-eared threat. It was stunning and realistically breathtaking! We, in the theater, appreciate the effort it takes to be able to convey the illusion of being a male. This is a very difficult undertaking and many of us never really can achieve this very well. I can envision a very painstaking effort to be able to so realistically portray a male. For this achievement I congratulate Gloria's efforts and applaud her heroic efforts to achieve this illusion.

But now to the matter of violence. Did you see this girl sitting across the hall from me during the production? I will not mention her name, but honestly. She violated all the conventions of matching accessories. And her outfit violently offended the senses by the misuse of color coordination. This was a violent attack on my senses and impeccable eye for balance and beauty. All I can say is tsk tsk. I was horrified but too numb to express my distaste for such outrageous disdain of the rules of the art of masterful feminine attire. I agree whole-heartedly that something should be done about this violent disrespect to feminine attire!!!

Oops, please disregard the previous paragraph. It seems that there was a mirror across the hall from me and that girl was actually I! Ummmm. . .. .Never mind.

Well, at least I can tackle the matter of "Sex". And I ask this question: Where was "Toto" in this production, and what is Toto's real sex?

Well, now that we have breached such an important matter, I think that we have made many insights into this subject, and I believe that our future theater productions will benefit from this immensely with improved quality of entertainment.

Love, Olena Maria

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UPCOMING EVENTS

BE ALL
June 10 - 14, 1998
Pittsburgh, PA
Hosted by: Transpitt

FALL HARVEST
November 5 - 8, 1998
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Annual MAGGIE event