Winter Quarter

It's been a while since our last post, so updates are in order!

Prytanean has had quite the usual productive quarter this Winter!

We had our annual Winter Retreat at Point Montara Lighthouse's hostel with a backdrop to die for (dramatic cliffs right next to the ocean). It was a weekend of great fun and bonding time--we played games, bedazzled (our new favorite word) and customized goblets and glasses with colorful gems, and explored nearby Half Moon Bay. As is traditional, each girl present at Winter Retreat shared with the rest of the group some thing she considered invaluable--and through this, we were able to become acquainted with her relationships with others at home, her passions, her courage, her achievements, her sincerity and goodness. Many ended the night talking until the wee hours of the morning with new friends, some even got away with a bit of studying (endearing! but go figure). One regret of many: not being able to stay awake for longer! All in all, a completely satisfactory retreat, much thanks to Social VP Amy S.!

Of course, Prytanean would not be Prytanean without its community service projects! This quarter, our big hurrahs go to the Davis Stampede and our hygiene kit-making efforts for the boys of Families First. Each hygiene kit contained such essentials as body wash, a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, shampoo, deodorant, etc., which we then packed into containers for the boys' personal use. Long story short, we made well over 60 (?), which was enough for every single one of the boys at Families First!

And we absolutely cannot forget to mention the two big events of the quarter, both of which were a huge success: Dinner for Ten Strangers and Benefit Ball! Dinner for Ten, our annual potluck (this year at the Senior Center), ran smoothly as Prytaneans dined on gastronomical creations of their own with professors and other valued members of the community. We've gotten rave reviews and we hope to continue the trend!

This year's Benefit Ball--the theme of which was a masquerade--was phenomenal, hands down! Prytanean sold well over 100 tickets to the event, held at the Rec Pool Lodge. The event was complete with DJ, dessert buffet, photographer, and raffle prizes from downtown Davis businesses and from generous private donors. The Kaplan course auctioned off for over $700, and ALL proceeds from that night go to Yolo County's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to their representative for attending the event! And a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Joe Hostetler, Outreach Coordinator of Kaplan, who granted us the Kaplan course! Indeed, we're slowly moving the event from just our Prytanean circle of friends and family to something a little inclusive of the campus and the surrounding community. We've got a great start, and the success of this event will surely garner its own publicity.

For both Dinner for Ten and Benefit Ball, we made use of committee heads--more novel an idea than what one would think--and Google websites, which have allowed much smoother and efficient coordination, a real breakthrough for how things are run in this society. The possibilities are exciting!!

And last but not least--fundraising! In addition to two wonderful Mondavi events (one at which I awkwardly sat for more than 20 minutes outside trying to figure out how to sneak two giant pizzas into the place to feed the girls...), we have had three (3!) restaurant fundraisers benefiting Relay for Life as well as Farmers Markets. This Saturday is Pigs Day at FM, and we'll see how cakes-in-a-cup do!

Photos to be included in this post soon!

It's a brand new year!

All right, so it's the 12th of January--but the new year is still a young'un. And joining the new year are NEW MEMBERS. YAY!!! Great big welcome Shadee, Fatima, Emily Burkett, Amelia, Amanda Hawthorne, Ariana, Haley, Angela, Brittany, Amanda Lotspike, Sarah Martin, Anisha, Tina, Lyla, Kayla, Dominique (my awesome Pryt Pal), Jackie, and Aisha! Initiation was on December 1 and was quite lovely! It was held in the ARC Ballroom and our speaker was Professor Annie King (Animal Sciences).

Sooo many things are coming up though! Officers are working on Benefit Ball, Relay for Life, giving the website a dramatic makeover, and Dinner 4 Ten. Busy, busy, fun, fun. At next week's meeting, be ready for more committees, tabling, etc. During the meeting I will be handing out Kaplan sheets to be filled for fundraiser hours, and after the meeting, I'll be emailing you all Mondavi event signups. I'm also hoping to sell some kind of food item at the Silo--so heads up for that, I'll need ideas!

Sunday's Crepeville brunch was a moderate success. Moderate because two other officers besides myself were present (that's it) BUT there were very hot, very eligible male friends of mine from Stanford visiting. That's right! Never pass up a brunch with me, ladies! Only joking... sort of.

If you had come to the brunch, you would've met this hottie!! Get it?^

For those of you who are interested, Nourish (the organization that holds Hunger Lunch every other Wednesday in the Silo) is having an art show / silent auction I believe this Thursday. Do check it out if you have the time--your fellow member Kaitlin Gregg (pres of Nourish) would probably really appreciate it!

STEVE'S PIZZA TONIGHT! And a few pics... :)

Reminder: Steve's Pizza Fundraiser is TONIGHT!!

And here's a few pics of invites and the November 18 Mondavi event, courtesy of Heather Cantua!

Spotlight: Pragya M

Here's a little blurb from one of our members who was away from Davis last quarter!:

Last Spring Quarter, I had the opportunity to live, learn, and intern at the nation’s capital as a participant of the Davis Washington Program. During my time in Washington DC, I interned at the National Education Association, the largest teacher’s union in the country. As an intern, I was able to attend educational policy meetings, lobby congress, work on specific projects, and network with professionals who shared the same passion for education. My time in DC has given me valuable work experience and has given me direction in my career goals after college.

If you are interested participating, please come talk to me! I am a student advisor for the Washington Program and would gladly help you out!!

“Living, learning and interning in DC has helped me apply what I was learning at UC Davis to real life work in the nation’s capital. The city is full of life and offers many opportunities for everyone. The ten weeks I spent in DC were amazing and I strongly encourage students to apply and experience this incredible program for themselves.” – Pragya Mathur, senior.

Note to Self (and future Fundraiser Chairs)

When signing up for Mondavi events, try to stick to dance performances--the flashier the better. Huge turnout with intermission. Solo artists and speaker series are usually lackluster in terms of $$.

Restaurant Fundraiser!! -- Please note date change!

314 F Street
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-2800

Our first restaurant fundraiser of the quarter will be at Steve's Pizza, next Tuesday (November 24) from 5-9PM!

During those four hours, 20% of all proceeds from ANY customer that brings in a Prytanean fundraising flyer or mentions "Prytanean" will go to our organization. That money, in turn, will be sent to Yolo County's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center which, as always, is certainly in need.

This fundraiser is valid for dine-in, takeout, AND delivery, so LET ALL YOUR FRIENDS / NEIGHBORS KNOW. Tell them, "You gotta eat! So you might as well make it pizza with an extra helping of good will."

Prytaneans and friends will be encouraged to join members at the actual restaurant from 6-8PM. YAY PARTY.


Check out Steve's menu here!

Snapshot

A quick look at what one of our members is up to...

Due to a scheduling conflict, Elizabeth Takahashi (more fondly known as Liz) has not been able to make Prytanean meetings this quarter. However, she assures the Pryt Blog that she misses us all. She writes, "I'm being a typical senior and trying to figure out what the heck I am exactly doing after graduation! When I'm not in class, I'm continuing my research in the psychology department on neural mechanisms of aggression / breast cancer and stress. I am also volunteering at UCDMC in the cardio thoracic wing."