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!