A National Philanthropic sorority focusing on art, literature, music, and speech & hearing. | | |
New Season, New Scene
Sandie Carlson | National President | Theta Kappa, Edon, OH
Every great film has a cast of characters who make the story meaningful. In Psi Iota Xi, each member plays an important role in bringing friendship, service, and community impact to life. As the curtain rises on autumn and our chapters return to a full schedule of programs, projects, and fellowship, take time to reflect on the value you bring, embrace your unique gifts, and know that your contributions matter.
Have Confidence in Yourself
My sisters, believe in yourselves. You truly make a difference, and your presence matters. Do not let others diminish your spirit, steal your joy, or turn your smile into a frown.
Follow Your Dreams
Hold firmly to your dreams and to the beliefs that guide you. When you stay true to who you are, you can accomplish amazing things.
Celebrate Your Gifts
Each of you is unique in your own meaningful way. Give thanks for the gifts God gives you every day, and take time to notice the blessings already present in your life. With a positive outlook, the path ahead becomes lighter and easier to walk.
Commitment to Psi Iota Xi
As members of Psi Iota Xi, we carry forward a shared commitment to friendship, service, and the enrichment of our communities. Through our dedication to art, music, literature, and speech and hearing, we help nurture creativity, communication, and connection in the lives of others.
| Attention Chapter Presidents! | |
Upcoming Deadlines
Recently, you received several emails containing important information for your chapters. These emails contain official letters from your National Project Chair Jane Patton, National Vice President Mona Knight, and PNP Mickie Hansen. Also included in these emails are letters of introduction from your District Officer and National President, as well as a National Convention Synopsis. Please read these at your September chapter meetings. Some of these have due dates for responses, such as potential bylaw change proposals, symphony ticket requests, and national project proposals.
Action dates:
Symphony Tickets
Due: October 5, 2026*
Return to National Project Chair Jane Patton
*Any symphony ticket request submitted after this date will be determined by availability of remaining tickets
National Project Proposals
Due: November 1, 2026
Return to National Project Chair Jane Patton
National Bylaw Changes
Due: November 1, 2026
Return to National Vice President Mona Knight
Letter of Interest to become a District Officer
Due: November 1, 2026
Return to National Vice President Mona Knight
Long-Term Project Proposals
Due: February 1, 2027
Return to LTP Chair Mickie Hansen, PNP
Chapter Bylaw Changes
Due: April 1, 2027
Return to National Vice President Mona Knight
| Required Reading for Chapters | |
With chapter correspondence now sent by email, some chapters may be unsure which items must be read to the membership, and which items are informational only.
How Required Items Were Identified Previously
In the past, required emails were printed on blue paper, making them easy to recognize.
How Required Items Will Be Identified Now
Beginning with the August 25 email, we are making required items easier to identify:
- Required items will include REQUIRED in the title.
- Some required documents will also have a blue background as an additional visual cue.
What Chapters Need to Do
All required documents must be reviewed with your chapter. You may do this in either of the following ways:
- Read the document aloud during your chapter meeting.
- Provide every chapter member with a copy, either printed or emailed.
Printing Guidance
You do not need to print required documents in color. If printing, you may switch your printer settings to black and white.
| | Mona Knight | National Vice President | Iota Theta, Armstrong, IL | |
The Future Planning Committee of Psi Iota Xi met on Monday, Aug. 3, to envision the future direction of our sorority. Several issues were discussed that we felt needed feedback from our membership. With this survey, we are simply gathering your input; no decisions have been made on these items yet. However, the reality of declining membership and funding necessitates exploring ways we can thoughtfully adapt our practices to ensure meaningful impact and a strong future for Psi Iota Xi.
We want to hear from all of you so that we can keep our mission of improving the lives of others in the areas of Art, Literature, Music, and Speech and Hearing thriving! Please respond by Nov. 1.
Below is a link for any individual member who would like to respond to our survey. Your response to this survey is crucial! Thank you in advance for your input.
| | |
Lauren Burk | Northeast District Officer | Gamma Sigma, South Bend, IN
Show Your Psi Ote Pride!
A new sorority year is the perfect time to start fresh and share the story of Psi Iota Xi with your community. Wear your letters proudly while volunteering, attending community events, and supporting local activities! Not only does it help raise awareness of our organization and its impact, but volunteer service performed in the name of Psi Iota Xi can also count toward your chapter's reported volunteer hours. Read the full article for simple ways to promote our sisterhood while serving your community.
| | |
Kathie Nix | East Central District Officer | Pi, Fort Wayne, IN
Founders’ Day: Remembering Those Who Came Before Us
Each September, Psi Iota Xi members pause to celebrate Founders' Day and reflect on the remarkable women whose vision created our sisterhood. What began in 1897 as a small social organization founded by five young women in Muncie, Indiana, has grown into a lasting legacy of friendship, service, and philanthropy.
As we honor our founders, we are also reminded of the generations of sisters who have guided our chapters, strengthened our organization, and helped shape the Psi Iota Xi we know today. Read the full article to learn more about our beginnings and discover meaningful ways to celebrate Founder's Day in your chapter.
| | Charter members of Psi Iota Xi, Alpha Chapter, were five students Huda Smith Kimbrough, Mayme Johnson Oesterle, Ethelyn Dowell Hinckley, Mary Louise Carmichael, and Sue Derexa Smith, and three teachers, Mrs. Martha Ivins, Miss Emma Cammack, and Miss Eve Kessler. | | 2026 National Fee Information | |
Terri Resler | Treasurer | Alpha Psi, Washington, IN
The chapter fee statements for 2026-2027 will be emailed to the chapter treasurers this week.
The membership data used for calculating the fee statements was derived from the Membership Worksheet on the 2025-2026 PCRs.
Fees need to be paid by Nov. 1.
If your chapter needs any assistance or has any questions, please feel free to contact me at terriresler@psiiotaxi.org.
| | |
Looking Ahead: Our Next Long-Term Project
Mickie Hansen, PNP | Chair, LTP Screening Committee | Upsilon, Greenfield, IN
Psi Iota Xi has much to celebrate! At the 2026 National Convention, we proudly completed our fourth LTP to the Psi Iota Xi and Hear Indiana Scholarship. This accomplishment reflects the generosity, dedication, and steadfast support of chapters throughout our sisterhood. It is now time to look toward the future and begin the search for our next Psi Iota Xi Long-Term Project.
In accordance with our National Bylaws, application information was distributed to all chapter presidents via email on August 1, 2026. This ensures that every chapter has the required six months to identify and carefully consider potential projects, gather necessary information, and prepare an application before the February 1, 2027, deadline.
Chapters are encouraged to consider organizations and initiatives that reflect Psi Iota Xi’s fields of endeavor – Art, Literature, Music, Speech and Hearing, and have the potential to make a meaningful and lasting impact.
As we look forward to our next Long-Term Project, continued financial support is equally important. Chapters are encouraged to include the LTP in their budgets and fundraising plans, and as always Long-Term Project contributions should be sent to National Project Chair Jane Patton.
Could the next great Psi Iota Xi Long-Term Project begin with an idea from your chapter? Start the conversation, explore the possibilities, and remember applications are due February 1, 2027.
| | National Council recently donated a bound copy of meeting minutes from National Council meetings and national conventions to the Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau in Indianapolis. This volume preserves these historical records from the past several years, and they will be kept together with previously bound PIX minutes in a climate-controlled room. The volumes can be viewed at the library by making an appointment with the Rare Books and Manuscripts department. | | Victoria Duncan (left) accepts donated minutes from National Project Chair Jane Patton (right). | | MET Opera Laffont Competition announcement | | |
Jane Patton | National Project Chair | Alpha Omicron, Vincennes, IN
William Smith of the Metropolitan Opera is seeking a chapter sponsor to support an application for National Project Funds.
Interested chapters should contact Mr. Smith at 847-256-1292.
| | Katie Ottinger | National Editor | Upsilon, Greenfield, IN | |
At the 2026 National Convention, attendees listened to a presentation on the basic functionality of generative A.I. tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, and Claude. The presenters also shared several potential use cases for chapters to help them streamline certain tasks. In the A.I. Corner column, we’ll explore different ways you can utilize A.I. in your chapter’s work.
Many chapter members wear multiple hats, and writing may not be everyone's favorite task. The good news is that A.I. tools can help you get started with common communications such as event announcements, social media posts, newsletters, and press releases. Like any tool, the quality of the result depends on the information you provide. A good result begins with a good prompt!
Click below to view a prompt for drafting a press release announcing cheeseball sales.
REMEMBER: Never publish anything generated by A.I. without human oversight. Always review and edit content prior to publication.
| | GAMMA BETA, REMINGTON, IN - The chapter donated this STEM vending machine to Wolcott Elementary School. Earlier in the year, the chapter donated a machine to Remington Elementary School, earning them this year's national award for the most donated to literature/literacy projects. The machines contain STEM kits and books, and students earn tokens from their teachers that they can use on the machines. Their chapter has committed annual funds to both schools so they can keep the machines stocked. They are a hit with students and teachers! | | BETA ALPHA, FLORA, IN sells cookies at the county fair each year. This year, they needed help, and sisters from Beta Psi, Delphi, stepped in! | | BETA GAMMA, PERU, IN held its annual August party with a colonial theme, which featured music and a presentation from that period. | | ALPHA CHI, HAGERSTOWN, IN - Chapter members attended a Book BINGO hosted by a local organization. It was a great night of sisterhood and supporting literature! | | GAMMA ETA, KNIGHTSTOWN, IN supported the new Pixie Place reading garden at the Knightstown Public Library. | | GAMMA NU, BROWNSBURG, IN recently installed new officers! | | ETA DELTA, CARMEL, IN recently celebrated their 60th anniversary! | | UPSILON, GREENFIELD, IN is selling mums for $11 each. Colors are red, yellow, orange, purple, and white. A local greenhouse provides them to the chapter at cost. | National Convention invitations | |
National Convention 2027
Theta Kappa, Edon, OH, will host the 2027 National Convention at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, IN.
| |
| |
National Convention 2028
Iota Theta, Armstrong, IL, will host the 2028 National Convention
in Champaign-Urbana, IL.
| |
| |
National Convention 2029
Alpha Psi, Washington, IN, will host the 2029 National Convention.
| |
| |
National President
Sandie Carlson, Theta Kappa
National Vice President
Mona Knight, Iota Theta
National Secretary
Valerie Helms-Mejia, Alpha
National Treasurer
Terri Resler, Alpha Psi
National Advisor
Taffy Day, Omega
National Project Chair
Jane Patton, Alpha Omicron
National Editor
Katie Ottinger, Upsilon
| | |
National Conductress
Pam Gunkel, Theta Delta
Northeast District Officer
Lauren Burk, Gamma Sigma
Northwest District Officer
Robin Jones, Beta Psi
East Central District Officer
Kathie Nix, Pi
West Central District Officer
Pam Karle, Gamma Xi
Southeast District Officer
Carol Good, Alpha Theta
Southwest District Officer
Erin Schroering, Iota Lambda
| | If you have any questions about this newsletter, the National Website or have an address/phone/email update please contact your National Editor Katie Ottinger, katieottinger@psiiotaxi.org or 317-430-4354 (text preferred). | |
Psi Iota Xi National Office
3905 Vincennes Road, Suite 303
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317.471.3512
info@psiiotaxi.org
| | | | | |
