A Post from a Really Old Fart…

This is Teri Sheets.  Yeah, a blast from the old, old, past.  I’m not posting to tell you about “the good ol’ days” or “back when I was an active.”  I’m posting to talk about my most recent activities with the chapter and how I’m so grateful to all of you for reaching out to us old farts to stay in touch.

Since about 2002, I had left the “spotlight” if you will when I stepped down from the National Board of Directors.  It was time for me to focus on my family, Alfred (Harlen Pratt, Spring 1983) and our daughter Renee.  I had spent A LOT of time traveling for APO related stuff all over the country (back when Region XI was part of Region X), and suddenly I realized that my family missed me.  I’d pop my head up every once in a while, but pretty much stayed under the radar.

Then, I hear that Iota Phi got the bid for the 2009 Region X Conference, and they needed a conference advisor.  Well, having been there-done that as the Region X Director, I offered to help.  Well, that was the easiest job I ever had to do in APO, because Jon King and Mitty Chang had everything way under control.  The only time I needed to step in was to say “Henson wants a budget” to make sure y’all weren’t going to bankrupt yourselves like other chapters have done in the recent past.  Well, long story short, I was never so proud of Iota Phi as I was at the regional conference when almost everything went off without a hitch (at least from the outside looking in). 

You all are doing fabulous work, and it shows with all of the events you have highlighted on the chapter calendar and the incredible amount of service you do.  Your CorrSecs continue to go above and beyond to reach out to us alumni, which I guess is made easier now with technological improvements (you probably don’t want to see how I attempted to make alumni newsletters as the corresponding secretary one term…).  But the fact that you all try to reach out and keep us update really inspires me to try to do whatever I can to help when I’m not bogged down with everyday life.

Life can get you bogged down, even as a student trying to make ends meet when budgets are cut and classes are cut and financial aid gets harder and harder to get.  Then pile on whatever work you do to pay your bills and your family obligations, and you STILL find time to stay active in APO.  All of you are such an inspiration to me…I don’t have the words to say exactly how I feel.

So in closing, keep up the great work.  I continue to be a proud Brother of Iota Phi, now more than ever.

In Leadership, Friendship, and Service,

Teri Sheets

Irwin Gerst, Fall 1984

CLOSE, BABY!  : )