FSU Alpha Chi Omega

We asked sister, Anna to tell us more about this amazing experience. Read her recap below:

This past Saturday, I had the honor of shadowing AIRHeart2, a life-flight helicopter company located in Marianna, Florida. I heard about this program about two months ago when Billy, a flight paramedic, came to the Bixler Emergency Room to hand out goodies for Emergency Nurses Week. I currently work at Bixler as an Emergency Care Tech and assist nurses and doctors with various tasks, ensure patients are cared for, and do various other tasks. I have worked in the emergency room for almost six months now, and learn something new every day. I get a sense of fulfillment from my job and love that I am genuinely making an impact in someone’s life.

Anyways, back to Billy and AIRHeart2. Billy and I had a great conversation about flight nursing, and I told him about how I am applying to nursing school and love working in an emergency environment. I had probably a dozen questions for him, and he answered every one and told me to apply for AIRHeart’s Third Rider Program. I applied about a week later, filled out the paperwork, and anxiously waited to hear back.

A few days later, I heard back from the outreach coordinator and scheduled a day to go out and shadow the team for a day. Unfortunately, this got canceled due to Hurricane Nicole’s high winds and rainfall that impacted Marianna. Luckily, I was able to reschedule and drove down to Marianna this past Saturday. On my way there, it was raining pretty heavily, and I had a sinking feeling in my gut. I was still hopeful that the weather would clear up, but it was not looking good at all.

Much to my surprise, the weather made a full 180 about thirty minutes after I got to Marianna; clear blue skies, and the sun was shining. Billy, his partner (Lauren), and the pilot (JD) were all extremely welcoming to me and were all very eager to answer my questions and explain everything to me. After showing me around the base and helicopter, they got a call on the radio
for a potential case. We all suited up, Billy and Lauren got their equipment together, and JD pulled the helicopter out of the hangar.

I wasn’t nervous at all until we actually got into the helicopter, JD started the engine, and the blades started to spin. That’s when I was like, oh this is real. We are actually going to get a patient right now. The first time we went up in the air, I was extremely scared, but after about five minutes I was completely fine. I couldn’t believe this is what some people do as a job. Throughout the course of the day, we picked up two different patients on the scene and flew them to the hospital. This was genuinely one of the best experiences of my life and I learned so much. This confirmed that I want to be an emergency room nurse, and hopefully become a flight nurse one day. I can’t wait to get back up in the skies again.

This October, campus organization – Women in Entrepreneurship joined forces with local organization Women Wednesdays to host their 2nd annual Women in Entrepreneurship panel event! WIE President and Alpha Chi Omega sister Paige was instrumental in the planning, implementation and promotion of the event and we couldn’t be more proud. To learn more, be sure to check out @fsuwomeninentrepreneurship on social!

Congratulations to our sister, Amberly Gin who was selected to represent Pi Lambda Phi as their 2022 Sweetheart!

This fall, the chapter hosted their first mixer since 2017.. The chapter partnered with newly chartered chapter, Sigma Chi to host an event at Recess. The theme was Camo – We wish we had more photos from the event, but truly we were having to much fun to stop and take photos =)

Membership Programming chair Leah and her committee worked to plan a sisterhood night at the North Florida Fair. The event was held at the end of a busy week to allow members to have a mental health/study break and take in some of the local community!

The rides were fun, the food was great, the animals were adorable – but the time spent with our sisters was priceless!

VP Risk Management, Ryleigh and her committee worked to plan a beautiful and meaningful semi-formal this fall. The event was held at the local Auto museum – attendees were able to visit and tour the museum while also dancing the night away. The event as catered by Bluewater cooking, decor and photo booths from In Tent events and memories that last a lifetime by our sisters!

The chapter was able to partner with FSU Registered Student Organization – Best Buddies to host an evening Trunk or Treat. The event was held at the chapter house! Buddies and their hosts along with sisters were able to meet for dinner followed by a costume contest, pumpkin painting and trunk or treat where sisters and buddies decorated cars and hosted the buddies as they went car to car for candy and conversation..

What is best buddies?? – The Florida State University Best Buddies Chapter focuses on fostering lifelong friendships between students of Florida State who are members of Best Buddies, are paired with people in the Tallahassee Community who have an intellectual or developmental disability. We celebrate these unique friendships by hosting events at least once a month. FSU Best Buddies currently manages over 80 buddy pairs and over 200 college members.

What did we feel it was important to partner with best buddies? The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities. We feel it is so important to be involved with this community to work with the org to empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

Friday of Family weekend, the chapter hosted their annual Paint the Town Purple Gala kicking off Domestic Violence Awareness Month – raising awareness and funding for the local shelter. The night kicked off with cocktail hour from 6:00 – 7:20, and dinner was served at 7:30 PM. There was a photographer to capture family, friends, and sisters, along with a videographer, a silent auction, and even a 50/50 raffle!

During our cocktail hour, guests enjoyed music by guitarist Jackson Alter while sampling Hors d’oeuvres (Mac n’ Cheese Fritters with a BBQ aioli, Mini Chicken Empanadas with jalapeno cheese Sause, Mini Veggie Spring Roll with a Spicy Mustard, Caprese Skewer, and a Bacon Jam Crostini with Caramelized Onion, Fig Preserves) along with a card only bar (alcoholic beverages) and water, lemonade and tea. 

At 7:30, guests headed into the main ballroom for the main event! Dinner options were Chicken Breast Roasted with Lemon and Rosemary, Orzo and Spinach Pilaf with Blistered Cherry Tomato, Kalamata Olives & Grilled Artichokes or Stuffed Squash with Beans, Roasted Mushrooms, Rice and Quinoa Stuffed Seasonal Squash, Roasted Red Bell Coulis  & Seasonal Vegetables (this option was Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free & Dairy Free). Guests also were treated to a “State of the Chapter” address and our guest speaker, Alicia Armstrong whom shared her story and the importance and our impact on Domestic Violence Awareness. For dessert, there will be a selection of Salted Caramel Cheesecakes and Flourless Chocolate Torte (Torte is Veg,GF,DF) 
Concluding dinner, we announced the silent auction winners, 50/50 winners, and shared the “why” behind the favors – asking all guests to join us in “painting the town purple” and raising awareness this upcoming month and beyond… Join us in sharing this month by posting photos/videos with #AXODVAM

We would be remiss if we didn’t share the chapter surpassed $24,000 in fundraising during the event!!! Save the date for Donuts for DVA on October 6th!