The Rotary Club of Tallahassee was chartered on November 10, 1922. Today it occupies a special place in the Tallahassee community, as the oldest and largest service club. Important to members and view of the community needs. Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community’s business and professional men and women. Rotary International clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. Alpha Chi Omega joined forces to volunteer at a local school!
On October 19th, Florida State University (FSU) came together to honor a life-saving initiative with an event that not only commemorates a tragedy but also empowers future generations to be vigilant in water safety. Hosted at the FSU Lakefront Park, the inaugural Water Safety Day was a powerful collaboration between Florida State University, FSU Campus Rec, the Student Senate, and the Aden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund.
The day marked a monumental moment for our community as we celebrated the installation of the Aden Perry Hero Life Ring Initiative, one of the first of its kind at a public university. This initiative is a tribute to the life of Aden Perry, a courageous 17-year-old who tragically drowned in 2022 while attempting to save a driver from a submerged vehicle. His selflessness and bravery in the face of danger will never be forgotten, and now, thanks to this initiative, future tragedies may be prevented.
A Community United for Change
Special recognition was given to Amanda Fronczak and Megan Olivero, the passionate leaders behind the initiative, whose tireless efforts made the installation of the Hero Life Rings possible. Their dedication to spreading the message of water safety and ensuring that Aden’s story continues to inspire others is nothing short of remarkable.
Water Safety Day was an important reminder of how tragedies can lead to change and progress and Amanda and Megan are a perfect example of how we can do just that. Through an event like this we can reflect on Aden Perry’s bravery and the significance of the Hero Life Ring Initiative, and are reminded that we all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe.
Together, we can continue to honor Aden’s legacy and make water safety a priority for everyone.
The ladies of Alpha Ch and Zeta joined forces for a sisterhood event where they created Charcuterie Boards! The word charcuterie refers to cold-cooked, cured, or smoked meats; so technically, a traditional charcuterie board is just a meat platter. But as these communal boards have gotten more popular for entertaining at home, the definition has expanded to include abundant displays of meats, cheeses, dried and fresh fruits, and vegetables, toasted nuts and briny olives, plus honey, jams, jellies, chutneys, mustards and more!
A beautiful charcuterie board is a statement piece and a time-saver since it typically requires little to no cooking. It only takes a few minutes to assemble (really!) and I promise you don’t need to be an expert food stylist. Plus, you can make it ahead of time and pop it in your fridge until right before serving. A charcuterie board can be left out for grazing for up to 2 hours.
he Best Meats for a Charcuterie Board
There are as many types of cured meats in the world as there are stars in the sky (well, almost). Curing is an ancient method to preserve protein, and the many various regions and cultures around the world have their own styles of charcuterie — even unique breeds of livestock from which the meats are made. Here are a few of the major groups you should pull from:
Dry-Cured Pork: Thin-sliced, fatty and salty — dry-cured pork is a must. Serrano ham, prosciutto, country ham, Iberico ham, capicola and speck are all readily available. Look for meat that is pink or red in hue (not brown or gray) with fat that is white (not transparent or opalescent). You can get it prepackaged or sliced fresh from the deli.
Bresaola: Like prosciutto, bresaola is also dried and cured, but instead of pork, it’s usually made from beef top round, lending it a deeper flavor and more toothsome texture. Look for thin slices, a deep reddish color and a texture that is not dry or cracked.
Salami: Salami is possibly the most versatile and varied. It’s an aged sausage made from ground meat seasoned with a variety of herbs, spices and alliums, then dried and fermented in several styles (like soppressata, finocchiona, Genoa). Smaller salami is best served in thicker slices, while larger ones are best shaved thin. It should be vibrant in color when sliced, and if you decide to allow guests to cleave off their own, make sure it’s not too hard to cut.
The Best Cheeses for a Charcuterie Board
The cheese is here to complement the meat. Assemble some contrasting textures and flavors: a soft, mild cheese is not going to be the best with soft, mild mortadella, so choose a firm variety of cheese instead. Salamis work well with creamy companions, and prosciutto benefits from burrata or brie.
Soft Cheeses: Brie, Camembert, triple-cream, burrata, goat cheese, fresh ricotta, Gorgonzola dolce. These spreadable cheeses lend tons of flavor and buttery texture. Don’t feel like you must commit to a whole wheel of Brie or Camembert: a slice will often suffice. An oozy Brie with honey and a slice of speck? Heaven!
Semi-Soft Cheeses: Drunken goat, fontina, Muenster, Roquefort, Havarti. These land in the sweet spot between soft and firm, and they are easy to slice on a board. They’re creamy, but not gooey, and are mild in firmness and flavor. Fontina is perfect to mellow out a thick slice of spicy salami.
Firm: Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyère, Stilton, Jarlsberg, Manchego. These cheeses can hold their own in flavor, and a slice will be stiff enough to top and eat without a cracker. Though still creamy like a semi-soft, the firm cheeses offer a little more funk and flavor. Grassy Gruyère uplifts ribbony, salty prosciutto.
Hard: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino-Romano, Asiago, Mimolette. These dry, salty, crystalized cheeses work well broken into hunks or pre-sliced and bring out the best in fatty cuts like soppressata or bresaola.
Additional ideams
To ensure each bite is full of flavors, you’ll need something to keep it all together.
Bread: Try a baguette, toast points, flatbreads, Melba toast, crostini or toasted pita.
Crackers and Crisps: There are so many options out there, including gluten-free choices.
Fresh Vegetables: These dippers add crunch and color: Broccoli, bell peppers, celery, carrot and radishes are just a few of the vegetables to consider.
During this event, we helped the elder care service of Tallahassee with their annual Oktoberfest fundraiser event. We helped them set up the event, tear down the event, and serve food during the event.
Organized by Hazing Prevention Network, National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) is a time when communities, institutions, organizations, and individuals make a concerted effort to raise awareness and increase education about hazing. NHPW is officially held the last full week of September each year; however, anyone is welcome to organize a hazing prevention week at any point of the year. The fundamental objective is to have a specific time in which the entire community is focused on engaging in intentional discussions about the problem of hazing.
This week the Panhellenic Delegates for Alpha Chi and Phi Mu planned a pendant-making class. It was a wonderful event with our Panhellenic sisters to de-stress as we reached the end of the semester.
This Sunday, the chapter hosted FSU professor, Joe Calhoun and certified peer Mentor Whitney from the Unconquered by Debt: A Financial Wellness Program from Florida State University. The goals of the program are to enhance financial literacy and transform decision-making so that our sisters can each become wealth creators.
The program promoted balanced financial choices so that our sisters fully understand that they are responsible for their current and future lifestyles. The focus was on key life choices: earning, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, evaluating risk, taxes, etc.
National Pedestrian Safety Month is celebrated in October by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The month is a time to recognize that pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility between drivers and pedestrians.
During National Pedestrian Safety Month, stakeholders such as local leaders, transportation planners, and concerned residents are invited to help create a transportation system that is safe for all people to walk in.
This month Alpha Chi Omega members tabled during Market Wednesday to raise awareness in honor of Ellie Sims, MC ’23. Ellie Sims, a vibrant and cherished 20-year-old Florida State University student, and Alpha Chi Omega member was tragically taken from us on April 29, 2024. Today, a memorial sits by the crosswalk where Sims — a — was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Tallahassee.
Some tips for pedestrian safety include: Slowing down at intersections, Putting away distractions, Yielding at crosswalks, Avoiding blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn, and Never driving impaired.
FSU Alpha Chi Omega 