2006 - 2007 Pres. Kay Berg's  Acceptance Speech

                                      May 6^th, 2006

 At this the beginning of my glittering journey I give special thanks to

Jan Jones, Barb Campbell and Janice Kitzler for the beautiful and very

moving installation ceremony.  To Jan Jones, our own ESA songbird,

thank you for once again sharing your beautiful voice with us. 

A simple thank you to Marsha Ray and to all of my Alpha Phi Sisters

just seems inadequate.     I cannot put into words how grateful I am to

all of them for their unconditional love and support during this

endeavor.   Marsha has taken us on an unforgettable journey with lots

of celebration along the way.  To Marsha and her Council of Officers

“Congratulations on a job well done!’

To my Alpha Zeta and Beta Alpha sisters I thank you for being a part

of my honor guard on this very special evening.  To my officers who

were elected to serve with me this year, I say “Welcome” and may we

have an incredible year. 

At this time I would like to introduce to you some very special guests.

My number one husband Tony, who has always been so tolerant and

supportive of all of my passions.  He is to the point now that he only

shakes his head when I get into my ESA groove.  My daughter Suny

and her husband Jad Bruun of Winner and my other daughter

Summer and her husband Nathan Sticha of Rochester, Minnesota.  I

thank you all for being here this evening and supporting me.  Two of

my very favorite people are not here tonight.  My grandsons Jayden

and Joren Bruun are home in Winner minding the home front.  But, I

know they are here in spirit.

Twenty-five years ago, my husband asked me to join him in a “leap of

faith” and move to the plains of South Dakota and start a new

adventure.  Little did I know at the time what a journey that would be.

After living in Winner about three months I was invited to a Rush

Party for ESA.  I had not a clue what ESA was-I had no idea what the

letters even  meant and what I was getting myself into at the time.  But

many of the sisters that I met at that very first Scavenger Hunt have

since become my closest friends and a true support group.  Yes, we’ve

added sisters along the way, but that has only enhanced our group.  We

have had many laughs, some cries, lots of celebrations and many

problem solving sessions in this journey.

Now, amongst my ESA sisters and friends in Winner I’m known as the

“Glitter Girl” because I like to glitter things.  I glitter cards, Christmas

packages and occasionally I even dress in glitter.  I know not where this

glitter fetish comes from but I take heart  the quotation that I once read

where “A girl can never have too much glitter”.  So, it came naturally

that I would choose as my theme for this year “ Glitter Your World

with ESA”.   To glitter something means to enhance it and that is

exactly what my goal is for ESA this year.   I truly believe that Epsilon

 Sigma Alpha in South Dakota is healthy and alive, but as with

everything it certainly can be improved.  We welcome our new sisters

from the Black Hills to our convention this year.  They are like a breath

of fresh air and I know that they will add much to our organization.  I

personally know three of the members of this new chapter and they are

full of enthusiasm and committed individuals.  But, wouldn’t it be fun to

extend this hand of friendship to our Northern borders.  Do you know

anyone in Mobridge, Sisseton, Lemmon or Aberdeen that we could

invite to join this wonderful sisterhood.

Have you thought of the answer that you would give if asked “What in

the world is ESA?”  Would it be our service  projects-St. Jude’s

Research Hospital,  Easter Seals,  Ronald McDonald’s House or any

one of your local projects?  Would it be the education of our members?

Would it be the association and fellowship amongst sisters?  To each of

you there is a different answer – with each one being the correct answer.

But, my hope is that when you give that answer you give it with

enthusiasm, conviction and yes with a little bit of “glitter” thrown in.

Judith Viorst has written that women have several kinds of friends

depending on our varied interests, roles and family background.

1.  Convenience friends:  Friends that we cross paths with at the grocery store, church or

 neighborhood.

 2.  Special Interest Friends:  Friends that you have a common interest in be in golf, tennis,                crafts or whatever.

3.  Historical Friends:  These are friends that you’ve known most of your lives.

And finally:

4.      Heart Friends:  Those to whom we are drawn by some mystical force.  These are sisters in spirit and ones who truly understand one another.  And to my ESA sisters tonight you are truly my heart.                                                               Thank you

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