We Gather Light To Scatter
SoCal Upsilon Sigma Phi - Sigma Delta Phi 2009 Summer Picnic at Dana Point
As we promised in the initial announcement of the SoCal 2009 Summer Picnic at Dana Point , "we were going to try something different." And we did last Saturday. We broke tradition. Instead of holding the summer picnic in a park, we held it by the beach. Instead of choosing a venue that was convenient to most, we chose a venue that was quite a drive for most, but a place that cleared the worries and problems in our lives even for just a day.
The day started at sunrise as the canopies, tables and chairs were positioned on the bluff overlooking the Pacific. The day continued as the first bike riders pedaled the first few feet of their 26-mile route. Tradition was broken again as the lone Sigma Deltan, Mon Malabanan `81, broke "the sex barrier" by being the only female rider to join and finish the 26-mile route. More brods and sis started to come, some bringing along their families. During the day, some went surfing while others hiked on the beach or played soccer with their kids. A few of the Sigma Deltans lay by the canopies to sun-bathe while some brods, both young and old, stole a sheepish glance at them.
The food arrived at noon. It was delicious and plentiful; and was kept in that condition by careful preparation and planning. To everybody's delight, we had an early dinner by the beach as the sun started to set on the horizon. This was truly the Upsilon way where fellowships start at sunrise and end at sunset.
To all 67 of you who attended the SoCal 2009 Summer Picnic, we are grateful for all the accolades and praises. But what we are most grateful for were your smiles, from the first time you came down that winding path to see how beautiful the venue was, to the ease of conversations and light banter during the rest of the day and to the reluctance of parting from each other at sunset. We felt we have made the right decision to break tradition. Nothing could bring more pleasure to those of us who tirelessly worked to make the summer picnic a success than see the brods and sis relaxing and having fun. And this was very obvious everywhere as we tried to know each other better and concentrated on the things that bound us together rather than discuss the petty differences that separated us.
Thank you all for attending. It was our pleasure to be your hosts for the 2009 SoCal Summer Picnic.
We hope to see you again on Dec. 5 at 7:00 pm for the SoCal Christmas Party. Venue will be announced soon.
-The 2009 – 2010 Officers of the USP SoCal Chapter
