International President's Viewpoint

In early August, I had the opportunity to visit our Psi Chapter at the University of Alabama during Primary Recruitment and at the height of “Bama RushTok,” a TikTok trend that took social media by storm (see page 10 for a recap).

While the online focus may have been on what PNMs were wearing, I saw something totally different from our members. In real life, the emphasis was on how genuine the relationships are, the excitement of welcoming new sisters and the commitment that each new member would be cared for and loved.

While COVID-19 has continued to make recruitment a challenge across the U.S. and Canada, what I saw at the University of Alabama truly filled my Alpha Gam bucket!

Since that visit, I've regularly seen sisters doing what they can to stay connected, both in person and virtually.

As I scroll through Instagram, I see our collegiate sisters embracing the sorority experience—welcoming new members, having social and philanthropic events, celebrating seniors and doing what they can to safely return to a new normal.

Members of all ages are excited about the upcoming Alpha Gam Book Club picks and digging into old copies of the Quarterly that have been scanned and added to the Alpha Gam Historian Facebook Group. Also on Facebook, the Rose Sisters Group has started its annual Secret Squirrel gift exchange. It's always a joy to see the creative and thoughtful gifts—some of which traveled thousands of miles to get to its recipients.

I see our alumnae sisters gathering when they can—virtually or in person. I’ve been able to attend several small gatherings, and I leave each one thankful for our sisterhood. It reinforces why I believe in who we are and what we offer. We truly are loving, leading, lasting.

As you look through the pages of this issue, you’ll see a recap of our members during Hunger Action Month. The important work we do—both individually and as an organization—is more important than ever, as many families continue to rely on food banks to help make ends meet. When combined with the Alpha Gam Foundation's efforts to fight food insecurity through grant funding, our impact is multiplied..

As you make plans for 2022, I hope you’ll consider joining us in Louisville for our 51st International Convention. It will be a celebration of our resilience and everlasting sisterhood. I'm counting the minutes—and I'd love to see you there!

Loyally in Epsilon Pi,

Dr.Lee Woodham Langub International President Gamma Alpha–University of Georgia