VIRTUAL CONVENTION RECAP

STRATEGIC GOAL AREA EXEMPLIFY

In July 2020, sisters made history by participating in Alpha Sigma Alpha’s National Convention Reimagined. The event occurred July 19-26 and was the sorority’s first virtual convention. The week comprised of sorority business, opportunities for education and sisterhood, announcements of 2019-20 award recipients and fundraising for the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation.

These virtual experiences were an alternative offered for members after the 2020 National Convention & Leadership Conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

Alpha Sigma Alpha offered 9 educational programs for members and volunteers on topics including:

Recruitment Diversity, equity and inclusion Mental health Empathy Leadership

Diversity, equity, inclusion and justice trainer Flo King (Thriving Inclusion) spoke to members about diversity and inclusion in Alpha Sigma Alpha during her keynote Tools & Strategies to Maintain Justice & Sisterhood. Members also had the opportunity to participate in interactive breakout sessions with Flo where diversity and inclusion resources were discussed and shared.

In his keynote Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of your Mental Health, mental health educator Ross Szabo discussed his personal experiences with mental health and encouraged members to seek opportunities to identify and manage their own. Ross is the curriculum developer for the Behind Happy Faces program which has been made available to collegiate chapters and volunteers in 2020. The program is designed to engage collegiate members in dialogue about mental health and wellness.

The two programs above were sponsered by:

Flo King facilitated her keynote Tools & Strategies to Maintain Justice & Sisterhood

Additional speakers included:

Tina Vansteenbergen facilitating Recruitment in Today's World and More than a Feeling: Leading with Empathy Dr. Maria Malayter, XX facilitating Well-being Centered Leadership Dr. Julie Connor, ZZ facilitating How to talk to a Loved One about Mental Illness Julia Sammur-Osborn, HH facilitating ENOUGH

Tina VanSteenbergen

Professional speaker Tina VanSteenbergen trained members and volunteers how to recruit new members in a time when students are impacted by a pandemic and movement for racial equality.

Dr. Julie Connor, ZZ taught members how to have conversations about mental illness and provides resources to help support loved ones.

Julia SammurOsborn, HH empowered sisters during the session ENOUGH.

SORORITY BUSINESS

254 delegates representing Alpha Sigma Alpha membership were registered to vote on proposed bylaws amendments and elections for the 2020-22 national council.

FOUNDATION REIMAGINED

The Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation raised more than $50,000 for programming and member assistance through fundraisers held during National Convention Reimagined.

Bottom Left: Ross Szabo spoke to members about managing mental health during his keynote Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of your Mental Health. Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation trustees and donors dressed in red and gathered for the Red Tie Donor Reception hosted by Foundation chairman Tanya Trumbla Brewer, DU

SISTERHOOD MEETUPS

Members had the opportunity to connect with sisters near and far for a variety of virtual meetups including social events, workouts and skills-based workshops.

Virtual sisterhood meetups were coordinated and hosted by Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae, including:

Jaime Depastino Brandon, AΓ hosted a cross-stitching workshop Jen Reisner Burkhardt, ΓM hosted 90s-themed trivia

Sisters gather from all over the country for a bourbon tasting hosted by Marcia Pucci Jacquette, DΝ-A

Jessica Cyr DeNuzzio, EΨ hosted a general trivia night Amanda Caputo, ZL hosted a calligraphy workshop Shianne Hill, ΘK hosted a game night Marcia Pucci Jacquette, DΝ-A hosted a bourbon tasting

Sisters raise a glass during the wine and chocolate pairing hosted by Kiley Wuellner, EΨ Members enjoying a 90s-themed trivia night hosted by Jen Reisner Burkhardt, ΓM

Hannah Kois, ΘΨ hosted a yoga session Aly Campbell Kowal, ZZ hosted a happy hour Mary Lesinski Revay, PP & Illysa Schrager, ΘΓ hosted a cooking competition Madeline Sefcik, ΘB hosted a canvas painting class Kiley Wuellner, EΨ hosted a wine and chocolate pairing

Sisters cooling down at the end of a yoga session led by Hannah Kois, ΘΨ Members show off their artwork at the end of a canvas painting class hosted by Madeline Sefcik, ΘB

AWARD PRESENTATIONS

Collegiate and alumnae individual and chapter award recipients for the 2019-20 year were announced throughout the week.

On Saturday July 25, the 2018-20 national council presented several awards live, including the 201920 Collegiate and Alumnae Crown of Excellence Awards.

A list of 2019-20 award recipients can be found on pages 8-13.

SAVE THE DATE

Sisters will meet July 13-16, 2022 in Baltimore, MD for the 52nd National Convention & Leadership Conference, Shine Together!

The dates and location of this event were announced to the membership during National Convention Reimagined.

National President Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK, presents Beta Nu Chapter at Murray State University with the collegiate Crown of Excellence Award