7 minute read
ASA REIMAGINED
STRATEGIC GOAL AREA ADVANCE
By Executive Director Krystal Slivinski, GΡ
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Glimpse From Our Past
It was 1918. Students on campuses across the nation were quarantined due to the Spanish Influenza epidemic. The Beta Beta Chapter submission to the November 1918 Phoenix magazine shared the following:
“To say that Teachers’ College is in full swing would hardly be correct, for after the first week of school we were put under the strictest of quarantines, to prevent the spread of the epidemic. All schools, clubs and churches in the city were closed…All other meetings of every sort were forbidden.”
The Alpha Chapter also expressed their rush (recruitment) concerns in that same issue:
“We had hoped to have them members in very truth by now, but the epidemic upset all our plans. The school was quarantined for several weeks and practically all activities were ended for the time.”
Alpha Gamma Chapter sparked a bit of hope in their submission:
“…the school was quarantined for several weeks. Work went on just the same as usual, so we shall not have to make up for lost time…”
Feelings of disappointment in not being able to interact with sisters and “rushees”, insecurities of what the future would bring and the small glimmer of hope that Alpha Sigma Alpha would carry on, can all be inferred from the comments made in 1918.
In 2020, 102 years after these comments were published, the same feelings and concerns hold true. We are living in a world where socializing is curtailed and sorority activities as we knew them are halted.
At the chapter level, questions are arising such as: How will we recruit new members? How can we educate our new members? How can we adapt our chapter operations to a virtual membership experience?
ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA
AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL, QUESTIONS ARE:
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT OUR MEMBERSHIP?
HOW IS ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA POSITIONED TO HANDLE CHANGES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC?
HOW WILL ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA ADAPT TO FIT THESE TIMES?
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA?
WILL WE EVER BE THE SAME?
The following information addresses these questions and shares how Alpha Sigma Alpha is reimagining operations to adapt to these times.
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT OUR MEMBERSHIP?
There is no doubt that this pandemic will impact the membership of Alpha Sigma Alpha. School closures began in early March and by mid-March all campuses where Alpha Sigma Alpha had a chapter were closed.
Although many of our chapters had completed the formal recruitment processes by then, many more still had hoped to meet campus Total by continuous open bidding. This semester we saw an 11.5% DECREASE in recruitment of new members as compared to the previous spring semester. Even bigger still, was the decrease in initiation rates. Many chapters were mid-way through their new member education when campuses shut down. The national organization offered five virtual initiation events for new members to participate in the Sanctuary Degree Service. The following chapters participated in these services:
Zeta Zeta, University of Central Missouri Tau Tau, Fort Hays State University, KS Beta Upsilon, Indiana State University Gamma Iota, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY Gamma Lambda, Loyola University of Chicago, IL Gamma Clio, State University of New York - Cortland Delta Gamma, West Chester University, PA Epsilon Gamma, Virginia Commonwealth University Epsilon Tau, University of Maryland-Baltimore County Epsilon Phi, Indiana University Zeta Theta, Wagner College, NY Zeta Rho, University of West Alabama Theta Beta, Roanoke College, VA Theta Gamma, Christopher Newport University, VA Theta Delta, University of Alaska-Anchorage Theta Kappa, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Theta Nu, Knox College, IL Theta Omicron, University of Missouri-Kansas City Theta Omega, University of New Haven, CT Iota Beta, Texas A&M University-Texarkana Iota Gamma, Ramapo College of New Jersey Iota Zeta, Cleveland State University, OH Iota Theta, Columbia College, SC
171 WOMEN WERE INITIATED FROM THESE 23 CHAPTERS.
Alpha Sigma Alpha has already implemented many initiatives that helped our organization, chapters and members navigate a virtual experience. Here are a few:
MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Focusing on mental health during these times of social distancing is important for our members. In March, Alpha Sigma Alpha held a Resiliency campaign on social media to encourage members to say strong. Alpha Sigma Alpha also partnered with the Human Power Project to unveil the Behind Happy Faces - Advisor Resource Series in March. The five-part video series assists and prepares volunteers for supporting collegiate members’ mental health. The collegiate resource, which will be a program that can be facilitated by the chapter Wellness Chairman, will be rolled out to chapters in the fall.
ONLINE MEMBERSHIP EDUCATION
In 2011, Alpha Sigma Alpha unveiled its members-only website, MyAΣA. The website houses the online portion of membership education. Resources for the vice president of membership education to assist with the “inperson” new member meetings were developed and placed on the Officer Portal for chapters to access.
REMOTE ADVISING
This past year, Alpha Sigma Alpha developed a position description that outlined the expectations for remote advisors—advisors working with chapters that are more than 60 miles from them. This resource has proved critical as all advisors are working remotely with chapters during these times.
ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA
ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA
ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA
As mentioned previously, virtual initiation was one adaptation that Alpha Sigma Alpha made in order to engage and retain new members. The national council will continue to evaluate virtual initiation and if this will be offered in the future. Here are additional adaptations Alpha Sigma Alpha has made:
VIRTUAL EXTENSION VISITS
Alpha Sigma Alpha has had two extension visits— meeting with campus administration and interests groups-via Zoom. Both extension visits have led to invitations to establish chapters-one at Plymouth State University, NH and one at Flagler College, FL.
TASK FORCES ASSEMBLED
The national council has established two task forces that are looking forward and preparing for a shift in operations. The Virtual Contingency Task Force is charged with developing recommendations for providing a virtual membership experience in response to campuses not returning in the fall 2020 semester or having a delayed start to the fall 2020 semester. Discussion topics include:
Recruitment strategies
Retention strategies
Membership education
Chapter business operational strategies (chapter meetings, elections, officer transition etc.)
Strategies to maintaining sisterhood
Virtual performance of the Ritual
Will We Ever Be the Same?
The simple answer is, “no.” Cultural shifts, political periods and social norm changes over time have all helped shape Alpha Sigma Alpha as an organization. The current pandemic will do the same. Just as the Sorority adapted 102 years ago, Alpha Sigma Alpha will persevere. We will reimagine the sorority experience for the future.
The Community Colleges Task Force is charged with developing recommendations for a membership experience at two-year institutions should this opportunity be permitted in the future by the National Panhellenic Conference. Current volunteer teams such as the Data Study Team and the Recruitment Resource Project Team are also adjusting their work in response to these times.
NATIONAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES
The national headquarters staff and national council are taking a close look at the national policies and procedures, looking for polices that may be preventative to membership. For example, some universities changed their grading systems from traditional grading systems to a pass/fail systems for the spring semester. This change will impact potential member and member grades. National council passed a resolution that temporarily allows chapters to adjust the GPA requirements for membership and for good standing. Staff and national council will continue to look for similar adjustments that will need to be made.
PROMOTING SISTERHOOD IN A VIRTUAL WORLD
Fostering close friendships between members looks a little different in a virtual world. Collegiate chapters have been creative in promoting sisterhood utilizing all methods of social media. Alumnae have been creative as well in hosting virtual alumnae chapter meetings. The national organization shifted the annual ASA Night Out to ASA Night In. Members and chapters hosted cooking challenges, happy hours, books discussions and canvas painting---all virtually.
The full impact of this pandemic, as well as how Alpha Sigma Alpha will respond, will only be known in the years ahead. However, we do know that Alpha Sigma Alpha will adapt, but in order for the Sorority to advance we will need to:
1. COUNT ON OUR COLLEGIATE MEMBERS
TO RECRUIT
Recruitment cannot just be one week a year. Chapters who use every opportunity to meet women and ask them to join will be the chapters that excel through this adversity.
2. RELY ON OUR VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT BOTH AT THE CHAPTER LEVEL AND
ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL
Volunteers are needed now more than ever to assist collegiate chapters as well as their college panhellenics. Providing support as mentors and advisors will be crucial in collegiate chapter development.
3. DEPEND ON ALL ALUMNAE TO PAY
THEIR ANNUAL ALUMNAE DUES AND
DONATE TO THE FOUNDATION
Loss of collegiate revenue this spring will have a financial impact to the organization. We are asking all alumnae to financially assist Alpha Sigma Alpha during these trying times.
Alumnae Dues can be paid by visiting: https://myasa.alphasigmaalpha.org.
Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation can be made by visiting: https://www.alphasigmaalpha.org/ asa-foundation/donate-now/
