Summer 2010
INSIDE:
of Alpha Sigma Alpha
Membership for all ages: What does your membership look like?
â–
Advantage 2.0
ON THE COVER: Indianapolis area alumnae and collegians
F E AT U R E S
Summer 2010 5 6 8
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S leading on campus
Advantage 2.0 Alpha Sigma Alpha District Day 2010–11: Leading through service
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Alpha Sigma Alpha recruitment success
14 15 16
Theta Lambda Chapter installation Theta Mu Chapter installation Membership for all ages: What does your membership look like?
20 chapter traditions 22 The call of opportunity for alumnae
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Volume 96, Number 3
of Alpha Sigma Alpha Summer 2010
FROM THE EDITOR Dear readers, We learn about the leadership opportunities available through Alpha Sigma Alpha during recruitment and even more as new and initiated members of
DEPARTMENTS
our sorority. One thing that comes to my mind when I think of my leadership experience is a conversation I had
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Message From the President
with one of my chapter sisters when I was a collegian. She encouraged me and gave me the confidence I
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needed to run for an executive board position. This
alumna highlight: Mary Purdy, Leading and serving in the United States Navy
support gave me the extra push I needed to take on that leadership role, which led to many other opportunities for me, like serving as the editor of the Phoenix. This issue is filled with many stories about Alpha Sigma
S. JUNE SMITH CENTER NEWS
Alphas who are leading, serving and making a difference in and in their communities. My hope is that you
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enjoy reading their stories and are inspired to give a sister
What’s Your Why?
that extra push she may need to realize her leadership potential.
Foundation News In Alpha Sigma Alpha,
District News Erika Ann Butts
News & Events From the Archives
DEADLINES Summer . . . . . . . . . . . March Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June Winter . . . . . . . . . September Spring . . . . . . . . . . December
EDITOR
Erika Butts, ebutts@alphasigmaalpha.org
STAFF 10 10 10 10
PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA (USPS 430-640) is published quarterly by Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices. Produced by Maury Boyd & Associates, Indianapolis. © Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Contributing Editor Nancy I.Z. Reese, niz.reese@gmail.com
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Send address changes, death notices and business correspondence to the national headquarters. Address all editorial correspondence to the editor.
9002 Vincennes Circle Indianapolis, IN 46268 Phone: 317-871-2920 Fax: 317-871-2924 E-mail: asa@alphasigmaalpha.org ™
POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Printed in the USA.
The inks used to print the body of this publication contain a minimum of 20%, by weight, renewable resources.
SUMMER 2010
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M essage from the president Lead, serve, make a difference B Y C I N D Y K E L L E Y , National President
Alpha Sigma Alpha strives to cultivate values and ideals in women through our mission, core values, purpose and aims. Through our ritual, Alpha Sigma Alphas are charged with giving freely of ourselves, focusing on our well-rounded development through our four aims of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development and holding ourselves and others to the highest standards at all times. Alpha Sigma Alphas are known for our character, we epitomize our core values and demonstrate them in our daily lives. And we are known for our compassion, empathy and concern for others. As individuals, we recognize that life is not just about each one of us, but it is also about and for others in our world. We realize it is our responsibility to look out for one another and are committed to selflessness and service to others.
Alpha Sigma Alpha inspires us to lead. Leadership has many faces. Several of us can easily point to our chapter presidents, volunteers in leadership positions, university administrators, community leaders and government officials as those individuals who are leaders. But it is important to remember that not all leaders have titles; and likewise, not all individuals with leadership titles are true leaders. In fact, leadership takes on a myriad of meanings for different people or even various generations. In research findings presented by the Girl Scout Research Institute in “Transforming Leadership: Focusing on Outcomes of the New Leadership Experience,” “girls today believe that leaders are not only defined by the qualities and skills one has, but also by how those qualities and skills are used to make a difference in the world. They want to be the ‘type of leader who stands up for his or her beliefs and values’ and ‘tries to change the world for the better.’ Leadership is ‘knowing what you believe and putting it into action.’”
Alpha Sigma Alpha inspires us to serve. Throughout the various stages of our lifetime membership in , we focus on the balance of our overall development among our four aims. This balance is taken to a new level through our service to others. In providing service, we grow as individuals and as leaders. The core value of generosity is a cornerstone for Alpha Sigma Alphas. By giving of ourselves and our time to others, we have attained a strong sense of self and enhanced our leadership and character. We feel a great sense of responsibility to others and concern for their well being. Alpha Sigma Alphas realize that leadership is not about fulfilling one’s own personal interests but is about leading through providing service to the people we lead. 4
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But most of all, Alpha Sigma Alpha inspires us to make a difference. Engaging in service provides us with great enjoyment and fulfillment and gives us that warm fuzzy, “feel good” sentiment. When we are able to combine our leadership with service and motivate others into action, we are positioned to make sustainable change, to make a difference. Dr. Robert Coles, Harvard University professor and author of “Lives of Moral Leadership,” explores one’s ability to make an impact or difference on others through leadership. “A range of individuals can bring us up morally, can become a part of a nation’s moral fiber—a child, an adult, a person in politics, or one quietly trying to get through a seemingly quite ordinary life. Suddenly and surprisingly we can become an example to others—or those to us: they hand us along, become a source of moral encouragement to us, arouse us and stir us, move us to do things when we might otherwise not be provoked, and they have the will to act in pursuit of purposes we have come to regard as important.” Take a moment to think about who has been an example or role model for you, perhaps it is a parent, a professor, an advisor, a friend. Now think about when you have been the example for others. In both instances, think about the influence the role model has had in serving as a motivator and how it has moved the other person to do something even when the person “otherwise might not have been provoked.” In Alpha Sigma Alpha, every member makes a difference. Through commitment to service and compassion and concern for others as well as through the ability to move others into action and provide leadership with courage and confidence, our members are making a difference on their campuses, in their communities, in Alpha Sigma Alpha and the larger Greek community. Our campuses, our communities and our sorority are better places because of your leadership, your service and your willingness to make a difference. Thank you! In Alpha Sigma Alpha,
National President SUMMER 2010
Kelsey Queen
Hannah Clark
rdas Kasia Ko
Lisa Marie Behrens
Andrea Cole
s leading on campus At every Alpha Sigma Alpha event, whether it is District Day, the Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute, or a chapter homecoming celebration; alumnae, volunteers and the national headquarters staff have the opportunity to speak to our current collegiate chapter members. While each of one of these women is unique, there are usually a few things that each one of these members has in common. One, their love for Alpha Sigma Alpha, and two, they are leading, serving and making a difference in their chapters, on their campuses and in their communities. We wanted to give each collegiate chapter the opportunity to highlight one of their members who they felt is a true leader, not only within Alpha Sigma Alpha, but also on their campuses. Here are a compilation of some of the responses we received.
Kelsey Queen
Chapter: , Concord University, WV Academic year: junior Leading on campus: ■ student government association attorney general Leading in : ■ president ■ housing chairman ■ former vice president of public relations & recruitment ■ former public relations chairman
Lisa Marie Behrens
Chapter: , Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Academic year: junior Leading on campus: ■ secretary of the student government association ■ deejay on the WFSE campus radio station Leading in : ■ president ■ former vice president of programming & ritual
Hannah Clark
Chapter: , Schreiner University, TX Academic year: senior Leading on campus: ■ student senate senior class secretary ■ student ambassador coordinator ■ Inner Greek Council voting delegate Leading in : ■ parliamentarian ■ former vice president of public relations & recruitment ■ former social chairman
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Andrea Cole
Chapter: , Pittsburg State University, KS Academic year: senior Leading on campus: ■ student body president ■ president, vice president & campus affairs director of student government association ■ vice president of recruitment for Panhellenic council ■ vice president of Pittsburg State University Big Brothers & Big Sisters ■ outstanding Greek woman at Pittsburg State University Leading in : ■ former treasurer, ■ former standards chairman ■ former vice president of programming & ritual
Julia Ray
Chapter:
, Northwest Missouri State University Academic year: senior Leading on campus: ■ president Order of Omega ■ Greek week co-chairman ■ morale and advocacy chairman for the St. Jude “Up ‘Til Dawn Program” ■ student ambassador ■ book drive chairman for the Mortar Board senior national honor society Leading in : ■ former Panhellenic delegate ■ former vice president of programming & ritual ■ former secretary ■ former housing chairman
Kasia Kordas
Chapter: , Loyola University, IL Academic year: sophomore Leading on campus: ■ corporate sponsorship chair for women in business ■ representative on the Panhellenic judicial board Leading in : ■ treasurer
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ADVANTAGE 2.O B Y A M B E R S H A V E R D I H U S T O N , Membership Growth Coordinator Alpha Sigma Alpha values the importance of continual personal development and nowhere is this more evident than through the Advantage lifetime membership initiative. Advantage was originally introduced to collegiate chapters in 2002 and was one of the first lifetime membership education programs created in the fraternal community. Since 2002, members in all stages of life have had the opportunity to learn about our eight core values, strengthen life skills and place an emphasis on lifetime membership. Advantage has seen various changes throughout the past eight years; and this summer Alpha Sigma Alpha is launching a new format for Advantage. For the past two years, national headquarters staff has conducted research on the educational programs of other NPC organizations, including how other groups use technology as an educational tool. During a meeting about this research, national headquarters staff came to the realization that we should provide Advantage for our members in a convenient and popular format used many of our members, Facebook. Alpha Sigma Alpha will be the first NPC organization to provide a membership education program through a social networking web site. Values, history and life skills will all be accessible to thousands of Alpha Sigma Alphas in a format that has not yet been implemented by any other fraternal organization. We are again leading the fraternal community with these new Advantage updates. We thrive on being a leader of the pack! All collegians and alumnae will have the capability to access their individual and confidential Advantage account through the Official Alpha Sigma Alpha
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Facebook Application at www.alphasigma alphaconnect.com or by visiting the Official Alpha Sigma Alpha Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/alphasigmaalpha and click on on the Advantage tab at the top of the page. In addition to the Facebook application, new members will receive a member manual that will be used during new member module activities. The manual will also contain historical information for initiates and seniors to utilize during their modules. Chapter vice presidents of programming & ritual and vice presidents of alumnae & heritage will continue facilitating the initiate and senior modules.
With the new version of Advantage, members will no longer be required to do 25 hours of personal growth activities. Instead, chapters will be required to coordinate four educational programs each year that reflect our four aims. Criteria that each program will need to meet and program ideas will be provided. In order to ensure that the Advantage educational goals are met, chapters will submit proposals for programs to district volunteers for approval. Education coaching team leaders and district facilitators will then review the submissions and provide guidance to the chapter.
All Alpha Sigma Alphas will need a Facebook profile to access the application. Feel free to set your security settings high. You will also need to add the Official Alpha Sigma Alpha Facebook Application.
Alumnae should find Dot on Facebook and request to be her friend. Dot’s profile name is Dot Ladybug. Dot will then provide
Collegiate members will be provided their key by one of the vice presidents
you with a key to access the members’ only
of their collegiate chapter.
Advantage application.
Once you have received access, go to the official Alpha Sigma Alpha Facebook Application at
www.alphasigmaalphaconnect.com. The sorority’s application has four tabs, one being Advantage. Select the
Advantage tab and begin your new Advantage experience!
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How does the Facebook Advantage application work? Each member will begin with a few simple steps: Each module contains both required and suggested activities that are included within the module’s central theme. ■ The new member module is built on our eight core values. Each week new members have individual activities, videos and journaling to complete that compliment the new member module meetings they participate in with their fellow chapter members. ■ Within the initiate module, there are two phases. Phase one of the module is centered on leadership and personal development. Phase two is focused on career enhancement. The phases are flexible and can be completed over a one-year or two-year time period. Both phases will educate members through online activities and quizzes about topics that are relevant to a member’s life. ■ During the senior module, members will have the opportunity to review the heritage of Alpha Sigma Alpha, learn about volunteer positions and how to join or start an alumnae chapter or association. The senior module places a high emphasis on how to continue with lifetime membership. ■ The alumnae module focuses on Alpha Sigma Alpha heritage, alumnae involvement and living our values. Alumnae will have the opportunity to take quizzes, watch videos and do reflective journaling. As Alpha Sigma Alpha grows, it is important to ensure we are providing the best services for our members. We have changed as an organization throughout our history; however our goal to promote high ideals and standards for our members throughout their lives has not. Advantage will continue to provide women with the opportunity to develop into women of poise and purpose.
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. . . national headquarters staff came to the realization that we should provide Advantage for our members in a convenient and popular format used by many of our members, Facebook.
Online training sessions will be held for collegiate vice presidents of membership education, vice presidents of programming & ritual and vice presidents of alumnae & heritage to learn about the application on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m. EST, Monday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. EST and Thursday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. EST. Visit the Advantage training web site for more details at www.advantagetraining.com.
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B Y N A Y D I A S P E A R S , Foundation Development Coordinator
Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.� One of the values of Alpha Sigma Alpha is generosity. For Alpha Sigma Alpha members, generosity reflects giving of our hearts, our time, our talents and our resources. The 2010–11 Alpha Sigma Alpha District Day curriculum will focus on the personal leadership skills gained by valuing and dedicating time to service and philanthropy.
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.� — Albert Einstein
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District Day programming will feature three unique blocks of workshops: ■Service to my chapter, focusing on officer training and chapter operations ■Service to my sorority, focusing on new national opportunities for collegiate success ■Service to my world, focusing on philanthropy and leadership ■In addition to these three blocks of programming, participants will end the day by working together in groups to establish chapter or individual plans for growth Alpha Sigma Alpha is also pleased to welcome back The Leadership Institute— Women with Purpose for our 2010–11 events. This year’s events will feature collegiate programming called “Building a Bridge in Stilettos,� which focuses on confrontation, communication and personal relationships. We will also provide a two-hour morning session for alumnae called “Footprint Leadership.� This unique workshop will help alumnae know how much their time, talent and treasure is worth, while they examine the footprints that have been made in their own lives. For the past two years, The Leadership Institute has partnered with Alpha Sigma Alpha to provide the best all around development for District Day events. District Day participants continue to share that the programs have been very beneficial to not only their chapters, but also their individual lives.
District Day 2010–11 highlights will feature a graduating senior recognition, volunteer recognition, a district service project, alumnae receptions, collegiate and alumnae chapter Foundation Challenge incentives and all new programming provided by The Leadership Institute and local alumnae. In addition, every participant will receive a District Day favor as part of the registration fee. Registration information All collegiate and alumnae chapters will receive District Day registration packets. Each packet will include registration information and marketing materials to distribute to the chapter. All collegiate chapters will register online through the Officer Portal. The registration fee for District Day 2010–11 is $45. Regular registration for the event is due three-four weeks before the event, visit the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site for specific registration deadline details. ■Late registration is $55 and will be accepted up to two weeks prior to the event ■On-site registration is highly discouraged, but will be allowed for a registration fee of $70 ■Join the Alpha Sigma Alpha District Day Facebook group to view the latest updates
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Dates and loca tions
District
District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9
C ity Valley Forge, PA Pittsburgh Charlottesville, VA Fort Wayne, IN Memphis, TN Dallas Chicago Kansas City, M O
D a te Nov. 19–20, 20 10 Nov. 19–20, 20 10
Programming form The Leadership Institute is provided in part by a grant from the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. All District Day events will feature opportunities to participate in the Foundation red ticket raffle and the Foundation Fundraising Challenge.
Feb. 25–26, 20 11 Feb. 4–5, 2011
Only when you give do you truly receive
Nov. 12–13, 20 10 Feb. 2011
District Day 2010-11 will be an unforgettable event as we think about service to our chapters, our sorority and our world. For more information about District Day 2010-11: Leading through service, contact Hilary Moe, leadership development & event coordinator, at hmoe@alphasigmaalpha.org or call (317) 871-2920.
Nov. 5–6, 2010 Feb. 18–19, 20 11
Tentative agen da Friday (optiona l) • 6:00 p.m. • 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Saturday • 8:00 a.m. • 8:45 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m. • 10:30 a.m. • 10:45 a.m. • 12:00 p.m. • 2:00 p.m.
• 3:15 p.m. • 4:30 p.m. • 5:00 p.m. • 6:00 p.m.
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Registration op ens Service projec t and chapter development brainstorming and idea shar ing Registration re opens Welcome Educational bl ock I – Service to my chapter Break Educational bl ock II – Service to my chapter Philanthropic lu ncheon Educational bl ock IIII – Servic e to my sororit Educational bl y ock III – Servic e to m y w or ld Chapter servic e self-evaluatio n and planning time Closing and fa rewell Alumnae rece ption (alumna e only)
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Leading and serving in the United States Navy
Mary in her Navy uniform Mary receiving the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
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B Y D I N A L I B E R A T O R E , Phoenix Contributor “Nice girls don’t join the Navy.� As a young woman growing up in Missouri, Mary Hamilton Purdy’s parents tried to deter her from a military career, believing, as many did at the time, that young women did not belong in the armed forces. However, after meeting her husband, a pilot in the Navy, Mary,
, began on a course that would not only become a lifelong career, but would allow her to become a leader and role model for women in the military. As only the second married woman ever to complete officer candidate school, Mary went on to hold numerous positions which took her all over the world. In 1977, she became a Navy lieutenant and spent three years working with Navy Personnel Command in Arlington, VA. Among her varied responsibilities, she was charged with setting up and overseeing implementation of the women in ships program, the first program to assign women to ships. She met with commanding officers to explain the women’s roles and shipboard requirements. Prior to this time, women mainly held administrative jobs within the military and were not allowed in seagoing units. Mary recalls questions such as, “What will we do if a woman gets pregnant while on the ship?� Her response
was, “What do you do if a man has a medical emergency while on the ship?� Through her work at Navy Military Personnel Command, Mary alleviated fears and stereotypes, and helped officers to understand that the differences between men and women in the military were not as vast as previously thought. Mary once again found herself charting new territory for women in the military while she was a company officer in the United States Naval Academy from 1987-90. The Navy had been allowing women to enroll in the academy for 10 years, but women only made up approximately six percent of the academy population. The administration decided that the women were not integrating well and hoped that by bringing in some role models, the academy climate for women would improve. Mary’s job was to supervise a company of six women and 129 men during the school year and some 800 midshipmen over the summer as they completed training. After reviewing the young women’s situation in the brigade of midshipmen, Mary realized it would take a larger group of women officers and professors working together to effect change. The women’s leadership met regularly to talk about equality and initiatives they could take to improve the status of women at the academy. Some of the issues that they noticed right away were that women students could not have long hair or wear skirts, which they soon realized were symptoms of a much larger problem, that women were not encouraged or even allowed to be themselves and develop their own talents, skills and knowledge. “The women wanted to just melt into the woodwork so that they wouldn’t be harassed,� Mary explained. Mary and her team immediately took action to make changes that would allow the women students more freedom and flexibility at the academy. They lobbied the administration to allow women to grow out their hair, even bringing in stylists to give the women advice about pinning their hair back so it would stay within
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military regulations. They also role modeled behaviors that they encouraged the women to adopt, such as wearing skirts. Finally, women students were offered classes on assertiveness so that they could begin making changes on their own. Although these may seem like small victories, these changes gave women students pride and confidence in themselves and allowed them to “bring their talents to the table.” By 1990, Mary could tell that things were improving. Women were no longer exhibiting symptoms of depression, such as weight gain, and they were slowly beginning to take pride in excelling and standing up for themselves, often asking, “What would Commander Purdy do?” in difficult situations. After leaving the academy, Mary was stationed at the National Defense University as a senior military fellow. During her career, she received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal with Three Gold Stars. Although she is no longer on active duty, she continues to work for the Department of the Navy as a Booz Allen Hamilton consultant, and says she is nowhere near ready to retire. She explains, “When I’m not having fun anymore, I’ll retire.” Although Mary is no longer in uniform, the work that she does now is no less important. As a contractor for the Department of Navy, Mary develops policies and training for the “cyber-workforce,” those employees who defend Department of Defense networks from hackers. Mary’s job is to ensure that cyber security and information technology employees are trained and certified in their field in order to provide the best service and most secure networks in the Defense Department’s global information grid. In her spare time, Mary stresses the importance of service to the community and continues to support causes that are important to her, including advocacy for women. She currently organizes a bi-annual charity drive for a local women’s shelter, which allows her to
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help victims of domestic abuse find professional employment in order to restart their lives. Mary also supports the US-Asia Institute, an organization dedicated to fostering communication between the United States and Asian countries. Recently, she spent two weeks in China, leading a congressional delegation from the United States to study healthcare. Mary found her military career to be very rewarding. Along with the tours where she helped women, she also held numerous other positions in antisubmarine warfare, intelligence and war gaming. She explains that the best part of working in the military is that officers, even at a junior grade, are given a great deal of responsibility. Mary has traveled around the world and made a positive impact on the many lives that she has touched. Last year, Mary was honored by her alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, with the distinguished alumni award for her prominent military career and leadership among women in the U.S. Navy.
Mary receiving her distinguished alumni award from Northwest Missouri State University president Dr. John Jasinski.
Mary on a recent trip in China's Guizhou Province, Hanhua Village. The entire MIAO minority village performed for the visitors.
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Alpha Sigma Alpha recruitment success
B Y A M B E R S H A V E R D I H U S T O N , Membership Growth Coordinator
Alpha Sigma Alpha’s sisterhood and strength has grown immensely in the past two years with the addition of six newly installed chapters and two new colonies. Nationally, we have also seen the highest number of new members recruited in the past 10 years! Overall, recruitment has been very successful this biennium. It is important, though, to determine how recruitment success is measured. Recruitment success is measured in many ways; chapters reaching Quota, target, campus Total and high retention of new members to initiated members. When chapters reach recruitment targets and goals, we grow as a national organization. Growth in turn, allows the national organization to provide more opportunities through educational programming, recruitment resources, marketing materials and leadership consultants. Nationally, we depend on each chapter to be successful, so that we as a national organization can be successful. The more members we have, the more resources and support we can provide to our members, both collegiate and alumnae. How did members of Alpha Sigma Alpha accomplish this recruitment success the past two years? Alpha Sigma Alpha’s success can be attributed to four primary recruitment fundamentals. Those fundamentals include an emphasis on strong relationships, setting challenging goals, writing and implementing strong recruitment plans and national support provided by volunteers and headquarters staff.
Strong relationships People join people. We have used that phrase for years in recruitment 12
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workshops, but the theory is true. Think back to the member who influenced you to join your chapter. Recruitment is built on relationships, not T-shirts, songs or favors. Our recruitment success is due to a strong foundation of drive and dedication, but at the heart of our success is the constant emphasis on building relationships. No matter the campus or Panhellenic recruitment style, creating a positive relationship with potential members is the highest priority for chapter members. Our chapters have put this theory into practice. Chapter members have built a strong foundation of positive relationships and interactions with college communities. They understand that chapters with involved members thrive in recruitment. Our chapters have capitalized on the relationships they have built with their campus community and fellow students, which in turn has attributed to recent recruitment success.
Setting challenging goals So that the sorority can be successful, we break down our national recruitment goal into chapter goals, which we call targets. National headquarters staff and district volunteers distribute chapter recruitment targets each semester to help chapters reach their recruitment potential. Each target is set specifically for each chapter. Previous recruitment trends, Quota, campus Total and campus environment are all factors taken into consideration when setting recruitment targets. In the fall of 2009, 44 chapters met their recruitment target, propelling Alpha Sigma Alpha to a great start for the academic year. This past spring, 47 chapters reached their spring target. This is the highest amount of chapters reaching their targets since the targets SUMMER 2010
were developed. Chapters that are meeting their targets are not only rewarded with new members. The national organization has also provided the incentive of a chance in a drawing for a free convention registration for those chapters who met their targets. The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter at California University of Pennsylvania was the winner of that drawing this year. Targets allow volunteers and advisors the opportunity to discuss goals, recruitment plans and chapter programming with executive board officers. Each chapter then has a goal to reach and emphasize within their chapter recruitment plan. Targets are set to challenge the chapter, yet be reachable and ensure that each semester the chapter makes steady improvement.
Strong recruitment plans Each year, chapters are asked to create recruitment plans that encompass Panhellenic recruitment, continuous recruitment, goals, member expectations and incentives. Chapters use these plans as a tool to plan for and execute yearround recruitment. Recruitment advisors, recruitment coaching team members and leadership consultants provide chapters with feedback, advice and ideas. Chapters that implement a strong recruitment plan are able to review chapter goals, host organized recruitment events and promote Alpha Sigma Alpha positively.
National support Volunteers, advisors and alumnae have also provided instrumental support to our chapters and thus our success has been a team effort. During 2009–10, alumnae submitted a record number of recruitment referrals. Chapters were able to identify women who would make great Alpha Sigma Alpha members through the advice of alumnae. Recruitmnt referral forms for the 2010–11 academic year will be posted in the alumnae section of the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site. Thanks to the members of the district recruitment coaching teams, chapters have also been provided with support and guidance when planning for and executing recruitment. Alpha Sigma Alphas are radiant women and our sisterhood is lively as we grow in members on current campuses and our sisterhood expands to new campuses through extension. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Our Founders had beautiful dreams for Alpha Sigma Alpha that are still relevant and vibrant today. I challenge all members of Alpha Sigma Alphas to dream about the future of the sorority and what we can continue to accomplish when our chapters are successfully recruiting women into our sisterhood that exemplify our eight core values.
Congratulations! Congratulations to the 22 chapters who have reached or exceeded campus Total! The chapters listed below are chapters who have reached campus Total through Panhellenic and continuous recruitment. Members who are studying abroad and student teaching are not included in a chapter’s Total.
District 2 Nu Nu Delta Iota Epsilon Kappa Zeta Nu
District 6 Beta Lambda Epsilon Alpha District 7 Zeta Sigma
District 3 Alpha Gamma District 4 Alpha Beta Epsilon Epsilon Gamma Theta Beta Theta Gamma District 5 Zeta Tau Theta Zeta
District 8 Gamma Lambda Delta Eta Zeta Phi District 9 Zeta Zeta Phi Phi Zeta Eta Zeta Mu
Alpha Sigma Alpha is debuting five national recruitment shirts for chapters this year! The five different shirts have been designed for various styles and price points, which allow chapters to choose a style that best fits their recruitment. The shirts must be ordered on the Officer Portal by the public relations chairman.
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Theta Lambda Chapter installed Feb. 27, 2010 New initiates of Theta Lambda Chapter: Lisa Andrews Katy Baird Jeanean Barley Micayla Bowman Elizabeth Brawthwaite Emma Cabrera Casey Davis Shannon Dencsy Erin Drenning Samantha Foland Jennifer Gover Jennifer Green Lisa Green Stephanie Gwinn Elizabeth Huber Brittany Jeffrey Brandi Jorden Kathleen Kline Valerie LaDue Ashley McMahan Megan McNeel Katelyn Parson Kayla Peters Latoya Richardson Ashley Rounds Juliana Sheets Jessica Simon Carolyn Sirian Kristen Smith Jennifer Tolbert Ashley Torbert Marilyn Tran Sara Vollmerhausen April Walker Sasha Werner Sara Wolz Mary Worch Kathryn Zarate Roya Zarpak
New members of Theta Lambda Chapter: Lindsay Barry Jazmine Hackett Kiersten Meyer Alayna Schley Dominique Tyndle
Alumnae initiates of Theta Lambda Chapter: April Baer Octavia Busby Tiffany Franc Sarah Greenwood Megan Howard Melissa Magsamen Rachel Moorin Kate Stone Jacqueline Tonsing
Gifts were received from: Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter Diane Yencic James, Julie Wiley Levine, Beta Lambda Chapter Delta Iota Chapter Delta Sigma Chapter Epsilon Lambda Chapter Zeta Mu Chapter
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B Y L I S A S T E P H E N S O N , Leadership Consultant The snow and blizzard conditions may have prevented National President Cindy Kelley and collegiate chapters from traveling to Frostburg, MD, but it did not prevent Theta Lambda’s installation on the weekend of February 26–28, 2010. The colony members were members of Alpha Gamma a local sorority, founded on April 19, 2000, “by seven women who wanted to have more in common than just another set of letters,� said Jennifer Gover, founding sister of Theta Lambda Chapter. In December 2008, a decision was made by Frostburg State University that changed the path of Alpha Gamma forever. Alpha Gamma had been granted the approval to start the extension process of joining a National Panhellenic Conference sorority. With ghastly weather and the campus closed, Friday evening still continued with a reception for the brave parents of Theta Lambda Chapter members and the collegiate sponsors who faced the blizzard to support the women in their final step of their long journey. The Sanctuary Degree Service and installation service were held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. Following the ceremonies, a white luncheon was held where Nikki Kawalec, , colony development coordinator, served as the toast mistress. That evening, a formal banquet was held for family, friends, campus administrators and the campus Greek community.
Leadership Consultant, Lisa Stephenson, , served as the toast mistress and Jamie Winters, fraternity/sorority advisor, was the guest speaker. Toasts were given by ET president Shannon Murray, Colony Development Coordinator Sherri Rae, , and Membership Growth Coordinator Amber Shaverdi Huston, . Ashley Torbert, vice president of programming and ritual, had this to say about the installation weekend, “When our installation weekend finally arrived, I was overwhelmed with support and congratulations from our friends, families, the Frostburg community, our new sisters from neighboring chapters, alumnae, and most of all, our colony support team. We dressed in our finest dresses, ate delicious food, reminisced about the past and look forward to our new beginning as Alpha Sigma Alphas!� The installation team consisted of Vice President of Communications Christine Strapac Thomas, , Membership Growth Coordinator Amber Shaverdi Huston, , Colony Development Coordinators Nikki Kawalec, , and Sherri Rae, , and Leadership Consultant Lisa Stephenson, . The women of Theta Lambda Chapter were also joined in their celebration by members of other Alpha Sigma Alpha chapters. Members from the Delta Iota Chapter at the University of Delaware and the Epsilon Tau Chapter at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County were able to plow through the snow to attend the festivities. SUMMER 2010
Theta Mu Chapter installed April 10, 2010 B Y K A T I E W E I T K U N A T , Leadership Consultant On a sunny Saturday morning in Valdosta, GA, members of the colony were buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Installation had finally arrived for the women after an intense semester of setting up a foundation for Alpha Sigma Alpha on the Valdosta State University campus. The semester was filled with recruitment, education and, most importantly, developing a sisterhood strong enough to last a lifetime. April 10, 2010, marked a day in history for Alpha Sigma Alpha when the newest chapter of Theta Mu was officially installed. “The installation of the chapter has meant everything to me. I am so excited that my fellow sisters and I accomplished something so great in such a short amount of time. We could not have done it without our amazing support system, and I am so excited to have 70,000 new sisters,” said one of the founding members, Hannah Leicher, following the weekend’s festivities. In attendance for the weekend’s activities were National President Cindy Kelley, , National Vice President of Membership Julie Wiley Levine, , Colony Development Coordinator Amy Swift, , Membership Growth Coordinator Amber Shaverdi Huston, , and Leadership Consultant Katie Weikunat, .
On Friday the women were able to celebrate on Valdosta State University’s campus with their family and friends, campus administration and the Greek community. With photo boards on display and scrapbooks present, guests were able to catch a glimpse of what the previous few months had been like for the colony. Samantha Dills, a founding member who helped create the boards said, “We will always remember these times spent together. Personally, it has changed my outlook on the rest of my collegiate career as well as my life and I am so proud to be able to show others our hard work.” Saturday encompassed the ritual services in the morning and the installation banquet at night for which Katie Weitkunat served as the toast mistress. Theta Mu Chapter members celebrated with their family and close friends at the banquet. Gifts were presented to the chapter on behalf of the national council and the traditional aspire, seek, attain toasts were given by Sienna Curry, , Amy Swift, , and the ritual advisor of the chapter Teddi Cunningham, . National vice president of membership Julie Levine served as the keynote speaker for the banquet. Dr. Seuss’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go” was quoted by Julie, and she expressed to the chapter her congratulations as well as motivation to continue striving to be the best that they can be.
New initiates of Theta Mu Chapter: Farrah Ameri Krista Bostick Helen Burkett Cassie Cantrell Brittany Catanzaro Chappell Coleman Hannah Crosby Sienna Curry Samantha Dills Sarah English Keisha Flucas Kelsey Hoydar Emily Heenan Sami Jo Henry Sierra Kalain Hannah Leicher Chanel Lindstrom Brittany Madero Mallory Maslak Corey Maxon Shanay Miller Laura Monsalvatge Danielle Neises Jacoia Phillips Lindy Pope Morgan Roberts Chelsea Rogers Sasha Sanders Lindsey Schardt Arianna Scott Kat Shaurette Caitlyn Slack Jenny St. Aubin Stephanie Stansbury Monica Tam Petty Tam Lacey Taylor Krystal Wales Ariel Walters Courtney White Megan White Shamoria Williams
New members of Theta Mu Chapter: TaylorMarie Berry Lauren Billings Brittany Brown Brittany Clark Jasmine Partlow
Alumnae initiates of Theta Mu Chapter: Janice Lowe Kristi Williams
Gifts were received from: Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter Julie Wiley Levine,
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Membership for all ages: What does your membership look like? B Y C H R I S T Y A D A M S , Membership Development Coordinator
While members often say that membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha is a lifetime commitment, not many actually define what that commitment is. There is one simple answer to that problem—each Alpha Sigma Alpha’s membership looks different and often changes as we age. So, what could your membership look like as you grow older? We asked members to tell us more about their membership to give you an idea of what membership means for all ages. This article is part one of a two part series about membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha. Part two will be printed in the fall issue of the Phoenix.
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Terrific 20s Terrific 20s
Involvement with collegians As Jaimi Stroot, a 20-something alumna from Zeta Phi Chapter, put it, “Since graduation, I have been so focused on getting settled into my apartment, my new job and everything else that happens when a person goes out into the real world that my collegiate chapter has fallen by the wayside as far as priorities go.� But, single-day events can be fit into a busy 20-something’s schedule. Much of their involvement with collegians focuses around returning to campus for important events like recruitment or Founders’ Day. One alumna mentions that she makes an effort to return to campus each semester to attend the Sanctuary Degree Service. She enjoys making initiation memorable for new initiates. Yet, some of our 20-somethings find more time to be involved with collegians on a more routine schedule. As of February 2010, 31 percent of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s volunteers and advisors are in their 20s. These volunteers serve in a wide variety of areas from advisors and housing corporation members to national and district team members. Getting together Our 20-something alumnae make every effort to see their sisters regularly for casual gatherings. Stefanie Spatola, , mentions, “I see my sisters almost every day! My big sister Natalie actually lives in my apartment complex; she and I are always spending time together, whether it is at happy hour, girls night out or Thursday night TV.� While our 20-something alumnae get together often, they are participating in alumnae chapters on a less-frequent basis because of their busy schedules. Jaimi Stroot says, “I haven’t yet joined one; I just now feel like I am really settled into my new way of life.� Service and giving Each of the 20-something alumnae consulted on this article mentioned that the majority of their service and giving revolves around their employment. Carolyn Visalli, , tells that her professional association provides facility inspections for the Boys and Girls Club, helps with Girl Scout cookie distribution and collects school supplies for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Our alumnae are participating in blood drives, charity runs and environmental clean-ups. They are making a difference in everyday activities. Organizational pride Our alumnae in their 20s love to show their organizational pride with sorority letters, framed photos on their desks and even ladybug mugs in the office break room. Chrissy Cunningham, , mentions, “I always make sure to wear my Alpha Chapter sweatshirt in public to show my never ending pride!�
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Thriving 30s Involvement with collegians As our alumnae settle into their career and personal lives, they find more time to be involved with collegians through advising. As of February 2010, 22 percent of our Alpha Sigma Alpha advisors are women in their 30s. Each of the women who were asked about their involvement with collegians mentioned that the opportunity to watch younger members take responsibility for the livelihood of their chapters is the reward that keeps them motivated to give back. Getting together Alumnae in their 30s are at a prime age to begin enjoying chapter reunions. Nikki Kawalec, , says, “It gave us a chance to come together after so much time has gone by and, needless to say, some things never change when you get the ladies of Zeta Upsilon together!� As well, Sherri Rae, , is already planning for a second reunion for the Gamma Xi alumnae, as she says, “so that we can revisit our alma mater and see all of the changes over the years.� However, alumnae in their 30s are also becoming more financially capable of attending national events like the national convention and leadership conference or District Day. Sherrie Smith, , tells us, “Some of the best times I have had were traveling to District Day and national convention. What a great way to catch up with those women you don’t get to see as often as you would like and to meet women you’ve heard so many wonderful things about.� Service and giving Our 30-somethings are starting to branch out into the community for their service. They are participating in organizations that focus on their interests like the Young Professionals of the Alleghenies, Community Outreach committee and the Junior League. Yet, they are also keenly aware that giving to Alpha Sigma Alpha is also an important part of their service. Nikki Kawalec states, “People ask why I chose to volunteer for Alpha Sigma Alpha and it is simply to give back to something that helped develop me as the person I am today.� Organizational pride Our women in their 30s are still “sporting their letters� as Sherrie Smith tells us. These symbols of our membership are powerful. Nikki Kawalec says, “Wearing my letters gives me a sense of pride that I joined an organization that has similar beliefs and aspirations that still resonate with me.� But, Alpha Sigma Alpha’s role in the bigger picture of the National Panhellenic Conference is also important to women in their 30s. Sherri Rae mentions that she makes a point to encourage the students that she works with to continue to be involved as alumnae. She says, “While I work hard to support all four of the campus sororities, I do not hide my affiliation—showing that true Panhellenic sisterhood as often as I can.�
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Fabulous 40s Fabulous 40s Involvement with collegians Once women reach their 40s, the ways in which they participate with collegians becomes more diverse. Each of the members participating in this article shared a unique approach to their collegiate relationships. While Maria Malayter, , makes a point to attend district and national events to interact with collegians, Joanne Weber Catron, , and Angel Waalkes, , participate as advisors. Stacey Coscino Bogumil, , interacts with collegians in her role as the national bylaws chairman, but also points out that her alumnae chapter regularly hosts combined events with collegiate chapters. Unfortunately, Tanya Trumbla Brewer, , does not have a collegiate chapter close to her, so she chooses to support the collegiate chapters by donating to the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. Getting together The types of get-togethers for women in their 40s have also diversified. Now that they have been to a number of district or national events, their relationships have expanded to include women across the country, from different chapters and in a variety of age groups. Stacey Coscino Bogumil tells of her various Alpha Sigma Alpha relationships and likens it to different groups. While she maintains a relationship with her alumnae chapter sisters, she also maintains friendships with a group of fellow fraternity sweethearts, her collegiate executive board and special Alpha Sigma Alphas with whom she has developed relationships at national convention. She says, “When we see each other every two years, it is like we haven’t missed a beat!� Tanya Trumbla Brewer has also created two special but different relationships. Her best friend, Kelly Augustyniak Crutsinger, , joined Alpha Sigma Alpha at the same time that Tanya did and they have been friends now for more than 23 years. Tanya also met Janet Crook Conroy, , years ago while they both served as province directors and have been roommates at every convention since. Yet, alumnae in their 40s are increasingly using technology to expand their relationships. Joanne Weber Catron mentions that she has reconnected with a group of sisters through Facebook with whom she would only correspond annually. According to Joanne, “Since Facebook is so easy to use, I am able to reach many more sisters and share more than just what can fit into a Christmas card!� Service and giving As our members reach their 40s, their participation in service is honed to fit their lifestyle. Our alumnae in their 40s are serving as board members for parents’ clubs, as parent representatives for interagency service organizations, as Special Olympics coaches and as members of church organizations. Additionally, many of our alumnae in their 40s are serving on important community boards like the American Cancer Society, Illinois Task Force on Women’s Issues as they Age and the American Heart Association. They are making a difference in a variety of ways. Organizational pride While each of our alumnae in their 40s, mentioned that they like to wear their Alpha Sigma Alpha gear, they overwhelmingly noted that the best part about wearing their letters or jewelry is that others ask about its meaning. Adds Stacey Coscino Bogumil, “I have symbols of membership at home and in my office at work and when people ask me what it is, or say ‘I was in a sorority in college, too’, I use that as an opportunity to educate them about the value I have found in lifetime membership.� What does membership look like in your 50s and beyond? Look for part two of this article in the fall issue of the Phoenix. SUMMER 2010
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CHAPTER TRADITIONS
BY BARB J. WILLIAMSON, EE Historian For the fans of the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” the word tradition brings to mind images of Tevye stomping, clapping and dancing around his home and village while he sings about traditions. In Alpha Sigma Alpha, traditions are just as important. From mom to daughter or big sister to little sister, traditions in Alpha Sigma Alpha are handed down through families within chapters. Some chapter traditions are centered around a specific event like homecoming, while others have their roots in ceremony or song. Within the various chapters around the country, one can find similar fund-raising events and social functions, but some traditions are unique to specific chapters. At Longwood University, home of our Alpha Chapter, all sorority chapter members wear jumpers. Julie Wiley Levine, vice president of membership and an Alpha Chapter alumna, explains the jumpers, “Alpha Sigma Alpha is red, Kappa Delta’s are green and Sigma Sigma Sigma’s are purple. We would wear them the first Monday of every month and then, of course, on Panhellenic jumper day. We wore them during rush, for
ceremonies, bid day, we would have red dress meetings too. If you can’t tell, we wore them a lot! We also had different dress codes that went along with the jumpers. Formal jumpers meant a white blouse, white hose and black shoes, for casual jumpers we would usually wear flannel shirts or turtle necks, crazy jumpers were usually for walk day (bid day) and that meant you went wild with stuff and red, like hats and buttons.” When Johanna Haag Gardner, Foundation vice chairman, attended the University of Central Missouri, one of her favorite Zeta Zeta Chapter traditions was girl ime at the tracks. “Every Friday (weather permitting) we would gather outside of Warrensburg on this small plot of land by the railroad tracks. We would spread out blankets and consume our favorite beverage and just talk and sing. If it was tanning time, you would see us in our suits!” While Johanna was a collegian, the Zeta Zeta Chapter women also had a curfew while living in the chapter house. She has memories of spending nights in the chapter room after everyone had made the curfew to gossip about what happened that particular evening. And although the Zeta Zeta Chapter has abandoned the girl time at the tracks tradition, they still spend many evenings
Some of the members of the Zeta Zeta Chapter at the University of Central Missouri relax by the tracks, a chapter tradition in the 1970s.
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and early mornings in the chapter room catching up on gossip together. Homecoming at Pittsburg State University in Kansas means selling alpha mums for a fund raiser. Past National President Diane Yencic James, , recalls this tradition has been ongoing for more than 50 years. “At Pittsburg State homecoming the Alpha Sigma Alphas sold big mums for corsages. They were known as the ‘alpha mums.’ Each member was responsible for selling a certain number and we sold hundreds of them. I don’t know how many years this tradition held, but I do know my mother told me that my dad would buy me one when I was just a little girl at the parade (that would have been in the 1950s) and I know that the chapter was still selling them last year.” Christine Strapac Thomas, national vice president of communications, recalls her homecoming parades as a member of the Alpha Gamma Chapter at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “Since Indiana was a farming community, it wasn’t too hard to find a flat bed and facility to store and create a homecoming float from chicken wire and crepe paper for the year’s theme. Each sister had to log in 15 hours of SUMMER 2010
work on the project. It was a labor of love to fashion the design from chicken wire. The crepe paper had to be cut into squares and each square stretched before it was stuffed into the chicken wire holes according to the color coded drawing. We were all together for many devoted hours on the job. “On the morning of the parade, the sorority suites were open to friends and family before the parade. On the day of the parade, we left the suite as a group, proudly wearing our red-crested blazers with huge yellow mums with red and white ribbons, riding in or on 1960s convertible cars behind our master piece of a float. “I specifically remember riding on the front fender one year. With those short skirts and hot engines, I about fried my leg off! At any rate, I remember this being a time of great pride when we all worked together on this project for the Alpha Gamma Chapter. Whether we won a prize or not, it was our artisticallyengineered creation! I still have the photos to prove it!” These traditions are only a few of the many Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter traditions from across the country. In SUMMER 2010
Above: The Alpha Chapter at Longwood University displaying the red jumper style of the 1990s. Left: Alpha Chapter sisters pose before walking to Longwood’s Student Union to hand out bids.
future issues of the Phoenix we would like to highlight more traditions. If you would like to share one of your chapter traditions, please e-mail Erika Butts, Phoenix editor, at ebutts@alphasigmaalpha.org. Right: The Alpha Gamma Chapter at Indiana University of Pennsylvania during the homecoming parade in 1967.
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ALUMNAE PANHELLENICS
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ALLING ALL ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA ALUMNAE! B Y A L Y C A M P B E L L , Colony Development Coordinator
At this time, there are more than 200 alumnae Panhellenic associations in the United States. Alpha
Sigma Alpha currently has wonderful and dedicated representatives serving as delegates in 62 of those chapters. However, this leaves a plethora of opportunities for Alpha Sigma Alpha women around the country to have an even greater voice by getting involved in the 138 chapters where is not represented. An alumnae Panhellenic association (APH) is a community based organization, affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference, whose membership is composed of representative alumnae from any of the 26 NPC member group fraternities. They exist to further leadership and social
NPC DELEGATION Lynne Rachal Chambers, NPC Delegate debmom7@gmail.com Sue Zorichak, NPC First Alternate Delegate suezorichak@hotmail.com Ellen Funk Morris, NPC Second Alternate Delegate ellenmorris@msn.com Eleanor Borbas Williams, NPC Third Alternate Delegate ebwilliams@earthlink.net Cindy Kelley, National President, ex-officio ckelleyexgs@yahoo.com
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opportunities, beyond the college years and Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae opportunities. In addition, they provide enhancements to the fraternal system through scholarship awards, annual educational informational functions for prospective college freshman, philanthropic projects, community participation and civic leadership. Last year, more than $435,000 was raised and granted in scholarships by APHs to more than 580 women. If located in a college community, an APH can give valuable support to a college Panhellenic. (Information gathered from www.npcwomen.org.) Your membership in an APH is a vital force in representing not only Alpha Sigma Alpha, but also our fellow NPC sisters by promoting and dignifying the sorority experience. Joining an APH is a way to meet new women and help young women reach their potential. It is not necessary to belong to an Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae chapter to join an alumnae Panhellenic association. If you would like to learn more information, get in contact with an alumnae Panhellenic association in your area, or learn how to form an APH in your area, please contact one of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s NPC delegates.
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JOIN AN APH! The following major cities currently need Alpha Sigma Alpha representation in their Alumnae Panhellenic Associations. California Los Angeles Florida Jacksonville Pensacola Sarasota
Kansas Lawrence Topeka Wichita Kentucky Louisville
Nebraska Omaha
Oregon Portland
New Mexico Albuquerque
Texas Austin Dallas Houston
North Carolina Charlotte
Georgia Atlanta
Louisiana Greater New Orleans
Illinois Naperville
Michigan Detroit
Ohio Cincinnati Columbus Toledo
Missouri St. Louis
Oklahoma Oklahoma City
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Washington Seattle Spokane Wisconsin Madison
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Members of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and members of the Nu Nu Chapter, Drexel University, PA, assist the S. June Smith Center with one of their fundraising events, battle of the banks. Right: An excerpt from the 1990 fall issue of the Phoenix magazine announces the philanthropic partnership between Alpha Sigma Alpha and the S. June Smith Center.
S. June Smith Center News BY ELYSE KAUFFMAN S. June Smith Center Director of Development
S. June Smith Center 600 Eden Rd. Building I Lancaster, PA 17601 Phone: (717) 299-4829 www.sjunesmith.org
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We are celebrating two anniversaries at the S. June Smith Center this year. The first is our 45th anniversary celebration. We started providing services to children with disabilities and their families in 1965. It was a very different world back then. Children with disabilities often were not allowed to attend school and children with profound disabilities were often institutionalized at an early age. Dr. S. June Smith, an Alpha Sigma Alpha sister and community leader in the field of education, saw the need for services. She was instrumental in getting us started and we are proud that our organization bears her name. We are celebrating another anniversary in 2010. Dr. S. June Smith, , Temple University, PA. This is the 20-year anniversary of the S. June Smith Center as an official philanthropic partner of Alpha Sigma Alpha. For the S. June Smith Center, this anniversary is just as exciting as our 45th anniversary. Your support has been important to us in too many ways to list. It goes beyond financial and in-kind contributions, as our staff, board of directors and the families we serve are continually energized by your excitement and support for our mission. There are two simple ways that you can help us celebration our 45th anniversary and both of them are related to Facebook. Our goal is to have 1,965 fans of the S. June Smith Center Facebook Page and 1,965 members of our Facebook Cause by Dec. 31, 2010. 1,965 is a reminder of when we started providing our services in the year 1965. Please consider becoming an S. June Smith Center fan and inviting your sisters, friends and family to join us on Facebook.
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What’s your why? Collegiate and alumnae members share why they joined Alpha Sigma Alpha. “I joined for a variety of reasons, all small, none of which had to do with leadership or responsibility. I was always actively involved in several other organizations that were challenging me as a young woman. I joined because I needed a change in my life; I wanted new experiences, a new outlook on college. Simply, I wanted to be a part of something greater than a club or student organization. While in college the sorority brought happiness, excitement, laughter, sadness and challenge, but more importantly it provided me with an amazing sense of self. I work for the sorority, so that I can ensure a successful future for and great experiences for my future sisters.� Amber Shaverdi Huston , Pittsburg State University, KS Initiation year: 2002 Indianapolis Alumnae Chapter Membership Growth Coordinator “I joined Alpha Sigma Alpha to have something bigger than friendship. I have something that won’t end. To have something that I can look back on and never regret or forget. Something to not only have in the past but in the future and for life. This something is sisterhood.� Rebecca McElwee , Bloomsburg University, PA Initiation year: 2008
“I joined Alpha Sigma Alpha to be a vital part of a group that demonstrated friendship, service and enthusiasm. I found all that and more . . . I found a lifetime of sisters who change the world!� Christine Churgai Bry , Millersville University, PA Initiation year: 1987 Greater Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter District 2 alumnae liaison
“I joined to fulfill my college experience and find friendships unlike any other. particularly drew me in because of the diversity. It defies the stereotype of sorority and allows me to be me.� Elisabetta O'Connor , Stony Brook University, NY Initiation year: 2008
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“Whenever people ask me this question, I always feel like I don’t have a satisfactory answer. I joined because I love it. I love the girls, I love the philanthropy and I love the college life it has given me. Without I would have never realized who I am. is full of love, enjoyment and the amazing experiences that I will never have anywhere else. So when people ask me why I joined , I can only tell them that I joined because I love it.� Amy Soderstrum , Christopher Newport University, VA Initiation year: 2006 NOVA Alumnae Chapter
“To enjoy the lifelong friendships and be committed to a Greek group as my parents experienced at Penn State and always talked about as I was growing up. I found lifelong friends and so much more. � Cindy Rhoades Ryan , University of Delaware Initiation year: 1974 NOVA Alumnae Chapter Government relations committee chairman
What’s your why? We want to hear from you. E-mail your “Why� to asa@
alphasigmaalpha.org. Please title the subject line “What’s your why submission,� and include your name, collegiate chapter and alumnae chapter (if applicable), initiation year and volunteer position (if applicable).
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F oundation news
The Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation experienced multiple changes over the past year. The year began with a structural reorganization in 2009 and culminated with a revised mission statement, a newly created vision statement and values that were all unveiled during the 2010 Alpha Sigma Alpha National Convention and Leadership
B Y N A Y D I A S P E A R S , Foundation Development Coordinator Revised mission statement The Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation exists to support the educational, leadership and philanthropic purposes of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority through charitable giving. Vision To cultivate an environment that inspires all Alpha Sigma Alpha members to engage in lifelong giving and service. Values Love Loyalty Lifelong giving
Conference “Red Tie Dinner.� “We hope these changes and updates will serve as a reflection of the Foundation’s continued commitment to enhance the lives of Alpha Sigma Alpha members.� — Jessica Bridwell McKenna, Foundation Chairman
The Foundation is excited and encouraged to move forward in our fundraising efforts. Thanks to all of our loyal donors who continue to make giving to the Foundation a part of their annual giving. Where do your dollars go? During the past few years, your gifts have helped make the following possible: â– Professional programming by The Leadership Institute at District Day â– Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute (LDI), updated audio visual materials, redesigned workbook and resources â– Alpha Sigma Alpha I am a leader, an online-based officer transition program now available on the Alpha Sigma Alpha Officer Portal â– 2010 national convention and leadership conference, volunteer pre-conference, key note speaker and leadership conference workshops â– Grants for District Day, LDI and the national convention and leadership conference continue to offset the cost of collegiate and alumnae attendee registration fees What could be done with additional dollars? Increased number of traveling leadership consultants who could focus on academics, risk management and education â– Advantage new member workbooks and lifetime educational resources â– Decreased cost of registration fees for District Day, LDI and the national convention and leadership conference â– Alumnae track for LDI â– Lifetime educational opportunities for alumnae â–
Making things happen‌ For more information about becoming a donor to the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation, please visit www.alphasigmaalpha.org/foundation or e-mail Naydia Spears, development coordinator at nspears@alphasigmaalpha.org. 26
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Friendships 1. Epsilon Gamma Chapter members, Virginia Commonwealth University, taking a break from activities during their outdoor fall retreat. From left: Emily Johnson, Sarah Fulks, Lily Martins, Kelly Meissgeier, Meredith Brooks, Lauren Hood, Jessie Acey, Jenny Wolf, Cate Carlsen and Peggy Davidson. 2. Theta Mu Chapter sisters, Valdosta State University, GA, support their basketball team. From left: Krystal Wales, Krista Bostick, Sierra Kalain, Hughia Farmer, BLAZE (the Valdosta State mascot), Chappell Coleman, Ariel Walters and Joni Cox. 3. Shannon Murray, left, and Paula Strassle of the Epsilon Tau Chapter, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, run out of the water after the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge in the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, MD. The chapter raised $1,100 during the event.
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1. The Central Ohio Alumnae Chapter held a holiday brunch at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus, OH. They enjoyed a terrific brunch, conducted a short meeting and put together a gift box for the S. June Smith Center. Front row from left: Julie Buttolph White, , Heather Kubli Southerington, , Bridget Goggin, , and Melissa Hoffer Covey, . Back row from left: Kate Ponton Taylor, , Angela White, , Mandi Graham Payton, , Marty Mclain, , and Denise Gabor Wiley, . 2. Austin, TX, alumnae from left: Danya Sanchez Broussard, , Michelle E. Carbajal, , and Whitney Fields, , ran the ASH Dash 5K Bunny Run during Easter weekend to support the Austin State Hospital.
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3. Rachelle Robinson, , University of Northern Colorado, hands out awards at Special Olympics basketball. 4. Alana Rae Bergstrom, Samantha Fictum and Anna Jones of the Zeta Beta Chapter, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, supporting sisters at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, MN. 5. The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) celebrated its 100th birthday by building a clock tower. The campus had a ceremony to admire the tower while remembering how UAM got to where it is today. Gamma Zetas that attended the ceremony were bottom row from left: Sydney Selman, Paisley Palsa, Alexandria White, Brittany Bruyette and Brittney McClain. Top row from left: Britta Halliday, Sydney Miles, Megan Tabor, Leanne Brown, Ashley Young and Sarah Kilcrease. 6. Gamma Iota Chapter sisters from the Rochester Institute of Technology, NY, participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure of South Florida. The team was organized by Cristal Hydo, who after learning she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, decided to turn her diagnosis into something positive and organized the race team. Front row from left: Kim Blessinger, Cristal Hydo, Emma Rost and her baby girl Ionna. Back row from left: Danielle Martin-Kepler, Michelle Avolio, Julie Williams, Candida Allen, Lindsey Herberger Markel and Erin Zwiebel Robertson. 7. Theta Epsilon Chapter members, Schreiner University, TX, gather for a group photo after the Sanctuary Degree Service. 8. Two Beta Beta Chapter members, University of Northern Colorado, left Ann Cliff Barkdoll and Nancy Lucas McFaddin, celebrate 50 years of membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha with their 50-year member shirts. SUMMER 2010
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N ews & events
Extension and colony update Alpha Sigma Alpha continues to grow and expand in the Midwest. The Theta Nu Chapter at Knox College was installed on May 22, 2010. Theta Nu joins a very historical college and Greek community. They join the Panhellenic community of Pi Beta Phi, Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Kappa Gamma. Alpha Sigma Alpha is also expanding to the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) and the Utah Valley University campus in the fall of 2010. Alumnae and collegiate members will be needed to assist with recruitment, ritual and membership retreats. Please contact Amber Shaverdi Huston if you are interested in assisting with our newest colony. You can reach Amber via e-mail at ahuston@alphasigmaalpha.org We are also submitting proposals to universities throughout the country as many schools have opened for expansion. Please keep your eyes open for any e-mails you may receive from Amber asking for assistance to attend extension visits. Alumnae and collegiate support is a critical factor in extension success.
New leadership development & event coordinator hired Hilary Moe, , joined the Alpha Sigma Alpha national headquarters staff on May 20, 2010. Hilary earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in communications from Emporia State University in Kansas. She served her chapter as vice president of public relations and recruitment and Panhellenic recruitment counselor. On campus, Hilary served as the president of the Emporia State University Ambassadors, vice chairman of publications for the Union Activities Council and the public relations chairman for St. Jude’s “Up ’til Dawn Program.”
Alumna receives broadcast media award Jennifer Wheeler, an Epsilon Kappa alumna from Millersville University, PA, and manager of WHYY-TV educational programs and services in Philadelphia, was named a winner of the International Reading Association’s 2010 Broadcast Media Award for Television in the children’s programming category. Wheeler received the award for her work on “WHYY I Like This Book,” a reading initiative for students in the Delaware Valley. “WHYY I Like This Book” program promotes a lifelong love of reading for students in the Delaware Valley. “WHYY I Like This Book” inspires young readers to share opinions about their favorite books.
NPC bylaws amendments and resolutions from the 2009 annual meeting NPC bylaw amendments 1. The following standing committees were removed: archives, housing, minutes review, NPC liaison, publications, public relations and recruitment. For specific projects, these committees will be appointed as needed. 2. The executive committee structure was changed as follows: The executive committee will now include the chairman, vice chairman, budget and finance committee chairman, alumnae Panhellenics committee chairman and college Panhellenics committee chairman. Only the chairman and vice chairman will be in rotation, thereby each organization will be committed to a four-year rotation instead of a six-year rotation. The other chairman will be appointed. With this new structure, Alpha Sigma Alpha will begin the executive committee rotation in 2033 and serve as the NPC chairman in 2035. NPC resolutions The following is a list of resolutions voted upon at the NPC meeting in October 2009. For more information and complete wording visit www.npcwomen.org and look under annual meeting reports. ■ Dues increase for NPC member groups ■ Change in the procedure in determining Total ■ Risk management resolutions for college Panhellenics ■ Risk management resolutions reaffirming position addressing alcohol culture ■ Reaffirmation on letters of recommendation Correction The NPC annual meeting wrap-up in the spring Phoenix was incorrectly attributed to Sue Zorichak. The article was compiled by the NPC staff.
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PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA
SUMMER 2010
READER’S GUIDE The Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha, the official quarterly publication of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, has been published continuously since 1914. Its mission is to reflect the character of the organization and its members and to communicate the goals and direction of the sorority and Foundation.
From the Archives
Contact us Post us: The Phoenix, Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268 E-mail us: ebutts@alphasigmaalpha.org Call us: (317) 871-2920; for magazine questions, select ext. 20 Fax us: (317) 871-2924 Visit us: www.alphasigmaalpha.org
How to receive the Phoenix All collegiate members and alumnae members receive the Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Individual copies are mailed to each member’s permanent address and a few are sent to the chapter editor or the chapter house.
Parents and guardians Your daughter’s magazine is being sent to your address while she is in college. We hope you enjoy reading it too. If she is not in college, or is no longer living at home, please send us her new permanent address (see below).
How to change an address You can send address changes to the mailing address listed above or e-mail your old and new addresses to asa@alphasigmaalpha.org. You may also call us at (317) 871-2920, ext. 110.
How to get published Collegiate chapters and alumnae chapters: Each editor is a correspondent for the Phoenix magazine. View deadlines and photo requirements listed below. Chapter updates and photos must be submitted via e-mail to ebutts@alphasigmaalpha.org. If you have news about an individual alumna, please send information to ebutts@alphasigmaalpha.org or send information to the address above.
Photo requirements Please e-mail only high resolution photos at least 500kb in size. Only pictures that are of good quality can be used. Pictures that are blurry or have been scanned do not produce well and therefore cannot be used. Pictures should tell a story of what is happening.
How to send a letter to the editor We always welcome your comments— both criticism and praise—about this publication. E-mail ebutts@ alphasigmaalpha.org or send mail to Editor, Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268.
General deadlines for submissions Spring issue: Dec. 10 Summer issue: March 10 Fall issue: June 10 Winter issue: Sept. 10
SUMMER 2010
1914
Fourteen undergraduate members of Alpha Chapter at the State Female Normal School in Virginia remained as a force in keeping Alpha Sigma Alpha alive during an important time of transition for the sorority. Their commitment to the sorority led to its reorganization during Thanksgiving 1914 at Miami University, Oxford, OH. PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMa ALPHA
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As an alumna of Alpha Sigma Alpha, I am honored to be a member of the Arista Alumnae Association. I am proud to know that I am part of a strong sisterhood that not only develops women of poise and purpose, but inspires women, like myself, to lead, serve and make a difference in our sorority, our careers and our communities. Katherine Newquist, District 7 Recruitment Team Member
To learn more about the Arista Alumnae Association or to register for membership, visit www.alphasigmaalpha.org or call (317) 871-2920.