FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY KELLY MCGINNIS BECK, EK, NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Four years ago, I had no idea the ride I was in for. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to serve as your national president. The trust and faith placed in me has been humbling. This has been a life-changing experience. I have grown in my confidence, sharpened my strategic thinking skills, further developed my leadership skills and most certainly exercised my crisis management skills.

Never in a million years did I imagine the change our sorority would go through in an incredibly short period of time.

• Masks, social distancing, stay-at-home orders, online learning, virtual experiences – a virtual convention even!

• A call to action, to condemn and speak out against the systemic racism that continues in our country and threatens the health and wellbeing of our black and brown sisters and their communities.

• A sense of urgency to advance our diversity, equity and inclusion work more quickly.

• A revision to The Ritual of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

• A decline in high school graduation rates, which leads to a decline in college enrollments, which impacts our collegiate membership numbers and in turn, the sorority’s financial operations.

• The need for increased mental health resources and bystander intervention training.

• A podcast, sisterhood meet-ups on Zoom and so much more!

These past four years have been a whirlwind, full of historical firsts and a test of our strength and resolve as members of Alpha Sigma Alpha. This quote from the Service for the Installation of a New Chapter continues to resonate across generations:

“The unseen but close bonds of our sisterhood can be found in groups of women from state to state merged into one composite family….You affiliate with an organization that, since 1901, has been developed through the toil and sacrifice of devoted members. We have been inspired by lofty ideals and noble principles.” Together, we have faced challenges that we never could have imagined and have stretched how we define the sorority experience. What we have learned through all of this is that the sorority experience is more important now than it has ever been. Today’s students are looking for a sense of belonging and a connection to others. They are looking to build their leadership skills, gain more confidence and serve their communities. They are student activists, standing up for what they believe in, and social justice warriors, looking to build a more inclusive and accepting world.

Alpha Sigma Alpha provides that safe space for women to learn and grow and navigate how they want to show up in this life. We provide connections with other women, gather strength from shared experiences, learn from other’s challenges and amplify each other’s successes. I have found this and so much more through my membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha. To quote Melinda Gates in her book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World:

“I believe women’s groups are essential for each of us individually but also for society generally – because progress depends on inclusion, and inclusion begins with women.”

There’s no possible way I could thank everyone that has made an impact on the person and leader I am today so I will say to all of you, thank you. It has been my greatest honor to serve as your national president. My favorite part has been getting to know so many of you and celebrating our amazing sisterhood. Each interaction has overflowed my bucket, filled with warmth and caring and compassion. I couldn’t be prouder to be an Alpha Sigma Alpha. Joining AΣA was quite simply the best decision I have ever made!

In Alpha Sigma Alpha,

KELLY MCGINNIS BECK, EK NATIONAL PRESIDENT @ASAKELLYM

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in every issue

03 FROM THE PRESIDENT 05 FROM THE EDITOR 06 NEWS & UPDATES 07 FROM THE ARCHIVES 12 ELEVATE & INFLUENCE 16 CHAPTER NEWS 22 FROM THE FOUNDATION

08 NATIONAL PANHELLENIC

CONFERENCE UPDATE 10 IN MEMORIAM

just this issue 7 8