SORORITY NEWS

MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES

Congratulations to our Sisters and chapters who celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2023! 2023 Membership Milestones

Initiates of 1948 celebrating 75 years Initiates of 1973 celebrating 50 years Initiates of 1998 celebrating 25 years Initiates of 2013 celebrating 10 years

2023 Chapter Milestones

25 Years:

Delta Mu/Cumberland (November 21,1998)

10 Years:

Epsilon Omicron/Southern Indiana (January 13, 2013) Epsilon Pi/RIC (April 20, 2013) Epsilon Rho/SUNY Geneseo (April 27, 2013)

NAMES TO KNOW:

Four past and present AΣΤ campuses announce name changes.

Earlier this summer, several campuses with Alpha Sigma Tau chapters merged and changed names. Clarion, Cal U, and Edinboro Universities have merged to become Pennsylvania Western University—one university with three campuses. All three institutions play a big role in Alpha Sigma Tau’s history, as AΣT has had a chapter on each of these campuses for a combined total of 141 years. Additionally, the University of the Sciences, where we have had a chapter for 22 years, has merged into Saint Joseph’s University. While the alumnae and collegiate members of the campuses have already been given this information, keep an eye out for these changes in Alpha Sigma Tau materials moving forward!

• Alpha Omicron/Clarion → Alpha Omicron/PennWest Clarion • Alpha Tau/Edinboro → Alpha Tau/PennWest Edinboro • Beta Phi/Cal U → Beta Phi/PennWest California

• Delta Sigma/USciences → Delta Sigma/Saint Joseph’s

UPSILON CELEBRATES '60s AND '70s ALUMNAE

On April 8, 2022, alumnae from the Upsilon Chapter at the University of Central Arkansas gathered for a reunion, specifically for members who attended the university from 1964-1972. Over 50 women attended – for many, it was their first visit back to campus in over 50 years, and the first time they could see the Upsilon Chapter house. The reunion consisted of a luncheon, a chapter house tour with a display of memorabilia, and a memorial service to honor the thirteen sorority Sisters from these years who have passed away. Debbie Connelly Allison (Upsilon 1968/Central Arkansas), a planning committee member, told the university’s alumni association, “The Sorority has always been a leader at UCA, so the energy and commitment of its members have not changed over time. If any group has dedicated members who will make things happen, it is Alpha Sigma Tau.”

ZETA CELEBRATES 100 CONTINUOUS YEARS AT LOCK HAVEN

On April 1-3, 2022, with nearly 170 Zeta Chapter alumnae, collegians, and guests in attendance, the Zeta Chapter at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania celebrated 100 continuous years. While their Centennial Celebration technically fell in April 2021, the chapter waited to celebrate a year later due to COVID-19. Longtime Zeta Chapter Advisor Amy DuPree Brooks (Alpha Xi 1978/Mansfield) and New Member Education and Ritual Advisor Colleen Reese Stiening (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) worked together to organize the event, a feat which earned them the Order of the Yellow Rose award at the 44th National Convention in June 2022.

“Returning to Lock Haven for Zeta’s Centennial Celebration was an amazing experience. I reconnected with Sisters I hadn’t seen in over forty years. As the saying goes, it was like we never left. I met Sisters who live close to me, and one of the collegians I met lives in my neighborhood. I’m especially proud of our chapter for remaining active for 100 years!” – Sheri Leymeister (Zeta 1975/Lock Haven)

Over the weekend, attendees participated in Zeta’s Initiation for the spring 2022 new member class, visited an alumnae open house that highlighted Zeta memorabilia from throughout the years, learned more about the local philanthropies that Zeta supports, and attended a centennial celebration luncheon with National Council speakers and a Candlelighting Service.

“[The] Centennial was an incredibly fulfilling experience. [I was] initiated by members of the National Council, which is not something many Sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau can say. It made the whole Ritual ten times more special. Later that night, we connected with our chapter's alumnae. Their bonds made me realize how truly special this Sisterhood is and see first-hand how this is for life. Overall, this was a once-in-alifetime experience that made me appreciate and understand the core values of this organization more than I ever have before.” – Reese Zipperlen (Zeta 2022/Lock Haven)

The luncheon program featured six Sisters from a variety of generations who spoke about how meaningful being an Alpha Sigma Tau at Lock Haven was to them. Each speaker recounted memories and times when Sisters showed them support.

“The strong and bright bond between Sisters doesn’t dim as the years pass. When we come together, as we did at the Centennial Celebration, we see love abounding and know that the deep commitment we pledged when we were much younger remains.” – Susan Sullivan Kefover (Zeta 1967/Lock Haven)

The weekend’s celebration attracted alumnae from across the country and involved members of all generations, ranging from newly initiated collegians to 50+ year members. Zeta Chapter members were able to reconnect with each other, reminisce on their chapter, and reinvigorate their love for Alpha Sigma Tau!

If your chapter has an upcoming milestone (see page 4) and you are interested in volunteering for a milestone planning committee, contact headquarters@alphasigmatau.org. Thank you to these Committee Members for organizing Zeta’s Centennial Celebration: Kristina Straley Akeley (Zeta 1987/Lock Haven) Linnette Bidelspach (Zeta 1983/Lock Haven) Amy DuPree Brooks (Alpha Xi 1978/Mansfield) Tracy Bond Ciabattoni (Zeta 1984/Lock Haven) Jessica Dunkleberger Cole (Zeta 2016/Lock Haven) Natalie Confer-Immel (Zeta 2004/Lock Haven) Samantha Curran Croall (Zeta 2012/Lock Haven) Dana Deshler (Zeta 1994/Lock Haven) Lynette Czuday Fink (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) Kaitlynne Jones (Zeta 2018/Lock Haven) Kate Rice Milliken (Zeta 2016/Lock Haven) Andrea Dougherty Mull (Zeta 2000/Lock Haven) Sadie Nahman (Zeta 2021/Lock Haven) Kayla Quinn (Zeta 2011/Lock Haven) Kelly Ray (Zeta 1997/Lock Haven) Brittany Ferrizzi Robertson (Zeta 2013/Lock Haven) Stephanie Litz Rosenblatt (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) Colleen Reese Stiening (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) Jordyn Thompson (Zeta 2016/Lock Haven) Beth Fischer Wolford (Zeta 1991/Lock Haven) Darla Charles Zimmerman (Zeta 1969/Lock Haven)

Thank you to these sponsors for supporting the Zeta Centennial Celebration:

Registration Bag Sponsors: Natalie Confer-Immel (Zeta 2004/Lock Haven) Jennifer Rinehart McCoy (Zeta 2013/Lock Haven) Carolyn Rheiner Schroeder (Zeta 1975/Lock Haven) Colleen Reese Stiening (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) Darla Charles Zimmerman (Zeta 1969/Lock Haven) Registration Sponsors: Linnette Bidelspach (Zeta 1983/Lock Haven) Phileshia Dombroski (Zeta 1994/Lock Haven) Lynette Czuday Fink (Zeta 1990/Lock Haven) Heather Frankhouser Griffin (Zeta 1993/Lock Haven) Ann Marie Heiser (Zeta 1989/Lock Haven) Kim Stoll Jenness (Zeta 1995/Lock Haven) Susan Sullivan Kefover (Zeta 1967/Lock Haven) Joanne Baioni Kucsma (Zeta 1994/Lock Haven) Grace Stasky Lyle (Zeta 2007/Lock Haven) Emalea Mills (Zeta 2018/Lock Haven) Jim Paponetti (Friend of Alpha Sigma Tau) Jacqueline Crowell Sham (Zeta 1971/Lock Haven) Sue Shirey (Zeta 1971/Lock Haven) Jamie Alunni Vinci (Zeta 1989/Lock Haven) Beth Fischer Wolford (Zeta 1991/Lock Haven)

ALPHA CHAPTER RETURNS TO EASTERN MICHIGAN

During the fall semester, the Alpha Chapter was reorganized at Eastern Michigan University. The chapter welcomed wonderful new members to Alpha Sigma Tau throughout the semester, using continuous open bidding (COB) to find collegiate women who honored our core values.

The chapter’s recruitment and Sisterhood-building efforts culminated in November with a National Council visit, where they conducted Initiation for the Alpha Chapter. Our newest members were excited and moved to join the legacy of Sisterhood at Eastern Michigan. After Initiation, the collegiate members, Alpha Chapter alumnae, and other special guests – including Panhellenic and campus

In July 2022, at the 44th National Convention, the Alpha Sigma Tau Convention body voted to make the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee a permanent standing committee of the organization. The DEI committee focuses on high-level tasks in the DEI space, collaborates with the National Council to execute the strategic direction of the organization, and offers expertise in the DEI space to support implementation. In August, applications went out to the general membership, and appointments were made in early September. representatives – celebrated with a luncheon. During the celebration, the seven new Executive Committee officers were installed by National President Jamie Jones Miller (Psi 1995/James Madison). To close the luncheon, newly-elected Chapter President Megan Shackelford (Alpha 2022/Eastern Michigan) spoke to the gathered alumnae and guests, saying, “We all made the decision to join Alpha Sigma Tau for a variety of reasons. Leadership opportunities, community engagement, and being a part of such an amazing organization are only a few to name. We all expressed the desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We now understand what that means and are forever thankful for Alpha Sigma Tau.”

WELCOME TO THE DEI COMMITTEE!

To learn more about the DEI Committee, visit alphasigmatau.org. THANK YOU TO THESE MEMBERS FOR SERVING ON THE DEI COMMITTEE: • Kristina Moron Eaton (Gamma Delta 2000/UMass Dartmouth),

Co-Chair

• Courtney Klein (Alpha Psi 2016/Northern Iowa), Co-Chair • Sofia Almanzan (Beta Theta 2020/St. Mary’s) • Leah Evans (Alpha Psi 2019/Northern Iowa) • Megan Kerns (Psi 2010/James Madison) • Sanzida “Sanzi” Sultana (Epsilon Iota 2020/NYIT) • Kendall Tallmadge Tryhane (Delta Nu 2006/Beloit) • Sarah Harmon Wessel (Epsilon Gamma 2013/Georgia Southern-

Armstrong) • Tsai-Ann Yawching (Gamma Tau 2013/Lebanon Valley), National

Council Vice President