National Newsletter of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority
Perspectives Volume 66 | Issue 2
Spring 2019
Collegiate & Alumni News Prepared to get inspired! Our collegiate and alumni chapters have been busy. Striving to help their campuses and communities by upholding traditions, creating new bonds, and reaching out in creative ways to help all that they can.
National Convention 2019 The biggest Gamma Sigma Sigma event of the biennium is just around the corner. We’ve got all the important details you need to prepare for the big weekend. So grab some fellow Gamma Sig’s and meet us in New Orleans for 34th National Convention!!
A Look Back Look back at the fall semester with an issue jam packed with all your photo submissions. Also included...a flashback article about the first GSS National Convention! Every page you’ll see all the things we do to keep Gamma Sigma Sigma “United In Service”.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
FROM THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE
5
NOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
7
COLLEGIATE CHATTER
11
ALUMNI IN ACTION
13
GAMMA SIGMA SIGMA WHITE ROSE FOUNDATION
WWW.GAMMASIGMASIGMA.ORG
@GAMMASIGMASIGMA
#UNITYINSERVICE
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FROM THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE BY CELESTE MCNEIL
GSS Convention has been re-imagined! JW Marriot is a luxury hotel in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, just two blocks from the historic sites and sounds of Bourbon Street. No more are we in the suburb of a major city. We are right in the middle of the action, walking distance from everything you want and need to see in this thriving metropolis you know as the “Big Easy”!
We invite you to come Taste the city wuth your very own GSS Visa. We have innovated meal selections in the Big Easy by empowering you to Roam the city and try the native cuisine of New Orleans. You choose what you want to eat, as well as where you plan to dine using your personal GSS Visa Gift Card. Convention is a momentous occasion when we get to contour the shape of GSS through voting on proposed bylaws and policy, serving together to make an IMPACT, as one body learning about who we are as members of Gamma Sigma Sigma.
Registration Type Quad: $463 Triple: $527 Double: $659 Single: $1,051 Day Rate: $335
Remember, each chapter can afford to send two delegates to National Convention because travel pool pays the registration cost for those individuals. That means all you need is the cost of car/bus ride, train or flight to get to convention. We invite you to come for the knowledge and service. Stay for the play! Registration deadline in April 1st. To register go to the national website. GSS CONVENTION 2019 NEW ORLEANS!!! Late registration begins April 2nd $25 fee included until April 15th.
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REFLECTING ON THE FIRST OFFICIAL NATIONAL CONVENTION Where: Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois When: June 1953 Highlights: The induction of the University of Detroit as the 8th chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma, to be known as Iota chapter. The Office of Alumnae Secretary was created, headed by Micki Kaplan of NYU, the organize alumnae chapters throughout the country. “Gamma Gossip” Vol. 2.1 From The President “National President Barbara Van Sciver sent the following message to Gamma Sig’s; Our convention in Chicago was a tremendous success, and I would like to commend the national officers for their thoroughness and enthusiasm in doing their work. I hope the local officers of all the chapters will also strive to attain the highest goals for the respective chapters, for only if each group is active can we have a strong national organization. Remember, these early years are crucial in the formation of our service sorority. Let us all work diligently this year keeping in mind our motto “Unity in Service.” Best of luck to you in your endeavor.”
THEN VS. NOW
Also written about in Vol. 2.1 of “Gamma Gossip” was the importance of remembering. Noting the approaching end of the first year of this sorority, they said “Passing years may dim the memories of this organization’s founding. New faces and new ideas tend to disregard the past and concentrate on the future. What must never be forgotten are the ideals of the sorority: service to community, brotherhood, and friendship.”
Note from the Vice President To the members of Gamma Sigma Sigma, It has been a whirlwind of excitement this biennium and Convention in New Orleans will be here before we know it!! Now is the perfect time to consider participating at the National level as a member of the National Staff or a member of a National Committee. Please accept this as my personal invitation to apply for the many positions that will be available for the 2019 2021 National Staff and Committees. Committee and Staff Position descriptions can be found beginning on Page 36 of The Staff (located on the national website). Members can contact me (vicepresident@gammasigmasigma.org) with any questions! Please use the following links to apply for Committee and Staff positions online. National Staff application: www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/v8C4ueaAddI072XDK5 National Committee application: www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/2o9Vb9eIf7cWe03Tk WEE are committed to diversifying our sorority leadership at all levels, and WEE need your participation to reach this goal. WEE need your skills, talents, and gifts to lend a hand in the advancement of the sorority and I look forward to having the opportunity to serve alongside you!! Wee-Oop!! In Service, Renata M. Porterfield National Vice President
note from the alumni director I am currently the National Alumni Director of Gamma Sigma Sigma (2017-2019). As National Alumni Director, I assist with growth and expansion for alumni interest groups, assist active alumni chapters, and alumni at large with questions. Currently, I am the administrator of the alumni at large group on the app GroupMe. There are 26 members currently in the group who participate in service in and around their area. If you are an alumni at large and have any interest joining this group please send me an email at alumni@gammasigmasigma.org. The group is called AAL Initiative. If you prefer alumni at large updates on other social media platforms, you can always join the Facebook Gamma Sigma Sigma Alumni group or Gamma Sigma Sigma Alumni (Official). Currently there is 1 alumni reactivating chapter: Gateway Reactivating Chapter Alumni Interest Groups: 1. Metropolitan Alumni Chapter Interest Group (New York, NY) 2. Tri-State Alumni Interest Group 3. Detroit, MI Interest Group 4. South & North Carolina/ Tennessee Interest Group 5. Chicago, Illinois Interest Group 6. Cleveland, Ohio Interest Group 7. Tampa Bay, Florida Interest Group 8. Birmingham, AL Interest Group If you live in the area and have interest joining any of these groups, please contact me at alumni@gammasigmasigma.org. Want to start your own alumni group? Contact me at alumni@gammasigmasigma.org. Sharon Brice National Alumni Director
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COLLEGIATE CHATTER
Delta Theta
Delta Theta of Fort Valley State University- During September they volunteered at an Alzheimer’s Walk by passing out water to participants and help with registration. In the month of October, the Delta Theta Chapter prepared for Gamma Sigma Sigma week at Fort Valley State University. As the start of their week they did a breakfast sale and a depression workshop that went really well, and an Alex’s Lemonade Stand. The rest of the week had been canceled due Hurricane Michael. On Founder’s Day they volunteered at the Food Bank by packaging food for the men and women in the military. Wrapping up the month, they volunteered on Halloween at a local church for its fall festival by playing games with children.
Theta Alpha Theta Alpha of Robert Morris University- On October 12, 2018, the Theta Alpha chapter hosted the second annual White Rose Founders Day Charity Gala, attended by district 3, hosting 80 attendees. The events theme was a formal masquerade ball, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Over the course of the night members of D3 were able to socialize and come together to raise money. They surpassed their goal of raising $1000, officially raising $1209! They were able to successfully host this event thanks to the National Board of Directors of Gamma Sigma Sigma and the generous Service Assistance Program. The Theta Alpha chapter would like to thank all the members in attendance. Events like this could not happen without the support they give. This is an event that they hope will continue to happen for many years to come, and to be enjoyed by both collegiate and alumni members!
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TAU
Tau of Penn State University - Their chapter has taken a pledge class this past semester and have a great group of girls! They started their process with “Ribboning In” held September 14th. They also participated in their usual service events they do every semester. The chapter is normally involved in Nittany Greyhounds, where members go to a shelter that helps rehabilitate racing Greyhounds to be adopted, as well as board other dogs. Along with that, they are also involved in Project Post-It, Friday Night Lights Out, blood drives, and the Abba Java Coffee House. Tau also hosted a photo shoot for some of the executive board and chairs to attend. The members and I had a lot of fun! November has kept Tau Chapter very busy in Happy Valley. One of the biggest events of the month was Big/ Little reveal! Our sisters spent a week spoiling their littles, and our Membership Vice President Caroline and her assistant Morgan set up the reveal. The theme was holiday, and everyone had a great time. We had about 23 littles and around the same number of bigs participate. It was a great way for the MIT’s to feel welcomed into the sorority. We had seven girls from our chapter attend Spirit Day at IUP this year, including myself. We all had a blast doing service with the other D3 girls. As you know, we made blankets, pet toys, and backpacks. The girls who went spread the word about how fun it was at chapter, so hopefully next year we will have more girls encouraged to go. The MIT’s also had a photo shoot of their own, organized by their PR/Historian class chair, Nicole Nordstrom.
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ZETA IOTA
ZETA OMICRON
Zeta Omicron of Georgia College & State UniversitySeptember for Zeta Omicron included a rush and rush retreat at a lake house. During retreat, members played bonding games and had a relaxing service for Alex’s Million Mile Walk. That Sunday they pinned 28 MIT’s. They also held their first fundraiser of the semester - a trivia night held on campus, raising $75, followed up by a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings. On the 27th they had their first MADD Candy event downtown to pass out taxi cab numbers with a dum-dum lollipop. Finishing off September, members finished of AMMW. Along with a relay, there was a raffle for Ed Sheeran tickets. The team walked more than 3,000 miles during September. In October, Zeta Omicron hosted “Weenies for Premeeis” and cooked hot dogs for $3 each before a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. They successfully raised $193. They also participated in a “Potato Drop” hosted annually by The Give Center. Over 40,000 lbs, of potatoes were bagged and sent to different organizations to feed more than 140,000 people! Later that night they had a Halloween themed semi-formal and pot-luck meal. In a effort to bring awareness to hunger they held an Oxfam Dinner Banquet with meals based on economy classes. Participants drew a ticket to decide their income.
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Rho of University of Pittsburgh - September was Childhood Cancer AwareGAMMA Gamma ness Month and the members of Gamma Rho worked to spread awareness and supone of our national service partners, Alex’s Lemonade Stand! Throughout the RHO port month of September, members participated in Alex’s Million Mile, traveling over
3000 miles and raising almost $1500! Additionally, they volunteered at their first Fun Friday at UPMC Children’s Hospital where they threw a Pirate themed party for kids going through radiation. Finally, two of their members know a 7 year old boy from home who was recently diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive type of childhood cancer. Gamma Rho came together to make cards and for him and his family, and participated in his school’s compilation video of the floss dance, which he will be judging while undergoing treatment. In November they had an awesome opportunity to host another March in Her Shoes event to Benefit the March of Dimes. At this event, Gamma Rho members raised almost $400! December was full of work with some of their favorite local service partners; Boys and Girls Club, Challah for Hunger, Days for Girls, JAA Bingo, and Oakland Food Pantry. On December 2nd, members did their first event with a new service partner, Girls on the Run. Some of the members started their Sunday morning with a trip to the North Hills Area to volunteer for GOTR Magee’s annual Fall 5k!
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ZETA
Zeta of Drexel University - The Zeta chapter did great things this fall! They completed over 1100 hours of service with organizations like the ‘Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’ and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Members also worked with One Act of Kindness to make and distribute peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to the homeless of Philadelphia. Their Membership Vice President, Morgan, and Recruitment Chair, Ashley, helped initiate their largest new member class to date - over 40 new members!
NUTMEG ALUMNI
ALUMNI IN ACTION
Nutmeg Alumni of Connecticut - Members of the Nutmeg alumni chapter were busy in the fall. They celebrated founders day with a ceremony, donated supplies to homeless soldiers, and made prayer shawls for hospice patients during the Durham Fair Service Project. Continuing to provide service to veterans, they spread cheer with personalized cards as well. On top of that, members also helped register participants for Making Strides ACS. On Veterans day, members collected donations for “Homes For The Brave”, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing and services to homeless veterans, and wrote holiday cards for local veterans and service members. They also participated in Wreaths Across America, helping lay wreaths on soldiers or veterans graves, and rang bells to collect donations for the Salvation Army.
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HOUSTON BAYOU CITY ALUMNI
Houston Bayou City Alumni of Houston, TX - Alumni members had an amazing time this Fall 2018 serving the Greater Houston area starting with a month long collection of cleaning items and water for Camp Hope in September. And they were all smiles when they volunteered at the Star of Hope Men and Women’s Shelter to feed the homeless in October. Members were also excited to serve by assisting the 2018 Walk To End Alzheimer’s registering walkers at the registration table in the brisk cold weather and brought a future Gamma Sig with them as well! In November, they prepared and served Pre-Thanksgiving Dinners to the homeless in Downtown Houston with the Brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. Lastly, in December HBCA had one last service project of hanging Christmas decorations a local church within the community.
ATLANTA METROPOLITAN ALUMNI
Atlanta Metropolitan Alumni of Atlanta, GA - “Alumni chapter life is different. There are full time jobs, families, hobbies, travel, and other factors that collegiate sorority life doesn’t have to compete with. Often, we struggle to find the balance of being a supplement to the lives of our fellow sorors without being a hindrance. And for AMAC, we have found that. But, it took for us to take a step back in order to realign our chapter and position ourselves for the future. AMAC has not been as busy this year as we have in the past and that was all part of our 2018 strategy. We didn’t take in new initiates. Instead, we focused on personal development and bonding. We found creative ways to get to know each other and conduct service projects tied to our interests. Early in the year, we attended the Atlanta Conference to improve our communication and learn how to work better as a team. We learned about our service partners and creative ways for us to give back. AMAC Weekend, one of our SIGnature events never disappoints. During that weekend in August, we enjoyed karaoke and our famous brunch. Next up, we held a chapter retreat, an activity we hadn’t done in a few years. Our cabin in the woods gave us a chance to laugh, to bond, and to relax amongst like-minded women connected through a love of service. This year for Founder’s Day we came together for a lovely dinner with sorors from all over the metropolitan Atlanta area. We laughed and fellowshipped with sorors from Clark Atlanta, The University of West Georgia, Kennesaw State, Fort Valley State, alums from Florida, and a host of family and friends. We completed service projects that are near and dear to our hearts, including Bowling for Babies, color awareness in the month of October, and our chapter’s focus areas of women and children. By staying true to who we are, we have found ways to be even more impactful in the community. Through the work we have done, we solidified partnerships for the future. It may have been a quiet year for AMAC, but we are prepared and poised for a phenomenal 2019!” If you would like to partner with AMAC or want to stay up on our events in the future, please email us at amac_gss@ yahoo.com.
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GAMMA SIGMA SIGMA WHITE ROSE FOUNDATION The White Rose Foundation was established February 18, 2017 to provide grants for special service projects of the sorority, scholarships for sorority members, donations to special projects or issues related to the ideals, purposes and interests of the sorority, and to promote education programs for sorority members. It also provides an opportunity for sorority members to recognize others both inside and outside the sorority by making a contribution in their honor. To date the Foundation has received $175 in donations from members. Board Members The Foundation Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Foundation and delegates responsibility of day-to-day operations to sub committees. It consists of seven elected members and two non-voting ex-officio members who receive no compensation other than reasonable expenses. The ex-officio members are the immediate past National President and one current member of the National Board of Directors elected by the current National Board of Directors. The Chair of the Foundation must be a past member of the National Board of Directors of the sorority. Three other members of the Foundation board must be alumni of the sorority and the other three may be collegiate or alumni members of the sorority, although one may be a community member without membership in the sorority The term of office for members of the Foundation Board is two years, with elections staggered to elect four members one year and three members the following year. Elections are held annually each fall and members may serve up to three consecutive terms. Inaugural Foundation Board Members D’Ann Brosnahan (Board Chair) – D’Ann joined the Alpha Beta chapter at St Cloud State University in 1969. She is a member of the Twin Cities Alumni chapter. On the national level she has served as 23rd National President, Vice President, Treasurer,
Executive Secretary and Convention Chair, as well as on many committees. Mary Ann Carr (Board Member) – Mary Ann joined Gamma Sigma Sigma in 1962 at the Omicron Chapter at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She is a founding member of the Twin Cities Alumni Chapter (1971)and currently serves as chapter parliamentarian. Mary Ann has served on the NBD (10 years) and in Staff or committee positions since 1977, serving as National President from 1987-1989. She currently also serves on the Diversity Committee. Lelar Corbett (Board Treasurer) – Lelar joined Gamma Sigma Sigma in 1994 at the Zeta Iota Chapter at Prairie View A&M University. She is a founding member of the Lone Star Alumni Chapter (2000) in Dallas, Texas and currently serves as the chapter president. Lelar has held several positions on the NBD, Staff, and committees since 1999. She currently serves as the National Technical Coordinator. Genna Miller (Board Member) - Genna joined Gamma Sigma Sigma in 2011 at Zeta Nu chapter at Slippery Rock University. She is currently a virtual member of the Gemini Alumni Chapter in Philadelphia while she finishes her Master’s in Social Work degree at the University of Michigan. Genna served on the National Nominating Committee for the past two bienniums and was a member of the Foundation Committee before becoming a board member of the White Rose Foundation. Nikita Mutter (Board Vice Chair)- Nikita joined Gamma Sigma Sigma in 2014 at the Beta Gamma Chapter at the University of Delaware. She is an Alumniat-Large member, previously serving on the Woman of the Year committee and currently serving on the Alumni Committee. Trizha A. Offor (Board Member)- Trizha founded and chartered the Eta Omicron Chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma at Elizabeth City State University. She received the Outstanding Collegiate Award from former
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National President, Keli Connor and currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the company she is working for. This position allows her to serve Gamma Sigma Sigma’s national partners such as the American Red Cross where she organizes blood drives biannually. Andrea Powers (Board Secretary) – Andrea joined Gamma Sigma Sigma in 2005 at the Zeta Iota Chapter of Prairie View A&M University. She is currently a member of the Atlanta Metropolitan Alumni Chapter in Georgia. Andrea has held several positions on the NBD including Program Assistant, Alumni Director, and District Director. Currently she is also a member of the SPEC Committee. How to get involved Contribute in honor of family members and sorority sisters, as a memorial gift, in lieu of a graduation gift, or in celebration of years as a sorority member. Contributors are determined based on monetary donations given to the Foundation. There are three levels of contributor status: (a) Annual Contributor – Donation of at least $25.00 per year. Status renews annually. (b) Lifetime Contributor – Donations totaling at least $5,000. Status is permanent. (c) Organizational or Individual Donor – Any organization or individual making a financial donation of any amount Serve on Foundation Board as either a collegiate or alumni member. Terms of office are two years, with elections held each fall.
A message from the Foundation Chair, D’Ann Brosnahan: “Having worked in nonprofits most of my career, I know the advantages of having an auxiliary foundation for nonprofits that are not 501(c)(3). In addition, through my many years of service to the National Board of Directors, I learned of the need for a way to honor in memorial many of the past NBD and
founding members. With these two objectives in mind, I stepped forward to chair the Foundation Committee, which first examined the why’s and how’s of Gamma Sig having a foundation. I have continued with the actual establishment and the inaugural board. Please join me in contributing to the future of our wonderful sorority.” Donations can be made via www.givelify.com/givenow/1.0/MzIxMDQ=/selection or mailed to: GSS White Rose Foundation 5000 Eldorado Pkwy, Suite 150–430 Frisco, TX 75033
Remember when...
#GSSSERVICE
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President: Katy Haynes Owen, Gamma Kappa Vice President: Renata Porterfield, Epsilon Lambda Service Director: Joyce Brooks, Zeta Iota Treasurer: Nichole Griffin, Zeta Iota Membership Director: Precious Cristwell, Eta Beta Alumni Director: Sharon Brice, Zeta Pi Program Director: Jenna Hershelman, Zeta Nu Marketing Director: Anna Romness, Eta Delta District Directors District 1 Director: Keli Connor, Epsilon Zeta District 2 Director: Cristal Johnson, Zeta Iota District 3 Director: Samantha Del Verne, Beta Psi District 4 Director: Alexa Smarr, Epsilon Beta District 5 Director: Shea Feagin, Chi District 6 Director: Chiquita Harville, Epsilon Lambda District 7 Director: Lynne Covington, Eta Theta District 8 Director: Mary Price, Eta Pi District 9 Director: Charna Fagan, Epsilon Nu
Staff Administrative Assistant: Jo Charest Archivist: Deb Folsom Convention Chair: Celeste McNeil National Parliamentarian: Natalie Torres Nominating Committee Chair: Aurelia Spaulding Professional Parliamentarian: Mary Scout Perspectives Editor: Megan Bean Site Selection Chair: Karen Kerr Social Media Coordinator: JoAnna Eason Service Coordinator: Dee Foley Technical Coordinator: Lelar Corbett
#GAMMASIGMASIGMA
Want to make a Perspectives submission? Visit: gammasigmasigma.org/news-events/perspectives/perspectives-submission or email your Perspectives Editor at: Perspectives@gammasigmasigma.org Send news, event details, new member intake, fun traditions, graduating members, or how much you raised at a fundraiser, and all your favorite pictures!
GAMMA SIGMA SIGMA PO BOX 248 Rindge, NH 03461 Change Service Requested