Contents
Letter from the Board
3 The Road We’ve Traveled
Anniversary Specials 4 7 8 10 11
What Were We Thinking? Celebrating 22 Years of Sisterhood Life as a Founder Life as a Founder Gammas Pay it Forward
Features 13 15 16 17 27 27
Tips from a Conference Junkie Compass for College Life Earth Charter Movement Cultural Awareness in Action Who We Are Paperwork & Fee Deadlines
Spotlights 19 2O 2O 21 22 23 23 24
Delta Gamma Candy Valenzuel Ana Ramos Gonzales Lambda Gamma Rachel Luna Beta Alpha Zeta Beta Nina Cuevas
Creative
25 Spider Web de la Pantera 26 Alisha Lewis Artwork
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Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Letter from the Board
The Road We’ve Traveled: A Reflection of Our Term adjustments/revisions based on those concerns.
With Convention 2012 right around the corner, it is hard to believe that two years have passed! In reflecting back on our term, we’ve had the distinct privilege and honor to SERVE you through the good and challenging times. As a Board, we have thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience: from chartering new entities, working with the Regional Directors at Sisterhood retreat, implementing Policy Governance, interacting with every single member possible through our social hours at our face-to-face meetings, to having the opportunity to represent SLG in attempts to create a stronger, more unified and successful organization. In the 22 years of our existence, Sigma Lambda Gamma (SLG) has accomplished so much and as sisters, we should be proud of the road we have embarked on. Our organization has become a role model for other organizations to emulate. As a Board, we are proud of a few notable accomplishments: •Launching the Catalyst for Change initiative which Educates, Engages, and Empowers our members with the tools and resources necessary for personal and entity success; •Introducing the revised Associate Member Education Program (referred to as The Journey) which currently has 27 entities participating in the Pilot Program; •Creating Standards of Distinction, an assessment tool that assists entities in their goal setting and ensures Chapters are “on track” to meet Sigma Lambda Gamma’s values, standards, and expectations; •Continually improving our transparency with the membership by remaining completely open and honest (as there were never any “hidden agendas”) and disseminating information in a timely manner regarding the state of the sorority; and •Last but not least, listening to the feedback received from our sisters and making the necessary
Admittedly, we’ve had our fair share of personal challenges while serving on the Board and balancing our own lives. As a Board, we worked together to overcome the mentality that we were not doing enough under the new governing structure, understanding the new role of the Board and how Policy Governance fits with the organizational structure of SLG. As individuals and women of balance, we’ve overcome graduating from school, balancing a budding career, preparing for PhD Candidacy Exams, planning a wedding, recovering from illness and injuries, mourning the loss of loved ones, and celebrating all of the new precious babies in our lives. Taking the trip down memory lane has also had its memorable moments too. Our time spent together was always energetic and motivating; after long meetings, we would unwind with some innocent fun and plenty of girl talk. One of the funniest moments was when we pranked Mary Peterson at our first Face-to-Face meeting in Chicago. We took all of the balloons from the Social Hour and tucked them under the bed covers. We also drew a face on one to make it look like there was someone sleeping in her bed. It didn’t quite work too well, but us hiding out by the stairs like a bunch of giggly school girls waiting for her to go to bed was pretty hilarious. At National Sisterhood Retreat 2011, while at a debrief meeting with HQ staff, we took the liberty of redecorating our Assistant Executive Director (AED), Vanessa Jimenez’s room door to celebrate a job well done. We used the resources available to us: tape, toilet paper, and candy to say, “CONGRATULATIONS!” It was a great moment to recognize the hard-work of our AED and HQ Staff! We’ve had a wonderful time serving each and every one of you. We grew as women, leaders, and sisters. Serving Sigma Lambda Gamma has reinforced that our sisterhood comes second to none. If we were each to describe our experience in ONE word it would be: Impactful (Anya), Growth (Ariadna), Reinvigorating (Beca), Fan-flipping-marvelous (Luz), Exciting (Natalia), and Rewarding (Nisha). We look forward to National Convention 2012 in Tampa, FL and the opportunity to meet all of the sisters in attendance. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your 20102012 National Board of Directors!! La Mensajera Spring 2012
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WHAT WERE WE THINKING? Founding Mother Lupita Temiquel-McMillian The night may have been cold, dark and stormy, or maybe it was a warm and bright spring day. Perhaps they were in a dark room, or in the abandoned attic of an academic hall. Nevertheless, these young women discovered a need for, and came together to create powerful associations unlike any other. They debated actively, challenging one another along the way to reach their personal best. Emblems and Greek letters were soon incorporated into the fabric of this organization, symbolizing their pride, enthusiasm and everlasting devotion. They established rituals. They understood the need to leave behind a long-lasting legacy for countless future generations.
“It would be a wonderful gift to the sorority if we could hear from the ghosts of Sigma Lambda Gamma past and know exactly what we were all thinking!”
In a former life when I was a Greek Advisor at the Mother of Fraternities, Miami University of Ohio, I had a boss who was one of the trailblazers in the Greek world. He created posters as a part of a larger campaign promoting a return to the founding values of organizations that were created one hundred years ago, or more. I paraphrased one of those posters here and took a slight bit of freedom with a few words as I reflected on OUR founding just 22 short years ago. I always felt proud looking at those posters and knowing that we, one day, would be around in one hundred years. My dream has always been to one day have that Headquarters mansion on the hill with my sorority artifacts under glass. Twenty-one women could recount the beginnings of Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. They include our
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original 19 women, our Founding Grandmother Esther Materon-Arum, and our Executive Director and sister for life, Mary Peterson. We aren’t Sigma Lambda Beta’s sister sorority (nor have we ever been), we weren’t founded by Phi Beta Sigma, and I still have no idea what The FIRM is. All our stories would start and end in different places and although names and dates can’t be disputed, we would all have a different perspective and perhaps a different interpretation of what exactly happened that dark and stormy night in Iowa City. It would be a wonderful gift to the sorority if we could hear from the ghosts of Sigma Lambda Gamma past and know exactly what we were all thinking! My journey began in the fall of 1989 at 19 years old. My roommates came home and told me about an odd encounter they had earlier that night with Zerina Segoviano at an NPHC party. Zerina asked that nailson-the-chalkboard question, “What are you?” My roommates at the time were my sister, Maria Temiquel, and my best friend from high school, Pam Little. Maria
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
WHAT WERE WE THINKING? and Pam recounted their conversation with Zerina where she invited them to a meeting that was to take place at the Chicano House where Latinas would be gathering to talk about starting a Latina sorority on campus. We were intrigued and curious, so the three of us attended that meeting. Those conversations of the early meetings are slowly becoming a blur but I do vividly remember that something was drawing me in to this group of complete strangers. It was something bigger than just a meeting that I was attending with my sister and best friend-although I could not have articulated that at the time. That “force” kept me coming back to meetings after those initial ones in the fall of 89. After that fall, Maria graduated and Pam took time off school, so I didn’t know anyone anymore.
I remember walking in the Pentacrest on April 9th of 1990, and running into Maria Pineda and Danell Riojas who were very excited to tell me that we had just been recognized by the IFC/Panhellenic Council as Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. I recall thinking, “WOW! What does this mean? What comes next?” I’ll tell you what came next, 19 of us invaded Iowa Book and Supply to all buy sweatshirts with sew-on letters. Are you sitting down? Because most (if not all) of us selected sew-on letters that were various prints such as paisley, polka dots, flowers, stripes, etc., and *gasp* they were in colors other than pink and purple. It wasn’t until our first line that we decided the official sweatshirt would be white with pink and purple sew-on letters.
“we unknowingly became pioneers in the Greek world that semester by going out on our own and becoming Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority.”
The fact that I kept coming back to this group was particularly interesting because although these women were unfamiliar to me, not all of them so. Much to my surprise, I ran in the same social circles as a couple of the women. OK, you want the real nitty gritty that didn’t make it into sorority history? Turns out that freshman year, Patty Marquez and I were dating the same guy and also lived in the same dormDRAMA. In classic regressive behavior, we didn’t like each other instead of kicking that Michael Spinx to the curb! But I digress... Our beginning conversations centered around the idea of starting a chapter of an existing sorority on campus. That was pre-Google times because we did not find many existing sororities out there. Now we know that many did exist at that time but lucky for us we never found them. We found two sororities that we seriously considered: Lambda Theta Nu in California and Kappa Delta Chi in Texas. Someone from our group made contact with these groups for further information and Lambda Theta Nu would not release any information to us unless we agreed to go with them, so we quickly took them off the table. Kappa Delta Chi also did not impress us and I’m embarrassed to say that we also didn’t want to wear the Greek letters “KDC” across our chests since the Greek letters were too similar to a slang name for the male genital. I know, juvenile, right? However, you’re welcome sisters (smile). With no prospects, we unknowingly became pioneers in the Greek world that semester by going out on our own and becoming Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority.
So there we were a group of women who didn’t all know each other, from a variety of backgrounds, and in hindsight, all at different points in our lives. We had a purpose now: to build a sorority. This situation is one many of you have found yourselves in if you are chapter founders. You have excitement and a grand task in front of you but where do you start? Who takes the lead? How do you handle differences? What do you do when everyone isn’t participating? Why is everyone staring at your letters? Sigma Lambda who? Our first item of business was to create our “brand” and determine how we wanted to be known. I’ll never forget the meeting where we selected the colors of the sorority. I’m sorry to say ladies, there were no prolific, sacred conversations surrounding this. We had every color under the rainbow on the table: blue, green, pink, peach, purple, red, etc. I specifically remember Laura Flores saying she was against pink because she looked horrible in pink. In the end, it was a nice exercise in consensus decision making because everyone voiced their opinion and a final vote was taken to establish pink and purple as the official sorority colors. At the time I thought, “UGH, pink and purple?!” those certainly weren’t MY vote. Somewhere down the road we made the colors our own when pink and purple became Shocking Pink and Majestic Purple. I’m happy to report the colors quickly grew on me and to this day any opportunity I have to buy pink and purple jewelry,
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WHAT WERE WE THINKING? clothes, bags, my first car, etc., I will buy. Before we left school that spring of 1990, the other item of business we accomplished was establishing our founding principles. That took place in one of the meeting rooms in the Iowa Memorial Union. While I remember not much disagreement at that meeting, it was probably the most important since that was the moment we determined the values that would be our foundation forever. The 1990 fall semester arrived and there were a considerable number of women missing. Some became uninterested, others had to prioritize in other ways, while some had to leave for financial reasons, or were academically dismissed. I have many vivid and fond memories from that fall. We had weekly Friday meetings at the Chicano House that rarely lasted only an hour and we documented the rest of our existence. We established our mascot, our motto, our scholarship standards, we wrote our creed and narratives for each principle that fall. For all those sisters who are assigned the Cultural Diversity principle, you have Esther to thank for that one! When we selected our mascot, Esther was adamant that it could NOT be a bunny because it reminded her of the playboy bunny and the Kappas. OK Esther, no bunny it is. Over the course of the semester we met hours upon hours
“Sigma Lambda Gamma was a force greater than me and I’m blessed to have been in the right place at the right time.”
“that was the moment we determined the values that would be our foundation forever.” carefully and thoughtfully building our foundation. Rome wasn’t built in a day, sisters. Our excitement got the ball rolling, but in the end it was the work of each and every member that was essential for success. Sometimes mistakes needed to be made in order for us to grow and learn. I know Esther and Mary wanted to wring our necks many times, but they empowered us to make decisions and make mistakes. While some of the sorority symbols don’t have deep reasons for selecting them, it doesn’t mean they weren’t painstakingly chosen. We wrote our creed in the pre-laptop and word-processing days. The teacher of our group, Julie, went to the chalkboard and wrote down all our words and phrases that we were throwing out. Our creed was meticulously written and it was important to the founders that it be meaningful. It came from our hearts and reflects our vision for the sorority. That semester also proved challenging as we terminated members for the first time. That was our beginning, our first year. Then came our first line, our first volunteer national board, our first expansion, our first Founder’s Ball, our first everything. Now here we are 22 years later- smarter, wiser, still learning and still on a journey. What in the world were we thinking? For me, I wasn’t thinking. Sigma Lambda Gamma was a force greater than me and I’m blessed to have been in the right place at the right time. The last bit of text on that Miami University fraternal values poster that started this story reads (and I am editing again): Now you’ve been passed the torch. It is your turn to be the guardians of this special association we call sorority. Yes, this GREAT sorority that we call Sigma Lambda Gamma. Make the next 22 years better than the last... IIIIIIIIII-O-W-A! Lupita Temiquel-McMillian is a past national president and resides in Garner, NC, where she is an Engineering Academic Dean at Duke University. Lupita is also a proud Army Wife and mom to Onesty, James and Joaquin.
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Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Celebrating 22 years of sisterhood Sister Mary Peterson Sisters, another anniversary is upon us and the La Mensajera Committee asked that I share some thoughts on the milestones our sisterhood has encountered and achieved thus far. I am most proud of the work and effort our alumnae have put into supporting the sorority for the past 22 years. Over the years our volunteers, whether it be the National Board of Directors, Education Foundation Board, Committee Members, Regional Directors or Chapter or Expansion Advisors, are amazing! In addition, the growth of our Headquarters Staff from myself and one part-time work study student sharing my office space, to three full-time and three part-time employees with a Headquarters office, is to be commended.
“The greatest times in our sisterhood are when we gather together.” Although we are a sisterhood there is always the business side to things. We certainly have had our challenges since we began in order to have the means to do all that we would like to do for our membership. It is a good feeling to know we are in a financially stable place. The credit goes to our entities that have had consistent membership and have been fiscally responsible for their obligations to Sigma Lambda Gamma. I look forward to even better programs and resources we can offer our sisterhood in the future.
“I have been so blessed to have so many sisters who have cared about me, respected me and challenged me.” for sisters. It is important that we all give to the
foundation in some form or matter being financially or volunteering. Giving back through the foundation provides scholarships for our sisters to continue and further their education and provides leadership workshops/conferences to empower sisters. Some of the greatest times in our sisterhood are when we gather together. This could be at a National or Regional event or supporting another entity’s program. I have been so blessed to have so many sisters who have cared about me, respected me and challenged me, it is truly humbling. Our future is a bright one with many more milestones where great impact can occur. That will only happen if each us are truly committed to the true purpose of our sorority. We need to be willing to change and challenge, forgive and forget, love and be loved, empower and engage. I am so blessed that I got to be a part of this great organization since its beginning. I thank you all on this 22nd Anniversary of our sorority. Gamma Love, Mary Peterson
Another important piece to our sorority’s history was the formation of the Education Foundation. Although it is in its early stages it will truly provide our membership with financial support and exclusive opportunities La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Life as a fOUNDER Sister Carolina “Yadra” Davila Ortega
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all semester 2008, 11 women embarked on a journey that would forever change their campus, their self-perception, and their lives. On January 31, 2009, all 11 women were initiated as the founding line of the KonfiDent Kappa Delta Chapter. Being a part of that journey has truly shaped me into the woman I am today. Sigma Lambda Gamma hasn’t changed me; it has improved me, molding me into a better version of myself. Let me explain by rewinding a bit.
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nforgettable memories have been made, but wasn’t all glamorous. Many tend to forget that being a founder isn’t about the perks and the praise. It’s about creating something resilient that will endure any obstacle; it’s about setting a solid foundation that will last an eternity. It’s like raising a baby into a meaningful and successful member of society! And as a founder, you get to watch it grow from interest group, to colony, to chapter. You get to determine the route your entity will take, the kind of example it will set, the kind of image that it will portray, and the kind of impact it will have.
“Sigma Lambda Gamma hasn’t changed me; it has improved me, molding me into a better version of myself.”
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nce upon a time in Amherst, Massachusetts, there was a university in need of empowerment, prestige, and distinction; not just another sorority, but a sisterhood. It needed a dosage of change. During this time, a group of women pursued interest in Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Incorporated; the perfect solution to the problem. Personally, I was looking for a family, a challenge, an experience. SLG provided me with so much more.
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ever in my life did I imagine myself being part of something that creates bonds across the nation, or being an initiator at my campus. To know our work is recognized and complimented frequently makes me feel good. But to know that our presence and ambition continues to inspire other groups of women, like other chapters did for us, is a humbling, yet empowering
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Life as a fOUNDER feeling that can’t be explained.
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ue to the kind of work I faced during my time as an undergraduate, I am able to face new challenges with ease and poise. I’m always thinking of ways to change and improve tasks at my work, coming up with new ideas for potential projects, and knowing how to pick up the slack when others can’t. Although many things aren’t part of my job description, thanks to Sigma Lambda Gamma, I have learned to take upon more responsibilities in order to get goals met and the job done well.
“This sisterhood has taught me how to trust and push myself to the limit, to the point where I look forward to new challenges.”
taught me how to trust and push myself to the limit, to the point where I look forward to new challenges.
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eminiscing on my member education process makes me look forward to what the future holds. Witnessing new sisters join my chapter, and begin new colonies, calling the Kappa Delta founders an inspiration, are humbling moments that remind me why I joined Sigma Lambda Gamma. In summary, being a founder has made me who I am today. That decision I made four years ago, watching what our chapter has become, has made my life motto: We can’t merely exist, we must have a presence!
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xpectations have been set high – there are Alpha standards, but we follow and push Gamma standards to a whole other level. This sisterhood has
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Life as a fOUNDER Sister Mary “Sofisticada” Zuviri My name is Mary “Sofisticada” Zuviri and I am a Founder from the “Captivating” XB Chapter at the University of Texas Pan American located in Edinburg, Texas. As a Founder, I have learned how perseverance, dedication and commitment can open the doors to many life-changing opportunities in both personal and professional lives. As a proud sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma and Founder of XB Chapter, I have continued to share my knowledge and experiences since 2003. Upon graduating, I continued to be an active sister and helped found the SLG-Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Association. I was also chosen to be a Gamma mom for the third and fourth time of two Gamma Founders; one sister is from Texas Southern University and the other sister is from the University
“I have become a woman that values the endless possibilities for success and lifelong learning.” of Houston-Downtown. Since I had moved back home, I felt the need to continue to share my knowledge and was honored to be the first SLG alumna advisor for XB. With the knowledge and experiences I have gained establishing a chapter and an alumnae association, my goal is to help establish a alumnae association in the Rio Grande Valley area. The many memories and friendships I have made since I became a Founder has given me the opportunity to see how SLG has empowered so many of my sisters. I continue to make improvements to better the sorority and myself. I have become a woman that values the endless possibilities for success and life-long learning. The leadership I have gained since becoming a Founder has also helped me to further my education and I will soon graduate with a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership in the summer of 2012.
Sisters,
don’t forget to register for Convention! Undergrad: Early Bird registration through May 1, $275 Late registration May 2-June 1, $325 Alumnae: Early Bird through May 1, $300 Late Registration May 2-June 1, $325 Hotel: Hyatt Regency Tampa, $129 per night +state tax
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Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Gammas pay it forward Sister Dr. Susana M. Muñoz
“I never thought that we would be the largest Latina-based sorority in the nation. I never thought that we would have such a diverse membership.” have reaped from the sorority are priceless.
It was 1992. We sported big hair, big earrings, and baggy pants. We danced to Rump Shaker by Wreckz NEffect, Jump by Kris Kross, sang along to the End of the Road by Boyz II Men, and watched movies like New Jack City, Like Water for Chocolate, and American Me. It was also the year I became a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma. What started out as me stating, “I’m just going to the meeting to check out this new organization,” turned into twenty years of lifelong sisterhood, friendships, and tremendous personal growth.
“Like for many of you, Sigma Lambda Gamma turned into my family away from home.. ” Like for many of you, Sigma Lambda Gamma turned into my family away from home, the space where I can say anything and feel safe. It was also the organization in which gave me confidence in using my voice while developing a deep and profound pride for my culture, and it allowed me to hone my leadership skills. I have always felt validated among my sisters. I have become the woman that I am today because of my experiences with Sigma Lambda Gamma. The benefits in which I
Sigma Lambda Gamma today is a more organized and well managed entity from what I experienced as an undergraduate, which has led me to believe that the Sigma Lambda Gamma that our daughters will experience will also be different from the present undergrad experiences. Having witnessed twenty years of Sigma Lambda Gamma history has allowed me to dream big for our organization. I never thought that we would be the largest Latina-based sorority in the nation. I never thought that we would have such
“The benefits in which I have reaped from the sorority are priceless.” a diverse membership. I never thought we’d grace the presence of military academies, historically black colleges and universities. And I never thought we would be 110 chapters strong. Mind you, we thought having four chapters was big for us “back in da day.” The question that I pose to our membership is: What will Sigma Lambda Gamma look like twenty years from now and how will you help us to get there?
“The question that I pose to our membership is: What will Sigma Lambda Gamma look like twenty years from now and how will you help us to get there?” La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Gammas pay it forward Giving to Sigma Lambda Gamma has been second nature for me. Whether it’s facilitating sisterhood retreats, helping to create curriculum for the Young Women’s Leadership Program, advising the undergraduate chapters, or helping colonies achieve chapter status, it has been my honor and privilege to give back. Being able to donate my time and talents to Sigma Lambda Gamma is my way of repaying the organization for all the benefits that I have gained throughout my lifetime. I also do it because I continue to have big hopes and dreams for Sigma Lambda Gamma. I envision a day in which our sisterhood and leadership retreats would be free of costs to undergraduates. I envision a day when we are able to give hundreds of scholarships to current sisters. And I envision a day when high school students will choose to attend a college or university because of what Sigma Lambda Gamma has to offer them. If we dream big, there is no doubt that Sigma Lambda Gamma will be the premier mechanism for empowering women.
“If we dream big, there is no doubt that Sigma Lambda Gamma will be the premier mechanism for empowering women.” As a trustee of the Sigma Lambda Gamma Education Foundation, we have been blessed by the generous donations of many sisters and alumnae associations who have made monetary donations for scholarships and other programming efforts. Myself along with 19 other sisters have pledge to donate $1,000 for the next five years in order to establish an endowment fund that will serve the future needs of our organization. However, no donation is too small. If each chapter, colony, and alumnae association were to donate
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$75.00 a year, we could raise $10,000 that could potentially defer some of the costs of sisterhood retreat or convention meetings. The possibilities are endless! Twenty years from now, Sigma Lambda Gamma will be a bigger and better organization. The questions that I leave you with are: How will you and your entity help us to get to this juncture? How will you give back? Dr. Susana M. Muñoz is an alumna of the Gamma Chapter at Iowa State. She also serves as a trustee for the Education Foundation and a member of the Greater Milwaukee-Madison Alumnae Association. Dr. Muñoz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee in the Higher Education Administration Program. If you are interested in donating to the Education Foundation, please visit http://www.slgfoundation. org/ for more information. Dr. Muñoz was selected as the 2012 recipient of the Latino/a Knowledge Community (LKC) Outstanding Faculty Award at the NASPA National Conference! This award is presented to a NASPA member that has contributed significant research and publication that promotes the understanding of Latinos in higher education. In addition, the individual has stimulated the desire to learn in graduate or professional development environments and served as a role model to Latinos/as in the higher education community. A well deserved honor for our sister and we are very proud of her dedication and work! Be on the lookout for the new Education Foundation logo! SLG hosted a spring logo contest looking for a design that would capture the essence of what our Foundation represents. The SLG Education Foundation is where, Gammas Give! The winning logo will be used as part of the new Gammas Give fundraising campaign, and used on all materials/paraphernalia used for fundraising.
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Tips from a Conference Junkie Sister Kim “Salvacion” Waslawski
off your campus and into the conference world. When preparing for Convention 2012, keep in mind:
I often hear about instances from across the country where line sisters have become really close after sharing a short weekend together. Conferences and retreats are a chance to break away from the normal campus routine and engage with others in a new environment. I am a conference junkie — jumping at the opportunity to attend and focus more broadly on our current work and future success, and I invite you and your sisters to do the same. Whether an academic, professional, cultural or social conference, events like these are full of meet and greet moments, sightseeing, networking, and of course, learning. I may have met you during the three National Conventions, three National Retreats, multiple regional meetings I have attended, or even perhaps when visiting your chapter events when I have been in town. Even outside of Sigma Lambda Gamma, I have attended around a dozen local and national conferences, and I would love to share with you some things that I have learned over the years. There are a few key tips and tricks to keep in mind when stepping
“Conferences and retreats are a chance to break away from the normal campus routine and engage with others in a new environment.”
1. Dress for success. Ladies, we typically over-pack for every possible scenario, so seriously ask yourselves: “Do I need to bring all that?” With baggage fees these days, and the effort it will take to drag your luggage through the airport/hotel/streets, you may want to consider downsizing. Pack another empty bag at the bottom of the suitcase to use when needed. Most of the time you will want to bring one formal outfit, a few business casual pieces to mix and match and a few night/social outfits. If you travel in layers, you could coordinate additional options once you land, and save space in your luggage for that last (necessary) pair of shoes.
“Practice a 30-second “elevator” speech about yourself: who you are, what you are hoping to gain and why you are here.” 2. You are a Woman of Distinction. If you take the time to get your hair, makeup, shoes and outfit ready before leaving the hotel room, be sure to get your head together as well. What you say (or don’t say) in the first few seconds of a new interaction can make or break your future success. Practice a 30second “elevator” speech about yourself: who you are, what you are hoping to gain and why you are here. Be prepared to introduce the best about yourself — and your sisterhood. 3. Bring your “A” game. Do your homework and know what will be on the table. Discussing and planning with your chapter sisters (and
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Tips from a Conference Junkie region) ahead of time, before arriving will help you get the most out your time, and can help you choose what is most meaningful to your specific needs. Not only being on point with your chapter business, but also your entire region will promote unity and bonding during the months leading up to Convention, and into the upcoming school year. 4. Represent. Find something about your sisterhood that showcases your pride (always travel with letters). We are a diverse, national sisterhood and will always have our differences. If your chapter or region does things differently, or you see something new (a unity stroll, a tiki design, a chant, a family tree, etc.) embrace the moment and celebrate your sisterhood. Take time to show your pride, take the opportunity to learn more and thank your sister for sharing. Additionally, reaching out to sisters who reside in the “host” area should be an important part of the trip. You didn’t travel all this way to only spend time with yourself!
“If your chapter or region does things differently, or you see something new, embrace the moment and celebrate your sisterhood.” 5. Follow up. We meet as a nation for business every two years. Chances are you won’t remember everything you wanted after a week, let alone months later. Did you make a stellar connection with someone? Do you agree/disagree with the proposals presented? What were the key issues discussed? What was changed or decided? What is left to be finished? Share these things with your sisters who couldn’t attend (this goes for any
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conference). Dedicate part of your first chapter meeting of the fall to a Convention review, and disseminate new information, ideas and interests that came out of the trip. Share pictures and stories, opinions and thoughts, but most importantly, take these experiences to heart. This is YOUR sisterhood.
“Share pictures and stories, opinions and thoughts, but most importantly, take these experiences to heart.”
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
A Compass for College Life Sister Ariana C. Allen
One of my favorite shows as a kid was the Magic School Bus. Ms. Frizzle would always take her students on wild adventures. One of her famous quotes was, “Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy!” College is a great place to do this. As you are completing your education you are also being challenged, growing as a woman of distinction and creating fun, lasting memories. The ultimate prize is your family’s beaming faces as you walk to get your diploma on graduation day. Yet, nobody talks about the emotional, physical, and mental toll that the pressure of a four-year college education can take on us.
“As you are completing your education you are also being challenged, growing as a woman of distinction and creating fun, lasting memories.” Your college journey can take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. You face daily pressures to overachieve, to be thin, to fit in and to be a role model to your family. You can feel guilty for being too busy to spend quality time with loved ones. Without the proper guidance of family, faculty and staff the pressure can affect your health. You are so busy with SLG, work, school and family that your health falls to the wayside. You pull all-nighters to ace the test for that 8 a.m. class, drink obscene
amounts of caffeine to keep you awake long enough to take notes from the professor’s lecture, and let’s not forget all the free treats and sweets you consume at campus events. After a while, your pants are too tight and the gym shoes are dusty. The physical and emotional pressure can turn into mental stress and burnout. Between all your classes you have over ten chapters to read in a week, three papers due and the sorority event you have to help plan. Your brain is on information overload while you’re still trying to be Super Gamma. Dealing with all this on your own can get you sick and stressed out. It’s all about working smarter, not harder! You need a compass to help you navigate the daily ups and downs of college life. Go to your computer right now and type in EducatedLatina.com. What is that, you ask? It’s your ticket to a fulfilling and successful college career! Educated Latina is an online, college lifestyle magazine for women like you. It has advice about academics, student and campus life. You can find fun facts about Latina culture, career, money and love. You will be inspired by other Educated Latinas who are creating their own future and serving their community. Visit and I promise you will be enlightened, engaged and entertained! Ariana is the Publisher & Founder of Educated Latina www.educatedlatina.com www.twitter.com/educatedlatina Mission: EducatedLatina.com is an online, college lifestyle magazine striving to reflect a Latina’s experience as a multifaceted, modern college student. We aim to help Educated Latinas (also known as EDL’s) achieve a balanced and successful college career by providing resources, advice, and content that enlightens, informs, and entertains. We continuously explore and celebrate the essence of what it means to be an Educated Latina. La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Earth Charter Movement Sister Shanin “Laynevaeh” Alvarez
The Florida Gulf Coast University Colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma feels the Earth Charter directly coincides with not only the purpose of the organization but the vision as well. As sisters we live our lives based on enhancing women who are from all walks of life. In addition to that ideology, we believe in the diversity of cultures because culture is pride, and pride is success. I personally feel touched by all of the principles the Earth Charter has incorporated but there is one specifically that means the most to me. It states: “Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love. Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power comes increased responsibility to promote the common good.” As a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma I have been taught to not only help preserve our community and culture but to also be selfless and show concern for any person who needs help.
The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental values and principles to build a sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. The charter is created by a global consultation process, and endorsed by over 4,500 organizations, including many governments and internationally, representing millions of people. It seeks to inspire a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the wellbeing of the whole human family, the greater community of life and future generations. The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.
“The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society.. ” 16
“.. I have been taught to not only help preserve our community and culture but to also be selfless and show concern for any person who needs help.” The Earth Charter stands for the values, morals, and ethics that we believe will truly have the power to change the face of the world our children and their children will live in. Based on the principles and standards that this initiative would like to embody I feel we can actually start to see a positive change in the way we live our lives as well as interact with other individuals. Florida Gulf Coast University is already an Earth Charter affiliate, after presenting the facts and the reasons which I feel showcase the positives and similarities between the principles of the Earth Charter as well as the morals and values we uphold as sisters, I would like to ask that Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Incorporated to become an official Earth Charter affiliate. By becoming an official affiliate we would be joining the worldwide movement to raise awareness of the Earth Charter and to promote understanding of its inclusive ethical vision.
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Cultural Awareness in Action Sister Kim “Salvacion” Waslawski
a strong wanderlust, and have been blessed to share this passion with my line sister while visiting China and Tibet in 2005, as well as with my Gamma daughter while visiting Mexico in 2011. China/Tibet 2005 My line sister Erika “Dulce” Buckley and I traveled during the summer of 2005 to Shanghai, China, where we studied the foundations of liberal education and Eastern Philosophy for class credit through Grand Valley State University. We stayed in the international student dormitory, shopped the street markets for art, shoes, purses and electronics, and climbed countless mountainsides to visit Buddhist and Confucian temples throughout the country. I am proud to tell others about our great sisterhood, and its strong commitment to cultural awareness. This was one of my interests in joining, and as a sister I have to say I have truly embraced this pillar by studying abroad twice with my hermanas. Personally, coming from a small, rural community in northern Michigan, I admit there was a lot of the world I had never seen before. Some folks never leave their neighborhood, city, state or country but I am not one of them. I have always had a strong curiosity, and love new adventures. I have
We traveled by boat through the Eastern Chinese Sea to a small island where we were met with a lightening storm revealing sacred temples and statues on the coast, and a brisk breeze and rolling tide crashing into the beach. We frequented teahouses, and shared a home cooked lunch with a rural village mayor and his wife in the summer heat. Our bus got stuck in the mud in between mountains at the bottom of a glacier in Tibet, and we toured the holiest of Buddhist temples in Lhasa. We experienced the fast pace of an international supercity and the rains of a summer typhoon. I never made it to Tai Chi practice at 5 a.m. but spent a short time in conversation circles with Chinese students at our meeting point in the center of campus at the Chairman Mao statue. Each new adventure pushed us beyond our comfort zone, challenging us to trust in the program and our classmates who joined us; the same spirit that carried us through our membership intake process.
“Some folks never leave their neighborhood, city, state or country but I am not one of them.”
I could understand NOTHING on the street signs or a single word spoken to me for the six weeks I was immersed in the program. I tried hard to be critical of my “western” perspective, and allowed myself to be challenged outside of my comfort zone because I La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Cultural Awareness in Action
knew that I had my sister. Without her, I do not know that I would have gone or stayed for the entire time. We were able to gain class credit but in the bigger picture of things we walked away with so much more. Our friendship and sisterhood were tested throughout those six weeks and when we returned home we had gained a greater respect for each other. The personal challenges we went through (everything from dietary issues to homesickness to a financial emergency) and the growth we both experienced in terms of cultural awareness still resounds in our relationship almost six years later. That trip changed our lives individually in many ways, collectively deepening our sisterhood and love for multiculturalism. Mexico 2011 My Gamma daughter, Matea “Mariposa” Vazgeč and I traveled to the heart of Mexico at the Universidad de las Americas, Puebla (UDLAP) for two weeks during our graduate studies in College Student Affairs Leadership at Grand Valley State University. We had both studied abroad before during our college years and anticipated the cultural immersion and history we were to witness in Puebla, Oaxaca, and Mexico City, Mexico. Our connection with Latina culture through Sigma Lambda Gamma was obvious and living and exploring the motherland in person was a truly unique and powerful experience. Puebla is one of the oldest colonial cities in Mexico with obvious French, Spanish and Indigenous
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influences (a true multicultural city). Aside from being aesthetically phenomenal, the evidence present of centuries of social, political and religious struggle were just as stunning. Pristine Catholic churches on top of crumbling ruins and buried holy sites spoke to the resiliency and spirit of a people who know their history, who live their pride despite colonial oppression, fierce brutality and globalization. Watching the sun rise against the Popocatepetl volcano, walking the Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan and celebrating my birthday (with a mole dinner) in the Zocalo of Oaxaca City seemed like nothing out of the ordinary, until we both stopped and realized where we were standing. The heart and soul of so many of our hermanas originated in these very streets and towns, and the cultural awareness that we experienced far exceeded my expectations. Visiting rural boarding schools and spending time with the children gave us a critical view of formal education available to the future of this nation. Our anthropological guides helped us synthesize our day trips and we visited museums like Frida Kahlo’s La Casa Azul and the Museo Nacional de Anthropologia in Mexico City. Seminars hosted by a variety of professors at UDLAP reinforced our academic focus spanning the history of Mesoamerica and its peoples and I believe gave us a new meaning to our Latina based, multicultural sisterhood. We both are working with college students in the United States and this eye-opening experience truly embodied cultural awareness in action.
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Entity Spotlight Delta Gamma
Sister Catherine “Alitza!” Sandoval
“The Little Gamma that Could: A Story of Academic Excellence” On February 8, 2004, the National Board of Directors granted the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Colony chapter status, making them the Damn Good DominatinG Delta Gamma Chapter. Since its founding, the sisters of the Delta Gamma Chapter have dedicated themselves to the empowerment of women in their actions and in their words. To illustrate, the Delta Gamma Chapter has remained committed to excellence through the support of its active members and alumnae to reach their goals. In fact, many of our active sisters have been inspired, motivated, and empowered by our strong network of alumnae to make their dreams a reality. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to some of the active sisters about the well being of the chapter and I could not be more proud than to share their success with all of you: they are currently the sorority with the highest GPA in the Latino Greek Council at UCLA.
sisters faced difficulty balancing their academics with their dedication to the sorority. Thus, sisters decided to switch their focus from excessive programming to more quality and impacting events that lessened their workload while allowing them to focus on their academics. Just like the alumnae members have raised the bar for excellence, it is no surprise that the active sisters of the Delta Gamma Chapter continue to follow suit in order to move one step closer to becoming a lawyer, a CEO, a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or a social worker. There is no doubt in my mind that they will maintain their academic standing while empowering women to graduate from UCLA and become the leaders of our communities through their careers. HERMANAS POR VIDAS, SISTERS FOR LIFE. For more information on the Sisters of the Delta Gamma Chapter, please visit www.dominatinggammas.com or add them on Facebook, Bruin Sigmalambdagamma.
Before reaching their most recent academic accomplishment, however, La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Member Spotlight Candy “Anacaona” Ana “Esme” Ramos Valenzuela
Sister Derricka Caldwell
Sister Candy “Anacaona” is Phi chapter’s newest member. She is the anchor of the Tau line, F.L.A.M.E., which is the perfect name for her and her line sister; they both show a passion and fire for SLG. Candy has proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt to be one of the most beloved, dedicated and ambitious sister Phi chapter could have hoped for. She has always gone above and beyond in her duties as a sister of this organization. She has offered her aid to other sisters and to the chapter with eagerness and without the expectation of recompense. Currently she holds the positions of Vice President of Marketing and more recently, Vice President of Chapter Operations. Candy has exceeded expectations in her marketing position by re-establishing an informational website for Phi chapter and bringing new creative elements into marketing Phi chapter events. She also maintains an organized and structured manner in her position of VP of Chapter Operations. Outside of the chapter Candy has exhibited her passion and dedication to this organization by taking part in the establishment of WMU’s first Multicultural Greek Council (MGC). Not only did she play a significant role in the establishment of this council, she has also taken the responsibility of being the MGC’s first president. Though this council is small and currently only holds two organizations — Sigma Lambda Gamma and Sigma Lambda Beta — Candy has done well in this leadership position. Through her ambitions and both organizations’ collaborative effort we expect to have our first MGC showcase this year on March 30. She is now, and always has been a tribute to this organization, showing true passion, dedication and commitment to the purpose and principles of Sigma Lambda Gamma. Candy says her fondest memory of SLG is her Induction date. She feels like on that day she was given the opportunity to do many great things. When she saw her sisters standing in front of her after she opened her eyes she wanted to cry; she couldn’t believe that the opportunity to be a sister — something she had wanted for awhile — was finally granted to her.
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Gonzales
Sister Marlie Quintero Ana ‘Esme’ Ramos Gonzales is a senior in Management Information Systems (MIS), from Gamma Chapter at Iowa State University. She became a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., on December 8, 2008.
Ana is a first generation college student. She will be graduating this May with a degree in MIS and pursuing a Master’s degree after graduation. Ana states that her most memorable recollection of our sisterhood has been,”[…] the process of becoming an active member of SLG, when I became a Gamma, the times together with my line sisters which are engraved in my heart and also becoming a Gamma mom.” “Ana is the epitome of a Woman of Distinction. Her demeanor is graceful and poised but don’t let her shyness fool you. She is determined, works harder than most and goes after what she wants. Ana is the Heart of our line, and it is because of her loving, caring and nurturing nature. She will go out of her way to make sure that others are taken care of, especially her family, sisters, and close friends. Ana always advocates for unity and love within our chapter. She has exceeded academically by being a part of two TRIO programs, the Student Support Services Program and the McNair Scholars Program. She has been on the dean’s list multiple times which means she places her educational endeavors at the top of her priority list. She will be graduating in May of 2012, and will be pursuing her Masters’ degree. Ana has taken multiple leadership positions, which include President, New Member Educator and a representative for the Multicultural Greek Council. Also, she has worked since her first semester at Iowa State to provide her own financial support. She is truly inspiring. She is an example to follow, not only for myself, but for those of us who have had the pleasure of getting to know her. Ana Ramos Gonzales naturally embodies our five principles. I am exceedingly proud to call her my line sister!”
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Entity Spotlight Lambda Gamma Sister Dara “Brillante” Anderson Lambda Gamma Chapter Awareness in a New Way
Raising
We all get in our event slumps. We keep doing the same thing because we just don’t know what else to do. That was the case for the Lambda Gamma chapter at the University of Wyoming when it came to raising awareness for breast cancer. Every year we would book a table in the student Union, sell ribbons, and hand out informational materials. It had become far too predictable and well, flat out boring. That’s why when two sisters, Liz Cleverdon and Katrina Pino, brought back the idea of “Pink Pong” from 2011 Sisterhood Retreat, we decided to pounce on it! The event: Pink Pong: The traditional “beer pong” tournament with a twist—using pink lemonade and giving all profits to local efforts for breast cancer awareness in our community.
new philanthropy event! Together, we raised $300 in the two hours of hosting the event and then were able to combine that with our other efforts to promote awareness on campus to reach a total of over $500 to donate to the local Laramie Cancer Center. The lesson we learned in taking a chance on something new are immeasurable. It is really tough to get out of those slumps and routines we get into from time to time, from year to year, from line to line. However, opening our eyes and seeing that what we were doing was no longer effective, was one of the best reality checks. We all want our philanthropy efforts to be successful. For a chapter of four sisters, $500 felt extremely successful to us. What’s more is that we are now telling people that we’ll do it again in the fall. There’s quite a demand for it! We hope that with the years to come, we’ll be brave enough to continue this as a successful tradition and catch those opportunities to grow when they come to us as well.
Nervous about how it would turn out, and being that it was a brand new event on campus, we went for it—planning, prepping, and mixing giant 5 gallon containers of pink lemonade. At the event, we had an enormous turn out of not just students, but fellow Greeks that were excited about the La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Member Spotlight Sister Rachel “INTENSA!” Luna Sister Diana Long
Attitude: There aren’t many people I know that can serve in the Armed Forces, raise two girls, take care of a household, start a business and write a book all within four years. Rachel’s positive attitude has proved to be invaluable to her success. More importantly, her willingness to encourage others to achieve their best in life has only amplified her unique attitude. Rachel is already instilling this positive attitude in her own girls.
RACHEL LUNA IS FULL OF C.R.A.P. When I joined Sigma Lambda Gamma, I was the youngest in the chapter. I looked up to all of my chapter sisters, especially the ladies I joined with. They all graduated before me and I remember thinking “Dag! My big sisters left. Now what?” I thought I wouldn’t have them around to teach me and inspire me, all of them proved me wrong. But, my LS, Rachel Luna proved me wrong the most. I am thankful to have her in my life. Rachel is absolutely and without a doubt full of C.R.A.P. and it has rubbed off on me. I like it. Courage: Rachel left her hometown and family for many years to serve and protect our country. She took a leap of faith by putting her financial security in jeopardy when starting her businesses. I do not doubt that she did not have fear when she started these endeavors, but her courage to move forward was stronger than the fear of failure. Rachel’s courage has inspired me to get out of my comfort zone in order to achieve my goals. It has worked for her. Why would it not work for me? Or, for you? Resilience: Many of Rachel’s dreams and goals did not come easy and were physically, mentally, and emotionally energy-draining. She has been told that her goals are far-fetched and has even been met with a few “screw-faces” and rolled eyes in her life. Most people would seriously second guess their plans for achieving greatness, but not Rachel. Sisters, I want to remind you that when you feel like you can no longer make it on your own, reach out to one of our sisters for encouragement. You’ll be surprised how resilient you can become with a strong supportive foundation.
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Perseverance: Rachel did not always succeed on her first try. She always had many obstacles to overcome in order to make her dreams real. Rachel’s resilience is legendary in my eyes. When she falls, she has no problem dusting off and getting right back up. She tries and continues to try until she reaches her goals. Does Rachel sound like a few Gammas you know? Of course she does. Our women are beautiful and also full of C.R.A.P. Too! Rachel has been more than just a sorority sister to me. How do I know? Well, when my sister was asked why she was interested in Sigma Lambda Gamma, she mentioned that all of the young successful women she knew were Gammas. I know that having women like Rachel Luna in my life gave my sister many role models to look up to. I write this article with little specific details about Rachel’s achievements because I want to share her spirit and not brag about how great she is. This is a reminder to all Gammas that by helping each other and maintaining a positive attitude, we can do whatever it is we set out to do. Sister Rachel Luna is no ordinary woman. She is wife, mother, former United States Marine, successful entrepreneur, author of the upcoming book “Successful People are Full of C.R.A.P (Courage, Resilience, Authenticity, Perseverance)” and owner of The Tailor Made Life, a success coaching and small business consulting firm. Rachel is a sought out motivational speaker who also hosts several workshops and retreats a year. She graduated from Penn State in 2002 with a B.S. in Business Management, has worked for major corporations like Toyota Motors Sales and Goldman Sachs, lived and traveled all over the world, and is also a former Marine veteran who served in Kuwait and Iraq. Rachel currently resides in Okinawa, Japan with her husband and their two daughters. http://thetailormadelife.com/
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Entity Spotlight Beta Alpha
Sister Karina ‘Pele’ Enriquez Beta Alpha is back again! With a new mindset and goals, we have been able to accomplish many things this year. This past semester, we held a fish fry fundraiser to help raise money for breast cancer awareness. We were fortunate enough to raise well over $500 and donated all proceeds to support our philanthropy. This was definitely a great way to promote Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc., on campus and gain recognition from the University as well.
new things on campus, taking on new opportunities and keeping up with our academics this semester. Good luck to all our sisters out there! Beta Alpha wishes you nothing but the best! Have a great spring semester!
In addition to our efforts, we are ranked in fifth place out of thirty fraternities and sororities on campus for our high academic GPA of 2.98. With the help of one another, we were able to excel in our academics. We look forward to doing
Zeta Beta
Sister Vanessa Pineda On February 9, 2012, Sigma Lambda Gamma at SHSU hosted their annual B.Y.O.V. (Buy Your Own Valentine) date action. A volunteer was auctioned off to raise money, to which all proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The sisters decorated the theatre with heart shaped balloons and dressed in formal attire, along with their participants. Each guest was given a heart shaped sign to hold up when placing a bid on a participant. There were 43 participants who volunteered to be auctioned off in order to find a date or potential valentine. As each participant posed on stage, a short bio was read by the auctioneer to inform the audience with simple facts such as name, personality, and background. The 43 participants auctioned off included sisters of Sigma Lambda Gamma, other greek members such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Kappa Omega Sorority, Sigma
Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority, Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, and other SHSU students and organizations. Bids began at five dollars and increased to a startling two hundred dollars. The event was a tremendous success, raising an estimated 1,700 dollars.
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Member Spotlight Sister Nina Cuevas Sister CDT Madelyne Corcino
Our very own Captain (CPT) Nina Cuevas tied the knot with Mr. Federico Jordan on January 14, 2012. This beautiful ceremony was hosted at the Cadet Chapel. The more than 100 year old chapel has hosted several weddings for graduates over the years, and the fact that this wedding was one of our very own made the event even more special. Mu Beta Gammas helped Nina create history with the first all female, Latina, saber bearers. Saber bearers hold sabers or swords to make an arch for the bride and groom as they exit the church. This tradition started with the Royal Navy and is continued by the armed forces in different forms around the world. Nina’s saber arch was composed of Major Vijay
Want to share news or an accomplishment about your entity? Want to recognize an outstanding alumna or undergrad? Email us to see them in our entity/member spotlights!
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Gallardo, C P T Stephanie Pfeiffer, CPT Vicky Gallardo, CPT Antonia Carreon, C D T Madelyne Corcino and CDT Brianna Perez. It was our honor and pleasure to be a part of her saber arch. Major Vijay Gallardo (one of the founders of our chapter) did the honor and military tradition of welcoming Mr. Federico Jordan to the Army. This tradition is prepared by tapping the newlywed – in this case the groom – on the behind and saying, “Welcome to the Army”. West Point Gammas are continuing to make history!
Send your nominations to Mensajera@ SigmaLambdaGamma.com Next issue: Fall Semester
Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Creative
Spider Web de la Pantera Sister Samantha “Veracidad”Alexander What do you see when you look at me You see a video vixen An easy target Someone to which you can spread your lies Hoping that maybe you can get me to spread my legs And why? Because of the length of my skirt Let it not be the outward adorning Words that I choose to live by To have the integrity to learn the heart of a man Rather than judge by the look of one No, you see this short skirt, and these sensual curves That are reminiscent of the Fertile Crescent But you will never know what lies between this Tigris and Euphrates You will never know the thoughts that set my soul on fire No, you just want me to just lift my hem a little higher My name is not Cristal, Alize, or Mercedes And I am not walking around at 22 with three babies With three different guys because my self esteem is low You’ve confused me with someone else Because I’m not your common ho You will not catch me on your stage, shaking my ass for singles Or on a dim-lit corner where the common riff-raff mingles Next time you see me walk past, don’t call me girl or baby Because you have no chance with me, no ifs, buts, or maybe I see what you have done to women Took them from being queens who were revered And strong family figures survived and persevered And all that is left now is a shadow, whose true image has been smeared All across your videos with your cash and grills and “ice” But can our images really be worth such an insignificant price? I cannot be bought or sold by how many “rides” you’ve got For when you die, you go with nothing Life goes on, and still your flesh shall rot But I still remember And real truth remains forever I am in the image of my Father
And He forgets me never He remembers my true worth So others see it as well And when your worldly riches are gone And your life has been forgotten My beauty will continue Because I still remember that Golden Age Back when the was The Message Before the money and the fame were all that mattered When the message was paramount to the riches Before all the hoes and the bitches But you don’t see any of this when you look into my eyes Possibly because you are really too busy looking and my thighs Because what do you see when you look at me Just some video vixen that should fall at your feet Or maybe just fall on my knees, because I aim to please, right? That woman is not me, and it will never be So just keep walking right past, when next you see me My thoughts and my being are much far too great To be fathomed and followed by you So please don’t waste all your time Because you will be trapped in this wonderful web Of beauty and intricate rhyme
Write poetry? Have a love for photography? Is there an issue you want to write about? Want to share your talents and views with Sisters across the world? Send your submissions to Mensajera@ SigmaLambdaGamma.com Next issue: Fall Semester
La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Creative
Sister Alisha “Inspirada” Lewis
Alisha has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Florida. She became a sister at the Resilient Rho Alpha Chapter in Spring 2008. Alisha is currently an Alumna at Large in Jacksonville, Fla. The phrase “Pretty in Pink, Perfect in Purple” is a popular phrase in the Southeast and she wanted to submit an illustration of this phrase.
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Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women
Who We Are
La Mensajera Staff
Christina Cassan Lydia Gutierrez Valentina Valdes Welcome our newest staff member, Valentina “Prevalezco� Valdes #35, from Omicron Alpha Chapter at Grand Valley State University. She was initiated Jan 21, 2006. Valentina works at Spongecell in New York as an Interactive Production Designer.
Find us on Social Media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SigmaLambdaGamma Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/slg1990 https://twitter.com/#!/lamensajera1990
Racquel Henry Lindsey Compton
Paperwork & Fee Deadlines 8th of every month: Chapter per delegate rate) Minutes are to be submitted to May 15: Standards of Distinction Assessment Due (This will replace Regional Director the End of Semester Report and April 15: Alumnae Association Annual Budget Paperwork) Annual Report & Fees Due June 1: Last day to submit April 18: Standards of Distinction initiation paperwork & fees for will be made available on the the spring semester Online Community June 1: Last day to register May 1: Early bird registration and make delegate changes for for Convention 2012 ends (all Convention 2012 payments must be submitted by this day to qualify for the $275 La Mensajera Spring 2012
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Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. National Headquarters 125 E. Zeller Street Suite D North Liberty, IA 52317
OFFICE: 319.626.7679 FAX: 319.626.7688 email: Headquarters@SigmaLambdaGamma.com SigmaLambdaGamma.com Questions about La Mensajera? email: Mensajera@SigmaLambdaGamma.com
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