Let’s Talk
I was elected National President in 2004. The first official communication of the newly elected President is to present “The Charge” at the end of Convention:
“We must be a Sister first to every Tri Sigma. In order for our sorority to flourish our friendships must be harbored in the safest of ports, we must insure that Tri Sigma chapters and members cherish and fulfill the vows that make us Sisters.”
Laura Ward SWeet Alpha Sigma | National President
F“Friendship: We are about friendship. It is clear and it is simple. Collegiate chapter life provides friends within the higher education community. Alumnae chapters offer friends along life’s highways.”
I wish to thank the women whose friendship anchored my loyalty: Ann Williams, my collegiate chapter’s National Collegiate Coordinator who made me feel special and capable; Emily Lee, who exemplifies Steadfast Sisterhood; my fellow national officers, Sisters who never said ‘no’ when offered a volunteer opportunity; Diana Sarber and Mary Barbee who mentored me in being
a Tri Sigma spokesperson, (I loved our volunteer experiences together); and collegiate chapter and alumnae chapter members who trust our processes and shared with me the glory of our friendships.
“Character: We must embellish the spirit of wonder as our Sisters explore the academic world on the campus. We must celebrate academic success and promote high scholastic attainment. Our Sister’s future is on the line, we must push her and ourselves to heights we never thought possible.”
I am inspired by those who kindled the spark in my heart: My lifelong loves, husband, Greg, and our son, Chris, for their support of my endless trips and phone calls; the Tri Sigma Foundation members led by Chair Jan Horner and Walton House Board members, led by Chair and longtime friend Inez Fridley; my NPC Sisters who have constantly offered words of support, wisdom and untold hours of laughter and delight, especially my special Pi Beta Phi roommate, Carol Warren, Chi Omega travel partner, Patty Disque, and Kappa Delta confidantes, Julie Johnson and Bonnie Warren.
“Conduct: We must take that tentative spirit that a new member has and prompt her trust. We cannot abuse that trust. We must be true to her and to one another.”
My gratitude goes to the women who framed trust in our Sisterhood: the five trienniums of Council Sisters with whom I have served; to the current Council, I salute each of them, they never missed a beat: Beth, Allison, Reatha, Emily, Barb, and Mandy; our tirelessly working Headquarter Staff, Marcia Cutter, Executive Director, who is the ”wings beneath our feet” and Lorin Phillips, Collegiate Services Director, who has made me look so good.
To all my Sisters, Tri Sigma, Panhellenic and Staff, thank you for holding the torch high and holding us and me to the Highest Standard and to each of you, I am eternally grateful for your love and support, but most of all for the successes that have defined our Sigma Sigma Sigma experience.
Your Voice
Share your thoughts on The
Triangle
One of our goals in publishing The Triangle is to open a dialogue between Sigma Sisters from across the country. We want to share stories about accomplishments, members, events and all that is happening in the world of Tri Sigma. And when we have asked for your contributions through submissions and providing us tips on interesting and inspiring stories, you have been more than willing to share.
Truly, the interaction we enjoy with our readership contributes greatly to shaping The Triangle
And now, we are taking that interaction a step further with the introduction of the “Your Voice” column. This column will feature feedback from readers on topics of interest from past issues. If a story touches you – whether in a positive or not-so-positive way – we encourage you to share your thoughts with fellow readers.
You may submit letters to “Your Voice” by emailing triangle@trisigma.org. Please remember to include your name, chapter, email address and phone number in your correspondence. Because we have a limited amount of space, letters to “Your Voice” should be about 200 words in length. We will print a cross-section of letters each issue.
Continue to dialogue and share your voice today.
As a Golden Violet and an active member of our Northeast Florida Alumnae Chapter, I truly enjoy receiving The Triangle. It is a real blessing to feel the warmth of Sisterhood that exudes from its pages.
Thank you for the effort that you put into it. Keep up the good work! I speak for the members of our alumnae chapter when I send greetings to all members of The Triangle staff from sunny Florida.
Love in the bonds, JoAnne Robertson, O
Design & Editing Innova Ideas & Services
Alumnae Editor Katie Wadington, Epsilon Xi
Collegiate Editor Jackie Wise, Alpha Chi
Features Editor Hillary Ashton, Zeta Beta
Copy Editors Katie Wadington, Epsilon Xi
Jocelyn Harper, Alpha Beta
Executive Director Marcia Cutter, Beta Gamma
Sigma Sigma Sigma 225 North Muhlenberg Street
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Executive Council 2007–2010
National President
Laura Ward Sweet, Alpha Sigma
National Treasurer
Barbara Stoe Stone, Beta Tau
Alumnae Vice President
Mandy Meehan Chocheles, Gamma Eta
Collegiate Vice President
Emily Eure Ellis, Gamma Beta
Membership Development Vice President
Bethany A. Deines, Beta Kappa
Publications Vice President
Allison Swick-Duttine, Psi
National Panhellenic Conference Delegate
Reatha Cole Cox, Alpha Zeta
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© 20010 Sigma Sigma Sigma
Trusting the “It Just Feels Right”Instinct
By Cathy B. Almeida
One classified ad changed the course of Kay McElroy’s life. It read, “Six-month-old cougar cub for sale. $1,000.”
Kay McElroy, Alpha Iota, had never seen a cougar up close, so out of curiosity she responded to the ad. What she found, just a mile down the road from her new house, was a despondent shadow of a cougar in a dog cage. As she describes it, he was nursing “badly infected paws from a botched declaw procedure.”
Kay wanted to save the animal, but $1,000 was more than she could afford since she was new to Mississippi and not yet employed. She tried bartering, by offering a tractor she inherited with her new home, but the owner only wanted cash.
K Empowered
Leaving the cougar in such conditions broke Kay’s heart, but two weeks later the tables turned. The owner pulled into Kay’s driveway with a trailer in tow and the cougar chained to the front seat of his truck. The man was ready to trade the cat for the tractor.
“The decision to save Jake was easy,” Kay explains, thinking back to that day in 1987, “because it just felt right.”
Her decision to pledge Sigma Sigma Sigma at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma was similar. Again she says, “It just felt right.” Becoming a Tri Sigma Sister was the first time Kay felt accepted. The sense of belonging she felt from her Sisters stood in stark contrast to the neglect she felt at home. Kay was the only daughter of an alcoholic father and one of only two girls in her high school graduating class. She entered college feeling like an underdog but through the support of her sorority Sisters she graduated feeling accepted and self-confident.
Kay, now 64, exudes self-confidence. Yet, she’s never forgotten what it feels like to be a neglected underdog. “That memory,” she says, “is what drove me to rescue Jake and learn all that was necessary to care for a cougar: how to build him a proper enclosure, how to tend his wounds, what to feed him.”
In 1990, she founded the Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary and just two years later the Sanctuary received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Kay soon realized that confined, unhealthy and often abusive conditions are the fate for wild cats sold by exotic animal breeders. Cubs often end up with private owners who mistakenly believe they make good house pets. Or, they end up in unlicensed zoos that use them to drive ticket sales at their parks. It is when the cute cubs grow into 600-pound wild animals that their owners get scared and the cats end up in chains, cellars or become part of canned hunts where they are corralled and shot for sport.
Giving these exotic cats a safe and healthy place to live, she realized, was tackling only one part of a bigger problem – that there weren’t enough laws to protect them. So Kay took action by drafting legislation for the state of Mississippi. In 1997, the Exotic Animal Act was passed, outlawing canned hunts, exotic animal auctions and requiring registration of all exotics with the State Game and Wildlife Department. Today, more than 300 animals are living in comfort and safety on the 20 acres of Cedarhill Sanctuary. Kay’s days start early with rounds to her big cats, pot belly pigs, wolves, horses, dogs and domestic cats that have also made their way to the sanctuary over the years. Afternoons are devoted to expanding her donor base so she can raise the $40,000 a month it takes to run the sanctuary. In between, Kay writes to legislators and senators and everybody she knows with influence to garner support for a long-awaited federal bill that would put an end to the trafficking of exotic animals.
A typical work day can run 15 hours, but Kay still makes time for her favorite hobby. “I’m still a habitual reader of classified ads,” she explains. “That’s how this whole place got started. When I rescued that first cougar, I thought I’d find him a home and that would be the end of it. I look around now, and I go ‘wow.’ I never had one instance of doubt that his was the right thing to do. I’ve had many different careers but this is best by far, let me tell you.”
Kay McElroy, Alpha Iota
Giving Back
By Sherri Varsek Ballard, Alpha Nu
Empowered Women
Personal experiences have driven Mary Jo Zylstra Bristol, Beta Rho, in her choices to give back to others. She chooses to help others in appreciation of all the support she has received.
WWhen her daughter was born prematurely in 1986, Mary Jo realized the overwhelming needs of babies and families in neo-natal care. Her daughter spent three months in neo-natal care and it was common practice that children could not be held until they were four pounds. So, Mary Jo did not have the opportunity to hold her own baby until she was seven weeks old. Babies were isolated to protect them, but this denied them muchneeded physical contact. The situation moved Mary Jo to volunteer at Spectrum-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.
Today, the medical community recognizes the importance of physical contact and parents are encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact with their infants. But, when prematurely born babies spend an extended time in hospital care, there can be many obstacles preventing the parents from visiting as often as they would like. Often a mother must return to work or care for other children. Mary Jo helped by volunteering at the hospital, rocking and holding the babies who were patients there.
She found the time spent there beneficial to her as well. She explains that often volunteers are constantly on the go. When you find something that includes taking time to be still, it is good for your body. When you combine this with something that helps others, it is good for your soul.
Mary Jo takes the concept of giving of herself quite literally. She began donating blood in college. When her daughter was in need, she realized the importance of keeping up with this practice. By donating 120 times, she recently gave her 15th gallon of blood.
For Tri Sigma, Mary Jo has filled many roles over the years. Starting as a Chapter Advisor, she soon moved on to supporting multiple chapters as a National Collegiate Coordinator. She has spent time as the National Treasurer and a member of the Foundation Board. Currently she is enjoying being a member-at-large of the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter, but never knows when the call of Tri Sigma will re-engage her in another adventure.
As many women who are driven to help others, Mary Jo jokes that, “having a hard time saying no equates to volunteerism.”
Mary Jo Bristol, Beta Rho
July 9-12, 2010 Minneapolis,
Register online at sigmasigmasigma.org or complete the form enclosed.
all National Volunteers, including National officers, advisors and House Corporation personnel, are invited to attend the Cab and Volunteer Summit, July 8-9, 2010. the Summit will provide cuttingedge skill development to continually prepare our volunteers to guide tri Sigma.
SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA 2010 CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM
July 9-12, 2010
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South 7800 Normandale Blvd. Minneapolis, MN 55439 www.sheratonbloomingtonhotel.com Register online at: www.sigmasigmasigma.org
Attendee Category:
Full Name (First/Middle/Maiden/Married)
Preferred Name for Name Badge
Address (Street/City/State/Zip)
I am a Golden Violet
Collegiate Member Alumna Member Guest
Email Address
Collegiate Chapter Alumnae Chapter
I would like to receive Circle Degree
Number of Conventions attended (not including 2010)
I would like to assist with: Hospitality Table Displays Decorations Choir Sigma Shop Other
Airline Information:
Departure Date Arrival
I will be driving to Convention.
Hotel Room Reservations/Roommates:
You do not need to contact the hotel for reservations; Tri Sigma will do that for you.
***IMPORTANT: If you select a multiple occupancy room and do not list the required number of roommates, others will be placed in your room to ll the requested rooming space. For example, a quad room was selected and only 2 roommates were listed; a fourth will be placed in the room. ROOMMATES WILL BE ASSIGNED FOR ALL DELEGATES AND NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS.
I do not need hotel accommodations I do not wish to share a room
Double-occupancy room (PRICE/night) (1 roommate)
Requested Roommate 1:
Requested Roommate 2:
Requested Roommate 3:
Triple-occupancy room (PRICE/night) (2 roommates)
Please indicate any additional special needs:
Emergency Contact Information:
In case of emergency please contact:
Name Relationship
Attendee Information: Reminder:
Quad-occupancy room (PRICE/night) (3 roommates)
Phone Number
SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA 2010 CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM
July 9-12, 2010
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South 7800 Normandale Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55439 www.sheratonbloomingtonhotel.com
FEES/PAYMENT:
July 8-9, 2010
AAB and Volunteer Summit Registration (includes registration, 1 night’s lodging, and 1 meal):
AAB and Volunteer Summit (only attending Summit) – $75.00 $
OR
AAB and Volunteer Summit (attending Summit+Convention)
Registration fee for one AAB member per chapter is $25; fee for additional AAB members is $75 each). $
July 9-12, 2010
Convention Registration:
Full-time Registration – $200.00 ($250.00 if submitted after May 1, 2010) $ Daily Registration ($100/day) $ Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Educational Tracks (Space is limited. Pre-register below to attend these track programs. There will also be shorter, educational sessions available to attend at Convention without pre-registration.)
July 9, 2010 – 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Superior Service: The Meaning in Volunteering
An Inspiring Inspiration Week
July 10, 2010 – 2:15-4:15 p.m.
Superior Alumnae Chapters: Moving from Good to Great
Our Values and Our Programs: Do What you Say You Will Do
Haze – A Documentary: Your Choice, Your Responsibility
Rockin’ Recruitment
Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Oh My! (Bring Your Own Computer)
Finding Your Passion and Living a Life of Balance the 7 Habits Way
July 10, 2010 – 2:15-5:15 p.m.
Housing Corporation Forum
Reminder:
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South 7800 Normandale Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55439 www.sheratonbloomingtonhotel.com Register online at: www.sigmasigmasigma.org
Meals:
Panhellenic Luncheon – Saturday, July 10, 2010 ($31.00)
Laurels Banquet – Sunday, July 11, 2010 ($46.00) $ Festival of Lights – Monday, July 12, 2010 ($61.00) $
Vegetarian Food Allergies
Accommodations:
$136.00 x (# of nights) = Single Occupancy:
$ 68.00 x (# of nights) = Double Occupancy: (# of nights) = $ 45.50 x Triple Occupancy: $ 34.00 x (# of nights) = Quad Occupancy:
Tours:
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Mall of America Bus Shuttle ($19.00 round trip)
Twin Cities Highlights Tour/Dinner ($57.00)
Guthrie Theater ($87.00)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Twin Cities Highlights Tour/Lunch ($61.00)
Stillwater Tour/Lunch ($66.00)
Payment
Print Name
Signature
REFUND POLICY:
Refunds are granted as follows: Cancellation received prior to May 22, 2010 – 80% refund. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER MAY 22, 2010. NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER JUNE 30, 2010. There is a $25.00 penalty on all returned checks.
Educational Track Highlights
Convention 2010 offers some outstanding two-hour educational tracks as well as some 75-minute educational sessions. The following highlights a few of the many great programs featured at Convention to help us Find our True North!
Facebook, twitter, blogger, oh my! (bring Your own Computer)
Kara miller, epsilon delta
Kara is the Director of Extension for Tri Sigma and the Assistant Dean of Students in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at Cornell University.
Program description
Facebook, Twitter, Blogger. How many times a day do we visit these sites, use these words, or hear them used by others? Whether you are a novice or an expert, please plan to attend (with your own computer). This program will give you an introduction to some online social networking tools and also host a discussion about the benefits and warnings of such tools.
Haze: a documentary…Your Choice, Your responsibility
Kelly Jo Karnes, Pi
Kelly Jo is the Associate Director of Student Life at the University of Iowa and the keynote speaker for our Panhellenic Luncheon.
Program description
On the afternoon of September 16, 2004, 18-year-old
Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. pledged Chi Psi Fraternity at the University of Colorado. The next morning he was found dead, a victim of an irresponsible hazing act involving alcohol. A sad situation made even worse because it was so preventable.
Every year, a staggering 1,700 college students face the same fate. Another 100,000 are victims of sexual assault as a result of heavy drinking. But no one is
working on a national level to change a culture that puts our young people in peril, until now.
HAZE is a feature documentary, created with the intent of placing a focus on the issues of binge drinking, alcohol-laden hazing rituals, and rapid-fire drinking games. Simply stated, the film’s goal is to save lives and prevent harm; harm that would never have happened if a few crucial steps had been followed by friends, by fraternity brothers and sisters, family members or peers. HAZE won’t end irresponsible drinking but it will be the first chapter in an educational process for parents and young adults – teaching us what to do and what to look out for in order to “save a life.”
Finding Your Passion and Living a Life of balance the 7 Habits Way
Kirsten Nicholas, epsilon alpha
Kirsten is a Certified Trainer for the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She currently works as the Associate Director of External Relations for the Duke University Career Center. She also serves as the Chapter Advisor for Delta Delta at UNC Chapel Hill and is an Alumna of Epsilon Alpha at California State University East Bay.
Program description
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where,“ said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
— Through the Looking Glass (By Lewis Carroll)
Superior Service: the meaning in Volunteering allison Swick-duttine, Psi and Kaye Schendel, Gamma Phi
Allison is currently an Executive Council member for Tri Sigma. Previously, she volunteered in the roles of Director of Programs and Collegiate Coordinator. Professionally, Allison is the Director of Fraternity/ Sorority Life & Organization Development at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. Kaye is currently the Coordinator of Programs and Assessment for Tri Sigma. She has previously volunteered in the roles of VP of Publications on Executive Council and College Panhellenic Coordinator. Kaye also served as a Chapter Consultant and received the Mabel Lee Walton Award. Professionally, Kaye is the Assistant Director of University Centers at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Program description
How does your chapter serve and give back to the community? This session will focus on the meaning of volunteering and help you help your chapter focus on the true meaning of service.
an Inspiring Inspiration Week
tiffany Fay, alpha Chi
Tiffany Fay is a member of the Alpha Chi Chapter. During her time in the chapter she served as multiple chairs and officers from 2004-2008. Upon graduation Tiffany served as a Residential Leadership Consultant at the University of Missouri Columbia, now the Eta Chi Chapter. During the 2009-2010 academic year, Tiffany continues to serve Tri Sigma as a second year Residential Consultant. She presently works with Region 4 and lives in Louisville, KY.
Program description
This track will provide you and your Chapter with a wealth of ideas for creating the most inspiring Inspiration Week. Time will be spent creating a plan to help Chapters develop a meaningful and memorable Inspiration Week focused on Sisterhood and our values.
Superior alumnae Chapters: From Good to Great Lauren moran, Gamma rho
Lauren is the Director of Alumnae and Volunteer Services for Tri Sigma.
Program description
This track will provide you and your alumnae chapter with an action plan on moving from good to great! You will learn some effective techniques to enhance your Chapter and move you from so-so to outstanding!
Sigma Shop is returning to the 42nd Sigma Sigma Sigma Convention July 9-12, 2010
And all Sigma sisters are encouraged to make and contribute handmade Sigma themed items to be sold to benefit Walton House.
Items may be simple or elegant, big or small, decorated with Sigma motif using Greek letters, sailboats, violets or any other purple or Sigma inspired theme. Those that are inexpensive ($5.00) or less and tuck easily into a suitcase sell best. Larger or more expensive items will be used in a Silent Auction.
Get out the patterns, fabric, thread, felt, ribbon, flowers, glue, paint, paper, brushes, pens, feathers, beads, lace and whatever else it takes to make those special keepsakes. All will be welcome and bring joy to the Convention shoppers.
Questions may be addressed to: Carol Gregory Swango, 2010 Sigma Shop Chairman, at Cjswango@aol.com or 918-333-4599.
Letters of inquiry may be sent to: Carol J. Swango, 2408 Jefferson Road, Fox Hollow, Bartlesville, OK, 74006-6500
Convention 2010: Housing Corporation Forum
Calling all House Corporation members, house directors and managers… A successfully run chapter house does not have to depend on a roll of the dice! As a part of Convention 2010, we will host a Housing Forum to equip you with the skills to manage the property with efficiency and certainty.
This three-hour forum, scheduled for 2:15-5:15 p.m. Saturday, July 10, will provide an understanding of the new regional structure, liability and safety issues from a housing perspective, coaching on running a business while being a Sister, information on Bill Highway and a priceless opportunity for an open discussion and networking.
We are very excited to offer this Forum during Convention. Please register to attend on your Convention registration form.
For more information, please contact Barbara Bonapfel, Housing Director • bbonapfel@bellsouth.net or Chris Smithhisler, Director of Programs • csmithhisler@trisigma.org.
Meet Your 2010 Convention Committee
For months before you arrive in Minnesota for your “Superior Sisterhood” experience, the Sisters of the Convention 2010 steering committee will be hard at work to make certain that every detail is taken care of.
Heading up the convention committee is Gwen Hardouin maniscalco, Gamma eta. Gwen, who has also served Tri Sigma as Assistant Convention Chair in 1989, was appointed Meeting Planner in 1989 and served in that position for three trienniums. In 1998, she was appointed to the Membership Development Department. Most recently she was the Convention Chair/Meeting Planner for our 2007 Nashville experience. Gwen lives with husband, Tony, in Metairie, LA, and is close to three married daughters and seven grandchildren, with another on the way! She enjoys duplicate bridge, traveling, Sudoku, gardening and flower arranging. She is passionate about traveling and most recently visited Australia and New Zealand.
Jan Weaver zeipen, Gamma Phi – assistant Convention Co-Chair
Jan is a retired elementary school teacher. She still enjoys the educational setting, and volunteers at the school she retired from as well at the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Most Tri Sigma’s know Jan as “Gibis.” She was a National Officer for many years, and served on the Executive Council as Collegiate Vice President from 19891992. Jan and husband, Jon, enjoy travel, music and living close to twin adult daughters, Kari and Jodi. Jan has also assisted with the coordination of tours to compliment our Convention experience.
tina enzweiler blenkush, beta Pi – assistant Convention Co-Chair
Tina is the past President of the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter. She works part-time and actively volunteers at her children’s elementary school. She treasures spending time with her husband, Rick, and their two children and takes pleasure in crafting, photography and traveling to new places. She looks forward to sharing in the adventure of finding your ”True North” with her Sigma Sisters at Convention.
Jennifer Strangis, beta Pi- Freebies
Jenni is currently a residential real estate agent in the Twin Cities. She also co-owns an Event Planning & Gifting firm, called LIMEgreen with another Beta Pi alumna. She lives with her boyfriend Jason and their pug puppy, Bruno. She is excited to be putting all the swag bags together!
Connie aram, beta Pi – Hospitality
Connie has held a number of positions in the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter. She spends most of her time in volunteer positions. She is currently serving on the Board for Children’s Hospital Association, having recently ended her term as President of this organization. Connie is a small-group leader and mentor in her church community, and part of the First Impressions Team, which involves hospitality. She and her husband George have two daughters.
tarah bjorklund, epsilon rho – exhibits Co-Chair
Tarah is the Collegiate Relations chairperson for the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter and also serves on the Alumnae Advisory Board as the Recruitment Advisor for Epsilon Rho. She is currently an Academic Advisor at a college in downtown Minneapolis. Tarah enjoys kickboxing, traveling and spending time with her family and friends in her free time.
Penny Hedquist Hanson, epsilon rho – exhibits Co-Chair
Penny is a marketing professional as well as wife to Paul and mother to Payton and Dillon. Penny enjoys photography, scrapbooking and time with family.
marilyn Carson, alpha Nu – registration
Marilyn, a past National Treasurer, Area Director and National Collegiate Chair, is enjoying retirement with her husband at their lake home in east central Minnesota. Her hobbies include reading, oil and watercolor painting, fishing and singing with two church choirs. Marilyn and her husband also volunteer in various church ministries.
Jen thoms Pacyga, beta Pi – decorations Co-Chair
Jen is a sales manager for three Marriott hotels in Eden Prairie, MN. She enjoys floral design and gardening, bike riding, swing and ballroom dancing, and has been an active participant and fundraiser with MS Society activities. Jen has four grown children and loves to spend time with her four grandchildren.
mikki ruhland Gottwalt, beta Pi – decorations Co-Chair
Mikki is currently working as a model assistant for local Realtors. She serves on the board for Cradle of Hope and is very active in her church. Her hobbies include cooking, flowers and gardening, and she was a finalist in the 2004 Pillsbury Bake-Off. She spends her time enjoying her 17 grandchildren.
Kaye Schendel, Gamma Phi – Publicity
Kaye is currently employed at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She serves as the President of the La Crosse Friends of St. Patrick organization, a group that is concerned with promoting restorative justice between the U.S. and Northern Ireland. She also serves on the La Crosse Irishfest board of directors. She and her husband, David, share their home with two pug dogs.
See the Twin Cities (and More!) at Convention 2010
Fantastic is a word that is often misused and frequently abused, but there is not another term that comes close to describing the Greater Twin Cities, MN Metro Area!
the Convention committee has been hard at work planning tours that offer something for everyone. make sure you take a look at the tours offered below and start making your plans now to explore the wonderful twin Cities of minneapolis and St. Paul on Saturday, July 10.
oPtIoN 1: tWIN CItIeS HIGHLIGHtS tour
WItH dINNer
We’ll experience a sampling of just what it is that makes the Twin Cities so “fantastic.” Our tour of the area includes both downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. While in Minneapolis, we’ll experience the famous Nicollet Mall, the skyway network of downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
We’ll continue our journey and make our way through the Kenwood residential area to see the television home of Mary Tyler Moore, and around sparkling lakes and lagoons on our way to the legendary Minnehaha Falls, where we’ll make a short stop. We’ll follow the Mississippi River past Fort Snelling. While in St. Paul, our guide will provide commentary on Rice Park, the Ordway Music Hall, the State Capitol and Landmark Center.
We’ll drive along stately Summit Avenue (the longest stretch of restored Victorian homes in the country!) to see the Governor’s Mansion and the home and haunts of F. Scott Fitzgerald and many mansions once owned by wealthy lumber and railroad barons. Also included in the tour is the University of Minnesota and St. Anthony Falls area – the birthplace of Minneapolis. A boxed dinner will be included. The cost for this fantastic excursion is $57 per person.
OptiOn 2: EnjOy tHE nigHt at tHE WOrld FamOus gutHriE tHEatEr!
Sigmas are in for a real treat on this tour as we will enjoy the grand opening weekend of “She Stoops to Conquer.” The Guthrie Theater opened on May 7, 1963, with a production of “Hamlet” directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the theater’s founder. The idea of the theatre
began in 1959 during a series of conversations among Guthrie and two colleagues – Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler – who were disenchanted with Broadway. They wanted to create a theatre with a resident acting company that would perform the classics in rotating repertory with the highest professional standards. In summer 2007, the new Guthrie Theater reopened as a 250,000-square-foot theater center in the historic Mills District on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The exterior is a composition of metal and glass that evokes industrial forms, rendered in a modern way. The large circular form of the thrust theater echoes the area’s adjacent grain silos, while the towering rectangular structure of the proscenium theater is in harmony with nearby flour mills.
A spectacular 53-meter cantilever swings out over the river front, a contemporary rendering of the equally spectacular silos around it. There will be time before the show to enjoy dinner on your own in the Guthrie’s numerous restaurants. This is an evening you won’t forget and is priced at $87 per person.
OptiOn 3: mall OF amEriCa
No trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul would be complete without a trip to the world famous Mall of America. With more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore, the Mall of America gives new meaning to the phrase “shop till you drop.” The mall also includes Nickelodeon Universe, the nation’s largest indoor theme park.
Shuttle buses will run continuously from the hotel to the mall throughout the evening. Cost per person is $19. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit the nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex.
thinking about extending your stay? the Convention committee has a couple of options to enhance your visit.
pOst COnvEntiOn OptiOn 1: tWin CitiEs
HigHligHt tOur WitH lunCH
This tour will offer the same sights as our Option 1 Convention experience except we are adding a lunch stop at Forepaugh’s, which is an important part of Minnesota history. When Minnesota was a new state, this elegant mansion was the belle of the neighborhood. Also included in the tour is the University of Minnesota and St. Anthony Falls area – the birthplace of Minneapolis. Stops (Sculpture Garden, St. Paul Cathedral, City Hall, etc.) will be made along the route as time, interest and weather allow. Cost is $64 per person.
pOst COnvEntiOn OptiOn 2: stillWatEr, mn, tOur WitH lunCH
Located on the St. Croix River, Stillwater is Minnesota’s oldest town and the birthplace of the Minnesota Territory in 1849. Stillwater is steeped in history, architectural gems and beautiful natural surroundings. For more than 50 years, lumbermen dominated the St. Croix River with lumber camps, mills, log rafts and steamboats making Stillwater the Queen City of the river. The hills of Stillwater provided escape from the industrial and commercial riverfront, where the lumbermen, bankers, riverboat men and mill workers built homes for their families. The diversity of the population created diversity in home architecture: Queen Anne, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Stick Style, Shingle Style, Neoclassicism, Bungalow, Italianate, Craftsman, and Prairie.
Our tour will provide a riding tour of this enchanted old river town and take us behind the scenes of Stillwater’s history. Anecdotes and incidents from bygone years will illuminate the lives of immigrants and entrepreneurs as we view mansions built by wealthy lumber barons, beautiful old churches on the “Street of Spires,” landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places and the beautiful St. Croix River. Next, we will enjoy the sights along the scenic St. Croix River as we board a replica of an 1890’s paddle wheel riverboat, Andiamo. A delicious buffet lunch will also be served on board.
There will be time after lunch to enjoy the variety and quality shopping on Stillwater’s historic streets. Boutiques, specialty shops, antiques and art galleries offer abundance for the discriminating shopper. On your strolling shopping experience, discover original works of art, jewelry, pottery, eclectic gifts/crafts, books, gourmet utensils, clothing and home furnishings. Cost for this amazing adventure is $66 per person.
Congratulations!
CHaPter aNNIVerSarIeS
Congratulations to the following chapters who are celebrating anniversaries in 2010. Collegiate
Epsilon Delta
Epsilon Epsilon 20th
Epsilon Pi
Epsilon Rho 15th 1995 Zeta Tau 1995 Zeta Upsilon 10th 2000 Eta Kappa
alumnae
anniversary Charter date alumnae Chapter 105th 1905 Toledo, OH 1905 Metro Detroit, M 75th 1935 Shreveport, LA 65th 1945 Milwaukee, WI 1945 Central Florida, FL 1945 DeKalb, IL 1945 Fort Wayne, IN 1945 Muncie, IN 60th 1950 Phoenix, AZ 1950 Greater St. Louis, MO 55th 1955 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 1955 Columbia, SC
50th 1960 Tucson Sunshine, AZ 45th 1965 Pinellas County, FL 40th 1970 Southeast Jackson County, MO
30th 1980 Baltimore Suburban SW, MD 20th 1990 Inland Empire, CA 15th 1995 South Florida, FL Triangle Area, NC Utah Upstate SC
2010Founders Day Message
Dear Sisters,
Throughout our lives, many Tri Sigmas recollect and recite the familiar saying, “Remember always, we who receive much, must give much.” This special quote from our Ritual has served as a compass for me from the day I heard it during the Arc Degree.
Reflecting on my young adult life, I have found the lessons I learned about leadership, Sisterhood and citizenship in Tri Sigma were a sort of magnetic field leading me to my purpose. While it has taken many years to discover my authentic leadership, Tri Sigma has continued to provide me the opportunities, and more importantly, the inspiration to move, ever forward, to my true north.
It has been almost 19 years since I joined the Psi Chapter at Marshall University; I have continued to serve Tri Sigma and the fraternal movement professionally and personally since that day. I have found my passion in student leadership development and organizational change, and have pursued a career in higher education administration, working specifically with fraternities and sororities. I volunteer nationally in many roles to advance the fraternal movement with organizations including HazingPrevention.Org and the Northeast Greek Leadership Association. The development of young adults into values-centered citizens is my true north – and I have Tri Sigma to thank for helping me discover it.
Each year on April 20, Tri Sigmas have an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of our Sisterhood during Founders Day celebrations. This year’s theme, “To Be Authentic,” written by Emmy Smith (Epsilon Pi), focuses on the journey each of us must take to find our true north.
Tri Sigma is a lifetime sorority experience for women – a continuous journey. Whether or not this sentence from our mission statement resonates currently, I ask you to please commit to making Tri Sigma a bigger part of your life. I have a few suggestions about how to make that happen:
• Join Sigma Connect, our online social network, and reconnect with old friends (and make some new ones).
• Pay your annual alumnae dues so that Tri Sigma can continue to provide member benefits such as The Triangle magazine, an interactive Web site, developmental leadership programs, and staff support for our collegiate and alumnae chapters.
• Make a donation to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation to support leadership programs, scholarships or play therapy programs.
• Volunteer as an Alumnae Advisory Board or Housing Corporation Board member for a local collegiate chapter. Apply for National Officer or Council service.
• Join an alumnae chapter or become a Key Alumna.
• Recommend a woman for membership. (Keep in mind that women can be initiated as alumnae.)
• Buy a brick on the Sisterhood Walk to help support renovations to our national memorial headquarters, Walton House.
• Send a thank you note to someone from your Tri Sigma past who has made an impact on you.
April is a month of hope and renewal. How appropriate it seems that it is also the month of Tri Sigma’s Founders Day – what a natural time to renew our commitments to the Sorority and our Sisters. This Founders Day, celebrate Tri Sigma by reflecting on how our Sorority has helped you find your “true north” and recommit to making our organization part of your journey to discovering your authentic self.
ever Forward, allison Swick-duttine, Psi Publications Vice President
Sigma Sigma Sigma Founders Day 2010
Authentic To Be
By Emmy Smith, Epsilon Pi
Finding true North
“Just as a compass points toward a magnetic field, your True North pulls you toward the purpose of your leadership. When you follow your internal compass, your leadership will be authentic. Although others may guide or influence you, your truth is derived from your life story and only you can determine what it should be.”
— Taken from True North by Bill George
Leadership is a journey to our authentic self. It’s grounded in our values and guiding principles. Events, both positive and negative, influence our journey and make us who we are.
determine Your direction
“Life is a journey, not a destination – we determine our destiny by the direction we take.” — Anonymous
Have you ever been on a long trip and heard the all-annoying, “Are we there yet?” Often in life, we focus on the destination – getting the job promotion or the good grade. However, it’s the work and effort that go into reaching that destination that builds character and shapes you as a person and a leader.
CorreCtIoN
Tri Sigma is part of your life journey. Being a part of this organization has influenced your course and helped you along on your search for your true north.
Following Your Compass
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.”
— Douglas Adams
Life is a constant journey, and every decision leads you in a different direction. Keep your compass close and don’t worry when you have to do a little “off-roading.” Life may not always follow the plan you’ve laid out for yourself, but everything works out the way it’s supposed to. All you can do is enjoy the ride.
Reconnect with Tri Sigma, and you may be surprised where you end up.
blaze Your own trail
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”
— TS Eliot
Strive to live an exceptional life rather than a mediocre one. By trying new
things and setting higher standards for yourself, you will be surprised at all you are able to achieve. Living your life this way will translate to those around you and inspire them to stretch and leave the trail. Forging your own path and following your own trail is what makes you authentic. Lead by example.
Tri Sigma can give you ample opportunity to try a path you’ve never taken. Take a chance and get involved.
reflect
Think about the path you are on:
• Have you done any “off-roading” lately?
• Are you stretching yourself in search of your own brand of authenticity?
• How does your path compare to the path our Founders took?
I challenge you to always include Tri Sigma in the search for your true north. Our Founders laid a path for us to follow, to emulate in order to be the best we can be. Tri Sigma is here to help us all become better women – not just through four years of college but for a lifetime.
The staff of The Triangle strives to be accurate in all its reporting. In the Summer 2009 edition of The Triangle, we inadvertently omitted Christina Anderson as a new initiate of Eta Chi, University of Missouri – Columbia chapter. We are thrilled Christina is a member and we regret the omission.
National Panhellenic Conference 2009 Annual Meeting
T“Women Leading the Experience” was the theme of the 2009 Annual Meeting of the National Panhellenic Conference. Delegates and representatives of the 26 member groups convened October 8-11, 2009 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina in Tampa, Florida, as partners in NPC.
The past year has been a time of change and progress for the National Panhellenic Conference. Advocacy, collaboration and support are key statements in the National Panhellenic Conference mission and vision statements, and these ideas were a primary focus for the 2007-2009 Biennium.
Several interfraternal partners, with whom we share voice and value, participated throughout the meeting –Jennifer Jones, NPHC President, Peter D. Smithhisler, NIC President and CEO, and Kevin O’Neill of Patton Boggs, LLP. Jari Askins, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor, provided remarks on the exceptional accomplishments of Panhellenic women.
In addition to committee meetings, separate sessions provided National Presidents, NPC Delegates, alternate delegates, and executive directors with the opportunity to network and initiate change within the Conference. General Sessions were devoted to Conference business and delegates debated and voted on several resolutions focused on the future of NPC and making the organization more relevant and responsive to the needs of its member organizations. For complete information regarding the NPC resolutions passed at the 2009 Annual Meeting, please visit the NPC website at www.npcwomen.org.
the Sigma Sigma Sigma delegation included: Laura Sweet, National President Reatha Cox, National Panhellenic Conference Delegate Linda Manley-Kuitu, 1st Alternate Natalie Averette, 2nd Alternate Linda Henderson, 3rd Alternate
Reflections on Council Service
Outgoing Leadership Shares Motivation on Giving Back
With Convention 2010, we will welcome a new slate of executive Council members, to include a new National President. as we look forward to the contributions these dedicated Sisters will make to move tri Sigma ever Forward, we took time to visit with the outgoing executive Council and National President to gain insight on what drew them to serving their Sisters.
What compelled you to take on such a visible role in tri Sigma? I loved serving on the NPC delegation. I am so proud to be a Tri Sigma and to represent Tri Sigma. While serving as the NPCD in 2001, I was invited to chair the College Panhellenics Committee which directed the work of the 53 Area Advisors for 830 College Panhellenics. In that capacity, I also served on the NPC Executive Committee. The Centennial Celebration of the NPC was in 2002 and the NPC archives came alive for me with the mention of roles that Mabel Lee Walton and Mary Hastings Holloway Page played in setting the stage for Tri Sigma and the other educational sororities to enter the Conference, and Mary Barbee serving as the first Tri Sigma to be the NPC Chair. Tri Sigma served an important role in NPC history and I felt empowerment for our sorority to be more, to set a high standard, to be proud of our Sisterhood.
— Laura Sweet, Alpha Sigma
I go back to our saying: “To give much is to receive much.” It is an honor to serve Tri Sigma as a leader. Tri Sigma has taught me leadership, volunteerism and friendship. I always want what is right for Tri Sigma.
— Emily Ellis, Gamma Beta
How did serving in this capacity allow you to impact tri Sigma? Council has accomplished so much this Triennium. I feel like I was able to impact the Sorority by assisting in the development of innovative programming, a brand new website and social networking site, a redesigned magazine,
and a marketing brand. I am also chairing a brand new Volunteerism Committee that is charged with selecting a national service partner. I think all of these initiatives have enhanced Tri Sigma in the short-term and will reap many long-term benefits.
— Allison Swick-Duttine, Psi
I think alumnae who knew me respected the fact that I was willing to serve on Executive Council, and that I would be an advocate for them. I also hoped to be an example for other alumnae to become and/or stay involved with our sorority through national service.
— Mandy Meehan Chocheles, Gamma Eta
How did your experience on executive Council impact you personally?
I made many wonderful friends and was able to truly relate to the fact that Tri Sigma is a national entity of more than one hundred collegiate chapters and almost as many alumnae chapters.
As I visited virtually all parts of the United States, I was welcomed most graciously.
— Barbara Stoe Stone, Beta Tau
It allowed me to get to know our fabulous staff – all the women who work for Tri Sigma truly care about the alumnae and collegiate sorority experience. The sorority is in a better place because of our staff.
— Laura Sweet
What experience from your service on Council stands out?
My favorite experiences have to be when I am called on to visit with alumnae to present an award or honor
them for an anniversary. I proudly represent the Executive Council, but am also just another Sigma Sister, sharing ideas and experiences and memories.
— Mandy Meehan Chocheles
What was the most rewarding aspect of your service?
Some of my earliest volunteer experiences for Tri Sigma were literally “hands on” as a collegian participating in chapter re-development or installation weekend. I got to meet so many women I had read about! Those early experiences – and hundreds more in the 20 years since – reinforce my conviction that there’s simply no substitute for “hands on” service in every aspect of Tri Sigma.
— Reatha Cox, Alpha Zeta
How did you express the concept of Sisterhood while on the Council?
I think all the Council members express Sisterhood by nature of their involvement in the leadership of the organization. As we say, “Those who receive much, must give much.” The women on Council truly exemplify this statement.
— Allison Swick-Duttine
Why is it important for Sisters to remain involved in tri Sigma?
The relationships made in the college years are not just for those three or four years, but rather, for life. Volunteering is a way of life, a very important part of who we are, and an example to be set for those around us.
— Barbara Stoe Stone
36th Convention – 1992 (dallas, tX)
Barb Welsh, Beta Tau and Omega, was the Convention Marshal and she was lining everyone up to go into Triangle Degree. There were square dancers staying at the same hotel. Thinking they were part of our convention, she made some of the square dancing women get into the lines to knock into the room – it wasn’t until near the door that anyone was able to convince Barb that these women were in the wrong place – no way they were going to go against her orders!
— Jan Horner, Beta Xi
27th Convention – 1965
(New York City, NY)
It was my first time in New York City, and I was just amazed at how beautifully they are run…so well planned, organized and implemented. I was amazed at how comfortable I was being in NYC and I felt that I could go out and I could go down the street and go down to the Empire State Building. I remember the man at the hotel, they made a song about him, and he was having the greatest time shepherding our group and they were just loving hosting us.
— Janice Etta Hammers, Nu
Convention: Through
Convention: the Years
We asked some sisters to share fond memories of past Conventions and here’s what they had to say:
35th Convention – 1989 (New orleans, La)
38th Convention – 1998 (tysons Corner, Va)
It was the first Convention that I attended. I went there knowing three sisters and came back with some of the best friends that I could ask for. My best memory was staying up all night with Jeanne Ruane Nissen, Nu, and Christi JonesMcNeill, Delta Pi, laughing all night long and laughing ‘til we fell out of the bed.
— Emily Eure Ellis, Gamma Beta
41st Convention – 2007 (Nashville, tN)
As newly transitioned Regional Directors, Amy Borne, Gamma Pi, and I presented the new National programs to the Golden Violets. It was incredible to see not only their fervor and excitement for the positive change and growth to Tri Sigma, but their undying dedication to our Organization. It was a group of women to aspire to become and a great reminder of what an impact we as women can make on the world and on each other.
— Aimee Jensen, Eta Iota
The part of that Convention that will forever be ingrained into my memory was the fun night. That year, the New Orleans Alumnae Chapter arranged for a Mardi Gras parade to come to Convention. I had never seen anything like this before! The Crew came in full regalia, with costuming that defied the imagination. The King and Queen were dressed like the King and Queen from a deck of cards. I loved the music, the celebration, and the party-like atmosphere. I remember Mandy Chocheles, Gamma Eta, grabbing our hands and bringing us into the parade line. Believe me, parades in Arizona were nothing like this! Everyone was dressed up in costumes, waving Convention handkerchiefs, toting umbrellas and having great fun together. I made my mind up then and there that I would never miss another Convention (and I haven’t yet)!
— Bethany Deines, Beta Kappa
We look forward to making more Sigma Convention memories in the twin Cities! 1998 1998 1998
Planting the Seeds of Sisterhood
By Katie Wadington, Epsilon Xi
Elizabeth Mills Monk has planted the seeds of Sigma sisterhood across the country for more than 80 years. From Missouri to North Dakota to California, she has made her mark on the Sorority.
EElizabeth was initiated as a charter member of Alpha Epsilon chapter at Northwest State Teachers College (now Northwest Missouri State University) on March 18, 1927.
Then 22 years old, Elizabeth said she was attending the university during the week and returning home to Grant City, MO, on weekends to teach piano lessons. That schedule caused her to miss Triangle Degree when the sisters of a local chapter of the Sigma Delta Chi sorority were initiated into Tri Sigma.
“Because of this schedule, I was not able to take the [initiation vows] with the rest of the initiates. That was administered by our faculty advisor in a dark and vacant classroom before I was allowed into the meeting.”
The chapter shared a classroom with another group for its formal meetings. “We just put our Sigma on the door,” Elizabeth said.
Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art and music, Elizabeth headed to Texas.
“She did try to start a chapter in Texas, but the small town was full of church groups and there was just no time for the women to do more meetings,” said her daughter, Patricia Ronten.
Elizabeth taught in Texas for three years. She married musician and teacher Pascal Monk, whose jobs and studies would take the family to Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, North Dakota and California.
“While he taught, he continued to work on advanced degrees, taking his family back and forth, always directing choirs,” Elizabeth said of her husband. “Summers were spent at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.”
“The best situation for me was working in a paid double quartet at the Cincinnati Episcopal Cathedral (the Taft family church). It paid $5 a week which, with some substitute teaching and accompanying, paid for our food.”
From state to state, Elizabeth brought along her loves of music, art and Tri Sigma. She taught art at the college level and sang in musical groups. She was also heavily involved in P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), an international group that supports educational opportunities for women. She became a member of that group in college, at the same time she joined Tri Sigma. The sorority took a back seat to family needs during the Depression while Elizabeth lived in Ohio. But the family’s moves soon took them to North Dakota where her husband took a teaching job, and Tri Sigma came back into Elizabeth’s life.
“After several months in Minot, I heard that the local sorority wanted to go national,” Elizabeth
said. “I called the
faculty sponsor and said, ‘I belong to Tri Sigma and it is great. Could you consider that?’ That was the beginning of Sigma Sigma Sigma in Minot, ND.”
Beta Iota chapter received its charter on April 10, 1947. Elizabeth served the chapter as an Advisor and attended all the chapter’s meetings.
Her daughter said that because of Elizabeth’s influence and interests, many Sigmas became involved in the arts.
After many years in North Dakota, the family was on the move again (Pat Ronten recalls attending 11 schools in 12 years). Pascal finished up his studies in Iowa, then headed to a new job in California.
Once settled in Sacramento, Elizabeth set out to expand Sigma’s alumnae presence. She was instrumental in founding the Sacramento Alumnae Chapter, which received its charter on February 28, 1952.
She has attended the chapter’s meetings ever since; in recent years, Patricia helped her get to meetings. Her daughter says that many of the Sigmas in the Sacramento chapter over the years were acquaintances of Elizabeth’s from North Dakota.
In a 2004 newsletter of the Alpha Epsilon chapter, Elizabeth said she still played “Stately and Royal” whenever a piano was nearby.
Beyond Tri Sigma, Elizabeth was also active for more than 50 years on Crocker Music Board in Sacramento. She stepped down from the board at age 99 so she could more fully enjoy the classical concerts put on by the board at the Crocker Art Museum.
In the nearly 83 years since Elizabeth’s Triangle Degree ceremony, her contributions to the sorority have been richly rewarded. She received her Golden Violet award, noting 50 years of membership, in 1977, a year that also marked the 25th anniversary of the Sacramento Alumnae Chapter. That same year, Elizabeth was honored with the Steadfast Alumna Citation, which has been presented annually since 1962 to honor an alumna whose exemplary loyalty to the Sorority deserves special recognition.
in the Making
When 11 Tri Sigma Sisters gathered in Kansas City, MO, in 1921 to charter a new Alumnae Chapter, they could only hope the group would thrive for years. Today the Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter is celebrating nearly nine decades of Sisterhood, officially becoming the longest continually active Tri Sigma
“All of the members are marvelous, wonderful honeys,” says Marjorie Clough, Mu and Chapter President.
At its peak the group grew so large it could not fit in a single home, bringing about the launch of a new Alumnae Chapter in the 1950s. Today the chapter has about 20 members, most of them Golden Violets who have been active in the chapter for more than
“We have grown old together,” says Joyce Murrell Perky, Nu. “We have felt very close to each other.”
Traditionally the chapter gathers four times a year. They gather for meetings in each other’s homes, on Founders Day and hold a Christmas party. The event the women really look forward to is their fall salad supper at Marianna Mooney’s home. For years she has generously opened her home for chapter events and to host National Officers.
In June 1974, the chapter helped to host the 30th National Convention. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the mayor’s wife, Barbara Kemp, would host the women in her home.
Today they have about 40 members and work to keep the history of our Sorority alive in Farmville, VA.
“We do feel a responsibility to upkeep a lot of the history, because our history is everyone’s history at this point,” says Caledonia Darling, Chapter President. “We understand the importance of being Alpha Chapter.”
Their chapter room holds a number of historical items and antiques, each with its own story.
“We have a clock that our Sisters paid for that used to be in the rotunda,” says Darling, a junior sociology major. “When it burned, we saved the clock and it is now in our chapter room.” The room also houses their 50th anniversary clock and chest.
“I try to encourage the (collegiate members) to realize that, yeah, the collegiate experience is wonderful, but you’ve got a whole life in front of you to enjoy Sigma and we have – we really have in this chapter,” says Hammers.
Alpha Chapter Longwood College • Farmville, VA
It is spring 1898, and Margaret, Louise, Martha, Isabella, Sallie, Lelia, Elizabeth and Lucy have all gathered to hold their first meeting as Tri Sigma Sisters. With this meeting, they are setting the foundation for the future and leaving a legacy that has evolved over the course of 112 years.
“It is a great honor to know that over 100 years, the Founders were here beginning this Sorority and its beautiful traditions,” says Emmy Borgie, Alpha.
The Alpha Chapter at Longwood University is the first and oldest Tri Sigma chapter. During the last century, its members have gathered thousands of times, continuing a Sisterhood our eight founders could only have dreamed of when they first met.
“It holds a special place in my heart to know that we were the first, the first to live our ritual, the first to rock the purple and white, the first to lead the way for others,” says Lauren Gabor, a junior majoring in business marketing and management.
“We all take different memories of our time at Longwood University and in Sigma away, but the foundation of your time lies in the roots planted so long ago,” says Kim Schade, Alpha Alumna.
Out of the four sororities that were founded at Longwood College, Tri Sigma is the only one that has been continually active since its founding date.
One tradition of the Alpha Chapter is Violet Week. In the week before initiation, a ceremony is held each day where the members sing songs and show the new members where Tri Sigma is represented on campus.
Stops include the Sigma Brick, the Founding Four Clock and the place where Sigma Gardens once stood.
“As a newly initiated sister, I really enjoy the ceremonies of Triangle Degree. They are so powerful and they show how important wisdom, power, faith, hope and love are to Tri Sigma,” says Borgie, a nursing student.
When it comes to Sisterhood, it doesn’t matter if you are the oldest chapter or the most recently chartered, the bonds of Sisterhood are universal.
“It is unexplainable the feelings I had when I looked around the room and saw a new sister’s smile,” says Nicole Parker, Alpha Chapter alumna. “That is the moment you feel that you are right where you belong.”
Eastern Illinois University,Charleston,IL
Alpha Psi Alpha Psi Chapter House
remodeling and updates
• 2003: Chapter room remodeled
• 2006: Hallways repainted
• 2007: New carpet in the hallways and personal rooms
Connecting with other Greeks
History
The Alpha Psi chapter house opened in 1997. It is located in Greek Court, a university-owned-and-operated fraternity and sorority complex. Nineteen of the 26 Greek organizations at Eastern Illinois University reside in Greek Court. Organizations housed there represent three national governing councils –the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Previously, chapter members lived in an off-campus chapter house. The Housing Corporation felt it would be a wise decision to move the chapter into the housing complex. The Corporation negotiated a contract with the university and moved into one of the last additions to the complex.
The money from the sale of the off-campus chapter house has since been invested and helps fund current chapter house operations. The chapter also raises funds, and members pay a housing fee as a part of their dues. The chapter’s members also pay standard housing and dining fees as a part of their university tuition, just as they would if living in a residential hall.
House Facts
Common areas in the house include a large chapter room with a full kitchen and a computer room.
The chapter house has 20 rooms in 10 suites, each with adjoining bathrooms. Most of the rooms fit two women; there are three single rooms, usually reserved for officers. Maximum capacity for the house is 37 women.
EIU’s Greek Court creates a great sense of community among the Greeks and the university. The women share their building in Greek Court with the women of Sigma Kappa. The chapter houses are connected by a common area.
In 2004, the university, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Sigma Kappa worked together to turn the common area of the building into more storage and a conference room used as a study room, a meeting space for Executive Board meetings, Honor Council meetings, etc.
Both chapters’ Housing Corporations and the university worked on plans to complete the project. They were the first building to renovate this common area space. In previous years, this space was used by Dining Services. Between the two chapter houses there is also the office and living area for an Associate Resident Director. This graduate student helps the chapter with many things, from housing assignments and contracts to daily maintenance. The chapter is proud to have many of its members go on after their undergraduate years to serve in this role.
university Support
Since the house is part of universityowned-and-operated housing, the school provides assistance with maintaining the house. EIU provides a building services worker who cleans and maintains common areas of the building including the chapter room. This worker is a great help with many tasks and often becomes a great friend of the chapter. In 2007, the chapter’s building service worker retired and some of the chapter women attended his retirement party.
the House mother
The house has a suite reserved for the chapter’s House Mother. Tri Sigma is one of only two chapters at EIU that still has a House Mother.
The Housing Corporation hired Alpha Psi’s current House Mother, Wanda Reid, in 2003. She retired from the University’s Cashiers Office. At the time she was hired she was not a member of Tri Sigma but since has been initiated by the chapter as an Alumnae Initiate.
House events
At Homecoming, the chapter hosts an open house on the day of the football game. The House Mother generously provides doughnuts and maintains a guest book for visitors. Alumnae are welcome to stop by the house to visit. Some return to see their home and others are seeing the chapter house for the first time.
At Halloween, the chapter takes part in an event for Charleston youth. Children are invited to trick-or-treat in Greek Court. Each chapter decorates and has candy. Greek Life also plans activities for the children, such as pumpkin decorating and other crafts, with which the women of Tri Sigma help. Near the winter holidays, there are decorating contests in which the women take part each year.
“We are fortunate to have a chapter house, much less one that is maintained so well and offers a safe and secure environment for these young women. these women have so many campus resources right at their fingertips and so many people committed to offering them a true home away from home so they can focus on their academic achievement and university experience,”
— Mary Kate Lobough, Alpha Psi and Alpha Psi House Corporation President
Collegiate News
aLPHa – Alpha Chapter is steeped in the history of Sigma Sigma Sigma. One of the chapter’s favorite ways to honor the history of the Sorority is by taking the new members on a tour of campus during Inspiration Week. During this tour, the Sisters stop at six significant locations on campus that bear Tri Sigma’s letters. Throughout the tour, Big Sisters explain the significance of each location to the new members. They are encouraged to reflect on all that Tri Sigma has meant for them during their new member period and what it has meant to the thousands of other Sisters who have come before them. One of the best locations on the tour is a brick wall in which names of former university presidents, faculty, and students are inscribed. On that wall is a brick with the markings “In Our Bonds, SSS 1898.” This brick serves as a reminder to the Sisters of Alpha Chapter of how integral Tri Sigma is to Longwood University and the important role the members play in continuing to uphold the rituals and values set forth by our founders in 1898. At Alpha, sisters do their best to honor the chapter’s past, while focusing Ever Forward.
mu – Sigma Sigma Sigma is not just an organization, it is a family that lasts longer than four years of college and is there in times of joy and in times of need. For Mu Chapter, alumnae are an important part of our family during recruitment, as well as during times of celebration. Each year, alumnae are invited to return to Kirksville for recruitment and an alumna delivers a speech on the element of love within Sigma as part of our Preference party. This year Barb Melson, Mu, shared a story of lifelong friendship that began with Sigma. She told of a friend she met during recruitment her freshman year who continues to be one of her best friends years out of school and with miles between them. The reconnection with alumnae allows new members to witness how special the bonds of Sisterhood are and how, even after graduation, the Sigma family is always there.
Nu – The Nu Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma welcomes back alumnae each year during Homecoming. On the Saturday of Homecoming weekend, the Sisters invite Tri Sigma alumnae to come to the Sorority complex for a small, but thoughtful gathering. They are welcome to get to know the new members of the chapter and catch up with Sisters living in the house and those from past years. This gives new members a chance to meet the dedicated women who helped make the chapter what it is today. This gathering is one small but meaningful way that Nu Chapter shows respect for alumnae who continue to show their dedication to Sigma Sigma Sigma.
CHI – Chi started out 2009 by employing Jane Crane, Chi, and Chapter Advisor, to put on a Breast Cancer Awareness program for Sisters. Crane, a breast cancer survivor, teamed up with Chapter nursing students Amanda Smith and Keegan Fields, Chi, to deliver a presentation
explaining the prevention and detection of and treatments for breast cancer. In addition, alumna Joy Leek, Chi, was invited to speak with the chapter about important recruitment skills. Leek led the chapter through a pep talk about what Sigma meant to her as a collegiate member, how much it means as an alumna, and how to convey that worth to potential new members.
Seeing the value alumnae have brought to the chapter, Chi has initiated new programs to improve connections with alumnae. They also plan on implementing a Sigma pen pal program in which an active member is assigned one or two alumnae members and is responsible for corresponding with her a couple of times each semester.
aLPHa zeta – On the day of Homecoming, October 24, 2009, Alpha Zeta Chapter held an alumnae brunch, where members looked at old composite and bid day pictures, scrapbooks and showed alumnae all of the new activities going on in the chapter. Alpha Zeta took the opportunity to sit down with alumnae to talk about plans to potentially raise money to build a new house on campus. Alumnae also joined in to cheer on their six Sisters chosen to be on the University’s Homecoming Court.
aLPHa XI – Alpha Xi uses a newsletter to keep chapter alumnae up-to-date on what’s happening. The newsletter includes a note from several of the officers, facts about active and new members, and activities within the chapter. Alpha Xi also held a breakfast during their Homecoming weekend for alumnae. Homecoming is a time of togetherness and it is so meaningful to them to have their alumnae filling the front lawn of their chapter house during the parade every year on Homecoming Saturday.
The Sisters of Alpha Xi held a breakfast for alumnae during Homecoming weekend.
Collegiate News,
aLPHa PI – Alpha Pi has been honoring its past in several ways this year. Its 2009 Founders Day celebration had the largest attendance by alumnae that it has had in a long time. Alumnae have been very active in the chapter by donating items for the reopening of its house and by stopping by during recruitment events. As a way of saying thank you, Alpha Pi opened its home to alumnae with soup and sandwiches so everyone could see the home and speak with the collegiate Sisters. The house was packed, but creating relationships with Sisters with greater knowledge is worth more than words could ever express.
aLPHa CHI – To learn more about its own history, Alpha Chi is having a weekly history lesson. Historian Kristin Simmonds is presenting a bit of Alpha Chi history to the chapter each week during her report. Thus far, Sisters have learned the names of Alpha Chi women who are Golden Violets, national awards the chapter has received, and about the beginning of Alpha Chi at Murray State University.
aLPHa PHI – Millie Digget, Alpha Phi and Chapter Advisor, helps her chapter honor its past in a unique way. Millie’s new member class was Fall of 1973. Her favorite Tri Sigma memories are “walking down the steps to join the sisters at Jump and taking a walk in the first snow of winter with my house crew.” She decided to become a Chapter Advisor because “I always wanted to give back to the Sorority in some way and the chapter advisor I had was a great role model for me.” At meetings she gives a “Sigma Star” award to a Sister with remarkable actions from the past week and has also given out “whale done” remarks from her and other Sisters. The 2009-2010 academic school year will be Millie’s last year serving as Alpha Phi’s advisor, and every single Sister recognizes that her successor has a lot to live up to. Millie lives our ritual in everything she does, and is an outstanding mentor to all of the Sisters of Alpha Phi.
beta tHeta – Looking into Beta Theta’s past has been nothing less than captivating. Starting at the 1949 installation ceremony the Tri Sigma standards were held high. Sisters performed in annual car washes to support the Robbie Page Memorial, along with visiting many orphanages sponsoring Christmas parties and puppet shows to entertain children. The chapter was honored throughout the papers for its outstanding involvement in society, and Sisters were honored for their outstanding performances in grades and throughout society as well. In 1959 the chapter, in hopes to improve its members’ national Leadership skills, sent Carole Finelli, Jane Baumgartel, Eleanor Fairley, and Carole Parker to University of Illinois’s Sigma Sigma Sigma National Leadership school. The bricks these Sisters built for the chapter were more than solid and laid the foundation for community service and national and local recognition. The chapter lost its charter in 1964, but since being reinstated there has been a force keeping them going. Sisters have worked hard to keep their chapter going for the last 5 decades, and are now a highly accredited chapter of 61.
beta XI – Beta Xi honors the past by respecting its alumnae members. On Homecoming day, October 10, 2009, Sisters hosted a luncheon for the alumnae of the chapter. They had the pleasure of meeting some older alumnae which most of the women had never met before. It was a great opportunity to hear them reminisce about the joys of Sisterhood they experienced as collegiate members at Southeast Missouri State University.
beta PI – To the 48 members of Beta Pi Chapter at University of Wisconsin – Stout, honoring Tri Sigma’s past means many different things. From the pearl ceremony to Homecoming, Sisters of Beta Pi recognize their cherished alumnae in speeches at important events and their daily lives. The chapter was given the opportunity to honor its past during the UW-Stout Alumni Reunion Breakfast in September.
The breakfast allowed one member of the current Beta Pi Chapter to connect with several women who graduated between 1936 and 1953. These women were part of a Greek organization called the Philomatheans. The Philomatheans were a service and literature based sorority established in 1912. The sorority was the first of its kind at UW-Stout. In 1951, the Philomatheans became the Beta Pi Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Beta Pi has come a long way since 1912, and to this day, the chapter promotes service and volunteerism.
deLta tHeta – When football season kicks off the season, Delta Theta not only enjoys going to UNC – Pembroke football games, but Sisters also look forward to Homecoming as a time to reflect as a chapter. Delta Theta recently celebrated Homecoming, not only for the school, but also for Sigma Sigma Sigma alumnae. The Alumnae Relations chair worked to get in touch with Alumnae in the surrounding areas to meet and greet during Homecoming weekend. The graduated Sisters held a meet and greet and the current chapter members were able to hear stories of their chapter’s past and how long the Sisterhood has been a part of the campus. All Sisters, past and present, were then in attendance to cheer and show school spirit while the football team won the game. Delta Theta is looking forward to Founders Day when alumnae will then join us again to honor our past and look forward to the future.
Homecoming provided the Sisters of Delta Theta an opportunity to host a meet-and-greet with alumnae.
deLta omICroN – Delta Omicron has been actively involved and in contact with its alumnae. During formal recruitment, alumnae came to help recruit for the chapter and share their experiences with potential new members, as well as serve food and refreshments during Preference parties. In addition, during this past alumnae weekend, the chapter Sisters hosted a reception with snacks and refreshments in their suite for 17 alumnae members who were on campus. Included in the visitors were several of the re-chartering members who shared their experiences and gave advice to the current members of the Delta Omicron Chapter. They also helped the Historian in her latest project, constructing family trees that date back to Delta Omicron’s re-chartering. With their help, many family trees were expanded and there were several family reunions at the reception!
deLta PI – The Sisters of Delta Pi continue to honor past traditions, customs and values by participating in numerous events throughout the semester.
One of the chapter’s favorite and most anticipated events is the annual Alumnae Tea. Alumnae Tea is held once a year, falling the Sunday of Homecoming week. The chapter sends invitations to registered Winthrop Tri Sigma Alumnae, inviting them to celebrate their past, present and future with current collegiate members. The event encourages both alumnae and collegiate members to share experiences regarding Tri Sigma. It is an excellent time for Sisters, both old and new, to meet, mingle and motivate one another through speeches, refreshments and social events.
deLta uPSILoN – Delta Upsilon Chapter recently celebrated Homecoming, with a great turnout of returning alumnae. They celebrated with the traditional Homecoming game and festivities at the chapter house. It was a great opportunity to interact with alumnae, sharing past and present stories of being a Sigma Sigma Sigma Sister.
deLta CHI – Delta Chi Chapter continues to involve alumnae through its Founders Day brunch and an Alumnae newsletter sent out each semester. The alumnae are invited to the Founders Day brunch to socialize with current Sisters and see the changes that have taken place in the house. The alumnae newsletter updates alumnae on the happenings of Delta Chi Chapter such as their annual philanthropy, Sigma Spikefest, which raised more than $1,000 for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. The alumnae also help during recruitment, serving refreshments during the early rounds where more than 70 potential new members come through the house at a time.
ePSILoN beta – Epsilon Beta Chapter recently celebrated its 25th year on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. This was more than just something to have a party about, instead it was about coming together with alumnae and remembering how far the chapter has come. With the college celebrating its 100th year as a U of A, it was interesting to see all they showed about Epsilon Beta. There were pictures in the yearbook and people telling stories everywhere. During the last few weeks of the semester the Sisters started getting ready for a Tea, one of the biggest events of the year. To their surprise, they found out Barb Stone, Beta Tau and National Treasurer, would join them
The Sisters of Epsilon Mu welcome alumnae involvement and view it as key to maintaining a rich tradition and ensuring continued success.
for this important time for the chapter. The day was a marker of not only their past but their future on the campus, and made them proud to be a Sigma and even more proud to be a part of Epsilon Beta.
ePSILoN zeta – Sisters at Southern Arkansas University are staying in contact with their alumnae and loving every minute of it. This past year, they have met many more alumnae through their new members, which keep improving every day. Sisters who participate in the President’s Ambassadors program have reconnected with many alumnae through campus tours and parent contact with the University. The chapter enjoys taking time to talk with alumnae and exchange stories from the past to the present. They feel truly blessed to have a Sisterhood bond that can never be broken by time or age.
ePSILoN tHeta – Another year’s recruitment has gone by, and it is my last year as a collegiate member of Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Next year, I will be one of the alumnae, who have set a rather difficult standard to live up to. They can be found in the kitchen during events, helping us provide refreshments for PNMs while we get to know our future Sisters. They provide us with education, leading circle degree meetings and making sure that we follow all the guidelines during recruitment, induction, initiation and all of the other ceremonies that make our Sigma lives complete.
One of our most dedicated alumnae was never a Sister of Epsilon Theta. She does not have ties to our university, and yet she loves the bonds of Sisterhood so much that she spends many a Sunday night with the chapter, ready to answer our questions. This makes me realize that my future in Sigma is not as uncertain as I thought. The bonds of Sisterhood tie me not only to my beloved Epsilon Theta chapter house, but also to chapter houses all over the U.S. Wherever the teaching assistantships and research fellowships take me; I will always be in a place where I can give back to the teachings of Sigma Sigma Sigma.
ePSILoN mu – Epsilon Mu views alumnae involvement as key to the chapter’s success and continued promotion of tradition. Homecoming is a time to reminisce and revisit the past, and members of Epsilon Mu, past and present, utilize the time to do just that. This annual event presents new members with the opportunity to meet those who molded
Collegiate News,
and shaped the organization, and sharing stories and experiences with one another bridges the gap between collegiate members and alumnae. The dedication and work of the alumnae members never goes unnoticed and Homecoming presents collegians with the opportunity to express their gratitude and appreciation. Strong alumnae relations promote the everlasting bond and connection a Sigma Sigma Sigma has for her Sisters, chapter, and organization as a whole.
ePSILoN rHo – As a Sigma it is very important to look toward the direction from which we came. It is important to know the bylaws, songs and rituals. It is even more important to know your alumnae. At the Epsilon Rho Chapter, Sisters try to involve alumnae in chapter activities, and last semester had one of their alumnae, Annalisa Fluegel, host a program on job-seeking and resume writing skills.
During recruitment, alumnae of the chapter offer advice and guidance. Alumnae also participate in Homecoming activities and organize a matching Homecoming shirt for the alumnae to wear. After Homecoming, the chapter hosted an event honoring alumnae, which offered time to get to know the new additions to the chapter.
They are currently in the planning stages of their 20th year as a chapter at Minnesota State University—Mankato and will be hosting a Tri Sigma Birthday Party Reunion to celebrate. At Epsilon Rho, Sisters cherish their alumnae as they are a link to the past and a helping hand toward the future.
ePSILoN tau – Epsilon Tau Chapter reconnected with its alumnae in 2009 as a new AAB advisor, Rosemarie Call, Epsilon Tau, came on board. Through the new connection, the chapter was able to interact more with alumnae in the Tampa Bay area, and held a Sisterhood retreat and barbeque at the home of Epsilon Tau alumna Jennifer Robertson-Call. The chapter also attended the annual Christmas party the Lakeland-Winter Haven Alumnae Chapter puts on, and invited local alumnae to recruitment parties in the fall semester, which were filled with fun ideas.
zeta aLPHa – Zeta Alpha Chapter alumnae made a great impact on the current Sisters and continue to stay in touch and be part of the Zeta Alpha family. This past summer a “Sigma Summer reunion” was held for the chapter and attended by several collegians and alumnae. It was a full night of bonfires, birthday celebrations, food, music, and best of all – Sigma fun! Sisters were extremely pleased with the turnout at Alumnae Weekend with Sisters dating back as far as 1993 in attendance. This experience allowed the Collegians to see how and from whom the Zeta Alpha chapter emerged. The alumnae make a conscious effort to stay in touch and help out whenever possible, even using Facebook to meet Zeta Alpha Sisters.
zeta ePSILoN – Zeta Epsilon may be young, but it still has the 100-plus years of Tri Sigma past. Every year, current Sisters and alumnae gather for a brunch on Founders Day. After the meal they go outside and take pictures by the
bay. This day is something many of them look forward to, because so many alumnae return.
zeta KaPPa – An important aspect of Sorority Sisterhood is honoring the lifelong bonds that tie Sisters to one another. To promote this belief, Zeta Kappa Chapter strives to honor its past by encouraging participation in service-oriented events with alumnae. An example of this was Zeta Kappa’s participation in the It’s My Heart walk in support of Zeta Kappa chapter alumna Sandra Venturi. It’s My Heart is a non-profit organization created to provide support to and advocating for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects. Through awareness, resources and education, It’s My Heart creates alliances and networks among families, groups, hospitals, and the community. In order “to receive much you must give much” and this is an important way for Zeta Kappa to continue the tradition of honoring its alumnae.
zeta Lambda – Sisters of the Zeta Lambda Chapter of Tri Sigma care deeply for Tri Sigma’s history. During recruitment this year, potential new members were very interested in the beginnings of the Sorority, so Zeta Lambda set up tables full of bright symbols of Sisterhood. The Sisters also shared a trip to Chapel Hill to visit the children Tri Sigma’s have been raising money for. The chapter always strives to live by the principles of Tri Sigma’s ritual, which is never far from members’ hearts. They hold each other accountable for living the ritual, which is truly the definition of respecting and honoring Tri Sigma’s history.
zeta mu – As they enter the year of their chapter’s 16th anniversary, the Sisters of Zeta Mu are reminded of the importance of their chapter’s history. Without the dedicated Sisters that came before, Zeta Mu would not be the chapter it is today. The Founders Day celebration this year reminded the chapter of just that by recognizing alumnae are still very important to the Sisters. They also recognized their past leaders and acknowledged their accomplishments by dedicating a section of their semester newsletter to the alumnae with stories and pictures from the past. As Sisters of the Zeta Mu Chapter, they know how import their history is and honor those who make their past great.
zeta rHo – The Sisters of the Zeta Rho Chapter of Tri Sigma made an extraordinary effort to honor their chapter’s history this past spring by organizing an alumnae weekend full of fun and exciting events. The weekend kicked off
Epsilon Rho regularly involves alumnae in programming aimed at assisting Sisters in reaching their goals.
with a meet and greet at the Providence Radisson on the waterfront in Providence, Rhode Island. This was a great way to connect with the Sisters who have built the chapter and to learn about previous fundraisers, community service and Sisterhood events.
The final day of the alumnae weekend started with a brunch for alumnae. A fundraiser was designed for one particular alumna who had recently suffered a tragic house fire, and more than $400 was raised. Before alumnae departed, they worked on crafting family trees and attempted to trace them back to founding Sisters, prizes were raffled off and tons of lasting memories were made!
eta Iota – Over the past several years, Eta Iota has been striving to increase membership and the overall strength and development of Greek life as a whole. Currently, the Eta Iota Chapter remains one of two active sororities on campus. Although the Eta Iota Chapter is one of the smaller Tri Sigma chapters, this group of women is not lacking in determination and character. Their efforts have been especially fruitful in terms of recruitment and alumnae involvement. The Eta Iota Alumnae Advisory Board currently has three alumnae serving on it. These three advisors have played a vital role in the morale and strength of the chapter. Sister Lucy Coppes, Financial Advisor, has brought the chapter back to its roots as she has been a missing link in history and traditions. Collette Knight, the current Ritual Advisor provides the group with on-campus support, as she is a member of the Defiance College Faculty and Administration. Collette has been a source of wisdom beyond the collegiate mindset, providing the women with fresh views and resources on campus. The third member of the AAB is the Recruitment Advisor, Megan Wetzel, Epsilon Psi. Megan has helped revitalize the spirit of recruitment by providing fresh ideas from her own experiences as a Tri Sigma and has provided support in other aspects of chapter life as well. This alumnae involvement has been the backbone of support in Eta Iota’s journey.
eta Nu – Eta Nu chapter is striving to stay connected with the chapter and local alumnae by encouraging involvement in chapter events. The initiated Sisters send out a bi-monthly newsletter to all alumnae, keeping them updated on what’s
going on within the chapter, including news about fundraisers, recruitment and community service. There is also a section entitled “Who’s Who in Eta Nu?,” which includes the biographies of different initiated Sisters in each edition, so alumnae can keep up with who is in the chapter as new members are initiated each semester. This builds a sense of unity between active members and alumnae.
eta tau – On Monday, October 19, 2009, the past and present Sisters of Eta Tau Chapter were mutually struck with a colossal tragedy, Francesca Martino, a beloved and devoted Eta Tau Sister was suddenly killed in a motorcycle accident. The unexpected loss of the irreplaceable Sister sent shock waves all over the country. From the chapter’s home at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL all the way across to the Pacific, Eta Tau Sisters united in a way that they’ve never experienced before.
The Eta Tau Chapter was established just four short years ago and its Sisters are still developing an alumnae chapter of their own. In reaction to this tragedy, Sisters far and wide immediately reconnected to their Sigma family and reminded us of the true meaning of Sisterhood. Whether it was a message or an email, a flower arrangement or a hug across the miles, each member of Eta Tau, old and new, felt supported.
Plans have already been made for the majority of the alumnae to return to Daytona Beach in November, during the university’s homecoming celebration, to reunite with their chapter in celebration of their amazing Sister Francesca and her incredible life.
Eta Tau has proved the bonds Sisters share while they are still at school and beyond never break. Since the chapter is so young, Eta Tau has a unique circumstance that enables all the generations of Sisters to be acquainted with one another. It truly saddens the Eta Tau Sisters to share in the loss of one of their most adored Sisters. Francesca’s legacy is this reunion, despite its tragic circumstances, and there is comfort in knowing that the Sisters have a small yet powerful bond of Sisterhood to help them move forward and carry on that legacy.
eta uPSILoN – Eta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma was established as a chapter in February 2007. The majority of the women who helped establish the colony, and who were some of the first to be initiated into the chapter, graduated in May 2009. These women set a high precedent for the future of our chapter by not only establishing it, but seeing it through thick and thin.
When the alumnae Sisters came back for Homecoming Weekend this past October, it was a great opportunity for new and old members to reunite. The best reunion that the chapter had during Homecoming Weekend was during the Homecoming Dance, which was put on by the school. At the dance, there were several alumnae members and many collegiate members, all reunited for the first time since May.
Alumnae are a huge part of the Eta Upsilon chapter, and having them come back to campus and see how Eta Upsilon is living up to the standards they set is always a momentous occasion.
Alumnae involvement has been helpful to the Sisters of Eta Iota by inspiring creative approaches to recruitment and community involvement.
alumna Initiates (april 1 – august 31, 2009)
TA Dynamic Visit from a National Officer
By Carolyn Wallisch, Past President, Denver Area Alumnae Chapter
The Denver Area Alumnae Chapter was very inspired and motivated by the visit we had September 12-15 from National Alumnae Vice President, Mandy Chocheles. Her visit was very memorable as it provided an extended time for her to spend in small group settings with Alumnae, officers, and committee chairs. The conversations were very impressionable and stimulating, resulting in brainstorming for ways to strengthen and keep our National Organization strong and moving ever forward into 2010 and beyond. In addition, many who visited with Mandy in small group meetings on September 14 were compelled to support the Foundation and commit to life-long involvement as active Sigmas.
I want to thank Sigma Sigma Sigma for providing the resources for Mandy to travel to Denver to present our chapter with our awards including the Chapter of the Year. The money expended was so very worthwhile and will hopefully be returned many times over by the Denver Area Alumnae. We are inspired and excited to attend Convention 2010 in Minneapolis this summer!
Alumnae News
atLaNta – Sarah Opp Carter, Epsilon Theta, was awarded the Luann Rhodes Alumnae Scholarship for post-graduate studies by the Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association in recognition of her outstanding scholarship, community service, and career goals. Carter is an admissions counselor for Oglethorpe University, home of Epsilon Theta, and is the Ritual Advisor for the chapter. In her job at the university, she has reached out to families, introducing them to the opportunities of a liberal arts education; organized campus fundraising events; and interviewed students for scholarships offered by Oglethorpe. Sarah was a volunteer with the Atlanta History Center and Making Strides against Breast Cancer, has participated in AIDS Walk Atlanta and was on the Board of Councilors at the Carter Center. In her collegian years, Carter served her chapter in many chairmanships, was the National Panhellenic Council’s vice president and was a member of the University Singers. Carter attends American University’s School of International Service in Washington. Completion of graduate school will allow her to reach her goal of becoming a member of the Carter Center’s Peace Delegation, which oversees controversial international elections and helps to negotiate peace in the most turbulent areas of our world.
deNVer – The Denver Alumnae Chapter has been around for many decades and has developed quite the past. Today, with its membership increasing and adding new alumnae Sisters every year, honoring that past has become an exciting trip down memory lane for many of the members. With the recent addition of the Eta Pi collegiate chapter at Metro State College, the alumnae chapter now has members from right out of the collegiate chapter all the way to cherished Golden Violets. At each of the monthly alumnae meetings,
there is always a social time where the newer alumnae members enjoy hearing the stories of the Chapter from the past, including the annual lunch at Marge’s. Denver alumnae also enjoy exploring the city’s past, which has included a guided historical walk of downtown. About a dozen Sisters met at the historical Union Station and enjoyed a guided walk through the streets of downtown learning about the unique and exciting past of Denver.
eaSterN NC – The Eastern NC Alumnae Chapter is fortunate to be located in the same town as the Gamma Xi Chapter at Barton College. The alumnae and collegiate members have a very special connection and do several activities throughout the year together. A yearly tradition on the Barton campus is Greek Sing. Tri Sigmas from near and far always come back for this very competitive event and show great support for their Sisters. In April 2009, Tri Sigma took home the coveted trophy. What made it worthwhile were the alumnae who returned to help them celebrate the victory. What a great example of honoring our past and creating alumnae connections for the future.
Fort WaYNe – The women at the Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter in Indiana take great pleasure in honoring their past: the past of our Tri Sigma Sisters as well as the past of the community. For a recent meeting, alumnae met at the Cathedral Museum in the Noll Catholic Center in Fort Wayne. They were able to tour the museum with fellow Sister Janice Cantrell, Beta Gamma, as a knowledgeable tour guide. The Chapter has also honored its past by donating two lamps to Mabel Lee Walton House in memory of Mildred Meese and Ione Jellison, who entered the Omega Chapter.
INLaNd emPIre – The members of the Inland Empire Alumnae Chapter will celebrate 20 years of Sisterhood in 2010. The alumnae are fortunate to count charter members among them, and remember those Sisters who have joined Omega Chapter for the contributions and strength they brought to the Chapter. We honor the ideals of Tri Sigma, especially, by continued support of children’s charities through the Chapter’s involvement with Childhelp and the Assistance League.
Sarah Carter, right, received the Luann Rhodes Alumnae Scholarship for post-graduate studies from the Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association. She is with Marge Reason, past president of the Panhellenic group.
Members of the Eastern NC Alumnae Chapter help out the women of Gamma Xi (in light blue shirts and cowgirl hats).
JerSeY SHore – On October 18, six of members of the Jersey Shore Alumnae Chapter braved the rain, cold and wind to walk in support of Breast Cancer in Point Pleasant, NJ. After the walk, the Sisters met at the home of Chapter president Anne Marie Tomaro in Spring Lake to celebrate the third time the Chapter has walked together and to mark the alumnae chapter’s 20th anniversary. The Chapter has a long history of diversity, with members ranging from recent college graduates to a Golden Violet in her 80s. Members live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Even though members may move away, they remain members and attend meetings as they are able. The Jersey Shore Chapter has seen its members graduate college, begin their careers, get married, start families, send their children off to college and become grandparents. The strong bond of Sisterhood makes the women true friends, caring for one another unlike any other. They are working toward another 20 years with a new generation of Sisters.
MICHIGAN
The Sisters of Beta Rho Chapter at Western Michigan University are planning a reunion in Kalamazoo, MI, July 30-31, 2010. The Chapter’s first two reunions were primarily Sisters in school between 1969 and 1974. Reunion organizers would like to extend an invitation to all women of the Beta Rho Chapter to meet, share memories and renew our Sisterhood. Contact one of the following Sisters for information: Marti Ciaramitaro Paul (martipaul@yahoo.com), Mary Kay Foster Cargill (mkcargill@yahoo.com), Sandy Williams Barkman, (sbarkman@aol.com) or Lynne Easter (lmeaster@sbcglobal.net).
NaSHVILLe – Members of the Nashville Alumnae Chapter supported fellow Sigma and breast cancer survivor Ginny Lund at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Nashville alumnae raised $1,035 for the cause. Meanwhile, Lisa Kay Stewart Trowbridge, Iota Alpha and Nashville and Phoenix Alumnae, also participated in the Ragnar Relay Race to support the organization Operation Kids…Until Every Child is Okay. Teams in the race have 12 runners covering 199.3 miles in 28 hours. Trowbridge’s team was 28th out of 170 teams. Trowbridge is an alumnae initiate and drives two hours with her mother in law, Beverly Wegwart Trowbridge, Psi, to attend alumnae chapter meetings. Nashville Golden Violet Joyce Smith White, Alpha Epsilon, recently spoke at the annual flag raising ceremony at the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University. The ceremony honors the university’s commitment to global peace and multicultural education. Members of the
university’s international community individually raise their country’s flag in accordance with United Nations protocol. The Plaza has more than 50 flags representing the home countries of Northwest students and alumni.
NortH JerSeY –Thinking about the bonds of Sisterhood in the North Jersey Alumnae Chapter, Sisters discovered that although we all share the same Sigma moments in our common ritual, they have many varied and unique experiences from college and Convention days that fellow alumnae Sisters have never heard about. The Chapter will be celebrating the tradition of honoring our past by honoring the past of its own Chapter members. Each alumnae Sister will bring in pictures from college, Sigma trips and Conventions past to share with the Chapter and tell her own unique Sigma Stories. The Chapter has publicized our new project with postings on Facebook, e-mails and the Chapter newsletter. Before Convention, the Chapter will reflect on its own history to honor the Sisters who have been a part of the North Jersey Chapter through the years by sharing the Chapter’s scrapbook collection. Meanwhile, the Chapter was busy in last fall, gathering for a Halloween spooky movie night while preparing Halloween treat bags for a local women’s shelter. December has always been about the annual holiday auction and gift-giving for the Chapter’s adopted family program.
NW SuburbaN CHICaGo – Sisters of the NW Suburban Chicago Alumnae Chapter discussed past activities, events, and fundraisers, in brainstorming for a Triangle submission. From the discussion, Chapter members realized that they honor the past of their Chapter by looking ever forward into the future. Over the past few years, members have planned new events and have tried meeting on different days to spark interest and participation. Some of the events include a summer polo match, Wii night, and bowling. Some of the educational meetings that the Chapter has hosted include hearing from a costume designer about her work, and from one of the Chapter’s own, Berta Flath, Kappa, about her service to our country as part of the Army. For service, the Chapter has sent food to the local college chapters, made fleece blankets for Project Linus, and collected canned food to benefit area pantries.
PHoeNIX – Last summer, the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter had a family and friends bowling event. Husbands, children and potential new members met with Sigma Sisters for an exciting time bowling. Many came to watch and support while
The Lafayette, LA Alumnae Chapter held Circle Degree in late spring. Many members of the Alpha Mu Chapter were welcomed into alumnae life. In the back row: Brianna Brasseaux, Lindsay Lamb, Jennifer Beasley, Jania Caskey, Erin Pierret, Erin Spencer, Mollie Miller. Front row: Alana Sonnier, Lauren Palmisano, Erika Leblanc, Christy Matherne, Missy Parris.
some got competitive. This event ended the long summer in the desert, which was full of Sisterhood brunches, Sigma birthdays, and potlucks. Fall brought the regular season of meetings and philanthropy.
PIedmoNt trIad – This September, many of the Piedmont Triad Alumnae Chapter members honored our past by attending a brunch hosted by the Epsilon Nu chapter during UNC-Greensboro Fall Fest Weekend. Chapter members were able to visit around the campus as well as the dorm the collegiate chapter resides in. At the brunch, alumnae were able to meet the new members and see familiar faces from when we were in college. Games were played and a wonderful spread of food was enjoyed by all. In October, alumnae enjoyed carving pumpkins with Epsilon Nu. The Piedmont Triad Alumnae Chapter planned other events for the holiday season with the collegiate chapters in the area and is looking forward to working with the colony at High Point University.
SaN FraNCISCo-eaSt baY – The members of the San Francisco-East Bay Alumnae Chapter attended Bid Day for the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at College Heights Park in Hayward, CA, in October. It has been a long-standing tradition that alumnae bring a dish to share with the collegiate members at Bid Day. This year’s formal recruitment proved extremely successful as the Epsilon Alpha Chapter welcomed 29 new members, the largest group of new members in more than 15 years. To honor our past, alumnae and collegiate members got together in November for a dinner to learn the history of our Chapters and Sorority, sharing old photo albums and swapping stories.
St. LouIS – The St. Louis Alumnae Chapter honored Marilyn Beiter, Beta Xi, with her Golden Violet. Beiter has been an active National Officer, holding various positions from Historian to Ritual Director for over 30 years. In addition, she has been an active member of several alumnae chapters, starting two of them. She is now a member of the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter and will soon become president of the St. Louis Alumnae Panhellenic Association. Beiter reminisced about her time in Tri Sigma and recounts that every time she has moved, she knew she would have friends in her Sisters. She has said that she is able to find Tri Sigmas everywhere, and even recalled a time when she was driving to Florida when another Sister spotted her Sigma license plate and honked as she passed her holding up her Sigma hat.
taLLaHaSSee – The Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter gathered in October to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Chapter. The group was pleased to have Polly Horne, Rho and Alumnae Coordinator, in attendance. The 14 founding members of the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter were honored during a brief ceremony and several of the members received Circle Degree. In recognition of the 50th anniversary and the national philanthropy, RPM, a collection of toys, including more than 100 new Beanie Babies, were presented to the TMH Foundation on behalf of the Tallahassee Memorial pediatric unit, which serves a 16 county region in North Florida and South Georgia.
tWIN CItIeS – The Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter volunteered for Camp Get-A-Well-A’s outreach program in November. Camp Get-A-Well-A provides a realistic camp experience for sick children in the hospital while providing activities that invoke play, provide stress relief, create memories and engage children in a sense of community while living in a sterile environment. Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter Sisters also put on a carnival for the kids at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Members set up games such as bowling, ring toss, skeet ball and silly string target, and crafted foamy frames for camp photos that were taken and gave out prizes to all who participated.
The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter, with family and friends, enjoys an outing at the bowling alley.
Polly Horne, Rho and Alumnae Coordinator, and Marlene Willett Middleton, Rho, help the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter celebrate its 50th anniversary. Middleton is the Chapter’s president.
Let Our Giving Reflect Our Living
Sigma Sisters tell us why they choose to remember the ∑∑∑ Foundation in their estate planning
Julie named the Foundation to receive a bequest in her will.
“It was an easy decision to include the women of Sigma Sigma Sigma in my estate planning. Since I was 18 years old, Sigma played a significant role in my life. I knew no one when I enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi, and once I pledged Sigma I immediately had many friends. As part of the Alpha Sigma Chapter I grew into the strong independent woman I am today. After graduation I moved to Nashville and became a Charter member of the Alumnae Chapter. I fully understand the meaning of Forever Sigma and do want to give that feeling to other women.”
— Julie Lammel, Alpha Sigma and Nashville Alumnae Chapter
emily named the Foundation as a life insurance beneficiary.
“I get excited over the amazing leadership programs, scholarships and grants our Foundation funds. For me it is important to give to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. I give as a GOLD donor and as a member of the Heritage Society. “
— Emily Eure Ellis, Gamma Beta, Eastern NC Alumnae Chapter
the Foundation will receive a percentage of rose marie’s 403(b) plan.
“I work for a non-profit organization, and I know how heavily we depend on donations to support our mission. I believe in what Tri Sigma and the Foundation are all about, the good it does through our
national philanthropy, the scholarships it provides, the special bonds and opportunities created in school and alumnae life. I feel an obligation to support, in my own small way, an organization that has provided me with wonderful memories, lifelong friends, and the special joy of being able to say ‘I am a Tri Sigma’.”
— RoseMarie Merritt Mirabella, Alpha Upsilon, Northern VA Alumnae Chapter
Kat is leaving the Foundation a percentage of her life insurance.
“Sigma Sigma Sigma has a special place in my heart since my initiation into the Alpha Zeta Chapter at Northwestern State University. I support the Foundation because I believe in the programs and resources that Tri Sigma offers our chapters. In 1998 as an undergraduate, I received the Ann Williams Scholarship. It was that year I made my first donation to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. Reatha Cole Cox, a member of Alpha Zeta and my Greek Advisor, instilled in me the importance of giving back to a sorority that has given so much to me. To this day I still donate regularly as I am a member of the GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) Program and recently decided to participate in the planned giving program, the Heritage Society, by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of my life insurance policy. I want to ensure that Sigma Sigma Sigma, as well as our programs, are around for many more years so we can continue to touch the lives of others.“
— Kathleen (Kat) R. Gillan, Alpha Zeta
Nancy named the Foundation in her will.
“Tri Sigma has given much to me in the form of friendships, leadership, personal growth, and learning opportunities. As a collegiate and later as an alumnae living in several different cities, I developed friendships that lasted through the years. Being an officer, attending a national convention, helping to start both a new collegiate chapter and an alumnae chapter, and working with the national officers all helped develop my character. In return I contributed to the Foundation often and upon my death wish to contribute again to scholarship funding for deserving young women.”
— Nancy Marks McCullough, Beta Beta
Linda named the Foundation to receive a percentage of her Ira.
“I signed up for planned giving when I was young and living paycheck to paycheck. Since I didn’t have much income at the time, I didn’t feel I could make a donation. Instead, I figured I would give a donation years later, when I had acquired some income and no longer needed it. Some time after I had signed up for planned giving, I affirmed my decision while serving my first year on Executive Council. The Sorority’s attorney notified us about a Tri Sigma alumna that had recently passed away and had named Tri Sigma in her will. She had never served as a national officer, and I’m not sure she even had an alumnae chapter where she lived. Yet, Tri Sigma meant something special to her. We will probably never know her reason for naming Tri Sigma in her will, but the Sorority and its members are benefiting from her kindness. I guess it’s a ‘pay it forward’ type of thing, and I love knowing that my future donation will someday help the current members of this great women’s organization.”
— Linda Manley-Kuitu, Epsilon Rho, Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter
Every once in a while a Foundation staffer opens an envelope in the afternoon mail, and a check falls out with a note from an attorney. A Sister has named the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation in her will.
The gift – whether it’s $5,000 or $500,000 – is always exciting, because it allows the Foundation to expand its program.
Sometimes this means funding a leadership program; adding to a scholarship fund; turning an idea into reality.
But many times, the Sister making the gift is unknown to the Foundation. She never received a pin, noting her membership in the Foundation’s Heritage Society. The Foundation wasn’t able to thank her or to invite her to special events.
Your gift through your estate will make a big difference to the Foundation. Won’t you join our Heritage Society?
If you would like more information about how to remember the Foundation through your will, please contact Nancy Craig, the Foundation’s executive director, at ncraig@ptd.net. If the Foundation is already a part of your will or trust, please let us know so that we can say thank you.
to remember the Foundation in your will, please note: our official name is Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, 225 N. muhlenberg St., Woodstock, Va 22664. the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation, and there may be tax benefits associated with your gift. Please check with your financial advisor.
A. Aphrodite's Heart Necklace, 18”, #SL7125 SS.....$43
B. Snake Chain, 18”, #snake 10K.....$98 GF.....$20 SS.....$15
C. Ever Forward Sailboat Charm, #2543 10K, 10KW.....$98 SS.....$32
D. Vertical Letter Lavaliere, #L2647 10K, 10KW.....$41 SS.....$24
E. CZ Trillion Earrings, #STT443 SS.....$16
F. Swirl Ring with amethysts*, #1000A 10K, 10KW.....$219 SS.....$118
G. Aphrodite’s Heart Ring, #RP2231 (Whole sizes 5–8) SS.....$32
H. CZ Violet Earrings, #EPK232 SS......$16
I. Chapter President’s Ring, #0452P 10K, 10KW.....$298 SS.....$118
J. Sincere Ring, #1022 (Whole sizes 5–9.) SS...$35
Omega Chapter
During the period from Aug. 1 and Nov. 30, 2009 the following Tri Sigmas were reported to have entered Omega Chapter. We offer our sympathy to their friends and families and honor them for their lifetime commitment to Tri Sigma.
alpha
Mary Beck Johnson
GOLDEN VIOLET
Nancy Maddox Carrington
Lambda
Patricia Raysor Fonner
Frances Morrow Wayman
mu
Margaret Ruhwedel Hedeman
Roberta Jane Vaughn
Nu
Deloris Ann Beard
Betty Pine Lockard
Frances Gilbert Rider omicron
Linda Marie Stock
Pi
Maurine Schwarm Carr
GOLDEN VIOLET
rho
Marjorie Anderson Doran
Parke Davis Jervis
Helen Vrieze Sherman
Sigma
Martha Schmitt Hayden
Joy Schell Williams
Chi
Margaret Bower Cox
Emma King Penny
Psi
Jerry Shank Krause
Virginia Shank Young
alpha alpha
Merle Burks Thompson
alpha beta
Barbara Ager Hengesbach
Nelle Vallandingham Steiner
alpha Gamma
Iris Whitten Britt
Edith Owens Isom
Mary Evans Lupton
alpha delta
Barbara Solt Julius
alpha epsilon
Mary Karns Blakely
Mona Alexander Overstreet
alpha zeta
Junee Stickley Campbell
Sharon Elizabeth Sampite
alpha theta
Barbara Key Maloy
alpha Iota
Frances Whipkey Fox
alpha mu
Claire LeBlanc Koch
alpha Nu
Sue Raymond Fraley
alpha Sigma
Ouida Flynt Parker
alpha upsilon
Mary Joyner Bass
Dorothy Lucy Rash
Lynette Gunnell Whitley
beta beta
Kay Bane Ryan
beta Gamma
Deloras Crawford Thomas
beta Xi
Cynthia Bohannon Brown
beta tau
Rose Marie Harr
beta upsilon
Sandra Barner Abraham
beta Chi
Linda A. Sussman
Gamma eta
Maureen Cicero Dicharry
Gamma omicron
Janet Whitworth Shorten
Wdelta alpha
Debra Godfrey Holbrook
delta theta
Wendy Ann Barton
epsilon delta
Brandi Lee Estelow
epsilon epsilon
Beth Ann Decker Davi
epsilon omicron
Alicia Keiko Berenz
epsilon rho
Julie Evans Fey
eta tau
Francesca Luciana Martino
Member badges are the property of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. It is the responsibility of every initiated Sigma to see that the badge she wears is protected and never worn by or in the possession of a non-member. When a Tri Sigma enters Omega Chapter her badge may be buried with her or returned to the National Headquarters. A badge should never be sold by any means. The National Treasurer is the official custodian of Sigma Sigma Sigma badges.
