sister spotlight
Meet Annie
By Clara Mitcham, Assistant Director of Fraternity Services-Membership
This
time three years ago, Annie Raeder, Beta Delta-Indiana University, was starting a new leg of her Alpha Gamma Delta journey as a Leadership Consultant for the Fraternity. While her travels took her to all corners of the United States and Canada, Annie played an integral, ongoing role in the establishment of Delta Upsilon Chapter at Boise State University. As a Leadership Consultant with an extension focus, Annie not only fell in love with Boise, Idaho, but also with the experience of women joining new chapters and colonies. “The women you meet during any colonization are involved in amazing things,” Annie said. “We have recruited student body presidents, a woman who started her own nonprofit organization, a number of student athletes and many women leading major campus fundraising and service efforts.” Annie, who served as an Extension Specialist before assuming the role of Assistant Director of Fraternity Services–Extension at International Headquarters, is now responsible for overseeing the multifaceted extension and colonization process, from the time Alpha Gamma Delta expresses interest in a campus through the installation of the new chapter. Annie said, “The Alpha Gamma Delta colonization process is based heavily on building relationships in order to find women who share our values and Live with Purpose.” Annie finds the culmination of the new chapter experience during installation as one of the most rewarding aspects of her job. “The whole semester is dedicated to starting a new organization, forging new friendships and a lot of hard work,” Annie said. “I like seeing the milestones of these new members realized during installation.” Annie, her team of two Extension Specialists and countless volunteers had a busy fall as they directed the recolonization of Delta Alpha-University of Southern California, Delta EpsilonUniversity of California, Los Angeles and Delta Eta-San Diego State University. As the Fraternity planned for these consecutive efforts, Annie was constantly reminded of what a truly momentous occasion it was for the Fraternity to recolonize these three chapters in one semester. Between extension presentations, marketing research visits, colonization recruitment efforts and installations, Annie has put in many miles for the Fraternity. Since January, Annie has accumulated over 35,000 frequent flyer miles. When she isn’t traveling, she enjoys spending time with friends in Indianapolis and catching the latest episode of the TV show “Scandal.” She is an avid runner with three half marathons (and counting!) under her belt. When asked to describe herself, Annie said the word growth comes to mind. Not only is growth representative of Annie’s role in the Fraternity, but growth also represents her personal efforts to develop as a person. “For me, growth is what life, personally and professionally, is all about, continually changing, developing, learning, building,” Annie said. “If I’m the same today as I was yesterday, I wasted yesterday.”
24 quarterly
fall 2013