Q
fall 2016 volume CVII, N0.1
alpha gamma delta
quarterly
your voice
fhc feature
sister spotlight
your religious faith,
I hope you can rejoice in many ways and let the spirit guide you through the happiest of holidays.
viewpoint
Q
However you choose to honor
Rie Gerah Hoehner International President
"
T
o honor my home, my country, my religious faith.” What a perfect time to reflect on these values found within our Purpose that are so relevant during this season! In this issue of the Quarterly we celebrate the recent beautiful transformation of the Upsilon–University of Oklahoma chapter home. It is with great pleasure we welcome our Upsilon sisters home after a two-year remodel and expansion. After a devastating fire caused damage to the chapter house in 2014, a stunning rebuild and expansion now rests upon the steadfast foundation on Chautauqua Avenue. The home welcomes our members through the new threshold adorned by its Alpha Gamma Delta red door.
The holiday season is upon us and I know our chapters and clubs are preparing special celebrations, and our sisters are making plans to connect and spend time with family and friends as. It is most important that our sisterhood embraces the opportunity to share thanks and appreciation to each other for our commitment to our Alpha Gamma Delta experience. I am so thankful to be part of our sisterhood for the friendships, the learning and the opportunity to serve and to celebrate all of my sisters. We all have so much to be thankful for! I hope that you will find time to reflect this season and share your gratitude for those who have positively impacted your Alpha Gam journey. However you choose to honor your religious faith, I also hope you can rejoice in many ways and let the spirit guide you through the happiest of holidays.
The hard work of our Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) in collaboration with Upsilon alumnae and collegians, is evident throughout new and existing spaces on the property! The renovated and expanded home is sure to contribute to greater heights of success for our sisterhood and highlights Alpha Gamma Delta pride throughout our Fraternity!
As we look forward to enjoying the coming month’s exciting events, let’s remember to continue to live our Purpose, “To honor my home, my country, my religious faith.” Keep these words close to your heart! Our Founders knew what they were doing when they penned those words. We honor our heritage and by living these values together, we will continue to lead Alpha Gamma Delta onward and upward! Happy holidays sisters!
With this year’s election season completed, I send thanks to all of our sisters in the United States who honored their country by participating and exercising their right to vote! Our collegiate chapters received additional support in navigating the elections process through our #AlphaGamVotes campaign on social media, designed to educate our members about how to vote and why their vote matters. During these times it is even more important to provide for a healthy and respective discussion of issues and to remember that ultimately we are all in this together!
Rie Gerah Hoehner International President
Director of Communications and Marketing Wendy Theus Barker
table of contents 2
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Senior Graphic Designer Megan Disselkamp Communications and Marketing Specialist Shelby Kaiser
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alphagammadelta.org
Member, Fraternity Communications Association The Quarterly is published four times per
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year at 8710 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Send all correspondence to International Headquarters, 8710 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. When sending marriage or death announcements, please send duplicate information to your collegiate chapter or alumnae chapter/club so accurate records may be kept. The Quarterly welcomes editorial
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Your Voice Fraternity News Updates
Fraternity News Alpha Gam Achievements
Academy for Chapter Presidents Academy for Chapter Advisors Recap
10 Feature
The Road Home
16 Collegiate News
Chapter Happenings
18 Alumnae Profile
A Different Beautiful
19 Alumnae Profile
Julie Waitman Honored for Service to the Fraternal Community
20 Alumnae News
Alumnae Happenings
23 Foundation
An International Perspective
24 Sister Spotlight Meet Emily
26 A Look Back
The Tale of Many Travels30 Years Later
27 Chapter Grand 28 Spot a Squirrel 29 Alpha Gam Boutique
Become a Contributing and Blog Writer for Alpha Gamma Delta
focus on themes, so please contact the Communications Department for guidelines, deadlines and additional information.
The Quarterly Magazine Mission The Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly magazine endeavors to: • Serve as a forum of communication to inspire, educate and challenge members
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on Fraternity, Greek and women’s issues. • Rekindle, sustain and excite member loyalty and interest through celebrating and validating sisterhood and recognizing
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submissions from freelance writers. Issues
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and acknowledging individual and chapter/ club accomplishments. • Serve as a permanent record and archive, documenting the Fraternity.
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your voice
YOUR VOICE ALPHA GAMMA DELTA PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL HAZING PREVENTION WEEK IN SEPTEMBER AND ENCOURAGED CHAPTER MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE BY USING #ALPHAGAMMADELTA AND #NHPW16 ON SOCIAL MEDIA. TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE POSTS BELOW!
Gamma Omega-The University of Alabama at Birmingham @uabalphagammadelta: Our sisters know that “Hazing has no Purpose in Alpha Gamma Delta,” and came out to support UABs anti-hazing mixer put on by Panhellenic! #uabagd #NHPW16 #AlphaGammaDelta Lambda Alpha-St. Joseph’s College of Long Island
Delta Eta-San Diego State University
@alphagammadelta_sjc: These hands don’t haze. #NHPW16 #AlphaGammaDelta
@missbailey_xo: More than half of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing within their college years. Take the pledge to end hazing now. #NHPW16 #AlphaGammaDelta
CORRECTION
In the summer 2016 Quarterly "Convention Recap" feature, the Helen Butterfield Award for House Associations were not mentioned. Please visit this website to see the award winners. In the summer 2016 Quarterly "Alumnae Profile" article featuring Elise Boni, she is actually teaching at Ardmore Elementary School in Villa Park, Illinois, not California. The Quarterly staff regrets these errors and sincerely apologizes for the inaccuracies.
WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK! Thank you to all sisters who submitted feedback on the last issue of the Quarterly. Remember, the Quarterly is for YOU! We want to hear what you think about your magazine. Send your comments on this issue of the Quarterly by January 1:
Epsilon Phi-Texas Woman's University @twualphagammadelta: Hazing has no Purpose in Alpha Gam. #thesehandsdonthaze #twuagd #NHPW16 #AlphaGammaDelta
MOST POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
SEND AN EMAIL: quarterly@alphagammadelta.org COMMENT ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/alphagammadelta ENGAGE ON TWITTER: twitter.com/alphagammadelta SHARE ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/alphagamihq MAIL: Alpha Gamma Delta International Headquarters Attn: Quarterly Editor 8710 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 2
quarterly | fall 2016
On Fabulous #FHCfriday, we welcomed our Upsilon sisters home after a two-year remodel and expansion! More than 930 sisters reacted, commented or shared this post!
The only thing better than a sorority sister is a sister in arms. Our sister Mykela Foster, Theta Omega–University of South Carolina, part of Army ROTC, met another Alpha Gamma Delta sister, Rachelle Dietzel, Theta Nu–Virginia Commonwealth University, in her platoon! Close to 2,000 sisters liked this post!
fraternity news updates
GIN Update For Collegiate Chapters
In February we sent communication about our new chapter resource, GINsytem. We have collaborated with GINsystem to offer three exclusive Alpha Gamma Delta website templates that are customizable for your chapter. All OmegaFi websites have been shut down now, so it is very important that you utilize this new resource. Also, anywhere you previously had your website listed (e.g. your social media accounts and Panhellenic/Greek websites) will need to update the links with your chapter's new URL. Tip: GINsystem Attendance Tracking Launched We've launched attendance tracking for chapters. Chapters can now eliminate the need for long roll calls and paper sign-in sheets. When chapter officers create events in the GINsystem calendar, they can choose to add an attendance check-in to each via location services or passcode. When a chapter chooses to use the location-based check-in, an officer creates the location when she creates a calendar entry. Then, when members are geographically inside the location during the time of the event, they simply select the event and check in using the GPS technology on their phones. Officers can also set up a four-digit passcode for event check-in. Once a member enters the code, her attendance is recorded. If you have any questions, please email agd@ginsystem.com.
Alumnae Chapters/Clubs - there's a GINsystem for you, too! Email agd@ginsystem.com for more information on setting up your free website and the app-based communication tool for alumnae.
Badge Disposition Information As all Alpha Gamma Delta sisters know, your membership badge is actually property of the Fraternity and we each purchase a lifetime lease when we are initiated into our sisterhood. When we enter Chapter Grand each sisters chooses either to return their badge to the Fraternity or keep their badge in burial. "For those returned to the Fraternity, Badge Disposition forms should accompany the badge sent to International Headquarters. For those intending to keep their badge through burial, the form should be an attachment to a will or trust. A collegiate member who is suspended does not retain her Badge. Upon recommendation for suspension or expulsion, the chapter shall forward the member’s Badge to International Headquarters and include the Collegiate Badge Return Form. Both the Badge Disposition Form and the Collegiate Badge Return Form can be found here: http://bit.ly/2dDApYH and in the Resource Center on myAlphaGam.
SAVE THE DATE! 2nd Annual Week of Service February 12-18, 2017 3
fraternity news
Fraternity News Alpha Gam Achievements “To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world’s work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.” Alpha Gamma Delta is proud of her members who go above and beyond! Please join us in congratulating the following sisters on their achievements! Grace Hopson Dansby, Gamma Beta–Florida State University Florida State University granted an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Grace Hopson Dansby, Tallahassee businesswoman and philanthropist, on August 9, 2016. She is one of the founders of Southern Bank and Super-Lube. Dansby attended Florida State University from 1947-1948. During her time at the university, she became an enduring presence at university events and demonstrated a longstanding commitment to her alma mater by making other contributions, such as a significant gift to the Sliger Endowment in Economics in 1984. Susan Foster Gould, Epsilon Gamma–University of Denver At the April 2016 Chicago NW Suburban Panhellenic (CNWSAP) Scholarship Award Dinner, Susan E. Gould received the Athena Award, the group’s highest award, which recognizes sorority women who have demonstrated excellence in leadership through their professional, community and cultural involvement. This award is presented to Panhellenic women who provide a valuable service by contributing their time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in their community. Nancy Richeson Siniard, Psi–University of Alabama The University of Alabama's National Alumni Association recently named Nancy Richeson Siniard with the 2015 Distinguished Alumna Award. Nancy received her bachelor’s and master’s in communication from the University of Alabama in 1978. For the past 25 years, she has worked as a managing partner for TotalCom in Huntsville, Alabama. This award is based on loyalty and service to the university and the National Alumni Association; character and personal life; professional achievement or success in chosen endeavor; and community service on local, state or national level. Audrey Skwierawski, Lambda–Northwestern University The Wisconsin Law Journal honored Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Audrey Skwierawski with the Women in the Law Award on June 23, 2016. The award recognizes female attorneys who have not only achieved professional excellence and served their community, but who have opened doors and advanced opportunities for women in the industry. If you are interested in sharing your achievements, please email quarterly@alphagammadelta.org! 4
quarterly | fall 2016
SAVE THE DATE! Alpha Gamma Delta For Chapter Presidents JANUARY 6-8, 2017 THE ALEXANDER HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA We are excited to host our Chapter Presidents for the second annual Academy for Chapter Presidents. This opportunity will give our collegiate leaders the chance to connect with other Chapter Presidents, learn best practices and return to their chapters full of new and innovative ideas! Follow us on social media for updates about this exciting event!
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Academy for Chapter Advisors Recap During the weekend of September 30 through October 2, Alpha Gamma Delta hosted its inaugural Academy for Chapter Advisors at the Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis. Ninety-four dedicated Chapter Advisors, four Directors of Chapter Development and three International Council members traveled to the Circle City to connect with other Alpha Gams for the opportunity to learn from an array of talented and knowledgeable industry professionals. The weekend started off with a keynote presentation from Dr. Lori Hart, where she explored topics including relationships, alcohol education and fraternity and sorority life. Our Chapter Advisors learned how to maintain positive energy in their leadership, stay committed to the goals of their chapters and enjoyed a few laughs throughout the presentation. Day two of the Academy was full of educational opportunities for our Chapter Advisors as they learned how to use their strengths in their personal life and though their role as a Chapter Advisors in the Strengths Based Leadership General Session. They also took part in multiple strategic breakout sessions, including topics including CIMS, housing, difficult conversations, succession planning and building campus relations. Chapter Advisors were also able to participate in small group conversations with other sisters who have varying years of service and experience in working with chapters of all sizes. The Tough Topics General Session opened the eyes of many as we dove into conversations about mental health, sexual assault, drug use and hazing, presented by four industry professionals from Indiana University, Purdue University-Indianapolis. We carried on our tough topics theme through our final General Session: Risk, Insurance and Liability with MJ Insurance. The final event of the evening was the Chapter Advisor Panel Discussion, where some of our most successful Chapter Advisors took the stage to share their insight and experience. This also allowed the Chapter Advisors to have an open conversation about wins, struggles and new ideas. Panel participants included Cassie Jarrett Cleaver, Epsilon Kappa–Pittsburg State, Chapter Advisor; Sara Bissell Dunbar, Epsilon Nu–University of 6
quarterly | fall 2016
Central Oklahoma, Chapter Advisor; Jessica Keesee, Gamma Phi–Georgia Institute of Technology, Chapter Advisor; Molly Rattigan, Delta Rho Chapter–Sonoma State University, Chapter Advisor; and Emma Olson Thomas, Upsilon–University of Oklahoma, Chapter Advisor. Two women from our panel had won Outstanding Chapter Advisor awards at International Convention, some had led their chapters through crises and others had elevated expectations and led their chapters to higher levels of achievement. Our final day was short, sweet and motivational! Our closing keynote speaker, T.J. Sullivan, one of the best known collegiate leadership speakers in the nation, has spoken to more than 3 million students in all 50 states. He’s popular because he talks about real, practical solutions to the most common problems facing student leaders. T.J. spoke to our Chapter Advisors about best practices when "motivating the middle." Our chapter members likely fall into three groups: top performers and leaders; middle level members who participate and really enjoy Alpha Gam but are often ignored; and bottom level members who struggle to attend events, follow rules and fully engage in the experience. Following T.J.’s entertaining and informative discussion, International President, Rie Gerah Hoehner, and Executive Director, Wendy Bright Faust, finished the exciting weekend with a recap of upcoming initiatives and support. Here is an excerpt from Rie’s closing remarks, “We hope you are re-engaged and have gained practical tips you can take back to your chapters. We are in this together, we are all on the same team, and that team is Alpha Gamma Delta. We are grateful for your time, your talent and mostly the heart and soul that you give to Alpha Gamma Delta. With women like you, I know our Fraternity is destined for greatness and a journey that will take us onward and upward.”
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THE
MARGUERITE
SHEPARD INITIATIVE
As one of Alpha Gamma Delta's notable Founders, Marguerite Shepard was the embodiment of commitment to both the Fraternity and also to her academic success! She graduated a member of Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. She was Alpha Gamma Delta’s first Grand Vice President and its second Grand President. Her devotion to her intellectual pursuits and our beloved Fraternity influenced the development of the Marguerite Shepard Initiative. This initiative serves as the umbrella term for Alpha Gamma Delta’s re-development of its scholastic support for our collegiate chapters. The Marguerite Shepard Initiative offers a variety of support for the Vice President Scholarship our members and our chapters. The Vice President Scholarship now has access to a Scholarship Toolkit with stand-alone programs covering many topics which includes information ranging from time management, to how to better read scholarly texts. The VPS now has the power to build programming either chapter-wide or individually to better help our members.
CHAPTERS
MEMBERS GREEN 3.14-3.49 GPA
BUFF
3.50-3.99 GPA
RED 4.0 GPA
GOLD
3.14-3.24 GPA
PEARL 3.25-3.49 GPA
DIAMOND 3.5+ GPA
The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation will continue to give the Scholastic Achievement Awards recognizing the senior in each Alpha Gamma Delta chapter with the highest cumulative grade point average during her college career. They will also continue to support scholastic achievement via the awarding of Foundation scholarships. We’re excited to share this initiative with you and believe Marguerite Shepard would be proud. Remember when you post to social media about your members' and chapter's scholastic success, use #BeLikeMarguerite.
MARGUERITE SHEPARD INITIATIVE UMBRELLA • Scholarship Toolkit • Academic Honor Society Awards • Social media/public recognition of high achieving chapters and members –including Foundation scholarship recipients • Future scholastic programming and development of new processes and procedures 8
quarterly | fall 2016
SOCIAL MEDIA RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES • Don’t forget to utilize the #BeLikeMarguerite and #WhatWouldMargueriteDo when showing off your accomplishments • February will be referred to as the “Month of Marguerite” to align with NPC’s “Month of the Scholar”
Alpha Gam
Alumnae Dues 2016-2017 Hi sisters, My name is Donna Jean Lewis, and I am excited to share my short story! Janet Harris Tonkovich and I were roommates for two years in the Delta Alpha house at the University of Southern California. After our collegiate years, we went on to raise our children together, buy vacation homes next to each other and author two history books together. After 50 years, we still remain the best of friends. Our Alpha Gam friendship doesn’t end with us though. Even Janet’s mother, Eunice Launer Harris, initiated into Delta Alpha back in 1938, looks back fondly on her time as a collegian! Both of our biological sisters are Alpha Gams, along with Janet’s mother, cousin and aunt. Because of Alpha Gamma Delta, we have each other. I paid my Alumnae Dues to honor Janet, and I hope you will do the same to honor your best sister-friend. If you are among the first to pay, you will receive two Alpha Gamma Delta exclusive prints—one for you and one to share with your best sister-friend! Thank you for your support of the Alumnae Dues program! Loyally, Donna and Janet, Delta Alpha–University of Southern California
Where do your Alumnae Dues go? In the next year, your alumnae dues contributions will help fund: • The Leadership Conference (TLC) 2017 • Extension, provisional chapter establishment and recruitment • Alumnae receptions and special events held in local communities • Regional professional and personal development for alumnae
• Advisor training • Volunteer Service Team and IHQ support to local alumnae chapters and clubs • Focus groups and task forces impacting our future endeavors • Alumnae membership records, mailing and support materials
Here are a few ways you can pay: • Visit alphagammadelta.org
• Mail your check to: Alpha Gamma Delta Attn: Alumnae Dues 8710 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46260
• Call and pay 317.663.4200
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10 quarterly | winter 2016
For the members of Upsilon–University of Oklahoma, the return back to school following the holiday break in January of 2014 was anything but ordinary. At 10:45 p.m., on the second day of classes, the local fire department responded to a call at 930 Chautauqua Avenue. When they arrived at the Alpha Gamma Delta house, all of the women had safely evacuated and a towering blaze shot up from the third floor near the back of the house. Chapter members and community members looked on in disbelief, not knowing what would happen in the coming days. How bad is the damage? Where will we stay tonight? When can we move back into the house? Little did they know this night would be the start of an over two-year journey home.
Fire and Rain
In the days and the weeks following the fire, Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity and the University of Oklahoma community rallied in support of the chapter. The Panhellenic community reached out immediately to provide temporary housing and relief supplies to the chapter members. In addition, live-in members of Upsilon Chapter became the first recipients of the newly created Disaster Relief Grant from the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. After the investigation of the Upsilon house fire, it was concluded equipment inadvertently left in the attic following a recent repair was likely the cause. Despite the fact the fire had been contained to a relatively small area of the house, water damage from the sprinkler and smoke damage exacerbated the devastation. Fire investigators later discovered a nearby gas supply line had caught on fire, causing the dramatic plume of fire and smoke. About a month later, the house remained unoccupied and was in the process of an insurance assessment when the chapter received a call that there was water pouring out of the front windows of the chapter house. In that moment, the situation had gone from bad to worse. Several pipes froze and broke due to low temperatures and the water had filled the lower levels of the house until it had nowhere to go but out the front window. After this significant setback, it was looking less likely that the chapter members, who moved to on-campus housing in the interim, would return to the facility anytime soon.
The Long and Winding Road
Faced with a daunting rebuild and renovation process, the Upsilon House Association board of directors and House Association membership voted to join the Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) later that spring. With the opportunity to rebuild came the chance to re-imagine what the chapter house could be. With that, the FHC, former House Association officers, collegiate officers and advisors began their research. These groups partnered to visit every sorority house at the University of Oklahoma, many of them several times, to determine what would make the Upsilon house the most competitive on campus. In addition to the hundreds of pages of notes and research, there was also the opportunity to dream about the amenities that the chapter has always wanted. The result? Plans for a sorority house to rival the best in the country— providing top-of-the-line safety features, member luxuries and unique and beautiful architectural features.
The FHC partnered with Bill Gumerson & Associates, a design-build firm out of Oklahoma City, to complete the task. Gumerson and his team jumped headfirst into what would become a long and challenging project in the fall of 2014. The first fall was focused on deconstruction, tearing the house down to studs. This process revealed a number of imperfections in both the original part of the house, built in 1927, as well as the multiple additions, which required extensive reframing. Moving into the spring of 2015, there were additional challenges as the crews faced one of the rainiest Oklahoma springs on record. The new basement, which was being excavated under what would become the new addition to the house, had to be re-dug eight times to varying degrees. When the new academic year started in August 2015, the chapter faced their second unhoused recruitment. The house was on track to be completed in time for recruitment the following year. As crews toiled away throughout the year, the hurdles continued. Unanticipated requirements from the City of Norman resulted in new features like sound remediation measures to hotel-level standards. As the August 2016 deadline drew closer, so that the chapter could move in for the start of the academic year and hold recruitment in their new home, there was a realization the prerecruitment move-in deadline would not be met. The FHC and the Fraternity partnered with the chapter the secure a large, luxury tent for the parking lot to accommodate limited house tours during recruitment. On October 7, 2016, two years and nine months after the fire, the keys were given back to Upsilon Chapter and the women were allowed to move back home. 11
TURNING HOUSE INTO home...
FORMAL LIVING ROOM
POWDER ROOM
DINING ROOM 12 quarterly | fall 2016
WORKOUT ROOM
BASEMENT CHAPTER ROOM
STUDY ROOM
GET-READY ROOM
COURTYARD
UPSTAIRS LAUNDRY ROOM
INFORMAL LIVING ROOM
29,136
CHAPTER ROOM SEATS
$7M
LIVE-IN MEMBERS
3,000+
TOTAL SQUARE FEET
250+
TOTAL COST OF PROJECT
71
SQUARE FEET OF STUDY SPACE 13
LESSONS FROM BEING
PRESIDENT THROUGH TRANSITION
KYLIE FRISBY
2014 PRESIDENT
“I learned so many things while leading Upsilon
during our transitional period, but the most valuable lesson I learned was that of asking for help. Prior to the fire and everything that followed it, I was often too proud to ask for help from those around me. However, I learned that there are so many people with unique talents and skills that just want to help and it is more than acceptable to ask them for it. ”
JACKI BRADSHAW 2015 PRESIDENT
“'Keep calm and carry on.' That was the mantra that kept me sane my entire presidency. I learned that whenever chaos is happening, it is the role of the President to take a breath and lead the chapter out of the mess. I learned to keep my emotions in check and make decisions based off a level head.”
SYDNEY PATRICK 2016 PRESIDENT
“The most valuable lesson I learned is that everybody has feelings, and their feelings are valid. Whether sisters are frustrated, stressed, or excited, they handle these feelings differently. During this transition time, I learned about the importance of meeting people where they’re at and knowing that I’m not in their shoes.” 14 quarterly | fall 2016
Feels Like Home To Me Refurnishing 29,136 square feet of space in preparation for 71 members to move in is no small task. The FHC Interior Designers started sorting through furniture that was salvaged from the fire and began planning for the new furnishings over a year in advance. Members of the FHC team made numerous trips to Norman, Oklahoma, throughout the fall to install hundreds of pieces of bedroom furniture, chapter memorabilia, indoor and outdoor seating and to check on the progress of every component of the design from wallpaper to light fixtures. The finished product is magnificent. When you walk into the Upsilon house today, you enter between beautiful stone columns, through the signature 12-foot, Alpha Gamma Delta red door into the marble-tiled grand foyer. Eyes are drawn to the grand staircase, open second floor balcony, and crystal globe chandelier. Immediately to the right is the one-of-a-kind formal living room complete with a fireplace, wall of lighted shelves and babygrand piano. To the left of the foyer you find the dining room. With custom tables and chairs to seat 100, a large cabinet is also included to display the chapter's historical crystal and silver. The first floor also features the House Director’s suite, a small study, two outdoor courtyards and a large informal living room, where members can relax and watch TV. The second and third floors feature the living spaces including a laundry facility, coffee bar, four "get-ready rooms" for hair and make-up, two study nooks and a 1,000 square-foot study room. The chapter’s two basements feature additional study space, a workout facility, a designated craft room and, last but not least, a state-of-the-art chapter room that seats 250 and can be cleared to accommodate events like dance practice or recruitment training. The expanded and renovated Alpha Gamma Delta home was revealed to alumnae, parents and friends of Alpha Gamma Delta on October 28 and 29, 2016. A Dedication Ceremony and Open House were held as part of the University of Oklahoma’s Homecoming Weekend; a fitting time for the more than 400 attendees celebrating this exciting event in the chapter’s history. The historic journey home for Upsilon Chapter has come to fruition through the hard work and dedication of countless Upsilon collegians and alumnae as well as the entire Alpha Gamma Delta team. The foundation of this house is built on the loyalty of generations of Alpha Gamma Delta sisters. It is their legacy that will make this house a home for generations to come.
International President, Rie Gerah Hoehner addresses chapter members and alumnae during Upsilon Chapter’s House Dedication Ceremony. Sydney Patrick, Upsilon Chapter President, along with Katie Jolley Abernathy, FHC President, and Bobette Sandifer Thompson, International Vice President-Finance and FHC Director, cut the ribbon and officially declared Upsilon's chapter house re-open.
BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION Since January of 2014, the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation has taken on a special role in support of Upsilon Chapter. Immediately following the fire, live-in members of Upsilon Chapter became the first recipients of the newly created Disaster Relief Grant. Each live-in member received $500 from the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation to help replace personal belongings lost or damaged in the fire.
At the Upsilon Chapter Homecoming Dedication and Open House celebration in October, the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation announced an opportunity to support the Upsilon house project through a grant partnership with the FHC. This grant will allow naming recognition of a variety spaces throughout the chapter house through tax-deductible donations from and/or in honor of individuals or groups. These gifts will help offset the cost of the construction of educational spaces and furnishings and will leave a lasting legacy for the generations of Upsilon members to come. You can find out more about the campaign and how you can participate by visiting WWW.930CHAUTAUQUA.COM *Photos taken by Magnolia Adams Photography 15
collegiate news
Chapter Happenings
Gamma Alpha–University of Georgia The Gamma Alpha Chapter had a Color Run themed Bid Day this year, complete with confetti that covered the lawn for the next week. All the hard work put in by the women during recruitment paid off when they welcomed a wonderful new member class.
Theta Iota–Western Kentucky University After a successful week of recruitment, sisters Hannah Purcell, Chloe Hohlbien, Anna Greenbaum, Alice Edmond and Olivia Sievert enjoyed amazing bonding experiences on the beautiful Western Kentucky University campus.
Gamma Xi–Murray State University Beta Beta–North Dakota State University Gamma Xi's new member class for fall 2016, right Alpha Gams enjoyed yummy treats at the after accepting their bids to join Alpha Gamma Delta! Minnesota State Fair this summer. Theta Mu–University of North Carolina-Wilmington Theta Mu sisters relaxed before exams at their beach yoga sisterhood event.
Reminder: The Collegiate Chapter Quarterly Report Form has been updated and is available in the Resource Center of myAlphaGam under Operations Team Forms. All chapters will now submit photos twice a year, each year. The deadlines are March 15 and September 15. All you have to do is upload up to three high resolution photos and provide a caption for each photo you submit! 16 quarterly | fall 2016
Beta Alpha–Nebraska Wesleyan University Together, the Beta Alpha Chapter stands in front of their home. The house has been a historical landmark for Nebraska Wesleyan University—first, acting as the chancellor's house and then eventually becoming the Alpha Gamma Delta house.
Epsilon Epsilon–William Jewell College The ladies of Epsilon Epsilon were having so much fun on the dance floor at their Red Rose Formal!
Delta Kappa–University of Alberta Delta Kappa members wore cute Alpha Gam Boutique shirts during their recruitment training! Epsilon Psi–University of Texas at Dallas Sisters at their Bid Day! All things go better with Alpha Gam!
Alpha–Syracuse University These sisters had so much fun representing the Alpha Chapter at this year's International Convention!
Gamma Phi–Georgia Institute of Technology The Gamma Phi Chapter had an extremely successful 2016 recruitment. Welcome to our 60 new members who are already living with Purpose.
Delta Alpha–University of Southern California Delta Alpha was excited to welcome home so many new sisters in our fall 2016 new member class with a "paradise" themed Bid Day. 17
alumnae profile
A Different Beautiful
By Beth Hartnett, Delta Tau–Chapman University
December 19, 2011, was a defining day for Courtney Klemm Westlake, Sigma-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was the day she gave birth to her second child and first daughter, Brenna. It was also the beginning of a new normal for her family, as Brenna was diagnosed with Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare and severe skin disease. As other families prepared for the holidays, the Westlakes prayed for their daughter as she underwent multiple surgeries, battled a blood infection and dealt with other lifethreatening conditions associated with her disease. In the face of uncertainty and hardship, Courtney started writing. Her blog, “Blessed by Brenna,” slowly morphed into a channel for support, healing and celebration. Courtney now shares her story in print with the release of her first book, A Different Beautiful, available online and in bookstores in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. She hopes this story, a compilation of her own tales and the tales of others, will not only educate the world about this rare condition, but will help inspire others to find beauty and joy in unexpected places.
“Brenna’s birth, and her life have transformed me,” Courtney said. “It has challenged me to really get to know who people are before making assumptions of who I think they are.” Courtney talks about this idea of pre-conceived notions in chapter eight of her book, titled, “Pigtails.” Before their daughter’s birth, Courtney and her husband, Evan, envisioned their daughter running around with bouncing pigtails. After Brenna was born, they realized this vision was not a reality. Harlequin Ichthyosis— characterized by thick, cracked skin— blocks hair follicles and makes it difficult for hair to grow. A few years after Brenna’s birth, Courtney recalls hearing her husband’s laughter. She found him twisting the few curly hairs on Brenna’s head into miniature ponytails. The sight left an impression on Courtney. “We all experience that moment in our lives when something isn’t what we were expecting, and it leaves us disappointed and grieving a loss,” she said. “But when we can find new life in what was lost, that’s when we can really celebrate what true beauty is.” Courtney counts many unexpected blessings over the past several years, among which was the ability to return to writing and fulfill her dream of completing a book. After two years of blogging and the encouragement of fellow authors and bloggers, she took the leap. In July 2014, Courtney attended the “She Speaks” conference for aspiring writers and speakers and met a literary agent interested in her story. As fate would have it, the agent, Blythe Daniel of Blythe Daniel Literary Agency, is also an Alpha Gam. With the help of her sister, Courtney found a voice for her own narrative, which also includes stories from others who have struggled with Harlequin Ichthyosis. Less than a year later, her book was picked up by Shiloh Run Press. A wife, mother, inspirational blogger and now published author, Courtney is grateful for the challenges that have led her to this surreal success—a vastly different, yet more fulfilling journey than she could have ever imagined. “There is no normal or perfect,” Courtney said. “And that is worth celebrating.” To find out more about Courtney, A Different Beautiful, and to read her blog, visit www.courtneywestlake.com.
18 quarterly | fall 2016
alumnae profile
Julie Waitman Honored with the Resolution of Commendation This summer, the North-American Interfraternity Conference Foundation (NICF) Board of Directors recognized Julie Waitman, Executive Director of the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation since 2007, with the Resolution of Commendation. She was honored for her extraordinary service to the Greek community as she concluded her six years of service on the board. Julie, Beta Beta–North Dakota State University, was elected to the NICF Board of Directors in 2010. During her board tenure, she served as Secretary and was a driving force behind the fraternity and sorority alumni research to further the growth of fraternal foundations. Julie made every effort to encourage them to strive for excellence and gave them tools to succeed. Julie often says that she owes much of who she is to Alpha Gamma Delta. Upon graduation in 1980, Julie’s Alpha Gam journey had just begun. She served the Fraternity as a traveling Leadership Consultant, then joined staff at International Headquarters as Director of Chapter Services and as the Fraternity's Executive Director for nine years. Through various roles within Alpha Gam and other fraternal foundations and nonprofits, Julie’s passion for the fraternal community, the members whom they serve and the donors who make it all possible continued to blossom.
fraternal foundation support that allowed Cygnus to measure and evaluate changes in giving trends over the last four years. These giving benchmarks tracked the philanthropic decisions of almost 5.5 million alumni and 250,000 donors from the same 36 fraternal organizations, making it the first of its kind and the most detailed statistical analysis of fraternal philanthropy ever compiled. The 2015 study also provided the first look at longitudinal data for the entire fraternal community. Julie and her committee used this extensive research to develop educational curriculum, which further developed NICF’s educational programs. “The caliber of the NICF’s programs has continued to improve over the last six years thanks to Julie’s dedication to conducting research, and providing fraternal foundations with education and resources,” says Dan Hartmann, former Chief Operating Officer for the NICF. “Her exemplary volunteer service will impact the fraternal community for many years to come, and for that, the NICF Board of Directors expresses its highest commendation and appreciation to Julie.” It is an honor to have Julie serving on staff as the Executive Director of the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, and the fraternity and sorority community are all honored to have such an amazing leader living our Purpose in everything she does.
When presented with the invitation to join the NICF board, whose mission is to advance the fraternal movement by cultivating a culture of philanthropy and enhancing the sophistication of associated professionals, Julie didn’t think twice. NICF works to ensure the longevity and success of fraternal foundations through educational programs, research and industry collaboration. Julie’s legacy to the NICF and fraternity and sorority community is her extensive work in developing alumni research. She led the Education and Benchmarking Committee, which set out to assess NICF’s educational opportunities through research, benchmarking and curriculum development. For those who have worked with Julie, it’s clear she believes in the fraternal community and in supporting all fellow fraternity and sorority members. Her work with this committee led to a comprehensive national study of fraternity and sorority alumni. In partnership with Cygnus Applied Research, a research-based fundraising consulting firm serving the nonprofit sector, the NICF conducted two national surveys of fraternity and sorority alumni. The initial survey in 2011 collected data from more than 57,000 alumni from 36 fraternal organizations and was designed to evaluate communication programs, gather demographic information, and measure respondents’ attitudes, preferences and opinions towards their respective fraternities and sororities. NICF and Cygnus led a second national study in 2015, the largest single piece of research ever conducted for fraternal organizations. More than 67,000 respondents participated in an analysis of
Julie Waitman with daughter Sarah Cretin, a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity at Indiana University. 19
alumnae news
Alumnae Recaps
Gamma Alpha and Athens Alumnae Chapter The Gamma Alpha and Athens Alumnae Chapter kicked off the school year with an event called "Back to School: BBQ and Brews" in Atlanta, Georgia. Each alumna brought back-to-school items benefitting Forever Family, a nonprofit organization that aids children of incarcerated parents. They also were able to share delicious BBQ and sides with Nicholas House, Inc., a nonprofit agency that provides housing programs and targeted support services to homeless families in the area. Additionally, they increased their dues-paying membership by 10 sisters! It was a wonderful day of spending time with sisters and supporting two great Atlanta-area organizations!
North Atlanta Alumnae Club The sisters of the North Atlanta Alumnae Club had a great time at their annual Dessert Night with their adopted chapter, Mu–Brenau University. Every October, alumnae make desserts and take them to the chapter house. In November, they also make study bags for the Mu Chapter sisters to have during finals. They fill the bags with popcorn, hot chocolate, snacks, candy, highlighters and anything else the collegians may need to survive finals week! - Lindsey McPherson Evans, Theta Delta–University of North Georgia
- Alice White, Gamma Alpha–University of Georgia
Los Angeles Area Alumnae Chapter The Los Angeles Area Alumnae Chapter hosted a professional development workshop for collegians and young alumnae interested in careers in the legal profession. Twenty women ranging from new members to young alumnae, from both Delta Alpha–University of Southern California and Delta Epsilon–University of California, Los Angeles were in attendance. The event was held at the Gould Law School. - Marijayne Wallace Stegman, Delta Alpha–University of Southern California 20 quarterly | fall 2016
Epsilon Kappa Alumnae Chapter The Epsilon Kappa alumnae have had a busy year. They wrapped up 2015 with their annual holiday party on December 13. They had a luncheon, wine exchange and festive squirrelthemed photo booth. Additionally, they had a philanthropy fundraiser for a local Pittsburg-area family whose daughter was battling leukemia. They kicked off 2016 with IRD in April following the theme of Endless Possibilities. Their speaker from the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes shared the story of Irena Sendler who rescued 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. She used her job as a social worker to hide Jewish children with temporary families as part of the Polish underground resistance network. Also at IRD, they awarded two local $500 scholarships to deserving collegians, and spotted a squirrel, which was a part of a larger peacock clock on display. Past International President Connie Yates Brown was on hand to meet the recipient of her namesake scholarship awarded by Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. Additionally, they recognized their 25 and 50 year members and awarded the local Spirit of Epsilon Kappa award. - Heather Kalar Rubesch, Epsilon Kappa–Pittsburg State University Auburn/Opelika Alumnae Chapter The Auburn/Opelika Alumnae Chapter has had a busy summer and fall. Two of their officers attended International Convention in July. Later in the month, the alumnae chapter held their annual Summer Salad Event, where they collected school items to donate to The Big House, a local organization that supports foster families in Lee County, Alabama. They also completed Recommendation Forms for all the Lee County young woman participating in recruitment at their respective universities across the state. In August, they supported the collegians at Gamma Delta–Auburn University during recruitment. The alumnae chapter helped with preparations during the week and provided them with a sweet treat on their final day of pre-recruitment workshops. In October, they hosted a dinner for the 75 young women in the new member class during Initiation Week. - Kimble Manley Eastman, Gamma Delta–Auburn University Chi Alumnae Chi alumnae held a reunion on Saturday, September 24. It was the largest gathering of Chi alumnae in many years. Sisters gathered on the Michigan State University campus from across the country, traveling to Michigan from California, Puerto Rico, Maryland and Illinois. Everyone enjoyed reconnecting with their sisters and seeing the beautiful Michigan State University campus again. Another reunion is planned for 2018. - Kirsten Scott Lopez, Chi–Michigan State University Zeta Beta Alumnae These Zeta Beta–Lehigh University sisters reunited together in Avalon, New Jersey this past summer. Sisters who initiated in 1988 were in attendance. - Debra Schwartzberg Levy, Zeta Beta–Lehigh University
Alumnae chapter/club recaps for the Spring Quarterly are due March 15. Fill out the form online by searching “recap form” at alphagammadelta.org, or email your report to quarterly@alphagammadelta.org. 21
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
An International Perspective to the orphanage, and were very anxious about interacting with new people and experiences. We provided tactilebased games, jumped on a trampoline and rolled balls to help them adapt and experience more normal childhood activities. It was inspiring because the games and activities helped the children adapt to their new environment in a very short amount of time. I became captivated by the idea of helping people rehabilitate through daily activities and eventually pursued occupational therapy (OT) at USC.” Carnie is the proud recipient of the Foundation’s Barbara Henderson Miller Scholarship awarded to an Alpha Gam studying OT. Barbara, Alpha Pi–Wayne State University, was a long-time leader in Alpha Gamma Delta at the international and local level, held a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and a master’s degree in educational therapy. She was a dedicated donor to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, endowing one of its largest scholarships. Barbara, who entered Chapter Grand in 2013, possessed a driving force during her life to help others, like Carnie. Carnie Lewis at the peak of Tajumulco in Guatemala—the highest peak in Central America
As a child of the world since birth, Carnie Lewis, Delta Alpha–University of Southern California (USC), has a broad perspective many of us may never have. “I was born in Perth, Western Australia, and moved to South Korea, due to my father’s job, when I was only six years old,” she says. “We then moved to Shanghai, China, where I eventually graduated from an international high school shortly before my parents moved to Kuwait. My background has given me a very international outlook on life, which has directly influenced my career goals. When I came to USC I was nervous because I feared that I would be an outsider among the other American students. However, Alpha Gamma Delta welcomed me with open arms and has shown me despite our differences, we all have a common home.” It was Carnie’s volunteer experience in Shanghai that opened up the idea of working in occupational therapy. “As a teenager, I volunteered at the Shining Star Orphanage—an organization that provides orphans who are blind with a home, education and a support network. Because of the ‘one child’ policy in China, many children born with birth defects are abandoned. My job at Shining Star was to play with the children. Some of the children had been beaten, neglected or tied up before they came 22 quarterly | fall 2016
“During my time at USC, I’ve expanded my goals to include implementing OT in communities that lack rehabilitation services,” Carnie says. “In June of 2015, I traveled to Guatemala with the university to study health, culture, language and disease. This experience helped me recognize the dire need for OT in the health care systems in developing countries.” Carnie hopes to someday work with a world-wide health organization. It is only with the help of our donors that Carnie and 149 other women received a total of $164,000 in scholarships this year to continue their educational journey. “I am so honored to receive the Barbara Henderson Miller Scholarship and thank Barbara and all the generous Alpha Gams that make it possible for me and my sisters to pursue our dreams.”
Do you have a dream to pursue? • The Foundation scholarship application is now available www.alphagammadeltafoundation.org • Deadline for completed applications (with references and transcripts) is Friday, March 3, 2017.
Did you know? • The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation was founded as a scholarship granting organization and awarded 150 scholarships this year. • The Foundation offers three types of scholarships. (One online application allows applicants to be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible): • General under/graduate scholarships – funded through donations to the Foundation’s Annual Fund. General scholarships are awarded for $1,000 each and account for approximately 1/3 of the scholarships awarded each year. • Endowed scholarships – funded through endowments established by generous sisters and families for specific fields of study, members of a specific chapter, women from a given geographic area, or other specified criteria. (See the list of opportunities below.) • Celebration scholarships – one-time scholarship(s) given to a member of a newly-installed chapter in honor of the chapter’s installation, or to a member of a chapter celebrating a centennial anniversary.
ENDOWED SCHOL ARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CHAPTERS
Alpha Delta Zeta Iota Xi Sigma Tau Upsilon Psi Omega Alpha Beta Alpha Omicron Beta Beta Beta Delta
Beta Eta Beta Iota Beta Xi Beta Omicron Gamma Alpha Gamma Beta Gamma Delta Gamma Zeta Gamma Xi Gamma Tau Gamma Phi Delta Beta Delta Epsilon Delta Eta Delta Theta
Delta Iota Delta Xi Delta Omicron Delta Pi Delta Sigma Epsilon Beta Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Lambda Epsilon Phi Epsilon Psi Zeta Eta Zeta Omicron Theta Epsilon Theta Lambda
FIELDS OF STUDY Architecture Art History Business Chemistry Communications Creative Writing Economics Education Environmental Studies Fine Arts Journalism Library or Information Science Marketing
Mathematics or Actuarial Science Medicine Music Occupational Therapy Science Social Work Theater or Dramatic Arts
MEMBERS WHO ARE • Attending Michigan State University • From the Chicago area • Collegians in the state of Michigan • From Southern California
INVEST IN OUR SISTERS. INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. Make your Annual Fund gift today and consider creating a new scholarship endowment.
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Please let us know if your employer matches charitable contributions. 23
Meet Emily E
mily Smith, Beta Xi–Purdue University, is currently the Chief of Staff of Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) at the United Nations Foundation. FP2020 is a global partnership supporting the UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescent's Health. With the support of Emily’s family, friends and sisters, she successfully supports women and girls around the world in achieving their hopes and dreams, day-in and day-out.
Photo by: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT THE UN FOUNDATION WITH FP2020? As Chief of Staff, I act as the right-hand to our Executive Director. I am responsible for supporting the effective execution of FP2020’s overall strategy and approach, enabling the cross-cutting functions of our team and managing special projects and partner engagement opportunities on behalf of our Executive Director and senior leadership team. During FP2020’s start-up phase back in 2012, my dad shared a quote by Thomas Edison with me to help guide my work, “Vision without execution is hallucination.” I see my job as this quote, and think about it every day. FP2020 has an amazing vision, an amazing mission. HOW DID YOUR PLAN OF BECOMING A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER CHANGE INTO FAMILY PLANNING 2020?
HOW HAS ALPHA GAMMA DELTA AND YOUR SISTERS INSPIRED YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY? I am lucky to say that I am not the only Alpha Gam in my family. My mother, two aunts and sister-in-law are Alpha Gams, and I am very proud of that. Alpha Gamma Delta has given me some of the best women in my life that inspire me daily. My mother, Mary Spiess Smith, Beta Xi–Purdue University, was president of Alpha Gam her senior year while majoring in engineering—no small feat, especially for a woman at that time. As I look to the future, I know I can reach for the stars because she did at a time, and in a field where it was an uphill battle for women. If I can accomplish just 10 percent of what my mother has, then I will have done something right in my life.
I went to Purdue with the plan to become a kindergarten teacher. One of our required courses was a class on family studies and interpersonal relationships. I was so intrigued by interpersonal dynamics and its ripple effect on others and their communities. The first shift in my course was deciding to study romantic relationships and how those interpersonal dynamics impact health outcomes. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I went on to the University of Georgia to get my graduate degree in Human Development and Family Science.
Not only has my Alpha Gam legacy left an important mark on my life, but Alpha Gam’s current sisterhood has been my lifeline in D.C. Today, my best friend here is an Alpha Gam– one I didn’t even know while in school. Without the bond of Alpha Gamma Delta, I wouldn’t have her in my life.
There I realized that I didn’t want to specialize in one specific area. I see systems and structures, how people and concepts are intertwined. I realized that this is a unique skill that, if leveraged in the right way, can help lead organizations and teams. I wanted to work for a mission-driven organization and joined the UN Foundation after graduating, a few short months before FP2020 was formed.
Know that it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers right away. If you have a general vision, it’s okay to be unsure of what the in-between may look like. Enjoy the ride and the fuzziness that is the in-between. Down the line, you’ll look back and realize that it wasn’t fuzzy at all, but led you to where you are meant to be.
24 quarterly | fall 2016
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO OTHER YOUNG WOMEN ABOUT BRANCHING OUT AND FINDING THEIR PASSION?
pearls of wisdom
KNOW HOW
Become a Contributing and Blog Writer for Alpha Gamma Delta We have recently received a huge response from both collegiate and alumnae members, in regards to our Quarterly contributing writer and blog writer call-outs. Thank you to everyone who contacted us! We can’t wait to see your hard work on the Alpha Gamma Delta website and in the Quarterly. Not only does this help the Fraternity, it benefits you as well! Here are four ways becoming a contributing writer will Inspire and Impact your life and other Alpha Gams: 1.
BUILD YOUR RESUME
2.
CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS
Whether you are a collegiate member preparing for your first internship or job, or an alumna with a career in full-force, working on your writing skills will only help you succeed. Plus, having your work published isn’t too shabby, either. Your name will be seen by thousands of sisters! Take a printed copy of the Quarterly or your blog post to your next interview or lunch with your friends and prepare to impress!
Being a contributing writer is much more than writing a story, it is about cultivating a relationship with another sister that you probably don’t know. Every Alpha Gam has a story to tell, and it just so happens you are the one that can tell it! Take pride in listening to a sister tell their remarkable story, and use your creative writing to paint a picture through words! You never know, you may just make a life-long friend. 3.
COLLABORATE WITH OTHER COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS
4.
EXPERIENCE VARIETY
As a blog or contributing writer, you are able to work with communications professionals at our International Headquarters. We share the same Purpose. It is a rewarding experience to bounce ideas back and forth with sisters and professionals that work at an international level!
Do you ever get sick of doing the same thing every day? If you choose to become a blog or contributing writer, it is guaranteed that you will never write the same story twice! Our sisters have unique stories to tell and we are passionate about finding them. We have written stories about sisters from across the world! From fashion bloggers, to doctors, to authors—the variety and opportunities are endless.
Interested in becoming a contributing writer for the Quarterly? Email quarterly@alphagammadelta.org. Interested in becoming a writer for the Alpha Gamma Delta blog? Email socialmedia@alphagammadelta.org.
25
a look back
The Tale of Many Travels30 Years Later
In the fall 1986 issue of the Quarterly, we celebrated 15 years of Chapter Consultants. Now, 30 years later, the Chapter Consultant program, better known now as the Leadership Consultant program, is turning 45! The Leadership Consultant Team is trained to support and challenge our chapters to create a meaningful membership experience as they serve as mobile educators and brand ambassadors. This description reigned true 45 years ago and still does today. Let's take a look back at the 1986 fall issue of the Quarterly to see how the Leadership Consultant program impacted our sisters. Past Leadership Consultants found joy in traveling and meeting sisters from all across North America. The personal and professional development they gained has been insightful. From the fall 1986 Alpha Gamma Delta Quarterly:
“One advantage was that it opened new doors for me in Alpha Gam,” writes Cindy Eby Anderson, Psi–University of Alabama.” Kathy Leicester Wolfskill, Delta Eta–San Diego State, says that the experience gave her the chance to learn and improve herself. Elizabeth Olson Looney, Delta Alpha–University of Southern California, appreciated the opportunity to learn and that, “Each chapter is unique and each sister is special in her own right.” Kathy NolenMartin, Psi–University of Alabama, calls her experience, “A year of discovery: discovering myself and my potential as a person on my own.” Increased self-confidence was also mentioned as a major reward of the position. Traveling alone, having to deal with many types of people and having to solve difficult problems had their hardships and their payoffs. “I gained selfassurance, and learned to be alone and to be happy,” writes Sharon Sturdivant Williams, Epsilon Zeta–Arkansas State. “The experience gave me the confidence that I’m capable of doing just about anything,” asserts Melanie Circle Brown, Zeta–Ohio University. Marlys Headley Tillman, Epsilon Beta–University of Kansas, shares these feelings: “I had to be resourceful in everything I did while traveling for Alpha Gam. Because of this, I feel great about myself. My father even commented on my self-confidence shortly after I returned home from my year of travel. He said as he watched me step off the plane that he had never seen me display such a wonderful, radiant, self-confident self.” 26 quarterly | fall 2016
The self-confidence these sisters mentioned is well-earned. It is a result of having to deal with many types of situations in so many parts of the country. Undergraduates can be apprehensive about international visitors, so the Chapter Consultant must earn the trust and credibility from the chapter to be effective in her job. Consultants are well-prepared to face the Fraternity world after spending an intense training period at International Headquarters. They learn about the duties and responsibilities of each undergraduate officer, the mechanics of recruitment, the art of sisterhood, the management of chapter funds and the importance of Panhellenic relationships. Deedee Smith Evans, past Grand Vice President-Undergraduates, who worked with the program for seven years, cited that, “Most of the effort is to provide training for the many skills that a Chapter Consultant might need to call on. Over the years the training has improved. Our Chapter Consultants are the cream of the crop.” Our Leadership Consultants share the story of Alpha Gamma Delta throughout North America. Their commitment and passion for their job and the Fraternity inspires our sisters. We are so thankful for our past, current and future Leadership Consultants.
CCs 1973-74: from left, Marianne Thomas Bock, Jill McKinney Carissimi, Bette Schick
CCs 1977-78: from left, Mary Wade Ayers, Pamela Forgatch Kikkert, Fern Tittel Hess, Laurel Begovich Wruble, Deb Payne Eklund
CCs 1983-84: from left, Denise Napier, Sarah Roegge Gunhouse, Cherrill Crosby Moran, Melanie Circle Brown
CCs 1986-87: from left, Kathy Jo Siffring Powell, Judy Berretto Prisk, Kris Hansen Njos, Rie Gerah Hoehner
chapter grand
Delta – University of Minnesota Beverly Knudson Sutton ‘54 Epsilon – University of Kentucky Nancy Shreve Lippold ‘56 Zeta – Ohio University Sandra Lee Sleight Brennan ‘71 Mary Dohn ‘70 Eta – DePauw University Eleanor White Pollock ‘46 Theta – Goucher College Doris L Kagle ‘48 Iota – University of Washington Phyllis Larson Cleveland ‘47 Betty Hughes Cole ‘38 Patricia Knowles Marsh ‘53 Lambda – Northwestern University Marguerite Whitehill Atcher ‘46 Xi – Illinois Wesleyan University Lois Lepper Berggren ‘46 Vera Joern Kerler ‘54 Sigma – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Emmagene Brennan Hope ‘43 Mary Jane Madsen Workman ‘45 Tau – University of Toronto Aline Simpson Cousens ‘62 Upsilon – University of Oklahoma Patricia Boatman Darcey ‘53 Delores Witzel Horton ‘56 Anita Jones ‘57 Margaret McConnell Kosanke ‘62 Sylvia Egelston Schroeder ‘52 Phi – Oregon State University Charlene Ernstmeyer Petrie ‘47
Chi – Michigan State University June Smith Perry ‘32 Joanna Griffin Stone ‘47
Beta Alpha – Nebraska Wesleyan Marion Sear Anderson ‘56 Elizabeth Luginbill DaSilva ‘51
Psi – University of Alabama Annunziata Amis ‘48 Jane Walker Crow ‘51 Kristen Davis Ames Melton ‘88
Beta Beta – North Dakota State University Elaine Nelson Pile ‘39
Alpha Beta – University of Michigan Nancy Tressel Akers ‘43 Alpha Delta – Ohio Wesleyan University Dorothy Ham DeVault ‘45 Dorothy Johnson Ferguson ‘44 Barbara Crew Long ‘43 Janet Henthorn Wolf ‘40 Alpha Epsilon – Westminster College Joel Mellinger Ervin ‘49 Alpha Eta – Dalhousie University Mary I Rettie Henderson ‘49 Alpha Iota – Baldwin Wallace University Marjorie Smith Holschuh ‘48 Anna With Reiner ‘41 Alpha Kappa – Bowling Green State University Elaine Ditrinco Scarbrough ‘66 Dorothy Bloomingdale Woods ‘45 Alpha Lambda – The Ohio State University Carolyn Pitt Vaughn ‘58
Beta Delta – Indiana University Marjory Diehl Kasper ‘66 Beta Epsilon – Carroll University Kathryn Armstrong Wisniewski ‘70 Beta Eta – Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Deborah Delay ‘71 Gamma Alpha – University of Georgia Mary Lanier Folsom ‘60 Gloria Ray Stipp ‘49 Gamma Beta – Florida State University Dorothy Walker Grimes ‘44 Edna Vause Lucas ‘65
Delta Theta – University of Idaho Judith Anderson Lyons Hartley ‘61 Delta Zeta – University of British Columbia Betty McKendry McNair ‘47 Epsilon Alpha – University of Missouri Sharon Kay Tiley ‘73 Epsilon Gamma – University of Denver Ruth Eaton Fulkerson ‘48 Epsilon Epsilon – William Jewell College Kerri Lewis Brock ‘90 Susan Keller Cash ‘90 Epsilon Zeta – Arkansas State University Betty Herndon George ‘58 Epsilon Kappa – Pittsburg State University Freda Seely Whitaker ‘60 Theta Iota – Western Kentucky University Stephanie Campbell 2013
Gamma Delta – Auburn University Dorothy Edney Branch ‘56 Sue Crawford Henley ‘52 Delta Alpha – University of Southern California Betty Propeck Holloway ‘48 Carolyn Ciaccio Moore ‘59 Beverly Jones Piet ‘77
Alpha Nu – Kent State University Susan Stonebraker Paris ‘61
Delta Beta – Washington State University Libby Whitcomb Forsyth ‘80 Ellie Megan Mischaikov 2011
Alpha Omicron – West Virginia Wesleyan College Mary Porter McIntyre Eanes ‘64
Delta Delta – University of Oregon Betty Lee Stuart Belknap ‘42
Alpha Tau – Edinboro University Judy Davenport ‘59
Delta Epsilon – University of California-Los Angeles Betty Fortune Lang ‘45
Alpha Upsilon – Central Michigan University Kristy Malter 2015
Delta Eta – San Diego State University Joan Welsch Close ‘51
27
Q corner OUR DIRECTORY INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Executive Director, Wendy Bright Faust 8710 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 317.663.4200 info@alphagammadelta.org Office Hours – 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. EST
ALPHA GAMMA DELTA FOUNDATION
Spot A Squirrel!
Executive Director, Julie Waitman 8710 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 317.663.4242 foundation@alphagammadelta.org Office Hours – 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. EST
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT Rie Gerah Hoehner IP@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–ALUMNAE Melissa Jacobson James IVPA@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–COLLEGIANS Lelia Van Norden Kelley IVPC@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–MEMBERSHIP Marie Ford Palmer IVPM@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–EXTENSION Lee Woodham Langub IVPE@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–FINANCE Bobette Sandifer Thompson IVPF@alphagammadelta.org INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT–PANHELLENIC AFFAIRS Stephannie Sack Bailey IVPPA@alphagammadelta.org
Aloha! This Alpha Gam mother and daughter, Mary Cronin McAleer, Delta Eta–San Diego State University, and Shannon McAleer, Lambda Gamma–Villanova University, spotted this squirrel at Bath and Body Works in Honolulu, Hawaii!
After her comedy show in Asheville, N.C., Jeanne Swanner Robertson, Gamma Delta–Auburn University, posed with a squirrel given to her by her chapter sisters. Eight chapter sisters attended her show and then joined her for brunch. It was a very successful show with many laughs and memories.
Chapter sisters, Malia Denis and Shari Gregory Carroll, Delta Sigma–University of Hawaii at Manoa, spotted this large wooden squirrel while traveling in Triberg im Schwarzwald, Germany. Their trip was full of reconnecting, fun and reminiscing!
While touring the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Carol Newman Greene, Epsilon Gamma–University of Denver, spotted a squirrel, which was a part of a larger peacock clock on display.
ALPHA GAMMA DELTA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT Sue Maggio Sim VICE PRESIDENT Carol Richards Peske SECRETARY Patti Guthrie Rogers TREASURER Janis Lang Bartosz TRUSTEES Patricia Tulley Riddiford Lynne Dunford Rossell Rie Gerah Hoehner Adrienne Kerr Beckett Catherine Matthews
FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Wendy Bright Faust PRESIDENT Katie Jolley Abernathy kabernathy@alphagammadelta.org DIRECTORS Gail Calkins Duree Mary Beth Dulcey Morabito Bobette Sandifer Thompson
28 quarterly | fall 2016
COMFORT COLORS CREWNECK SWEATSHIRT $48 & OVER-SIZED INSPIRE MUG $15
VINTAGE SWEATSHIRT-GREEN $30 & STITCHED TRAVEL MUG-PAISLEY $20
CROSSROADS LONG SLEEVE SHIRT $28 & LIVE WITH PURPOSE MUG-SMALL $8.50
HOLIDAY SWEATSHIRT $30 & OMBRÉ MUG $12
29
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