Asa phoenix vol 91 no 2 spring 2005

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ave you noticed lately that a number of TV shows, movies and books are focusing on leadership?

From pop-culture reality shows like The Apprentice to movies like MamaRidenour-Ward The Terminal to commercials for American Express- leadership is a hot topic.

As an Alpha Sigma Alpha member doesn't leadership come up quite a bit in conversation? As an alumnae member, both in my professional and personal life, the idea of leadership comes up almost daily. For me the conversation of leaders and leadership always boils down to questions rather than answers: 1. what is leadership?

2. who has it? and most importantly 3. what are they doing with it?

Several months back, I was handed another book to read about leadership.

I thought, OK, another book on leadership; I'll read it when I get a chance.

What I didn't know was that this wasn't just any book on leadership. This was The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership by Steve Farber, and it almost instantaneously changed my life.

I can now confidently tell you that leadership is cultivating Love, generating Energy, inspiring Audacity and providing Proof, or LEAP. Who is an extreme leader? Everyone is, if they are willing to love first. As Steve Farber says, "Love is the ultimate motivation of the extreme leader: love of something or someone; love of a cause; love of a principle; love of the people you work with; love of the future you and yours can create together" and (I add) love of Alpha Sigma Alpha. If we love our sorority and serve its members because oflove, then we are extreme leaders in Alpha Sigma Alpha.

An answer to the third questionwhat are you doing with it (or Proof) !, along with a group of other Alpha Sigma Alpha undergraduate, alumnae volunteers and staff, are bringing extreme leadership to the Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute this July in St. Louis and Baltimore.

Now, what \viii you do? You can attend this year's Leadership Development Institute and enlist other members to go with you because finding out more about LEAP and extreme leadership may just change your life too.

Marna Ridenour-Ward, AA l.DI Team Chairman

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SPRING2005

CONTEN TS FEATURES

Examining our exemplars

12 Foundation

Learn more about Alpha Sigma Alpha's four exemplars and what they mean to our membership.

Read about a new initiative the Foundation plans to unveil in the coming weeks.

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Making a difference The Epsilon Lambda Chapter makes a difference in their community and helps break Greek stereotypes in the process.

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14 NPC news A report on the National Panhellenic Conference's inte1im session.

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Advantage

Joint initiation

Book and reading discussion groups are a great way to cultivate friendships .

Two Michigan chapters make Founders' Day special by holding a joint initiation.

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Alpha Sigma Alpha and Special Olympics team up for new promotion Alpha Sigma Alpha gives you the opportunity to recycle used cell phones and raise funds for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

17 Women of distinction Alumna initiate joan Berkowitz is a pioneer as a scientist in the fie ld of environmental management and risk analysis and an Alpha Sigma Alpha woman of distinction.

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

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Spring 2005

Volume 91, Number 2

DEADLINES Fall ... .... ............. ....... . .....June Winter ...... ..... ..... ....... September Sprin g .... .. ...... .... .. ...... December Summ er ...... ........ .. .. ...... .. .M arch

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EDITOR Editor/ Director of Communications Teresa Boyer Fi shback, L1K tfishbock@o lphosigmo olpho .org

STAFF Senior Contributing Editor Nancy l.Z. Reese, BY niz_reese@comcost. net

Feature Writer Trocey Kiefer, BK trocey_kiefer@yohoo.com

Alumnae Editor Nancy Inwood, EE inwoodb@hotmo il.com

IDEPARTMENTS

Collegiate Editor

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Taro Cardon ick Holma n, NN oso_odvisor@yohoo .com

News to note NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

The latest news fro m the national organization .

9550 Zion svill e Rd . Suite 160 Indianapoli s, IN 46268 Phone: 317-871 -2920 Fox: 317-87 1-2924 Em ail : phoenix@o lphosigmoolph o.org

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~ District news Read repo rts from the disuict leadership, collegiate and alumnae chapte rs in Disuicts 6-9.

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PHO ENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA (USPS 430-640) is published quarterly by Alpha Sigma Alpha , 955 0 Zionsville Rd. Suite 160, India napolis, IN 46268 . Periodica ls postage paid at Indiana poli s, IN, and add itional mai ling offices . Produced

by M aury Boyd & Associ ates, Indiana polis . ŠAl pha Sigma Alpha.

Send address changes, death notices and business correspondence to the national headquarters. Addres s all ed itorial correspondence to the editor.

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POSTMASTER : Send address changes (Form 3579) to Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha , 9550 Zionsville Rd .

Suite 160, Indianapoli s, IN 46268 . Printed in the USA.

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PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

SPRING 2005

ne of tf)e first tf)ings a netn member learns tnben sbe joins ~lpba ~igma ~lpba is tbat almost eberptf)ing tf)at represents tf)e sororitp comes in fours: four points in tbe membersbip babge, four colors, four aims, four insignia, four mottos anb four exemplars.

Clfacb exemplar, color anb aim represents one anotf)er. ~[pba ~igma ~lpba's four cbosen exemplars, <!brist, ~t. lJalentine, Jt,lermes anb Jking ~sa leb libes tbat personifp tf)e ibeals of tf)e sororitp.

BY ELIZABETH KEPNISS, ZA Alumna member

<trbrist As the first exemplar, Christ teach es members to have an open, accepting love of one another. While many members practice different religions, most can agree that Christ's example of love and sacrifice is one that th ey can fo llow.

On Christmas, Dec. 25, each member of Alpha Sigma Alpha is asked to wear crimson and green ribbons beneath her badge to celebrate Christ as an exemplar.

Wearing the ribbons also represents the loyalty and immortali ty of the membership.

Ch rist is associated with Alpha Sigma Alpha's primary color of pearl white, and th e pearl, which represents growth and beauty for new members. Following th e spiritual aim of th e sorority, the members fo llow the examples of Chtist daily, simply by being pan of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Christ was both a teacher and a social activist. Those roles fit we ll into the philosophy of th e everyday li fe of an Alpha Sigma Alpha. An Alpha Sigma Alpha teaches others by leading, by fo llowing and by simply doing good for her com muni ty.

Chapters are often given th e chance to go into the community that surrounds their campus. By interac ting with the community around d1 em, members can teach others what the life of a student entails. At my own alma mater, students participate in Community Day, a fair-like environment where students spend the

day side-by-side with the people who live in th e town th at surrounds campus.

They share, enjoy and grow stronger as a vibrant, committed community.

In the years following their graduation, many alumnae members continue their pursuit of social justice by volunteering with an organi zatio n that seeks to improve the com munities around them. From groups d1at seek to improve impove rished lifestyles of those bod1 locally and internationally to soup kitchens, many members continue with social service late into th eir own lives. ~t. t.Jalentine Regarded for centuries as the beloved friend of youth, St. Valentine is also treasured as a sign that love sho uld never petish from the Earth. H e was a Roman ptiest in th e 3rd Century who so ught to assist d10se who were suffeting under the reign of Emperor Claudius II. As punishment for his charitable acts, St. Valentine was beaten with clubs and beheaded ; in th e year 270 h e was declared a martyr-a person wh o sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle.

Every Feb. 14, St. Valentin e's Day, crimson and goldtibbons decorate the membership badge. Wearing the ribbons are not o nly in honor of St. Valentine, but as a symbol of loyalty and the social aspect of the holiday.

St. Valentine is represented in Alpha Sigma Alpha by the other primary color, crimson. His example of love and friendship are followed through the social aim,

an alumna

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Jesus Christ is hot in Hollywood these days. Between The Passion of the Christ, the NBC mini series Revelations and making an appearance on several major magazines- Jesus is the new "it" person and I, for one, couldn't be happier. As a Christian I always shared my beliefs and my faith with others. Today, with Jesus in the main stream media often, I think people are more willing to take a look at Jesus as a spiritual leader. Regardless of your faith , there's no denying that Jesus was truly a wonderful hwnan being and an extremely caring individual.

When I think about Alpha Sigma Alpha's four aims, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual, I think ofJesus Christ. Intellectually, Jesus is the all-knowing Christ. Jesus knew his fate before anyone else. Jesus was a wonderful leader with deep insight. Physically, Jesus was a shepherd and a carpenter, both very physically demanding jobs. Socially, Jesus connected with people like no other.

Jesus is accepting and loving to all and, needless to say, he has many, many followers. Spiritually, Jesus had a spititual discipline that could not be matched.

He spread the gospel and dedicated his life to serving God. In my opinion Jesus Christ is the best possible exemplar Alpha Sigma Alpha could have selected.

-Director of Communications/Editor Teresa Boyer Fishback, LlK

and his indistinguishable flame is parallel to that of th e ruby, th e j ewel of an initiated sister.

In re memberin g St. Valentine 's sacrifice for love and ftiendship, memb ers spend countless hou rs forming bonds with th e special needs studen ts at Lhe S. June Smitl1 Center and with Special Olym pians. From reading to coaching, to ch eering th em o n, each member en coun ters an open, eating heart at S. June Smith and Special Olym pics.

It is often said th at th e way to learn to love is by watc hing o th ers give freely of Lhemselves. Th rough th eir participation in Special Olympics, members observe and experien ce first hand tl1 at th e generous love and affecti on of the athletes shows that th e loving spirit of St. Valentine is in everyone and is con tagio us.

~ermes

The third exemplar, H ermes, held th e power to restore h ealth , to secu re success in any undertaking and to gran t happiness to wh omever he ch ose. In Greek mythology, he was th e son of Ze us and Maia and his fun cti ons were many, but he was primari ly the messe nger of th e gods, particularly of Zeus.

He was th e god of trave lers and roads, of luck, of music and eloquence, of merchan ts an d commerce and of youn g men . H ermes was credited witl1 having inven ted th e lyre and th e

shepherd 's flute, instruments used to entice, atu路act and praise people.

On May 25, members of Alpha Sigma Al pha wear green and pearl whi te ribbons under their membership badge in celebration of Herm es' Day, th e end of the current A'iA year and th e beginnin g of the next.

H ermes' qui ck-foo ted ways led him to become a role model for th ose who aspire to achieve their best in th e phys:cal aim . Represented by th e palm tree, which is an emblem of stu rdy development, he also is recognized by th e secondary color of palm green.

In pursuit of tl1e physical ai m , many ch apters participate in walk-a-thons for varyi ng charities. Members have paired off to become "workou t buddies," encouragi ng one another to ge t to the gym on a regular basis and to push themselves a little harder each time.

It is time fo r members to get toge ther, get in a good wo rkout and spend some time o n one of the sorori ty's aims.

Jking Qlsa As a child, Kin g Asa was inseparable fro m tl1e Phoen ix, th e mythical bird that understood all things perfectly and provided wise counsel for the J ewish kin g. King Asa was ruler of the south ern Kin gdom of Judah in biblical times and his reign lasted fo r over 41 years.

Cou tinued on fJ.6

an alumna member'~ per~pectibe on ~t. lJalentine This year has been one of the best years of my life. During my travels as a leadership consultant, I fo und Saint Valentine to be an exemplar I could relate to. I have been able to define my love for the organization as well as its members on multiple levels thanks to the opportunities Alpha Sigma Alpha has provided me.

The ability to reflect on my collegiate experience and the love I had for my chapter, Psi Psi, as well as for the national organization is where my love and passion started and developed. The love the women of my chapter shared with me as well as tl1ose mentors we had (former leadership consultants, district facilitators, advisors) created the desire for me to give back to the organization that has given me so much .

The love our volunteers put into our organization is the love I can only hope to give back to it as well.

Lastly I reflect on the love I have for all the chapters I visited. While working with these chapters, as well as the national volunteers in my districts, I grew as a member as well as developed close friendships with members from all over the United States. It was their dedication and love to A'iA that kept me mo tivated while on the road.

David Lee, the founder of HumanNature@Work, has two questions which I use everyday and encourage members to ask themselves: "Am I inspired?" and "Am I inspiting?"

These qu estions help you rekindle what you truly love about our organization and, as Saint Valentine would put it, allow tl1at love to never perish from ourselves as well as one another.

- 2004-05 Leadership Consultant Jennifer Styron, 'PP

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To Alpha Sigma Alpha, May 25 is a special day. It is H ermes' Day, our third exemplar. Of the many powers that Hermes possess.ed, he was con sidered the special patron of the medical profession. It IS mterestmg to note Hermes' connection with healing since Alpha Sigma Alpha's exemplars have had the same name applied to them. Chtist is .the "gre~t physician," St Valentine is the "healer" of broken h earts and Kings Asa s name in Hebrew means "physician."

Just like Hermes, Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae are helping those in need, so it is easy to see how he was chosen as tl1e exemplar for Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae. Hermes granted happiness to others through giving. He gave health, tenderness, wealth and happiness to those around him.

Many alumnae chapters contribute their creative services to fundraisers and give their time and effort in assisting local organizations. Alumnae chapters support Alpha Sigma Alpha's philanthropic involvement with .

Special Olympics and the S.June Smitl1 Center through monetary contnbutions and, even more valuable, their time. They support the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation tl1rough their time and money.

Service to society affords all alumnae the opportunity to share time and talents in a variety of ways. Philanthropic work is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer.

I challenge all alumnae to follow in Hermes' footsteps. Give of yourself to others.

-National Vice President of Communications Dolly Purvis Loyd, Bll

A noted intellectual, King Asa exemplifies the intellectual aim the members of Alpha Sigma Alpha follow. Members can recognize him by his insignia, the croW11, and the use of the other secondary color, gold.

Following in th e footsteps of a great mind can require some assistance, which is wh y many chapters enforce study hours. The demands of classes, social activities and many times a part-time job can weigh heavily on a member's shoulders. Knowing she has friends in the sorori ty who can help her with her studying helps.

Often, alu mnae members offer their help when they can. A mentoring system can pair an alum na witl1 a collegian who has the same major she had when she was in school.

Talking to a member who has already 路 been there cannot on ly ease the tension of a difficult class, but also help the collegian get an early start on her career path.

"In our everyday lives, most of us don't consciously look to emulate the four exemplars," said Susan Leibman, ZA. "As members of AIA, they are part of what we do everyday. We don't know it, we don ' t say to ourselves ' let's be loving, let's teach others,' but we do it. That is a credit to the sorority that helped shaped us in to the women and leaders we are today. " From spiritual to social to physical to intellectual, members of Alpha Sigma Alpha have much to be proud of in all the successes they have ach ieved. They have followed in the footsteps of the members before them, who followed in the footsteps of four great men .

The four exemplars of the sorority- Christ, St. Valentine, Hermes and King Asa- were just tl1at, exemplary.

Alpha Sigma Alpha has taken th e leadership of four men and proven that excellence and success are not li mited by gender boundaries.

alumna mrmbrr'S' prrS'prctibr on J!tng ~S'a

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King Asa, an exemplar of wisdom and intellectual endeavors, has been the perfect representation of the aims of our sorority. In my experience, tl1e quest for knowledge was inspired by the women of Alpha Sigma Alpha. When I went through rush, I chose sormities with high CPA requirements to ensure that my studies would always be a priority. I knew that I needed to join th e "intelligent" sorori ty.

I met several leadership consultants as they visited Ball State University. I was inspired by their intelligence and their quest for a masters degree. I knew I wan ted to fo llow in their footsteps. I became a leadership consul tant.

I returned to Ball State University for my masters and I served as a graduate resident scholar for the Chi Chi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. I was able to complete my advanced studies and continue to conoibute to the sorority.

I have always believed that Alpha Sigma Alpha has guided me to be a "life-long" learner.

After several years as a director of training with the U.S. Navy at Great Lakes and 路as an adjunct and full time professor, I decided to pursue my dream of a doctoral degree. I completed my PhD in 2003 from Walden University.

My quest for more knowledge has been driven by tl1e desire to make a positive impact on society.

The quest for wisdom and intelligence has been encouraged by our exemplar, King Asa. He knew how to cause change, inspire others and to make a difference in the world .

-Volunteer Training Team Member, Mmia Malayter, XX

Alpha Sigma Alphas making a differenceand breaking stereotypes in the process Epsilon Lambda members from the University ofPennsylvania johnstown helped break down campus stereotypes of sororities and fraternities Y TRACEY KIEFER, BK eature Writer As Alpha Sigma Alphas, we are always ware of how non-Greek m embers of our chool and local communities view our ctions. With o nly the negative stories " rnering media attention , it is especially tifYi ng to see Alpha Sigma Alpha members making strides in improvi ng th e p ublic perception of both Al ph a Sigma pha and soro rities as a whole.

In her recent letters to Alpha Sigma pha ational President L01i White Scott, EE, the U nive rsity of Pennsylvania Johnstown UPJ campus newspaper and the university dean , communi ty member Wendy Spen cer sang th e praises of th e women of Epsilon Lambda.

Wendy, a breast cancer swvivor, is a co-chairman an d team cap tain of the erican Cancer Society's Windber, PA, Relay fo r Life. Last O ctober, Wendy's team ki cked off th eir fund raising efforts wi th a Longaberger Basket Bingo even t for nearly 200 people. Wendy had con tac ted th e Epsilon Lambda Chapter about assisting her team and fo und them to be "enthusiastic and eager to help." According to Wendy, th e campus attitude towards the Greek system has not been positive lately.

"When th e wo rd fra terni ty or sorori ty is mentioned , the first thing th at comes lo most people 's mind is 'alcoh ol and partying."'

In light of this stereotype, We ndy was very impressed by the wo men of Epsilon Lambda.

Wendy's event took place on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. This just happen ed to be th e morning after th e UPJ h omecoming festivities. Not only did 25 chapter mem bers show up on time that Sunday morning, but they did everythin g th ey could to help out and participated fully in the event.

The event co-chair, Carol Burnworth, called th e chapter participants "th e best gro up sh e ever worked with," sayin g th at she "could n ot believe how well (th e) girls iistened to h er instru ctions and carried

PHOENIX OF ALPHASIGMA ALPHA

Epsilon Lambda Chapter members helped raise $4, 000 for the American Cancer Society. th em out." Epsilon Lambda made a positive impression by listening to instructi ons th e first time th ey were told and carryi ng them o ut without being reminded .

We ndy said that the gi rls were "fri endly, courteous and pleasant. I can ' t tell yo u how many good things I heard fro m people in attendance about what a great j ob th e gi rls did. Everyone was impressed! " According to Wendy, "As a cancer survivo r, it is important to me to raise money in the hopes that we will someday have a cure . I can ' t tell you how much it meant to me to have a gro up of gi rls volunteer to give up their entire Sunday to help me in my goal, especially th e Sunday after homecoming. I cannot begin to th ank th em for all th ey did. They are a caring, hardworking, wonde1ful gro up of women and have already offered me help with future fundraising. (The chapter participated in another fundraiser this spring.) I am pleased to say th at with their help, we raised $4,000 for th e American Cancer Society."

The wome n of Epsilon Lambda made a difference th at day. A large group showed

up for a philanth ropic event th e morning after homecoming-they made a difference in th e event, helping to ensure that it ra n smooth ly and saving th e orga nize rs hours by their willingness to help with everything. T hey made a lasting, positive imp ress ion and inspired a local community mem ber to write letters to th e school dean , campus newspaper and to th e Alpha Sigm a Alpha national president, singing their praises and ~ecogn i zin g how th ese Alpha Sigma Alphas are breaking stereotypes, not re inforcing th em.

Wendy Spencer closed her letters to the dean of UPJ and th e campus newspaper by asking that, "Next time you h ear th e wo rd sorority, I ask that you remember this letter and what the women of Alpha Sigma Alpha are about. " Congra tulations Epsilon Lambda!

By striving to make a difference in your community and by livi ng th e Creed of Alpha Sigma Alpha, not only have you helped Wendy and th e American Cancer Society, but you have made a real diffe rence in improving th e reputa tion of Greek organiza tions o n your campus.

SPRING 2005

adVilit

ASPIRE ~SEEK ~ATTAIN

BY TRACY KIEFER, BK

Feature Writer hen was the last time yo u sat down and read a book? For some of us, it might have been quite some time ago.

With so many options for entertainment available to us, boo ks often fa ll by the wayside. The instant gratificatio n of watching movies, re nting videos and DVDs and ca ble/sate llite television is often more appealing than spending a few hours reading, so th e ente rtainm ent value of books is often overlooked.

In 1996 Oprah Winfrey launched a resurgence of inte rest in reading and book discussion gro ups with the Oprah 's Book Club feature on her daily talk show.

Over th e yea rs, th e club 's read ing list has fean.1red books by previously unknown autho rs, classics and even ch ildren 's books, shootin g selected books to the top of th e bestselle r lists.

Since then book clubs and discussion groups have been springing up around th e wo rld . Along with creati ng forums to e njoy books, th ese groups can be a great way to sociali ze, meet peo ple with similar interests and engage in stim ulating intellecrual discussions. Participatin g in a book discussion grou p is also a way to get ex posure to differen t types of books. You m ight find yo urself reading an d e nj oyi ng a book yo u may have never selected for yo urself othe rvvise.

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Joining a book dub lf yo u 'dlike to join a group, but you ' re not sure where to start, you can try looking 1-vithin yo ur local commun ity. Many local coffee shops, bookstores, libraries, park di stricts, recrea ti o n cente rs, schoo ls, churches and eve n gyms offe r book clubs or have public bulle tin boards where groups can post noti ces. Yo u can also try contacting your local collegiate or alumnae chapter to see if th ey offer a book club or would be interested in helping start on e.

Th e intern e t also has a wide va ri ety of options. A simple keywo rd search o n google.com or yahoo. corn can provide a wide vaâ&#x20AC;˘-iety of options, including on li ne clubs-

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

such as Oprah's club-reading guide web sites and a variety of clubs to join.

There are also many resources available online for those who are currently participating in a book club or are interested in starting one. According to the ReadingOroupGuides.com web site, a reading guide can help facilitate discussion within the group, allowing members to talk about their feelings and impressions. Most guides even contain background information and topics to help readers get the most out of the experience.

Great resources for finding reading guides are Reading GroupGuides.com, BookBrowse.com and Book Muse. com web sites. These sites offer online communities for reading groups- including contests, guides, newsletters, resources and information.

So start a book club of your own, explore your local options or go online to experience how enjoyable reading can be .

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

Getting started Here are a few online resources to get you started: O prah's Books: www. opmh. com/books/ books_ landing. html Search archives for books featured on th e show, check out past book club topics and join Oprah's Book Club.

Register (membership is free) for Oprah's Online Book Club to participate in discussions, get reader guides, learn about authors and culture associated with featured books, find a book club in your area and ge t ideas for your own book club meetings. The site also contains information on all of Oprah's previously featured books.

ReadingGroupGuides.com: www. readinggroupguides. com/ The web site offers over 1,500 differe nt reading group guides. If you're interested in starting a group or club of your own or

you 're looking to join one, the site also offers suggestions and advice.

BookMuse.com: www. bookrnuse. com/index.asp This web site offers information, newsletters, resources, advice on starting yo ur own club and reading guides. The site offers both free access and subscription membership levels.

BookBrowse.com: www.bookbrowse. com/bookclubfun/index.cfm Read free reviews and excerpts of books, information on book clubs and guides, links, references, advice and faci litating discussions.

BBC Bookcase: www.bbc. co. uh/arts/books/ This site has books, discussions, poetry a nd information for young writers.

SPRING 2005

Turning

old into gold for Special Olympics

BY ANGELA SCHAEFER,

B2:

R ecycle f or Sp ecial Olympics National Chairman recyde_Jor_special_ olymfJics@ya hoo.com On Va le ntin e's Day, Feb. 14,2005, Special O lympi cs, with th e he lp of RMS Co mmun ica tio ns and th e nati onal suppo rt of Alp ha Sigma Alpha, la unched a promoti o n to offer cell phone users the o ppo rtunity to "Share th e Love" by recyc li ng used cell ph o nes to raise funds a11cl aware ness in suppo rt of athl e tes with inte llectu al d isa bili ties.

Alpha Sigma Al pha kicked cff this pro mo tio n at District Day eve n ts througho ut the co untry. As a de mo nstratio n of the nati o nal co mmitme nt between Special O lympi cs a nd Alpha Sicrma Alpha, pecial O l)rmp ics represematives a nd ath le tes were prese111. a t four of th e eve nts, to he lp kick o!f th e pro mo tio n . One of th e Distri ct Day h ig h ligh ts in Topeka, KS, was h a\~ n g Special Olympics ath le te, Mandy Vandever, in au e ncl a nce. Mandy spoke to the 320 plus in a tte nd a nce a bo ut her in vo lve me nt with Speci al O lympics a nd the o pportuniti es the orga ni za tion has made possible fo r her in her sport. Those opponu niti e wil l co ntinue for Mandy a nd o th er ath letes like he r through the collection efforts of

our Alp ha Sigma Alp ha me mbe rs ac ross the co untry.

For nea rl y 30 yea rs, Alpha Sig ma Alpha soro rity has suppo rted the m issio n o f Special O lymp ics. To reamrm this co mmitme nt to pecia l O lymp ics, Alph a Sigma Alpha has agreed to be a national suppo rte r or th e ReC)rcle for Special O lymp ics promotio n a nd "'~ II work with Special O lympi c programs ac ross th e co untry to e nsure this promotion 's success. Thi e ndeavo r wi ll mark the first time in our history of support.in g Special O lympi cs th a t we have bee n asked to su ppo rt Specia l O lympi cs o n a na tio nal level.

Retyding guidelines: • Each cell phone must be inworking condition and must have abattery attached.

• Phones cannot be crushed, water damaged, have broken LCD's or be physically damaged in any other way.

• Each cell phone must have avalid Electronic Serial Number.

• Accessories, such as chargersand cases, will not be recycled through this promotion and shouldnot be collected.

• Please use the shipping labels provided by RMS.

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SPRING 2005

This n a ti o m~cl e pro motion is made possible by PMS Commun ica tions, an organ iza ti on co mm itted to the reuse a nd respo nsible r cycl ing o f e lec tron ic waste.

RMS will cove r na ti o nal costs assoc ia ted 11~th th e promotion , whi ch include shi pping coll ec tio n and marketi ng su pplies to o ur me mber a nd th e n paying to have the coll ec te I cell phones shi pped back to RMS fo r recyc ling. MS \\~ II be ab le to u·ack the exact numbe r of p ho nes co ll ec teel by A:..A me mbers a nd the mon eta ry va lu e o r th e ir efforts.

Th e Recycle fo r Specia l O lymp ics pro m o ti o n provide severa l positive OUtcomes: • The promotion ra ises mo ney a nd awa reness for pecia l O lympics.

• AJI recycled cell phones will ass ist local Specia l Olympics ath le tes.

• Severa l recyc led ce ll phon es will make it possible for a n a th I te to excel in the ir sport for a seaso n, as we ll as cha nge negative a ttitudes about the ir ab il ities.

Ano tJ1e r po iti ve o utco me is that Alp ha Sig ma Alphas wi ll have the o pportuni ty to PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

connect businesses in th eir communities with Special Olym pics, one of th e world 's leading not-for-profit organizati o ns. T hese con nections will d emonstrate Alp ha Sigma Al pha's aware ness of and a commitment to add ressing enviro nmen tal issues, as well as continuing to support its first nati o nal philan th ropic proj ect.

The collecti on effo rts of our alumnae and collegiate chapters are well underway.

One of th e great thin gs about this promotion is that alumnae members not currently affiliated with an alumnae chapter have th e opportuni ty to participate as well. Me mbers are encouraged to parti cipate in a va ri ety of ways, incl udi ng collecting phones th rough work and professional con tacts, th eir churches, at commun ity even ts and by assistin g at state Special Olym pics programs with their sponsored mass collecti on even ts.

Al umnae who are not affi liated with a chapter can con tact Pam Wells, E'l', Recycle for Special Olympics Committee member, who is connecting alumnae wi th Special Olympics progra ms. Pam can be reached at pwells@mail.fJlymouth.edu or (603) 535-2814.

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

The value of each collected cell phone is determined by RMS. The minimum donation is $1 per phone, but the natio nal average re turn is $9 per phone. Special Olym pics programs wi ll receive th e full val ue of each phone collected by our members and we wi ll be able to trac k each cell phone collected by Alpha Sigma Alpha chapters. Alpha Sigma Al pha, as a natio nal official supporter of th e program , hopes to raise over $120,000 fo r Special Olympics.

We are very excited about this opportuni ty to wo rk with Special Olympics and RMS Commun icatio ns in th e Recycle fo r Special O lympics program. "Every member of Alpha Sigma Alpha can make a diffe rence in th e lives of athletes across the nati on by collecting and recycling used cell phones," stated Nati onal President Lori Wh ite Scott, EE .

Good luck in your collecti on efforts and thank yo u for suppo rting turnin g old in to gold for Special O lymp ics.

For add itio nal info rmati on about th e pro motio n, please visit the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site, www.alphasigm.aalpha.org.

Turn -

..

In to ~

National President Lori White Scott, EE, and SfJecial Olympics athlete Mandy Vandever help kick off the new Recycle for Special Ol)'lnfJics promotion.

SPRING 2005

11

FOUNDATION NEWS

CIRCLE OF STRENGTH: Embracing the Future .. .a three-year initiative to p ropel the Foundation to new levels of success and sophisti cati on so d1 at more Alpha Sigma Alpha members wi ll benefi t.

CIRCLE OF STRENGTH AMBASSADOR Jane Oleszewski Sh erman, fH Vice Chai rman Al pha Sigma Alpha Board of Trustees Annual campaign themes, include: June 1, 2005-May 31, 2008 Year One (fiscal year 2006) : Discover our Po tential ... DISCOVER Year Two (fiscal year 2007): Imagi ne tlle Possibilities . .. IMAGINE Year lbree (fiscal year 2008) : Cherish our Dreams ... DREAM TO LEARN MORE Alpha Sigma Alpha web site :

Catch the spirit of change Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation announces .

Circle of Strength: Embracing the Future his summer d1e Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundatio n will launch th e Circle of St~路e n g th f1.md rais ing initiati ve, a threeyear development campaign v.~th progressive and significant fin ancial goals.

J ane Oleszewski Sh erman , fH, has volunteered to serve as ambassad or fo r th e initiative.

The Foundation has completed phase on e of this initiative to prepare and plan fo r phases two and three. Circle of Strength laun ch es thjs summer around th e start of the 2006 fiscal year in June.

Designed to attract new donors and larger gifts, in addition to what is cu rrently being raised , this very ambitious initiative, when complete in 2008, will mark a turning point in the Foundati on 's history.

T

alphasigmaalpha.org

Jane Sherman highlights

Foundati on staff:

J ane was initiated into Gamma Eta Chapter at Pennsylvania State U niversity in 1973. She held m any position s ofl eadership and became ch apter presiden t as a junior. J ane gr aduated in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in human development.

fndstaff庐a lphasigmaalpha. org or

(317) 871-2920 x19 J ane Sherm an: jos@columbus.rr.como r (614) 846-9845

H er career has focused on servi ces fo r tlle elderly; sh e has served o n numerous boards and assoc iations d edicated to quali ty care for d1is special p opulation.

J an e has two daughters-Lindsay and Natalie- and h as been instrumen tal in developing a sch ool foundatio n for the past seven years.

Advice for seniors Al though J an e loved h er sormity experi ence, afte r graduation sh e drifted away fro m Alpha Sigma Alpha for n early 20 years. Due to family and career commiUnen ts, J an e, like so m any others, go t caugh t up in "life" and before long, h er sorori ty days became a pleasant me mory.

Fortunately fo r everyone, she was co ntacted to participate in an Emma Coleman Fros t Leadership Development Institute as a faci litator some six years ago and h as been happily rekindling friendships and building a re newed connection to Al.A ever sin ce. In fact, in becoming vice chairman of the FOlmdation board,Jane has

Q&A withJane Sherman, Circle of Strength Ambassador Q: What will my contribution fund?

A: Your conuibution will help fu~d sorori ty progr amming and servi ces, lead ership trammg, educational opportunities, endowment, academic sch olarships, and operations.

Q: What is the Foundation's mission?

A: To invest in th e potential of wo men by promoting service, lead ership and lifelo ng

learni ng th rough chari table giving.

Q: Why is this three-year initiative necessary?

A_: The f? undati on is deeply co mm~ tted to long-term growth and to increasing finanCial sta~1h ty so many more Al pha S1gma Al pha members wi ll ben efit over the years.

We anticipate seemg an mcreasmg number of sch olarship applicati ons, for instance,

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA

fOUNDATION NEWS

june 1, 2005-May 31, 2008 realized anew the many benefits of sorori ty membership and advises college seniors to stay connected.

"Please realize th at you 1vill find the words of our ritual to be even more meaningful with th e passage oftime." She we nt on to say, "It may be tempting to drop away for a while in pursuit of new goals and acti\~ties, but stay connected anyway!

You 'll always be with kindâ&#x20AC;˘-ed spirits that way, and no matter what life happens to dish out, you 'll have a great support system only a phone call away."

She admits feeling surpdsed at how relevant the words of th e 1itual we re to he r when she returned to active particiaptaion.

"But it's true," Jane said enthusias ti cally.

"There are some things in life we hould never outgrow: values, good frie nds to network 1vith, a strong belief system.

It's a mistake to und erestimate the power of connection-the power of shared experience."

"I promise you th ere >A~Il come a day when your sorOii ty sisters mil be there for you and you 'll be th ere for th em. And does it ge t much better?" she asks, with a smile.

A personal challenge from Jane Jane believes th at what comes aro und, goes around. In relation to the Circle of Strength initiative, sh e po ints out th at this

is the time for everyo ne, including th ose who have just graduated, to get involved : make a gift to th e Foundation; make a three-year pledge to become a member of th e Circle of Strength Club; or call J ane to offer to help mth th e Circle of Strength initiative . But, bottom-line, stay (or get) involved .

The success of the campaign will depend on the willingness of every single sorority sister to do her part along the way.

"Now is d efinitely th e time," she says, "th e time to join us in this endeavor and to help us reach new heights of success.

Let's make AlA shine mth a bdght new light; let's create a Circle of Strength so all the ge nerations to fo llow wi ll benefit as we have."

You may contact J ane directly at (614) 846-9845 or atjos@columbus.rr.com if you would like to offer yo ur assistance, make a significant conu-ibution or if yo u have specific questions about th e Circle of Strength Initiative. "We' ll be recruiting lead gifts of significant amounts fro m June through October," she notes.

"Call me!"

The COS pledge form is on the back cover, please comple te and mail gifts to: 9550 Zionsville Rd. , Suite 160, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

and th e annual Leadership Development Institute held in two cities every other summer requ ires greater financial support. At this time, we are only able to make a small gra nt for this impo rtant training opportun ity.

Q: Who else is involved with Circle of Strength?

A: We have a chairman for the three-year initiative, along ~th a n annual gi ving chairman and a maj o r gift chairman. In creating the necessary structure for a successfu l campaign, we are able to maximize impact and generate tl1 e needed revenue o n sched ul e. Our total dollar goal is 1.2 million.

Q: How can I stay informed about the campaign's progress? . . . .

A: Review th e Alpha Sigma Alpha web site fre qu en tly; watch for mfom1at1 on m van ous newsletters and in upcoming issues of the Phoenix; email th e foundation staff at fndstajJ@alphasigmaalpha.orgor contact me as no ted above. I'll uy to ge t back to you as soon as possible.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about Circle of Strength? . .

A: This in credible campaign marks a significant turn ing pomt m our hâ&#x20AC;˘st01y; 1t speaks loudly concern ing our com miunent to tl1 e future of Al.pha S1gma Alpha and what It can mean to th e lives of our sisters as we j ourn ey through hfe ... together.

IIOINJX Of AI.PtiA SIGMA AlPHA

COS graphic designed by Erin Flanagan, BK

"Now is definitely the time.

The time to join us in this endeavor and to help us reach new heights of success.

Let's make AlA shine with a bright new light; let's create a Circle of Strength so all the generations to follow will benefit as we have."

CATCH THE SPIRIT OF CHANGE! I invite all of you to renew your sorority ties before the week is over by making a three-year pledge to Circle of Strength. Why not share in tl1e excitement? vVhy not complete the circle of li fe by gi,~n g back to an orga ni zation tl1at has meant so much to you over th e yea rs? H elp us safeguard and promote the AlA spirit help us create a Circle of Strengtl1. * Thanks for your ge nerous support.

I look fon\fard to hea1ing from all of you !

SPRING 2005

13

NPC

Sororities meet at 2004

interim session

Frorn left representing A2:A at the annual NPC meeting aTe: Sue Zorichak, BB; Eleanor Barbas Williams, A; Lynne Rachal Chambers, A; Nancy Coleman, XX; and Lori White Scott, EE.

BY MARY M. WILLIAMS, AOll 1st A lternate Delegate Under the theme "Women of Vision, Women of Action," the delegates and representatives of the 26-m ember groups of the National Panhellenic Conference met at the DFW Lakes Hilton Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, TX, for the 2004 intelim session , Oct. 6-8, 2004.

NPC welcomed approxi mately 40 new delegation members to the gathering.

Representing Alpha Sigma Alpha at the conference were NPC Delegate Lynn e Rachal Chambers, A; First Alternate Delegate Ellen Funk Morris, BA; Second Alternate Delegate Sue Zorichak, BB; Third Alternate Delegate Eleanor Borbas Williams, A; National President Loli White Scott, EE; and Executive Director Nancy Coleman, XX. The NPC Executive Comm ittee guided the meeting of de legates wi th efficiently conducted business sessions and extensive olientation and training sessions. The schedule for delegates also included campus and housing meetings, NPC standing committee meetings and training for alumnae and college Pan hellenic area advisors. Separate discussion and information sessions were also held for the presidents, executive directors and editors of the individual member groups.

Duling the business sessions, several resolutions were discussed and adopted.

The NPC bylaws were amended to:

1. ClarifY that alternate delegates are eligible to serve on standing committees, and that additional members who are not delegates or alternates may serve as nonvoting membe rs of standing committees.

2. Consolidate bylaw provisions concerning special committees and other committees, and clarifY that de legates and alternate delegates may be members of special committees and that members who are not delegates or alternates may serve as nonvoting members of special committees.

3. Permit NPC member groups to establish chapters at schools accredited through regional university accreditation processes used in Canada and other countries.

Th is bylaw amendment also results in the addition of clarifying language to UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT V, Agreement on Extension .

Two resolutions amending UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT VI, College Panhellenic Association Agreement, were also adopted: 1. Section 2 was amended by adding a new clause that requires potential new members to sign a binding agreement of membership regardless of the style of recrui tment used.

2. Section 3 was amended to clarifY the use of the signed membership acceptance when a preferential bidding system is used.

Three other resolutions were adopted as well : 1. The recruitment style formerly referred to as "continuous open recruitment" will now be called "continuous recruitment."

2. NPC member groups agreed to advise their collegiate chapters to plan events with men's fraternities recognized by their national organizations and the college/ university or with local fraternities recognized by the college/ university.

3. The NPC Executive Committee will pilot a focus group with several undergraduate

14

SPRING 2005 PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

Pan hellenic women from across North America during 2005.

In the chairman's report, Martha Brown reviewed the implementation progress of the recruitment changes adopted in 2003 and thanked the Recruitment Processes Committee for their continuing work in presenting programs, developing handbooks and overseeing the implementation of the various aspects of the recruitment process.

She also noted that NPC offered its support in the Call for Values Congruence and developed "Collegiate Greek Community Standards" as minimum expectations of collegiate ch apters of NPC groups.

Three new committees have been established to assist in the progran1s of the Conference. The Government Relations Committee will monitor U.S. congressional and federal activities related to fraternal organizations and inform NPC of these activities. This committee will serve as the liaison to the Capital Fraternal Caucus and the North-American Interfraternity Conference Committee on Government Relations to organize and participate in events related to the annual congressional reception in Washington, DC. The other two new committees are the Recruitment Committee and the University Assessment Documents Review Committee.

Ginger Banks, Alpha Omicron Pi past international president and pas t NPC Delegate, gave a special presentation to the conference. Banks conducted a survey within the NPC delegations, gathering their perceptions about sorority life in relation to the points presented in "Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities" by Alexandra Robbins.

The 14th edition of the NPC Manual of Infannation is now available in a paper copy and on CD. Every chapter wi ll receive one copy in the fall for permanent chapter records. Additional copies may be purchased through NPC at npcwomen. org.

PIIOENIX Of ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

Joint initiation celebrated in Michigan

BY JENNIFER STRYON, '짜'I'

2004- 05 Leadership Consultant Nov. 15 is a special day to th e women of Alpha Sigm a Alpha. Alpha Sigm a Alphas around th e United States celebrate this day as th e day th e sorori ty was founded .

Two collegiate chapte rs decided to pair up with a local alu mnae chapter because of a vision . Th ey wanted to celebrate Founders' Day toge th er and th ought how nice it wo uld be, since the two chapters we re so close, to also partn er a j oint in itiation toge th er fo r th e new members of 2004.

What a tru ly inspiring rlay as Cen tral Michigan U niversity Beta Theta Chapter, and Sagin aw Valley State U nive rsity, MI, Delta Sigma Chapter, with th e help of th e Mid-Michigan Crown Alumnae Chapter, go t togeth er for a day of sisterh ood and ri tual.

The Beta Theta Chapter and Delta Sigma Chapter members arrived at th e Created for Caring Center greeted by the Mid-M ichiga n Crown Alumnae preparing lunch, preparing th e ritual and settin g up tables for door p1izes fo r all th e members.

The first ceremony performed was th e Sanctuary Degree Service. Fourteen new members were anxiously waiting to become initiated members of th e sorori ty.

T here we re a few inspiring words before the servi ce from Kristi MacKenzie, D.L. After th e ceremony all the women were seated at beautifully decorated n bl Ps. compli me nts of th e alumnae. It was so wonderfu l to see the sisterhood that came from this event. Everyone was introducing th emselves, talking about th eir chapters and ge tting to know members of the other chapters. Rev. Elsa Pressentin, B0, led grace befo re th e .lunch.

After lunch was dessert, and members we re able to apply for Collegiate Crown Awards, wh ich th e Mid- Michigan Crown Alumnae Chapte r gives to members from th e Mid-Michiga n area. The Mid-Michiga n Crown Alumnae had purchased , as well as made, doo r prizes for the members to win.

Afterwa rds members celebrated heri tage with th e Founders ' Day Ceremo ny.

Chapters should consider having joint initiati ons. It helps th e chapters network and meet members from all over.

SPRING 2005

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New Alpha Sigma Alpha leadership consultants selected Director of District Services Krystal Geyer Slivinski, fP, announced th e names of the 2005- 06 leadership consultants: Amber Shaverdi, HH, Pittsburg State University, KS; Naydia Spears, ZD, Austin Peay State University, TN; and E1ika Butts, EK, Millersville University, PA. Congratulations to these three women and good luck on your year of travels.

Watch for a detailed story on the new leadership consultants in the summer issue of the Phoenix.

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Emma Coleman Frost

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Don ' t forget to register for Alpha Sigma Alpha's 2005 Emma Coleman Frost Leadership Development Institute by logging onto the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site at www. alphasigmaalpha. org.

The event takes place the weekend ofjuly 15-17, 2005 at the BWI Airport Marriott in Baltimore and at the St. Louis Airport Marriott in St. Louis.

For more information contact Event Planner and Education Coordinator Christy Adams, ~H, at (317) 871-2920 or email cadams@alphasigma alpha.org.

District Day news Disuict Day in District 3 wi ll be held Oct. 28-30, 2005 at Gannon Un iversity, Erie, PA. District 5 plans to hold a District Day at Kettering University th e weekend of Nov. 12- 13, 2005.

I6

Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae directory project in the works

Alpha Sigma Alpha staff changes

~L PHAc51GMA ::7/tPHA

Leadership Development Institute update

Also coming in the fall of 2005: a new page dedicated to the Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha magazine.

District Day events will take place in District 6 at Indiana State Un iversity, TerreHaute, IN, on Nov. 5, 2005.

For more information on District Day events watch the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site at www. aljJhasigmaalpha. org.

Financial Records Adminisu-ator Erika Anttila left the national headquarters staff in April after three years of employment.

Erika worked with collegiate u-easures. Erika is pursuing her master's degree in social work and is working on an internship with the Concord Community Center in Indianapolis.

Alpha Sigma Alpha welcomes new alumnae chapters The national council of Alpha Sigma Alpha announces the reinstallation of the Lehigh Valley Alumnae Chapter. The reinstallation took place on March 12, 2005.

The Capital City Alumnae Chapter in Topeka, KS, and

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Erika Anttila the Blue Ridge Alumnae Chapter, VA, also had installations this winter.

Congratulations to all three chapters!

Web site updates Check out the Alpha Sigma Alpha web site's Heritage section for a new page entitled "Preserving Our History" and also visit the updated Alpha Sigma Alpha merchandise page to check out Alpha Sigma Alpha's many affinity programs.

Look for a new "members' only" section called "AlphaNet" this fall.

Alpha Sigma Alpha National Headquarters customer service commitment "The Alpha Sigma Alpha national headquarters staff exists to provide professional, knowledgeable, efficient and friendly support, guidance and structure to our membership.

We are committed to serving enthusiastically our collegiate members, alumnae members and volunteers in a respectful and consistent manner."

The 2006 Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae directory is being put together by Harris Publishing Co. This past April, questionnaires were sent to members in order to update and verify personal information.

The information collected will be included in a directory that will be offered for sale in the winter of 2006.

If you did not receive a questionnaire or you would like information about how to purchase a directory, contact Director of Communications Teresa Boyer Fishback, ~K, at tf1Shback@alphasigmaalpha. org.

Phoenix photos needed The Phoenix staff is looking for good quality photographs of alumnae and collegiate chapters and events. If you have a picture that you tl1ink should be in the Phoenix please mail your photos to: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Attention: Teresa Fishback, 9550 Zionsville Rd ., Suite 160, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

Correction In tl1e winter issue of the Phoenix, alumnae member Sheila Gas tiger was identified as a Gamma Xi in "The Chapter in the Sky" story on page 5. Sheila should have been identified as a Gamma Omicron.

For a detailed copy of the .customer service commiUnent plan, contact Pat Crosby, ~K, at (317) 871-2920 or asa@alphasigmaalpha.org.

SPRING 2005 PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALP

Joan Berkowitz: a pioneer for women working in the field of environmental management BYGERRYVANG COX, NN Capital Fmtemal Caucus Committee Chairman Imagine joining Alpha Sigma Alpha at an age when most people tl1ink about retiring. Dr. Joan Berkowitz did just tl1at.

The Northern Virginia (NOVA) Alumnae Chapter welcomed Joan into its sisterhood in the spling of 2004.

All of her life Joan was a pioneer for women, working in traditionally male fields and working as one of tl1e key developing scientists in tl1e field of environmental management and risk analysis.

She was selected as one of two recipients of the Stanley]. Drazek Award for Excellence in Teaching at tl1e University of Maryland Graduate School of Management and Technology in spring 2005.

"She would have a distinguished academic career if she were not a woman ... " wrote her thesis advisor in graduate school. It was good advice at the time she was entering the workforce. She began her distinguished career in tl1e technical and management consulting field. Like others in the business and science world, she returned to academia part-time as an adjunct professor later in her career.

Joan 's program is we ll ahead of environmental management programs at otl1er w1iversities. This program keeps current because Joan works at the forefront of tl1e environmental management field and brings tl1is current knowledge into tl1e classroom .

Knowing the subject and being able to teach it are two different tl1ings. She teaches online to students throughout the world, witl1 tl1e goal to "create a learning community in which all class members, student and professor alike, band togetl1er to delve into the subject matter of the course."

"I snive to overcome the obstacles to adult learning. Differences in culture, academic background and professional experience are common to both faceto-face and online classes. Additional obstacles unique to online learning are differences in time zones and lack of oral and kinesthetic modes of communication," she W1ites. Each class is an expeliment in new ways to teach mate1ial and b1路ing out the students.

Joan began her career as a physical chemist v.~th a doctorate from tl1e University of Illinois where she was elected to Sigma Xi scientific honorary society. She earned her bachelors of arts in chemistry fTom Swarthmore College witl1 high honors, and she was

initiated into Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. Swarthmore does not have sorOLities, andJoanjoined the NOVA alumnae chapter for many activities. When we voted to ask her to join, most members' comments were something along the lines of, "I thought she was already a member."

In 1979Joan attended the Sloan School Senior Executive Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

She has a distinguished working career where she rose to vice president and practice leader for Environmental Consulting World Wide at Arthur D. Little in Cambridge, MA. She was president and chief executive officer of Risk Science International and is now managing director of Farkas Berkowitz & Co. in Washington, DC. She serves on tl1e board of directors of the Waste Policy Institute and on tl1e National Research Council as a member of the Committee for Destruction of Nerve Agent Wastes. She served on the board of managers at Swartl1more College, the board of directors at Geraghty & Miller, tl1e Chicago Corporation 's Environmental Fund, where she was a member of the Investment Advisory Committee, on tl1e board of directors of Envirosafe. and ~he was a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Engineering Committee. She was chairman of the Ameli can Chemical Society Committee on Environmental Improvement, and the past president of the Electrochemical Society.

She is a frequent keynote speaker at technical and management meetings and has numerous technical and management publications.

Joan is truly a woman of distinction!

Dr. Joan Berkowitz, ET

SPRING 2005

17

DISTRICT N

EW S=----- -

DISTRICT 6 Collegiate BETA UPSILON, INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Kickball tournament raises money for good cause The women of Beta Upsilon , Indiana State University, participated in a kickball tournament to raise money for th e S.June Smith Center.

The tournament was held on March 6 on the campus of Indiana State University.

The tournament had competitors from various Greek organizations. The event was planned by Beta Upsilon's philanthropic chairman Ash ley Garrison.

Danielle Decher, BY

DISTRICT 7 District 7 volunteers h ave been jetting across the southern United States upholding the values and sisterhood of

Alpha Sigma Alpha. District volunteers, alumnae and collegiate members traveled to Dallas in February to attend District Day seminars concentrating on strategies to encourage growth in numbers, leadership and of course, sisterhood. Adonica HarrisonFortie r, BE>, planned and executed a fantastic and successful event, drawing membe rs from across the country. Angela Dantzler Bau ldree, BZ, the national vice president of finance , was an energetic representative for th e Foundation, raising funds and inspi1ing us all.

In the fall District Facilitator, Trudy Higgins-Edison, BE>, planned two volunteer training sessions in Houston and Little Rock to get her full district volunteer teams up to sp eed and ready to face membership challenges. The training and District Day helped bring all the district volunteers

Collegiate members show their sorority spirit at District 7 District Day. Adonica Harrison-Fortier, BB, and Barbara Lambrano Williamson, HH, enjoy District 7 District Day events.

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

DISTRICT NEWS

together with their correspondmg collegiate and alumnae chapters, creati ng cohesive teams dealing with recruitment, finance and the A..rA Advantage. The increased communication and effort has sparked a hope that four Disoict 7 chapters will be recognized as Four-Star chapters.

Deborah Fields Dietrich , 8 , financial team leader, was recognized as our 2004-05 Outstanding Disu-ict Volunteer. The Clarksville Alumnae Chapter has been hard at work initiating new members and the Dallas and Phoenix alumnae keep busy with all their excellent community involvement. A special recogn ition goes out to al l Disuict 7 chapter advisors who are the u-ue heroes as they encourage and lead our collegiate chapters to aspire, seek and attain everyday!

Heidi Freier, L1 Y Recruitment Coaching Team Leader

Collegiate BETA NV, MURRAY STATE

UN!VE.""RS!TY, KY

Chapter participates in several philanthropic events This yea r the Beta Nu Chapter, Murray State University, KY, sponsored 57 ch ildren during the annu al Toys for Tots event. By raising money through its annual Dodge Ball Tournament, the chapter made it possible for these children and th eir fam ilies to have a more cheery Ch 1isunas. Gifts were bought for each child based on a small list of the ch ild 's interests provided by the parents. The women of Beta Nu also provided a wonderful home-cooked Ch1isunas dinner for the ch ildren and th eir famil ies.

After dinner the chapter's Man of th e Year, dressed as Santa Claus, presented each child with gifts . j essica Thmj;e, BN

Beta Nu members Aljâ&#x20AC;˘ssa Lewis and Mmy Moreland shopped the toy aisles at Walma7-t for gifts for Toys for Tots philanthropy.

National Vice President of Finance Angela Dantzler Bauldree, BZ, mise funds for the foundation at District 7 Dist1ict Day.

PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

help~

SPRING 2005

19

DISTRICT NEWS

DELTA UPSILON, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO

DISTRICTS

Chapter celebrates milestone

Collegiate

The Delta Upsilon Chapter, University of Texas at San Antonio, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as a part of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Eight young women were recntited into the chapter for the spring 2005 semester bringing the chapter to its total. Along with celebrating new members, the Delta Upsilon Chapter celebrated Alumni Day by inviting all ofUTSA's Delta Upsilon alumnae to celebrate their life-long membership in Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Whitney Fields, L1 Y ZETA RHO, UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA

Chapter members aid community following natural disaster During the month of September tragedy hit the southeastern part of the United States. Hurricane Ivan hit with strong winds raging as high as 150 mph. The Zeta Rho Chapter, University of West Alabama, was ready to aid tl1e community. As most of the students fled campus, several members braved the storm and gave a helping hand to the university and the community. The university was closed for a week, and the student union building was offered as a storm shelter. Members helped the Red Cross set up beds and pass out food. Mter tl1e storm was over, the women helped pick up limbs and trash left behind by the hurricane.

Betsy Greene, ZP

Alwnnae CENTRAL ARKANSAS ALUMNAE CHAPTER

Spring brings many adventures Spring was very busy for the Central Arkansas Alumnae Chapter. Members attended Beta Lambda's Collegiate Chapter formal recruitment events, made Easter Baskets for 20

ZETA BETA, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS

Two philanthropic endeavors benefit from chapter efforts

Zeta Beta Chapter members having fun at a Special Olympics event are, from left, Kris Danieiczyk, Somorae Smith, Ketti Knoedler and Alicia Bergstrom. residents of Our House, a group home for disabled men and once again worked in the concession stand during Special Olympics. The chapter awarded a scholarship to the Miss University of Cenu-al Arkansas contestant having the highest grade point average and made a donation to the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. InJanuary, members gathered at the home of Susan Bell Hickey, BA, for "Ladies Night Out." Alumnae of all ages enjoyed great food, conversation, movies and a side-splitting game of"Taboo."

Susan Bell Hickey, BA FLEUR-DE-US ALUMNAE CHAJYTER, LA

Philanthropic commitment strong in chapter The women of the Fleurde-Lis Alumnae Chapter are keeping busy with activities this year. The chapter made a care basket for D.O.V.E.S., a local women's shelter. Members also planned to participate in Relay' for Life in April. Relay for Life is an annual event for Fleurde-Lis. This year the chapter is adding a new event to its calendar, the March of Dimes walk. In addition to the walk, members prepared Easter baskets for the Cane River

Girls Home and are collecting cell phones for Special Olympics.

Michelle Raiford Kramer, 1/Fl/F HOUSTON ALUMNAE CHAPTER

Alumnae chapter participates in a "Farmville Four" brunch In january the Houston Alumnae Chapter parmered with the "Farmville Four" sor01ities (Kappa Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Zeta Tau Alpha) for their annual champagne brunch. Women from around the greater Houston area gathered to honor their common bond of foundation at Longwood University.

Everyone enjoyed a skit depicting life at Longwood in the early 1900s. The members raised funds for the Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Foundation and collected pearls and scarves for the women of Dress for Success.

Houston Alumnae chapter member Marianne Busch Bullock, B0, will be the host of next year's brunch.

Heidi Freier, L1 Y

The women of Zeta Beta Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls lent helping hands to athletes of the Special Olympics. Friends, family and volunteers cheered as ath letes competed in the annual bowling event held in Eau Claire, Wl. Prizes were awarded to all bowlers for hard work and good sportsmanship.

The success of this even t was continued into the next day when the Zeta Beta Chapter held a spaghetti dinner which raised $1,700 for the Special Olympics and Abby Szotts, a University of Wisconsin-River Falls student diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer known as Ewing's Sarcoma.

Emilee Driscoll, ZB THETA DELTA, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-ANCHORAGE

Women of Theta Delta achieve academic success For the fall 2004 semester the Theta Delta Chapter, University of AlaskaAnchorage, had a number of women who were recognized for their hard work and dedication to their school

The t-shirt exchange at the District 9 District Day was a big hit with collegiate members.

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work. Two members, Rachele Watts and Bra ndi Patte rson , rece ived the Chancellor's Award wh ich is attained with a CPA of 4.0. The dean 's list recipien ts includedjennyfe r Thraikill , Kimberly De nnis and Stephanie H endrickson. Those women had a CPA of 3.5- 3.9. \'irgi nia Parker, Liela Ortiz, Kelli Rassbach, Samantha l\feurer and Rebecca Pie rce received th e "smart cooki e" award for achieving a CPA of 3.0-3.4.

The Theta Delta Ch apter recently installed a physical chaim1an to ensure members fu lfill tlle physical aim . We also had a number of members parti cipate in in tramu ral I'Olleyball.

Me mber are invo lved in comm uni ty activities as well.

Theta Delta does wo rk for tlle Covenant Hou e of Alaska 's Candlelight Vigil , Special Olym ics State Bowling Toumam en t, th e Fi re and Ice Ball , which raises mon ey for th e Covenan t H ouse of Alaska, and th e Mayo r's Ball , ano th er fu nd-r-aiser fo r a local organizatio n.

Kelli Rassbach, @Ll

DISTRICT 9 Distri ct 9 Alpha Sigma Al phas had a great time at the 3rd annual Distri ct Day in Topeka, KS, on Feb. 25 and

26. The weekend kicked off witll tl1 e initiati on of three alumnae members. We were excited to welcome Sally Berge r, fll, Sharon Fundis, EE, and Diane Weinreich, fll.

Sally and Diane were both sponsored by Gamma Pi Chapter and currently serve as its advisor . Sharon Fundis was spo nsored by he r daugh ter, Cindy Fundis Smitll , EE. Foll owing initiati on , a cake and pun ch rece ption welcomed th e new members. Capping off th e eve nin g was a fas hion show featurin g tl1e wo men of Eta Eta Chapter. They mod eled tl1e latest spring fashions from Mauri ce's, as well as appropriate and inappro priate pin and 1itual attire.

On Saturday, participants chose from among 28 worksho ps rangi ng in topics from dinn er etique tte to recrui tment. Fun recogniti on and awards were give n tl1roughout th e day. Four new individual awa rds were p rese nted . Dr. Ann Rowlette, c:t><l>, chapter adviso r, was th e Disuict 9 Advisor of t11e Year. Kr isten Bremer, ZIT, member of th e educatio n coaching team, was Distri ct Volunteer of th e Year.

Ch ristina j ohnson, BB , vice president of membership educati on , was Collegiate Officer of the Year. J ohanna Ga rdn er, ZZ, member of the

Members from around Disl'lict 9 show their enthusiasm f or District Day.

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DISTRICT NEWS

Kansas City Alumnae Chapter, was Alumnae Officer of the Year.

Everyone also enjoyed the round tables, silent auction for the A2:A Foundation and the T-shirt exchange. New this year was "Show ' n ' Tell," where every chapter highlighted their best event or activity in a small display. Southwest Missouri Alumnae Chapter and Zeta Mu Chapter won awards for the most creative "Show 'n ' Tell" displays. During the district business meeting, delegates from each chapter voted that next year's theme for "Show ' n ' Tell" will be "Roll out the Red Carpet for A~A." A standing ovation was given to Mandy Vandever, a Special Olympics athlete who spoke to the group. Mandy was there to help promote the "Recycle for Special Olympics" campaign. The day ended with a slide show and a sisterhood circle where we sang the "Hymn to Alpha Sigma Alpha."

Thanks to the district meeting team, all workshop facilitators and the wonderful host chapters, Eta Eta Chapter and Kansas City Alumnae Chapter, who made th is weekend possible. For more information about District 9, check out the web site at www.ASAD9. com.

Melissa Koch, EE District Facilitator

The chapter participated in Relay for Life where each member of the chapter walked around the Emporia High School track with a baton for 18 hours to raise money and find a cure for cancer.

Each week members donated either a can or non-perishable food item to the Emporia Rescue Mission or a toiletry item in the hopes of helping in th e fight against domestic violence.

Epsilon Epsilon took home many awards during homecoming 2003-04 president, Darcy Illk, won homecoming queen , and the chapter won the house decorating contest with the men of Sigma Pi and took second place in the annual tricycle race.

Ashley Day-Johnson, EE ETA ETA, PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY, KS

"Big Event" helps to showcase

members philanthropic side The women of Eta Eta, Pittsburg State University, KS, recently participated in Pittsburg State Univeristy's "Big Event" sponsored by the student government association. The Big Event, a campus

service project tl1at various student organizations participate in, is held annually at the beginning of Greek Week.

This year's project entailed going to the homes of senior citizens who needed help witl1 yard work, painting, minor repairs and other odd jobs.

More than 400 students participated in this year 's Big Event.

Teresa Gaw1ych, EE

Alumnae FOUNTAIN CITY, MO, ALUJ'v!NAE CHAPTER

Members enjoy a busy social calendar In October, the Fountain City Alumnae Chapter volunteered at a local soup kitchen to cook up a sloppy joe lunch for the homeless. The women met early on a Saturday morning to prepare the meal and then enjoyed serving it to their community.

November was the annual Founders' Day celebration.

The event took p lace at a local apple orchard restaurant.

For the December mee ting, the women met at The Melting Pot on the Plaza for chocolate fondue and continued their ornament exchange tradition.

To celebrate the warn1er weather in March, the Fountain City Alumnae Chapter met at Kansas City's local brewing company, Boulevard Brewery. Members enjoyed learning its history and impact on the city.

In April, members headed to historic Parkville, MO, to try some japanese cuisine and sample wines at a specialty store.

As a risk management tool, women learned self-defense techniques at a personal defense workshop in May. Members are also participating in Alpha Sigma Alpha's national drive to collect used cell phones to benefit Special Olympics.

Robin Clarke, EE NORTHERN COLORADO ALUMNAE CHAPTER

Northern Colorado alumnae receive top honor The Northern Colorado Alumnae Chapter welcomed new member, Lynne Fountaine, BE, and continues to meet quarterly with members from the greater Ft. CollinsGreeley-Loveland area.

Members Marge Perdue, TT,

Collegiate EPSILON EPSILON, EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY, KS

Recruitment efforts pay offfor Epsilon Epsilon This has been a busy year for the women of the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter, Emporia State University, KS. During formal and informal recruitment efforts, the chapter invited 18 new women to join the sorority.

New and old members have come together to participate in many events around campus.

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Posing for the camera are Epsilon Epsilon members from Emporia State University.

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DISTRICT NEWS

were 30 women who attended, 15 alumnae and 15 collegians.

Monilw Shover, ZII, and Kathleen Collopy Miller, AT SOUTHWEST MISSOURI ALUMNAE CHAPTER

Alumnae help local chanties

Zeta Pi members and the Southern Colomdo alumnae members at the alumnae sponsored ba-rbeque in March. and Theresa McCarthy Worthen, BB, represented the chapter at a tea honoring the installation of Denver alumnae, Barb Hofmockel, BIT, as president of the Denver Area Panhellenic Council.

The orthern Colorado Alumnae Chapter received Crown Recognition for 2004.

The chapter also has adopted th e A'LA Advantage initiative and is incorporating it into its regular meetings. Anyon e wanting more information about the Northern Colorado alumnae chapter may contact Marge Muir Perdue, TT, at (970) 203-1239 or Sue Wilcox, Af, at (970) 568-7567.

Sue Eckler Wilcox, AT

pun ch . In add itio n to the barbeque and rece ption the women stayed involved with th e local collegiate chapter by hosting a "Back to Basic" workshop for Zeta Pi members. The collegiate chapter was in need of some ex u路a officer training along with a desire to hear

the history of th e chapter. The founding members along with other Zeta Pi alumnae and most of the chapter advisors held workshops and told stories all day, Sunday, March 13. Th e alumnae chapter served breakfast, lunch and had an ice cream social. There

Spring is always a busy time for the Southwest Missouri Alumnae Chapter as it focuses on local philanthropies. Each March members do a project for the Ronald McDonald House. In th e past, the chapter has cooked dinner for the guest families . This year members collected items from th eir wish list.

April means putting on tennis shoes and pounding th e pavement in the annual MS Walk. This is always a favorite among members. Members have turned this into a motherchild event and this year several new little ones joined th e walk.

Tara Hmineil, HH

GAMMA PI, MISSOURI I'ALLEY COLLEGE

The women of Gamma Pi Chapter held an advisor dinn er to celebrate the role advisors play in the success of the chapter.

Jennifer BTeckel, Til

SOUTHERN COLORADO ALUMNAE CHAPTER

, Southern Colo-rado teach history and friendship to , Zeta Pi collegians The chapter held an alumnae barbeque just prior to th e Sanctuary Degree for the Zeta pi Chapter, Colorado State University. This was a special time for the new members to get to know the alumnae of Alpha Sigma. After th e service was a reception for th e new members with cake and SPRING 200S PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA

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