PERSPECTIVES The Official Publication of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority Volume 53, Issue 2
Winter 2007
By Karen Rankin Hill, National Service Director Marianne Williamson, the internationally acclaimed author and lecturer, wrote, “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” As we well know, these words are true to Gamma Sigma Sigma members everywhere. After reviewing the first half year reports for 2006, I was astonished at the amazing strides of the collegiate chapters. A total of 52,195 hours were volunteered between January – May of last year, and 21% of those hours were in I.M.P.A.C.T. areas. This is an accomplishment of which you should all be proud. It is also a sign that you are visible in your communities and on your campuses. Volunteering among college students has risen sharply in the years since the 9/11 attacks, suggesting the emergence of a new civic generation. The “College Students Helping America” report released by the Federal Corporation for National and Community Service found that college student volunteering increased by 20 percent between 2002 and 2005, more than doubling the growth in the adult volunteering rate. It found that 3.3 million college students volunteered in 2005 – nearly 600,000 more students than three years prior. For us, as the premier National Service Sorority, these civic-minded students are the present and future members that we can encourage and develop as Gamma Sigs. Stay motivated and visible, and look for these wonderful potential members on your campuses! They will be looking for ways to get involved and help out their communities, and we can be the bridge to service that they are looking for. Check out the chart below to see the average service hours and I.M.P.A.C.T. hours percentages. A special congratulations to all District 2 chapters, who increased their service hours 64% from the previous reporting period.
District
Average Hours Per Chapter
Percent of Project I.M.P.A.C.T. Hours
1
1434
19%
2
1684
21%
3
381
16%
4
1179
27%
5
779
19%
6
1114
23%
7
396
27%
8
1734
15%
1088
21%
Collegiate Chapters Avg.
Did You Know? • As many as 64% of college women engage in disordered eating behaviors. • 25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique.
In This Issue Chapter Service Information Parliamentary Pointers A Day In The Life - NBD D’Ann’s Diary - Nat’l President Collegiate Chapter/Member News Alumni Chapter/Member News Exposure - Marketing Director National Jeweler 2007 Convention Registration Info NBD/Staff Contact Information Conference Registration - Florida Upcoming Events
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