ONE, TWO, THREE WORDS
Advancing Sorority Together
L
eaders of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) gathered October 20–23, 2016, for the 2016 Annual Meeting. NPC Delegates, staff, Inter/national Presidents and Executive Directors assembled at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. NPC is the premier advocacy and support organization for the advancement of the sorority experience. For the first time, in an effort to build relationships among the executive leadership, the Delegates, Inter/ national Presidents and Executive Directors attended an off-site event on Thursday evening. The group visited the Missouri History Museum to tour a Route 66 exhibit and have dinner. Ginny Carroll, Alpha Xi Delta, guided lively conversation on NPC memories. Friday began with the executive leadership gathering for a facilitated conversation, including breakouts into their specific designations. Lunch offered a learning opportunity on the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation and further networking. The afternoon included training for new area advisors and those who serve on the Alumnae Panhellenics and College Panhellenics committees. That evening, attendees gathered to discuss the proposed legislation, hear an update from the Government Relations Committee and learn how the Inter/national Presidents of the organizations represented at Harvard University are responding to Harvard’s ban on campus participation for members of single-sex organizations. Friday continued with the opening business meeting and a State of NPC presentation by NPC Chairman Donna King, Sigma Kappa. “Thank you to each of you for working together to ensure the achievements of the past year send a strong message to our publics that the sorority experience is alive, well and growing,” Donna said. Early morning committee meetings kicked off Saturday, followed by campus meetings where member organizations met to discuss specific concerns identified on certain campuses. The closing business meeting included additional proposed legislation and special presentations from member organizations.
Above: From back left, NPC Third Alternate Delegate JENN PLAGMAN-GALVIN, Iowa Gamma; NPC Foundation Board of Trustees Member ANN WARMACK BROOKSHIRE, Texas Beta; RFM Recruitment Officer CAROL INGE WARREN, North Carolina Beta; NPC First Alternate Delegate ORIANA BERTUCCI, Ontario Gamma; and NPC Second Alternate Delegate CATHERINE ROOSEVELT, Michigan Beta. From front left, Executive Director JULI HOLMES WILLEMAN, Iowa Beta; Grand President PAULA PACE SHEPHERD, Texas Epsilon; and NPC Delegate ANA MANCEBO MILLER, Texas Beta.
presented an educational opportunity to listen and learn about a topic that intersects with the unique position NPC organizations have as all-women’s groups. On Sunday, NPC hosted a special educational summit for communications decision-makers. Attendees learned about internal communications, brand ambassadorship, how to talk to the media and how to leverage social media. Participants wrapped up the day by breaking into small groups to apply the concepts to case studies.
The Annual Meeting concluded with a town hall gathering Saturday night, including a moderated panel discussion on the evolution of gender identity. The conversation
WINTER 2017
5