Emerald
Times
The holidays are upon us… what better time to count the things we’re thankful for and to surround ourselves with family and friends! Between company holiday parties, family gatherings and festivities, there’s no time of year when we’re around other people as much as we are during this busy season. This season, ahead of all the hustle and bustle, Bayer is here to equip you with your own personal guide to being an “AgVocate” during the holidays. When you encounter people in your community, friends or family who may not be familiar with the many benefits of modern ag, it is the perfect opportunity to #AgVocate. Here are a couple scenarios you may encounter this holiday season and some tips on how to respond:
1. During the Holiday Party You’re attending your spouse’s company holiday party and meet a colleague of theirs who inquires about your line of work. When you mention you work in the ag industry, the colleague mentions that they’ve heard corporate farms are over-applying fertilizers and pesticides and creating problems for the entire ecosystem, not to mention exposing our food to harmful chemicals. How do you respond? This is an all-too-common scenario of mistrust and modern agriculture. Many people still think of farming in a romanticized way, likening it to the days of one farmer with a milk cow and some chickens growing crops on a few acres of land. However, in the U.S., 97 percent of farms (many of them large operations) are run by families, who must employ
President’s Message Alumnae Prof. Development Chapter Highlights National Conclave Announced
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modern farming practices to meet demand. As with this example, it’s great to emphasize the common ground those in agriculture share with consumers, and that we have the same goals in mind, ensuring product safety and stewardship but also providing tools to help growers sustainably produce abundant, quality crops. Here is some information about the ways Bayer and other industry leaders are helping growers to ensure they observe good product stewardship practices, including our CARE program – and we’re observing these practices on our farms, too. 2. Around the Family Dinner Table It’s time for the big holiday meal, with every one gathered around the dinner table, and your in-laws are coming to spend the weekend with Continued on page 10
Call for National Leaders Celebrating 40 Years Thank You Donors
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As we near the end of the year, I am so grateful for all of our Sisters from across the nation. Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to witness the true spirit of Sisterhood in so many ways. I have seen sisters come together to support a sister battling cancer; I have seen sisters band together to raise money and give of their time to many worthy causes; I have seen sisters sending congratulatory messages to new chapters, and so much more. Each time I see or hear about an act of sisterhood, I am reminded how deep and wide our sisterhood reaches. At our recent National Board meeting, communications director, Molly Lass, reminded me of a saying that sums up the feelings I have about our sisterhood. It’s “not four years, but for life.” I love that quote. It truly sums up the opportunity we have as sisters. Sure, we have four years in college, but our sisterhood is so much bigger than just that period of time. I am grateful for all the experiences I had as a sister during my collegiate career, but I am also grateful for all the many experiences I have had and will continue to have as an alumnae member.
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One of those experiences was last week at the annual meeting of your National Board. We convened in Milwaukee for a weekend of preparation for the coming months and long term strategic planning for the coming years. The 2018 National Conclave was a key topic. We have some exciting things planned, so it’s important that all chapters – collegiate and alumnae start planning to select their delegate and alternate. Additionally, Leadership Seminars are just around the corner, and we can’t wait to see record numbers of Sigma Alpha women in attendance! In addition to having many opportunities to talk with national leaders and network with members from your regions, we will conduct training on the new officer portal, which is quickly nearing its launch.
Have a wonder winter break, and I can’t wait to hear more from all of you in the New Year! In sisterhood,
Kelly Kelly Lawler National Sorority Board President
Proposed bylaw amendments can now be submitted to secretary@sigmaalpha.org.
Point), amendment proposal, rationale for amendment, and who it was proposed by.
Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing and may be made only by a majority vote of members in good standing of a chapter. Proposals should include: reference location (Article/Section/
The deadline for submissions is February 3, 2018. Please contact NSB Secretary, Kate Hadley, at secretary@sigmaalpha.org for questions or clarification.
Registration Early Bird Rate: $145 Regular Rate: $170
Deadline: January 31 (After January 31)
Hotel Information When making your hotel reservations, be sure to mention that you are with Alpha Gamma Rho February 2-3, 2018
Memphis, TN
February 9-10, 2018
Reno, NV
Hilton Memphis Room Rate: $129 Reservation Deadline: January 15, 2018 (901) 684-6664
Whitney Peak Hotel Room Rate: $105 Reservation Deadline: January 24, 2018 (775) 398-5400
*February 16-17, 2018
February 23-24, 2018
Kansas City, MO
Hilton Kansas City Airport Room Rate: $93 Reservation Deadline: February 1, 2018 (816) 891-8900
Philadelphia, PA
Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel Room Rate: $129 Reservation Deadline: February 5, 2018 (888) 627-7071
Go to Sigmaalpha.org/leadershipseminars18 for more details and registration * Special Sigma Alpha alumnae programming in agriculture at this seminar, see below
Sigma Alpha Sorority Announces Professional Development Opportunity for Alumnae Six Sigma Training Sigma Alpha Sorority is excited to introduce our inaugural in-person regional training specifically designed for our Alumnae members. Six Sigma training will be held in conjunction with the Kansas City, MO Leadership Seminar and will be held all day Saturday, February 17, 2018. Six Sigma is a structured problem solving process for eliminating defects or errors in any process from manufacturing to service base. The methodology for eliminating defects is to focus on structuring the process so that the errors are prevented before they have an occurrence through mistake proofing systems. Six Sigma is well known in the business field but is easily adaptable to any modality, from healthcare, agriculture, to home maintenance and cleaning. This is a great opportunity to participate in professional development training and also network with other alumnae, as well as Sigma Alpha and AGR collegiate members during lunch. Registration Fee - $95 (Includes Lunch on Saturday) Registration Deadline - January 31, 2018 Page 3
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, the sisters of the Alpha Kappa Chapter at the Univ. of Delaware held their first “Goat Yoga” fundraiser. The event was held at a fellow sister, Amanda Ritter's, family farm in Harbeson, Delaware. Ritter Family Farms Inc. is a fifth
generation family farm and recently started raising dairy goats. The person who has had major influences on the Ritter’s dairy goat farm happens to be one of the founding sisters of the Alpha Kappa Chapter, Heather Valentine. Goat Yoga was a fundraiser for the chapter’s UDance team, which raises money for The B+ Foundation. UDance is the largest student-run philanthropy at the UDEL, and The B+ Foundation
On October 29, 2017, the Alpha Theta Chapter at North Carolina State Univ. was honored with a special guest. Sigma Alpha Sorority founding sister, Jennifer McMillan Rubin, joined their chapter for their fall sisterhood activation! Chapter member, Mikayla, said it best when she said, “it is important that Page 4
donates money to families of children struggling with cancer, along with funding pediatric cancer research. Sisters, family, friends, and locals came out to spend the day with goats, practice some yoga, and help end the fight against childhood cancer. Sigma Alpha hosted three sessions, each with 25 people. The participants enjoyed an hour long PiYo workout, instructed by Erin Windsor, while feeding and interacting with the friendly goats.
The Alpha Kappa chapter raised over $600 with this event, and all proceeds were donated to the chapter’s UDance team. Not only did the chapter impact multiple families affected by childhood cancer, but they also worked together to host one of their biggest events yet!
our Sorority always remembers its roots and what better way than to connect with those who founded the Sorority.”
Beta Chi Chapter Eastern Kentucky University August 11, 2017
Beta Psi Chapter Oklahoma State University October 30, 2017
Beta Omega Chapter Washington State University, Pullman November 2017
Phi Chapter (Reactivation) Texas A&M, Commerce November 28, 2017
Gamma Alpha Chapter Wilmington College December 4, 2017
Want to see your chapter highlighted in the next Emerald Times — share your story today!
Chapter Consultants serve the Sorority as national representatives at the local and regional levels by mentoring, teaching and interacting with collegiate chapters and members. If you’ve got a love for Sigma Alpha and a desire to give back, have leadership experience, and maybe even a few years of professional work experience – this may be the role for you. Chapter Consultants communicate regularly with chapter officers and support them in the performance of their duties for the ultimate successful operation of the collegiate
chapters. In this role, the consultant works with seven or eight assigned chapters, holds monthly regional conference calls with chapter leadership and travels to about half of her assigned chapters in each year of her two-year term, which may require time away from work. Most visits happen over the weekend, but Friday/Monday travel may be needed. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2018 Questions? Email Megan Lutrick, Director of Collegiate Members at collegiate@sigmaalpha.org.
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Registration Opens in March Early Bird Rate: $135/person Regular Rate: $185/person
Deadline: May 31, 2018 (After May 31st)
Hotel Rates - $140/night inclusive of taxes for up to 4 people in a room* This year’s theme – Elevate! – embodies the purpose and mission of the Conclave where sisters work to identify opportunities to adapt and grow our organization to take our programming, our services and our members to the next level. The Conclave format allows for each chapter to send its required Chapter Delegate, as well as an alternate delegate. Per national bylaws, each collegiate chapter is required to send a delegate to the National Chapter Congress, held this year during the Conclave. Any chapter not sending a delegate must pay the delegate fee, which is the equivalent of the early-bird registration - $135. Be sure your chapter is setting aside funds to send its delegate (and alternate, if possible). Sigma Alpha Foundation Conclave Registration Scholarships will be available for collegiate and alumnae chapters to offset attendance costs. Applications open on March 1, 2018. One application per chapter. For more details visit sigmaalpha.org/conclave18 * Sigma Alpha Headquarters will coordinate room sharing during the registration process for chapters who want to room together to save money.
Nominations and applications are being accepted for the National Sorority Board. These volunteer roles offer exceptional opportunities for alumnae to serve the Sorority, while continuing to develop their own leadership skills and gain valuable professional experience!
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Elections will be held at the National Chapter Congress, Saturday, August 4, 2018 during National Conclave.
The deadline to apply or nominate someone is April 15, 2018. Positions include, President Secretary Treasurer Development Director Questions? Email Kim Stassen, Vice President, at vicepresident@sigmaalpha.org
The Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation closed out its first decade with a robust corporate giving program and a strong history of providing financial support to the Sorority through professional development grants and to collegiate and alumnae chapters and members through professional development grants and scholarships for leadership and professional development education programs. The connections made through corporate giving program have afforded many students the opportunity to connect with internships and postcollege career opportunities.
To accomplish this, the board developed a multi -year strategic plan. Club 1978 giving society; the $40,000 by 40 Years themed annual giving campaign and the first Sigma Alpha online giving day, which is set for January 26, 2018 all arose from this planning. In addition, members can show their support when they shop amazon.smile.com and designate Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation. AmazonSmile will donate a percentage each purchase to the Foundation.
Sigma Alpha Foundation t-shirt quilt The Foundation board While the Foundation has facilitated fundraiser at the 2018 Convention invites all Sigma Alpha members many opportunities for Sigma Alpha to join them in their efforts to students and chapters, the board of directors create more opportunities for women leaders in envisions a future where the Foundation can agriculture by making a donation. Consider provide much more, including academic doubling your gift through your employers scholarships, more and larger grants, and matching gift program, if available! connections to even more employment opportunities. These goals require the Foundation to grow its individual gifts while continuing to build on and grow its corporate giving program.
Sigma Alpha Sorority and Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation proudly present this handcrafted commemorative Sigma Alpha 40th Anniversary belt buckle. What better way to show pride in your Sigma Alpha membership and support for Foundation programs than by donning this beautiful buckle! Buckles are only available for a limited time – so order yours now at sigmaalpha.org/beltbuckle. A portion of the proceeds from each buckle sold will be donated to the Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation to help fund scholarships and grants for Sigma Alpha Sorority members and chapters in support of their educational, professional and leadership endeavors.
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Sigma Alpha Sorority is dedicated to providing our members with continual professional and personal development to improve yourself and your personal brand. The above infographic provides information about social media etiquette and how to properly use social media to represent Page 8
yourself, your chapter, and Sigma Alpha Sorority. Utilize this and keep it to reference as needed. Be on the look out for future professional development emails and opportunities provided to you from Sigma Alpha Sorority.
Over the last 39 plus years, Sigma Alpha has impacted the lives of thousands of young women pursuing careers in agriculture. What began as five women building an organization to help women in agriculture on their campus achieve their educational and career goals has grown to a network of 67 active collegiate chapters that cultivates women leaders in agriculture in a supportive sisterhood that continues long after graduation.
Foundation board members and even as general consultants and mentors sharing with the Sorority what they’ve learned in their professional capacity. As the fortieth anniversary of the founding of Sigma Alpha Sorority approaches, the Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation will celebrate this milestone and honor those five women – Jennifer McMillan Rubin, Amy Mathews Viets, Ann Huling Mathews, Marilyn Burns Sumpter and Cindie Davis Holub with an inaugural online giving day on January 26, 2018.
The national network of Sigma Alpha women has grown to nearly 17,000 women; many of whom continue to network with one another and live by our four pillars – Leadership; Scholarship; Service and Fellowship. They continue to engage with this network on a national level by serving as chapter consultants, national committee members, national Sorority and
The goal – to generate $40,000 for our fortieth anniversary. Join us and continue to be a part of the legacy that is Sigma Alpha Sorority. While our official giving day is January 26, 2018, we are accepting donations now if you have a need to make a gift before year-end.
In the summer of 2017, the Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation introduced the Club 1978 giving society that includes multiple giving level options designed to fit any budget. To date, nearly 100 Sigma Alpha sisters and friends have donated to the club.
Each donor also received a limited edition Club 1978 t-shirt as a thank you for their gift. Thank you to all those who have donated – your donation will support leadership development scholarships and grants for our chapters and members. $78.00 Level April Burg Carmen Byce Jade Haliburton Carrie Laboski
$197.80 Level Lisa Campion Erin Krebs Tanya Franke-Dvorak Kelly Lawler Kate Hadley Lindsey Liebig
$19.78 Level Lynsey Abrahart Presley Adkins Sam Anderson Emily Bartusiak Ariel Berrios Jordan Bonham Marissa Bradsher Cassidy Bruns Rachel Bunnell Emilee Cannon Hannah Clark Mekezie Clift Sydney Clingenpeel
Alacyn Cox Stephanie K Curry Chandra Davis Erin De Tar Megan Dresbach Lisa Ecker Sarah J Farlee Anna Farrell Sarah Fenwick Abigayle Frazier Michala Frederick Hailly Fulk-Williams Brittany Gay
Jessica Graham Ryann Grubbs Maria Gutierrez Charmayne Hefley Mandy Ingram Shawndulynn James Tasha King Breann Knapp Katie Laleman Molly Lass Nikki Latham Kayla Lent Katie Link
Whitney Littlejohn Allison Martin Jo Lynne May Bridget McFarland Lyndsey Mefford Casey Mikel Mahala Morgan A. Michelle Mouser Megan O'Connell Emily Orth Emily Osborne Kayla Patrick Anna Phillips
Jessica Pyritz Jaimie Reinhard Paige Roberts Caroline Roper Lucia Salas Christina Sanders Megan Sartin Elizabeth Slater Krista Smith Taran Smith Wendi Snider-Seidel Leah Steele Emily Stovall
Emelie Matthews Holly Stacy Kimberly Stassen
Heather Sullivan Sierra Talley Rylie Topping Sara Trattles Katherine VanValin Hilary Vaughn Amy Viets Elizabeth Weber Bailey Wert Mary Alice Williams
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your whole family. Though you have been careful to avoid contentious discussions with them in the past, it’s inevitable that a controversial topic always make its way into casual dinner discussion amongst the grown-ups. Sure enough, your cousin-in-law inquires if your famous cornbread stuffing was made with genetically modified (GM) corn, because he’s read those crops make children reach puberty faster and are causing cancer. He asks if you allow your children to eat foods with GM ingredients. What do you say? Like politics, discussions about the food we eat can quickly become heated, because it’s something we all do our best to make responsible decisions about, and something we usually feel quite strongly about, one way or the other. The key again is to engage in a polite, open way and ask questions to try to achieve a level of mutual understanding. Establishing common ground is essential, and you might reiterate that you’d never feed your family any food you didn’t feel was safe for them to eat. However, research and data are your friends, you can gently point out that many fear mongering tactics, such as the misinformation your cousin-inlaw has heard about GM crops, is created to sell products and discredit agricultural practices that, in reality, allow us to meet a demand far greater than what we faced 100 years ago. Beyond their ability to ensure adequate production, if new farming practices and technologies weren’t safe, they wouldn’t come to market, since the testing done on them beforehand is extensive and precise. Beyond that, humans have been genetically modifying food for many years through techniques such as selective breeding, and the
latest hype is simply due to misinformation and fear due to false messaging. (An example – even some organic farming practices use pesticides!) This article and blog link to some statistics and facts to have in your back pocket as you AgVocate on this tough topic. And remember – mutual understanding and respect are crucial to a successful discussion! There you have it! In simple, real-world scenarios, these are some of our favorite bits of information to reference when a discussion comes up and we feel the need to express our belief in modern ag and its ability to feed a growing world sustainably. In addition to these examples, you might also enjoy the tips from another one of our favorite articles: “6 Ways to Build Trust with a Concerned Consumer.” As you may be aware, Bayer has teamed up with Sigma Alpha to bring its AgVocacy program to members across the country, joining together to raise our voices for modern agriculture. You’ll learn more through The Emerald Times and Sigma Alpha social media channels, as well as Bayer -led campus trainings, upcoming events and more. Meanwhile, join the official AgVocate Facebook group to interact with others helping spread the word about the importance of modern ag and the people working in our industry! Do you have ideas on how we can make an even bigger impact through AgVocacy? Have you been AgVocating in your own community? We look forward to having you share your thoughts and stories with us!