Emerald
Times
Are you interested in finding a way to reconnect with Sigma Alpha? Do you have an interest in giving back to the Sorority by sharing some of what you’ve learned or experienced since graduating from college? Do you want prepare the future professional women of ag for entering the workforce? Sigma Alpha has an opportunity that can help you do just that and more. The Sorority is seeking alumnae to present workshops at its 2019 National Convention in Scottsdale, AZ. This is a great way for alumnae to engage with sisters from across the nation, showcase their knowledge and give back to the Sorority. The Sorority’s goals with alumnae led convention workshops is to: Connect alumnae and collegiate members. Provide quality programming for convention. Extend an opportunity for alumnae to give back to the organization. Give a platform for alumnae to showcase their skills and knowledge and to gain valuable presentation experience. Let us know you’re planning to submit a proposal by completing a letter of intent by February 10th. Complete proposals are due by March 5th. (Proposal Submission Guidelines and Requirements)
Michelle Wall, Upsilon alumna, presented “Communicating with Tact”, “Executive Presence” and “The Next Step in Your Success” at the 2017 National Convention.
Carmen Byce, Alpha Omicron alumna, presented “Strength Through Diversity”, “Preparing for Challenges in the Ag Community” and “Strategic Planning for Long-term Chapter Success” at the 2017 National Convention.
The workshop dates are July 19th and 20th.
Questions? Contact National President, Kelly Lawler, at nationalpresident@sigmaalpha.org
President’s Message National Convention Chapter Highlights Spirit of Ruth Recipients
Site-One Partnership National Professional Programs Regional Awards Winners New National Awards Option
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You ladies continue to amaze me. I can’t get enough of all the great things you are doing in your chapters, your college campuses and your communities. I love following your chapters on social media and reading about your accomplishments in the Emerald Times and through updates we receive at headquarters. I want you to know that the National Board notices and when we meet, we are always looking at ways that we can support you in your endeavors and how we can recognize your good work. I recently received an update on new member processing for the fall, we are on track to exceed our goals in a big way this year! That is because of all you and your hard work. You are growing your chapters and growing the network of women pursuing careers in agriculture. Keep up the recruiting and keep sharing the message of the sisterhood and agriculture. I look forward to welcoming new chapters this summer at convention and recognizing chapters for their hard work in recruiting. Leadership Seminars are here and we can’t wait to see our chapters learning and
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sharing with each other. We will have the updated standing policies and rules manuals for all chapters, and we will have national leaders on-hand to answer your questions. Now is the time to start planning for Convention 2019! We have a lot of exciting things being planned for Convention such as amazing speakers and a very special “style” event you won’t want to miss. The Sisterhood Symposium and Sigma Alpha Market Place are back by popular demand. This year will also mark the inaugural on-site award presentations for the top regional award winners. Thursday and Friday will be packed with workshops and networking opportunities. Alumnae will have a special opportunity to network on Friday night. Saturday we will have lots of celebrating to do as we recognize chapters and individuals for all their hard work. I hope to see record number of ladies in Scottsdale! In Sisterhood,
Kelly Kelly Lawler National Sorority Board President
Nominations/applications are open until April 15th for the National Sorority Board. Please consider one of these exceptional opportunities to serve your Sorority, while gaining valuable professional experience!
two-year term:
Become a national leader of the Sorority by serving in one of the following elected positions for a
Questions? Email Kelly Lawler, President at nationalpresident@sigmaalpha.org.
Vice President Collegiate Membership Director Professional Development Director Communications Director
$290/person (on or before May 31st) $350/person (between June 1st - June 19th)
Guest rooms are $105/night plus applicable taxes. Reservation need to be booked by June 26th, 2019. Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch 7700 E McCormick Parkway Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Reservations: (800) 540-0727
Scholarship opportunities are available for collegiate and alumnae chapters.
Professional development
Awards Guest Speaker Stacy Nadeau
Officer Sessions Networking
Sisterhood Symposium
Scholarships available Come join us!
In an effort to help as many chapters as possible attend the 2019 National Convention July 18-21, 2019, the Sigma Alpha Sorority Educational Foundation is offering scholarships. The Sigma Alpha Sorority Educational Foundation wants to help you grow professionally to obtain successful careers in the food, fiber and natural resources fields! Apply for a convention scholarship! 2019 Convention Registration Scholarships Applications Open March 1, 2019 Applications Close April 15, 2019 Scholarship Amount $200 Number of Scholarships 71 Eligibility: One per Collegiate Chapter sending at least 1 representative to conven-
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Chi Chapter, West Virginia University, sold 176 crew neck sweatshirts this fall raising over $1,000 that they donated to two different causes. On Eagles’ Wings, which helps children receive therapeutic riding lessons, was given $500 and the remaining proceeds, $500+, went to two different families in the area who were in need of winter clothes. Each family has two children, and the chapter bought winter clothes, outfits, book bags stuffed with school supplies, and stockings filled with lots of goodies!
Helping children receive therapeutic riding lessons Mandy Ingram delivers winter supplies to two families
The Alpha Chi sisters at the University of Missouri-Columbia are passionate about serving the food bank in Columbia. They love going as a group or individuals and spending a few hours packing meals for those in need. As a chapter, they have contributed over 600 hours of service to the food bank this semester and every active member has worked at the food bank at least once. They love giving directly back to a community that is so supportive of their mission, and this is a great way for them to spend their time. Alpha Chi has volunteered at the food bank for at least ten years and received the food bank’s volunteer of year award in 2016. Donating over 600 hours this semester
Beta Delta, University of Wisconsin - Platteville, sisters made Christmas cards that were distributed to a veterans home to spread holiday cheer. They also beaded necklaces and bracelets for Grant’s House, which provides after school and summer programming to facilitate the growth of children and young adults with special needs. Making necklaces and bracelets for special needs
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Over a third of Sigma Alpha chapters were represented at the Agriculture Future of American (AFA) Leaders Conference November 1st - 4th in Kansas City, Missouri. The AFA Leaders Conference is a four-track program designed to offer select college men and women four different personal and professional development opportunities matched to their year in college. The program bridges the gap between academic, leadership and work experiences while helping students understand the impact of their decisions. Students are given the opportunity to network with peers and leaders in the agriculture industry and attend a career opportunity fair. Great Sigma Alpha representation at AFA Leaders Conference
Several chapters have recently toured agricultural businesses to find out more about their prospective industries:
Delta at John Deere Seeding Company in Chicago. The Global Experience Specialist, Kacey Gallup provided a tour of the sprayer plant.
Beta Nu at Black Water Cattle Company, 27 sisters attended the tour.
Delta, Iowa State University, toured John Deere Seeding Company in Chicago and Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences. They also met with Iowa State University alumni from the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies and Smithfield Foods. Alpha Lambda, Delaware Valley University, toured fellow sister Olivia Wyckoff’s family Christmas tree farm. Alpha Psi, Cornell University, toured Cornell Orchards. Beta Gamma, University of Florida, toured U.S. Sugar. Beta Zeta, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, participated in a cranberry mash tour. Beta Nu, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, toured Black Water Cattle Company. Want to see your chapter highlighted in the next Emerald Times? Use the chapter highlight form in the officer portal to share your story today! Page 5
The Spirit of Ruth Award recognizes Sigma Alpha Alumnae who embody the spirit of Ruth through active involvement, leadership, and commitment to the field of agriculture. Recipients of this award demonstrate the ideals of Sigma Alpha by living the four pillars: Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship, and Service in their personal and/or professional lives. Join us in congratulating the 2019 recipients:
Jennifer Chandler Gish (nominated by Amy Fishback) - Oklahoma City Jennifer graduated in 2005 from Murray State University with her BS in agriculture. She was a leader of the Beta class at the Alpha Upsilon Chapter. She volunteers her time with her local chapter to provide professional development programs for current Alpha Upsilon actives through resume building, career readiness and interview prep sessions. She also participates on a career panel for jobs in Agriculture at alumnae meetings for current active sisters. Since 2008, she has been a regional manager for Indiana Farm Bureau, where she serves seven counties in Southwest Indiana and works with the grassroots members. She spends a lot of time on the road with her job, but because she believes in the organization and loves working with her volunteers and members, it is very rewarding.
She and her husband, Joe, and two children reside on their farm in Poole, Kentucky. She loves spending time with her family, singing in church and coaching her daughter’s softball team.
Michelle Wall (nominated by Molly Lass) - Salt Lake City Michelle graduated in 1995 from North Dakota State University with her BS in communications and agriculture. She was a founder of the Upsilon Chapter and was the 1st inductee into the chapter’s Hall of Fame. She is an active alumna within the NDSU Sigma Alpha Alumnae Chapter and has traveled to many national conventions. She has participated at a national level by presenting at the 2017 National Convention in Columbus, Ohio and opens her arms to any sister. She is a Certified Dale Carnegie business coach who works with organizations, teams and individuals to boost performance, implement change and develop and execute strategy. In 2015, she was named a Prairie Business Top 25 Women in Business, is a founding partner in CTB Women’s Leadership Program and volunteers on several planning committees.
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Michaele Wiegert (nominated by Rebecca Dobbins) - Indianapolis Michaele graduated in 1987 from Purdue University with her BS in animal science. She was an active member of the Beta Chapter, served as the National Board Treasurer from 1993 - 1995 and is an active member of the Purdue University Alumnae Chapter. Her 90 year-old mother is a strong supporter of Purdue, Sigma Alpha and Michaele. Michaele and her Sigma Alpha candidate class celebrated her mom’s 90th birthday in October. She is a farm loan officer and marketing coordinator for the USDA/ Farm Service Agency where she has 31 years of service with the USDA. In her spare time, she continues to foster a program she started with the Beta Chapter. The program pairs a Beta alumna or a Sigma Alpha alumna who has moved into the area to provide a 60-90 minute talk with the Beta Chapter sisters. She loves photography, gardening, working out in the yard, attending Purdue men’s basketball games, watching Nascar races and Purdue football on TV, and being involved with her mom’s activities.
Elizabeth Pugh Farrell (nominated by Laura Parker) - Richmond Beth graduated in 2002 from North Carolina State University with her BS in animal science. She is an alumna of the Alpha Theta Chapter. She joined the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2010 and is currently serving as an agricultural programs specialist. She is making contributions to a broad range of activities to strengthen and enhance agriculture in the state that directly impact farmers and agribusiness. She also works with North Carolina tobacco farmers and tobacco industry. She has held numerous leadership positions in the agricultural industry and is an active North Carolina State alumna. She has also had the opportunity to serve on short term mission trips to India and Haiti. Beth and her husband, Kevin, reside in Cary, NC and recently planted 150 blueberry plants on Kevin’s family farm and are establishing Pack House Farm, a pick-your-own operation near Jordan Lake, NC.
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The Sigma Alpha Educational Foundation and Sigma Alpha Sorority are thrilled to welcome SiteOneŽ Landscape Supply, Inc as a new corporate partner. SiteOne, the green industry’s No. 1 destination for the supplies, tools and service needed for success, is the largest and only national wholesale distributor of landscape supplies in the United States and has a growing presence in Canada. Its customers are primarily residential and commercial landscape professionals who specialize in the design, installation and maintenance of lawns, gardens, golf courses and other outdoor spaces. Through their expansive North American network of 552 branches and three distribution centers in 45 states and six provinces, SiteOne offers a comprehensive selection of nearly 120,000 stock keeping units, including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control
Brianna Shanholtzer, National Development Director and Chi alumna, and Tasha King, former National Development Director and Alpha Beta alumna, visited New Mexico State University on November 15, 2018 to reactivate the Alpha Sigma Chapter and induct ten new sisters. Welcome back!
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products (e.g., herbicides), landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes (including pavers, natural stones and blocks), outdoor lighting and ice melt products. They also provide complementary, value-added consultative services to support their product offering and to help customers operate and grow their businesses. In the coming weeks, SiteOne will launch a mentor program designed exclusively for Sigma Alpha sisters who have an interest in this segment of the agriculture industry. Be sure to watch your email inbox and follow Sigma Alpha on social media to learn more about how to apply to be one of the select few sisters chosen to participate and learn from female leaders in the industry. To learn more about SiteOne, visit siteone.com.
Sigma Alpha Chapter Consultants were busy this fall visiting 19 chapters. Below are photos from some of their chapter visits.
Alpha Theta North Carolina State University
Eta University of Connecticut
Alpha Nu Arizona State University
Beta Tau Arkansas Tech University
Pi Virginia Tech
Gamma Alpha Wilmington College
Alpha Psi Cornell University
Gamma Beta Montana State University
We’re looking for a few good women to serve the Sorority as a national representative on the regional level as a chapter consultant. If you’ve got a love for Sigma Alpha and a desire to give back, have leadership experience, and maybe even possess a few years of professional work experience – this may be the role for you.
six to eight assigned chapters and hold monthly conference calls with chapter leadership from all of your chapters. Additionally, you will travel to about half of your chapters in each year of your two-year term, which may require time away from work. Most visits happen over the weekend, but Friday or Monday travel days may be required.
Chapter Consultants support, mentor and guide chapter officers in the performance of their duties for the ultimate successful operation of the collegiate chapters. In this role, you’ll regularly communicate with your
Questions? Email Megan Lutrick, Director of Collegiate Members at collegiate@sigmaalpha.org. Application Deadline: April 1st, 2019 Page 9
Going the Distance – Setting Goals and Taking Risks Join Lisa Campion, a Gamma Chapter alumna, as she discusses her journey from college to starting her own law firm. She’ll discuss the paths taken along the way, the challenges, how she overcame them, and the lessons she learned. She’ll describe her involvement in Sigma Alpha and how it helped shape her journey and provided her with the life skills, knowledge, and connections to help her overcome some of her biggest challenges along the way, while shaping her goals and strategies to move forward. From one sister to another, hear her story and how it may help you create your own journey and maybe even become an entrepreneur.
Dates:
March 5th - 5:00pm CST, March 6th - 3:00pm CST, March 7th and 8th - 7:00pm CST (choose one date)
Register: sigmaalpha.org/2019Webinars
Take away the following skills: ♦ Company Structures (varies by state)
♦ Legal or Tax Forms (varies by state)
♦ Budget
♦ Marketing
♦ Insurance
♦ Employees
The Top Three Fundamental Steps for Financial Success Can someone really set themself up for financial success in just three fundamental steps? YES!!! Join Lurinda Gilliland, an Alpha Beta alumna, for this informative webinar to learn what those steps are, identify key tools for implementing them, and takeaway some tips to easily integrate them into your life. The best part is you don't have to have a large income to get started; so, this session is perfect for college students and is a great refresher for alumnae. Dates:
April 16th - 5:00pm CST, April 17th - 3:00pm CST, April 18th - 7:00pm CST (choose one date)
Register: sigmaalpha.org/2019Webinars
Take away the following skills: ♦ Budget - know where your money is coming from and where it’s going ♦ Debt Reduction - learn how to stay motivated while paying down debt ♦ Investing - understand the power of compounding interest and its impact on your goals
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1st Place:
Lambda*
Alpha Phi*
Kappa*
Alpha Iota*
2nd Place:
Alpha Phi
Lambda
Alpha Phi
Alpha Phi
3rd Place:
Kappa
Kappa
Lambda
Kappa
1st Place:
Upsilon*
Omega*
Upsilon*
Beta Zeta*
2nd Place:
Alpha Tau
Upsilon
Alpha Tau / Omega
Upsilon
3rd Place:
Omega
Beta Zeta
1st Place:
Alpha Beta*
Alpha Chi*
Alpha Chi*
Alpha Beta*
2nd Place:
Beta Mu
Alpha Xi
Alpha Beta
Alpha Chi
3rd Place:
Alpha Chi
Alpha Beta
Beta Mu
Beta Mu
1st Place:
Beta Tau*
Alpha Zeta*
Beta Tau*
Beta Tau*
2nd Place:
Rho
Rho
Beta Pi
Alpha Pi
3rd Place:
Beta Pi
Beta Pi
Rho / Alpha Zeta
Rho
1st Place:
Epsilon*
Epsilon*
Alpha Gamma*
Gamma*
2nd Place:
Gamma
Gamma
Gamma
Epsilon
3rd Place:
Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma
Epsilon
Alpha Gamma
1st Place:
Beta Nu*
Alpha Theta*
Beta Gamma*
Beta Gamma* /Alpha Theta*
2nd Place:
Beta Gamma
Beta Gamma
Zeta
3rd Place:
Zeta
Beta Nu
Alpha Theta
Beta Upsilon
1st Place:
Beta Sigma*
Beta Sigma*
Chi* / Theta*
Beta Sigma*
2nd Place:
Alpha Upsilon
Alpha Upsilon
3rd Place:
Theta
Theta
1st Place:
Alpha Psi*/ Beta Kappa* Beta Kappa*
2nd Place:
Alpha Tau / Omega
Alpha Upsilon Beta Sigma /Alpha Upsilon
Chi
Alpha Kappa*
Beta Kappa*
Alpha Psi
Alpha Psi
Alpha Psi
3rd Place:
Alpha Kappa
Alpha Lambda
Eta
Pi / Beta Lambda
1st Place:
Beta Omega*
Alpha Nu*
Gamma Alpha*
Beta Psi*
2nd Place:
Gamma Alpha
Beta Psi
Beta Psi
Phi
3rd Place:
Beta Psi
Beta Omega
Phi
Beta Omega
*1st place regional winner eligible to participate in live presentation competition at convention. For more information, see page 12. Page 11
The 2018 National Conclave chapter delegates expressed a desire for the National Awards Program to be more competitive. In an effort to fulfill that need and also provide opportunities for members to hone their speaking and presentation skills, the Sigma Alpha National Sorority Board is pleased to announce the addition of a live finalist competition to the National Awards Program to be held at the National Conventions (and Conclaves). Every 1st place regional winner in each of the four pillar categories will be invited deliver a presentation before a panel of judges to highlight why the chapter’s programming in that pillar is the best in the nation. The chapter can have up to two (2) people conduct a presentation. Ideally, if the chapter is a finalist in multiple categories, there would be different sisters presenting each of the awards, but the chapter can use the same sisters for all, if necessary. The scoring from the live presentation will be combined with the scoring from the regional written judging to determine the national winner for each pillar category. The national awards will be presented each year at the National Emerald Banquet. To be considered for the national award, a finalist chapter must participate in the live on-site competition. Official notification, presentation criteria and the judging rubric will be sent to all qualifying chapters in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all chapters who placed in the regional pillar awards!* *All regional pillar award winners are listed on page 11.