“Thanks for calling 1-800-WE-ARE-AWESOME!”

On the morning of October 8, I awoke from a short slumber to two very excited members of the Upsilon chapter at Oregon State University shaking me. Thankfully, they realized that texting me was not an effective way to wake me up since I sleep like a rock.

Upsilon awaiting their new members!

Naturally, I was in a zombie-like state when I walked into the guest room and unable to anticipate the exciting news that awaited me. The door was shut behind me and Mary Phillips, collegiate recruitment specialist, shared some of the most exciting news of the year with the women of Upsilon. The chapter matched 54 women during formal recruitment, meaning they got quota plus two! All of the chapter’s hard work during pre-recruitment and formal recruitment could be seen in this incredible number.

Throughout the week, the women were supported by phone calls and emails from Sigma Kappa members all over the nation. The chapter was so excited to receive an encouraging email from Sara Chacon, national vice president for membership. They also had the chance to hear from Past National President Angela Guillory for a pump up speech before preference round. Earlier that day, Mary called Angela and she answered the phone with, “Thanks for calling 1-800-WE-ARE-AWESOME!” in response to the performance of the women thus far. She was incredibly encouraging to the chapter and they loved hearing from her.

Chapter Members Before Round One

Spending nine days with the Upsilon chapter for recruitment was full of lots of excitement. As any visit with this chapter, it was filled with laughter and laugh crying, new YouTube videos, late night fast food, tweets with #win or #winning, and lots of music – I think Mary and I know all the words to the Today’s Hits Pandora station, no lie. The girls have a long recruitment process, all of which takes place during their second week of classes. The chapter was so positive throughout the entire process. Their energy, excitement, and preparedness attributed to their successful recruitment. I’m excited to return for Founder’s Day and meet all the new members!

xoxo,

Elizabeth

Ready to Change the World?

Michelle Garber

While visiting the Founder’s Award winning chapter Beta Zeta, University of Maryland, this week I had the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by their Panhellenic Association. The event was a speaker, Ginny Carroll, who came to talk about the Circle of Sisterhood.

Ginny is a former sorority consultant (woot woot) out to change the world. Her charity, the Circle of Sisterhood, harnesses the power of sorority women to change the lives of little girls around the world. The goal of the program is to give girls the means to stay in school so that they can avoid the tragedies that befall women in those countries due to poverty and oppression.

Why is this important? Check it out:

The Girl Effect

The Circle of Sisterhood is only a little over a year old but has already done amazing things. In their first year they impacted women in 7 countries on 4 continents. Countless Panhellenic Councils, Universities, and individual chapters have gotten involved through fundraising efforts. After her speech, the University of Maryland Panhellenic Council presented Ginny with the largest check the organization has ever received! The money this organization receives from the efforts of sorority women goes a long way; did you know that it only costs $27 for a girl to have everything she needs (tuition, workbooks, uniform, and school supplies) to attend school for one year in rural Tanzania?

So what can you do? Go check out the Circle of Sisterhood website!

Get your chapter or Panhellenic Council involved, sign up for their newsletter or to be a volunteer. Several of our own Sigma Kappa sisters are already leading the way. Karyn Nishimura Sneath, former National Vice President for Programming, sits on the Board of Trustees for the Circle of Sisterhood and National Headquarters Staff members Jenna Martin Pendry and Mary Phillips are volunteers.

I believe that sorority women are ready to CHANGE THE WORLD. Do you?

-Michelle