Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member-driven organization that relies upon dues as a primary source to support Sorority programs and services. By our alumnae paying annual dues today, they are solidifying Tri Sigma’s ability to operate as a premier organization, both now and in future. Alumnae support is not only greatly appreciated, but necessary.

Currently, 40% of Tri Sigma’s budget for general operations is financially supported by collegians paying dues; however, only 5% is supported by alumnae dues. Alumnae dues are significantly less than collegiate dues; however, with 6,600 collegians and 80,000 alumnae, this number is unbalanced. Additionally, in 2012, we have seen a decrease in the number of alumnae paying their annual, triennial or lifetime dues. The financial impact leads to less visits and varied support for alumnae chapters, not as much recognition of alumnae, fewer alumnae specific programming opportunities, email only updates and communication, and much more.

Tri Sigma recognizes the effect our economy and reprioritizing household budgets has had on the payment of alumnae dues. Tri Sigma also understands the need to offer improved support and visits to alumnae chapters, better recognize alumnae, offer more alumnae specific programming and increase communication updates in order to provide clear benefits for paying alumnae dues.

In response to feedback we’ve heard, Tri Sigma is making improvements to the education and involvement of graduating seniors, offering lifelong learning opportunities for alumnae, revising the alumnae chapter program, and creating an enriching volunteer program to name a few.

Volume 19 - Issue 2May 2012 Table of ConTenTs

alUMnaeUpdateQ U a r T e r l y e - n e w s l e T T e r f o r a l U M n a e

PreserVInG oUr leGaCy – The alumnae experience

PRESERVING OUR LEGACY – The Alumnae Experience

CELEBRATING OUR LEGACY – Award Winners

REFINING OUR LEGACY – Programming for alumnae chapters

CONTINUING OUR LEGACY –Alpha Delta Installation

SUPPORTING OUR LEGACY – Volunteer Opportunities

CELEBRATING OUR LEGACY – Upcoming opportunities for reconnecting with alumnae

FINAL THOUGHTS

This year we have not only put changes in motion, but also created an atmosphere to solicit feedback on your alumnae experience because, after all, if we are meeting your needs, we can’t expect your support. On April 1, Tri Sigma launched a survey collecting data on the experience our alumnae are having. Our goal is for over 500 alumnae to have their voice heard. Help the Alumnae Task Force assess current alumnae programming and recommend updates by completing the Alumnae Experience Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AlumnaeExperience.

Throughout all these changes, we have worked to keep alumnae informed; however, this has been met with returned emails, letters, and frustrated feedback. Please be patient as we work to identify better means for issuing communication. One such communication we understand may have not been delivered is the quarterly Alumnae Update. Please visit the links below to see what we’ve been up to this year:

august 2011 alumnae Update: http://issuu.com/trisigma/docs/alumnae_update_august_2011/1

november 2011 alumnae Update: http://issuu.com/trisigma/docs/alumnae_update_november_2011/1

february 2012 alumnae Update: http://issuu.com/trisigma/docs/alumnae_update_february_2012/1

Our Director of Alumnae and Volunteer Services, Aimee Jensen Boland, is available for questions, concerns, and feedback. Feel free to contact her via email, ajensen@trisigma.org, or phone, 213-290-2327.

ALUMNAE - INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

steadfast alumna Citation: Barbara Stichler Bonapfel, Rho, Atlanta Alumnae Chapter

emily Gates alumna achievement: Janice Schafer Brill, Beta Gamma, Indianapolis Suburban Alumnae Chapter

alumna recognition

CelebraTInG oUr leGaCy – award winners

• Kristin Seib Browning, Beta Xi, Greater St. Louis Alumnae Chapter

• Janine Cicio Colyer, Eta Nu, North Jersey Alumnae Chapter

• Suzanne Croft, Lambda, Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter

• Heather Cecilia Cruz, Zeta Psi, Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter

• Sharon Johannsen Devlin, Beta Lambda, Dallas Alumnae Chapter

• Mildred Lombard Diget, Alpha Phi, Central Michigan Alumnae Chapter

• Fay Krebs Donaldson, Alpha Delta, Sarasota/Manatee Counties Alumnae Chapter

• Jacqueline Williams Goreham, Alpha Psi, Denver Alumnae Chapter

• Doris Harvey Hallenus, Alpha Mu, New Orleans Alumnae Chapter

• Allene Hanna Hazeltine, Alpha Xi, Sarasota/Manatee Counties Alumnae Chapter

• Rhonda Regouffre Hodo, Alpha Zeta, New Orleans Alumnae Chapter

• Collette Cooley Knight, Eta Iota, Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter

• Kathryn Church Kolster, Beta Rho, Indianapolis Suburban Alumnae Chapter

outstanding alumna of the regionRegion 1: Nancy Deister Sprague, Beta Gamma, Fort Wayne Alumnae ChapterRegion 2: Alice Newcomer Van Cooney, Alpha Epsilon, SW Florida Alumnae ChapterRegion 3: Clarissa Crozier, Iota, DenverAlumnae Chapter

ALUMNAE – CHAPTER AWARDS

alumnae Chapter of the year: Phoenix Alumnae Chapteralumnae Chapter of the year ~ Honorable Mention: Nashville Alumnae Chapter, Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter

Member recruitment: Greater Savannah Area Alumnae ChapterMember recruitment ~ Honorable Mention: Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter, Phoenix Alumnae Chapter

excellence in overall Programming: Phoenix Alumnae Chapter

outstanding single Program: Oklahoma City Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter

sisterhood award for alumnae Chapter in a College Town: Greater Savannah Area Alumnae Chaptersisterhood award for alumnae not in a College Town: Dallas Alumnae Chapter

website of the year: Greater Savannah Area Alumnae Chapter

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COLLEGIATE – INDIVDIUAL AWARDS

Mabel lee walton leadership award – Christina Lynn Miller, Epsilon Rho Margaret freeman everett outstanding senior – Amy Christine Tursi, Delta Psi

• Lois Acre Kurtz, Alpha Gamma, Sarasota/Manatee Counties Alumnae Chapter

• Donna Bogataj Langevin, Gamma Mu, New Orleans Alumnae Chapter

• Angela Arbuckle Manzi, Epsilon Epsilon, North Jersey Alumnae Chapter

• Susan Conner Massey, Gamma Pi, New Orleans Alumnae Chapter

• Velma Keck Mayfield, Xi, Edmond

• Lynette Julia Medeiros, Epsilon Epsilon, North Jersey Alumnae Chapter

• Joie Dickison Montgomery, Beta Gamma, Indianapolis Suburban

• Lori England Nichols, Alpha Chi, Nashville Alumnae Chapter

• Sandra Koch Sandel, Alpha Phi, Central Michigan, Grand Rapids

• Rachel Cobb Stewart, Zeta Rho, Phoenix Alumnae Chapter

• Maxine White Stiles, Beta Mu, Edmond Alumnae Chapter

• Catherine Jarboe Theriot, Gamma Eta, New Orleans Alumnae Chapter

• Karen Ballew Tinsley, Beta Mu, Edmond Alumnae Chapter

• Serena S. Unrein, Beta Kappa, Phoenix Alumnae Chapter

• Katherine Gaston Walls, Alpha Chi, Greater St. Louis Alumnae Chapter

• Anne Pinto Wilson, Alpha Beta, Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter

outstanding Member of the regionRegion 1: Brittany E. Lameiras, Zeta Rho Region 2: Jennifer Kay Pollock, Epsilon Rho Region 3: Meagan Noel Baytes, Eta Beta and Lauren Schaefer, Epsilon Phi Region 4: Christine Catherine James, Alpha Iota

outstanding senior of the regionRegion 1: Cassandra S. Gleed, Epsilon Chi Region 2: Jessica Marie Maddox, OmicronRegion 3: Courtney Closson Lewis, Epsilon Phi Region 4: Erika Michelle Esteve, Gamma Pi

outstanding advisor of the regionRegion 1: Linda Ann Henderson, Delta Psi Region 2: Amy Jo Van Rossum Reed, Epsilon Kappa Region 3: Mary Catherine Steed Hartley, Delta Delta Region 4: Brenda Christie Lichtenegger, Alpha Iota

COLLEGIATE – CHAPTER AWARDS

Chapter of the year: Alpha Chi, Murray State UniversityChapter of the year ~ Honorable Mention: Gamma Pi, Nicholls State University and Epsilon Rho, Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Jane E. Kinderman Standards of Efficiency: Nu, University of Central MissouriJane E. Kinderman Standards of Efficiency ~ Honorable Mention: Alpha Chi, Gamma Pi

Membership selection: NuMembership selection ~ Honorable Mention: Alpha Chi

Commitment to excellence: Epsilon Sigma, Virginia Commonwealth University

Member Development & educational Programming: Gamma Pi

Creative Educational Program: Alpha ChiCreative educational Program ~ Honorable Mention: Epsilon Rho, Zeta Gamma, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Panhellenic with 5 or fewer groups: Epsilon Iota, St. Mary’s University Panhellenic with 5 or fewer Groups award ~ Honorable Mention: Alpha Xi, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and Gamma Pi

Panhellenic with 6 or more groups: Delta Delta, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

ritual and Values Programming: Alpha Upsilon, James Madison University ritual and Values Programming ~ Honorable Mention: Gamma Pi

website of the year: Delta Delta

Chapter advisory board of the year: Beta Tau, University of Detroit-Mercy

accreditedLambda, Alpha Alpha, Alpha Beta, Alpha Mu, Beta Theta, Beta Xi, Gamma Zeta, Delta Theta, Epsilon Beta, Epsilon Epsilon, Epsilon Upsilon, Zeta Alpha, Zeta Gamma,Zeta Delta, Zeta Epsilon, Zeta Theta, Zeta Kappa, Zeta Tau, Zeta Chi, Eta Eta, Eta Theta, Eta Rho, Eta Sigma

accredited with HonorsAlpha, Nu, Omicron, Chi, Psi, Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Iota, Alpha Theta, Alpha Xi, Alpha Rho, Alpha Upsilon, Alpha Phi, Alpha Chi, Alpha Psi, Beta Pi, Beta Tau, Gamma Lambda, Gamma Mu, Gamma Xi, Gamma Pi, Delta Delta, Delta Theta, Delta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Delta Psi, Epsilon Delta, Epsilon Eta, Epsilon Zeta, Epsilon Theta, Epsilon Iota, Epsilon Kappa, Epsilon Pi, Epsilon Rho, Epsilon Sigma, Epsilon Tau, Epsilon Phi, Epsilon Chi, Zeta Lambda, Zeta Psi, Zeta Rho, Eta Alpha, Eta Beta, Eta Kappa, Eta Xi, Eta Omicron, Eta Upsilon, Theta Alpha, Theta Beta, Theta Gamma

Tri Sigma’s vision statement reads:

Sigma Sigma Sigma will provide exceptional experiences that will empower women to change the world.

With the help of the Tri Sigma’s Programming Team, the Chicago NW Suburban Alumnae Chapter has found a way to fulfill this vision. This alumnae chapter will be piloting and creating some alumnae chapter educational programs. Such topics range from health and wellness, to connecting Tri Sigma’s values to everyday life. We are looking for other alumnae chapters interested in piloting this program. Please email Chris Smithhisler, Director of Programs, csmithhisler@trisigma.org if you are interested in finding out more about this pilot process and how your chapter can help.

On Saturday, April 14th, the Alpha Delta Chapter was officially re-installed as a chapter! The Drexel colony members worked hard since accepting their bids last October. Collegiate members from Delta Psi, St. Joseph’s University; and Delta Upsilon, Widener University, were on site to assist with the initiation of 91 members into the new Alpha Delta Chapter! Alison Brobst, Membership Recruitment Director, was the last to be initiated as the Honor Initiate. It was a special moment for all – not only were all of her newly initiated sisters present, but several Alpha Delta alumnae were also present.

It was a true honor and celebration to unite Alpha Delta sisters, new and seasoned, during such a meaningful ritual. Those alumnae who were present faithfully embody their commitment to Tri Sigma by remaining steadfast to our Organization. All who were there for the Installation weekend were thrilled to hear great stories and share in the history. What a great start to a great legacy. Alpha Delta Chapter will lead the way for Tri Sigma!

refInInG oUr leGaCy – Programming for alumnae chapters

ConTInUInG oUr leGaCy –alpha Delta Installation

National Volunteer Appreciation Week was held April 15-21th. There are many reasons to celebrate Tri Sigma’s National volunteers and this week was the perfect opportunity to offer sincere thanks and recognition. Tri Sigma impresses upon their membership the value of giving back. Our Organization wouldn’t have the grace and speed to move ever forward without those members who give of their time, talent and treasures. The feedback volunteers provide affirms Tri Sigma’s volunteer program also gives back to those who serve.

“Volunteering is not a chore, or an obligation. It is what you do out of love...One doesn’t volunteer to receive, but your cup overflows with blessings when you do!” Arlene Reid Ball, Alpha Phi; chapter advisor for Beta Tau.

“As a collegiate, Tri sigma gave me the skills and confidence to become a leader. Those traits have been invaluable in my post-collegiate life. I volunteer with Tri Sigma to hopefully instill these same traits in the next generation.” Karen Weido, Epsilon Zeta; chapter advisor for Epsilon Zeta.

“I volunteer with Tri Sigma because before I was an advisor for Eta Omicron, I observed the qualities in the members that I think represent the best of sorority organizations on our campus. This

chapter demonstrates values consistent to mine - they are accepting of women from a variety of backgrounds, sizes, etc. and they have built a community like no other!” Elizabeth Charrier; Chapter advisor, Eta Omicron.

Tri Sigma is always looking for members to join our volunteer family. Could you be the next one? If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the Get Involved section Sigma Sigma Sigma’s National website or go to http://www.trisigma.org/AlumnaeConnect.mvc/GetInvolved.

Available volunteer opportunities are as follows: • NATIONAL OFFICER/RESOURCE/COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER Regional Support Team members (x6) National Housing Assistant First PanHellenic Alternate Delegate Awards Committee (x1) Programming Team (x1)

• CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD – various positions open. University of Nevada Las Vegas colony (set for fall 2012) Alpha Psi, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL Beta Theta, Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, PA Beta Upsilon, Penn State in State College, PA Epsilon Upsilon, Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY Eta Iota, Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio Eta Psi, St. John’s University in Staten Island, NY Eta Theta, Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN

sUPPorTInG oUr leGaCy – Volunteer opportunities

Arlene Reid Ball with co-advisor, Nicole Knight, receiving 2011’s Chapter Advisory Board of the Year.

Zeta Delta, SUNY Oneonta in Oneonta, NY Zeta Tau, Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, MO

• HOUSING CORPORATION MEMBERS Delta Delta, UNC Chapel Hill (NC) Eta Chi, University of Missouri (Mizzou)

Kentucky state Days, June 23, 2012 – open to all alumnae and collegians living in the state of Kentucky. It will be held at the Clifton Center in Louisville, KY from 9:30-2pm with a family event at Churchill Downs immediately following. $20 and a quick registration will be all you need for this fun sisterhood day. Click the photo to get started!

sigma sisters Getaways 2012It’s time to get away again with your Sigma alumnae sisters. In 2009, we enjoyed the sights and sounds and good food of New Orleans. In 2011, we sailed away to Nassau on the Carnival “Imagination”. This year, there are two choices of times and places to join your Sigma sisters, or your friends and family, to relax and enjoy some time together

The “City by the Bay”, San Francisco, is the location for this summer’s Getaway. The dates are August 10-13, 2012. To make this trip more affordable, plans are being made to gather together in the East Bay area, near Oakland. Our Getaway contact person for this trip is Angie Yang Eaton, Epsilon Alpha and San Francisco/East Bay Alumnae Chapter. The Sheraton Pleasanton Hotel, Pleasanton, CA, will be the starting point. Prices for rooms start at $95.00 per night, up to $131.00. The hotel is next door to the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which provides transport directly from the Oakland Airport, or across the Bay to the city itself. There are restaurants and stores at a mall across the street as well. A tour of San Francisco is being planned, as well as a trip to local wineries. What a wonderful way to see one of the world’s most beautiful and interesting cities - with your Sigma sisters. More specific information about dates and deadlines will be coming via Sigma communications, including our website and Facebook page. For more information, contact Angie at eaton.angie@gmail.com.

The charming city of Charleston, SC, will be the setting for the next Getaway, November 9-12, 2012. The Hampton Inn, located next to the Visitor’s Center in the heart of downtown, will be the gathering place for Sigmas. The rooms are $149.00 per night, and the group code is SSG; reservations must be made by September 25th to get that rate. Parking at the hotel is extra, but there is a shuttle from the airport. Shopping, carriage rides, museums, wonderful restaurants all are located within walking distance. Emmy Smith, Epsilon Pi, is heading up this tempting Getaway (emsmith57@gmail.com). More information will be available via Sigma communications, or by contacting Emmy.

Both East Coast and West Coast Sigmas now have something special in their “back yard”. It is not too early to make plans to participate in the Sisters Getaways for 2012.

Convention surveyTri Sigma will host the 2013 Convention in sunny Orlando, Florida. June 21-24. As we near the one year mark before the big event, we’d like to ask for alumnae input on the planning. Please take five minutes to complete this survey, even if you are still deciding to make the trip. Help us make this Convention one to remember! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q7V2XVY

CelebraTInG oUr leGaCy – Upcoming opportunities for reconnecting with alumnae

In April, I had the distinct honor of traveling to Defiance, Ohio to present the Outstanding Alumna for Region 1 during a co-chapter hosted Founders Day with the Fort Wayne Alumnae Chapter and Eta Iota collegiate chapter. The day was truly affirming.

I was a charter member of the Eta Iota Chapter in April 1999 and three weeks later I transferred home to Kent State University. Although much of my Tri Sigma undergraduate experience was spent with the women of Alpha Beta at Kent State University, the bond I had with the 19 other women I was initiated with is something I have always treasured. Through the years, we’ve stayed in touch, lost touch, and got back in touch. We’ve shared stories of life, death, success, and failures. These women have always been my backbone, called up during even the most random of times.

On April 21, as I rounded the corner and passed the rock we painted every day during the weeks leading up to installation, I was brought to tears being met face to face with of a group of charter sisters whom I hadn’t seen since our initiation 13 years before. My experience, my career, my life would not be the same, nor as rewarding, if not for these women.

As I stood, in the same room I was initiated in 13 years ago to the date, performing Circle Degree for my fellow charter sisters, I felt the power of our Sorority – leadership, character, empowerment, legacy, Sisterhood, love. Our Sorority is made strong by the women who live it.

Ever forward,

Aimee Jensen Boland, Eta IotaOffice: 213.290.2327Email: ajensen@trisigma.org

fInal THoUGHTs