Ariel Repass, Eta Chi at the University of Missouri

Back in January my Chapter President, Lidia Moore, was at the Presidents Academy and got to meet with our National President Natalie Averette. While they were chatting, Natalie mentioned to Lidia that she needed a Sigma from Mizzou to lobby Congress in April. Lidia then posted to the Eta Chi chapter wall that she was looking for political science majors and all political enthusiasts. Now I am very much not a political science major, as I am earning a BS in biology and the closest I come to policy is weighing in on the healthcare debate. I am however a HUGE political enthusiast. Almost every night at 6pm I can be seen watching or streaming the Chris Matthews show on MSNBC and I’ve been a subscriber to the Washington Post since my sophomore year in high school. So, I liked the post and continued my winter break Netflix marathon.

Two days later, Lidia called me and asked if I would be willing to lobby Congress as a representative of Tri Sigma. I was ecstatic. I then received an email from the Fraternal Government Relation Coalition, or FGRC, with more details about the lobbying trip. For the trip, I would spend my spring semester completing a survey about Greek life at Mizzou and trying to secure letters of support from the MU chancellor and UM system president. I also met with my lobbying partner, a Sigma Tau Gamma, to help prepare for the trip. Before I knew it April had arrived and I was receiving my final training notes and heading to Washington.

Austyn Boothe, Epsilon Kappa, and Ariel Repass, Eta Chi, spent time in Washington meeting with representatives on the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act.

I flew to Chicago where I met Austyn Boothe, a Sigma from Wisconsin Oshkosh, and together we flew to Washington D.C. When we arrived at our hotel, we were greeted by Natalie Averette, National President, and Laura Sweet, National Panhellenic Delegate. The night before training started we met with the alumnae chapter from Northern Virginia and had a wonderful dinner. It was my first experience meeting with so many women that have been Tri Sigmas for years. I truly felt and saw the bonds of sisterhood that we create lived out in the alumnae chapter. The next day Austyn and I had an eight-hour training day on the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act or CHIA. The bill would allow all non-profit entities to be treated the same under the tax code. Currently alum that donate to the house corporation to help improve housing or build new housing do not get a complete tax deduction. Conversely, alum that donate to their alma maters for housing purposes can have a complete tax deduction. We also lobbied for some other higher education issues as well.

Ariel and Austyn pictured with National President Natalie Averette.

The lobby day came and we split up with our teams to meet with various members of Congress. Austyn and Laura made a team and Natalie and myself made up the other team. We met with many representatives from Senator Claire McCaskill and Senator Roy Blunt to most of the Missouri House representatives. One of the highlights came in a meeting with Representative Billy Long from Missouri when he mentioned that his mother is a Tri Sigma woman and raised him based on our values of wisdom, faith, power, hope, and love. We then ended the lobbying day with a dinner with all the participants and members of congress that are sorority and fraternity women and men. There were several speeches given including one from the representative of my district in Kansas, Kevin Yoder.

It was an experience like no other. I am so grateful to be a Tri Sigma and for all of the wonderful experiences that being a member has given me. I am thankful for getting to meet Austyn, Laura, and Natalie and am proud to call them sisters.

Alumnae Award Winners

INDIVIDUAL Awards:

Steadfast Alumna Citation:
Bobbi Walker Smith, Alpha Epsilon, Denver

Emily Gates Alumna Achievement:
Clarissa Fithian Crozier, Iota, Denver

Outstanding Alumna of the Region:
Region 2 – Pickett Whitney Lema, Alpha Lambda, Greater St. Louis
Region 4 – Sandra Koch Sandel, Alpha Phi, Central Michigan

ALUMNAE Chapter Awards:

Alumnae Chapter of the Year: Phoenix Metropolitan

Member Recruitment: Denver Area

Excellence in Overall Programming: Phoenix Metropolitan

Outstanding Single Program: Chicago North Shore

Excellence in Community Service: Phoenix Metropolitan

Sisterhood Award for Alumnae Chapter in a College Town: Denver

Sisterhood Award for Alumnae not in a College Town: Indianapolis Suburban

Collegiate Award Winners

COLLEGIATE Individual Awards:

Mabel Lee Walton Leadership Award
Courtney Ann Powelson, Beta Epsilon

Margaret Freeman Everett Outstanding Senior
Tabytha Nycole Russell, Alpha Iota

Outstanding Member of the Region
Region 2 – Joanna Fernanda Giron, Epsilon Alpha
Region 3 – Natalie Christa Rabil, Gamma Xi
Region 4 – Sidney Leeann Collier, Alpha Iota
Region 5 – Mikayla Ryan Zaglaniczny, Epsilon Gamma

Outstanding Senior of the Region
Region 1 – Julie Helene Donnelly, Epsilon Chi
Region 2 – Taylor Marie Chadduck, Alpha Chi
Region 3 – Lisa Marie Olearczyk, Gamma Xi
Region 5 – Megan Ann Morris, Theta Theta

Outstanding Advisor of the Region
Region 1 – Amanda Danielle Sabia, Epsilon Chi
Region 2 – Cindy Harms, Epsilon Alpha
Region 3 – Heather Fuller Baker, Gamma Xi
Region 4 – Melinda Dunard Horn, Nu

COLLEGIATE Chapter Awards:

Chapter of the Year: Delta Pi

Jane E. Kinderman Standards of Efficiency: Nu

Membership Selection: Nu

Member Development & Educational Programming: Nu

Creative Education Program: Epsilon Chi

Excellence in Community Service: Epsilon Chi

Panhellenic Excellence: Alpha Iota

Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year: Kimberly Harris, Lockhaven University

Ritual and Values Programming: Alpha Iota

Chapter Advisory Board of the Year: Nu

Pillar 4 Achievement Certificates:

Alpha Zeta

Alpha Iota

Alpha Pi

Alpha Chi

Beta Delta

Beta Xi

Gamma Beta

Gamma Xi

Gamma Pi

Delta Pi

Epsilon Rho

Zeta Alpha

Zeta Kappa

Eta Kappa

Eta Xi

Nu

Omicron

Pi

Chi

Excellence in Community Service

This award, established in 2013, honors a collegiate chapter and an alumnae chapter for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. This award recognizes active engagement as citizens to significantly impact our communities.

Phoenix Metropolitan

The Phoenix Children’s Hospital continues to be their community service focus again this year. The mission of the hospital is to empower children and families in the healthcare experience. This fits very well the Tri Sigma philanthropic focus on therapeutic play and serving seriously ill children. They are blessed with a group of women who seem to live to give. When asked to help out, they never say no, they just roll up their sleeves and ask where they are needed and what they can do! Many of the chapter members also give a lot of time volunteering with outside organizations as well.

Outstanding Single Program

This award is presented annually to a chapter considered to have presented the one most outstanding program for the year among all alumnae chapters. Programs will be judged on originality and appeal to all ages and interests.

Chicago North Shore

The concept of the “Brunch for Babies” was first created as they were brainstorming ideas for their 2016 – 2017 programming year. The chapter members love helping the community and supporting our Foundation. The chapter members also love a good Saturday brunch! As a chapter, they like to balance our programming year with both community projects and social activities. The Brunch for Babies made it the best of both worlds: it gave them the opportunity to bond as sisters while supporting our philanthropy.

Excellence in Overall Programming

This award is presented to a chapter for excellence and diversity in programming for an entire year. Programming must show evidence of events that benefit chapter members, benefit the community or local social service, and appeal to all ages and interests.

Phoenix Metropolitan

The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter is a group of very giving women who delight in the opportunities to help others. As a chapter overall, the affect has been to increase the number of giving activities they participate in and take on even bigger and more challenging opportunities to support the community. The most outstanding program for this year is once again the work and activities surrounding the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. They have been able to be involved in a variety of ways and all members have had the opportunity to give and participate in ways that interest them and match abilities and talents.

Member Recruitment

This award is presented annually to the chapter with a creative and sustaining membership recruitment program. The committee will also look at the greatest percentage of membership increase during the year.

Denver Area

The Denver Area Alumnae Chapter develops a very inclusive calendar each year that allows for events and activities that appeal to all members. Their multi-generational chapter enjoys happy hours, mom’s club events for families, lunch bunch gatherings, and community service activities that can range from painting a bridge to sorting clothing for Precious Child. They also reach out to other chapters to enjoy their company and celebrate our sisterhood. They provide exceptional experiences that change lives in the community through service projects, mentoring and coaching of each other and collegiate members. Each time they see each other at a meeting or activity, they are sure to learn something and come away with a greater love and understanding of each other.

Alumnae Chapter of the Year

This award is presented annually to one outstanding alumnae chapter. Categories evaluated are payment of Annual National Alumnae Fees, local publicity, support of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, local social service, service to collegiate chapters, participation in Alumnae Panhellenic, and representation at Convention, reunions, and meetings.

Phoenix Metropolitan

The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter serves a very large and diverse area. The Phoenix Metropolitan Valley area encompasses over 16,000 square miles. In order to reach out to all Tri Sigmas in the Valleys, they hold events around the entire area and provide a variety for all ages and interests, and target some to interest guests and potential members. Each year they send out a survey asking members for locations and types of events of interest to them. These are summarized and presented at the annual event planning meeting held in May. A preliminary calendar is proposed by the attendees, along with scheduled business meetings and ritual days. The chapter has at least two events per month. Once the calendar is approved by the officers, it is emailed out to all members and potential members and updates are provided quarterly. Many of their community events center around the Character Counts Program. This year the chapter volunteered at the “Feed My Starving Children” Program and is once again planning volunteer hours at the local food bank. Recruitment is in integral part of the chapter goals and activities. Each year they initiate new members through the Alumnae Initiate Program. There are no collegiate chapters in Arizona, so members continue to seek out new members from the community to ensure the future of the Alumnae Chapter. The opportunity to experience the initiation ritual on at least an annual basis is a source of pride for the chapter. Current members are encouraged to bring friends and relatives to all events and meetings. When a potential new member attends one meeting and shows interest, she is added to an email list and calling list for reminders on upcoming events. The Phoenix Metropolitan membership is very friendly and inclusive and potential members have indicated how comfortable they feel right from the start with our group of sisters. Each guest’s sponsor introduces her to each member so that everyone can get to know her. They also have outreach to Tri Sigmas who move into the area. When they receive notice that there is a new Sigma in the Phoenix area, the president and one of the members sends her a personalized email or note and follows up with a phone call to welcome her. They make special effort to pair a new Sigma with a member so she has a ride to her first event with the chapter. They continue to send emails to Sigmas in the area for several years in hopes they will eventually decide to join the chapter. This has been effective as often sisters have life circumstances that don’t allow time for immediate membership, but when hings change they know the chapter stills wants them to join. They are never forgotten. New members are assigned “Big Sisters” who serve the same function in the alumnae chapter as they do in collegiate chapters. She mentors the new sister during her new member period and sends notes of encouragement and support and accompanies her to events. Spreading the fun and happiness of being a member of the chapter and Tri Sigma is something Phoenix Metropolitan completely enjoys doing.

Outstanding Alumna of the Region

This award is presented annually to one alumna in each region for outstanding service to her community and to Sigma Sigma Sigma. She should have provided financial support by paying Annual National Alumnae Dues for at least 10 years or Lifetime Dues and have made a donation to the Foundation for a minimum of five years.

Region 2 – Pickett Whitney Lema, Alpha Lambda, Greater St. Louis

Pickett has not shied away from using that which she has learned throughout her life to guide others on their life’s path. She has gained the respect of many educators in the greater St. Louis by selflessly using her wisdom to benefit others. In a world dominated by self-serving behavior and a “What’s in it for me?” attitude, it is difficult to inspire others to have faith that someone else will look out for them and their interests, but Pickett has accomplished this in spades. Simply put, her entire life has been one of service to others, a service that is rooted in her love of humanity and making the world around her a better place in which to live.

Region 4 – Sandra Koch Sandel, Alpha Phi, Central Michigan

Sandra Koch Sandel is a sister who seems to “have it all”, and is always willing to “give her all” for Sigma as well as her community. Sandra’s energy and enthusiasm seems endless, and is at the same time infectious. She spreads this fire across her collegiate and alumnae sisters. When something comes up, Sandy is the first one there with a solution in mind. As a true sister of the heart, Sandra is willing to intervene in times of crisis with a listening ear and rational mind that helps to calm emotions and find solutions. She is quick to praise and slow to criticize, a strength, which benefits both the collegiate and alumnae chapters she serves. Sandra is truly a special Tri Sigma sister to be both admired and imitated. She carries an empowering presence that empowers everyone she meets.

Emily Gates Alumna Achievement

This award is presented annually to one alumna in recognition of her outstanding contribution in her profession or her community’s welfare and progress

Clarissa Fithian Crozier, Iota, Denver

The award is named for Emily Machemer Gates, Zeta and Omega, Alumnae Representative to the 1938 National Council. Emily is recognized as one who demonstrated unselfish devotion to Tri Sigma and many community projects. The award is presented for outstanding service to society as well as to the Sorority. Her nominator says, “Clarissa lives daily the mission of Tri Sigma by empowering the lives of the students she reaches in her classes and by inspiring her students to develop a love for life-long learning. She models this herself in the way she has led, taught, and dedicated herself to serving her community by volunteering according to her many talents. It seems that wherever Clarissa is in her community, neighborhood or work environments she is an active participant in making the world a better place to live and to make meaningful contributions to her associates, friends, family and Tri Sigma sisters.”