This July Tri Sigma celebrate the 10th anniversary of an employee, the restructuring of our Alumnae and Volunteer Services department to now be known as Lifetime Engagement, a promotion of another key team member, and the addition of a new staff member.

During the past three years, Tri Sigma has reworked the way it engages their alumnae. In 2014, Tri Sigma partnered with RISE Partnerships to create a strategy to better engage alumnae in their Sorority membership. The strategy broadened the spectrum of the types of programs and methods the organization was using to create the alumnae experience. This strategy has provided methods of bringing the value of Tri Sigma to everyday life and reconnecting sisters. Tri Sigma has already seen some success following this new vision and are excited about the future. The philosophy behind engaging alumnae has taken on a new form and in doing so effective July 1st, the Alumnae and Volunteer Services Department will match this new initiative by now being the Lifetime Engagement Department. Aimee Boland, now the Director of Lifetime Engagement, and the many national volunteers in this area will continue to lead Tri Sigma through this initiative. The position will still oversee the operations among alumnae and volunteer services; however, the role will take on a more visionary approach to how we are engaging our membership from an overarching sense and not limited to just alumnae or volunteers. All volunteer roles will continue to serve under the new department name.

With the departmental focus on Lifetime Engagement, Aimee will continue to lead the team in achieving the Strategic Plan through its focus on providing meaningful experiences for our members by connecting them through service, philanthropic and civic engagements. This July Tri Sigma also celebrates Aimee’s 10th anniversary as a member of the Tri Sigma staff.

In addition, Melissa Kolb has been promoted to Associate Director of Education and Leadership. Melissa has been a crucial member of the team over the past 3 years and has led many of the programming efforts and initiatives. In her new role she will continue to advance the sorority and our members through engaging leadership and education.

Melissa will continue to report to Chris Smithhisler, Vice President of Education and Training. “Melissa has been instrumental to our organization since she came on staff,” shares Chris. “She has taken our existing programs and built upon their goals and objectives. She has identified additional programming needs for our members and led the efforts to develop and execute them. I look forward to continuing working with Melissa as we bring new and innovative programs and educational opportunities to Tri Sigma.”

Last, Tri Sigma announced a new addition to thee staff. Nancy Schwartz joined our team on July 25th as Assistant Director of Chapter Services for Region 3 encompassing our chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Georgia.

Nancy, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, formally served the Bradley University community as the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. While at Bradley Nancy advised 27 fraternities and sororities, approximately 1,500 students. Prior to her time at Bradley, Nancy completed her Masters Degree in Higher Education at George Mason University. Nancy brings to Tri Sigma a wealth of knowledge and experience related to organizational growth, leadership education, and chapter operations. She believes strongly in the fraternal movement and the power of the sorority experience.

“I could not be more thrilled to welcome Nancy to the Chapter Services team,” shares Tiffany Curtis, Director of Chapter Services. “Her experience in the field will be monumental in helping Tri Sigma to advance in the new triennium. I look forward to our students and volunteers having the opportunity to connect with Nancy. I am sure she will help our organization in achieving our vision as we empower women to change the world.”

Please join Tri Sigma in celebrating and congratulating our outstanding staff members!

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Tri Sigma is pleased to announce the launch of our newest National program, the Presidents Academy! This new program will replace the regional Officer Academies. After many phases of careful thought and conversation, the need to provide a single, consistent message through a consolidated experience prevailed. The new program will reduce logistical barriers presented by officer turnover and availability, spring recruitment conflicts, and the general over programming facing collegiate women. Focused efforts and resources, from both the National Organization and collegiate chapters, will allow for a more robust program experience and greater collaboration among peer leaders. Though this transition limits the quantity of collegiate women to engage in this specific type of leadership experience, additional opportunities abound with the Service Immersion trips, Labyrinth Leadership Experience, and programs sponsored by our partner institutions, like the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute, as well as campus and community based programs.

Collegiate Chapter Presidents will join together January 5th-8th in Dulles, VA to learn and lead using the values of Tri Sigma as their guide. Participants will have the opportunity to network with sisters from every collegiate chapter as well as leading alumnae who will coach them to success in their chapter role. Chapter Presidents will develop valuable leadership skills, learn to harness their strengths, and gain confidence to guide their chapter through change while addressing current issues relevant to collegiate women. This program will continue our long standing tradition of unifying our leaders under the mission, vision, and values of our sisterhood while providing an exceptional experience that will leave each participant, each sister, each President, empowered.

Tri Sigma Presidents Academy
January 5-8, 2017
Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
Dulles, VA

Presidents Academy Schedule Overview:

Thursday, January 5: Major arrival day. No official sessions planned for this day, but get a first look at Sigma merchandise vendors, visit the Foundation booth, connect with alumnae chapters, and settle in for a great weekend!

Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7: Grow your leadership toolkit with educational workshops, speakers, and experiences that you can take back to your chapter and campus.

Sunday, January 8: Wrap up your weekend with an impactful State of the Sorority update from Executive Council. Participants will be free to depart the hotel by noon.

Women interested in serving as a 2017 Collegiate Chapter President should save the date for Presidents Academy. All women slated as Collegiate Chapter President will be expected to attend. Collegiate chapter leaders, including CAB, will be receiving detailed information regarding registration, travel, and other program preparation. Please direct all inquiries to Melissa Kolb, Associate Director of Education and Leadership via email mkolb@trisigma.org or phone 803-730-9167.

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At our 44th National Convention we congratulated and celebrated the 2013-2016 award winners during the Laurels Banquet. Please join us in congratulating the chapters and individual winners!

Triennial Collegiate Awards

Triennial Chapter Accreditation Honors Achievement:

Region 1 – Zeta Kappa

Region 2 – Omicron, Alpha Chi, Beta Pi, Delta Omicron, Epsilon Alpha, Epsilon Rho, Eta Theta, Theta Beta

Region 3 – Gamma Xi

Region 4 – Nu, Gamma Pi, Epsilon Tau, Eta Kappa, Theta Delta

Triennial Excellence in Standards of Efficiency: Nu, Alpha Pi, Beta Delta, Beta Pi, Gamma Lambda, Gamma Xi, Gamma Pi, Delta Pi, Zeta Eta, and Theta Beta

Housing Corporation of the Triennium: Beta Beta and Alpha Xi

Chapter of the Triennium: Nu

Triennial Alumnae Awards

Triennial Excellence in Overall Programming: Baltimore Suburban SW

Triennial Member Recruitment: Phoenix

Alumnae Panhellenic Award: Indianapolis Panhellenic

Chapter of the Triennium: Denver

Women of Distinction

Jennifer Holtsclaw Avenel, Delta Pi, Charleston, SC

Maryellen Drasler Baxter, Beta Kappa, Phoenix

Marie Schrag Beck, Beta Upsilon, Sarasota/Manatee Counties

SAM! Mills Farrell, Epsilon Theta, Tampa Bay Area

Jacqueline Williams Goreham, Alpha Psi, Denver

Jean Marie Komyathy, Gamma Kappa, Northern Virginia

Julie Katherine Lammel, Alpha Sigma, Nashville

Karin Dommermuth O’Connor, Gamma Alpha, Chicago North Shore

Bonnie L. Rainey, Alpha Sigma

Brenda Osterman Ray, Alpha Psi

Ann DeCecco Rutkowski, Epsilon Delta

Lori Travis Schaefer, Beta Pi, Queen City

Kaye Schutte Schendel, Gamma Phi, Twin Cities

Founders Award

Inez N. Fridley, Gamma Beta

Elizabeth Wakeman Hoffert, Beta Xi, Phoenix

Norma Caton Kitchen, Zeta, Omega

Carol Gregory Swango, Alpha Psi

Janice Weaver Zeipen, Gamma Phi, Twin Cities

 

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Last night at the opening session of the 44th National Convention the new brand was revealed. Kaye Schendel, National President, addressed the Convention body for the big announcement. Attendees cheered as the new logo, colors, graphics, and updated materials were revealed with her opening keynote. The celebration continued with a Brand Launch party complete with a bag filled with free merchandise for all attendees. We are excited to share the launch video and our new brand with all our members!

 

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It is with great excitement that we announce the newest addition to our staff. Please join us in welcoming Brittany Scancarella as our Assistant Director of Extension..

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Brittany, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, comes to us with a background in colonization efforts from a campus perspective. She was a founding member of her chapter and has extensive experience with strategic planning, extension, and recruitment practices.

The Assistant Director of Extension is critical to the growth of the sorority and works to pursue extension opportunities, develop plans for colonization through Bid Day, collaborate with a team of extension volunteers, and work to ensure that the organization is growing in areas identified and meeting our strategic initiatives. Brittany will report to Misty Fingar,  Director of New Chapter Development.

Misty shares, “I am so excited to add Brittany to our staff. She brings her perspective as a charter member of her own chapter, experience as a higher education professional working with national organizations during their expansion process as well as her volunteer roles with her sorority on a national level. Her desire to have an individual approach when working with our university partners combined with being values-based and student centered is the perfect match for Tri Sigma and our strategic initiatives to grow our organization.”

We are excited to have her join our team! Brittany can be contacted at trisigmaextension@gmail.com.

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It is with great excitement that we announce the newest addition to our staff. Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth Green as our Director of Information Technology.

liz2Elizabeth comes to us with 10 years of work-related web development experience. Most recently she was the Sr. Solutions Developer for a boutique web marketing firm working with non-profits and Greek organizations to meet online needs ranging in ecommerce, online giving, brochure sites, and E-Learning.

The Director of Information Technology is responsible for Tri Sigma’s network management, software development and database administration used in the analysis and implementation of strategic initiatives. Her role is critical to ensuring members have a positive online experience and are able to access member tools and resources. Elizabeth will report to Lorin Phillips, Assistant Executive Director.

Lorin shares, “I’m thrilled to begin working with Elizabeth in this new role. We’re lucky to have someone joining our staff team who is already familiar with many of our technology needs and resources. I hope this will allow for some immediate benefits to our members as some of her first projects involve Sigma Connect, GIN, a new reporting and data collection platform for collegiate chapters, and creating an online community for National volunteers to access resources and live reports.”

Elizabeth can be contacted at technology@trisigma.org.

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Alumnae Award Winners

INDIVIDUAL Awards:
Steadfast Alumna Citation:
Maryellen Drasler Baxter, Beta Kappa, Phoenix
Emily Gates Alumna Achievement:
Michelle Brady, Alpha Phi, Central Florida
Outstanding Alumna of the Region:
Region 2 – Stefanie Love Pidgeon, Delta Pi, Northern VA
Region 3 – Lou Anna Moore Rowland, Alpha Iota, Wichita
Region 4 – Jean Swanson Stuck, Alpha Epsilon, Denver

ALUMNAE Chapter Awards:
Alumnae Chapter of the Year: Denver
Member Recruitment: Northern Virginia
Excellence in Overall Programming: Baltimore
Outstanding Single Program: Baltimore
Excellence in Community Service: Phoenix
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
Katherine Graves French, Gamma Lambda
Margaret Freeman Everett Outstanding Senior
Jordan Nicole Nelson, Theta Epsilon
Outstanding Member of the Region
Region 1 – Anne E. Ricciardi, Delta Psi
Region 2 – Mariah Jean Haffield, Epsilon Rho
Region 3 – Allison Alexandra Lemack, Eta Rho
Region 4 – Tabytha Nycole Russell, Alpha Iota
Region 5 – Miranda N. Richmond, Theta Zeta
Outstanding Senior of the Region
Region 1 – Alyssa Kimberly Enny, Epsilon Epsilon
Region 2 – Taylor Grace Futrell, Alpha Chi
Region 3 – Kayla Brooke Sarno, Gamma Xi
Region 4 – Melissa Marie Brown, Alpha Iota
Outstanding Advisor of the Region
Region 1 – Linda Ann Henderson, Delta Psi
Region 2 – Arlene Reid Ball, Alpha Phi
Region 3 – Amber Hutzler Bailey, Delta Pi R
egion 4 – Marcy Mattern Emmons, Beta Xi
Region 5 – Veronica L. Atkins, Eta Omicron

COLLEGIATE Chapter Awards:
Chapter of the Year: Nu
Jane E. Kinderman Standards of Efficiency: Nu
Membership Selection: Nu
Commitment to Excellence: Eta Omicron
Member Development & Educational Programming: Nu
Creative Education Program: Alpha Upsilon
Excellence in Community Service: Alpha Chi
Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year: Jared Tice, Gamma Xi, Barton College
Ritual and Values Programming: Nu
Chapter Advisory Board of the Year: Delta Pi
Pillar 4 Achievement Certificates:
Beta Delta
Beta Pi
Delta Pi
Epsilon Rho
Eta Omicron
Gamma Pi
Gamma Xi
Nu
Zeta Kappa
Zeta Upsilon

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We are pleased to announce that Tri Sigma has been invited to colonize at the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall of 2017. We cannot wait to join the local Panhellenic community.

Follow our colony by liking their Facebook page: Tri Sigma UCO

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We are pleased to announce that Tri Sigma has been invited to colonize at UW-La Crosse in the fall of 2016. We cannot wait to join the local Panhellenic community.

Follow our colony by liking their Facebook page: Tri Sigma UWLAX

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