Tri Sigma Foundation

Gratitude for Sisterhood…

We often use important milestones, anniversaries and holidays as opportunities to reflect on what we are grateful for. But how often in our daily lives do we consciously exercise and express gratitude?

The theme for this year’s Founders Day program, “Gratitude for Sisterhood,” written by Amanda Marchegiani, Beta Xi, gives us the perfect opportunity to consciously and deliberately express the ways we are grateful for our sisters. Each of us has sisters that have impacted our life in both simple and monumental ways. Is there a sister who made you feel especially welcomed as a new member or a sister that led your chapter through a challenging time? A sister who consoled you after a bad break-up or always knew how to make you laugh? A sister who helped you get a job or find your first home? If you pause and think about it, I bet you will quickly think of many sisters for whom you are grateful to. Just thinking about them will put a smile on your face and warm your heart…that is the beauty of gratitude.

The author of the 1978 Founders Day program, Phyllis Seidler McIntyre, Beta Zeta and Omega, wrote in that year’s program, “We honor our sisters. Through them we have come to know Sigma. With them we have grown in Sisterhood.”

On this year’s Founders Day, as you reflect on those sisters who have touched your life, I challenge you to act on the gratitude you feel. Send them an email or card or give them a call telling them why you are grateful for their presence in your life. This outward expression of your gratitude will go a long way with those sisters and an ever further distance in strengthening the special bonds of our sisterhood.

On behalf of Executive Council, I wish you a happy Founders Day and thank you for being a Sister. How grateful we are to be connected by the bonds of Tri Sigma!

In our bonds,

Linda Manley-Kuitu, Epsilon Rho

National Vice President

Join us in congratulating the 2018 Labyrinth Leadership Experience Participants!

Sisters,

In honor of Badge Day, March 5, 2018, I’m sharing the very special badges of Jane Kinderman, Alpha Omicron and Omega.  Jane, a long-time Executive Secretary and valued employee of Tri Sigma, was one of my predecessors and really set the standard of excellence for Tri Sigma chapters. In fact, one of our highest collegiate chapter awards is named in her honor, the Jane E. Kinderman Standards of Efficiency Award. Jane gifted some of her most prized and precious mementos and jewelry to Tri Sigma. Seen here is her original chapter badge and guard, her Executive Council badge and then the Founders Award pendant she was awarded in 2001. The Founders Award is Tri Sigma’s highest individual award given for lifelong commitment and loyalty to Tri Sigma. These precious pieces of jewelry are displayed proudly in my office.

In our bonds,

Marcia Cutter

Executive Director

Beta Gamma

March is National Women’s History Month

The US Congress designated March as National Women’s History Month in 1987. We join in the celebration by recognizing the often-overlooked achievements of American women as well as celebrate women with our organization that are making history. Each year the National Women’s History Project selects a Theme and women whose lives exemplify that theme are selected as National Honorees. This year’s theme is:

NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED:
Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women

Click here to read about the theme and the 2018 Honorees. If you know a Tri Sigma making history, submit their information here.

Tri Sigma’s annual Day of Service is the second Saturday of March, which is March 10, 2018.  This day of service brings collegiate and alumnae together across the miles in service to actively demonstrate our commitment to citizenship and giving back to our communities.

Day of Service is about taking time out of our busy lives one day a year to purposefully spread compassion and good to our communities.  It’s the power of one multiplied by 100,000 (the number of living initiated members).  If you aren’t able to participate with your chapter, you can participate individually.  If you are unable to participate on the actual day, pick a day in March that works in your schedule.  No act of service is too small!  Just imagine the ripple effect if we all give just a little bit of time to help those in need.

It is simple to join this national effort!  Start planning your day of service now.  Please submit your event here.

We are pleased to announce that 12 tuition scholarships are available to attend a 2018 session of the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI). UIFI’s main purpose is to inspire and educate the current generation of fraternity and sorority leaders to become dedicated, courageous, and principled builders of the future. UIFI is the premier leadership development experience for fraternity and sorority members, and is an experience unlike any other. It is not a conference. It is not a workshop. It is a uniquely holistic journey that you share with other interfraternal brothers and sisters. A UIFI graduate not only learns important leadership lessons, but also reaches deep inside him/herself to find their true fraternal calling. He or she is changed forever.  Click here to visit the NIC’s website to learn more.

To apply for a UIFI scholarship from Tri Sigma, please submit your completed application no later than March 5 at midnight EST. All applicants will be notified of their status on March 23. If selected, Tri Sigma will transfer your tuition funds directly to the NIC and you will be guided through the registration process. Please note that scholarship winners will be responsible for travel expenses to and from the program. Click here to submit your application now!

Risk Managers and Honor Council Chairmen traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, in January to attend the third annual Prevention Institute.

The Prevention Institute gave members the opportunity to attend a national program and develop the skills and partnerships necessary to be successful chapter leaders. SAFE Team, Honor Council specialists and staff facilitated curriculum covering topics ranging from women and hazing to motivational interviewing in Honor Council meetings to learning more about GreekLife.Edu data and how to use that data to tackle tough issues within their chapters.

One activity that had a lasting impression on participants was focusing on overcoming fears. Participants watched a video on fears and had time to think about what they could accomplish in their chapters and personal lives if they were not afraid. They wrote these fears down on “If I Weren’t Afraid” cards and posted them at the front of the room. Assistant Executive Director Lorin Phillips hoped the exercise would help leaders overcome their fears and take action in their chapters.

“Fear can keep us from doing so many amazing and powerful things,” Lorin said. “I wondered if we could deflate that fear a bit by simply acknowledging it. Could the courage to write it and post it move people a step closer to overcoming their fear and taking action?”

Morgan Scott, Eta Tau-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said writing her fears on the “If I Weren’t Afraid” cards at the Prevention institute have already helped her in her role as an Honor Council Chairman.

“The ‘If I Weren’t Afraid’ exercise was an incredible experience that I’m happy to have gotten the chance to participate in,” Morgan said. “Not only is it an uplifting exercise, but it’s a thought provoking one as well. It’s helped inspire me to be more open about my opinions and I’m hoping to take the time with my chapter to ask them what they would do if they weren’t afraid!”

On January 4-7, over 100 Collegiate Chapter Presidents gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, for Tri Sigma’s 2018 Presidents Academy. Presidents had the opportunity to network with sisters from every collegiate chapter as well as leading alumnae and Executive Council members who coached them to success in their chapter role.

Presidents developed valuable leadership skills, learned to harness their strengths, and gain confidence to guide their chapters through change while addressing current issues relevant to collegiate women. This program continues our long-standing tradition of unifying our leaders under the mission, vision and values of our sisterhood while providing an exceptional experience that leaves each participant, each sister, each President, empowered.

Presidents also participated in two presentations including “Confidence Project” and “Command the Room” from Erin Fischer, Owner and CEO of The Leadership and Training Studio. Tri Sigmas also had the opportunity to eat dinner with Nashville March of Dimes staff and a local ambassador family, as well as learn more about the March of Dimes during an education program.

Alpha Zeta members Rebekah Aultman, left, and Brianna Ashley, second from left, have been awarded national scholarships from the Order of Omega. They are congratulated by NSU Interim Vice President for the Student Experience Frances Conine and Shayne Creppel, Director of Greek Life and Assistant Director of Student Life

Alpha Zeta (Northwestern State University) members Brianna Ashley and Rebekah Aultman recently earned a national scholarship from the Order of Omega based on their leadership, academics and campus and community service, according to an article by NSU’s News Bureau.

Both Brianna and Rebekah attribute being empowered to be involved in community service to their membership in Tri Sigma. Read more about these two outstanding members here.