Tri Sigma Foundation

In 2000, the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) established the Month of the Scholar celebration to increase the commitment of women’s fraternities to academic achievement and excellence. Beginning in 2011, NPC officially recognized February as the Month of the Scholar and all NPC member groups, as well as College Panhellenics and Alumnae Panhellenic groups, are encouraged to promote academic achievement and reward academic excellence during this time.  Since wisdom is one of our core values this month gives us an opportunity as an individual or chapter to focus on learning, education and scholarship.

5 Ideas:

Here are five ideas to inspire and remind Tri Sigma members about academic excellence:

1. Invite women who made the Dean’s List this past semester to a scholarship dessert. Each woman can bring a faculty member who inspired her to achieve her outstanding GPA.
2. Present a Most Improved GPA award and ask the winner to share what she did to increase her GPA and focus on academics.
3. Distribute goody bags containing candy, erasers, pens, pencils and study tips for distribution during a week on campus. You can find labels like the ones above and other ideas on our Pinterest page.
4. Sponsor a faculty appreciation breakfast or lunch or coffee in February. Ask members to invite their favorite professor and everyone participates in discussions about good study habits and tips for academic success.
5. Nominate your members for scholarships! Talk about free money – there are tons of scholarships out there! If you happen to see one that you aren’t eligible, but you know another chapter member would be, pass it along! It doesn’t hurt to share the resources.

During the Month of The Scholar, Tri Sigma is proud to celebrate our collegiate members who obtained a 4.0 GPA. Join us in congratulating the scholars by clicking here to view the list.

Many of us like to tip a little extra during the holiday season. But it can be confusing to decide how much to give to whom. Follow these guidelines for appropriate holiday tipping

Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Conversations with Council!  We enjoyed reading your emails and personally speaking with many of you; staying connected to our members is very important to us! The discussions pertained to keeping young alumnae connected to the sorority, our extension vision, diversity and inclusion, and the Alumnae Initiation program, just to name a few. Thank you for wonderful conversations!

The responses we received from the first edition of Conversations with Council came from a variety of members, ranging in age, location, and experiences.  Some were collegians, others alumnae, all from various parts of the country.

For this edition of Conversations with Council, we will be discussing the alumnae experience, and ways to stay involved and connected to the sorority after college. There’s so much to talk about; let’s get started!

The Tri Sigma Alumnae Experience can be defined as how the sorority is a part of a member’s life after college. This can include involvement with programs the National Organization coordinates; at a more local level by connecting with her collegiate chapter; or even how she lives out Tri Sigma’s values.  I always thought alumnae engagement meant that you were in an alumnae chapter or were a national volunteer, but the Tri Sigma Alumnae Experience is so much more than that!

Involvement doesn’t mean that an alumna has to participate in something the sorority sponsors. In fact, research shows more members stay connected in ways outside structured sorority programing than those who are members of an alumnae chapter or serve in a volunteer role.

During your alumna experience, you may:

• Stay in touch with sisters;
• Join a Tri Sigma alumnae group on Facebook in your career field;
• Have a reunion with members your of collegiate chapter;
• Visit your collegiate chapter during Homecoming or Founders Day;
• Follow other chapter members and the National Organization on social media;
• Be a member of a committee or task force;
• Participate in Tri Sigma’s Day of Service as we give back to our communities;
• Participate in the online Alumnae Engage Program by clicking here;
• Become a lifetime dues-paying member;
• Donate to the Foundation or to Walton House;
• Participate in a March of Dimes activity;
• Go through Circle Degree;
• Be a member of an alumnae chapter.

We are finding that Alumnae Experience opportunities fit into one of the following categories:

Sisterhood – Attend reunions or other group gatherings; read and stay up-to-date through The Triangle, Alumnae Connect, Path Forward and other e-newsletters; attend Convention with 700 of your closest Sisters; sign up and follow social media, social and interest groups.

Professional Development – Network through LinkedIn; be a mentor or join professional groups; or take advantage of professional gatherings at State Days and Convention.

Celebrations and Milestones – Be sure you have gone through Circle Degree; nominate someone to be a Golden Violet; celebrate membership milestones and anniversaries; help graduating seniors and young alumnae.

Community Involvement – Join an alumnae chapter or the local alumnae panhellenic; recruit an alumna initiate; participate in a Day of Service, Founders Day or March of Dimes walk; volunteer in your community; and stay engaged through social media and interest groups.

Volunteer – Volunteer and help your local collegiate or alumnae chapter or in your community; be a national volunteer on a committee, Chapter Advisory Board or House Corporation.

Financial Support – Pay your annual alumnae dues or become a lifetime dues payer; donate to your local collegiate chapter; donate to the Tri Sigma Foundation or Mabel Lee Walton House.

Professional Development – Network through LinkedIn; be a mentor; join professional groups; or take advantage of professional gatherings at State Days and Convention.

If you would like to be a volunteer or serve on a committee or task force you can fill out an application through our website by clicking here.

Here are a few questions to get the conversation started – let us know what you think:

• What are other ways you stay connected to the Sorority? Did we miss any?
• What other opportunities can the Sorority coordinate for alumnae?
• How else are alumnae experiencing Tri Sigma, outside the structure and program offerings of the National Organization?
• There is an initiative to create a better transition from collegiate to alumnae life; what elements do you think should be included in this transition plan?

Natalie, Linda, Kara, Joyce, Courtney, Laura, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Empowered,

Ann (Annie) Rutkowski, Epsilon Delta

National Treasurer

P.S.  Next Issue of Conversations With Council:  Don’t forget to let us know what you would like to discuss for future editions of Conversations with Council.

Reminders:  Here are a few things to keep in mind about Conversations with Council –

• This is not a blog;
• When a conversation topic is posted, we will accept emails for 30 days. These emails help Executive Council select the next topic for conversation.
• You will not receive an individual response to your email. Executive Council will personally reach out to selected members within a few weeks of the close of the topic. Unfortunately, we will not be able to contact everyone as much as we would like to.

Member Advisory Panel Committee

Tri Sigma is excited to pilot the Member Advisory Panel (“MAP”) over the next 12 months.  We need your voice!

The purpose of the MAP is to empower the collegiate and alumnae voice in offering ongoing input, ideas, and feedback about relevant issues, trends and changes in society which impact the National Organization.  The work of this Panel will provide additional information to Executive Council and Staff regarding the needs of the membership, both collegiate and alumnae, which will assist with guidance and direction for successful operations and will help shape and define the work of the National Organization.

Those selected to be on MAP may expect to:

• Gain a broad perspective on the National Organization’s infrastructure, group dynamics, and leadership opportunities.
• Interact with Executive Council, Tri Sigma staff, members and other stakeholders of Tri Sigma.
• Participate in open and honest dialogue through direct connection to Executive Council and other leaders.

Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2018.  If you have any questions, please contact Marcia Cutter, Executive Director, at mcutter@trisigma.org.

Click here to submit your application.

Governing Documents Review Committee

As the “Supreme Governing Body” between Conventions, Executive Council is tasked with ensuring that Tri Sigma’s important governing documents align with the mission and vision of the National Organization, meet any legal requirements, and are relevant with consideration to societal issues and changes impacting the organization. To ensure these responsibilities are met, a Governing Documents Review Committee will be formed. The purpose of the committee is to provide Executive Council, staff and national volunteers with clear and consistent written guidance to ensure the quality and integrity of the National Organization’s important documents and policies.  This is accomplished by reviewing, researching, evaluating and making recommendations for change to Executive Council on our Bylaws, Code of Ethics, National Policies and Position Statements, The Seven Standards of Membership, and any other relevant processes and documents.

If you have an interest in the inner workings of the National Organization and learning about many of our governing documents, please complete the following application.  Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2018.

Click here to submit your application.

Burglars can take advantage of these out-of-town trips to break into homes. Click here to read more.

Can you believe there is about a month left until finals week? Don’t panic! Here are a few tips to help you to deal with stress during finals week.

1. Plan ahead. If your university sends out the final exam schedule in advance, print it off and highlight what days and times your finals are. This will give you an idea of what your priorities need to be when studying.
2. Start studying as soon as possible. According to psychology theories, our brains are not wired to retain information from simply cramming the night before. The brain needs repeated exposure far enough in advance so it can access information quicker and easier. This means you should start preparing now! Any studying you do in advance will be extremely helpful during finals week.
3. Make a schedule for the week. The easiest way to do this is in Microsoft Excel, Apple’s Numbers app or Google Sheets. Create color-coded time blocks for your exams and other commitments, and then prioritize your study time accordingly. Make sure you schedule time for sleep and eating, too! Here’s an example: 
   4. Take breaks and study for short time periods. Don’t overwhelm yourself with all-nighters and six-hour library trips. Study for 45 minutes to an hour, then reward yourself with a 10-minute break. This is much more effective than studying for a long period of time with a wandering mind. During your break eat a light snack, get up, stretch and get your blood flowing. This will wake up your mind and get you prepared for your next study period.

    

   5. Take time to relax and de-stress. Take a bath, read a book, listen to some music, do something to take your mind off of studying and school for a few minutes each day. Doing so will allow your mind to refresh and be ready for the next exam and help you maintain your sanity!

Many chapters used social media to celebrate and promote their activities from Character Counts! Week last month. From featuring Women of Character in their chapters to hosting events, chapters used the week to highlight their members and their efforts to share the pillars of character in their campus communities. Check out these photos for ideas of how your chapter can use social media to promote your Character Counts! Week efforts next year.

Chi Chapter Philanthropy Chair Lexi Cole worked to organize a spa day for women at Mosaic in Southeast Kansas, an agency that advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.

The chapter adopted Mosaic as a local service project. Lexi said she wanted to do more than just maintain a relationship with the agency and wanted to find a way for the chapter to be more involved in service with the members Mosaic serves. Lexi worked with the event coordinator to create a spa day for the women there.

“We felt as though it would be fun for the residents and also give our (members) an opportunity to serve and get to know these ladies while building friendships,” Lexi said.

After members provided spa services for the women at Mosaic, they participated in a photoshoot where a photographer was hired to come and take photos of everyone together and capture the friendships that were made in such a short period of time.

“Overall, the experience was amazing and I heard so much positive feedback from not only our ladies, but the residents of Mosaic,” Lexi said. “Our next event was held on October 17 and we had a potluck that the men and women of Mosaic were invited to!”

The chapter hopes to host at least one event per month for the residents of Mosaic.

Have you heard the news? Our e-learning is undergoing a complete overhaul. We have listened to you and we are making some great changes and updates to the Essential Sigma!  Same name, but a new look.

Our new learning platform in Essential Sigma will launch on December 1 for officers. On December 1, when you click on Essential Sigma in Sigma Connect you will be directed to our new learning platform. That is where all e-learning lessons for officers, new members, and eventually advisors will be contained.

What can you expect?

This new platform is user friendly, informative, creative, and easy to track. You can expect more visual and interactive learning as well as more manuals and resource guides.

Officers can expect to access their new officer training on December 1. Throughout the year there may be new lessons added and officers will get notice of that via email.

Education Directors and an advisor from each chapter will be attending an Education Summit March 2-4 to learn all about the new Essential Sigma and following that conference she will have all of the information to share with the chapter.

CAB can expect to see a new training program launch in June 2018.

Don’t miss the announcement on December 1 with more about the NEW Essential Sigma.