Triangle - Spring 2008

Spring 2008 | T h e T r i a n g l e 1

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A Letter From

Beta Alpha

Join Us In Provence

Children ThriveUnder Sigma Touch Volunteer efforts help sick kids smile

T h e T r i a n g l e | Spring 20082 Spring 2008 | T h e T r i a n g l e

from the president

Our collegiate chapters are in need of alumnae volunteers to assist them. Chapter Advisors and House Corporation members are critical to successful collegiate chapter opera-tions. Alumnae who work with our collegiate members contribute to the inter-generational Sisterhood that truly separates sororities from other organizations.

Collegiate chapters leave campuses for a variety of reasons. For many, the membership numbers decline to a point that the chapter is no longer able to sustain viable operations. For others, the National Organization has had to suspend the chapter charter because of policy violations that are or could be harmful to members of the chapter (e.g. hazing or alcohol violations). In all cases, letters are sent to alumnae alerting them to a chapter closing; and always, notes, e-mails or calls are returned that say, “If I had only known, I would

have volunteered to…” By the time a chapter is in crisis, it is three or four years too late for alumnae support to be effective. Chapters need help while the group is robust and before problems become too large to overcome.

College women are no different than most of us. They are busy. They multitask to complete class assignments, jobs, chapter respon-sibilities, commitments to other clubs, home responsibilities, and personal lives all squeezed into one day. They need seasoned alumnae Sorority Sisters to help them set pri-orities, manage conflict, explain Tri Sigma policies, celebrate victories, and just be there for them when they need someone to talk to.

Your National Organization and collegiate Sisters need you. We have the training tools in place for the Alumnae Advisory Board posi-tions. We have volunteers and staff

to help you be successful. And, we have future female leaders waiting for you to make a commitment to them. There will be no opportunity more rewarding than working with our collegiate chapter Sisters.

Collegiate leadership has certainly evolved over the years. However, at the end of the day, Sisterhood is about the friend extending a hand when you most need it. Won’t you be that person for the collegiate chapter nearest to you? And if you are not near a chapter, assistance via words of support is always welcome.

To find out more about collegiate chapter volunteer opportuni-ties, please contact the National Headquarters or visit the Web site to complete a Volunteer Service Application.

Yours,

Laura Sweet

Let’s TalkLaura Ward SWeet

Alpha Sigma | National President

“ If I had only known, I would have volunteered to help…”

An All New The TriangleDear Member,

It’s still your comfortable, familiar Sigma Sigma Sigma maga-zine, but it has a new, energized look. Won’t you agree that the facelift is fantastic?

You will see as you thumb through The Triangle, that you’re able to find your favorite sections, whether it’s Collegians, Alumnae or Feature articles about what Tri Sigmas are up to all over the country. Please turn to Page 7 for more news about how YOU can participate in updating The Triangle.

T h e T r i a n g l e | Spring 2008 Spring 2008 | T h e T r i a n g l e 3

TriangleThe

VoLume 8 , Number 2

Correction: In the Winter 2008 edition of The Triangle, we accidentally used the last name McCarty several times rather than McBurney in a section of the article on Tri Sigma Cancer Survivors. In 2006, M. Dolores (Dee) Lovato McBurney, Iota, raised over $6,300 for the Wyoming Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, making her top fund-raiser for three years. Mary Eleanor (Tomi) Thompson McCarty, Iota and Omega, was a good friend of McBurney’s who has entered Omega chapter after her own battle with cancer. We apologize for the mistake.

Features: 8 thriving under Sigma

touch: Two children’s hospitals benefit from Tri Sigma efforts

Departments: 4 our Foundation

7 awards

12 empowered Women

13 our Leadership

18 our Sisters

20 our Collegians

32 our alumnae

39 omega Chapter

Editor Barbara Palar, Innova Ideas & Services

Alumnae Editor Jenell Hironimus, Beta Xi

Collegiate Editor Jackie Wise, Alpha Chi

Features Editor Hillary Ashton, Zeta Beta

Copy Editors Peggy Gamble, Alpha Sigma Katie Wadington, Epsilon Xi

Executive Director Marcia Cutter, Beta Gamma

Sigma Sigma Sigma 225 North Muhlenberg Street Woodstock, VA 22664-1424 p 540.459.4212 | f 540.459.2361 E-mail: [email protected]

www.sigmasigmasigma.org

Executive Council 2007– 2010

National President Laura Ward Sweet, Alpha Sigma

National Treasurer Barbara Stoe Stone, Beta Tau

Alumnae Vice President Mandy Meehan Chocheles, Gamma Eta

Collegiate Vice President Emily Eure Ellis, Gamma Beta

Membership Development Vice President Bethany A. Deines, Beta Kappa

Publications Vice President Allison Swick-Duttine, Psi

National Panhellenic Conference Delegate Reatha Cole Cox, Alpha Zeta

Changes of names and addresses and death notices should be sent to National Headquarters, 225 North Muhlenberg Street,Woodstock, VA 22664-1424.

Postmaster: Please send notices of undeliverable copies on Form 3579 to Sigma Sigma Sigma, 225 North Muhlenberg Street,Woodstock, VA 22664-1424.

The Triangle of Sigma Sigma Sigma is published three times a year by Sigma Sigma Sigma, 225 North Muhlenberg Street, Woodstock, VA 22664-1424.

Payment of membership dues includes $2 toward the cost of The Triangle subscription.

Articles are invited for publication in this magazine. Manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor for consideration. Ac-ceptances are on a contributing basis only and are subject to editorial review. All copies and photos become the property of Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Member of National Panhellenic Conference and College Fraternity Editors Association.

© 2008 Sigma Sigma Sigma

Sigma Sigma Sigma

promotes a perpetual bond

of fr iendship, develops

strong womanly character,

and inspires high standards

of ethical conduct.

Mission Statement


OOne of the easiest ways to increase your contribution to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation is to have your employer match it.

Liz Wakeman Hoffert, Beta Xi, works for ISO Insurance Services, a company that matches up to 100 percent of her Foundation gift because the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Hoffert has been giving to the Foundation since its beginning 16 years ago, but her company only recently began matching her gifts. “I make a point to send a form (provided by the company) every time I make a donation, no matter how large or small it is,” she says. “every dollar counts.”

Hoffert particularly likes giving to the scholarship fund because it helps both undergraduates and graduate Sisters. Her daughter, Dr. Lynette Johns Small, Alumna Honor Initiate at the 2001

Convention, received a scholar-ship, and Hoffert remembers how much it meant to her to know her Sisters were behind her.

Hoffert, a current Foundation Board member and past Executive Council member, is always involved with Tri Sigma through personal donations and chap-ter activities no matter where she lives. She recently moved to Phoenix and is joining the Phoenix

Alumnae Chapter. She says she keeps expanding her circle of Tri Sigma Sisters as she moves from city to city, including Greater St. Louis, Chicago and North Jersey.

Emmy Smith McKinney, Epsilon Pi, also says giving to the Foundation’s Scholarship Fund is her favorite program. “I received a scholarship when I was in gradu-ate school and was so thankful for it,” she says.

DOUBLEYour Dollar$

Foundation donors learn how to make their donations grow without using their own money by Nancy benedict

Elizabeth Wakeman Hoffert, left, and Mimi Brandt Hiner, both Beta Xi.

or even triple!( )

our foundation


McKinney contributes quarterly through the GOLD program, and her employer, Bank of America, matches every quarter. She arranges for the match online through the bank’s gifts site. Bank of America is committed to the communities it serves, so employ-ees are encouraged to volunteer time and talents and to track volunteer hours. For 50 hours of McKinney’s volunteer service, the bank gives a grant of $250 to the organization.

McKinney says she contributes to the Foundation through its GOLD program because “the program feels like a neat little club within Tri Sigma. It makes me feel so good to hear the yearly totals for the GOLD program [Note: $600,000 so far] and to know that I contributed to that. I was amazed at how it seems like I give so little during a quarter, but over the entire five-year pledge, it will really add up.”

Her favorite Tri Sigma moment was last year when her mother was initiated as an alumna. “She was so impressed with Tri Sigma and everything it did for me,” McKinney says, “that she really wanted to be a part of our Sisterhood.”

Lori Pettyjohn, Epsilon Nu, says there are so many opportunities to support the Foundation but her favorite is the Foundation’s leader-ship fund, which grants funds for Tri Sigma’s Volunteer Leadership Institute. She was grateful for the inception of the Volunteer Leadership Institute in 2005. VLI trains the volunteers who spend countless hours to improve and assist our organization. As Tri

Sigma continues to offer more opportunities for alumnae involve-ment on the National and local levels, this training is invaluable.

Pettyjohn, a member of the Piedmont Triad Alumnae Chapter in North Carolina, supports the Foundation because she wanted to give back not only her time but her money. The Foundation pro-vides funding for programming, provides scholarship opportunities and assists with community ser-vice. Each of these concepts is for the betterment of others, and she believes in assisting in whatever capacity she can. “What better way then through our wonderful Foundation?” she asks.

Pettyjohn contributes monthly through the GoLd program, and her employer, Wachovia Securities, matches every month. Pettyjohn reports, “Employer matching is easy and a no brainer! Wachovia Securities has wonderful benefits, and they take pride in contributing to the eligible organizations their employees sup-port. The process is very simple. Every month the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation drafts money from my bank account, and then I fill out an easy three-question elec-tronic form through my employee Web site to have them match the donation. Wachovia Securities not only matches my contributions, but also gives a $200 annual grant for a minimum 48 volunteer service hours.”

Emmy Smith McKinney, left, with Anne Sullivan Coleman, both Epsilon Pi, and Coleman’s son Harrison.

“ The Foundation does so many incredible things for all Sigmas...the leadership and educational opportunities they fund are phenomenal.”

T h e T r i a n g l e | Spring 20086

««

Nicole Steele, left, and Lori Pettyjohn, both Epsilon Nu, with Carrie Underwood, Alpha Iota.

Foundation Survey results Last fall, the Foundation mailed a survey to 4,000 donors.

Nearly 8% responded and answered the following questions:

MissionSigma Sigma Sigma Foundation provides

transformational philanthropy: funding innovative leadership training for women,

awarding scholarships, and investing in life-enhancing children’s therapy programs. As a nonprofit organization, we are the conduit

to help donors create this legacy.

Pettyjohn has always donated to the Foundation, but the dol-lar amount and time frame were sporadic, usually occurring at Convention or a conference. When the GOLD program was unveiled, it made sense to her to use this option. Not only is it easy for her, but it allows the Foundation to prepare a more effective budget when it knows how much money is being donat-ed and when it is expected.

Last year, 12 companies matched the gifts of Sigma Sisters to the Foundation. Foundation Chairman Jan Stroker Horner, Beta Xi, says, “With more than 2,500 donors each year, many of whom work for companies that match gifts, we think this is a ‘hidden resource’ for the Foundation.” She urges Tri Sigmas to check with their employers to see if they, like ISO and Bank of America, will double their dollars, too.

Which part of the Foundation’s mission is most important to you?

32% said play therapy

25% said support of leadership programs for Tri Sigma

23% said scholarships

11% said endowment growth

7% said philanthropy education and promotion

rate how the Foundation meets donors’ expectations in…

Percentage of responses indicating very well or excellent:

Communication with members – 83.5%

Prompt response – 78%

Raises funds effectively and ethically – 88%

Supports the mission and activities of Tri Sigma – 90%

How can the Foundation be more visible:

Most responses said more information in the Triangle, more collegiate and alumnae presentations.

What inspires donors to contrib-ute to the Foundation?

Most said they believe in what the Foundation stands for or they want the Foundation to grow. Many said they respond to mailings or want tax deductions.

What is the most convenient way to reach donors?

E-mail is the winner, with mail a close second.

Half of the respondents belong to an alumnae chapter, and 56% are monthly donors.

Thank you to all who responded. The Foundation Executive Committee is using these responses to aid in future planning.

reaLLY?Did you know that in the last three years, the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation made the following grants:

Support to change women’s lives…• The Foundation funded $225,000

for Sigma leadership and educa-tion programs.

• The Foundation awarded $41,500 in scholarships to Sigma graduate and undergraduate women.

This year, a new $5,000 scholarship will be given.

Support to help seriously ill children…• The Foundation committed to

$150,000 in grants for fellowships in two national hospitals (Dallas and Chapel Hill) well known for play therapy and child life training…

…and gave $47,000 to local orga-nizations, nominated by collegiate and alumnae chapters, that help children. YeS, reaLLY!


The National Panhellenic Conference and its Foundation are pleased to recognize the out-standing achievements of Nancy Zimpher, Ph.D., as the recipient of the Women in Higher Education Achievement Award.

The Women in Higher Education Achievement Award is spon-sored by the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation through gifts to the WHEA endowment, established by Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and Foundation.

Dr. Zimpher is president of the University of Cincinnati and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity. She has published extensively, has worldwide speak-ing experience, is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, and is deeply involved in community and philanthropic endeavors.

Zimpher Receives Women in Higher Education Award

RE/MAX Paradise Properties is proud to announce that Robbie Jacobson Fenn, Alpha Mu, was named Realtor of the Year for Destin, FL. This is one of the highest honors a Realtor can receive, as it is a peer-chosen award, out of more than 1,000 agents, and based on community service and involvement within the local and state Realtor associations.

Fenn is very involved in both the Destin (Emerald Coast) area association of Realtors and the Florida Association of Realtors. She was recently appointed as a state director, sits on two state committees

for international real estate, and is a member of the State Honor Society of Realtors.

Locally, she is the Professional Development Chairman, and ironically, her co-chairman is a Sigma too; Jackie Parker Pilcher, Gamma Xi. She has given her time to teach in both the JumpStart and Stairway to Success programs. Fenn is a charter member of the International Real Estate Council of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.

“As an associate of RE/MAX Paradise Properties, Robbie exemplifies what it means to be a professional realtor,” says BJ Chandler, broker/owner. “She is a team player who never misses an opportunity to share her knowledge and experience to the benefit of others.” Congratulations, Robbie.

Robbie Fenn named Destin’s Realtor Of The Year

Robbie Jacobson Fenn, Alpha Mu

awards


As the next step in our quest to move Ever Forward, we are considering a name change for The Triangle. But we don’t want to take such a drastic step without consult-ing you, the heart of Sigma Sigma Sigma. We have placed some suggestions below, and we would love to hear from you. Please tear the bottom half of this page and mail to headquarters (Sigma Sigma Sigma, 225 North Muhlenberg Street, Woodstock, VA 22664-1424.) with your response, or respond on sigmasigmasigma.org.

Our favorite title, as we consulted with marketing experts about how to move our organization Ever Forward, is Essentially Sigma. We believe this title captures the Tri Sigma spirit and sets us apart from other publications that have the same, or similar titles to The Triangle. In addition, many magazine titles have a subtitle, or tagline, that is a descriptor of the purpose of the publication. We have offered several to go along with Essentially Sigma. We have also left space

for you to make your own suggestions.

An All New The Triangle TITle:

r I like essentially Sigma

r I prefer the triangle

r I like the idea of a title change, but would suggest:

____________________________________________________

TaglIne: (to be placed under the title)

r Moving Ever Forward with Sigma Sigma Sigma

r Sharing Sigma Sisterhood

r Experience Tri Sigma

r Sharing a Sigma’s Heart

r Celebrating the Sigma Experience

r I have another suggestion for the tagline:

____________________________________________________


feature

WChild Life at Children’s medical Center dallas Walking into a hospital the size of Children’s Medical Center Dallas can be intimidating for an adult and just plain scary for one of the hospital’s patients. Fortunately, the patients at Children’s have a staff of child life specialists who are specially trained to help chil-dren and their families manage stressful health care experiences.

The Child Life department at Children’s is able to serve the needs of patient families thanks in part to generous gifts from chari-table organizations like Tri Sigma, which has been giving to the department since the mid-1970s. Tri Sigma’s gifts have supported everything from funding salaries of child life fellows to paying for playroom renovations, toys and audio/visual equipment.

the role of child life specialistsBy identifying family strengths and individual methods of cop-ing, child life specialists use play, recreation, education, self-expres-sion and theories of child develop-ment to promote psychological well-being. “Child life specialists approach their work from a foun-dation in understanding the nor-mal growth and development of children,” said Ellen Hollon, direc-tor of Child Life.

Those in the field have a bach-elor’s or master’s degree with courses in human growth and development, education, psychol-ogy and counseling. Typical majors include child development, educa-tion or psychology.

the value of child lifeResearch shows that psychological preparation for children undergo-ing invasive procedures reduces the patients’ anxiety, increases cooperation, reduces the need for sedation and improves patient and parent satisfaction.

Children who received such preparation have fared better than those who did not, based on measures of emotional distress and coping effectiveness during procedures; overall coping and adjustment during a hospital stay; understanding of hospitalization and procedures; and post-hospital adjustment and physical recovery.

“When children are hospitalized, they are taken from their familiar and secure environments and thrust into a situation for which they may not have identified cop-ing skills,” Hollon said. “The child life specialist, using her or his foundation in growth and devel-opment of children, assists the child in managing the experience and identifying ways to under-stand and cope with it.”

Child life specialists work with infants and toddlers and their parents to help keep the children’s cognitive and physical develop-ment on track while they are undergoing medical treatment.

Thriving Under Sigma Touch

Children and health care are at the heart of the many passions of Tri Sigma. The feature stories in this section are sure to tug at your heart and confirm our mission in purposeful philanthropic and community service, while strengthening the bonds of Sisterhood.

by Hillary Ashton, Features Editor


by Hillary Ashton, Features Editor

A 22-month-old patient explores one of the playrooms at Children’s. A special playroom for patients 10 and older – the Aikman End Zone – is also available.


Audrey Speck, child life specialist, uses a doll and play stethoscope to help a 5-year-old patient understand an upcoming procedure.

The department hosts infant-specific play times three days per week to promote the play needs of babies and model developmen-tal interactions for parents.

Child life specialists can also talk to a patient’s teacher and class-mates about the patient’s medical condition once the child returns to school. Helping classmates under-stand a child’s illness can ease the patient’s transition back into school.

emotional support through grief and lossThe role of the child life special-ist during a death (before, during and after) varies with each patient, situation and family. Generally, the child life specialist helps give the dying child a chance to process his or her emotions and feelings. The long-term relationship that develops between the child life specialist and a chronically ill child serves as a foundation for this important work.

In a more acute setting, like in the Emergency Department or ICU, the child life specialist focuses on the children who are present at the hospital, including siblings, friends and other relatives. The goal is to give the visiting children an age-appropriate understand-ing of the death or why the dying child will not get better.

The specialist helps children pro-cess their feelings and emotions in an age-appropriate way. They help the children express feelings, fears and concerns and may discuss what the future holds. Examples include letter or poetry writing, time alone with the dying sibling, bibliotherapy, medical play and

general conversation with a child life specialist.

Older children may process the events by asking technical ques-tions, needing to know spe-cific details about the infection, machines, why this happened to their sibling or wondering if the family could have caught a diag-nosis sooner.

Child Life programsThe Child Life department offers several additional programs to help patients during their stay at Children’s:

• Musictherapy provided by board-certified

music therapists to meet patients’ physical, psycho-logical, and emotional needs through the use of musical interventions.

• Pettherapy which began at Children’s

in 1999 through a program called “PAWS Across Texas.”

All the dogs involved in the program have been trained and screened before they begin the therapy process. The dogs can be seen in playrooms with inpatients, at a patient’s bedside or in the psychiatry unit.

• Funnyatrics a therapeutic clowning pro-

gram that began in 2005 to uncover the spirit of joy within each child whom the hospital serves, a spirit that is often hidden by the frighten-ing experience of disease or disability.

Child life specialists also promote, plan and provide their services for therapeutic camps and sup-port groups serving children and their families. Gifts from chari-table organizations like Tri Sigma allow the Child Life department at Children’s to fulfill the hospital’s mission of making life better for all children.


UNC Hospital Senior Child Life Specialist Beth Bailey plays with a patient on the

Atrium floor.

recreational therapy and Child Life services are a valued contribution to the care pro-vided for children, inpatients and outpatients, at the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

Services are provided to assist chil-dren and their families cope with the stressors of hospitalization and increase compliance with medical procedures. Recreational Therapy and Child Life staff have special-ized training and are certified and licensed therapeutic recreation specialists and certified child life specialists. They also have assessed competencies in the specialized interventions they use with children.

Play is a primary learning and devel-opmental activity for children and can be used effectively as a coping mechanism for hospitalized children. Recreation therapists and child life specialists use play as a healing modality to enhance the normal growth and development of infants, children, and adolescents through assessment, intervention, preven-tion, advocacy, and education.

Play facilities, including the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation Robbie Page Play Atrium, the Jason Clark Teen Activity Center, and the Charles Goren Music Room, provide children with a healing environment where a variety of opportunities to assist the young patients with adjusting to their hospitalization and to continue normal development.

The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation Robbie Page Play Atrium is the showcase of the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. It appears to have become an offi-

cial “tour stop” in the Children’s Hospital for all interviewing staff, newly hired staff, potential donors, and VIP visitors. As you are already aware, the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill initiated the recreational therapy program in pediatrics in 1956 with support from Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Tri Sigma established the Robbie Page Memorial, a national philanthropy that supports play for hospitalized children, with the goal to “make a child smile.” With support from Tri Sigma, the Robbie Page Memorial Playroom was constructed in 1958. Since that time, Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation has funded many facilities, specialized programs, and the training of many graduate students and fellows.

The Robbie Page Play Atrium provides children with a unique indoor park. Some of the features of this spacious facility include a mural featuring a lake, ducks, and trees that promotes a safe and relaxing environment; playground equipment to encourage active

play; a relaxing park where chil-dren are safe from medical proce-dures; a quiet reading and resting area; and a Kidzpace game system with six different video game stations.

While they are in the play facilities, families are invited to stay with their children or use the time as an opportunity to take a break, with the assurance their children are in a safe, happy and fun place. Many parents have commented how the Play Atrium has been such a positive experience for their entire family and how it has helped them deal with and survive such a traumatic time in their lives. With everything that the Robbie Page Play Atrium offers a child, why wouldn’t it make a child smile?

A young patient plays with a new friend during an Animal Assisted Activity at UNC Hospital. Each week the patients have the opportunity to pet the dogs.

North Carolina Children’s Hospital: robbie Page Play atrium

An intern at UNC Hospital gets a little messy while baking a cake with a patient.


empowered women

WWhen she read the article in The Triangle, Nancy Herring Humphrey thought she had found the perfect “dream job.” This was an oppor-tunity to see the country while vis-iting Tri Sigma chapters along the way. The twist? Only two others had done it before. Nancy Herring Humphrey, Psi, was only the third Traveling Secretary for Tri Sigma.

Starting in August of 1954, Nancy traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to meet with the National Officers. She recalls, “It was neat to see all those women whose names I had to learn from my book.”

Today, we refer to them as Leadership Consultants. These women are recent graduates who spend a year working for Tri Sigma. As they visit chapters, they work with their strengths and weaknesses. They assist in train-ing officers, chairs and Advisors on various programs. They work with the National Support Team to help the chapter develop to its potential.

Since her father worked for the railroad, Nancy was accustomed to traveling. She now faced the challenge of visiting 25 states in nine months by bus, train and air-plane. Her travels were helped by the fact that wherever she visited felt like home. Along the way she stayed in sorority houses, dormito-ry guest rooms and local alumnae or National Officers’ homes. Her Sisters welcomed her. Wherever she was, she always thought, “these are my people.”

Although it was more than 50 years ago, the biggest change in the position has been the title. Nancy visited established chapters. She was responsible for ensuring they were upholding the stan-dards and ideals of Tri Sigma. She inspected their living quarters. “Not with white kid gloves,” she explains, “but just to make sure things were decent and clean.” During visits Nancy would meet with all officers and chairs of com-mittees. She would review their notebooks and provide additional training or inspiration. She also helped verify membership numbers and support recruitment efforts.

Another big difference between now and then was the expenses. Leadership Consultants today do not receive a large salary, but Nancy only made $89.60 per month. According to her notes, the most she ever spent in one week was $29.33. To repay the kindness of a National Officer who hosted her in her home, Nancy took her to a nice Columbian res-taurant. The bill for both of them was only $8.00. She also recalls a hotel room in Champaign, IL that only cost $5.00.

After traveling for Tri Sigma, Nancy returned to Huntington, WV to be married. As she contin-ued working for the sorority, she worked closely with Marie Santee Dunham.

In college she served as the Vice President. When she attended Convention in New Jersey, she

was asked to play the piano dur-ing general assembly. When she won the title of Ms Parthenon and was eligible to compete for Ms. West Virginia, many of her Sisters came to support her.

Nancy has kept herself busy along the way. She’s raised four chil-dren and enjoys the company of her four grandchildren. Since her husband retired from his medical practice, they’ve traveled in Russia and Portugal and soon will be visiting Italy to ride the Queen Mary back.

Nancy has shared the legacy of being a sorority woman with her family. While Tri Sigma had no chapters at their colleges, both her daughter and granddaughter joined sororities.

Although Nancy has not found time to be an active member of an alumnae chapter, she has kept in close touch with a few of her own collegiate Sisters. She often visits with the woman who was the President while Nancy served as Vice President of their chapter.

Travelin’ Gal by Sherri Varsek Ballard, Alpha Nu

Nancy Herring Humphrey


National Panhellenic Conference60th Biennial Session

PBy Reatha Cole Cox, Alpha Zeta, National Panhellenic Conference Delegate

“Partnerships...The Direction of the Future” was the theme of the 60th Biennial Session of the National Panhellenic Conference. Delegates and representatives of the 26 member groups convened Oct. 25-27, 2007 at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, Illinois, as partners in helping NPC “grow, give, lead and succeed.”

Partnerships, internal and external, are part of the Strategic Plan and have been a focus of the 2005-2007 Biennium. NPC continues to develop partnerships with interfraternal organizations, higher education agencies, and Alumnae and College Panhellenics.

The meeting provided National Presidents, NPC Delegates, alternate delegates, executive directors, and editors with the opportunity to network and initi-ate change within the Conference. General Sessions were devoted to Conference business and delegates debated and voted on several resolutions focused on recruit-ment, extension and NPC finances. The new NPC dues structure will provide for improved public relations and marketing, advanced tech-nology, advocacy, and additional staff. For complete information regarding the NPC resolutions passed at the 2007 Biennial Session, please visit the NPC website at www.npcwomen.org.

the Sigma Sigma Sigma delegation included:

Laura Sweet, National President

reatha Cox, National Panhellenic Conference Delegate

Linda manley-Kuitu, 1st Alternate

Natalie averette, 2nd Alternate

Stephanie (Sam!) Farrell, 3rd Alternate

marcia Cutter, Executive Director

deborah Wilcox, National Panhellenic Conference Foundation Vice-President

barb Stone, National Treasurer

our leadership


our leadership

TThis spring should be quite lovely at Walton House, as the planting of the perennials in the Friendship Garden will be completed just in time for a burst of bloom. We will also get to see how the dog-woods and lilacs fared during this first year of installation. The new storm windows and doors have also been installed, and though I haven’t seen them yet, I am really looking forward to an early spring trip to Woodstock to check it all out.

The other reason for a visit is to begin the work with Executive Director Marcia Cutter, staff and others in putting together the schematic design for new office space. I was delighted to hear from National President Laura Sweet that Executive Council has voted to proceed with this project. For those of you who attended Convention, you know that this was one of the goals the Walton House Board set for this Triennium. While the living spaces in Walton House are gracious and expansive, the current space for

National Headquarters’ functions is small, chopped up, cramped and not user friendly.

We have asked the architectural firm of Dalgleish, Gilpin, and Paxton in Charlottesville, VA, to partner with us as we design an executive office for the future. The firm has extensive experience in historic renovations and has helped other sorority and frater-nity organizations to renovate and create appropriate headquarters space. We have a lot of work to do: identifying space needs and technology needs, and creating a design concept that honors the historic character of Walton House while offering a modern, useful office setting. This project will also offer us a cost-effective way to provide appropriate storage for our archives, renovate the kitchen, and upgrade emergency exits and systems for the house.

I want to recognize the gener-ous contribution of $1,000 from the Central Florida Alumnae

Chapter to purchase new signage at Walton House. Recently its president, Patricia Repass Nichols, Alpha Alpha, wrote to tell us of this donation in honor of four very special people. The gift was given to honor:

• Julie Cousins england, Alpha Upsilon, who has been cancer free for three years

• Peggy Gamble, Alpha Sigma, and Susan Lester Perkins, Rho, for their stead-fast commitment as AAB members for Eta Tau Chapter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

• Gail Curry, Rho, for serving on the AAB for Epsilon Tau at St. Leo University

What a wonderful way to recog-nize the contributions of these steadfast Sigma Sisters. I hope this will inspire others to take a look at the list and see where they might make a difference.

News from the Walton House BoardBy Inez Fridley, Gamma Beta, Chairman, Walton House Board


Pam Hall Hathaway, Gamma Beta, is a member of the Walton House Board and also active in real estate in the Richmond, VA, area. She offered to put together a virtual tour of Walton House, working with a photographer in the Woodstock area. This is complete, and you can access the tour via the Tri Sigma Web site. If you have never had the opportunity to visit Walton House, this will give you a taste of what it could be like!

The other day I was watching Oprah (One of my favorite things about retirement is to actually get to sit down at 4 p.m. and tune in!) and saw a show that included a number of guests talking about having a vision for your life. One of the suggestions was to have a vision board, on which you place those things you want to come into your life. It didn’t have to be earth shattering, but by including it on the board, you committed to keep it in the forefront. I was real-ly struck by this. So many times in life we think about something we want to do or experience, but in the hurry of everyday life, it just slips past us. I took this seri-ously and dragged out an old dry erase board I had lurking around, and now it is filling up with those things I really want to bring into my life. This isn’t a wish list or to-do list, but rather a conscious effort to bring new experiences into our lives. As I wrote this arti-cle, I thought about how Walton House and Tri Sigma have brought so much into my life, and how we are creating a vision for our future. I hope Tri Sigma with its many opportunities for service and friendship makes it to your vision board. It certainly is on mine, and the future looks very bright.

Other Chapter Newsbeta beta Chapter at missouri State university The National Headquarters of Sigma Sigma Sigma has announced the closure of its Beta Beta Chapter at Missouri State University. The decision to close the chapter for failure to comply with National Policies was made by the Executive Council of Sigma Sigma Sigma and announced Jan. 9.

“The Beta Beta Chapter has contributed greatly to the overall success of the fraternity and sorority community at Missouri State University since 1945,” said Sigma Sigma Sigma Executive Director Marcia Cutter. “However, in con-sideration of recent events regarding the chapter, and in disregard of efforts by the National Organization, there was insufficient commitment and indication that positive chap-ter traditions and activities would play the most appropriate role in the chapter’s future at this time.”

Cutter says the closing of a chapter was not an easy deci-sion. “We value the contributions Beta Beta members have made over the years, and when conditions are appropriate for our return, Sigma Sigma Sigma will actively seek the opportunity to become a productive and viable chapter at Missouri State University. All collegiate members in good standing will be granted alumna status and are encouraged to participate in alumnae opportunities.”

university of Wisconsin-Parkside It is with regret that the Executive Council of Sigma Sigma Sigma voted to suspend operations of our colony at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and withdraw recognition from the campus effective November 9, 2007. The Parkside Colony was established in September, 2006 and fought hard to retain members and increase their Sisterhood. Unfortunately, they were unable to establish a viable Colony after more than a year of hard work. Thank you to the volunteers, National Officers and Alumnae Advisory Board members, for the giving of your time, energy and love assisting this Colony.

Spring 2008 | T h e T r i a n g l e

ICollege Hazing Has a NeW eNemYIndianapolis, IN – Sigma Sigma Sigma is one of 21 sponsoring organizations in a new attempt to end hazing on college campuses and particularly within Greek orga-nizations. These international fra-ternities and sororities have joined forces in a coalition to establish the Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline. The toll-free number is 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293).

The line is available to those who think they, or students they know, have been or may become victims of hazing. Callers may remain anonymous or provide personal information so their concerns can be responded to directly.

The Anti-Hazing Hotline connects to a dedicated voice mailbox at the Cincinnati law firm of Manley Burke, the publisher of Fraternal Law, a well-known law journal that chronicles legal issues involv-ing collegiate Greek organizations and higher education.

Manley Burke will monitor the anti-hazing hotline on a daily basis and will forward all messages to the appropriate fraternal organiza-tion, along with the hazing laws from the relevant jurisdictions.

In states in which the law requires notification of other authorities, this will be done. A hazing alert for an organization not involved as a sponsor will be handled as though that organization were a sponsor.

The following organizations

serve as founding sponsors:

FraterNItIeS:

Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Sigma Phi

Delta Chi

Delta Sigma Phi

Delta Tau Delta

Delta Upsilon

Kappa Alpha Order

Lambda Chi Alpha

Phi Gamma Delta

Phi Kappa Psi

Sigma Pi

SororItIeS:

Alpha Chi Omega

Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Epsilon Phi

Alpha Phi

Alpha Sigma Tau

Chi Omega

Gamma Phi Beta

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Sigma Sigma Sigma

Zeta Tau Alpha

For additional information or quotes, contact coalition spokesman Norval Stephens (847-382-1588) or Dan McCarthy (513-721-5525) at Manley Burke.

our leadership



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Three Little WordsFounders Day – april 20, 2008

Have you ever stopped to consider the magic that is sometimes con-tained in three little words? Take for example the following: “It’s a girl,” “God bless you,” or one of the most magical phrases of all, “I love you.”

In Tri Sigma, there is also magic in three’s. Our history has given Sigma many of its own triads. Such phrases as:

Songs Sigmas Sing Path From Farmville Mabel Lee Walton Faithful Unto Death Loving, Sharing, Giving Stately and Royal

And the list can go on and on. Perhaps one of the greatest Tri Sigma phrases is Friendship, Character and Conduct. Friendship, Character and Conduct….three little words that really aren’t so little at all because together they define who and what we are as individuals and collectively as Tri Sigmas. We all stand strong as Sigmas because we choose to live these three words each and every day.

On April 20, 1898, at what is now Longwood University, there were eight women who had a friendship so strong that they formed Sigma Sigma Sigma. Their friendship, their character, and their conduct were so inspiring

that generations of women have chosen to follow them. It is this legacy that has become Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Friendship, Character and Conduct – three words that when you first heard them you may not have realized the significance that they have to us as Tri Sigmas, but have since learned how important they are in our Sisterhood and in our lives.

Because without Friendship you are alone in this world; without Character you are less than what God intended you to be; and without Conduct you are just an imposter. How fortunate we are to have thousands of sisters who share these same values.

Friendship, Character and Conduct – we cannot live one without the others and without all of them together, we cannot be the best women and the best Tri Sigmas we can be. They are words to cherish, words to emulate, words to never forget. And as we live these words they lead us to other triads that are familiar to us in Tri Sigma. Words such as:

Faith, Hope and Love Go Onward Sigma Robbie Page Memorial

And now those three words have brought us together. Friendship, Character, Conduct and Sigma Sigma Sigma. Powerful words that have likely changed your life because you have the friendship, experienced the character, and witnessed the conduct of sisters who have taken these words to heart and who have become bet-ter citizens, better parents and better women. All because we believe in three little words.

We light one candle for the Founders of Tri Sigma. Those women who began the symphony that is Sigma Sigma Sigma. Isabelle Merrick, Martha Trent Featherston, Lelia Agnes Scott, Sallie Michie, Louise Davis, Elizabeth Watkins, Margaret Batten and Lucy Wright.

We light a second candle for the choruses of women who are Sigma Sigma Sigma. Our Sisterhood continues to grow and thrive because of our passion and dedication to this organization.

We light a third candle for the three little words that are Sigma Sigma Sigma. It is our friendship, our char-acter and our conduct that defines us and makes us who we are.

The light of these three candles illuminate the song that we all treasure and hold dear to our heart, and that song is Sigma Sigma Sigma.

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By Kaye Schendel, Gamma Phi


our sisters

To Receive Much, You Must Give Much

WWhen Diane Lynd and I joined Beta Tau Chapter almost 10 years ago, we learned that Tri Sigma was more than just col-legiate life – it was a lifetime experience. However, like most college students, we were more concerned about socializing, pass-ing classes and having enough money to shop. We both served on several committees. Diane was elected Treasurer, and I served as Recruitment Director. We always thought it would be nice to con-tinue to serve Tri Sigma, even though it may have seemed like a vague idea.

Looking back, it isn’t surprising that we have chosen to serve Tri Sigma on an Alumnae Advisory Board (AAB). Our collegiate chap-ter was blessed with an amazing AAB. They would come to meet-ings full of energy and positive ideas to help our chapter grow. The AAB members were a big part of making our college and Tri Sigma experience such a positive one.

After college Diane moved from Michigan to Montana to Texas. She would attend about one Tri Sigma event a year. I had moved from Michigan to Texas and joined

the Houston Alumnae Chapter where I met some wonderful women. I just didn’t feel that Houston would be my final stop. When the Air Force stationed Diane in San Antonio, she asked if I would come stay with her since she didn’t know anyone. To be honest, it was only a matter of getting my bags packed. When I arrived I fell in love with the city, and we made plans to be more involved in Tri Sigma. Initially we were going to join an alumnae chapter but soon found the clos-est one was in Austin, almost two hours away. Instead we found col-legiate chapter Epsilon Iota at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, needed AAB members. We both

began the application process, and here we are three years later still AAB members and truly enjoying the experience.

Knowing we were responsible for a lot of work, our third AAB member, Martha Mahalik Wilcox, Gamma Psi, was about to move out of state, and I might be relo-cating to Dallas (I didn’t relocate after all), I contacted the Dallas Alumnae Chapter. One of the Sisters in Dallas put me in contact with Fran Gehringer, Epsilon Iota, who was interested in becom-ing an AAB member right away. Oddly enough, she too is from Michigan but moved to Texas to go to St. Mary’s University.

By Virginia Sebolt, Beta Tau

From left to right, Virginia Sebolt, Diane Lynd and Martha Mahalik Wilcox serve on the Alumnae Advisory Board.


She had wonderful memories of her collegiate years and remains very close to several of her Sisters with whom she went to school. It isn’t a surprise that she holds this particular chapter close to her heart. This is evident by all of the hard work and effort she has put forth in her role as an AAB mem-ber, and like Diane and me, she wanted to continue to be a role model for the chapter.

As AAB members we have had the opportunity to meet and work with a collegiate chapter that respects traditions and is ener-getic and excited about being Tri Sigmas. Being an AAB member is not always easy. Sometimes diffi-cult decisions have to be made for the long-term stability of Tri Sigma and the local chapter. Knowing

that many National Officers and resources are available helps make our job easier.

Sometimes we find it difficult to balance our careers, personal lives and families. However, when things become difficult, we find support in each other. It is like those words that we first heard years ago at Arc Degree: To receive much, you must give much. We have given time and effort, and that has allowed us to meet and learn from a wonderful group of collegians, alumnae and National Officers.

Some of you may not know that at Convention this past summer some changes were made to the AAB. The National Organization knew that with all of the changes in Tri Sigma’s policies and with

the addition of programs, the AAB was becoming overwhelmed and was in need of some updat-ing. At Convention they stepped up to the challenge and made the decision to increase the AAB from three members to nine. Although this is a wonderful idea, and we could definitely use the help, we need to get the word out. If you would be interested or know someone who might be interested, please stop by the national Web site at www.sigmasigmasigma.org and go to the Volunteer Service Application under the Alumnae tab. Tri Sigma needs our Sisters’ help. AABs are a vital a part of the organization as they serve as liaisons between the National Organization and local chapters.

On behalf of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Northern Illinois University, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our sis-ters throughout the U.S. for their profound acts of kindness.

After taking most of last week off, we were amazed by the car-ing letters and beautiful flowers that we were greeted by once we returned. We continue to receive mail daily, and it never fails to put smiles on the faces of our mem-bers. It is incredibly comforting to know that we have such a strong Sisterhood throughout all of

America. Knowing that we are in so many individuals’ thoughts and prayers, has given us the hope and strength to get through even the hardest of times.

The love and support of our Sisters has really helped us move for-ward following this unbelievable tragedy. As a part of our Huskie fight song, the phrase, “forward together forward” has been our motto to keep moving forward as a university and community. Northern Illinois University has committed to not be defined by this senseless act of violence. As

Tri Sigma Sisters, we have found much comfort within our local and national sisterhood remembering that we are constantly moving, “ever forward.” Again, we thank you all for helping us through this time of tragedy and despair through the fruits of love and Sisterhood.

In our bonds,

Michele Ramirez Sigma Sigma Sigma President Beta Alpha Chapter Northern Illinois University

A Letter from Beta Alpha

( F e b r u a r Y 2 8 , 2 0 0 8 )

to our Sigma Sisters across the Nation,



our collegians

ValuesTThe Essential Sigma Program is

in full swing, and we wanted to know how it’s influencing chap-ters. For this issue of The Triangle, collegiate chapters were asked to describe some ways they have been using the Essential 10 in their chapters.

aLPHa – Longwood university, Farmville, Va Sisterhood and community service have been the focus for Alpha Chapter. Alpha Sisters went on an overnight camping trip, which was so successful they hope it will become a Sisterhood event each semester. The chapter held a cam-puswide children’s book drive and delivered the books and visited the Robbie Page Play Atrium at UNC.

Nu – university of Central missouri, Warrensburg, mo The women of Nu Chapter are reminded of the Essential 10 at both chapter meetings and inspi-rations. Nu Chapter has set a goal this year to improve knowledge of both Sigma’s Ritual and values.

aLPHa beta – Kent State university, Kent, oH Alpha Beta Chapter members incorporate the Essential 10 in their everyday lives. Recently half of the chapter took approximately 80 teddy bears to the Akron Children’s hospital. The alumnae of Alpha Beta planned a successful Christmas tree trimming party. It was a great chance for the alum-nae to meet the New Members and to pass down their stories of Tri Sigma.

aLPHa ePSILoN – Northwest missouri State university, maryville, mo Involvement has been a theme for Alpha Epsilon as they incorporate the Essential 10. Involvement has taught leadership skills, commit-ment, organization, patience and how to work with others.

EssentialIn this issue, Our Collegians embrace the values of The essential 10.

Alpha Beta Sisters donated over 80 teddy bears to the Akron Children’s Hospital.


essential 10The Essential 10 are ten values statements that relate directly to the standards for chapter accredi-tation. Here is a list of 10 key words; full descriptions can be found on page 11 of the Winter 2008 issue of Triangle.

1. ritual

2. Sisterhood

3. replacing myself

4. Financial stability

5. Involvement

6. Learning

7. Service

8. academic success

9. alumnae

10. declaration

essenTIa

l 10aLPHa Zeta – Northwestern State university, Natchitoches, La Alpha Zeta understands the pur-pose of Sigma Sigma Sigma is to empower every collegiate to become a better woman. The chapter has worked to become financially stable. They have encouraged members to take responsibility for their dues and to understand that as members they are relied on to keep the chapter going. Friendship, character and conduct are what the members of Alpha Zeta live by.

aLPHa tHeta – radford university, radford, Va Chapter member Ashley Stuller asked her Sisters to participate in the NAMI Walk for Mental Illness. The Sisterhood and community service of Alpha Theta was appar-ent as she convinced an outstand-ing number of women to drive three hours for the cause.

aLPHa Iota – Northeastern State university, tahlequah, oK Recently Alpha Iota members have tried to improve relations with their alumnae. To do this, they hosted a tailgating event with Zeta Gamma Chapter and their alum-nae. Through this event they were able to learn from the other chap-ter and were able to get to know their alumnae better.

aLPHa mu – university of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, La Living by the commitment to community service, the Sigmas of Alpha Mu visited Our Lady of the Oaks nursing home to pass out Halloween cards to the elderly. Other philanthropy events were Buddy Walk, Bark in the Park and winter clothes donations to Laborers in the Vineyard, in addi-

tion to their weekly Top Soccer service. Sisters participated in the American Heart Walk and adopted the children of the New Life Center for Christmas.

aLPHa rHo – Lock Haven university of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, Pa Alpha Rho Chapter has been bettering its relationship with alumnae and parents this year. For the holidays the Sisters sent out greeting cards that also served as newsletters to keep alumnae up to date. Sisters hosted a candy cane sale which benefited the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation.

aLPHa PHI – Central michigan university, mount Pleasant, mI Alpha Phi members are always known to be involved, not only within Greek life but on campus. Alpha Phi prides itself on academ-ics and encourages its Sisters to take the academic programming very seriously.

aLPHa PSI – eastern Illinois university, Charleston, IL Alpha Psi strives each month to perfect its standards. Their chapter members work very hard to think of new and unique ways to edu-cate, incorporate and maintain the Essential 10. Alpha Psi’s Sisterhood shines not only in their campus house, but in other organizations on campus too.

Alpha Mu Sisters group together during their Top Soccer community service project.


Alpha Psi Sisters looking bright during recruitment.

beta aLPHa – Northern Illinois university, deKalb, IL On philanthropy day during fall 2007 formal recruitment, Sisters and potential new members put their artistic skills to use by paint-ing and designing over 50 pots. The ladies of Beta Alpha will con-tinue their hard work in accom-plishing great achievements in the near future.

beta deLta – Shepherd university, Sheperdsdstown, WV Beta Delta Chapter has placed much emphasis on philanthropy this semester. The Sisters made sock puppets and IV bags to send to ill children in Texas and North Carolina. In addition, several of the Sisters worked to compile a book of “scary” stories for Halloween. In mid-November the entire chapter participated in Rockin’ for Robbie, sitting in rocking chairs outside of Cracker Barrel to raise money for termi-nally ill children.

beta ePSILoN – Western Illinois university, macomb, IL The Essential 10 help the women to better understand the traditions and rituals of Sigma Sigma Sigma. It helps them to value the core concepts of Sisterhood, service and education. Beta Epsilon has recently helped in the local com-munity’s “Paint the Town Pink,” a breast cancer research fundraising event. Members assisted by direct-ing the participants, passing out water bottles, or actually partici-pating in the event themselves.

beta tHeta – university of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa In September, 10 Sisters assisted the Lambda Chapter with their recruitment period. They met new Sigmas and learned new songs to

share with the rest of Beta Theta Chapter. They also found time to dance in the 24-hour Pitt dance marathon, which raises money every year for cancer research.

beta PI – university of Wisconsin—Stout, menomie, WI To jump-start the semester and to begin putting community ser-vice into practice, Beta Pi spent a weekend helping a local elementa-ry school build a new playground. They hosted a luncheon for their alumnae during homecoming to celebrate Sisterhood.

beta tau – university of detroit mercy, detroit, mI Beta Tau members have been fol-lowing the Essential 10 Ritual at every ceremonial business meeting and at all other Sigma ceremonies. For community service, they are working on a project that involves installing smoke detectors in Detroit homes. Also, they recently participated in a campus-wide event called Safety Street, which allowed children from all over the Detroit area to come to their campus to go trick-or-treating in a safe environment.

Alpha Theta Chapter participated in the NAMI Walk for Mental Illness this year.


During Halloween, Beta Tau Chapter helped put together Safety Street, a safe way for kids to trick-or-treat in the Detroit area.

Gamma Zeta – Slippery rock university of Pennsylvania, Slippery rock, Pa To raise money for the Foundation, the Sisters worked at a Pittsburgh Steelers pre-game in August. Another fund-raiser took place around Halloween when Sisters worked Fright Night at Kennywood Theme Park. For Thanksgiving the chapter par-ticipated in the 26th annual KD Turkey Fund Drive. The Sisters are most proud of their participa-tion in Adopt-a-Block day, which grants organizations a block to keep clean for the next year.

Gamma XI – barton College, Wilson, NC This year, Gamma Xi has taken alumnae relations even further with the Essential 10. During this year’s Homecoming Tea 32 alum-nae attended, including some of the charter members. Alumnae are becoming very involved with the chapter by doing things such as signing up to be an alumna buddy with a collegiate Sister, attending events on campus and supporting the chapter. Chapter members volunteered at a golf tourna-ment to help benefit the local fire department and also raised $500 for the Foundation.

Gamma PI – Nicholls State university, thibodaux, La To participate in community ser-vice, Gamma Pi helped to spon-sor Maggie’s Heart at the first annual “Sleep in a Box” hosted by Panhellenic. The members donated their time to numerous community service activities and had fun bonding at socials and Sisterhood events.

Gamma PHI – university of Wisconsin-river Falls, river Falls, WI Gamma Phi Chapter held its first ever Toys for Tots drive and achieved its goal of doing some-thing to get the whole campus involved. Sisters gathered a signifi-cant amount of toys, but they also raised awareness about poverty. The drive featured hard work in gathering, organizing, and donat-ing the toys, all while getting similar campus-wide support.

deLta deLta – the university of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC Delta Delta has strengthened its academic relationships through its first Professor Appreciation and Scholarship Banquet. Professors were invited to the Delta Delta house for dinner and awards. Sisters have been participating in more community service where they bought gifts and filled shoe-boxes for Operation Christmas Child and spent a Saturday after-noon putting the vinyl siding up on a Habitat for Humanity house.


deLta Zeta – bloomsberg university of Pennsylvania, bloomsberg, Pa Delta Zeta Chapter is incorporat-ing the Essential 10 by doing a community service project each month to help serve their com-munity and to bring the Sisters together for a good cause. Delta Zeta donated gifts to underprivi-leged children and volunteered at a Special Olympics event, the Bocce Bash, held on their campus.

deLta tHeta – university of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC To incorporate the Essential 10, Delta Theta members put their whole hearts, souls and minds into everything that they do. For Christmas, the Sisters had a semi-formal dinner where they gathered in a comfortable holiday atmosphere and discussed all the wonderful experiences they had with Tri Sigma the past semester. The memories they made were everlasting.

deLta PI – Winthrop university, rock Hill, SC Delta Pi Chapter believes in instill-ing the values of Sisterhood and community service from day one as a Tri Sigma. New members organized a successful Rock-A-Thon to raise money for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. The theme for the event was “Rock-a-bye Sigma,” and the women dressed up as little girls with pig-tails and pajama pants.

deLta uPSILoN – Widener university, Chester, Pa Delta Upsilon has found many ways to integrate the Essential 10 into its chapter. Holding work-shops for Ritual and having a variety of Sisterhood events have brought the Essential 10 into the chapter. Members strived to educate themselves by attending a meeting given by the President of the university on school safety, and Sisters have been going to St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital every week to volunteer.

deLta CHI – university of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va Each Sister of Delta Chi Chapter signed the Essential 10 Principles at the beginning of the semester as a reminder and a pledge to continue to live by and hold those standards as the ideals of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Their Education Director and Vice President are ready and excited to implement those principles with their spring new members class.

deLta PSI – St. Joseph’s university, Philadelphia, Pa In October the Sisters of Delta Psi participated in Passionately Pink for the Cure. Sister Kori Csanadi started the team “Prettier in Pink” and asked chapter members for support and donations; $575 was raised. On Oct. 25, they showed their support by wearing all pink and pink ribbons as well. The chap-ter also attended the Breast Cancer Vigil at Saint Joseph’s University where they had the opportunity to honor relatives or friends.

ePSILoN aLPHa – California State university, east bay, Hayward, Ca Epsilon Alpha is striving for aca-demic success with reward pro-grams for high GPAs and a buddy program to work with Sisters and their studies. Members also have been working on their community service by volunteering to clean a pre-school facility. The Chapter strives to represent all of the Essential 10 because they want their chapter to be strong.

ePSILoN beta – university of arkansas at monticello, monticello, ar Epsilon Beta values the Essential 10 and instills these values into each of their members.

The Sisters of Epsilon Beta celebrate after the Big Sis/Little Sis reveal.


The chapter welcomed alumnae at Homecoming with a luncheon and have continued to serve the com-munity. Fall semester they donated blood for a Sister’s mother at a blood drive, collected medicine bottles for African Christian hos-pitals, adopted two children for Christmas and participated in the canned food Christmas tree drive at UAM.

ePSILoN Zeta – Southern arkansas university, magnolia, ar Recently a Sister’s father passed away, and she was unable to travel to Nepal to attend his funeral. Funding was not going to allow her to return home until summer break. The Sisters of Epsilon Zeta banded together and in less than one month had raised almost $3,000, which was enough to purchase their Sister a round-trip ticket home to Nepal for the holidays. The hard work of Epsilon Zeta Chapter truly reflects the Sigma standards for Friendship, Character and Conduct!

ePSILoN eta – east Stroudsburg university, east Stroudsburg, Pa To strengthen the chapter’s aca-demic standards, Epsilon Eta’s Education Director created a study program that benefits all of the Sisters in the chapter. The chapter worked to better their relationship with alumnae by holding a din-ner to catch up and keep in touch with their alumnae. The chapter completed many community ser-vice activities fall semester to give back, which included the Special Olympics, visits to the SPCA and assisting with Toys for Tots.

ePSILoN Lambda – Hofstra university, Hempstead, NY By having closely followed the

principles of the Essential 10, the Epsilon Lambda Sisters are pro-ductive and well-rounded. The rituals of Tri Sigma are near and dear to their hearts and through practice they can be assured they will never waiver on their values. The Sisters of Epsilon Lambda are active outside of Hofstra’s campus through raising money for char-ity events such as Night of 1,000 Stars and Turkey Bash and par-ticipating in walks for cancer and AIDS. The chapter remains close to their alumnae, and more than 60 reunited this fall to see their Homecoming parade.

ePSILoN mu – rowan College of New Jersey, Glassboro, NJ Being a part of the Sorority is a learning process, and Sisters edu-cate each other daily by setting positive examples for one another. Epsilon Mu Chapter prides itself

on service. Every year they go above and beyond the expecta-tion set by Tri Sigma and the University. The Essential 10 value that most represents the chapter is involvement. The chapter is very active on campus. They are the most represented sorority on cam-pus and always attend university functions.

ePSILoN Nu – the university of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC Epsilon Nu members participated in a service project in which each individual chapter family prepared a gift box which included games, toys, toiletries, school supplies and clothing. The boxes were donated to Operation Christmas Child. Epsilon Nu Chapter recently vis-ited the Mabel Lee Walton House where they held their initiation.

Gamma Rho Sisters Beth Grundy, Sara Cherban, Savannah Marvin, Nicole Nelson and Diana Pearse visit the Mabel Lee Walton House.


ePSILoN PI – Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC Epsilon Pi is incorporating the Essential 10 in many ways, but most importantly they are embrac-ing Sisterhood more than ever! The chapter has been increasing in size, and with amazing growth comes amazing Sisterhood. They have developed an intimate bond, and as Sisters they have learned that leaning on each other extends beyond their weekly meetings. Epsilon Pi embraces each mem-ber’s talents and contributions in a special way.

ePSILoN rHo – minnesota State university, mankato, mN Epsilon Rho Chapter takes pride in its Sisterhood! Each Sister takes the time to get to know each and every Sister on a personal level to help maintain this tight bond. Sisters designate one Sunday out of every month to hang out as a group of Sisters, and usually there is a theme or event planned dur-ing the Sisterhood. These events

also incorporate service. Their last one consisted of making Christmas cards and cookies to send to the troops overseas. Each Sister makes it a goal to feel a connection with every individual in the chapter.

ePSILoN SIGma – Virginia Commonwealth university, richmond, Va Epsilon Sigma Chapter has imple-mented Essential Sigma to the full effect. The chapter enjoys New Members meetings, and New Members learned a lot through those activities. The Chapter brought together Essential Sigma and teachings from the National Organization. The New Members (as well as the initiated Sisters) learned a lot and have benefited greatly from it.

ePSILoN tau – Saint Leo College, Saint Leo, FL The Epsilon Tau Chapter inte-grated the Essential 10 throughout the semester. While the Epsilon

Tau Chapter identified with each item separately, it believes iden-tifying with the whole puts them closer to the foundations of Sigma Sigma Sigma.

ePSILoN uPSILoN – marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY Epsilon Upsilon Chapter worked to utilize all Essential 10 values in their events, but did concentrate on involvement in Sorority and campus activities. Epsilon Upsilon sponsored the face painting sta-tion at Marist’s annual Harvest Festival held for children from surrounding school systems and walked in the campus’ Miles for Medals. In addition, the Sisters held their annual alumnae picnic during Marist’s alumni weekend and are putting together a news-letter that will update alumnae about the chapter and each other.

Gathering with their alumnae at the annual alumnae picnic are Epsilon Upsilon Sisters.


ePSILoN CHI – Northeastern university, boston, ma Sisters from Epsilon Chi have incorporated campus involve-ment in their chapter by holding a domestic violence program for the University. Epsilon Chi invited Gabe Kapler, former Red Sox player from the 2004 World Series team, and his wife, a former vic-tim of domestic violence, to speak. They spoke about their strides in helping battered women through the Gabe Kapler Foundation.

Zeta aLPHa – bryant College, Smithfield, rI Trying to do more community service and philanthropic activities, Zeta Alpha planned several new philanthropy and fundraiser activi-ties this year. The chapter spon-sored a “Greek Night” at one of the University basketball games to raise money for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, and they cre-ated care packages for soldiers. The chapter put together a giant poster in one of the campus centers with an inspirational quote every month. This was with the hope that the Sigmas can inspire other students to reach their potential.

Zeta Alpha organized a campus-wide fundraising effort for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More than 60 students helped address envelopes, which led to more than $2,400 in donations to the hospital.

Zeta deLta – State university of New York - oneonta, oneonta, NY Zeta Delta has become more involved with community service, and in October they planted trees for a local conservation society. Zeta Delta put together a concert for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation fea-turing local student bands and one of our alumnae, Karen DePaul.

Zeta ePSILoN – Florida International university, miami, FL The chapter has been looking at new ways of reaching out in its community and in November hosted its first annual Backwards Pageant to raise money for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation and for Zeta Epsilon’s Alternative Break to Tri Sigma’s playroom in Chapel Hill, NC. Guests were asked to bring coloring books for the trip. Backwards Pageant was an overwhelming success and when paired with another award brought in almost $3,000.

Zeta eta – Winona State university, Winona, mN This semester has truly chal-lenged each and every one of the members to live up to their com-mitment to Sigma Sigma Sigma. The newly elected officers and appointed chairmen have set goals for chapter, academic, and life improvement. One of the small changes they are going to enforce is prioritization and punctuality. They have asked the whole chap-ter to support the newly elected and appointed leaders and to promote Sigma Sigma Sigma to others. They hope potential new members will see the positive attri-butes of the Essential 10 in them.

Zeta tHeta – Idaho State university, Pocatello, Id Zeta Theta Chapter is working to incorporate the rituals and values that Sigma Sigma Sigma is based on during their daily activities. To strengthen the Chapter’s knowl-edge of the Ritual, each month the Sisters attend a Ritual educa-tional meeting. The Essential 10 is what drove Zeta Theta’s activities for the fall semester and will guide them in the spring semester.

Eta Omicron Sisters Laura Cortinas, Jenifer Morgan, Shannon Horton, Gabby Landeros, Sasha Noble,

Lila Hollin, and Julie Matteson, display their plaque at the Dallas Children’s Hospital.

Epsilon Chi Sisters hosted a domestic violence awareness program with former

Red Sox player Gabe Kapler.

Epsilon Nu Chapter gathers together after initiation at the Mabel Lee Walton House.


Zeta KaPPa – montclair State College, montclair, NJ Sisterhood best represents Zeta Kappa, as members are always spending time with each other. They are very involved in helping Montclair State University and the other organizations.

Zeta Lambda – Wingate university, Wingate, NC Zeta Lambda wanted to reach out with the philanthropic efforts this year and decided to get involved with Up Til Dawn, which sup-ports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude is a hospital where all patients are cared for free of charge, and it runs on donations. The chapter is repre-sented on the executive board for the event, and the chapter was responsible for 47 percent of the letters written this year.

Zeta omICroN – Seton Hall university, South orange, NJ The main focus of the chapter is developing Sisterhood events that

the majority of the chapter can attend. Fall semester, the chapter hosted a birthday cupcake celebra-tion for Sisters whose birthdays were in the fall, a Halloween party, a chapter dinner and a Secret Sigma Christmas party to wrap up the semester and cel-ebrate the holidays. Individual members have been doing great things, including Rosemary Abrams who participated in a bike race for MS. She rode her bike from outside Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore to raise money for the cause.

Zeta PI – Virginia Wesleyan College, Norfolk, Va Essential 10 helps Zeta Pi mem-bers live their day-to-day lives in a better way. Members strive to meet the standards because they know that it will make them bet-ter women in many areas of their lives. Zeta Pi officers conducted different programs throughout the semester to help the chapter bet-

ter understand the importance of Essential 10. Zeta Pi Sisters have been working to live everyday life from the teachings of the Ritual, which helps to build the Sisters’ character.

Zeta rHo – Johnson and Wales university, Providence, rI The Sisters have been extremely involved with the local community. The chapter members spend their Friday evenings reading to stu-dents at an elementary school and sat down to a Thanksgiving din-ner with their elderly friends from the Bethany Nursing Home. The women shared some laughs and made the holidays meaningful.

Zeta uPSILoN – Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, ma Using the Essential 10, Zeta Upsilon has been striving to be its best. The officers have been supporting the rituals of Tri Sigma and trying to get the chapter to participate in Ritual procedure cor-rectly and daily.

Zeta CHI – Coastal Carolina university, Conway, SC Zeta Chi has put S.M.A.R.T. goals in place and has had great cam-pus leadership and involvement as they began incorporating the Essential 10.

Zeta PSI – the College of New Jersey, ewing, NJ The chapter is committed to liv-ing by the values of the Sorority. In order to be a true Sigma Sigma Sigma, the chapter has taken in consideration all 10 values and has been proud to have outstanding Sisters who, on daily basis, have tried to represent Sigma Sigma Sigma in a positive way and to live up to its standards and expectations.

During a Sisterhood event, Eta Tau Sisters Caitlin Whalen, Melissa Exton, Francesca Martino, Ashley Green, Ashley Toothill and Katherine Watter celebrate with Santa.


eta ePSILoN – ringling College of art and design, Sarasota, FL Eta Epsilon has begun the Essential 10 within their recruit-ment, and has begun discussing Essential 10 within their meetings as well. They feel that Essential 10 will be beneficial and is some-thing that they have been looking forward to implementing.

eta eta – Lynn university, boca raton, FL To strengthen their community ties, Eta Eta participated in the Suicide Prevention Walk in a nearby community park in Boca Raton. The Sisters have worked on their communication with Sisters’ families and during family weekend had a lovely meet and greet with Sisters’ families.

eta KaPPa – texas Woman’s university, denton, tX Eta Kappa Chapter understands the importance of living the Essential 10, not only for accredi-tation purposes, but to serve as role models for Sisters and the rest of the community. Sisters have participated in a number

of chapter, campus and com-munity activities. While Eta Kappa Chapter is successful in imple-menting all areas of the Essential 10, they most exemplify the value of involvement with their commit-ment to both Tri Sigma and Texas Woman’s University.

Epsilon Eta volunteers in its local community.

During a Sisterhood holiday party, Eta Epsilon Chapter collected toys for Toys for Tots.


Seniors form Eta Nu Chapter take in their final recruitment.

eta Nu – ramapo College of New Jersey, mahwah, NJ The Sisters of Eta Nu have been working diligently to incorporate the Essential 10. All Sisters value the Ritual of Tri Sigma and prove this in the way they lead their daily lives. Sisters are always willing to help each other when in need and want to create open and honest relationships with not only their Sisters, but with their friends and families. The Sisters understand the importance of honesty and the bonds of friendship that are essen-tial to Sigma Sigma Sigma.

eta omICroN – Sam Houston State university, Huntsville, tX During the fall semester, the Sigmas visited the Children’s Medical Center Dallas to make crafts and play with children. With the children the Sisters cre-ated pillows for them to stuff and hand tie. At the end of the afternoon the women were told that although the children make a lot of crafts, this is one they particularly love. The chapter held many Sisterhood activities such as potluck dinners and craft nights to celebrate being with each other. Ashley Boehle and Emily Horner repre-

sented Eta Sigma Chapter on the 2007 Homecoming Court.


eta rHo – armstrong atlantic university, Savannah, Ga Eta Rho is focusing a lot on phi-lanthropy. They are working with their local hospital on a grant pro-posal project to provide better rec-reation facilities for the children at the hospital. The Sisters have been visiting and working with local hospital administrators to make a better hospital atmosphere for them. Philanthropy has been very important to Eta Rho.

eta SIGma – Culver-Stockton College, Canton, mo Starting next semester, Sisters will be reading books to younger children at the local library every other Saturday. Eta Sigma has been helping out with a local Girl Scout troop which was looking for additional help with their meet-ings. On Halloween Sisters dressed up and went trick-or-treating for canned goods to give to the Canton Council of Churches’ food pantry.

eta uPSILoN – Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Va Eta Upsilon has been working on their involvement within the community. The chapter recently participated in Hike for Haiti, an annual event held by Lynchburg College to raise money for their sister school in Haiti. The Sisters donated time to help paint three classrooms at Elizabeth’s Early Learning Center. Samantha Ritter, who enjoyed helping, said, “Painting the school helped the community by taking away the labor costs that would have had to come out of the school’s budget.”

Zeta Alpha raised more than $2,400 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital during one weekend letter-writing campaign.


our alumnae

AaLaSKa The December highlight for the Anchorage Alumnae Chapter was the 10th anniversary celebration of Eta Zeta Chapter. Alumnae and collegiate members enjoyed having dinner, sharing stories, and viewing scrapbooks from over the years. Also in December, the chapter visited a local women’s and children’s shelter to wrap Christmas gifts with the children for their mothers. This annual event is a chapter favorite.

arIZoNaTucson Alumnae Chapter had its annual Christmas party. The chap-ter’s charity project for the year was Send A Kid to Camp, which members felt evoked Tri Sigma’s pledge of Sigma Serves Children. The chapter contributed more than $300 to the fund.

CaLIForNIaThe Long Beach Alumnae Chapter takes the motto Sigma Serves Children to heart. In addition to

members’ traditional and long-standing project of making teach-ing dolls for Miller Children’s Hospital (Long Beach Memorial Hospital) for use by doctors and other medical staff to help chil-dren undergoing serious medi-cal procedures, the chapter has

increased its support of the hospi-tal in other ways. In the last sev-eral years this support has grown to include both attending many of the hospital’s fundraisers and contributing baskets as silent auc-tion items.

Being TogetherWhen Sigma Sigma Sigma Alumnae gather, good things happen. See how we’ve spent our time together recently.

The Long Beach Alumnae Chapter displays its latest handiwork: polar fleece blankets.


The most recent form of service was making polar fleece blankets in a variety of sizes to accommo-date all ages. This latest project has become a very popular and an in-demand service project to the community.

FLorIdaOn behalf of the Central Florida Alumnae Chapter, Michelle Brady Palmer, Alpha Pi, attended the Ronald McDonald Share-a-Night Light-a-Light event and presented a check for $885 to cover the cost of sponsoring every room in both of the local Ronald McDonald Houses for one night. Additionally, a social was held for the under-40 Sigma women. Seven attended and had a great time, and 25 other women in their 20s and 30s responded that they would be interested in attending next time. Special thanks to Alison Blackmore Bogart, Chi, for organizing this event.

ILLINoISSeveral alumnae from Beta Alpha Chapter at Northern Illinois University got together for their annual Christmas party, a tradition they began seven years ago when they graduated. This year was a little different from past Christmas parties. They learned about a Santa program the Chicago Sun-Times organizes each year where a volunteer organization is paired with a Chicago public school. They were assigned Chicago’s New Hope Lutheran School and bought clothes, jackets, shoes, books and toys on the children’s Dear Santa wish list. According to the Sisters, it was without a doubt their favor-ite Christmas party.

mISSourI The Greater St. Louis Alumnae Chapter truly believes in some-thing for self, something for others and something for Sigma. At every chapter meeting, mem-bers collect children’s clothing, cough syrup, and/or school sup-plies for St. Martha’s Shelter for Abused Women in the St. Louis community. Additionally, they raffle off items, such as Christmas ornaments or sailboat candles,

at each meeting and give the money collected to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation. Several times each year, the chapter sends cards and care packages to col-legiate chapters in its state and region. But this chapter isn’t all work and no play: In November, members took a backstage tour of the Fox Theater in St. Louis, and in December they did “Life Mapping,” an idea from Convention 2007 in Nashville.

Beta Alpha Chapter alumnae continued a long-standing tradition for their annual Christmas party.

Sarasota/Bradenton Alumnae chapter in Florida created holiday bags for abused children.


The Jersey Shore Alumnae Chapter traveled to Connecticut to celebrate the 81st birthday of Berniece Hivner Gudorp, Chi.

Lafayette Alumnae Chapter had its monthly meeting at Bath Junkie Lafayette. Sigmas meet every month to talk about business and to have a little fun. At this particular meeting, the ladies got to customize and design scents and colors with

bath products of their choice.

NeW JerSeYAs a surprise for one of its most faithful and long-standing mem-bers, Berniece Hivner Gudorp, Chi, the Jersey Shore Alumnae Chapter held an 80th birthday celebration brunch at a hotel in November 2006. They presented her with a violet-tipped rose corsage, a purple princess crown, and a pearl bracelet. Even though she has since moved to Connecticut, chap-ter members visited with her and took her out to lunch to celebrate her 81st birthday.

oKLaHomaSisters from the Tulsa Alumnae Chapter celebrated their 75th Anniversary on Sept. 8, 2007. Joining the Tulsa members in celebrating were Alumnae Vice President Mandy Meehan Chocheles, Gamma Eta; Alumnae Coordinator Carol Gregory Swango, Alpha Psi; Oklahoma City Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter members; and collegians from Alpha Iota Chapter. The celebra-tion kicked off with an icebreaker game of “Find a Sister Who” which allowed everyone from col-legians to Golden Violets to have a great time learning about each other. Topping off the awards and recognition portion of the pro-gram was the proclamation signed by the Tulsa mayor officially declaring Sept. 8 Tri Sigma Day in the city of Tulsa. From scrapbooks to stories about particular memo-ries, everyone was able to revisit highlights from the first 75 years and remember the importance of Sisterhood to continue for the next 75 years.

LouISaNa


Several South Carolina alumnae gather together for an October photo: Susan Gibbs Allgood, Delta Kappa; Emily Lee, Alpha Upsilon; Joan Pollock Gibbs, Beta

Upsilon; and Marge Hoskins, Beta Theta. Emily helped Beta Upsilon’s chapter – of which Joan is a charter member – get chartered in the early ’50s. Additionally, Em-ily was instrumental in Delta Kappa becoming colonized at the University of South

Carolina, where Susan was a member. Emily and Marge are two members who founded the Columbia Alumnae Chapter.

SoutH CaroLINaThe Upstate South Carolina Alumnae Chapter combined a night of sharing with a night of caring for its November meeting. Several alumnae met at a local pizza restaurant to share news of each other’s lives. After dinner, they went shopping for gifts to give a needy child selected from an angel tree.

WISCoNSINThe Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter had a very active calendar of events for the 2007-08 year. Members held a salad supper in September, a stamping party in October and a Sprecher Brewery tour in November. In December, they hosted a wine and appetizer party in addition to a Secret Sigma and cookie exchange. They had a Saturday lunch-brunch get-togeth-er in January. In February, Kate Gaston, Alpha Chi, Development Officer – Gold Program, spoke on behalf of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, and the chapter com-pleted a fleece blanket making project.

Members of the Nashville Alumnae Chapter joined together for a Christmas Tea.

teNNeSSee

Members of the Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter met for a Christmas dinner and

alumni meeting on Dec. 17.

Spring 2008 | T h e T r i a n g l e

our alumnae

Twin Cities Alumnae Celebrate Golden Anniversary

I It was a banner year in 2007 for the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter as it celebrated its Golden Anniversary. A tea was held at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, on Sept. 23. The chapter received an award pre-sented by Convention Chairman/Meeting Planner Gwen Hardouin Maniscalco, Gamma Eta, recogniz-ing 50 years of Sisterhood and ser-vice. The chapter had the privilege of presenting the Golden Violet to one of its most dedicated mem-bers, Mikki Ruhland Gottwalt, Beta Pi.

From their beginning, the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter has been instrumental in promoting the bonds of Sisterhood beyond the collegiate years. The members of the chapter enjoy a wide variety of social activities, such as the monthly “Sip & See” events held at local restaurants, tours of local museums, fall apple orchard tours and Founders Day celebrations.

As much as the Sisters of the chapter enjoy the social events, they are ever mindful of the motto “To give much is to receive much.” This is exemplified by RPM projects such as making teddy bears for children involved in domestic crisis situations. These bears are given to local law enforcement and fire depart-ments to share with the children. Another service to the community is a birthday bag program for children in transitional families, sponsored by Simpson House, a women’s shelter in Minneapolis.

the Sisters of the twin Cities alumnae Chapter are visibly active on local, regional and national levels within Tri Sigma and proudly have a number of Sisters who have served on the Executive Council and as National Officers, including Jan Weaver Gibis Zeipen, Gamma Phi, past Collegiate Vice President; Marilyn Potts Carson, Alpha Nu, past

National Treasurer; Helen Marie Eggert Snyder, Alpha Xi and Omega, past National President; and Linda Manley-Kuitu, Epsilon Rho, past National Panhellenic Conference Delegate.

This national service will continue during this next triennium as the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) has been chosen as the loca-tion of the National Convention in 2010.

The Sisters of the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter are proud of their heritage, their service to the community, and their service to Tri Sigma and look forward to wel-coming you to their great state!

By Judy Reimann, Iota Alpha, and Kristin Loomis Smith, Beta Pi



A Golden Anniversary tea was held by members of the Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter on Sept. 23.

aLPHa Ellen Simmerman Heflin

Iota Janice Ewing James

Lambda Sarah Campbell Davis

Nu Daisy Davies Clarke Dorothy Turner Dunn

XI Frankie Prather Weibert

omICroN Marion Nepodal Breed

rHo Florence Rudd Johnson Theresa Adams Porterfield Mildred Johnson Warren

uPSILoN Jewell Dixon Brown Polly Goddard Harbert Sarah Holbird Leander

CHI Julia Sturm Coffey Edythe Tuggle Rankin

PSI Mary Eloise Pierson Nancy Beuhring Taylor

aLPHa aLPHa Mary Lazenby Thompson

aLPHa beta Nancy Hollister Janes Margaret Swanson Ruetz Bertha DuPont Tschantz

aLPHa Gamma Ellen Randall Meuli Helen Broadie Tucker

aLPHa deLta Ruth Sheldon Cone

aLPHa ePSILoN Marceline Cooper Shamberger

aLPHa Zeta Kathleen Buckner Eversull Margaret Parker Rives Olive Mury Tassin Jean Courtney Wilcox

aLPHa eta Helen Overfield Crane Daisy Cundiff Forney Marjorie Christy Johns

aLPHa tHeta Celia Thompson Freeman Helen Ashworth Mast Hessie Turner Tinnell

aLPHa Iota Sarah Holland Gesin

aLPHa Lambda Mercedes Voelpel Janda

aLPHa mu Marguerite Ida Landry Mary Ruth Laughlin

aLPHa Nu Dorothy Sinnott Billington Mary Campbell Dickey Eula Williams Griffith Mary Carter Kias Margaret Watson Reynolds Elizabeth Westover Walther

aLPHa XI Helen Yoder Brandt Gertrude Appenfeldt Graper Eleonore Wecks Strippel

75th Anniversary


our alumnae

WWalk in the footsteps of Roman

statesmen and celebrated artists

on this getaway to the eternally

enchanting region of Provence.

Discover the seaside landscapes

of southern France that inspired

Impressionist painters Cézanne and

van Gogh. Marvel at the well-pre-

served Roman ruins, breathtaking

Mediterranean coastal scenery and

charming hilltop villages that adorn

this area. Your home base of Aix-en-

Provence, a lovely town rendered in

17th- and 18th-century architecture,

quaint cafés and fashionable shops,

is conveniently near many of the

region’s storied highlights.

day 1

Depart your gateway city for

Marseilles, France.

day 2

Upon arrival in France, transfer to

aix-en-Provence and the Grand

Hôtel roi rené.

day 3

optional excursion: Highlights

of aix-en-Provence. Explore this

historic region capital of Provence,

the City of Kings and Counts, on an

informative walking tour. Its main

street is one of the most beautiful in

Europe.

day 4

optional excursion: Cassis and

its Calanques. Journey to Cassis,

a charming fishing port on the

Mediterranean coast situated at

the foot of 1,300-foot-high Cap

Canaille, Europe’s tallest cliff.

day 5

optional excursion: the Chateau

d’ansouis and Les Luberon.

Enjoy a private tour of the elegant

Château d’Ansouis led by the vis-

count and his wife. Drive through

Les Luberon, an off-the-beaten-path,

protected and picturesque region

of rolling, rugged hills blanketed

with forests and vineyard terraces.

See ancient churches, towering for-

tresses and visit the scenic provincial

hilltop villages of Lourmarin and

Bonnieux.

day 6

optional excursion: ancient

arles. With its collection of well-

preserved Roman ruins, the riverside

city of Arles is truly extraordinary.

The amphitheater of Les Arènes is a

testimony to the enduring legacy of

Roman construction.

day 7

optional excursion: avignon and

the Pont du Gard. Leisurely experi-

ence walled Avignon’s splendid envi-

rons with the attention it deserves,

free from the crush of summer tour-

ist crowds. Explore the impressive

Palais des Papes, a medieval citadel

embellished with towers and turrets

that stands squarely on the banks

of the Rhône River. Continue to the

remarkable Pont du Gard, built by

the Romans in 19 B.C. as part of a

30-mile canal to supply water to the

town of Nimes.

day 8

Transfer to the airport for the return

flight to your gateway city.

Costs are as follows:

$1595 before 4/29/08

Land only price

$1695 after 4/29/08

Land only price

air Fare Program

Atlanta, GA $1089

Boston, MA $989

Chicago, IL $1039

Dallas, TX $1039

Detroit, MI $1039

Houston, TX $1089

New York, NY $989

Portland, OR $1259

Washington, DC $1039

Other cities available upon request.

Laura Sweet invites you to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Provence as you join the third annual Sigma Sigma Sigma alumnae trip planned for November.

Alumnae Trip to Provence Planned for Nov. 10-17


Alumnae Trip to Provence Planned for Nov. 10-17

In Fall 2001, several New Members began their exciting journey with the Beta Epsilon Chapter at Western Illinois University. Included in this group was a funny, vivacious and spir-ited young woman named Lauren Guignon.

Over the years, many people would have the opportunity to

enjoy Lauren’s company and get to know her as a true and loyal friend. They would also learn of Lauren’s determination to continuously overcome her medical battles. Lauren referred to them as “speed bumps;” it was her way of making light of such serious situations. She triumphantly became a two-time survivor of Hodgkin’s disease, a rare cancer of the lymphatic system. She had the strength and tenacity to return to Western more than once in hopes of finishing her degree and moving on to the next steps in life.

However, Lauren’s fight was just beginning. She underwent surgery on her brain stem. A tumor had been there since childhood, and it was now time to operate. She began reha-bilitation successfully and was on her way to a full recovery. As time passed, Lauren’s body developed several complica-tions, but she was determined to overcome. She suffered infections and hospital visits, but still fought on. Lauren hung on, changed, but not undermined, celebrating her 25th birth-day on July 4, 2007.

Lauren was hospitalized again in October with an infection and complications of her digestive system and kidneys, still fighting for the life she was determined to hang on to. On Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, Lauren closed her eyes to eternal rest.

Despite her battles, Lauren was always optimistic. She would make light of heavy situations, showing the true capacity of coping with humor. Lauren’s memory will be honored forever in the hearts of all Sigmas, family, and friends.

Lauren’s Spirit Will Live OnLauren Guignon

July 4, 1982 - dec. 6, 2007

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”

--maya angelou (One of Lauren’s favorite quotes)

During the period from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2007, the following Tri Sigmas were reported to have entered Omega Chapter. We offer our sympathy to their friends and families, and honor them for their lifetime commitment to Tri Sigma.

Omega Chapter

ZETA Esther Terry Palmer

KAPPA Doris Berner Marshall

LAMBDA Sarah Yorgey Baggus

MU Julia Garth McNaughton

NU Jean McLaughlin Ludlam Jeanne Young McMeekin

OMICRON Ida June Scheid Nickel

PI Jeanne Foster Stacy

UPSILON Josephine Rock Callis

PHI Cornelia Harpster Palmer

ALPHA BETA Virginia Scott Weaver

ALPHA GAMMA Mary Beesley Weckel

ALPHA IOTA Ruth Burbage Persson

ALPHA XI Helen Marie Eggert Snyder

ALPHA PI Mary Spleen Zawacki

ALPHA TAU Ethel Frank Changuris Alice Garner Upchurch

ALPHA UPSILON Mary Fisher Buchan Sallie Carleton Doyle Evelyn Dent McCort Alice Hunter McLane Lydia Martin Oyler Virginia Moore Wiley

ALPHA PHI Nancy Premo Wallington

ALPHA PSI Helen Louise Lipscomb

BETA ALPHA Marion Jacobson McLeod Clare Troope Robinson

BETA BETA Marilyn Gist Yates

BETA GAMMA Sharon Casey Frank

BETA DELTA Hilda Whitacre Lizer

BETA EPSILON Lois Vigna Fish Lauren Suzanne Guignon Doris A. Pfaff

BETA IOTA Phyllis Erickson Johnson

BETA NU Jeanne Andreis Berry

GAMMA PI Yvonne Vinet Cheramie

DELTA NU Benna Michele Holden

DELTA TAU Teresa Rosenbaum Geyer

DELTA CHI Jayne Warren McGowan

EPSILON EPSILON Stacy Moore Hagan

EPSILON THETA Patricia Cunningham Elliott

EPSILON IOTA Laura Cristina Velarde

It is the responsibility of every initiated Sigma to see that the badge she wears is protected and never worn by or in the possession of a non-mem-ber. When a Tri Sigma enters Omega Chapter her badge may be buried with her or returned to the National Headquarters. The National Treasurer is the official custodian of Sigma Sigma Sigma badges.

omega chapter

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