THE THE EVERLASTING CONNECTIONS ISSUE COVID-19: One Year Later Alumnae Chapters Making a Difference Miriam Zimms THE HEALING POWER OF ART 2 SPRING 2021 Alpha Chi Omega VOLUME 123. ISSUE 3. REAL. STRONG. WOMEN. Hera Day AN EVERLASTING CONNECTION TO OUR HERITAGE You have to look all the way back to 1910, just 25 years after our founding, for the year Hera was chosen as Alpha Chi Omega's patron goddess. As explained by Fay Barnaby Kent (Delta, Allegheny College), past national vice president, Hera met several important criteria: "We felt that we should have a Greek, a major goddess, and if possible one not already identified with another fraternity. Hera is all of these. She was the Queen of all the gods, of heaven, and Protectoress of women from birth to death." Just one year later, Hera Day was established. Celebrated each year on March 1, this holiday calls Alpha Chi Omegas to dedicate themselves to aid the happiness and well-being of others. The impact of Hera Day is impossible to quantify, SO we'll share just a few examples of events over 90 years of celebrating. In 1941, the Theta (University of Michigan) chapter GAMMA TAU AND RHO RHO IN 1972 turned clothes into dolls to gift to local children. In 1972, members of Gamma Tau (Oklahoma City University) and Rho Rho (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Healing is our profe chapters joined together to make bibs for a local care ino others center. In 2013, the Alpha Nu (University of Missouri) chapter volunteered at a local food bank. Today in 2021, our connections to our past, to Hera and to service are all the more important. Through chapter-wide projects or individual acts of kindness, we're linked to thousands of sisters who have honored our patron goddess and sent more light into the world through their actions. How did you celebrate Hera Day this year - safely in person or even virtually? Send your stories and photos to editor@alphachiomega.org for a chance to be featured in the next Lyre. ALPHA NU IN 2013 FIND MORE UNTOLD STORIES ON THE ALPHA CHI OMEGA HISTORY WEBSITE. VISIT: #AXOuntald ALPHACHIOMEGA.HISTORYIT.COM SPRING 2021 VOLUME 123. ISSUE 3. THE EVERLASTING CONNECTIONS ISSUE REAL. STRONG. WOMAN. IN THIS ISSUE 2 EDITOR'S DESK 5 CORNER OFFICE 6 PERSPECTIVES 8 AXO NEWS Extension updates and virtual leadership training 17 HOUSING 20 FOUNDATION 24 COLLEGIATE CORNER 26 ON CAMPUS A day in the life of two collegians during the pandemic 29 LIFE COVID-19: A one-year update and AST' self-care tips 37 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT RED 38 CAREER OUTLOOK 48 42 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Her art now hangs in galleries, but 54 ACCOMPLISHED Miriam Zimms isn't chasing fame - ALUMNAE Sisters in the arts she's sharing her journey of healing through art and encouraging others to 58 ALUMNA INITIATE SPOTLIGHT do the same. 60 ARCHIVES 62 INDUSTRY INFO 64 AXO CONNECTION AND IN MEMORIAM EDITOR'S DESK LYRE Steadfast SPOTTING Amid Change EMMA THE DAUGHTER OF CLAIRE HINNEN (GAMMA MU, BALL STATE UNIVERSITY) When this issue reaches you, it will be one year since - MAY BE THE the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World LYRE'S YOUNGEST Health Organization. The last 12 months have been READER. WE HOPE filled with more changes and disruptions than we all SHE ENJOYED THE can count. While we have learned SO FALL 2020 ISSUE! much and adapted in ways we never imagined, sometimes it's nice to be reminded of the things that have remained the same. LETTER Alpha Chi Omega's vision statement "I've been receiving The Lyre for an lawfully long says, "Alpha Chi Omega shapes time. This edition just explodes in the best feelings the future through the powerful, of sisterhood ever! As I neared the end, I had a calm transformative and everlasting connections of real, feeling of hope about the diversity of our membership strong women." Today, on a cold winter afternoon and the wonderful things they are doing in spite of the after another Zoom call and before another at-home COVID climate. workout and virtual happy hour, it's the "everlasting connections" part of the statement that resonates. My other reason for writing is to share a Christmas tradition in my house. When our daughter was a Everlasting connections come to life in the memory new toddler, Christmas rolled around and she was all of my first homecoming brunch with the Alpha Chi about the ornaments on the tree. Her little hands chapter, hearing the constant shouts of"I missed were always ready to reach, grab and pull. That's you" as women of all generations reunited with their when I realized it would be a good idea to leave only sisters back at the house they once called home. It's the unbreakable ornaments on the tree and hang the one- countless pieces of Dream Cake I've eaten at sisters' of-a-kind, precious ornaments from the ceiling. weddings. It's the check-in texts from my big and little sisters and the emails from #TeamAXO at headquarters. Each year we were given new ornaments as gifts, and It's knowing that these words I type will be read by each year more of them needed to be hung overhead. women across the country, most of whom I've never The tradition is to hang the ceiling ornaments on met but all of whom I can call my sisters. Thanksgiving or the day after. It makes a wonderland of my living area. It's also amazing how many of the Amid all the changes, uncertainty and discussions of precious ornaments are lyres, angels and carnations!" the "new normal" we're still having today, I know that the everlasting connections of real, strong women will MARGERY OLESKIE HAYES (GAMMA PI, UNIVERSITY OF always remain. TAMPA), ON THE WINTER 2020 ISSUE AND RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO SHARE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS Lauren Filippini Alpha Chi (Butler University) Editor 2 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Contributors Alpha Chi Omega National President MISHAL ALI HEATHER YEON-HEE GROMLEY Lynne Herndon ALPHA (DEPAUW UNIVERSITY) GAMMA PI (UNIVERSITY OF National Vice Presidents TAMPA) Originally from Jari Askins Mikelle Holt Brady Islamabad, Heather is a Cassie Gerhardt Pakistan, Mishal Showrunner's and Jill Sabatino Lacy now calls Writers' Assistant Mari-jean Oswald Siehl Greencastle, in animation and Chief Executive Officer Indiana home TV comedy. She Katie Lampinen Gaffin as she studies lives in Los Angeles chemistry at with her fiancé Senior Director of Education and Engagement DePauw. She shares how Alpha Chi Joseph Lubinski Amy Colvin Mustafa became her home, both in person and their cat Rose. In her free time, and virtually, on page 24. she bakes, binges a lot of shows Director of Marketing and Communications (especially K-drama romcoms) Amanda Spice ASHLEY GARCIA and enjoys exploring LA when it's ZETA PSI (LOYOLA UNIVERSITY COVID-free. She shares her growing Editor NEW ORLEANS) understanding of family on page 34. Lauren Filippini A leasing and The Lyre is published quartlerly. KATHY BOWEN CONOVER marketing TAYLOR LINDQUIST POSTMASTER: Send address changes manager, to The Lyre ALPHA CHI (BUTLER Ashley also 5939 Castle Creek Parkway N. Dr. UNIVERSITY) serves as board Indianapolis, IN 46250-4343 president of Through all the Submission Deadlines Fund 17, sharing twists and turns Fall issue July 1 Winter issue - October 1 her passion of life, Kathy Spring issue - January 1 for small business support and has found an Summer issue - April 1 economic development in New Alpha Chi at Orleans. Learn about her journey every turn. Read 317-579-5050 alphachiomega.org in financial literacy and her advice more about editor@alphachiomega.org for supporting and becoming the everlasting entrepreneurs on page 38. connections of sisterhood on page 6. Our Mission Through the Real. Strong. Women. Experience, Alpha Chi Omega cultivates impactful communities STAFF CONTRIBUTORS where women are inspired to connect, lead, grow and serve. ALLISON SUMMERS AJAZI, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES FRATERNITY ARIANNA BRADLEY, DIRECTOR OF LIFETIME ENGAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS ANNE STONE CUROSH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION MADELINE PLESAC JENKINS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT LAURA KNOBEL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LIFETIME ENGAGEMENT ELIZA PAYNE, HOUSING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR NPC ANN REIGHTLER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE GROWTH national panhellenic conference THE LYRE 3 alphachiomega.org/recommend Know someone who would make a great sister? As a member of Alpha Chi Omega, you are our best resource for helping recruit real, strong women into our sisterhood. If you know an outstanding young woman who plans to participate in recruitment on her campus, be sure to take advantage of our convenient online recommendation form to let the chapter know. Visit alphachiomega.org/recommend to create and submit a recruitment recommendation form. While you're there, view our helpful videos, FAQs and other resources to discover what's new with recruitment! CORNER OFFICE Lifelong and Everlasting BY MARY PAT LAMBKE Foundation as a means to both thank Alpha Chi (BETA EPSILON, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY), Omega and, more importantly, to provide the same and FOUNDATION CHAIR new opportunities for young women to learn about themselves during their collegiate years. Through the years, my idea of our lifelong sisterhood was simply hen I was asked to prepare this Corner to support the Foundation financially - with the W Office article and speak to the vision we explanation that I didn't have time to volunteer my share of our lifelong sisterhood, I thought, time and talents. "Wow, how timely!" As these are my final few months serving the Foundation as a trustee and as chair of the Today, I know that I have had SO many more fun and Board of Trustees, the "Everlasting Connections" theme challenging opportunities, more meaningful moments is a great short summary and significantly more fulfilling experiences because of of my experience over the my time serving our Foundation. The saying is SO very past eight years. true - one gets out of an opportunity what one puts into the opportunity. While I worked to give Alpha Chi Let's back up a bit - my Omega my best, I know that I have been SO fortunate to short story is that yes, truly understand and experience our vision of a lifelong I have had everlasting sisterhood of connecting, learning, growing and serving. connections with some While I cannot list all of the amazing sisters I have of my collegiate sisters connected with here, I know that these connections are that have withstood the everlasting - thank you, Alpha Chi Omega! test of time. And yet, my volunteer experience has So, my final words to you are simply and humbly: How renewed SO many of those did Alpha Chi Omega support you in your early years? relationships as well as How did your sisters help you recognize your talents? developed new connections with sisters around the Please consider how your gift - treasure, time and/or country. talents - to our Foundation might strengthen your connections to Alpha Chi Omega. How might your gift What does this all have to do with the Alpha Chi to our Foundation further your connections to become Omega Foundation? It has everything to do with the everlasting? I, for one, can say wholeheartedly that your Foundation for me! My collegiate experience was fun, connection to Alpha Chi Omega is worth becoming challenging, meaningful and fulfilling. Frankly, back truly lifelong and everlasting! in 1984 when I graduated, I didn't fully understand the idea of lifelong sisterhood. As my career and life evolved, I realized just how impactful my Alpha Chi experience was. Because of what I learned from my leadership opportunities, I was compelled to support our THE LYRE 5 Always Alpha Chi BY KATHY BOWEN CONOVER TAYLOR LINDQUIST (ALPHA CHI, BUTLER UNIVERSITY) y story begins after a day on campus at M Purdue University. I cried all the way back to Indianapolis. Finally my dad said, "What's the matter?" I sobbed, "I hated the huge campus, don't think I'd fit in with the 9 to 1 ratio of men to women, was too far from home and would probably come home miserable after the first semester." "What do you want to do? You have a scholarship to go there," he said. I cheered up as I stated, "I want to go to Butler with my friends. I can live at home, commute to classes and work part time. Besides, Dad, it's your dream that I attend Purdue, not mine." So that fall I participated in rush, or recruitment as we call it now, at Butler University. As I walked around the lovely Alpha Chi Omega house, I saw someone familiar, a neighbor, pouring punch. "Mrs. Foust, what are you doing here?" I asked. She explained that she was an Alpha Chi alumna, there to help out. That night I dreamed of Alpha Chi, a piece of Dream Cake under my pillow. And sure enough as luck would have it, I became an Alpha Chi. Thinking back, that may have been one of the best things to happen to me. KATHY (CENTER) WITH HER HUSBAND LINK AND Things went smoothly. I was initiated into the THE ALPHA CHI OMEGA SISTER WHO INTRODUCED Alpha Chi chapter, attended classes, got a part-time THEM, JUDY HORST secretarial job and lived at home. That 4th of July, my world collapsed as my mother passed away. Being an couldn't drop out of school, and that my mom would only child, it fell on me to take care of everything as my always watch over me. Alpha Chi and Nancy took me father was heartbroken. I went to the Alpha Chi house under their wings, as did the president of the chapter, intending to tell my sisters it was over - I'd lost my Judy Horst. And through her I met Judy's wonderful mother, my religion and I couldn't go on. I remember aunt, Josette Horst, also an initiate of the Alpha Chi Nancy Nitchman Leonard, who became one of our chapter! beloved national secretaries, sitting on the front steps explaining how much I meant to the chapter as I was Well I did graduate, married with an alcohol-free very involved with the coming rush activities, that I reception in the Butler Alpha Chi chapter house and 6 ALPHA CHI OMEGA hi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega "I became an Alpha Chi. Thinking back, that may have been one of the best things to happen to me." I was fortunate to become national Ritual director and national convention songleader and compiled an Alpha Chi Omega Songbook with help from many, to be placed on every chapter house piano. Hmm, I wonder if they're still around anywhere? When my father became ill and I went back and forth between California and Florida, another Alpha Chi Omega came to my rescue. National President Rosemary Hittle let me sleep in her guest room and cook and bake with her for my dad and stepmom. Life went on, and I went to England on a Fulbright KATHY ON HER WEDDING DAY Teaching Exchange without my first husband. When I returned eight years later, as I'd been out of the country started teaching mathematics. We moved soon to too long, I couldn't get a car loan, let alone insurance, California. The first event I attended was an Alpha Chi couldn't even get furniture from Sears. I had zero Omega luncheon at the San Francisco Officer's Club, credit. Re-enter Josette Horst, now remarried as Josette where I met Medora Deason and Jo Hurley. They made Gavin. She took care of me, helped me get back on me feel welcome to California, and as I left lunch, I was my feet spiritually and financially, let me live with her made an officer for the alumnae chapter. I eventually for six months and became like my second mom. And moved to Dallas due to my husband's transfer there. remember Josette's niece, Judy, the Alpha Chi chapter Of course I looked up the Alpha Chi Omega alumnae president? I'd stayed in touch with her over the years. chapter, and who did I meet at my first meeting but She fixed me up with a very dear man, an avid tennis Adele Drew, a Past National President. What a genuine, player and outstanding cyclist. Fast forward 32 years down-to-earth lady she was! later. That dear sweet man became my husband on October 20, 2020. Returning from Texas to California, I turned to Alpha Chi. I became involved as province alumnae chair I thank Alpha Chi and my lucky stars and all my for California and Nevada. I met an incredibly talented Alpha Chi sisters throughout the years for the pianist, Avanelle Poehler, and together we made a wonderful life I've had and pray to continue. I remain tape of Pi chapter singing Alpha Chi Omega songs. an Alpha Chi forever. THE LYRE 7 AXQ NEWS Let's Make It Four! WE'RE HEADING TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOR OUR FOURTH SCHEDULED ESTABLISHMENT MEMBERS OF THE EPSILON UPSILON CHAPTER IN 1983 O ur sisterhood continues to grow! Alpha Chi Omega has been selected to reestablish our chapter at Mississippi State University in fall 2021. First established in 1974, our Epsilon Upsilon chapter will be home to a new generation of real, strong women at this campus in Starkville, Mississippi. This announcement brings Alpha Chi Omega to four scheduled establishments in the next two years. First up in fall 2021 will be two reestablishments - Mississippi State University and the return of our Gamma Sigma chapter at the University of Rhode Island. Following that in spring 2022, Alpha Chi Omega will head to the West Coast to establish a new chapter at Chapman ALUMNAE ARE READY TO WELCOME THE CHAPTER HOME! University. A new chapter at the University of Mississippi will round out 2022 in the fall. If you know a potential new member attending any STATE of these schools, tell her about Alpha Chi Omega and the once-in-a-lifetime experience that is founding MISSISSIPPI STATE membership. We are looking for women of all academic UNIVERSITY years. Please send an email to recommendations@ alphachiomega.org to recommend her to the FOUNDED IN 1878 recruitment team, and be sure to include her name and contact information. And don't forget to follow along 22,986 STUDENTS with our new chapters on social media! 175 UNDERGRADUATE, MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS Note: Dates are planned assuming campus, local and state MASCOT: BULLY THE BULLDOG guidelines related to COVID-19 allow establishments to EIGHT OTHER SORORITIES IN THE proceed. The health and safety of students, campus staff, and COLLEGE PANHELLENIC Alpha Chi Omega staff and volunteers is our priority. 8 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Legacy Policy Update A fter thoughtful evaluation, in-depth discussion connection to 5 million (and counting!) sorority and careful review of our policy and member women worldwide. perspectives, Alpha Chi Omega's National Council has voted to eliminate the preferential Removal of this policy does not eliminate the special treatment of legacies during recruitment effective fall traditions of celebrating legacy relationships, and our 2021. This news was communicated to all members via members and chapters have SO many ways they honor email on February 3. We acknowledge that this decision those relationships when a legacy becomes an Alpha will be met with mixed emotions. We know it has been Chi Omega! Here are just a few: an honor and privilege for many alumnae members to send their legacies to college with the confidence Sending a gift for your legacy's bid day that they will be welcomed into Alpha Chi Omega. As Participating in your legacy's Initiation we look to the realities of women in today's world, we Ceremony or Hall of Commitment Ceremony recognize that a change is needed to help our sisterhood Sharing your favorite Alpha Chi Omega T-shirts, grow into the future. jewelry, decor and mementos Teaching your legacy your favorite Alpha Chi The removal of preferential treatment of legacies during Omega songs recruitment will provide the same opportunity to join Traveling to a national convention together our sisterhood for every potential new member who Joining an alumnae chapter together or meets the Alpha Chi Omega membership standards. sponsoring your legacy's alumnae chapter dues Alpha Chi Omega is committed to removing barriers Attending a chapter event, like a Founders' Day as we strive to build a more accessible and inclusive celebration or homecoming, together membership experience, particularly for women Volunteering alongside your legacy whose families may have been excluded from sorority Sharing Dream Cake at your legacy's wedding membership in the past. Additionally, this decision Having your legacy pin you during a membership creates a more equitable process, allowing our chapters milestone ceremony further autonomy to make membership selection decisions. In 1885, seven young women created a sisterhood because they did not have a place to belong; more For those who have dreamed of welcoming their than 135 years later, that understanding of belonging daughter, granddaughter or sister into Alpha Chi has continued to expand as we invite more women Omega, this decision may cause confusion regarding into membership. We firmly believe this decision the organization's value of legacies or their loved to eliminate the preferential treatment of legacies one's opportunity to join the sisterhood. We strongly during recruitment aligns with the vision of Alpha Chi affirm the special bond between a member and Omega: to shape the future through the powerful, her legacy. We hope alumnae will share with their transformative and everlasting connections of real, daughters, granddaughters and/or sisters the impact of strong women. Alpha Chi Omega on their lives and the values of the organization; how their experiences have provided them You can visit wrw.alphachiomega.org/legacy-FAQfor1 opportunities to connect, lead, grow and serve; and how information. sorority membership creates a life-changing, lifelong THE LYRE 9 AXO NEWS Respect Isa Two-Way Street HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WEEK: FEBRUARY 7-13, 2021 Collegians shared tips virtually on how to have healthy BY ALLISON SUMMERS AJAZI, conflict and to share what "love is " to them. They also ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION discussed using check-ins as a positive building block for AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES mutual respect in a healthy relationship and practiced advocating for themselves as part of the Program with T he goal of Alpha Chi Omega's Healthy Purpose "Respect Is a Two-Way Street"! Relationships Week is to foster the development of healthy relationships and, by Mutual respect is one of the cornerstones in every SO doing, prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. healthy relationship. Alpha Chi Omega challenges you This year, Alpha Chi Omega members around the world to evaluate your relationships with family, friends and/ gathered to celebrate healthy relationships and the or romantic partners to see where you can work to importance of mutual respect. create balance in your relationships with continual efforts toward mutual respect. Start reflecting below! Any relationship requires effort. No one magically has the perfect connection with friends, family or romantic MUTUAL RESPECT IS A partners. They put the effort in, and they are in charge TWO-WAY STREET: SELF-ASSESSMENT of their behaviors. Mutual respect is an ongoing effort for all parties involved, which means there's always DO THEY/YOU INTERRUPT, SPEAK OVER OR YES NO room for improvement. IGNORE YOU/THEM? DO THEY/YOU INCLUDE YOU/THEM IN YES NO Alumnae, collegians and nonmembers joined for DECISION-MAKING? a webinar (pictured below) from the One Love DO THEY/YOU COMPROMISE OR YES NO ACCOMMODATE YOU/THEM? Foundation's new campaign, "Love is Learned." They DO THEY/YOU MAKE EXCUSES OFTEN? YES NO practiced healthy relationship skills and identified how DO THEY/YOU FEEL AT FAULT MORE OFTEN? YES NO they could learn to love better. One attendee shared, "I gained SO many new resources related to healthy relationships that I can turn to for my own education." If you answered "YES" to questions 1,4 or 5 or "NO" to questions 2 or 3, you may be experiencing an imbalance of respect in your relationship. Consider checking in Write in the question box: What is one piece of with that person. Checking in is a great way to connect relationship advice you wish with friends, family or romantic partners to talk about you could how you're doing, speak on any unfinished arguments or issues, or potentially explore needs not being met. give your younger self? onelove NEED TO CONNECT WITH A PEER ADVOCATE ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP? TEXT "LOVEIS" TO 22522. 10 ALPHA CHI OMEGA the Alpha Chi Night Out 2021 ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, MEMBERS WORLDWIDE CELEBRATED OUR SISTERHOOD. SISTERS FROM OMICRON PHI OMICRON (ZETA PI ALUMNAE) HAD AN OUTDOOR BY ARIANNA BRADLEY (KAPPA XI, UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA), HAPPY HOUR AND RAISED $500 IN GIFT DIRECTOR OF LIFETIME ENGAGEMENT CARDS TO DONATE TO THEIR LOCAL SHELTER! ach February during Healthy Relationships Week, Alpha Chi IOTA IOTA E Omega asks alumnae to gather with a sister to celebrate (SEATTLE, Alpha Chi Night Out. The goal of Alpha Chi Night Out is to WA) engage as many members as possible worldwide in a day of fellowship MEMBERS @ALPHACHIOMECAHQ MADE and sisterhood. This year, many sisters opted for a virtual night in while DELICIOUS some were still able to gather for a safe night out with friends. Despite POTATO the challenges of the pandemic, our sisters continued to share in the fun GNOCCHI and connections of #AXONightOut! AT A VIRTUAL From trivia nights, cooking classes, happy hours and virtual museum COOKING CLASS. tours to FaceTime calls, Zoom reunions and shared meals, Alpha Chi AND GNOCCHI Omegas found creative and meaningful ways to enjoy the society of our sisters! Here are just a few ways our sisters celebrated: A CRAFT & SIP NIGHT WAS THE PERFECT WAY FOR XI TAU XI (CENTRAL NJ) SISTERS TO REMEMBER THEY ARE "TOGETHER EVEN WHEN ROBBIE APART!" PAC LAUREN FELLOW TEACHERS ERIN BLEY (PSI, THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA) HUGHES (THETA AND EMILY KAISER LOGSDON (ALPHA TAU, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY) UPSILON, THE UNIVERSITY OF ORGANIZED A ALABAMA) SPENT THEIR LUNCH SING-A-LONG BREAK TOGETHER. FOR ALUMNAE CHAPTERS IN HER PROVINCE. AXO NEWS We believe SUPPORT SURVIVORS survivors. BY TALKING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH: APRIL 2021 THANK THEM FOR TELLING YOU BY ALLISON SUMMERS AJAZI, A ASK HOW YOU CAN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HELP AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES A pril is national Sexual Assault Awareness LISTEN WITHOUT Month. To recognize this month, JUDGMENT Alpha Chi Omega provides opportunities and digital resources for education and awareness K KEEP SUPPORTING initiatives focused on sexual assault prevention in partnership with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). #SAAM LEARN MORE AT RAINN.ORG/SAAPM During this month, members also support the victims and survivors of sexual assault. @ALPHACHIOMEGAHQ They recognize Denim Day - an international campaign that began after a rape conviction was overturned because the court said the victim was MEMBERS OF wearing tight jeans and must have helped her THE KAPPA TAU attacker take them off, implying consent - by (UNIVERSITY wearing denim or creating a jeans display, and OF they host events on campus with educational CONNECTICUT) information to promote awareness. CHAPTER RECOGNIZE A PREVIOUS When someone you care about shares that they DENIM DAY. have been sexually assaulted or abused, it can DENIM DAY be a lot to handle. A supportive reaction can make all the difference. Join Alpha Chi Omega in supporting survivors by committing to speaking up about sexual violence and learning how to support a survivor by "TALKing." CALL 800-656-HOPE (4673) TO BE CONNECTED WITH A TRAINED STAFF MEMBER FROM A SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE PROVIDER IN YOUR AREA. 12 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Next Book Club Picks The Alumnae Book Club has announced the next three selections for our sisters to read and discuss. It's never too late to join the group on Facebook; just search "AXO Alumnae Book Club" and jump into the conversation! APRIL MAY JUNE BREATHE IN, CASH OUT THE VANISHING HALF PRETTY REVENGE BY MADELEINE HENRY BY BRIT BENNETT BY EMILY LIEBERT In this romantic comedy, Allegra Our members' most recommended This is our club's first mystery Cobb is looking to leave her high- book, this mesmerizing novel thriller! Kerrie decides to seek stress Wall Street job for a simpler follows twins living very different revenge against the woman who life centered around yoga. Can she lives - one as a Black woman in ruined her life 18 years ago. How last until her big bonus hits her the town where they grew up and far will she go for vengeance? bank account? the other secretly passing for white in a new city. A NOVEL THE breathe in, VANISHING cash HALF PRETTY out nowel REVENGE BRIT MADELEINE HENRY BENNETT EMILY LIEBERT "Brilliantly New YorkTimes -bestselling author of The Mothers USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR New Collegiate Executive Board Officer Starting this spring, all collegiate chapters elected a new Her work will encourage personal development for officer to their executive boards: the vice president each member and the collective growth of the chapter. diversity, equity and inclusion (VP DEI). While many Through the efforts of the national DEI Work Group, chapters have had a DEI nonexecutive officer before new officers have an abundance of resources, such as an now, the VP DEI will be empowered to promote a officer handbook and discussion guides. We're excited positive, diverse and inclusive chapter environment to see the work of these inaugural VPs DEI as the 15th through education, programming, policy and best member of collegiate executive boards! practices. THE LYRE 13 AXO NEWS Virtual FOUR STEPS Leadership you can take to BE SUCCESSFUL in CHAPTER DEI EFFORTS Trainings #1 MAKE DEI A PRIORITY AND BY ALLISON SUMMERS AJAZI, WEAVE IT INTO ALL AREAS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OF THE CHAPTER #2 EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP SET, COMMUNICATE AND EDUCATE ON BEHAVIORAL INITIATIVES, AND ANN REIGHTLER EXPECTATIONS RELATED TO DEI (EPSILON TAU, VIRGINIA TECH), ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF #3 COLLEGIATE GROWTH TIE DEI TO ALPHA CHI OMEGA VALUES AND THE CHAPTER A Ipha Chi Omega is committed to CULTURE AND IDENTITY #4 providing leadership development HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE and personal growth opportunities TO THE EXPECTATIONS AND to our members. That commitment doesn't #AXOLA21 STANDARDS waver during the pandemic; it just shifts to virtual formats. Two signature leadership training events - Leadership Academy and Collegiate Growth Academy - moved online this year leading through change. and provided opportunities for women to connect, lead, grow and serve. Learn more on the next few pages! Lindsay Boccardo gave the opening keynote, inspiring participants to lead their chapter with the tools to LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: navigate stress and burnout. Becky Fein, from our national partner Active Minds, shared important JANUARY 30-31, 2021 mental health considerations such as promoting self- Each year, four officers from Alpha Chi Omega's care in their lives and their sisters'. Christina Parle of collegiate chapters travel to an often-snowy Indianapolis Social Responsibility Speaks gave the closing keynote to attend our premier training for executive board on diversity, equity and inclusion in the sorority officers. This year, prioritizing the health and wellness experience, which was followed by a breakout session; of our members during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina encouraged attendees to start the self-work as Leadership Academy became Alpha Chi Omega's first officers and executive boards as well as shared four steps virtual conference! to guide their work (see graphic above). The event was hosted on the Whova event management While our event may not have been our "normal," this platform. Conversations were led by four lead did not stop our collegiate officers from connecting facilitators and 61 breakout facilitators who were with each other, growing as officers and serving as both alumnae members and nonmember friends of representatives of their executive board. Together, our Alpha Chi Omega. Topics included the five practices collegiate officers will continue to seek the heights this of leadership, how to balance being a good sister and year throughout their officer terms supported by sisters officer, navigating conflict amid cancel culture and and volunteers nationwide. 14 ALPHA CHI OMEGA THE GAMMA TAU (OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY) BY THE OFFICERS WERE NUMBERS MASKED UP AND EXCITED FOR THE WEEKEND! 145 COLLEGIATE CHAPTERS ALANA NEWVILLE, 580 VP MEMBERSHIP COLLEGIATE PROGRAMMING OFFICERS JOINED FOR KAPPA VIA WHOVA CHI (FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY) 1,571 MESSAGES SHARED BETWEEN SISTERS AND VOLUNTEERS LEADERSHIP OFFICER TAKEAWAYS 51 ACADEMY COMMUNITY BOARD TOPICS THROUGH OUR "To always take time for yourself. POSTED TO INITIATE OFFICERS Self-care is never selfish!" CONVERSATIONS EYES! "Applying the hierarchy of needs to 22 membership programming!" MEET-UPS CREATED "Even though we were unable BY SISTERS to travel this year, Leadership "Create the solid foundation of equity and inclusion TO CONNECT Academy still provided us first in order to have sustainable diversity." ACROSS THE with the opportunity to grow COUNTRY as women and leaders while finding a deeper connection "This year I attended 3 within the sisterhood. The Leadership Academy KEYNOTE keynote presentation given from the comfort of SPEAKERS by Christina Parle was SO my own room. Being informative on how our able to hear from other 4 chapters can cultivate a chapter presidents LEAD diverse, equitable and inclusive really opened my FACILITATORS Alpha Chi Omega experience. eyes up to new Additionally, we discussed opportunities I could 61 what it meant to be a sisterly present to my chapter. BREAKOUT leader. I absolutely loved It was also very interesting to hear everyone's FACILITATORS collaborating with other take on boosting member morale and retention while chapter presidents and leaders being virtual because of COVID-19. I am SO excited to 32 from all over the country." implement the information and ideas I learned to be EDUCATIONAL able to enrich all my sisters' sorority experiences." SESSIONS ~LARISSA MITSUYOSHI (ALPHA PSI, UCLA), CHAPTER ~MAHALAN BULLARD (ZETA OMEGA, WESTERN CAROLINA PRESIDENT, PICTURED ABOVE UNIVERSITY), CHAPTER PRESIDENT, PICTURED ABOVE THE LYRE 15 AXO NEWS COLLEGIATE GROWTH ACADEMY: FEBRUARY 20-21, 2021 Virtual recruitment. Check. Chapter meetings on Zoom. Check. Remote classes. Check. This year, chapters transitioned to virtual methods in order to carry out their daily pre-pandemic activities. In addition to all the other things members could check off doing virtually this year, now they can check off attending virtual conferences. While Alpha Chi Omega has been training recruitment officers and advisors online for years, 2021 saw our first-ever virtual Collegiate Growth Academy! Collegiate Growth Academy takes place every other Throughout the weekend officers and advisors from the year for all Alpha Chi Omega chapters. The training same chapter had time to connect and start to put what is for VPs recruitment, VPs recruitment information, they had learned into action. recruitment advisors and recruitment information advisors. It is a great opportunity for chapters to acquire This year, the theme of Collegiate Growth Academy new recruitment strategies and strengthen conversation was advanced preparation and year-round recruiting. skills while learning how to create a values-based While we don't know exactly what recruitment will recruitment. Originally the training was scheduled to look like next year, what we have learned from this take place over a weekend in February in Indianapolis year is that it's important to be prepared for anything and was moved to a completely virtual format due to and have backup plans. No matter the format of the COVID-19 pandemic. recruitment, there are elements - such as promoting the sorority experience, making connections with While we wish we could have been together in person, potential new members, speeches and presentations, it was wonderful to connect virtually and have a and logistics - - that will not change and can start being packed training with opportunities to learn and grow integrated into the planning process. In addition, it's with sisters from across the country. Through large important to remember that recruitment is more than group presentations and engaging in small breakout a few days during the year. Recruiting, in the sense of groups, participants learned from headquarters staff; marketing, promoting and relationship-building, takes Alpha Chi Omega volunteers; and Krystal N. Clark, the place year-round. founder of Equip to Thrive, who served as the keynote speaker to discuss equity and inclusion in recruitment. As a result of attending Collegiate Growth Academy, participants left with the knowledge and resources to coordinate a successful recruitment, educate their MORE VIRTUAL TRAINING AHEAD! chapters and be intentional leaders within Alpha Chi Omega. VOLUNTEER SUMMIT, ALPHA CHI OMEGA'S BIENNIAL ALUMNAE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WILL ALSO BE HELD VIRTUALLY THIS SUMMER. INVITED VOLUNTEERS WILL RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION VIA EMAIL IN THE COMING MONTHS. HOUSING Creating the #AXOisHome Atmosphere BY ELIZA PAYNE (DELTA CHI, WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY), for a potential new Alpha HOUSING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR member. When you Chi walk into one of the Omega or chapters that are housed in Alpha Chi Omega National Housing F facilities on their campuses, the house becomes Corporation's (NHC) a focal point, a unique place that is central facilities, we want it to sisterhood and the sorority experience. On some to be immediately campuses, this space is a residence hall where some of apparent that you are our members live or an on-campus suite where they in an Alpha Chi Omega YOU KNOW YOU'RE AT AN can gather. At other institutions, there may be a lodge space. We are proud ALPHA CHI OMEGA HOUSE FROM where members do not reside but is designed similarly of our colors and our THE FRONT DOOR KNOCKER AT THE KAPPA NU (CARNEGIE MELLON to a house or large suite SO members can meet. Or golden lyre and want UNIVERSITY) CHAPTER. perhaps the house is a place where members can sleep, to showcase that to all gather, host chapter meetings and build sisterhood. who enter our homes. So how do we make that connection apparent without A chapter facility is a point of pride for our members and a giving off Christmas vibes with too much red and green? special place where they grow and enhance their collegiate experience. House tours are commonly incorporated into Answer: It is all in the details! Through partnerships with recruitment weeks and can often be a first impression colleges, universities and designers across the country, the NHC has fine-tuned the art of creating beautiful and safe spaces for our members. Even though each facility is different in look and structure, by incorporating those subtle Alpha Chi Omega touches, we can evoke a feeling of home and belonging for sisters. EXTERIOR ALPHA CHI OMEGA When you first approach any sorority house, you will undoubtedly find signage and lettering indicating which organization you are visiting. To build upon those standard items, the NHC has worked to add more ways to make our homes recognizable. For example, door knockers, stained glass windows and custom tile work are additions that help establish an Alpha Chi Omega presence from the get-go. OUR BELOVED LYRE IS DISPLAYED AS A STATUE OUTSIDE OF THE EPSILON PSI (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE) CHAPTER HOUSE. THE LYRE 17 HOUSING AT OUR DELTA EPSILON (SOUTHEAST INTERIOR MISSOURI STATE When entering a facility, visitors most often find UNIVERSITY) themselves in a foyer or common area space. Members CHAPTER, THIS spend much of their time in these areas, and it is LYRE LAMP FINIAL IS ONE important for the design to continue the Alpha Chi OF MANY WAYS Omega aesthetic. And while our members express their WE HIGHLIGHT personal styles in their bedrooms, there's always a hint OUR of Alpha Chi Omega too! APPRECIATION FOR THE GOLDEN LYRE! THIS ALPHA CHI OMEGA OUR COAT FIREPLACE DONGO OF ARMS SCREEN HOLDS SUCH AT OMEGA AXQ SIGNIFICANCE (WASHINGTON TO ALPHA CHI STATE OMEGA UNIVERSITY) MEMBERS, AND CHAPTER'S THE NHC HAS HOUSE WORKED TO PROVIDES GIFT CHAPTERS A CLASSIC A BEAUTIFUL TOUCH TO THE COAT OF ARMS LIVING ROOM. TO FEATURE. peace; joy, of happiness, service rendered; noble another, AXO in be her badge what it ma forth the chords of (love, BUNKBEDS FOR AT OUR THETA unselfishness, sincerity ALPHA TAU OMEGA (UNIVERSITY (MARQUETTE OF NEW UNIVERSITY) HAMPSHIRE) CHAPTER, CHAPTER VINYL DECALS MEMBERS WERE USED TO COME DISPLAY THE EQUIPPED SYMPHONY WITH CUSTOM THROUGHOUT ALPHA CHI THE STUDY OMEGA ROOM. SAFETY RAILS. 18 A LPHA CHI OMEGA THE BRAND January 2020 brought new ways to showcase our facilities with the brand refresh. Working with our marketing team and designers, the NHC has already been able to implement new brand pieces in chapter facilities. Wallpaper, pillows and decals are just a few of the avenues we've taken to accomplish this. Alpha Chi Omega REAL STRONG WOMEN The NHC works diligently not only to make sure that our chapter spaces are safe places for our members to gather, but also to display and showcase the Alpha Chi Omega brand. Whether it is through a paint color, furniture piece, artwork or room layout, our facilities aim to inspire sisterhood in every corner! THE DELTA PI (UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE) CHAPTER'S DINING ROOM GOT AN UPDATE WITH THE NEW LOGO. 1888 IN ALL PROJECTS, THE NHC INCORPORATES BRANDED ENTRY RUGS, A CLEAR SIGN Alpha Chi Omega YOU ARE WALKING INTO AN ALPHA CHI OMEGA FACILITY! THROW PILLOWS AT What Alpha Chi Omega pieces do EPSILON ETA (STEPHEN you have displayed around your own F. AUSTIN home? Take a picture, tell us your UNIVERSITY) item's story and send it to editor@ USE THE alphachiomega.org for a chance to be NEW BRAND featured in the next Lyre! PATTERNS AS THE FABRIC. THE LYRE 19 2/5 FOUNDATION Honoring Friendships While Sustaining the Future of Our Leaders BY ANNE STONE CUROSH (ALPHA BETA, PURDUE UNIVERSITY) AND MADELINE PLESAC JENKINS (ALPHA BETA, PURDUE UNIVERSITY), ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS OF ADVANCEMENT T heir friend story is a lot like other friend stories. They hit it off immediately and have been part of one another's lives ever since. Over the years, they have done the big and the little things together - kept one another's confidences, shown up to one another's celebrations and shared the happy and sad moments of life. Angela Costley Harris (Alpha Beta, Purdue University) does not remember the first time she met Shawn Donnelley (Zeta Psi, Loyola University New Orleans), (LEFT TO RIGHT) ANGELA, SHAWN, DIANE WILSON BLACKWELDER (OMICRON, BAKER UNIVERSITY) AND though Shawn shares a story about being a Foundation JENNIFER MAUDE CARLIN (ALPHA, DEPAUW UNIVERSITY) trustee, making calls to chapter advisors and calling AT A PAST CONVENTION Angela. Shawn remembers they had an amazing conversation and made a note that the Foundation should get to know Angela because she knew a lot about Leadership Academy many times over the years," about board governance and fundraising. Angela says. "We are both former chapter presidents and valued the training we had received." A few years later, both women ended up serving on the Board of Trustees at the same time. They understood Endowed funds are a great way to provide sustaining each other, loved Alpha Chi Omega and cared deeply support for a cause that means a lot to you, now for the same things outside of our sisterhood. One and well into the future. Gifts to an endowed fund meeting weekend, Angela and Shawn roomed together. are invested as part of the Foundation's endowment Angela remembers, "After a long night of talking, I portfolio, and earnings on the fund are used to support knew that Shawn had a very clear sense of how to make annual grants for the specified purpose. The Foundation a meaningful impact on the causes she cared about and allows endowed funds to be named, SO they are a great how to help other people make an impact, too." way for a donor to leave their personal legacy or to honor a family member or sister who is important On Angela's last night as National President in to them, like Shawn did for Angela. Funds require a 2020, Shawn surprised her with an initial gift to the minimum donation (currently $25,000 payable over up Foundation to establish the Leadership Academy Fund to five years) to establish and can then be designated for in Honor of Angela Costley Harris. "We have talked an educational or charitable use of the donor's choice. 20 ALPHA CHI OMEGA DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE A VIRTUA DONOR EXPERIENCE The Alpha Chi Omega Foundation was honored to host a special group of donors for Discovery Experience January 29-30, 2021. This was the third SHAWN HELPING OUT AT A CONVENTION STAR BOOTH year of Discovery Experience but the first time this event was held virtually. Discovery Experience is a Foundation event held in conjunction with They can also be added to over time through Leadership Academy; it is an opportunity for additional cash gifts or through an estate gift. Foundation donors to see the impact of their dollars on our sisterhood. The fund Shawn established, the Leadership Academy Fund in Honor of Angela Costley At the event, donors made new sister connections, Harris, will provide an annual grant in support learned about how their gifts are making an of Leadership Academy. "We both know impact on Alpha Chi Omega, experienced how impactful it would be if every executive Foundation-funded programs and enjoyed time board member from every chapter were able with Fraternity and Foundation leaders. In to experience Leadership Academy, and how addition, they heard from Lindsay Boccardo, this important it is to have funding available to update year's opening keynote speaker. the program to meet the needs and expectations of current leaders and facilitators," Angela explains. Invitations to Discovery Experience were extended to donors who gave $2,500 or more to the Real. Thanks to gifts from Shawn and other sisters Strong. Women. Fund or $5,000 or more to any who share a passion for women's leadership, this program or fund during the 2019-20 or 2020-21 program will continue to evolve and expand its fiscal years. impact to more real, strong women leaders. Shawn has generously offered to match gifts up to $25,000 To learn more about giving to the Alpha Chi Omega per year for the next five years to the Leadership Foundation, visit alphachiomega.org/axo-foundation/. Academy Fund in Honor of Angela Costley Harris. This is a great opportunity for those who support Leadership Academy to double the impact of DISCOVERY EXPERIENCE PARTICIPANTS GATHERED their gift by helping meet Shawn's matching gift FOR NETWORKING AND ENJOYING THE SOCIETY OF THEIR SISTERS! challenge. And it's a beautiful way for Shawn to honor the everlasting connection she has with her sister Angela. If you would like to contribute to the fund and help YOU'RE LUC the Foundation achieve Shawn's matching goal for Leadership Academy, visit give.alphachiomega.org/ ACH, or contactfoundation@alphachiomega.org to learn how you can create your own endowed fund. FOUNDATION 2020-21 - Scarlet Ribbon Leadership Council M eet the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation's This year's Scarlet Ribbon Leadership Council has 2020-21 Scarlet Ribbon Leadership Council, helped Foundation staff promote annual giving a group of collegiate sisters who serve as initiatives, worked on internal projects such as the ambassadors for the Foundation's mission, purpose and creation of special donor publications, and learned initiatives. more about Foundation giving and the inner workings of nonprofit organizations. CAROLYN ADAMS ABBY BANKS MAGGIE CRAIG (ALPHA UPSILON, THE UNIVERSITY (GAMMA TAU, OKLAHOMA CITY (ALPHA ETA, UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OF ALABAMA) UNIVERSITY) UNION) CASSIDY EDWARDS HALLIE FRIED MARISSA GARCIA (BETA PHI, BOWLING GREEN STATE (ALPHA OMICRON, THE OHIO STATE (UPSILON, MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY) UNIVERSITY) UNIVERSITY) 22 ALPHA CHI OMEGA EMILY GUNZBURG MAYCI HARTLEY ARIANA HEINER (KAPPA TAU, UNIVERSITY OF (ALPHA OMEGA, BIRMINGHAM- (BETA LAMBDA, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT) SOUTHERN COLLEGE) ARIZONA) MORGAN HILL SAVONNA HILL KIKI HUNTE (EPSILON ZETA, AUBURN (ZETA XI, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH (DELTA RHO, UNIVERSITY OF UNIVERSITY) CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO) ARKANSAS) SAVANNAH MANOSKY TAYLOR ORMAN MAE PASTORELLO (ALPHA UPSILON, (BETA NU, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH) (BETA PSI, LOUISIANA TECH THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA) UNIVERSITY) If you're a collegiate sister interested in fundraising and philanthropy, this could be a great volunteer role for you! Scarlet Ribbon Leadership Council members are selected annually; the application for the 2021-22 academic year will open June 2021. Questions about serving in this role? Contact Associate Director of ANNA KATE SCHALLER BRI YANCEY (ALPHA UPSILON, THE UNIVERSITY (IOTA OMICRON, UNIVERSITY OF Advancement Madeline Jenkins at OF ALABAMA) LYNCHBURG) mjenkins@alphachiomega.org. THE LYRE 23 LLCGAIS NICN Alpha Chi is Home BY MISHAL ALI (ALPHA, DEPAUW UNIVERSITY) S an international A student from Pakistan, Greek life was what I saw in movies, and during my first semester at DePauw, I had little to no exposure to Greek life, which reinforced presumptions I held. I never thought of myself as a "sorority girl." My friends convinced me to go through recruitment, MISHAL but due to circumstances at that time, I wasn't able to. My friends went on to different chapters, and I wasn't able to see them as frequently. So I decided to go through recruitment the next year as a sophomore. I was nervous to go through recruitment because I didn't think I would be able to talk to SO many people in a single day. However, recruitment was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I realized how much I loved social interactions, talking to people, learning myself. I have been a wallflower for as long as I can about people - their likes, dislikes, backgrounds, remember, but whenever I was at the house to see my inspirations, passions and everything about what makes friends, I felt like a whole different person, someone them them. And this realization was possible because of who was more me than the me I've been all this time. Alpha Chi. Although I had just joined Alpha Chi, I found that Alpha Chi has been a huge part of my collegiate everyone was always willing to help and genuinely cared experience SO far. I joined because I wanted to about the growth and well-being of all sisters. It was an be surrounded and empowered by real, strong, overwhelmingly amazing experience to be surrounded independent women. How did I know Alpha Chi was by empowered and empowering women. Whether it home? Because there was never a time when it didn't was getting help on a chemistry assignment, going to feel like it! Alpha Chi helped me reconnect with old the gym or Starbucks, or watching a movie, there was friends, make new ones and discover SO much about always someone there for me. 24 ALPHA CHI OMEGA MISHAL (LEFT) ON HER BID DAY IN JANUARY 2020 This is one example of the empowerment I have felt. My sisters became my support group, people I could confide in, go to for help and reciprocate for them in as many ways as I could. Especially now during times of virtual interactions, I haven't felt like it was difficult to connect with my sisters because they created fun engagement opportunities for the new member class to get well acquainted and for everyone to reconnect. This included MISHAL (RIGHT) WITH SISTERS STAYING Jeopardy game nights, holidays and family hangouts. SAFE WITH THEIR MASKS For chapter, there were fun ways to support each other by sending anonymous shoutouts (through various virtual platforms) that were shared with everyone over One example of this was during the pandemic. During a screen and through our Sister of the Week tradition. the summer of 2020, I found myself without a home in a country without family and with travel restrictions I have met some of the most amazing people in my preventing me from going back to Pakistan. At that life. I feel the love and support of my sisters even when time, one of my sisters - who I barely knew and we've been all over the globe this semester. If it weren't who barely knew me - took me in and provided me for Alpha Chi, I wouldn't have crossed paths with such one thing I was looking for in an uncertain, strange strong, wonderful and amazing women. And looking pandemic: home. I was able to stay with her and her forward, I can't wait to see what the rest of my college family for more than a month. experience will bring! THE LYRI E 25 2/3 ON CAMPUS A Day in the Life OF COLLEGIATE MEMBERS DURING THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC E -learning. Virtual sisterhoods. Zoom fatigue. Sydney Hansen, 2020 chapter president for Alpha Our collegiate women will have been navigating Lambda (University of Minnesota), and Lucia college life during the pandemic for about a year Mendoza, 2020 VP recruitment information for Theta by the time this Lyre reaches you. But what does that Tau (Rutgers University), share a typical day of their fall really look like? semester and what they learned. Sydney Hansen CAMPUS MODEL: Hybrid (some classes in person, others online) - Sydney's fall courses were online SO that she could attend clinicals at the hospital with minimal exposure elsewhere. CHAPTER MODEL: Primarily virtual, with a few safe and socially distanced events A TYPICAL DAY: 7:45 a.m. - Wake up 8-8:30 a.m. - Morning routine (get dressed, skincare, vitamins, stretch, coffee, etc.) 8:30-9 a.m. - Answer emails (mostly Alpha Chi Omega business) 9-11 a.m. - Online school and homework 11 a.m. -12 p.m. - Work out 12-1 p.m. - Lunch and break 1-4 p.m. - Online school and homework 4-5 p.m. - Go outside and take a walk 5-6 p.m. - Dinner and break 6-7 p.m. - Check my email and do any Alpha Chi Omega work 7-9 p.m. - Wrap up any homework and prep for the next day 9-10 p.m. - Watch a movie with my friends, read a book or play cards with my roommates 10-11 p.m. Call my long-distance boyfriend and start my nightly routine (skincare, read, etc.) SYDNEY 26 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Lucia Mendoza CAMPUS MODEL: Virtual (all classes in a digital environment) - Most of Lucia's fall courses were asynchronous, meaning she could access recorded lectures and complete digital assignments when her schedule allowed as long as she met course deadlines. This was helpful in balancing school with work and family responsibilities! SYDNEY (TOP RIGHT) WITH HER CHAPTER FAMILY CHAPTER MODEL: Virtual, with all events occurring via videoconference SYDNEY REFLECTS: This year has truly taught A TYPICAL DAY: us that the bond of Alpha Chi Omega transcends 7 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for work all boundaries, especially Zoom. In the end, I think 7:30-7:45 a.m. - Starbucks drive-thru for caffeine! finding bits of excitement in a virtual sisterhood or an 8 a.m. -1 p.m. - My shift at work upcoming event gave a lot of women something to 2-3 p.m. - Zoom call with recruitment team look forward to and some structure to their schedule, 3-4 p.m. - My favorite meal of the day - brunch! which was helpful for most women in our chapter. 4-7 p.m. - Online schoolwork, homework or readings (I took 17 credits last semester!) Being a leader in this time challenged me in ways 7-8 p.m. - Grandpa's physical therapy appointment that I truly could not have imagined when I ran to be 8-9 p.m. - Dinner with my family (Everyone gets home chapter president. Every woman in our chapter was after 7!) struggling with something during this unprecedented 9-10 p.m. - Make sure I'm caught up on all things year, whether it was their financial situation, their recruitment information (check our coach call health, etc. I do think our chapter was able to turn agenda, make a to-do list, prep for our next call, etc.) this into a strength by opening up conversations 10-11 p.m. - Binge-watch four episodes of Fleabag with about mental health and making sure that we were my mom checking in on our sisters and providing resources 11:30 p.m. - Watch TikToks until I fall asleep (and pray such as extra excuses for mandatory events or de- I don't get stuck on the app for more than an hour!) stress tools. In the end, I worked with my executive board to support members by lowering chapter dues, making fewer events mandatory, creating optional and fun sisterhood events, and trying to remind women in our chapter that they have a support system for whatever they're going through in the women of Alpha Chi. 2020 was a wild ride, but I do feel that one constant in my life was the friendships I have made with women in Alpha Chi Omega. I truly think that being able to come together in the toughest of SO MANY OF OUR INTERACTIONS ARE OVER VIDEO circumstances was a huge source of comfort for a lot CALLS; HERE IS LUCIA WITH HER PARENTS, CAPTURED of women in our chapter. OVER FACETIME! THE LYRE 27 ON CAMPUS LUCIA REFLECTS: I lost my on-campus job I loved, which caused me to have to leave my roommates and my apartment off-campus and live at home with my family. I found a job that I would have never imagined working in a million years - testing patient samples in a COVID-19 lab! Throughout the summer, I worked full time, but once my semester started, I became a part-time lab assistant to make sure I had the time to succeed in my courses, stay on top of my officer responsibilities and take care of my responsibilities at home. I live with my grandfather, and it was my responsibility to make sure he got to all of his appointments and physical therapy every week. Because both my parents have been deemed essential workers, they work every day, SO I try my best to take care of anything pertaining to my grandfather. I think a positive I have seen from our "new normal" has been the appreciation of family and time spent together. Not a day goes by where I am not being thanked by family for taking on responsibilities outside of my schoolwork and my job during these hard times. LUCIA I think the most important part about sisterhood is the time we spend together and how we build each other up. Despite all of our events being virtual, we still made an effort to show up to our events and experience the fun together, and that is the best I could have hoped for in the midst of a pandemic - seeing my sisters happy and healthy, even if it was only for an hour and half. Chapter meetings were the most fun for me because as a member of the executive board [as VP recruitment information], I had the opportunity to speak every week and directly ask my sisters how they were doing. I learned that burnout is very real and no matter how invincible I may think I am, it is always smarter to reach out and ask for help rather than stress myself out. I am SO grateful for our chapter consultants and my recruitment advisors because they always made themselves available to us and would answer any question or uncertainty that ever came up. Personally, I tried my best to collaborate with my advisors and my recruitment team, and we were able to do that by constantly scheduling virtual meetings and setting dates for everyone to check in! It has not been easy, but with the help of my recruitment team, it has LUCIA (RIGHT) AND RAJVI JAN (LAMBDA, SYRACUSE surely been manageable. UNIVERSITY) WORK TOGETHER IN THE COVID-19 LAB! 28 ALPHA CHI OMEGA LIFE Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Alpha MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES The Bond of a Lifetime I t's not four years; it's for life." This phrase has "I want to thank you for become a cliché in the sorority world, but the 75-year pin that was its sentiment still holds true. When you join sent to me. It is truly Alpha Chi Omega, you join a lifelong sisterhood, a beautiful, and I will take network of everlasting connections. great pride in wearing it. I am a member of the Alpha Chi Omega celebrates this lifetime commitment Omicron chapter at Baker through our membership milestone program. While University. It was the best each year of continued connection to the Fraternity is a decision I could ever have celebration, we mark achievements of 10, 25, 50, 60 and made, as I dearly loved the 75 years of membership with special recognition each girls in my pledge class and January. Ceremonies to honor the occasion are available also the girls living in the house. I am SO grateful for my in the Resource Center of alphachiomega.org and wonderful Alpha Chi memories." milestone pins can be ordered from our official jewelry partner, Herff Jones, at hjgreek.com/axo. (The 75-year ~THELMA SIMMONS SCHNEEBERGER WEVER (OMICRON, pin is presented as a gift from the Fraternity.) BAKER UNIVERSITY) Headquarters hears from some members celebrating a milestone anniversary, recounting all that Alpha Chi When THOMASINE Omega has given them. Here are just a few to remind MORRIS (Gamma you of the everlasting connections we all share. Omega, University of Miami, right) achieved her 60th year of membership, her little sister Zoe Helmuth Sicking presented her with her pin. The friendship they started six decades ago remains strong today. "To be recognized for my 75 years was great, and I was touched by the ceremony. One girl scrounged to find red carnations for a centerpiece (not in season). The best was a framed copy of our Symphony, and I could remember the words. At 94, I look back and see how much Alpha Chi Omega has been a part of my life." ~MARY TOMLINSON SAYRE (BETA PHI, BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY), PICTURED IN FRONT WITH SISTERS OF GAMMA OMICRON GAMMA (CLEVELAND, OHIO) IN 2019; MARY PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER 2020 THE LYRE 29 LIFE 2019 A Year of DECEMBER 31: WHO learns of a "viral pneumonia" in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 2020 JANUARY 21: The first case of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. is confirmed. S ocial distancing. Quarantine. Mask. They're words that have been on JANUARY 29: The White House Coronavirus Task Force is everyone's mind, representing actions initiated. that we've taken each day over the last year. When this issue arrives to you in March, JANUARY 30: WHO declares a Public Health Emergency it will have been more than a year since of International Concern. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As a light at the FEBRUARY: Alpha Chi Omega staff and volunteers begin end of the tunnel appears with the arrival of establishing plans in a "now-next-later" framework to vaccines - but while the distance to that end address the impacts of the virus. is still unknown - The Lyre looks back on the past year of life in a pandemic and how it has FEBRUARY 11: WHO announces that COVID-19 would impacted our world and our Fraternity. be the name for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. After looking over the timeline, keep reading for some mental wellness tips from our MARCH: All colleges and universities hosting our national partner, Active Minds. This year of collegiate chapters transition to remote learning; many anxiety and change has affected each person chapter facilities close. Resources for maintaining the differently; consider these ideas to help you virtual collegiate experience and sisterhood connections stay strong through the months ahead. start to be created (and continue to be created and revised to this day). Editor's Note: For more than 130 years, The Lyre has served as a way to capture moments in MARCH: The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) time for Alpha Chi Omega. While this issue went establishes the Disruption to Panhellenic Operations to print in February and reflects information Task Force, followed by the Recruitment Contingencies regarding COVID-19 up to that point, The Lyre Task Force. continues its tradition by sharing what sisters and our Fraternity have experienced thus far. THE ALPHA Sources for this non-exhaustive timeline include GAMMA the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. ALPHA Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers (ATLANTA, for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and GA) Google News data models; detailed COVID-19 EXECUTIVE responses from Alpha Chi Omega can be found at BOARD MEETS alphachiomega.org. VIRTUALLY BLACK TEXT indicates national and world AXG MAXON events. RED TEXT indicates Alpha Chi Omega events. 30 ALPHA CHI OMEGA MARCH 7: 100,000 COVID-19 cases are reported globally, with 428 cases in the U.S. AXO MARCH 11: WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic (defined as an epidemic that has spread over KAPPA CHI (FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY) SENIORS multiple countries or continents). SAFELY ATTEND HALL OF COMMITMENT MARCH 13: President Donald Trump declares JULY - SEPTEMBER: The majority of collegiate members COVID-19 a national emergency. return to campus with hybrid class models (though some campuses remain fully remote); chapter facilities MARCH 16: Headquarters transitions to a remote-work reopen with reduced occupancies and safety guidelines model. in place. MARCH 27: The 2020 National Convention is canceled. AUGUST - OCTOBER: Recruitment occurs, with 92% of fall-recruiting chapters transitioning to a virtual format. APRIL 1-2: The Foundation hosts Day of Caring to NPC also announces that all remaining Panhellenic share love for Alpha Chi Omega and connect sisters recruitments in the 2020-21 academic year will be virtually. conducted virtually. APRIL 4: 1 million COVID-19 cases are reported SEPTEMBER 29: Deaths linked to COVID-19 surpass globally, with 312,500 cases in the U.S. 1 million globally, with nearly 206,000 deaths in the U.S. MAY 15: The U.S. government launches Operation DECEMBER 11: The first COVID-19 vaccine is authorized Warp Speed to accelerate the development, by the FDA for emergency use in the U.S.; the first doses manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 begin to be administered on December 14. A second vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. vaccine is authorized on December 18. MAY - JULY: The Sister Outreach Team calls dozens DECEMBER 17: The Fraternity announces a reduction in of older alumnae to help them feel connected to spring 2021 dues and fees and makes a substantial gift Alpha Chi Omega during stay-at-home orders. to the Foundation for need-based educational assistance grants. JUNE: In lieu of a national convention, Fraternity business is conducted by mail-in, email and fax 2021 voting. A new Sustaining membership status is JANUARY 13: 90 million COVID-19 cases are reported established to support collegiate members. globally, with 23 million cases in the U.S. JUNE 3, 4 AND 9: Across three ceremonies, more than JANUARY 30-31: The first virtual Leadership Academy 1,500 collegiate women are initiated virtually. A is held, followed on February 20-21 by the first virtual virtual Alumnae Initiation Ceremony is also held on Collegiate Growth Academy. July 23 for 26 women. Through every day of the last year, the Alpha Chi Omega JULY 28: The National Council and board chairs for sisterhood has remained steadfast. We are real, strong women, the NHC and PSP are installed virtually during Lyre and connection is at our core. If you are struggling, please Lights: A Night of Celebration. reach out to a sister; in crisis, text BRAVE to 741-741 to be connected with a counselor from the Crisis Text Line. THE LYRE 31 LIFE Self-Care Suggestions FROM OUR PARTNERS AT ACTIVE MINDS T hese are unprecedented times. And on top of news and social media. Be still. Slow down. Allow your all the events of the past year, we are all living feelings to catch up. Know that you're allowed to feel our own lives and trying to get by in these whatever it is you are feeling. strained circumstances; some of us are in school, some of us are working (remotely or in person), some of us HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH AT LEAST ONE PERSON TODAY are parenting or caretaking, some of us are out of work, ABOUT HOW YOU ARE FEELING. It might be someone all of us are trying to navigate the risks associated with close to you who you trust to listen and let you process COVID-19 and how we can best keep ourselves and our your thoughts. It can be a therapist. It can be on an loved ones safe. Needless to say, it's a lot. online platform or a support line, such as the Crisis Text Line (text BRAVE to 741-741) or the National Suicide We at Active Minds want you to know that whatever Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255). you are experiencing, you are not alone and it's valid to feel that way. A lot of people are struggling. In a student DO AT LEAST ONE THING TODAY TO TELL YOURSELF THAT survey conducted by Active Minds in September YOU MATTER. What is your body telling you that you 2020, one in four respondents reported that their need? It may be to drink more water, shut your eyes or depression had increased significantly as a result of the eat something nourishing. It may be to take a walk and pandemic. 89% of college students reported that they get some sunshine. Do that one thing for no one else are experiencing stress and anxiety as a result of the but yourself. pandemic. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SET THE BOUNDARIES It's also important to know that, on the other hand, YOU NEED. Ask for a mental health day. Reschedule when we experience joy, comfort, safety, gratitude, your meetings to slow the day's pace. Let that friend security that's OK too. When everything around us know that you will call them back later, especially if seems grim and we see SO many who are struggling, it you need space from the news and you anticipate the can be difficult to fully appreciate moments of joy and conversation may drift in that direction. serenity. Some have said they even feel guilty for feeling joy in the face of such dire global circumstances. In fact, Two-thirds of respondents in the Active Minds survey embracing moments of joy and doing everything we mentioned above reported that they have increased can to cultivate them for ourselves and our loved ones their support of others when it comes to their mental (with COVID-19 precautions top of mind) is critical for health - a heartening display of resilience and mutual our sustained coping with the ongoing pandemic. support in our coping. At Active Minds we hear about people's desire to support others with their mental Thinking about how to cultivate joy and practice self- health more than almost anything else. The challenge care when we are feeling down can be difficult. Here can be in knowing how. Enter: V-A-R. are some ideas for short-term, immediately actionable self-care techniques to help spur your thinking. V-A-R, Validate-Appreciate-Refer, is Active Minds' everyday tool for everyday conversations. V-A-R is the FIND AT LEAST ONE QUIET MOMENT. Disconnect from the quintessential tool that anyone can use to remind 32 ALPHA CHI OMEGA WHEN IT'S ALPHA CHI OMEGA PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN ACTIVE MINDS AND THREE OTHER FRATERNITY/SORORITY HEADQUARTERS TO SHARE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES A BAD DAY LIKE THIS POSTER AND CONVERSATION STARTERS WITH COLLEGIATE CHAPTERS. Helping a friend is as simple as showing up for them in their everyday struggles. support, find out from them what helps. For example, say, "What usually VALIDATE APPRECIATE REFER helps you get through a rough moment?" Let them know that what Let them know they did Let them know help is they're feeling is okay and the right thing by sharing available and refer them that you believe them. and that you're here to appropriate resources. When engaging with V-A-R, be careful to support them. not to jump to find solutions before you've validated what they are going If you're worried that someone may be through. It can be easy to inadvertently considering suicide, use the crisis override their experience or undermine resources below. Stay with your friend YOU DON'T NEED TO BE until they're safe. their process, even when we are trying AN EXPERT TO HELP. to help. First, validate. Call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) Text "BRAVE" to 741-741 YOU JUST NEED TO BE THERE. The power of V-A-R in supporting Learn more about V-A-R at activeminds.org/VAR others - and asking for the support that you would like - can't be overstated. To active learn more, check out activeminds.org/ minds Alpha Chi Omega REAL STRONG WOMEN ZETA TAU ALPHA PI KAPPA PHI SIGMA NU FRATERNITY Seek Noblest var or visit the "Educational Posters" Excelling Honor page in the Collegians section of us how to show up for the people around us in a alphachiomega.org to learn more about meaningful way. Whether you are a collegiate member facilitating a conversation about V-A-R. You can see the or alumna, you can utilize these steps to help someone poster shared with collegiate chapters on this page too. in need. Take care of yourselves through this difficult time. What Here's how it works: we are each going through is unique and valid and it's universal. Being present for ourselves and one another VALIDATE THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES. Start by will help to mitigate the mental health impact of these letting them know that what they are feeling makes trying times. sense and is valid - no matter what. For example, say, "That makes sense." Active Minds is the nation's leading nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for APPRECIATE THEIR COURAGE. Speaking out about what young adults. Active Minds has a presence on over 800 we're going through can be difficult. Let them know college, university and high school campuses nationwide, that they made the right choice in sharing and that you and is powered by a robust Chapter Network, the nationally appreciate them. For example, say, "I'm glad you shared." acclaimed Send Silence Packing exhibit and inspiring Active Minds Speakers. The organization is dedicated to ending the REFER THEM TO SKILLS AND SUPPORT. Whether that's silence and changing the conversation about mental health self-care techniques, social connection or professional for everyone. Learn more at activeminds.org. THE LYRE 33 LIFE Alpha Chi Omega in 2021. I am also SO happy to have the memories of Finding finding my Alpha Chi Omega family. I remember going to recruitment with my two friends Kelsey Stroop and Family Brittany Howerton. In Alpha Chi, I got a twin, Elizabeth Aaron, and big sister, Katie Guzman (who I now live 10 minutes away from). I went on to have three amazing MY JOURNEY TO MEET littles and sisters that I got to choose from all over the world. We chose each other. I chose this family. MY BIRTH FAMILY AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF Adoption stories, no matter who tells them, begin with a loss - the loss of family, an identity and even a WHAT FAMILY - BIRTH, homeland for transracial adoptees. My story is one of ADOPTED AND CHOSEN - pain, loss, hope, but most importantly, love. Throughout MEANS my journey, I was bolstered by the love and acceptance of the sisters I chose in a world created by others' decisions. Through weekly chats, messages, social media BY HEATHER YEON-HEE GROMLEY and more, this group of real, strong women supported (GAMMA P PI, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA) me on a journey to Korea and back. THE SEARCH BEGINS N ovember is National Adoption Month in the US and is also the month that I was adopted In 2014, I decided I wanted to search for my birth many years ago. I was adopted on November family. I felt like I wanted to learn more about my 17 from South Korea, and every year my American heritage and my roots, and knew that looking for my family has celebrated it as "Family Day." As many of family was a part of that. I honestly couldn't imagine us know, the term "family" changes and evolves over visiting Korea without attempting to look. I reached out time. Many of us get to choose our families later in to my adoption agency, and they searched for several life, and I'm excited to be choosing my fiancé's family months before they told me I would not be able to find HEATHER (THIRD FROM RIGHT) WITH HER ALPHA CHI SISTERS 34 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Alpha Chi Omega Alpha parents, who I am very close with, and together we had excited anticipation for our family of three about to be four. The flight to Korea in 2019 was different. I knew that our family was growing by 17 and that this would change everything for us moving forward. I'm a really lucky adoptee and have a wonderful relationship with my parents, but I knew that this step in my adoption journey would be hard for all of us. My parents, who I still talk to every day, had mixed emotions. I think their emotions ranged from being worried that I would get hurt to wrapping their minds around the idea of sharing "their" daughter. But at the end of the day, it was my sister who declared that this was meant to be. Tamryn wanted us to embrace the idea that we weren't losing anything; instead, we were gaining another family, another love. RETURNING TO KOREA After 14 hours from Los Angeles to Incheon on Korean HEATHER WITH HER PARENTS Air, I found myself back in South Korea 32 years later. Going through customs and finding my bag felt hem. My heart broke, and I mourned the news like a agonizingly long. Just like 32 years before when I flew leath. into O'Hare Airport with a nurse and U.S. Serviceman, I emerged from sliding glass doors at the airport, and Four years later, I received an email from the adoption there was my Korean family. agency that a woman had come forward looking for her daughter. The only things that matched on my form My birth mother was the first to run toward me. We were the hospital and date of birth. I was asked to ship hugged, we cried, we took in each other after all the my hair to Korea for a DNA test. After a long evening missed years. My sisters were next, and my brother of pulling out 10 pieces of hair with the root attached, videotaped it all. It will forever be one of my favorite shipped them to South Korea. Two weeks later, I was moments in my life. We got into cars and drove toward informed the DNA was a match. Seoul, toward home. Omma (mother in Korean) and I sat in the back seat not able to speak to each other. in the flurry of it all, I began to write letters to my We tried to use an app and laughed a lot at the bad birth mother through the adoption agency. That led to writing letters to my sisters and brother, several who peak English. I was shocked to find out that I have four older sisters and a younger brother. I also have four nieces, two nephews, brothers-in-law, cousins, aunts, uncles and a large extended family. Six months later, I was on a plane going to Korea to meet them. was fortunate to go to China in 2000 when my parents adopted my sister Tamryn, who is now a junior at Butler University and a member of Tri Delta. That was a long HEATHER (LEFT) GREETED BY HER KOREAN FAMILY lane ride, one where I got to spend time with my AT THE AIRPORT THE LYRE 35 25 LIFE translation. She grasped my hand SO hard as if I could blow away from her again. Over the next week, I spent every moment with them. I experienced old and new Korea. We traveled to my father's ancestral grounds and paid tribute to him and his parents. We went to the top of the Lotte World Tower (the tallest building in Korea), HEATHER (SECOND FROM RIGHT) HEATHER (LEFT) IN A CUSTOM shopped in Myeong-dong, ate rice WITH HER PARENTS, SISTER AND HANBOK WITH HER OMMA cakes from vendors, danced under FIANCÉ the Gangnam Hands from "Gangnam A FUTURE FILLED WITH FAMILY Style," and even went to the Original Pancake House in Itaewon. Now looking to the future, we are all very excited. I speak with my Korean family weekly thanks to One of my favorite memories was going to the messaging services and translation apps. They continue Gyeongbokgung Palace. My sisters had all pitched in to send me face masks and instant noodles. I go to the to buy me a custom hanbok, the traditional Korean Korean market often and continue to try new Korean dress. My sister and I joined an English tour group, recipes. My fiancé and I are attempting to learn Korean, I was mistaken for a tour guide, and we met a lovely and at some point I look forward to regaining my dual family from Los Angeles. We learned about the history citizenship. of the palace, but also went a little rogue SO we could get all of those Instagram-worthy pictures. We laughed, At my wedding this summer, my entire family - birth, we ran around the grounds, we had the best day. From adopted and chosen - will be there, pending everyone there we went on to N. Seoul Tower, where I put a love being able to travel safely at that point. Most of my lock on the fence, then on to walk around traditional Korean family hopes to travel to the U.S., and they are neighborhoods and do some shopping in Insa-dong. elated to meet my parents and sister. My best friend, neighbor and big sister Katie is going to stand up at On the last night, we discussed my adoption. I already my wedding with my brother. My flower girl is my knew the circumstances of me being given up through goddaughter (Brittany's daughter), my friend Kelsey our letters. In a time of economic despair, my birth lives in Los Angeles, and Kristin Lichtenberg and Liz father felt that having another daughter would not will be flying in from the East Coast. be feasible. He took me from the hospital and placed me for adoption. My birth mother never knew and 2020 taught us a lot about family and time. A lot of was told I had died after being born. On my father's people tried to reprioritize, find joy and just make it to deathbed, he told Omma what he had done and that the next day. And as November came, it was another she had to find me. Her search was difficult, and many moment of reflection for me. There are moments that places turned her away. After she had a dream of my adoption makes me sad, but then there are these really birth father holding my hand, telling her to go back and powerful moments that pull me back to the now. I am try again, she went to the adoption agency demanding SO excited for the future, and I am filled with hope. A help. They found me in the system and emailed me. In large part of that is thanks to the support of my friends a roundabout way, my birth father reunited us. I even who are my sisters, the family that I chose. share the family names - my middle name matches my sisters' - SO one day I could find my way back. 36 ALPHA CHI OMEGA VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Michele Ann Hughey IOTA ALPHA (ALUMNAE INITIATES) CURRENT VOLUNTEER ROLES: Advisory board member for the University of Mississippi prospective chapter and Memphis Area Alumnae Association delegate What have you learned from your volunteer When working retail, experiences? a manager must have My volunteer roles have been small, medium and large. patience. Every day there is a Each has shown that there is always a need to volunteer. fire to put out, but keeping Whether it is for one day on a small project or several calm and overcoming the months on a large project, you can feel the impact when issues at hand make you you give back. grow as a person. There is nothing that cannot be How did you become involved as an Alpha Chi Omega fixed; it just may have to be volunteer? tomorrow before it can be I reached out to headquarters shortly after initiation fixed. Outside of working for Kroger, Scentsy and Mary wanting to help in any field that was in need of an extra Kay, I run an antique booth in McKenzie, Tennessee. I set of hands. I first ended up on the alumnae resources spend my spare time refinishing furniture and doing team helping to organize our database of which embroidery projects. alumnae chapter supports which collegiate chapter. What is your favorite Alpha Chi Omega memory? Why is volunteering with Alpha Chi Omega important My favorite memories come from our Memphis to you? alumnae chapter white elephant party! The gift Service to others by volunteering allows you to connect exchange is always filled with many treasures and gems to your community and make it a better place. It also to cherish. helps push you as an individual to grow. Why should alumnae become volunteers for Who is an Alpha Chi Omega role model that you look Alpha Chi Omega? up to? Each sister possesses skills we have gained over time, Loy Holt (lota Alpha, Alumnae Initiates) - 100%! How she which mean each one of us is able to bring unique life manages to stay SO chipper and organized amazes me! experiences and skills to help develop and push forward Alpha Chi Omega and her members. What keeps your Monday through Friday busy (outside of Alpha Chi Omega)? Visit the Alumnae page on alphachiomega.org to learn more My day job is as assistant store manager for Kroger. about volunteering and the opportunities available. "Whether by advising, listening or just having fellowship, Alpha Chi Omega to me is a way to help other women progress and prosper." THE LYRE 37 2's CAREER OUTLOOK Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship BY ASHLEY GARCIA (ZETA PSI, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS) G rowing up in a New York City Latina Student Entrepreneur Program and pitched a financial household with four sisters and a hardworking literacy initiative for college women. Off of pure passion widowed mother created space for finances to and sorority experience, I placed fourth against women always be the hot topic. My mom made sure to talk to from Ivy League universities with businesses that had us about the value of money and communicating about been running for years. I remember feeling shocked but finances. I used to say my mom always made our dreams learning in that moment the golden rule in business: happen; she couldn't make it happen that day, but with If someone has a problem and you can offer a solution, time and personal management, we were always able to there will always be business. attain what we needed. When I began my journey in embracing financial My upbringing with strong-willed, hardworking women literacy in college, it came with being honest with was what pushed me toward sorority life in college. myself about the privilege of living in the university When I arrived in New Orleans ready to embrace the bubble, having access to jobs in safe spaces and South, I was drawn to the vibrant and loving energy of encountering the New Orleans culture when it was sorority life because I missed my sisters in the Northeast convenient for me. That pushed me to learn more and SO much. I knew strong relationships made life sweeter, understand the New Orleans economy. This history and Alpha Chi Omega surely filled my college years is filled with entrepreneurs who have generationally with a sisterhood to add to my own. The best part survived a Jim Crow-era South, segregation, redlining, was the accountability, and hearing that financial systemic oppression and devastating hurricanes. How responsibility was a core value perked my ears up. does a city that has been through SO much still manage to thrive and have a good time? That sisterhood brought me care for others and pushed me into leadership; when you pair care with This brought me to Fund 17, a young nonprofit leadership, you want to create solutions. Serving as supporting entrepreneurs in building sustainable chapter president and listening to my sisters' struggles livelihoods for themselves and their communities. with paying dues, finding work and not understanding At Fund 17, we prioritize informal, home-based and credit worried me. I knew confidence in finances small-scale businesses, whereas popular economic meant confidence in yourself as an individual, and development approaches often prioritize ready-for-scale it wasn't my sisters' fault if no one was having these businesses and specific industry sectors. We support conversations with them. I thought to myself, We entrepreneurs transforming their side hustle into their focus so much on image and not gaining the freshman 15 main hustle, and creating jobs for themselves or others. in college; bow could we switch the conversation and be concerned about gaining debt? Then the idea came to me: While the entrepreneurial community grows in New Let's talk about the financial freshman 15. I applied to Orleans, there are hardworking individuals without the Women's Business Enterprise National Council's the necessary tools to succeed who are at risk of being 38 ALPHA CHI OMEGA an incubator space with affordable membership pricing for entrepreneurs. As Fund 17 grew, SO did the need for entrepreneurial support within the community. I was working full time in the luxury real estate industry watching high rises go up and a new airport open while the New Orleans economy was grappling with holding on to culture and people were struggling to keep up and access their city's resources. This at times weighed heavy on my soul, but I have had faith in the relationship-focused grassroots community organizing that exists in New Orleans. Through it all, I carry my experience in Alpha Chi Omega running chapter meetings, having real conversations and always thinking about community and my own personal development when it comes to the role I play in these multi-dimensional worlds. Folks often ask how they can support their community. I think it all starts with learning the history within your community and getting out of the bubble that life sometimes easily sets us up for. Ask yourself why you love that local dish and who is truly responsible ASHLEY GARCIA, BOARD PRESIDENT OF FUND 17 for you being able to have access to that culture. Could you have bought that product directly from the source left behind. Fund 17 believes first we must encourage and built a relationship with your neighbor instead of informal enterprise owners to identify as entrepreneurs going to the large chain that profits off of that culture? and agents of change in their lives and communities. I encourage people to go to local markets, meet the We prioritize customized, one-on-one technical business owners, follow hashtags tied to your town/city assistance focused on the combination of three core on social media, and change the narrative of where you values: establishment of healthy business systems, want to work and play. Word of mouth is everything, personal goal-setting and financial empowerment. By and through this technological era, we must hold the equipping entrepreneurs with an arsenal of skills and local relationships we have close to our hearts. resources, we can build capacity within the informal economy, help transition entrepreneurs' hard work into During the pandemic, entrepreneurs are being forced to sustainable livelihoods, and ultimately take the correct pivot and rethink how to engage with their customers. steps in addressing economic inequality in New Orleans. Not having human interaction and being forced to engage in the technological world has pushed them We use our own terminology at Fund 17, "opportunity to step up their social media game, invest in safety inequality," to explain the situation we see every day: the procedures and focus more on customer service to keep poor lack the assets to achieve economic mobility while relationships. We can support by following that small the wealthy and middle-class can use their resources to business online, sharing it with friends, tagging it when succeed. Over the past few years, we have grown from we use its products and encouraging folks to shop small a small team of business case managers to three full- and locally. When you shop small, you are helping your time staff members, an operating governance board (on neighbor in continuing to create the community you which I serve as president), multi-tier programming and work, live and play in. THE LYRE 39 CAREER OUTLOOK FOR SISTERS WHO ARE SET GOALS ATTACHED TO A TIMELINE. This could ENTREPRENEURS, HERE be sending that email, filling out an application or just simply taking time out of each week for you to work IS SOME ADVICE THAT on your business. Don't be hard on yourself; use your ASHLEY HAS SEEN HELP timeline like a planner to celebrate small wins. FUND 17 CLIENTS AND CHANGE AND CURATE YOUR DIGITAL LENS. HER COMMUNITY. Make space for information that pushes you to grow, learn and ideate. We are entering another digital age, The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to have tough which means we can take advantage of some resources conversations with ourselves when it comes to what we would have had to travel for before. At the same our needs and wants are. We have all been pushed to time, it is easy for the digital world to drain us. We sit down and examine the paths that we have been must understand that we can stay up to date about walking and what the next step in our life or career may current events and how to be better neighbors while be. Unfortunately some folks have had to have these simultaneously following information that brings us conversations in unison with financial planning and the joy and will help our business/community grow. Pay devastation of losing work. attention to business owners and organizations who address social issues and are actively learning and At the end of the day, humans are innovative and changing the way they show up in their communities. resilient. When given access to information and Those are folks who truly want to run a business that resources, solutions suddenly emerge. I encourage sisters benefits their community. to take the following steps: CHANGE THE NARRATIVE WITHIN YOUR FRIEND WRITE IT DOWN AND WRITE IT OUT. You have to GROUPS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. Rethink trust your ideas and the compliments you have received community and customer relationships. These same on your talents and gifts. people see you excel every day and will sometimes see strengths in you as a business owner that you would LEARN YOUR MARKET. Follow people from other have never noticed. After all, if there is anything 2020 cities with similar business ideas. Figure out what you has taught us, it is that community is what we have to bring to the table that makes it different. Also, find lean on. out what skills you may be lacking and think about partnering with someone who brings those strengths to the table. Starting anything can be scary, but going at it Ashley Garcia is the regional leasing & marketing manager with someone else makes the journey less lonely. at local property management firm BGPM New Orleans. Originally from New York City, Ashley developed a strong sense of devotion to small business support and economic ACCESS THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE development while serving as Fund 17's assistant director. IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Start with the Small Business Recently named one of New Orleans CityBusiness's Top Administration website and turn on Google Alerts 50 Women in Business, she now serves as Fund 17's board for grant opportunities in your neighborhood. Look president and is heavily involved with multiple community at the local university or government website for organizations throughout the city of New Orleans. workshops, programming and opportunities to learn more about small business and economic development. Learn more about Fund 17 at fund 17.org. We are all forever learners and deserve to have access to information. 40 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Women & Wisdom ALPHA CHI OMEGA'S NETWORK OF REAL, STRONG WOMEN YOUR ONE-STOP PLATFORM FOR PERSONAL GROWTH, MAKE A PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT, MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION Are you Match with sisters based on job an ALUMNA looking to network with sisters within and outside of your field? function, location, a COLLEGIAN wanting support from a sister to review your resume? industry and more. a MEMBER exploring open job, internship or volunteer opportunities? Click "CONNECT" an ENTREPRENEUR hoping to promote your sister-owned business? to request or offer a MANAGER seeking applicants to join your team? help and mentoring a SISTER looking for empowering community or career advice? or to set up a meeting. Keep your With Women & Wisdom, you can find mentoring, events, groups, open opportunities, profile updated, member and business directories, and connections with sisters sharing your interests and Women & and experiences. Wisdom will even provide connection If you are looking to empower and support sisters in reaching their fullest potential, all suggestions just for you! while investing in your own personal and professional growth, Women & Wisdom is for you! START CONNECTING AT WOMENANDWISDOM.ORG! NETWORK In case you missed it WHILE YOU'RE ON THE GO! Chia-Lin Simmons (Iota Nu, University of California San Diego) shared lessons learned from her impressive career as an Download international marketing and business development the Women executive, leader in tech and entrepreneur. & Wisdom mobile app for access to Leadership and life coach Kirsten Flowers (lota Psi, our exclusive network and Elon University) led a workshop on setting and achieving goals. more in the palm of your hand. Scan the QR code to download Women & Wisdom now! Find past SERIES recordings and more at SERIES WOMENANDWISDOM.ORG/RESOURCES MAKING A DIFFERENCE Natalie Beach ALPHA EPSILON ALPHA MEMBERS RAISED MONEY FOR A LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER THROUGH TICKET SALES TO A VIRTUAL WINE TASTING EVENT. Philanthropy Goes Virtual! HOW ALUMNAE CHAPTERS CONTINUE TO SERVE DURING THE PANDEMIC lpha Chi Omega's alumnae chapters have many When in-person A purposes: to provide connections between fundraisers and service sisters of all ages, to participate in Ritual and events were canceled due to to be a forum for fun! the COVID-19 pandemic, our alumnae chapters In addition to all that (and more!), alumnae chapters didn't stop giving to their are dedicated to service and philanthropy, supporting communities; instead, they local nonprofits and shelters and allowing sisters to stay got creative! Read on to connected to our national philanthropy of domestic learn how two of our 170 alumnae chapters continued violence awareness. their good work. 42 ALPHA CHI OMEGA ALPHA EPSILON ALPHA GAMMA THETA GAMMA (WASHINGTON, D.C.) (LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) BY CHAPTER PRESIDENT NATALIE YEZBICK BY CHAPTER PRESIDENT JOELLE JOHNSON (IOTA SIGMA, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY) (EPSILON, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) Like all Alpha Chi chapters, Alpha Epsilon Alpha has gotten creative with how we support our local Domestic violence awareness is always important domestic violence and women's shelters during the to Alpha Chi Omega and Gamma Theta Gamma, pandemic. In July, we did a donation-based yoga class but especially now during the pandemic. There are over Zoom that raised $300 for Doorways for Women an increased number of reported cases of violence, and Children. It was led by Amanda Doyle (lota Sigma, and more people are forced to stay in volatile home Southern Methodist University) and Michele Donner environments. It is important to do everything we can (Beta Lambda, University of Arizona) and focused on to help those suffering from domestic violence, now relieving stress and combating poor posture while more than ever. working from home. In June, we invited our sisters with children to write uplifting letters to Doorways' essential When the pandemic started, Gamma Theta Gamma, staff, who were providing direct support to their like every other chapter, had to quickly pivot and figure clients struggling with trauma on top of COVID-19 out how to conduct business as usual in very unusual stress. In September, we held a virtual wine tasting circumstances. Luckily, we had one last in-person led by sommelier and Panhellenic sister Sydney Kamp meeting just prior to the start of the pandemic and Eliason, and a portion of the ticket price went toward a subsequent lockdown. On March 1, 2020 (Hera Day), donation to Doorways! we met at a member's house and assembled personal hygiene kits for the residents of 1736 Family Crisis In November, we hosted a toiletry drive organized Center and Sojourn, two local agencies that maintain by Chelsea Corrigan Kennedy (Beta Eta, Florida State shelters for domestic violence survivors. We delivered University) for N Street Village, a women's shelter in them shortly after Los Angeles' Safer at Home order D.C. Due to the link between domestic violence and went into effect, as fortunately both shelters were still homelessness, many of its clients are also survivors of accepting brand-new, individually wrapped toiletry domestic violence. We got together on a Zoom call items. Additionally, because we had an abundance of to learn more from its volunteer manager about the donations from our members, we were able to continue programs it offers and were able to use technology to to provide additional toiletry items to the women in organize our toiletry kits together! need throughout the summer, well into the pandemic. Even during a pandemic, my Alpha Epsilon Alpha When the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National sisters have continued to support our local domestic League Division Series last fall and advanced to the violence shelters. Their willingness to give of their time 2020 World Series, we created the Dodger Challenge as and treasures during a year when many have lost jobs a way to keep our sisters engaged and raise money for and loved ones shows their dedication to living out our 1736 Family Crisis Center and the Alpha Chi Omega Ritual in word and deed. I am proud to lead a group Foundation. Through our Facebook page, we asked of women who repeatedly put into action their belief individuals to pledge an amount of their choosing that the greatest meaning in life comes from giving of based on the Dodgers' performance during the Series, yourself. stipulating that half the funds raised would be donated to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation while the other half would be donated to our local shelter. Sisters THE LYRE 43 MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR HERA DAY IN 2020 (BEFORE LOS ANGELES' SAFER AT HOME ORDER), GAMMA THETA GAMMA MEMBERS ASSEMBLED PERSONAL CARE KITS FOR SHELTER RESIDENTS THAT CONTINUED TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. pledged money based on any number of situations: per specified by the shelter residents. All supportive scoring run, per home run, per game, per wins, etc. Our efforts strictly followed COVID-19 safety protocols, as Dodger Challenge was a resounding success, and we everyone's health and protection are always our utmost raised more than $1,000 for both philanthropies! concern. In our December 2020 newsletter, we asked our sisters 2020 was extremely difficult all around. In 2021, to support the 1736 Family Crisis Center's Annual COVID-19 cases are surging, the vaccine is very Holiday Store via the agency's Amazon wish list. We slowly being rolled out, and it's clear that lockdown also suggested other ways to help during the holiday and quarantines are here for the foreseeable future. season: dropping off individual gifts at the regional Keeping that in mind, we implemented our Happiness office, making an online cash donation, volunteering Challenge for Hera Day 2021. In honor of our patron with setting up the Holiday Store or wrapping gifts goddess Hera, we created a list of 100 Random Acts of Kindness" (all socially distanced and COVID-19 safe) and challenged members to complete at least one kind act per day during the entire month of March. We asked GAMMA THETA GAMMA'S ADVICE sisters to post photos of their kindness, with the idea FOR GIVING BACK DURING THE that sharing our random acts of kindness showcases PANDEMIC how easy and fulfilling it is to do for others. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROMOTE YOUR Has your chapter found a creative way to support our EVENTS AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. national philanthropy and give back during the pandemic? CONSIDER ONLINE GAMES OR ONLINE Let us know by emailing editor@alphachiomega.org. AUCTIONS AS FUNDRAISERS. REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Find an alumnae chapter near you by visiting the interactive FOR IMPORTANT CAUSES. Alumnae Chapter Map on the Stay Connected page of alphachiomega.org. The Pink Bike Project WITH CONNECTIONS SPANNING ACROSS THE GLOBE, TWO SISTERS, TWO ROTARY CLUBS AND AN ENTIRE VILLAGE solve them," Margaret shares. COME TOGETHER TO Margaret explained to Elizabeth that many girls who HELP GIRLS CONTINUE attend Ndevelwa Secondary School, near Tabora, THEIR EDUCATION. Tanzania, were walking two hours each way to attend class; arriving home late in the evening, they still needed BY LAUREN FILIPPINI (ALPHA CHI, BUTLER to complete chores and often lacked time to study. While UNIVERSITY), EDITOR some families had bicycles, they were needed during the school week for bringing their harvests to the market or for medical transportation. Some girls were asking their hile attending a Rotary International male friends for rides on their bikes to make it to school W conference in Germany in 2019, Elizabeth faster, with unintended consequences. Demichelis (Delta Sigma, University of the Pacific) learned how many girls reaching puberty "The girls often found that what they thought was a across the world were forced to stop attending school. gesture of friendship was instead met with the expectation One reason for this was a lack of menstruation supplies, of sexual favors by their male friends as they reached SO Elizabeth reached out to her Delta Sigma chapter puberty in return for the bike rides," Elizabeth explains. sister Margaret Andersen, who serves as a missionary "When a female student became pregnant, her education in Tanzania, to learn more. Margaret confirmed that ceased, and she was never able to return to school." the lack of feminine products was indeed an issue; however, she shared that a more pressing concern in her Margaret adds, "When we had first arrived in Tabora community was girls not being able to get to school and in 2015, the local council representative had described continue their education. specifically why this is one of the greatest concerns of the parents, and I related the challenges girls have when "I've been a teacher wherever we have lived in Africa, Elizabeth contacted me. Elizabeth's enthusiasm and but what's also important is to be a learner in the determination to provide a way for the girls to travel community and listen to what their needs are, not just safely to school was a great encouragement that we all assume we know what their problems are and how to can do something to show love for others." THE LYR E 45 MAKING A DIFFERENCE EMPLOYEES FROM THE LOCAL ABC BIKE SHOP LED A SEMINAR ON SHIFTING GEARS AND BASIC MAINTENANCE. The two Alpha Chi Omega women brainstormed that connection I needed," Elizabeth recalls. providing bikes to schoolgirls would allow them safety, independence and continued access to education, as The Rotary Club of Arusha (RCA) in Tanzania was made well as shortening the time of their journey to free up up of avid cyclists. They loved the project and happily time for studying at home. Better yet, the bikes could be partnered with MSR, offering to make the 9-hour trip to painted pink, marking them for use by these girls only to Tabora when the bikes were ready to be distributed. Both get to and from school. clubs contributed funds, not only to make the initial purchase of bikes, but to ensure funds would be available The Modesto Sunrise Rotary (MSR), where Elizabeth for continued maintenance expenses as the bikes were served as president, was enthusiastic about the Pink put through their long journeys to and from school Bike Project. However, there was more work to be throughout the year. done, as, according to Elizabeth, a Rotary project is required to have local oversight, to have the support of Sustainability was a key focus of the Pink Bike Project, the local community and a local Rotary club, and to be and while the original plan included full-scale bike sustainable. maintenance lessons for the girls, the local leaders were quick to point out that this work would be an abnormality Local oversight came through the village elders and the for their community. Do-it-yourself work is uncommon; school's headmaster. They were supportive of the project instead, people bring their needs to various trained and as a solution to the community issue and pledged to qualified tradespeople. With plenty of mechanics in the watch over the project. The teachers even suggested an area that families already regularly visited for repairs and Uzinduzi ceremony - an opening ceremony - when the checks of their own bikes, the project shifted to align with bikes arrived where local leaders and the community the structure of the village. Funds were allocated to ensure could attend and share support for the project. Next was the bikes would be regularly serviced, putting money back finding a local Rotary club. into the community. The girls (and their male classmates) did learn some basic maintenance skills as well. "I Googled, I emailed, I researched and I prayed, then at a chance meeting at a pre-game event at the University of "The instruction was done by a female bicycle mechanic," the Pacific, I randomly connected with another Rotarian Elizabeth adds, "which was well received by the girls." who just happened to know someone who had the 46 ALPHA CHI OMEGA On December 3, 2020, a fleet of 53 pink bicycles was trips to school continues to grow. The village was SO presented, with many community members attending pleased with the outcome of the initial project that they to show their support for the project and the girls. are looking into creating their own Rotary Club, and Local journalists also came and featured the event in a the schoolboys are asking how to start an Interact Club, 10-minute news segment; in the video, a schoolgirl shares a Rotary group for ages 12-18, SO they can continue to (as translated to English), "I used to meet a hyena on make a difference. the way," and a councilor announces, "After long-term suffering, they are now released." Beyond the lasting impact in the local community, this project has also been a reminder for these sisters of the It had been determined that the Ndevelwa Secondary everlasting connections of Alpha Chi Omega. School would own the bikes and lease them to the girls to ensure that they would only be used for school "All of my 31 years as a missionary in Africa, I have transportation. A committee of village leaders, parents, been in remote locations, off the grid, far from internet teachers and the school board chairman determined services," Margaret explains. "I had kept in contact which girls would receive bikes based on need and with several sisters through snail mail and visits over distance they had to travel to school. the years, then a bit more when I could get to Wi-Fi hotspots in cities. It was only a few years ago that we "It came down to a community-wide effort to ensure the hooked into reliable internet. What was SO special was bikes would be used as planned by the girls and cared for how comfortable and easy it was going back and forth properly," Elizabeth explains. "The parents and guardians dialoguing with Elizabeth. Our bond and passion to help were incredibly grateful, expressing gratitude and asking others made conversation easy. Messaging with Elizabeth that all involved to make this project happen be made after all these years was such a delight, like no time had aware of the positive impact this project was making." passed at all!" The MSR and RCA would like to expand the Pink Through the Pink Bike Project, a barrier to education Bike Project, providing more bikes and more funds for has been removed. The project will have ripple effects maintenance. The list of girls requesting bikes for their as these girls continue their schooling and enter their communities with knowledge that offers them more A LOCAL BIKE SHOP EMPLOYEE TEACHING opportunities. BASIC MAINTENANCE "It seemed daunting for all the pieces to fit together, but we both saw how God wove the connections together around the world, and the girls in the village couldn't be happier," Margaret reflects. "I really appreciate the tangible and practical way in which they know that the world cares for them, they are loved and valued for who they are, pedaling toward a brighter future." "This project means SO much to me," Elizabeth says. "To see the smiles on the faces of the girls receiving the bikes, to let them know that people believe in them and care, and to know that together with my sister we can help girls to reach the heights is the most wonderful feeling." To learn more about MSR and future efforts to grow the Pink Bike Project, visit modestosunriserotary.org. THE LYRE 47 The Healing Power of VI BY LAUREN FILIPPINI (ALPHA CHI, BUTLER UNIVERSITY), EDITOR iriam Zimms (Gamma Chi, Stetson M University) was at the peak of her career when her life changed with one word - cancer. Diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, Miriam juggled work and treatment. And then more news: a second primary cancer, this time diagnosed in her pelvis as chondrosarcoma. Through tests, treatments, surgeries and learning to walk again, Miriam kept her mind on the goal. "I didn't want to let fear overpower living, whatever the future held," she says. With a focus on healing of the mind, body and spirit, this real, strong woman stepped into her hospital's art therapy center - and came out of it with a new life as an artist. 48 ALPHA CHI OMEGA e MIRIAM WITH HER ARTWORK IN THE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER ART GALLERY TWO DIAGNOSES and had a double mastectomy that has kept her in remission for 10 years. For 22 years before her diagnoses, Miriam was focused on her career, owning and running an environmental Miriam learned she was a BRCA carrier - a person who consulting company with her husband. She traveled has the mutated gene linked to breast cancer that also across the country, writing and designing program plans leads to a higher-than-average chance of developing a with local governments and corporations for solid waste second cancer - and had her ovaries removed due to her management and conservation. increased likelihood for ovarian cancer. But soon, she went back to her doctor when she was not feeling right, It was work she continued even after she received wondering if her breast cancer had returned. This time, her first cancer diagnosis of triple negative breast it wasn't breast cancer. It was a second primary cancer cancer, a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer that - bone cancer, specifically chondrosarcoma in her left typically affects younger women and minority women. pelvis. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, breast cancer is the most common cancer This second primary cancer was also rare and aggressive, in Latina women; Miriam, a Guatemalan American, but it was localized, SO Miriam decided to have an was the fifth and youngest woman in her family to be internal hemipelvectomy. This involved removing much diagnosed. She underwent chemotherapy treatment of her left pelvis, her hip ball and the top third of her THE LYRE 49 REAL. STRONG. WOMAN. Faces of Courag femur, and then rebuilding it all using a bone cadaver, a THREE AREAS titanium hip ball, and metal plates and screws to hold it OF HEALING all together. It took two years of daily physical therapy and rehabilitation for Miriam to get to a "new normal" For Miriam, the key to moving forward after two of living and resulted in a lifelong disability. cancers, multiple surgeries and treatments, and body loss has been focusing on healing her whole self - mind, "That left me in a situation where I couldn't do my body and spirit. full-time job in a successful career I had built," she says. "I had to relearn how to sit up, stand and walk. I had After her breast cancer diagnosis, Miriam began writing to quarantine my life with one goal - the new cadaver about her journey and advocating in her community pelvis to heal and take, and to walk again. My focus on for life over cancer. Due to her Guatemalan American health became my new full-time career." heritage, her husband gave her the honorary title of the "Guatemalan Globes," and she began to advocate Today, Miriam's left leg holds her up, but she cannot lift about the importance of integrative medicine practices it. However, she says she is grateful to still have her leg alongside traditional medicine. and a new pelvis and hip. She uses adaptive equipment for walking depending on the distance she must travel "It's not just about the treatment and surgery," Miriam and her energy level, and a body and ankle brace for explains. "It's about the healing that has to happen on a lot body and bone support. of levels, from a spiritual foundation, nutrition, medically monitored supplements and meditation to movement." Miriam knows that to fight her disability's wear and tear on her body along with natural aging, she has a Miriam uses these techniques in a daily practice as part of lifetime of rehabilitation ahead and tries to stay as her self-care routine; she explains that while her routine healthy as she can. Her daily mantra is simple: "All we may not be perfect, this daily practice reminds her can do is try and move forward every day in whatever that she is only one day away from regaining a self-care capacity we have." rhythm. Nutrition and movement play a critical role in her daily practice of managing her body and having a What's Miriam's secret to this outlook after all she has sense of control; additionally, nutrition and weight are been through? known to play a critical role in keeping breast metastasis 2/5 50 ALPHA CHI OMEGA at bay. She explains, "There are just simple things we can ONE FE-CHANGING do in our lives and our own culture that don't have to be PRACTICE OF ART SO radical we think we'll fail." It was during her breast cancer treatments that Miriam Equally important is her mindset, which has been discovered the power of art. Moffitt Cancer Center molded by her faith. (MCC) has an Arts in Medicine Program, with a studio just down the hall from the waiting room where "As my friends say, I don't preach to them, but my way Miriam sat day after day for her many appointments. To of communicating my faith or any of this is the way I take her mind away from fear - and to avoid sitting on live," Miriam shares. "Having faith in yourself and not her phone - she wandered into the studio. being ashamed of your own story...[has] been a big part of finding a balance of reconciling when SO much loss Miriam knew from her career that she was creative, but happens repeatedly." she could never forget being told in the eighth grade that she wasn't an artist. "I thought the arts weren't for Through her advocacy and openness in sharing me and science and math were," she says. "But it was her story, Miriam works every day to keep her always there, kindling in everything I did." spirit alive. She has presented her story in her community, throughout the state of Florida and even The studio - filled with art tools of every kind, from internationally. watercolors to expressive arts - was created for patients to "inspire, comfort, encourage and empower." Trained "My story is no bigger than anyone else's," she says. staff and artists-in-residence guide patients' process "Everyone's story of loss or health crisis is big in their as desired, but the only goal is to express and create own life and within their own intimate circle." without judgement. When chondrosarcoma forced Miriam to make a "They're not telling you prescriptively how to be an 180-degree life change, she explains it was important for artist, and I think that was probably what lifted the her to find a new purpose. But she never thought that curtain for me," Miriam recalls. "I think the fact that purpose would be found in black and white lines drawn there wasn't any pressure and to just be and create with on a page. whatever feeling and emotion you're bringing to the THE LYRE 51 REAL. STRONG. WOMAN. "Yoga for the mind,' as it is often called, has helped me with mind, body and spirit self-care too," she says. When Miriam got back in touch with the art studio, she brought some pieces in. Recognizing she wasn't an artist who was a patient but was a patient who had found the healing arts, MCC asked Miriam to create a gallery of her art with the senior curator of the local university's art museum to share her healing arts journey of loss. The gallery stayed up for a year and had been rotating annually around various locations in the community until the pandemic began. Some of Miriam's art was added to the hospital's permanent art collection, and the rest is in her home. MIRIAM SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF HER A MILLION GALLERY AT MOFFITT CANCER CENTER POSSIBILITIES table - that was an opening to create from the heart." AS AN ARTIST Miriam would stop at the studio anytime she was at Miriam says her right brain bloomed, and she began MCC. One day, an artist-in-residence suggested she try to explore art even more. She dove into other art the Zentangle Art Method (ZAM). Developed by Maria mediums, leading to her husband giving her the Thomas and Rick Roberts, this relaxing and meditative nickname of "HIPster the Artist," after her pelvis art style is about creating "tangles" - pen strokes of dots, surgery. Her latest pieces have been a mix-media lines and curves that combine into a pattern - on pieces practice in watercolor, found objects, oil and chalk of paper called "tiles." pastels, ink, and tangling patterns. She explains her art is expressive abstract and ranges from pop art to body loss Miriam told the artist that she had tried ZAM to botanicals. previously and decided it wasn't for her. She remembers sharing, "I'm really having a hard time bringing black "My life journey has been a mixed palette of colors ink to white paper right now. I'm in a dark place about telling the story of my life," she explains. "You know disability." The artist then sent Miriam home with a white pen and black paper instead. "What happened was I did 300 pieces in six months to help battle my severe insomnia from the heavy pain meds I was on," Miriam says. ZAM is intentionally unplanned, allowing the artist to focus on just the hand and the line movement, letting the final design be a surprise. During those six months, Miriam was almost entirely immobile. ZAM became a meditative process that helped her then - and something she still practices almost daily. 52 ALPHA CHI OMEGA sees in herself too. "It (Real. Strong. Women.) is probably the most powerful tagline of a sorority out there," she says, "and I'm just SO glad it's mine." Miriam has stayed connected to Alpha Chi Omega throughout her life, starting with serving in college as the Panhellenic delegate and rush co-chair for the Gamma Chi chapter and continuing to present day LYRES DRAWN IN THE ZENTANGLE ART METHOD, MADE AT with the Gamma Phi Gamma (Tampa, Florida) alumnae THE FOUNDERS' DAY CLASS MIRIAM TAUGHT chapter; she recently shared her story and taught a class to her sisters at the chapter's Founders' Day celebration. the red and green, Alpha Chi, that's part of my life. My colors are still mixing, and I'm excited to see where that What's next for Miriam on her new journey as an journey takes me and what palette evolves." artist? She recently launched her website, En Casa with Miriam (Spanish for "At Home with Miriam"), to share Through MCC's encouragement, Miriam became a her mind, body, spirit and planet care lifestyle. She is Certified Zentangle Teacher. She began teaching ZAM planning to finish up her expressive arts certification at libraries, cancer centers and camps to give back to and develop her practice to share with others. She the community - and even transferred classes to Zoom also hopes to publish a book and poetry detailing during the pandemic! Her presentations involve sharing her journey. And her mindset continues to center on the healing power of art and telling her story, and her healing and joy. work has been showcased in galleries across Tampa and at the Florida State Capitol. "I can truly say that every loss I had, it's actually loss that's brought me substantial gifts I never would have "[I share] my own story, that I wasn't an artist," Miriam dreamed of, and I'm richer for it in my soul," she reflects. says. "In all my classes, I have students tell the person on "It's a lesson I learned from my mother, Rosa, who died their right, 'You are an artist.' And we always end class of breast cancer shortly after I graduated college. She with an art mosaic of all the work and say together, 'I was the real, strong woman example for me." am an artist." Explore more of Miriam's work at EnCasaWithM.com or on Miriam is now pursuing an expressive arts certification Instagram and Facebook at @HIPsterCZT. to expand her teaching abilities to include even more art opportunities for those who want to explore their own individual creativity. "I have learned myself "It took me a long time to say I'm an artist, over time through this journey of understanding what the healing over 10 years that arts really mean to me," she explains. "I have learned myself over 10 years that anything is possible one step anything is possible one and stroke at a time." step and stroke at a time." Miriam calls herself a "Campiona de la Vida," Spanish for "Champion of Life." Alpha Chi Omega would also call her a real, strong woman, and it's something she THE LYRE 53 ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNAE Sisters in the Arts BY LAUREN FILIPPINI (ALPHA CHI, BUTLER UNIVERSITY), EDITOR Each February, Alpha Chi Omega celebrates MacDowell Not only are Alpha Chi Omega sisters patrons, they Month. Named for the MacDowell artists' residency are artists across a variety of mediums! In addition that was the Fraternity's first altruistic project, this to Miriam, whose story you just read on the previous month honors our Founders' heritage as musicians and pages, meet three sisters celebrating the arts in their encourages our members to be patrons of the arts. careers. ANNE KOHO In 2017, with her children grown, DANCE Anne decided it was time for a drastic hen Anne Koho (Sigma, University change - she wanted W of Iowa) was applying for college, she to live abroad and learned of a scholarship for students give to underserved with both academic excellence and interest in the arts. communities. She Even though she hadn't danced seriously in years, she knew that in many auditioned for the University of Iowa's ballet program. countries, smaller villages lack exposure "Lo and behold, I got one of those scholarships," Anne to the arts and says, "and I'm certain it changed the trajectory of my life." resources to bring the arts to their children. Anne danced throughout college, also playing piccolo So Anne founded in the marching band Trifecta Arts, a alongside many Sigma nonprofit organization ANNE AND HER SISTER chapter sisters. Of to bring dance, music CHRISTINE, BOTH MEMBERS AT THE SIGMA CHAPTER, course, she was also and art education to PREPARING FOR A a choreographer and students across the RECRUITMENT SKIT (FROM THE dancer in the chapter's world. LYRE, VOLUME 84) recruitment skits each year. When she graduated "It's not about creating professional dancers or artists or with her accounting and musicians," Anne explains. "It's about giving them the ballet degrees, she danced opportunity to see the potential and plant the seed that professionally for a few years and then hung up her may really spark a lifelong love of the arts in these kids." ballet slippers for a career in banking and IT project management; a decade later, she realized something was Trifecta Arts is founded around a central idea that the arts missing from her life - dance. She began teaching ballet provide benefits for the development of mind, body and part-time at her daughter's dance studio. spirit, helping children grow in confidence and teamwork. "One of the jobs fed my retirement account, and the Anne has traveled across the world - from Puerto Rico other fed my soul," she recalls. to India - to teach ballet with Trifecta Arts. One of her 54 ALPHA CHI OMEGA favorite experiences SO far was the two years she spent in a small fishing village in Ecuador, teaching classes to more than 700 students at the orphanage and throughout the local communities. After her students performed in the local park for their families and neighbors, a community leader asked the National Ballet of Ecuador to visit; the professional dancers taught a master class with the ANNE TEACHING AT THE MORIAH SCHOOL IN GUNTUR, INDIA Trifecta Arts students and then collaborated on a joint performance. programs. She encourages everyone to find their passion and take the leap. "An opportunity to see these professionals dance was one thing this town had never had," Anne says. "You can do these things. You can do them on a part- "[The professional dancers] are Ecuadorian. It's not time basis, a full-time basis, close to home or far away," unattainable and elite. This is in their own country." Anne says. "You don't have to have a full-blown plan because once you start, it will become what it's meant Anne plans to continue expanding her nonprofit, to be." taking the arts to more countries, engaging more guest teachers and continuing to grow sustainable art Learn more at trifectaarts.org. JEAN SMITH PAINTING AND GARDENING 've always done art," says Jean Smith (Beta Epsilon, had painted a mural of a giraffe playing with butterflies I Michigan State University). "I have a pad of paper on her son's wall; a neighbor saw it and suggested Jean from first grade that is filled with drawings in the paint needlepoint canvasses. Jean gave it a try, learning corners and on the back. I drew on everything." to handpaint stunning floral designs on canvas, which would then be used to guide another artist in pulling Though Jean started out studying art in college - their needle and thread through the patterns to create a playing the piano for recruitment parties at the Beta final needlepoint work of art. Epsilon chapter along the way - she says she switched her major to fine arts in "For each person who buys a canvas, it would come out elementary education SO she different, with different stitches and fibers," Jean explains. could more easily find a job. "I produce the canvas for them to create their needle art." Years later, however, her life came full circle to her current In 1978, Jean started her own company; now managing career as an artist. a team of artists, her designs of flowers, pots and even children's art have been sold across the U.S. and Canada. That career change came from a lucky happenstance. Jean "I taught for seven years after college, but I had this THE LYRE 55 ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNAE opportunity to start my own company and raise my KATIE WONDERLY family with a studio in my home," Jean says. "In life, there are just opportunities where someone saw what I MUSIC did and said, 'Can you do this?" S a music educator, Katie Wonderly A second opportunity like this came while Jean was A (Gamma Tau, Oklahoma City University) working as a docent at the Meyer May House, designed by is committed to sharing the joys of music Frank Lloyd Wright. She was preparing for a tour and was with her students and with kids around the world. frustrated by some of the issues with the garden, SO she Growing up in a musical household, Katie always went to the manager with proposed changes. Shortly after, believed she was destined for Broadway; she reflects the house's owner called and asked her to take over the now, "Little did I know that one day I'd be putting garden's design and maintenance. on my own show every day for every student that walked into my music room!" "And then an architect saw the garden and wanted it in his bed and breakfast, and then someone from a In college as a music education major, Katie was wedding at the bed and breakfast wanted the garden in drawn to Alpha Chi Omega thanks to its musical their house," she recalls. What started with one location heritage. blossomed into a second business designing and maintaining gardens. "I remember being SO moved by the words of the Symphony," she recalls. "I wasn't only training to Jean points out that building a career around what you keep my voice in tune, but to keep my life in tune love isn't easy: "It takes staying at it and hard work." But with the world around me. I didn't want to only for Jean, that hard work is paying off with a career in play notes on a piano, but to strike on the lyre of full bloom. the universe the notes of happiness, joy and peace. This was to be my Symphony, too." Learn more at jeansmithdesigns.com. Katie is now in her fifth year as a music teacher ONE OF JEAN'S MANY CANVASES at Tulakes Elementary in Putnam City Schools of Oklahoma City. She teaches everything from counting rhythms to playing the ukulele to learning about musicians throughout history. Along the way, her students learn more than music. "Music is used as a steppingstone to explore the diverse and wonderful world around us, and to navigate and embrace the overwhelming emotions that come with growing up," Katie explains. "This means that not every moment in our day will be about making music. Sometimes when the environment around us is full of chaos or confusion, we pause and simply breath in and out." It's philosophies like this that made Katie the 2020 Putnam City District Teacher of the Year. And when the pandemic began, Katie took her skills and mindset to the digital world. She had already created 56 CHI OMEGA Fine social media accounts for Ms. Wonderly Makes Music, sharing her journey as a young educator and the resources and tips she learned along the way. As her school worked on setting up distance learning last year, she used her social media presence to create 30-minute lessons, which she shared publicly for free. "My initial goal was to bring music- making experiences to my own students," Katie says. "What I didn't realize was that, thanks to the reach I had already developed, I would be bringing eight weeks of experiences to students and families in six continents, 10 countries and over 30 states. Ms. Wonderly Makes Music at Home became a weekly activity for families around the world looking to provide their children with meaningful, musical experiences during a time filled with all sorts of uncertainty." When her school began the 2020-21 school year virtually, Katie created new ONE OF KATIE'S MUSIC CLASSES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC digital lessons to engage her students, singing and dancing and using household the world, she assembled music-making kits for each items like pots and pans to create music. As the school student that include rhythm sticks, an egg shaker, a transitioned to a hybrid schedule, Katie ensured her scarf, a dry-erase board and marker, and a plastic cup for in-person students could make music safely. Through drumming. donations from the community and people around "These kits provide students with a safe music-making experience, one that keeps me from having to re-sanitize La everything in the 5-minute transition time I have between each class," she points out. Sol Whether in person or virtual, Katie is happy to continue doing what she loves: "Making beautiful music Fa and inspiring my young musicians to find their own magic within the music they make." She adds, "The greatest reward in teaching is seeing students develop Mi into kind, joyful, compassionate human beings, and for me, that happens to be developed through music." e Learn more at mswonderlymak.esmusic.com or on Facebook and Instagram at @mswonderlymak.esmusic. 0 THE LYRE 57 From Spain to Sisterhood BY LAURA KNOBEL (IOTA ALPHA, ALUMNAE INITIATES), ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LIFETIME ENGAGEMENT alpha t takes a certain kind of (real, strong) woman to chin I boldly step beyond her comfort zone - and Ana ALUMNA Hernández Munt (lota Alpha, Alumnae Initiates) is that kind of woman. Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Ana came to the United States nearly eight years ago as an international student-athlete. She may have initially come to play tennis, but the life she has built here now extends far beyond her sport. "I graduated with a bachelor's degree in business Alpha Omega Alpha members knew right away that administration and marketing and decided that I wasn't they wanted to share our sisterhood with Ana and done, SO I pursued an MBA in business analytics right enthusiastically sponsored her for membership. On the after," she says. sponsorship form, chapter president Amanda Whiffing (Zeta Omicron, Vanderbilt University) described Ana as As she was settling into her career in Michigan, and dynamic, caring, poised and passionate. with all of her family still in Spain, Ana knew she was ready to put down more roots in the United States. Applying her study skills to Alpha Chi Omega's alumna "I found that I needed to meet a group of strong, education process, Ana breezed through the material hardworking and kind women to fill my leisure time with her educator, Loy Holt (lota Alpha, Alumnae with purpose and great company," she says. Initiates). Loy appreciated that Ana felt deeply connected to the history of our sisterhood. "She was After applying to Alpha Chi Omega's National Alumna SO excited when I sent her the [video] link on YouTube Initiate Program (NAIP), panel members introduced with our Founders talking about Alpha Chi Omega," her to members of the Alpha Omega Alpha (Detroit, Loy recalls. Michigan) alumnae chapter. After that meeting, she knew for certain that Alpha Chi Omega was the In one of the last in-person alumna initiation sisterhood for her. She says, "I quickly bonded with ceremonies before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ana [them]. I thought joining Alpha Chi Omega would became a lifetime member of Alpha Chi Omega on benefit me and help me keep growing and improving as January 25, 2020. She was welcomed to membership by a woman." a multi-generational group of alumnae sisters from the 58 ALPHA CHI OMEGA ha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Chi Omega Just one year after her initiation, Ana is already the philanthropy chair for Alpha Omega Alpha - and she is not stopping there. "Recently, I was placed on a collegiate chapter's advisory board, and I am absolutely loving the fact that I get to help both [alumnae and collegians]," she shares. Loy is not surprised at how quickly Ana joined the ranks of Alpha Chi ANA (FRONT ROW, SECOND FROM Omega's volunteers. "The first thing that I remember LEFT) AT HER INITIATION about Ana [was] her willingness to be involved," says Loy. "I always want {potential alumnae members] to Detroit area. Amanda lent Ana her own badge for the know if they like volunteering, then they'll be amazed ceremony without hesitation. at the sisterhood, the connections they'll make and how giving back feels. Ana sent back a letter right away and "Initiation is a unique experience and something said, 'I want to be a volunteer, like you." you definitely look forward to," Ana says. "During the ceremony I barely had any thoughts running through Overall, Ana would recommend that anyone who is my head because I was completely mesmerized with considering applying for membership through the everything that goes into the ceremony and what it National Alumna Initiate Program do SO. "The program entails." serves its purpose wonderfully," she says. "Alumnae initiates can come in as complete strangers to the Shortly after her initiation, Ana stepped outside her sorority world and Alpha Chi, but they leave very much comfort zone once again when she shifted industries ready to be initiated and to become a sister in the Bond. from marketing to systems analytics for a Tier 1 There is literally no downside to it. You gain SO much." automotive company in Detroit, just as the pandemic was shutting down the United States. Instead of using Ana certainly has gained much: a new sisterhood, her quarantine time to take it easy, Ana has jumped volunteer opportunities, roots in Detroit and a network into life as an Alpha Chi Omega alumna with both feet! across the country. As it turns out, the national flower of Spain and the official flower of Alpha Chi Omega are both the red carnation. It just goes to show that adventuring outside your comfort zone sometimes brings you home. Is there a woman in your family or community you think would make a great Alpha Chi Omega? Sponsor her for membership through the National Alumna Initiate Program and learn more at alphachiomega.org/NAIP THE LYRE 59 ARCHIVES AXQ THEN AND NOW Delta Rho IN-PERSON INITIATION Have you ever FROM THE LYRE, VOLUME 66, NUMBER 3 (MARCH 1962) thought about what Alpha Chi Omega was doing 10, 20, 50 years ago? How have things changed for our members and our organization? Taken from previous Lyre magazines, the "Then and Now" series offers a brief glimpse into what life was like for Alpha Chi Omegas throughout the decades. "On the week-end of December 1-3, 1961, Following these ceremonies was a social One of the proudest the 98th chapter of Alpha Chi Omega hour, plus the arrival of representatives days for an was installed as the eighth women's from Psi chapter at the University of Alpha Chi Omega national fraternity on the campus of the Oklahoma; Gamma Epsilon [at Oklahoma is her initiation, University of Arkansas, at Fayetteville. State University]; Gamma Tau, Oklahoma when she becomes a The fact that this is a venture into a new City University; and alumnae from lifetime member of state for Alpha Chi has already proved to Arkansas and Oklahoma. our Fraternity and be a rewarding and exciting experience learns the Ritual for alumnae, actives, and pledges. On the afternoon of December 2, that binds her with initiation was held for 22 at our chapter thousands of other Installation week-end began with the house. Through the efforts of our visiting women. While arrival of Mrs. Graham; Mrs. Hittle; representatives, advisers, national officers, shifts may occur Jean Langston Wells, national alumnae and local alumnae, Delta Rho initiates over the years to membership director; Donna Appling witnessed one of the loveliest ceremonies adjust to the times Whitaker, province president; and ever performed." (like the COVID-19 Catherine Schempp Smith, pandemic), our district alumnae chairman, on Ritual stays the Friday afternoon, December 1. same. Just ask the That evening the Dream Cake women of Delta and Pledging Ceremonies were Rho (University of held by the pledges of Delta Arkansas)! Rho, and for seven especially invited Fayetteville women. 2 60 ALPHA CHI OMEGA AXQ AXQ AXQ AXQ AXQ BY KENDALL PAGE, DELTA RHO'S 2020 VICE PRESIDENT RITUAL AND FRATERNITY APPRECIATION SOCIALLY DISTANCED INITIATION What a year! Amid the challenges of 2020, we were still able to follow through with initiation and make this a special time for not only our new members but also as a chapter. I wanted this year's initiation to be unlike anything we have done AXO before, with the pandemic in mind. Initiation Week consisted of something every day for the chapter and new members to participate in. We wanted it to represent their journey as new members - wearing their bid day shirt one day, then their new member pin the next, taking a quiz to see what Founder they would be, receiving virtual letters from their senior sisters, and then ending with a Dream Cake Ceremony the night before their initiation. Our chapter had never done this before, but hopefully a new tradition was put in place for our future. We created virtual options for both ceremonies, but our new members chose to be in person and together during this special time. To make this happen, we created shifts with only a certain number of women in the room, masks were constantly worn, and we cleared out our dining room SO we would have more space to spread everyone out. We also managed to still have the big sisters present! Unfortunately, no alumnae were allowed due to capacity, but we did have a few alumnae mothers of the new members on FaceTime to see their daughters during the ceremony. None of this could have been possible without the support and hard work from my Ritual team (pictured above on the steps of the house) and the love and excitement from our sisters. Despite the challenges, the chapter bond we share is strong, and the love we have for one another continues to grow. Welcome to the Bond, MC 20! 61 INDUSTRY INFO Stand Up to Harvard Update BY LAUREN FILIPPINI (ALPHA CHI, BUTLER UNIVERSITY), EDITOR A four-year battle to protect the right of federal court, several fraternities, sororities and students students to freely associate and join single- alleged the sanctions violated Title IX and the U.S. sex organizations like sororities has ended Constitution. In Massachusetts court, two organizations following a settlement in state and federal courts. alleged violations of the state constitution and the Civil Rights Act. In 2016, Harvard University announced sanctions against students who belonged to single-sex social The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), along organizations. The university president and a senior with the North American Interfraternity Conference fellow of Harvard's highest governing body wrote in (NIC), lent its support. And although there was not an 2017 that these groups "stand in the way of our ability Alpha Chi Omega chapter on Harvard's campus, our to provide a fully challenging and inclusive educational members stood with their fraternal friends and nearly experience to the diverse students currently on our 100 other organizations to call for an end to the policy. campus." Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity stood in solidarity as well, sharing messages on social media like this one upon the On that campus, one in four students belonged to filing of the lawsuits: sororities, fraternities or final clubs. Although not formally recognized by the university since 1984, many of these groups operated unofficially off campus. We stand up. Harvard has imposed a policy that punishes students for simply The sanctions prevented students in these single-sex belonging to a private, single-sex organization like Alpha Chi Omega. Students have organizations from holding leadership roles in other the right to shape their own futures- it is time to stand up to Harvard! Alpha Chi Harvard organizations and sports and from earning Omega stands in support of the group of sororities, fraternities and students who filed lawsuits today challenging Harvard. Take a stand with us at www. certain post-graduate fellowships. With women standuptoharvard.org. #standuptoharvard forced to choose between their sisterhood and their opportunities for advancement, nearly all of the sororities and women's final clubs closed or gave up their status as women-only organizations - a status protected by Title IX. Students, parents and alumnae were vocal in their condemnation of Harvard's policy, providing testimony after testimony of the importance of spaces for women to build sisterhood and find safety; they called for the right for students to be able to determine how they organize and create social connection. The STAND UP TO #HearHerHarvard campaign, led by Harvard women, HARVARD saw shows of support from across the country. In December 2018, lawsuits were filed against Harvard. In 62 ALPHA CHI OMEGA "Students do not give up their constitutional rights association rights nationwide," an NPC statement when they enroll at Harvard or on any other campus," shared in August 2020. "The Harvard Sanctions Policy said NPC Chairman Carole Jones in March 2019 after is no longer in existence, and through the settlement Harvard filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits. Both the we have resolved any outstanding issues related to the state and federal courts rejected these motions. lawsuits. We hope the outcome of this litigation will deter other universities from trying to infringe on the In June 2020, the plaintiffs in the federal case freedom of association rights of students." challenging Harvard's policy filed a motion for preliminary or permanent injunction (an order made The work continues. Two Harvard graduates who are by a court at the request of one party in a lawsuit that members of the U.S. House of Representatives - Ruben prevents the other party from pursuing a particular Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, and Elise Stefanik, a course of action until the conclusion of the suit). New York Republican - plan to bring a revision of Shortly thereafter, Harvard acknowledged it did not the Collegiate Freedom of Association Act during have legal precedent and ended its sanctions policy. this term of Congress. It was introduced in June 2019 and referred to committee; the bill aims to amend A joint statement from NPC and NIC following the Higher Education Act "to uphold freedom of Harvard's decision shared, "Our focus has always been association protections," thereby preventing universities on the freedom of association rights of students and on from setting sanctions against students who are part the particularly acute harm that this policy has done of single-sex organizations like Harvard did. The bill to women's-only organizations on Harvard's campus. has had bipartisan support as well as support from the Today's announcement from the university is nothing Congressional Black Caucus. short of an admission that their policy was misguided and openly discriminatory based on sex While we Additionally, NPC continues its Government Relations are pleased that this policy will no longer hang over Platform, focusing on three legislative pillars: Harvard students, we are also painfully aware that preservation of the sorority experience, promotion of its effects will linger - particularly for women's-only college affordability, and advancement of student and organizations that were decimated by this policy." campus safety. Plaintiffs and Harvard entered into a binding There is still work to be done, but as the website confidential settlement agreement, fully resolving standuptoharvard.org shared after the lawsuits were the lawsuits challenging the policies. And while the settled, "Students on campuses across the country can Panhellenic organizations on those campuses have celebrate a victory as their rights were affirmed." not returned, the end of the lawsuits is a victory for students and their freedom to associate. Editor's Note: The term "single-sex" (as opposed to "single- gender") is used in this article in reference to organizations "The sorority and fraternity community chose to that are for women only in alignment with the use of "single- bring these lawsuits to protect students' freedom of sex" in Title IX and NPC Unanimous Agreement X. THE LYRE 63 Congratulations, fall graduates! To all the sisters who graduated at the end of 2020, we can't wait to see how you continue your Real. Strong. Women. Experience as alumnae! CLASS OF 2020 Ui itsity of We lorida AXO AXO CONNECTION 1 Atp Ch WHY COUTURE FOR MY BEST FRIEND: A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC ABUSE 2 3 COLLEGIATE NOTES 1 ALPHA UPSILON (THE UNIVERSITY OF 3 DELTA CHI (WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY) ALABAMA) "The past semester at Delta Chi was filled with masks, Alexa Nunn was selected for the National Panhellenic social distancing, Zoom classes and sanitizing spray," Conference's (NPC) Access and Equity Advisory says Grace Mauzy, the chapter's VP public relations and Committee. Along with collegians and alumnae of marketing. "Despite the current pandemic, we have various sorority affiliations, Alexa will recommend ways learned how to love and grow closer together even from to increase access to the sorority experience and equity a distance." across NPC policies and procedures. 2 ZETA NU (TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY) Hannah Petty participated in the Alpha Chi Couture fundraiser for domestic violence awareness, sharing that she walks for her best friend, a survivor of domestic abuse. THE LYRE 65 2/5 AXO CONNECTION 4 6 5 7 4 BETA LAMBDA (UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA) 6 DELTA PSI (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA) The newest members of Beta Lambda met their big sisters and their families this fall! Sisters got in the holiday spirit before the term ended! 5 KAPPA SIGMA (THE UNIVERSITY OF 7 ALPHA OMICRON (THE OHIO STATE SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI) UNIVERSITY) The great outdoors is the perfect place to be during a With masks in their chapter facility, these sisters are full pandemic, as these Kappa Sigma sisters know! of Alpha Chi pride. 66 ALPHA CHI OMEGA 8 Walk-a-Mile 2020 9 10 8 THETA OMICRON (MARQUETTE 10 BETA PSI (LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY) UNIVERSITY) The chapter raised more than $20,000 for the Domestic The joy of sisterhood is obvious even from behind a Abuse Resistance Team at its fall philanthropy event. mask for these Theta Omicron sisters! 9 BETA (ALBION COLLEGE) The chapter held a walk (with COVID-19 precautions in place) to raise awareness for domestic violence this fall. THE LYRE 67 2/5 Caryl Zirbes Thereza 3sFCD4 1 3 STRONG 4 Donna Mayol 2 ALUMNAE NOTES 1 DELTA PI DELTA (GULF COAST, FLORIDA) 3 SIGMA (UNIVERSITY OF IOWA) ALUMNAE With their masks on, these alumnae chapter sisters In honor of Alpha Chi Night Out, Sigma sisters from gathered for a good lunch and even better conversation. member classes in the mid '70s reunited on Zoom. 2 GAMMA PSI GAMMA (SACRAMENTO, 4 IOTA NU IOTA (TREASURE COAST, CALIFORNIA) FLORIDA) The pandemic couldn't stop these sisters from Along with participating in an Alpha Chi treasure hunt, celebrating 135 years of real, strong women on alumnae chapter sisters also raised more than $1,000 to Founders' Day. Over Zoom, they read the Symphony support SafeSpace Florida! and shared what each line meant to them. is 68 ALPHA CHI OMEGA Julie Wisbrock Nancy Lynne COLOR BAR Nicole Charlotte Jen Hoeferlin Caroline M. Tribl 1/h Ashley Reiter 1/2 Jessica Campbell Abeln Barbara Passanise 5 7 Taylor Stacie Bonte Weffelm.. 6 8 5 ALPHA GAMMA ALPHA (ATLANTA, 7 SIGMA SIGMA (ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI) GEORGIA) The chapter's Holiday Hoopla celebration moved online The chapter partnered with Kendra Scott to host a this year, but still included a game of bingo, holiday fundraiser for the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. decorations and festive sweaters! Friends and family could even shop online for 20% of their purchase to be donated! 8 SIGMA (UNIVERSITY OF IOWA) AND GAMMA IOTA (UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA) 6 ETA SIGMA ETA (UPPER PINELLAS, ALUMNAE FLORIDA) Pamela Conner Knox (left, Sigma) and Patricia "Prissy" Chapter members gathered safely to make gift bags for Gould (Gamma Iota) enjoyed time together in Florida the women and children of The Haven of Clearwater. going into the new year. THE LYRE 69 2/5 AXO CONNECTION 9 11 10 12 9 IOTA SIGMA (SOUTHERN METHODIST 11 UPSILON (MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY) UNIVERSITY) ALUMNA ALUMNA Kira Parson married Jimmy Bivans this September with Although Becky Smith Stewart's wedding guest list five sisters supporting her as bridesmaids. Photo credit: was reduced to just parents and siblings during the Brandon and Lindsay Lutz Photography. pandemic, her husband made sure to bring Alpha Chi Omega to the event. He called Becky's grand-little 10 GAMMA CHI (STETSON UNIVERSITY) sister, Kelly Miles, on FaceTime SO the two could sing ALUMNA "American Pie" together! Sisters stand by your side, especially on the biggest days 12 ALPHA (DEPAUW UNIVERSITY) ALUMNA - just ask Katie McPherson, who had three Alpha Chi Omega bridesmaids. When Paige Gooch married Brendan Bolander in June 2019, she was surrounded by Alpha Chis from three different chapters! 70 ALPHA CHI OMEGA STORIES O GOOD AND (ALARMINGLY) BAD RELATIONSHIPS THE GOOD. BAD THE MOTHER-IN-LAW KENIS DUNNE 1 3 THE UNAPOLOGETIC MOON E.W. RIGHTINGS 2 4 A C C O L A DES 1 EPSILON PSI (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 3 ALPHA PSI (UCLA) AND GAMMA NU (SAN IRVINE) ALUMNA DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY) ALUMNA Beverly "Babs" Sandeen was awarded the Mike Kenis Dunne has published her book The Good, the McGowan Lifetime Achievement Award by the West Bad, the Mother-in-Law, pulling together humorous Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. Babs is a former and loving stories of the mother-in-law journey from Foundation trustee. Photo credit: Riverview Media engagement to grandchildren, drawing on her own Photography/Tia Gemmell experiences. 2 EPSILON OMICRON (INDIANA STATE 4 BETA EPSILON (MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY) COLLEGIAN UNIVERSITY) ALUMNA Rachel Modi was honored with Indiana State Under the nom de plume E.W. Rightings, Carrie University's Daniel J. Bradley Medal for Leadership, Gonzales has released her debut poetry book, The Scholarship and Service, one of the highest honors Unapologetic Moon, a collection crafted to mirror the life given at the university. Rachel plans to attend law cycles of the moon. She explains that it highlights both school in the fall to pursue her dream of becoming an the light and dark phases in life and is a gentle reminder IN MEMORIAM In Memoriam Phi (University of Kansas) Alpha Phi (The University of Texas at Austin) Sandra Kay Herring, 1970, November 2020 Helen Burk Glass, 1947, January 2021 Sheren Rowland Haedge, 1959, January 2021 Reported to headquarters between Chi (Oregon State University) Nancy Stripling Merritt, 1950, September 2020 November 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021 Victoria Hall Herburger, 1942, December 2020 Joan Becker Summersett, 1949, December 2020 Name, Initiation Year, Month and Year of Death Frances Fricker Townsend, 1943, January 2021 Elise Bilhartz Townsend, 1950, December 2020 Alpha (DePauw University) Psi (The University of Oklahoma) Alpha Chi (Butler University) Janet Swaim Burleigh, 1945, October 2020 Betty Wilson Boyd, 1950, November 2019 Margaret Bade Charters, 1937, December 2020 Elizabeth Shierling Grotberg, 1940, February Aleece Brandon Clabes, 1949, November 2018 Eugenia Braun Esmon, 1967, November 2020 2014 Carolyn Jones Ford, 1950, January 2021 Jean McCartney Spinks, 1954, December 2020 Janet Murphy MacCormack, 1946, November Mildred Garland Henson, 1949, September 2017 2020 Normagene Hardcastle Jenkins, 1952, October Alpha Psi (UCLA) Imo Yates Umfleet, 1929, June 2013 2020 Cynthia Preston Briggs, 1960, July 2020 Margery Ross McDoniel, 1952, November 2020 Beta (Albion College) Bessie Merritt Olivo, 1956, January 2021 Alpha Omega (Birmingham-Southern College) Cherry Moffett Watson, 1940, April 2020 Gladys Schlaepfer Rosenberry, 1940, December Ruth Varnon Cale, 1945, November 2020 2020 Gamma (Northwestern University) Beta Gamma (Louisiana State University) Florence Ott Kirschbaum, 1954, December 2020 Omega (Washington State University) Jeri Allen Doran, 1950, January 2021 Amy Langlow Cox, 1946, December 2020 Delta (Allegheny College) Doris Simonson Gronenthal, 1942, November Beta Delta (College of William & Mary) Laura Virginia Conner Chandley, 1957, October 2020 Margaret Brice Devan, 1949, January 2021 2020 Audrey Scholz Nelson, 1948, November 2020 Carolyn Lindsey Ferguson, 1952, November 2020 Beta Eta (Florida State University) Helen Burns Hanson, 1946, January 2021 Alpha Gamma (The University of New Mary Bevis Folds, 1954, August 1987 Jeanne Holets Reilly, 1971, April 2020 Mexico) Geraldine Sellers Forest, 1953, May 1972 Helen Casabonne Disque, 1950, February 2019 Claryne Hedgecoth Henry, 1943, March 2015 lota (University of Illinois at Urbana- Edris Stone Rock, 1954, January 1981 Champaign) Alpha Delta (University of Cincinnati) Jane Morrison Tucker, 1943, September 2012 Patricia J. Attebery, 1945, December 2020 Leora Dungan Sparks, 1939, September 2011 Betty Sue Fryer Veal, 1951, November 2020 Barbara Bradley Wheeler, 1953, June 2020 Kappa (University of Wisconsin) Beta Theta (Lawrence University) Virginia Lueking Schreimann, 1944, November Alpha Zeta (Washington University in St. Vivian Schumaker Iverson, 1948, December 2020 2020 Louis) Eva Mae Sorenson, 1943, September 2019 Marilyn Lamm Carter, 1947, February 2020 Lambda (Syracuse University) Judith Ann Greene, 1961, November 2019 Beta Kappa (University of Wyoming) Virginia Rich Fortmiller, 1949, November 2020 Juletta Northrup Corbin, 1956, September 2020 Alpha lota (University of Vermont) Shirley Bower Goodrich, 1946, December 2020 Mu (Simpson College) Gail Henion Sheehy, 1955, August 2020 Rosalene Corbus Zike, 1947, November 2020 Beta Rho (American University) Alpha Mu (Indiana University) Joan Mattingly Sipe, 1949, November 2020 Nu (University of Colorado Boulder) Betty Prange deHebreard, 1962, December 2020 Edith Mitchell Webb, 1939, November 2020 Patricia Robbins Froehlich, 1966, December 2019 Regina Diane Leary, 1964, May 2020 Alpha Nu (University of Missouri) Beta Sigma (University of Georgia) Nina Marie Baumann, 2008, October 2020 Lucile Ellison Bower, 1939, January 2021 Omicron (Baker University) Marian McDaniel Neal, 1944, December 2020 Alpha Omicron (The Ohio State University) Beta Upsilon (Duke University) Judith Dinzebach Rayborn, 1985, October 2020 Dany Camarena-Romero, 2018, December 2020 Lillian Haldeman Moore, 1948, November 2020 Mary Blakely Ramser, 1947, December 2020 Rho (University of Washington) Beta Phi (Bowling Green State University) Dawn Elberta Wells, 1959, December 2020 Alpha Rho (University of Idaho) Mary Tomlinson Sayre, 1944, November 2020 Helen Jones Call, 1941, December 2020 Sigma (University of Iowa) Gamma Delta (University of Denver) Dorothy Minna Maher, 1953, November 2020 Alpha Sigma (Ohio Wesleyan University) Margaret Frazier Cuthbertson, 1964, October Margaret Witzleben Short, 1951, November 2020 Dorothy Dean Floridis, 1954, November 2020 2020 Bernadine Grover Griffith, 1946, September 2020 Tau (Brenau University) Eloise Fowler Higgins, 1949, December 2020 Gamma Epsilon (Oklahoma State University) Carma Ferguson Jackson, 1944, December 2010 Dawn Nell Davis Brummitt, 1977, January 2021 Mary Ingram Pryor, 1956, December 2020 Alpha Upsilon (The University of Alabama) Claudia Looney Davis, 1960, January 2021 Marion Ponder Samples, 1944, December 2020 Betty Parker McDermott, 1949, October 2020 Upsilon (Millikin University) Chassey Atkins Simmons, 1993, December 2020 Carla Nash Richter, 1982, November 2020 Mary Louise Irish Wilcox, 1945, December 2020 Ellen Crow Smith, 1947, October 2020 Ethel Johnson Roach, 1948, November 2020 Mary Binns Townsend, 1958, November 2020 72 ALPHA CHI OMEGA #healthyAXOlove Gamma Zeta (Kansas State University) See how sisters celebrated Healthy Relationships Week! Ladonna Lee Ackerman, 1958, November 2020 Betty Scott Ashlock, 1952, December 2020 Gamma Lambda (Kent State University) EPSILON ZETA Kathleen Totter Smith, 1950, March 2020 AUBURN UNIVERSITY These letters stand and fight for everyone to Gamma Mu (Ball State University) Jane Leitshuh Harnett, 1955, January 2021 experience healthy love Ellen Cunningham Powell, 1950, December 2020 LOVE IS Gamma Xi (Western Michigan University) AXQ Joan Bayne Armbruster, 1956, November 2020 Marilyn Dixon Goerke, 1951, November 2020 Gamma Sigma (University of Rhode Island) Valerie Gould Anastasia, 1976, February 2019 Gamma Tau (Oklahoma City University) Happy Healthy Relationships Becky Beth Meyer, 1961, December 2020 Week! We hope that you will join us in advocating for healthy Gamma Chi (Stetson University) relationships and change in our Maureen Melinda Bapst Martin, 1981, community! #healthyAXOlove December 2020 Gamma Psi (Wichita State University) Joan Worline Gilley, 1958, December 2020 @axofsc @ABBYGAGAZA alphachiomegaho Delta Kappa (Sam Houston State University) Corrie Allen Logan, 1972, December 2020 Delta Rho (University of Arkansas) IOTA RHO Carolyn Pegelow Wolfe, 1964, December 2020 @AXOLUC Delta Phi (Texas A&M University- Kingsville) Deanna Gillaspy Stewart, 1966, September 2020 Delta Chi (William Woods University) Erica Tuomi Grothaus, 1990, January 2021 Happy Healthy Relationships Hannah Nicole Mansell, 2013, January 2021 Week! Don't forget to love yourself and tell your family and Epsilon Zeta (Auburn University) friends that you love them