Emerging Leaders Institute
21 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
The Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) is a five day intensive opportunity for freshman and sophomore women to better define their voices, identify their leadership skills and abilities, and learn how to make practical changes for their chapters and communities. Sister Irene Lainiotis was chosen among many Alpha Phis around the country who applied to attend this resourceful leadership seminar.
According to the Alpha Phi International website, “The Emerging Leadership Institute provides collegiate women with the opportunity to:
- Understand, debate, and apply the Alpha Phi values of leadership, service, sisterhood, loyalty, scholarship, and character development. Through this process they learned how to lead with authenticity, integrity, and confidence.
- Refine their leadership skills so they may serve as effective students, leaders, and citizens within their communities. They frame leadership as an inherently relational process of working together to accomplish a goal or to promote change.
- Learn the importance of building a strong community of support for their personal self, in addition to creating a team committed to common goals.
- Develop effective communication skills so they may create healthy relationships with others.”
Here’s some insight to Irene’s experience at the seminar and how her experience there has impacted her membership in Alpha Phi:
“It was honestly amazing to meet Alpha Phis from around the United States and Canada. We always talk about how “this sisterhood is forever and beyond our collegiate years and campus”, but nothing makes you realize that like an experience at ELI. All the sisters were so welcoming and kind, and I truly felt like they were all my sisters. One of our lead facilitators, Cathy McKay, was actually a JMU alum, so it was really cool to get to meet her and we instantly shared a JMU and Alpha Phi connection.
We learned a lot about effective leadership. One of my favorite lessons was on caring confrontation. Since we stress Watchcare so much in our chapter, this lesson was very useful. We learned ways to confront people we care about in ways that don’t seem like we are attacking them. We all took oaths promising we would both give and take “reproof and correction”, and this lesson taught me how to go about this in a loving and sisterly way.
Another lesson that I personally loved was the one on stewardship. Stewardship is caring for something that has been entrusted to you. We all promised to take care of our Fraternity, and meeting women from across the country really made me realize the importance of that. They inspired me to be a good representative of Alpha Phi and to try my hardest to improve my chapter. Everyone I met was truly inspiring and reassured me that Alpha Phi was definitely the right decision for me. I couldn’t be happier with my sisters at JMU and around the world. We truly do have an incredible sisterhood, and I wish everyone could experience ELI to realize that.”
The Theta Iota sisters are so proud of Irene for applying to such a wonderful program and representing our chapter in a positive way. We look forward to her bringing back everything she learned to the chapter in the Fall and helping us grow even more.
TFM is not TSM
19 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
Guest Writer Kait Solomon
As a sorority woman and a communication major I decided to study TFM for my Communication and Gender class. As I began to analyze a site I know many of you sisters view for fun, I began to realize the negative implications this site has to how we as sorority women are portrayed.
I have witnessed numerous sisters quote TSM on Facebook and Twitter, it’s even on our senior shirts this year. While it is done in jest I urge you all to stop referencing the site. I won’t go into my analysis of what determines a “total frat move,” but focus on how we are defining ourselves as sorority women by using TSM. A total sorority move can be categorized by trending characteristics. These include relations to a fraternity male or “fratdaddy,” physical appearance, privileged class with daddy’s money, and pastimes appropriate for a female of sorority standing.
Examples of actual posts include:
Characteristic one: I’m in the law library with my frat daddy. He’s studying corporations or something. I am coloring. TSM.
Characteristic two: Feminism is for ugly girls. TSM.
Characteristic three: Getting over $600 worth of campus parking tickets in one semester because you didn’t want to sweat on the way to class. Don’t worry, Daddy paid them off and I plan on doing it again next semester. TSM.
Characteristic four: Cooking, crafting, and drinking wine. Wondering how girls who aren’t in sororities spend their time. TSM.
Really ladies? Is this how you want to be seen? We are classifying ourselves as sexual objects whose entire value is based on how we’re viewed by men. I am proud that we are a chapter made up of strong, independent women. Alpha Phi was founded on the principles of being a strong woman. We have had notable alumni in the fields of science, politics, and business. We were founded as a way for women to come together in a college environment dominated by males and established the mission statement to support one another in lifelong achievement.
As sisters of Alpha Phi, we have taken an oath to promote sisterhood, service, scholarship, love, loyalty and character development. Our founders were pioneers, paving the way for women to have the chance for social equality. What would Martha say if she knew sisters were commenting that they were a good sorority girl because they can make a sandwich for a man who refers to her as slampiece?
I joined a chapter of strong women who I respected and admired. I hope in the future you will think about what it truly means to be a total sorority girl. It means a woman who is smart, loyal, confident, driven, and knows the value of sisterhood is more than partying on the weekends. Sisterhood means a family of those who share your values, and our values do not promote ignorance and sexism. As your sister I urge you to think about what you are really saying to the public when you quote TSM. I know many of you get offended by being called a stupid sorority girl, so why are we calling each other that? TFM is not TSM. TSM is being a dedicated sister who upholds the values of Alpha Phi.
Sister of the Week
09 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
Stacy Murphy, Sister of the Week
This week we would like to feature Stacy Murphy for her excellence in this chapter. As Director of Finance, she has gone above and beyond her position and made a positive impact on the sisters’ morale. She never disparages a sister, and always wears a smile (and her pearls!). Looking classy as always, her enthusiasm for the betterment of Alpha Phi boosts the confidence of all sisters. Thank you for everything you do!
Winners of Greek Week!!!!
08 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
- Red Rain Blue Thunder
On Sunday, April 3rd, JMU Fraternity and Sorority Life kicked off its annual Greek Week! Alpha Phi was paired with Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) and the multicultural sorority Delta Sigma Theta (DST) to form the team Red Rain Blue Thunder, through which the members of each organization worked closely together to place first!
Throughout the week, groups of Panhellenic, Interfraternity Council, and Multicultural organizations competed in various events to accumulate a series of points. A different competition was held each night of the week. Starting on Sunday, the list for a week-long scavenger hunt was given to each team. Tasks such as getting twenty team members to take a picture at a James Madison statue or taking a picture of ten team members eating in a dining hall were necessary to win this specific event. Extra points were given for every four plus members in every picture.
- Our homey shack
Monday was the famous Shack-a-thon, where teams accumulate as many scraps of cardboard, tarp, etc. to build a shack. Each team is judged on attendance, structure, creativity, meaning, and sportsmanship in order to win. Our team of Red Rain Blue Thunder won first place in this particular competition! We built a teepee to represent how Alpha Phi, AEPi, and DST lean on each other for support and establish a great foundation of friendship with one another. On the inside of the shack, we made cardboard furniture to symbolize the comfort we share with each other. Written on the walls was our creeds, values, and other important aspects of each of our organizations. It was a shame destroying such a sentimental creation after judging was over!
Tuesday was the “Library Hours” event. A representative from each of the teams was stationed in both of JMU’s libraries from 5 pm to 10 pm, and team members were required to register with the representatives to accumulate points. Not only was this a great way to accumulate points, but participants were able to study during this busy week.
- Alpha Phis cheering for the team
On Wednesday, teams participated in a “Field Day”. Games such as the wheel barrow race, fifty-yard dash, three-legged race, etc. were played in order to accumulate more points! Red Rain Blue Thunder had great attendance, showed the Greek Week spirit, and placed first in this event!
- Oopma Loopmas everywhere!!
Thursday was the most important day of all…Greek Sing! Each sorority and fraternity prepared a top-secret (at least it was supposed to be), five-minute dance routine involving dancers, hands, and props. Alpha Phi’s theme was “APHI and the Chocolate Factory”. We definitely had the golden ticket. After a semester’s worth of preparation, we felt very accomplished on our performance. Check us out!
Alpha Phi placed fourth in Greek Sing and won best theme! AEPi’s theme was “A Day in the Life of an AEPi”, which emphasized the importance of brotherhood within its chapter. AEPi placed second out of all the fraternities that participated.
This has been an amazing week where Greek organizations came together and showed their appreciation for what Greek life has to offer! Thanks to Alpha Epsilon Pi and Delta Sigma Theta for making this week a complete success!
Pictures from King of Hearts/Move Your Phi’t
28 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Check out pictures from our philanthropy events last month! Thanks so much to Seth Binsted and Amy Gwaltney of University Unions at JMU for taking the time to capture the moments we will remember forever.
Sisters To Be Recognized!
28 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Over the past couple of weeks, many sisters have exemplified what makes an ideal sister. Having implemented the “Sister of the Week” program within our chapter, many sisters have been motivated show the colors of a true Alpha Phi, whether by volunteering at a non-profit organization, tutoring a sister in a class, or holding a leadership position and valuing her duties.
Last week’s sister of the week was Morgan Seckinger, sophomore. She was a First-yeaR Orientation Guide (FROG) for the 2010-2011 school year and currently serves as the Unity Chair. Her job is to organize all-sister gatherings, and she has done a fantastic job unifying Alpha Phi. We thank her for her dedication to her position as well as the chapter.
This week’s sister of the week is Maya Gibson-Reinemer, senior. She is the former Director of Community Service and was very involved in encouraging sisters to volunteer at the local children’s museum and the SPCA while in office. Her positive attitude and sweetness will be missed when she graduates. We thank her for being such a great sister and always spreading the cheer to sisters who need it most.
Greeks Coming Together for Community Outreach
27 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Alpha Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon pair for a community service event at the Arc
On Friday, March 25th, Alpha Phi paired with the fraternity of Sigma Phi Epsilon to host an Easter-themed activity day for clients of the Arc, which is a non-profit organization serving individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
From egg hunts to coloring, to egg-dying and an Easter Bunny piñata, the day was a unique experience for the Alpha Phis and SigEps that volunteered as well as the participants. Check out some photos from the event, and for more information on the Arc, please visit http://www.hrarc.org/
