Alexis Holliday Learning, growing, leading

56 Pages·2015·15.37 MB·English

Undergraduate State Senators
Leadership and Pro-golfer
Summit inducted
The year of the – PLUS –
undergraduate:
Props
Transitioning to
Alumnae on
graduate chapter
the Move
&
Sigma
Spotlight
Alexis Holliday
Learning, growing, leading …

Volume 83, No. 1
The official organ of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
Table of Contents
Inc., founded at Butler University, Indianapolis,
Indiana, November 12, 1922.
A Message from the International Grand Basileus .. 2
International Headquarters
1000 Southhill Drive, Suite 200
Directory of Officers ......................... 3
Cary, North Carolina 27513-8628
Telephone: [phone]
From the Editor’s Desk........................ 4
Fax: [phone]
www.sgrho1922.org
Greetings from the Executive Director ........... 5
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EST
Bonita M. Herring
Transitioning to Graduate Chapter............... 6
International Grand Basileus
Glyndell B. Presley Props...................................... 8
Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Morris Leadership Summit .......................... 9
Executive Director
Learning, Growing, Leading .................. 10
Senior Reporter
Crystl Starkes
Inductions................................. 12
Contributing Writers
Angela Spears
Golden Alert............................... 13
Cover Photo
Courtesy of Rel
A Golden Affair ............................ 15
Design
Powell Graphics & Communication, Inc. Region News............................... 17
Printer
Progressive Business Solutions Spotlight .................................. 19
The AURORA is published three times a year. All
Splash Water Safety ......................... 20
materials for publication should be addressed to
the attention of The AURORA at the International
Headquarters or sent electronically to theauroramag@ St. Jude: Council of Presidents ................. 22
sgrho1922.org. The Editor assumes no responsibility
for unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. Such Undergraduate Pulse ........................ 23
documents, if to be returned, must be accompanied
by a self-addressed stamped envelope. All Rights Alumnae on the Move ....................... 26
Reserved. Postage paid to Raleigh, (North Carolina)
Postmaster. Affiliate News ............................. 43
Deadlines:
Fall-Winter July 15 Omega Rho ............................... 48
Winter-Spring December 15
Spring-Summer April 15 Certified Vendors ........................... 51
PB Spring/Summer 2015 • The Aurora 1
During this sorority year, we have celebrated accomplishments and historic
events such as the confirmation of Loretta Lynch, who became the first
African American woman to hold the position of Attorney General. In this
position, she serves as the head of the United States Department of Justice.
Together, we have also mourned the loss of lives and experienced the impact
of that loss in our communities. We have heard a cry for justice across the
country and an outcry of frustration when there is a feeling that an unjust
Greetings from
decision was made. We have seen expressions on the faces of children and
the International young adults showing their anger and pain. We have heard the questions
raised about the future of our young.
Grand Basileus
So the question that comes to mind is “What can we do?” I will even offer a
more emphatic question “What must we do?”. We all have a responsibility to
and for our youth. We have a responsibility to guide our youth and share our
experiences with them. We have a responsibility to teach and train them about
the importance of education; to quote the late Nelson Mandela, “Education is
the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
This summer, Sigma Gamma Rho will continue its goal of educating our youth
by providing training opportunities at our Undergraduate Leadership Summit
(ULS) in Indianapolis, Indiana, the place of our birth. The purpose of the
Undergraduate Leadership Summit is to provide a forum where participants
can assemble for professional, personal and leadership development.
We also have a responsibility to show children and young adults our love. We
must encourage them to love themselves, love one another and know that the
Soror
future is in their hands. As we move forward and look to the future of Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority, I have faith in those young bright stars that will lead
Bonita M. Herring
the way. I will end with a few lines from a song named “The Greatest Love
of All.” In doing a little research I found that one of the songwriters, Linda
23rd International
Creed, wrote the lyrics while she was fighting breast cancer. Some say that
Grand Basileus
the words described her feelings about coping with great challenges that one
must face in life, being strong during those challenges whether you succeed or
fail, and passing that strength on to children. Eventually Creed lost her battle
with breast cancer, but her song lives on as an anthem to celebrate youth and
to promote strength, hope and love. Here are a few of the lyrics:
I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
Yours in the service of Sigma,
22 Spring/Summer 2015 • The Aurora 3
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
International Officers 2014-2016
INTERNATIONAL
GRAND BASILEUS
Bonita M. Herring
University Park, Illinois

INTERNATIONAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECOND INTERNATIONAL
GRAND ANTI-BASILEUS GRAND ANTI-BASILEUS GRAND GRAMMATEUS
Deborah Catchings-Smith Knyra C. Ratcliff Ronica O. Mathis
St. Louis, Missouri Bessemer, Alabama Tallahassee, Florida

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
GRAND ANTI-GRAMMATEUS GRAND TAMIOCHUS GRAND EPISTOLEUS
La Tonya T. Nelson Vanessa Tyson Angela Spears
Palmdale, California Indianapolis, Indiana Jacksonville, Florida

INTERNATIONAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AURORA
Glyndell B. Presley
Tallahassee, Florida

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ADVISOR NATIONAL RHOER COORDINATOR INTERNATIONAL SERGEANT AT ARMS
Karyn A. Thomas, Esq Robin Birt Joyvan Malbon
Plano, Texas Desoto, Texas Chesapeake, Virginia
INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM CORPORATE LIAISON
Frances Jackson, Ph.D., R.N. COORDINATOR B. Victoria Cook
Detroit, Michigan Sandre Mitchell Olympia Fields, Illinois
Randallstown, Maryland
NATIONAL PHILO COORDINATOR BOULE CHAPLAIN
Paulette Waite Mae Frances Frazier
Loganville, Georgia Capital Heights, Maryland
PAST GRAND BASILEI
Cleo S. Higgins, Ph.D., 10th Katie Kinnard White, Ph.D., 17th Mynora J. Bryant, Ph.D., 21st
Ormond Beach, Florida Brentwood, Tennessee Silver Springs, Maryland
Annie L. Lawrence-Brown, R.N., Ed.D., 13th Corine J. Green, 18th Joann Loveless, 22nd
Chicago, Illinois North Las Vegas, Nevada Fontana, California
Evelyn H. Hood, 14th Helen J. Owens, 20th EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Atlanta, Georgia Jackson, Tennessee Rachel Morris
Cary, North Carolina
2 SSpprriinngg//SSuummmmeerr 22001155 •• TThhee AAuurroorraa 33
“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and
better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their
A Word lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.”
- Brian Tracy
from the
In Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. acquiring new and better forms of
Editor
knowledge begins with leadership development and education of youth
which are the hallmarks of the organization’s programs and activities.
Brian Tracy describes in the quote above people who continuously learn
new and better ways to make the world a better place. Those people, he
said, are the movers and shakers in society.
It is fitting that this edition of The Aurora magazine focuses on “the
undergraduate.” Undergraduates are the movers and shakers -- the
lifeblood of the organization -- for the indefinite future. Senior Reporter
Crystal Starkes discusses through dialogue with South Carolina Area
Coordinator Erika Williams and members Tina Travis, Cassandra Hudley,
Jessica Banks, Domanique Abner and Lakia Barr, the lifelong commitment
of being a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. that extends far
beyond college graduation.
An examination of the Undergraduate Leadership Summit to be held at
Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. in July will show how training is
Soror paramount to transitional skills. By training undergraduate members how
to be leaders yields transferable professional, organizational and personal
Glyndell B.
development. Among the highlights of the summit are resume writing
workshops, mock interviews, graduate school fair, corporate preceptorship
Presley
opportunities, advisor certification training and an open forum with the
national leadership.
Editor-In-Chief
This edition also features the Golden Alert, Swim 1922 Road Trip, plus
Sigma Spotlight, Alumnae On the Move, Undergraduate Pulse, Affiliate
News and ‘Props.
As we continue to nurture the movers and shakers of Sigma Gamma
Rho Sorority, Inc. let us take on Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s thinking that
we “resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and the wrong.
Sometime in your life you will have been all of these.”
Happy Reading,
44 Spring/Summer 2015 • The Aurora 5
“Unity is strength ... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful
things can be achieved.” - Mattie Stepanek
Greeting from the International Corporate Headquarters of Sigma Gamma
Rho Sorority, Inc! As the sorority year comes to a close, we approach the
final stretch to the Undergraduate Leadership Summit and the fiscal year
closeout. We are excited that the Undergraduate Leadership Summit is to
be held at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.
Fiscal year closeout
In preparation for the fiscal year closeout, chapter reports must be received
Greetings from
– not postmarked -- at the headquarters office by July 15. The end-of-the-
year report may be completed online or you may email the paper form. The
the International
proper email address to use when submitting reports is eoy@sgrho1922.
org. Chapters should also use this address when forwarding a copy of the
Headquarters
chapter’s IRS email notification that the e-postcard has been accepted, or
you may upload the acceptance email online. Remember, chapters are not
able to file the 990N until after June 30.
We continue to work on ways to constantly improve the way we operate
to increase our ability to provide stellar customer service and answer the
needs of the membership. In addition to disseminating more information
electronically, the headquarters staff still needs assistance. Please update
your physical mailing address, email address and any other contact
information to avoid any hindrances that might keep you from receiving
timely information. It would help us as we continue to strive to be more
efficient. We have mail that is returned unclaimed due to address changes,
closed post office boxes and general refusal for pick up.
New management positions
International Corporate Headquarters recently added two new management
positions - deputy executive director and director of membership services.
Aminata Mbaye Niang, is the new Deputy Executive Director. In her
role, Amy assists with daily management of the International Corporate Soror
Headquarters and provides support to the International Grand Basileus.
A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, she earned a Rachel E. Morris
Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in business management.
Amy joined the headquarters team in 2008 as the Executive Assistant,
Executive Director
where she served as liaison to the senior leadership and held supervisory
responsibilities in the Executive Director's absence.
Elaina J. Hamilton is the new Director of Membership Services where
she manages all strategy aspects of membership including new member
recruitment, membership retention, member reactivation and staff
supervision. Elaina, a University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)
graduate, is a native of Matthews, N.C. She earned a bachelor of fine arts
degree with a concentration in design. Elaina joined the headquarters team
in 2010 as the Membership Services Coordinator. She was instrumental in
updating TORCH-related materials and creating organizational structure
for our internal disciplinary action system to contribute to the mitigation
of risk.
In keeping with our theme, “Uplifting Our Legacy of Sisterhood,
Leadership and Service,” let us continue to fulfill the mission of Greater
Service Greater Progress.
Sisterly,
4 SSpprriinngg//SSuummmmeerr 22001155 •• TThhee AAuurroorraa 55
The year of the
undergraduate:
Transitioning to
graduate chapter
T
his is it - one of the biggest Rho Sorority, Inc. is a lifelong there is a disconnection, the transfer is
moments in your life! You line commitment that extends well after highly unlikely.”
up with the other new alumni graduating from college. Therefore,
Victoria Woods, a recent graduate
the university that you’ve spent your members should consider their next
from Winthrop University said her
last four to five years meeting new move in Sigma before you walk across
transition from undergraduate to
people, gaining an education, and the stage. However, it doesn’t fall
graduate chapter was easy because
joining Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, solely on the new graduates to make
she was able to see “the actions of the
Inc. There are so many thoughts racing a smooth transition into a graduate
local graduate chapter.”
in your mind like where will you chapter.
live, will you pursue graduate school “Graduate chapters should have an Tina Travis, who graduated in 2009
immediately following undergraduate, existing, healthy relationship with from the same university, transitioned
do you accept the first job offer that their undergraduate counterparts,” immediately after graduating from
you receive, and will you transfer your Erika Williams, South Carolina Area college because she already had a
membership from your undergraduate Coordinator said. “That within itself relationship formed with existing
to graduate chapter. Sigma Gamma will make for a smoother transition. If chapter members.
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chapter to another region or state in
search of a graduate chapter to join.
Hudley, who relocated from South
Carolina to Maryland, said, “Often
after graduation, many sorors relocate
By Crystal Starkes, Senior Reporter to new regions or cities and aren’t
familiar with that area’s sorors.”
She mentioned that she’s reached out
to area chapters, but received little
response back.
After graduating from Voorhees
College in Denmark, S.C., Domanique
Abner shared that she didn’t join a
graduate chapter because “it took me
forever to actually find one especially
when transferring to a different
region.”
How can graduate chapters assist
undergraduates in this process?
Williams shared, “Undergraduates
should be invited to attend graduate
meetings throughout the year to
help bridge the gap and to obtain
knowledge on projects and planning
on the graduate level thus helping to
Erika Williams Cintyna Travis eliminate the disconnect; graduate
members should attend and show
support to undergraduates for on-
campus events to help heighten the
sorority’s visibility; collaborate with
undergrads on events.”
Although some experienced remain a financially active may not Abner believes that the sorority should
successful transitions, the process be a priority for the recent college create a “Where are you moving to”
from transferring from undergraduate graduate,” Williams said. list for undergraduates to fill out and
to graduate chapters may not be as area graduate chapters will reach out
Cassandra Hudley said, “Life
simple for others. For most, they delay to members. They would serve as
happened.”
transferring into a graduate chapter a welcome committee for the new
because of finances. Unfortunately, that is why some graduates.
members do not transition immediately
“Transitioning to a post-collegiate Lakia Barr transitioned immediately
to a graduate chapter. “Immediately
lifestyle comes with its fair share of after undergraduate, but since she has
after undergrad, I wanted to join, but
challenges all within itself. Career taken a break. She said that it helps
life was happening and I couldn’t do
placement, housing and getting to know your responsibilities as a
acclimated to life takes focused it right off,” Jessica Banks said, who member to understand what amount
did eventually join her local graduate of time to commit as well as offering
attention. If the graduate chapter offers
chapter. a payment plan option for dues.
no support in this process, or if things
are not easily attained, electing to Another issue is relocation from home
Spring/Summer 2015 • The Aurora 7
Undergraduate Leadership Summit
focuses on training, transitional skills
Undergraduates and advisors are preparing to travel to Butler University,
the birthplace of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., in July to participate in a
three-day leadership summit. The summit is designed to train undergraduate
members how to transition skills learned into professional, organizational and
personal leadership opportunities.
The theme is “Training Undergraduates and Advisors to be Leaders of
the Future While Proudly Standing on the Legacy of Sisterhood, Leadership
and Service.” Among the highlights of the summit are resume writing
workshops, mock interviews, a graduate school fair, corporate preceptorship
opportunities, advisor certification training and an open forum with the
national leadership. The summit is scheduled for July 24-26, 2015.
Zeretha Washington, immediate past Undergraduate Chapter
Coordination for the Western Region and committee chair for the
Advisor’s Certification serves as chair for the summit. Terri Hurdle,
Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Mount St. Joseph University,
was appointed as co-chair. Washington and Hurdle, both, have
worked extensively in leadership environments that demanded a
level of professionalism and optimum performance skill sets.
Washington is an epilepsy pharmaceutical sales professional with
Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals. Previously, she served as a faculty lecturer
at Chapman University’s Irvine Campus. Washington has a master
of business administration degree with specialization in healthcare
management.
Hurdle has provided leadership training for more than 16 years to
students, members of Greek organizations and student affairs practitioners.
In 2012, Hurdle earned her doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership.
Her dissertation represented an in-depth, qualitative analysis of the role
of Black Greek letter organizations in the leadership development of
African-American women.
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