The Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha; Summer 2012

P hoenixSummer 2012 | Volume 98

of

page 6

Theta Tau Chapter installation page 8 Like the phoenix, she arose as a new woman after losing

200 pounds

MeMbers of The TheTa Tau ChapTer aT CapiTaL universiTy, oh. phoTo CrediT: KaTie MaTis sMiTh, ΔΗ

6

FEATURES

Cover story, page 8:

Like the phoenix, she arose as a new woman after losing 200 pounds

6

8

20PHOTO CREDIT: Dallas alumnaE CHaPTER

www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org 3

SUmmER 2012 CONTENTS

DEPARTmENTS

6

12

18

Editor’s desk

From the president

Foundation news

District news

News & events

From the archives

Theta Tau Chapter installation

Sisters in the sports industry

District Day 2012-13: Responsible women

4

5

17

20

22

23

PHOTO CREDIT: BETHany GOOD PHOTOGRaPHy

PHOTO CREDIT: KaTIE maTIs smITH, ΔΗ

12

COvER PHOTO CREDIT: BETHany GOOD PHOTOGRaPHy

Dear readers,i will admit that i have the most difficultly

balancing the physical aim of Alpha Sigma

Alpha into my schedule. i am better at taking

time to focus on my intellectual, social and

spiritual development. i think, i’ll go to

the gym next week, or i’ll eat a healthier

breakfast tomorrow, today i just am just too busy.

in this issue of the Phoenix, we share the story of one alumna who

realized that she had no more time to make excuses about her physical

well-being. erin Meyer, ee had to make big changes in her life to

make her health a priority and lose weight, and she tackled this with

a positive attitude. i found her story very inspiring and motivating,

and i think that you will too.

For many sisters, thinking about the physical aim of the sorority also

brings to mind memories of playing intramural sports with sisters

or participating in a fun game of kickball to celebrate dedication days.

To reflect this aspect of our physical aim, we have also included an

article in this issue about sorority sisters who have made professional

sports their career. Did you know that we have two sisters working at

eSPn headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut?

i hope that you enjoy this issue and take some time this summer to

reflect on your own physical well-being. Carve some extra time out

of your day to take a walk and relax or try a new healthy recipe and

make your health a priority.

in Alpha Sigma Alpha,

erika Ann Butts Phoenix editor

Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha (USPS 430-640) is

published quarterly by Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002

Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018.

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Send address changes, death notices and business

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deadLinesWinter Sept. 10

Spring Dec. 10

Summer March 10

Fall June 10

ediTorErika Ann Butts, EK

ConTribuTing ediTorNancy I.Z. Reese, BU

naTionaL headQuarTers9002 Vincennes Circle

Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018

Phone: (317) 871-2920

Fax: (317) 871-2924

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sTay ConneCTed

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EdiTOr’S DESK

4 Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha | Summer 2012

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTSWe always welcome your comments—both

criticism and praise—about this publication.

Email [email protected] or

send mail to:

Editor, Alpha Sigma Alpha

9002 Vincennes Circle

Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018

PP HOENIXHOENIXP HOENIXPSpring 2012 | Volume 98

HOENIXof

page 16

ASA 2012-15 strategic plan page 10 National council slate announced

page 22 Sorority formals of days past

P hoenixof

Volume 98, Number3

EdiTOr’S DESK


The focus of this edition of the Phoenix is on one of Alpha Sigma

Alpha’s four aims – our physical aim. it has me thinking about

healthy living and how it factors into our aim. i am sure many,

if not all, of us at some point in our lives have been concerned

about our health, weight, diet or physical appearance. Well at

least, we thought about it as we declared new Year’s resolutions

or perhaps when we saw photos of models, hung out with a group

of girlfriends or contemplated swimsuit season. in today’s world,

there is an increase in poor health choices that is leading to a huge

array of physical and mental health issues for females. The words

“healthy living” are most certainly on the tongues of many and the

focus of numerous studies and programs.

organizations that are female-centric are realizing their role

in helping members live healthier lifestyles, and this focus

is starting with girls and young women. With an increase in

childhood obesity, girl-focused groups such as the Girl Scouts

and Girls on the Run are trying to do something about it. To help

gain perspective, the Girl Scouts Research institute has bridged a

gap that speaks to girls’ attitudes about health, diet, weight, body

image and exercise in a research study titled “The new normal?

What Girls Say About healthy Living.” Major findings of this study

show that today’s girls define health a little differently. Girls in the

study felt “that even though it is important to eat right and exercise,

it is equally important to appear “normal,” feel good about yourself

and be supported by family and friends.”

Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run international, an

organization that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident

through a running and self-esteem program that encourages

positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical

development, also addresses the holistic view of healthy living.

in her book, Girls Lit from Within: A Guide to Life Outside of the Girl Box,

she outlines some of the thoughts and struggles that girls of all ages

go through in regards to their physical and mental health.

“… it can be tough, nowadays, being a girl. Sometimes we can

be mean. Sometimes we can really hurt each other’s feelings.

Sometimes we feel ugly. Trying to feel beautiful about ourselves

is a challenge when all we see in magazines are pictures of girls

and women that have been created on a computer. Sometimes we

compare ourselves to those pictures and feel like we don’t measure

up. Sometimes we feel dumb. not every girl in the world can make

straight A’s, and when we don’t, it’s hard to find the ‘smarts’ inside

of us. Sometimes we feel unpopular. We might feel like we don’t

fit in or we don’t look right in our clothes. We might look in the

mirror and wish that we could look like someone else. i know you

feel all of these things sometimes. Because, you know what? i do

too. i’m just an older girl inside an older body. But my friends and

i all struggle with the same kind of feelings. even 40 year-olds want

to be popular sometimes.”

As Alpha Sigma Alpha focuses on the physical aim, i hope you too

will consider how this aim takes hold in your own lives. As you

read above, it doesn’t have to be just about exercise and physical

fitness. it should encompass the whole, inside and out, beautifully-

packaged individual that you are.

here’s to a happy, healthy summer!

BY CiNdY KELLEY, BP | NATIONAL PRESIDENT

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

A focus on the physical aim of Alpha Sigma Alpha

FROm THE PrESidENT


THETA TAU SiSTErS

Theta Tau Chapter installed on March 31, 2012

BY LiNdSaY KiNG, EΗ | 2011-12 lEaDERsHIP COnsulTanT

Lindsey Hutton

Christine Angiuoli

Chelsea Annis

Jordan Ayers

Kayla Barnett

Sarah Bear

Hayley Brooks

Audrey Chrisman

Paige Ciccarone

Allison Clem

Kelly Covert

Anaya El-Naggar

Molly Gill

Andrea Green

Morgan Grismer

Shayna Hague

Sydney Hammond

Jessica Heck

Sally Johnston

Megan Kaunert

Brandi Keeton

Lauren Klein

Mackenzie Kyes

Kelly Lehrer

Jamie Liess

Lynndsay Little

Samantha Malone

Kathryn Mason

Natalie McCullough

Rachel McDonald

Katie Metzinger

Madison Mikhail

Erika Miller

Amanda Molaskey

Kristen Moore

Shannon O’Malley

Danielle Parisey

Carly Poling

Shelby Rohr

Sarah Rowe

Kala Schiff

Jenna Schmerge

Dayna Scott

Celia Sheets

Alyson Smith

Heather Speaks

Megan Sweet

Ashley Taylor

Ashley Wales

Charter alumna initiate Emily Williams

Charter new memberSara Mackay

Character initiates

installation team for the Theta Tau ChapterNational President Cindy Kelley, BP

Leadership Consultant Lindsay King, EΗ

Membership Growth Coordinator

Katie Matis Smith, ΔΗ

District 3 District Facilitator

Sue Zbikowski Barone, ΓΞ

Installation Chairman Ashley Taylor, QΤ

Chapters attending installation weekend:Zeta Omicron Chapter –

Muskingum University, OH

Central Ohio Alumnae Chapter

Theta Tau Chapter installation weekend agenda friday, March 30, 2012

• We Are Crusaders reception with friends, student

organization leaders, campus faculty and staff.

• We Are Alpha Sigma Alpha reception with Alpha

Sigma Alpha alumnae and collegiate members.

saturday, March 31, 2012

• Sanctuary Degree Service, Service for Installation of

a New Chapter, Service for Installation of Col-

legiate Chapter Officers.

• White Luncheon celebrating the in-

stallation of the chapter with Alpha

Sigma Alpha alumnae and collegiate

members.

• The Installation Banquet at The Co-

lumbus Crew Stadium in downtown

Columbus with more than 150 family,

friends, Alpha Sigma Alpha alumnae

and collegiate members in attendance.

Pictured above top: Theta Tau Chapter President Lindsey Hutton displaying an engraved silver platter from the Alpha Sigma Alpha National Council at the white luncheon.

Pictured above bottom: The women of Theta Tau immediately following installation services.

donations to the alpha Sigma alpha Foundation on behalf of the Theta Tau Chapter installationCindy Kelley, BP, national president

Zeta Eta Chapter, Rockhurst

University, MO

Eta Eta Chapter, Pittsburg State

University, KS


Fun facts about Theta Tau Chapter:• Zeta Pi Lambda, the local sorority,

was founded and chartered in 1962 for

strong independent women who believe

in the four core values of scholarship,

leadership, friendship and Christianity.

• The chapter continues to embrace

their local mascot, the zebra.

• Half of the women in the Theta Tau

Chapter are nursing majors.

The executive board of the Theta Tau Chapter.

Founding members of Theta Tau Chapter showing off their membership certificates.

National President Cindy Kelley celebrating with

members of Theta Tau Chapter and the installation

team at the installation banquet.

Gifts/donations to the chapter sponsored byOhio Alumnae

Cincinnati, OH, Alumnae Chapter

Dayton, OH, Alumnae Chapter

Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter

Greater Kansas City, MO, Alumnae Chapter

Buffalo, NY, Alumnae Chapter

Alpha Chapter, Longwood University, VA

Zeta Zeta Chapter, University of

Central Missouri

Eta Eta Chapter, Pittsburg State University, KS

Delta Sigma Chapter, Saginaw Valley

State University, MI

Zeta Mu Chapter, Missouri Western University

Zeta Psi Chapter, Loras College, IA

Theta Rho Chapter, West Texas

A&M University

Sue Zbikowski Barone, ΓΞ, District 3

District Facilitator

OUR ASA SiSTErS



Like the phoenix, she arose as a new

woman after losing 200 pounds

Erin meyer, EE, admits that her weight was always an issue while growing up. She was an overweight child and keenly remembers hitting 300 pounds while on the scale at the doctor’s office during her freshman year of high school.

By the time she started college, Erin had already tried almost every diet in the books in an attempt to lose weight. She tried the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, Weight Watchers plans, weight loss pills andeverything in between to no avail.

BY diNa LibEraTOrE, ZN | PHOEnIx COnTRIBuTOR


fried chicken, walking versus driving,

ordering her salad dressing on the side and,

most importantly, understanding what a true

portion size actually is.

While watching her points and exercising

regularly, the weight slowly began to come

off, and erin’s knee also started getting

stronger. She walked first with a walker,

then with crutches and a cane until she

was well enough to walk on her own.

Since 2006, erin has lost an amazing 230

pounds and is now at a healthy weight. While

making the decision to eat healthier and to

exercise is a personal decision, erin admits

that she could not have done it alone and was

supported through the whole experience by

her epsilon epsilon Chapter sisters.

“While i was recovering from knee surgery,

my sorority sisters... would call every day,

write letters, send care packages and visit

on the weekend,” said erin. And when

she was well enough to visit the chapter at

Christmastime, the sorority house mom

added some of erin’s favorite Weight

Watchers recipes to the dinner menu

for the chapter women.

The accidentin 2006, erin was a junior at emporia State

University, KS, majoring in elementary

education. She was elected vice president of

alumnae & heritage for her chapter, involved

in many other clubs and honor societies

and had just started the student teaching

practicum for her major. She was also at her

heaviest weight, 445 pounds. it was not until

a terrible accident that year that erin gained

the courage and commitment to change

her lifestyle, take control of her weight and

improve her health for good.

While driving home from work on Memorial

Day, erin was involved in a car accident so

serious that rescue workers were forced to

use the Jaws of Life to remove her from the

vehicle. erin suffered from ribcage bruising,

trauma to the head and chest and a stress

fracture in her right knee. her injuries were

treated immediately.

however, one month later, that same knee,

weakened by the strain of the accident,

snapped in half as erin got out of bed one

morning. Reconstructive surgery on her

leg and the months of physical therapy that

followed forced erin to drop out of college

for a semester. She was told by her doctors

that if she did not lose weight, she would

never be able to walk again.

The plan erin was told she needed to lose 150-200

pounds. She joined Weight Watchers in

order to reach her goal. Weight Watchers is

not a diet, but is instead a program designed

to encourage people to lose weight through

eating right and living a healthy lifestyle. it is

a community of people who provide support

and accountability for each other while they

work to achieve weight loss goals and make

better choices about diet and exercise.

“i chose Weight Watchers... because i

really got a lot out of the collaboration and

relationships with other members and the

team leaders. We would work on goal setting,

share ideas and recipes and encourage each

other to make better choices,” said erin.

Losing the weight was a slow process, but

erin understood this and began to make

small decisions everyday that began to add

up, such as choosing grilled chicken over

OUR ASA SiSTErS

Photo on left; “Erin with her Epsilon Epsilon sisters”; photo in middle; “Crossing the finish line of the Rock the Parkway Half-Marathon/5K 2012 in Kansas City, MO”; photo on right, “Erin posing with a couple of her students after finishing a race”


[restaurant] menu ahead of time to be able

to make good decisions, learn to vocalize

what you need when ordering and ask how

items are prepared,” erin said.

Consider hiring a personal trainer or

consultant: health is an investment and, if

you can afford it, putting some money into

it can be beneficial. Trainers and coaches are

people who care about helping you achieve

your health goals and will make you feel

more accountable. erin hired a personal

trainer in the past and now consults with a

wellness coach whom she meets with weekly.

She discusses successes and challenges

from the past week, and her coach outlines

workouts that will fit into her varied and

often hectic schedule.

Don’t quit when you reach your goal:

Maintaining your goal weight can be

just as difficult as losing the weight.

erin said, “Some of my biggest struggles

[since deciding to lose weight] have to do

with maintenance. now that i’m at my

goal weight… i’m not as structured as i was

before, and i give myself more freedom.”

erin realized that she needed more

accountability in order to keep the weight

off, which is one of the ways that her wellness

coach helps her.

it’s oK to treat yourself sometimes! erin

claims to have an Achilles’ heel for ice cream

and carrot cake, which she occasionally does

indulge in. “When i go somewhere for ice

cream, i need to taste every flavor because

if i am going to use [my Weight Watchers]

points, i want to be sure it’s exactly what i

want,” erin said.

years. She stays busy teaching fifth grade

and has started dating again, currently in a

relationship with a man introduced to her by

a sorority sister.

She has become an inspiration for women

all over the country who want to maintain

a healthy lifestyle and recently spoke as

the keynote speaker at a Weight Watchers

national celebration in Kansas City. erin

also was named the first runner up for the

Weight Watchers “Most inspiring Weight

Loss Story Competition” in november

and was recommended to appear in People

magazine for its “half her Size” issue.

The advice Because erin understands the daily struggles

associated with weight loss and has personally

experienced many challenges and successes

in her own journey toward a healthier

lifestyle, she offers advice to sisters who

might need the motivation and inspiration

to begin their own weight loss journeys.

Weight loss won’t happen overnight: erin

imagines weight loss as a mutual fund. A

mutual fund has daily gains and losses, and

while there may be times when you do not

see improvement, your investment will

gradually show continued progress over time

if you keep working at it.

Managing different environments: Birthday

parties, vacations and eating out with

friends are always difficult times to make

good decisions regarding food. however,

while it can be easy to justify transgressions

during special occasions, learning to manage

different environments was an important

part of erin’s weight loss plan.

“Don’t be embarrassed to make your own

snacks and take them in your purse. View the

Success and Triumpherin also experienced many milestones

along the way that gave her strength and

inspiration to continue to her goal. She

completed her first 5k, Susan G. Komen

Race for the Cure, in February 2011, and

describes running across the finish line as

one of her proudest accomplishments.

“it was a pretty big moment after being told

that i would never walk again,” she said.

Since that time, she has also finished the

heart and Sole 10k in olathe, KS, with

some of her fifth grade students and recently

walked the Kansas City Rock the Parkway

half marathon.

erin likes to compare her body transformation

to the legend of the phoenix. She said that

in some ways she felt that she had a life with

nothing to look forward to when she was

carrying an additional 200 pounds on her

frame. After all of her hard work, she feels

like she was born again as a healthy woman

able to enjoy life to the fullest.

To complete her body transformation, erin

needed surgery to remove almost 20 pounds

of extra skin that hung on her body after

she had reached her goal weight. The extra

skin made running and exercise painful

and caused erin to feel self-conscious

and embarrassed to date. After her health

insurance company rejected her claim to

receive the $25,000-$50,000 surgery,

a local news station heard about erin’s

amazing story and referred her to a plastic

surgeon who agreed to do the surgery at no

cost last summer.

Since her surgery, erin has been joyously

living each day to its ultimate good. She

continues to eat healthy and exercise and

has kept the weight off for more than five


SISTERS IN SPOrTS

Growing up, she went to Bulls games and

enjoyed watching Michael Jordan and Scottie

Pippen. every Sunday was scheduled around

the Bears game and the family attended

numerous White Sox games every summer.

Working in sports was not exactly the career

path Claudia originally had in mind. After

graduating from DePaul University in

Chicago in 2008 with a major in psychology

and minor in communications, she initially

planned to take a year to explore career

options and pursue a Ph.D. A career in

sports never crossed her mind, but when she

Claudia Beltran, Delta Eta, Coordinator of Client Services and Database Administration, Chicago White Sox “if you are doing anything less then your

best than it is a waste of your time. Who

would have thought that i would be working

for a professional baseball team for my

career? i definitely didn’t, but i worked hard

and made it a goal to be the best i could be.”

Claudia is a huge Chicago sports fan. Both

of her parents were born in Mexico where

soccer is very popular, so her family is

very sports-oriented. Claudia said that the

concept of sports being a part of her life

was ingrained in her at a young age, and

she played soccer and tennis in high school.

Our physical aim is one of the key components of ensuring that we, as Alpha Sigma Alphas, are

living well-rounded, balanced lives. Whether it’s making time to center your mind in conjunction with your

body in that yoga class, taking a walk outside on your lunch break, going for a bike ride with the kids on a

Saturday morning or getting up an hour earlier to sneak in that extra workout, most of us try to incorporate

our physical aim into our busy lives one way or another. many of us also translate our love of a certain sport

or team into an expression of the physical aim. What could be better than spending a beautiful afternoon

outside at your favorite ballpark or stadium cheering on your favorite team?

These sisters are doing more than just fitting it in; they have found ways to incorporate the physical aim,

whether it is their love of sports or physical fitness, or sports/entertainment into their careers.

SISTERS IN THE

sp rtsBY TraCey h. Kiefer, BK | Phoenix Contributor

INDUSTRY


team into her career, as she is working for

the new York Mets this summer.

Daniela has always been interested in film

and television, and she has played sports

her whole life for fun and competitively on

the softball team in high school. She felt

that working in the entertainment industry

focusing on sports was the perfect job for

her. her current job at RiT SportsZone

combines Daniela’s love for sports and

major in film perfectly; and she hopes to

translate the combination into a full time job

when she graduates. “i love what i do. As

a film student, this is what i want to do for

the rest of my life. in terms of sports, i love

watching and playing sports – it’s the perfect

combination,” said Daniela.

Daniela currently makes the most of her

job and incorporates the physical aim by

promoting sports, being active and having

school spirit. The work that she and her

coworkers do paid off when RiT SportsZone

and work my way up. i did everything i could

to work hard and make connections with my

fellow interns and coworkers.

“Do not be afraid to reach out, take chances

outside of your comfort zone and make

connections. We live in a very competitive

world, but you are the only you in this world

and that makes you unique,” said Claudia.

How Claudia relates her career to our physical aim“Baseball is America’s favorite pastime and

we not only encourage the tradition to live

on, but also to create the experience. At the

White Sox, the motto is, ‘Passion. Pride.

Tradition.’ This should be words to live by

in all aspects in one’s life. in a world where

technology is taking over and children are

infatuated by television, video games and

computers... we challenge them to come

to the outdoor ballpark and create a new

experience,” said Claudia.

Daniela Guitelman, Gamma Iota, Segments Editor, RIT SportsZone, the collegiate sports television networkDaniela’s love of sports played a large part

in planning her college concentrations

and ultimately will shape her future career

decisions. Daniela has been a new York

Mets fan since she was very young - due

to her Mom’s life-long love of the Mets.

Daniela goes to as many Mets games as she

can, and is translating her passion for the

came across an internship opportunity with

the White Sox she figured she had nothing

to lose. After applying and going through

the interview process, Claudia was offered a

seasonal position that incorporated sales and

multicultural marketing.

Claudia currently maintains client

relationships and communications, oversees

all database functionality, plans season ticket

events and is the liaison between ticket sales

and other front office departments.

What makes Claudia love her job? “i remember attending baseball games with

my family when i was younger, everything

about the experience from the foul balls, hot

dogs, foam fingers and in-game contests is

still instilled in my mind, and it is an honor

to now play a small part of that in our

fans lives.

“Working in sports requires a lot of time

and asks that you leave the ‘fan’ in you at the

door. however, this different perspective

allows you to listen to fans and really make

their experience memorable. We do not sell

just game tickets, we sell an experience and

lifetime memory. it is such a compliment

having fans call to thank us and let us know

how much fun they had at the game/event

they attended,” said Claudia.

Claudia’s advice for sisters interested in a similar career“Working in sports and the entertainment

industry in general is all about who you

know and the impression you make. The

last thing i wanted to do as a recent college

graduate was take an internship; i felt i had

every qualification to be hired somewhere

full time. i had to come to terms with the

fact that i needed to start from the bottom

sp rts“Do not be afraid to reach out, take chances outside of your comfort zone and make connections. We live in a very competitive world, but you are the only you in this world and that makes you unique.” - Claudia Beltran, Delta Eta


SISTERS IN SPOrTS

Jani is the manager of programming content

screening. She relates the teamwork involved

in her work to the lessons she learned as

a collegiate sister about having mutual

respect and working as part of a team to

get a job done.

What makes Jani love her job? “i work in television, which was always a

dream, and i get to watch sports for a living

so who wouldn’t love that? My team is able

to serve sports fans around the world

everyday. it’s so fun to have everyday be

different as sports are never the same from

day to day. The MLB game tonight will be

different than the MLB game tomorrow

night. it’s also fun to see the unexpected at

work, i remember walking down the hallway

one day and coming towards me was Darth

Vader and his storm troopers… i stopped

in my tracks in disbelief! eSPn, inc is also

a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company,

which is another reason why i love my job,”

said Jani.

was recognized with an emmy at the 2012

College Television Awards.

“i love working at SportsZone because its

super fun, and i love being part of the school

spirit that we have and being proud of our

sports teams. our Rochester institute of

Technology women’s hockey team just won

the national championship for Division 3

and moved to nCAA Division 1. our men’s

hockey team has gone to the semifinals

multiple years in a row,” said Daniela.

Jani Burke, Delta Epsilon, Manager, Programming Content Screening, and Christina Draper, Delta Epsilon, Lead Network Coordinator, ESPN, Inc.“i love sports and entertainment so what

better way to combine the two than work

at eSPn,” said Jani Burke.

Both Jani Burke and Christina Draper were

actively involved in sports in high school and

college. Jani was a basketball and football

cheerleader in college. Christina was on

track, softball and basketball in high school

and was the sports director for Mansfield

University’s radio station.

Christina works at eSPn in production

operations, integrating live events with

studio and ensuring all programs on the

17 eSPn networks air properly.

What makes Christina love her job?“i get to watch sports for a living. Sports

has always been my passion; it has always

driven me to be involved and stay involved

with a team. i love getting up each day and

looking at how the day is lined up with either

event meetings or conference calls and then

relaying your knowledge back to your

staff,” said Christina.


Christine Pleban, Delta Eta, Manager, Event Marketing and Sales, for Feld Entertainment

“i love my job and what i do. i am

surrounded by dynamic individuals that

push me to be my best every day.”

Christine grew up in a sports family –

playing and watching sports from the time

she was small. She played varsity soccer,

basketball and tennis in high school and

played soccer at Loyola University, new

orleans before transferring to DePaul

University in Chicago. Christine’s family

are huge hockey fans and love the Colorado

Avalanche.

“The Avs came to Colorado when i was just

a wee one. We had a huge rivalry with the

Detroit Red Wings and there’s nothing like

a sell-out game with the energy of a rivalry

of that nature. Plus i love hockey jerseys,

they’re comfy,” said Christine.

Christine works for Feld entertainment, the

company that owns and operates Ringling

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney on

ice, Disney Live!, Monster Jam, Supercross

and FMx. She is the local promoter for all

of the shows that come to St. Louis and the

area properties - the edward Jones Dome

(home of the St. Louis Rams), Scottrade

Christina’s career advice for sisters“Follow your heart and don’t give up.

This business, particularly television, is

predominantly a male business but, women

are slowly coming up the ranks with senior

management and making a statement in my

career. Always take time to get to know the

people around you as you never know how

they could help your dream come true,”

said Christina.

eSPn’s corporate campus is actually bigger

than some colleges, and eSPn encourages

employees to take time out of their busy days

and utilize the campus grounds and fitness

centers to stay active and fit. Jani says that

because of the size of the campus, she is

able to do a lot of walking, which helps her

stay healthy.

Christina and Jani both feel very lucky

that they had the belief system and bonds

of Alpha Sigma Alpha to help them

transition from collegians to alumnae.

Jani started at eSPn a few months before

Christina and the chapter sisters were able

to form a new friendship when they started

working together right after graduating

and moving to a new town. Both women

also find time to volunteer for Alpha

Sigma Alpha as advisors to the Theta Sigma

Chapter at Southern Connecticut State

University. Christina is the recruitment

advisor and Jani is the standards advisor.

“The bonds you make as a sister can and

will last a lifetime if you cultivate them.

it’s amazing how when you meet another

alumna, you can instantly connect because

you have the same belief structure. i am so

thankful for the 15 years of sisterhood i have

under my wings and look forward to many

more to come,” said Jani.

Jani took a chance during her last semester

in college and contacted a Mansfield

University alumna to ask about a tour of

eSPn. The alumnus was able to arrange

the tour as well as passing along her resume

which resulted in an interview during the

tour. Jani was lucky enough to start working

for eSPn one week after receiving her

college degree.

“i find myself very, very lucky to have such

good fortune. i actually never applied to

any company before ‘falling’ into my career

at eSPn. i will be celebrating my 12th

anniversary in May 2012,” said Jani.

Christina wanted to work at eSPn since

she was in junior high school. She watched

and played every type of sport and wanted to

be a sportscaster at the network. in college,

she realized that her passion was more

focused on the behind the scenes planning

and execution, so she followed a more

technical class schedule instead. Christina

then utilized contacts she made through her

advisor to get her resume directly to a hiring

manager at eSPn.

“eSPn was the only place i wanted to work

and that was the first place i interviewed and

received a job offer,” said Christina.

Jani’s advice for sisters interested in a similar career“Be willing to get your feet wet in a position

that might not be your ‘dream job.’ if you are

proactive, reliable and work hard, the job

you really want to do will become available.

i am not saying that someone should settle for

a job they don’t want,but you don’t want to be

close minded. Also, opportunities and jobs

will not fall into your lap, and you have to

work hard before being rewarded,” said Jani.


SISTERS IN SPOrTS

others and wanted to be able to share with

others what massage therapy did for me as

well as what it could do for others,” said

Jamey.

Jamey suggests that any sisters interested

in becoming a massage therapist should

narrow down their search to eliminate

non-accredited institutions. She also said

that “massage therapy can be physically

demanding. You must already be in

reasonably good health, free from illness or

pain that may inhibit your performance or

cause self-injury.”

in her free time, Jamey competes in

national Physique Committee Figure

Competitions for fun.

Christine relates the physical aim of

ASA to the stamina and health required

for her career.

“Sports and entertainment require long

non-traditional hours. i will go weeks

without a day off and work long hours,

sometimes not leaving stadiums and arenas

until midnight. it’s so important to maintain

a healthy lifestyle in our line of business

and find ways to keep yourself active, eating

right and getting enough sleep. There is a

tremendous balance that comes with a career

in this field,”

Jamey Nalezinek, Beta Beta, Denver Alumnae Chapter, registered massage therapist “i get to have an immediate, positive impact

on people’s lives.”

Jamey is a sport massage therapist for the

Colorado Mammoth (pro indoor lacrosse)

and the Denver outlaws (pro outdoor

lacrosse).

Jamey loves sports and was a competitive

gymnast for six years (from age 2-12). Jamey

sustained an injury to her right hip at age 12

and has since had four hip surgeries, two of

them being replacements on the same side.

Jamey credits massage therapy with helping

her overcome her injuries.

“Massage therapy has played a key role in

my recovery. i have always enjoyed helping

Center (home of the St. Louis Blues) and

Chaifetz Arena (home of the SLU Billikins).

Christine is currently responsible for all

aspects of the shows, including ticketing,

negotiations, media buys, group sales, public

relations, grassroots, large partnerships and

sponsorship tie ins. Christine’s goal is to

one day be part of the Field entertainment

international team.

What makes Christine love her job?“For someone who loves sports and

entertainment, i have been able to see all

the inner workings for major international

tours; everything from sports, to concerts

to family events. i have also met high profile

executives that have influenced my decision-

making and approach to the job. Plus i get

to hang out with athletes from ice skaters to

motocross riders” said Christine.

She credits knowing what she was passionate

about and hard work with getting her to

where she is now on her career path:

“i always had a passion for the industry

and went to games all the time with my

family. i put myself out on a limb to get my

first interview and job as an intern with

the Chicago Blackhawks. i submitted my

resume blindly with no connections and

over prepared for my interview. When i was

hired, it was less than a week of working

there that i knew i was in the right industry.

i have been so fortunate with the path i am

on but it has not come without long hours,

hard work and consistent motivation. With

there being stiff competition in the sports/

entertainment industry, i have to continue

to strive for my own personal best results

daily as i have huge expectations to fill, both

personally and professionally,”

“For someone who loves sports and entertainment, I have been able to see all the inner workings for major international tours; everything from sports, to concerts to family events.” - Christine Pleban, Delta Eta


here are a few chapter challenge highlights:

u The Zeta Beta Chapter at the University

of Wisconsin-River Falls raised $272

selling feather hair extensions to women

on campus and to other District 8 sisters

the Friday evening before District Day.

They won the prize for most creative

fundraiser in District 8.

u The Beta nu Chapter at Murray State

University, KY, held a hot cider sale to

raise money for the Foundation, and

they won the prize for most creative

fundraiser in District 6.

u The Mid-Michigan Crown Alumnae

Chapter sold Christmas ornaments from

the famous Christmas store, Bonners, in

Frankenmuth, Mi, and raised $536.95.

They won the prize for the most money

raised in District 5.

The Foundation chapter challenge is a

fundraising initiative, designed to inspire

collegiate and alumnae chapters to be

creative and raise money for the Alpha

Sigma Alpha Foundation. Throughout

the year, collegiate and alumnae chapters

are encouraged to hold fundraisers for

the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. At

each District Day event, chapters share

their fundraising ideas during a brief

presentation to District Day attendees.

Prizes are given at each event for most

creative fundraiser and most money raised.

This year 45 collegiate and alumnae

chapters raised $12,934 for the Foundation

through the chapter challenge initiative.

This money will go towards funding

sorority grants like programming at the

2012-13 District Day events.

u The Southwest indiana Alumnae chapter

held a Lia Sofia jewelry party and raised

$150 for the Foundation.

each chapter that participated found

ways, big and small, to donate to the

Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation. We

are looking forward to next year with a

goal of 100 percent participation from

our collegiate chapters and increased

participation from alumnae chapters.

Thank you for fundraising for the future

of Alpha Sigma Alpha. A complete list of

winners from each district, along with ideas

for your chapter fundraising, can be found

at www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org/Foundation.

Rachael Dismukes, BN, presents Bonita Marince Maurer, AΓ, Foundation trustee, with the check the Beta Nu Chapter raised during the chapter challenge.

Chapter challenge raises money for

FOUNDATION NEwS

DISTRICT daY


be triggers for many bad behaviors and

situations. College students are constantly

faced with issues such as drinking, substance

abuse, discrimination, sexual assault and

hazing. All of these topics will be addressed

at District Day, and you will gain resources

to combat these issues personally or lend

a helping hand to someone else dealing

with them.

Alumnae members: Alumnae might not see

an immediate connection in this program

to their personal lives, but as adults with

children and careers, these topics can appear

right before your eyes. Maybe you have a

child in school who deals with bullying on a

daily basis. Maybe you are experiencing or

witnessing discrimination or sexual assault

at work, or maybe you have a close friend

or family member with a substance abuse

As members of Alpha Sigma Alpha,

living our eight core values each day is

an important part of who we are as an

organization. At District Day 2012-13,

Alpha Sigma Alpha will unveil a new District

Day schedule and program in partnership

with the Response-Ability Project and

CAMPUSSPeAK to focus on our core

value of responsibility.

Mike Dilbeck, of the

Response-Ability

Project and creator

of the every|Day hero Campaign, will

be joining Alpha Sigma Alpha to provide

programming geared toward overcoming

bystander behavior and negative situations.

The programming will focus on preventing

situations such as:

u hazing

u Alcohol & substance abuse

u Bullying

u Discrimination

not only will these topics be useful to

attendees in their sorority experience,

they can be applicable to any area of

life, including family. Whether you feel

comfortable intervening during these

situations or not, attending District Day

will provide you with the tools and resources

to become a hero for someone else.

What’s in it for me?Collegiate members: Collegians can be exposed

to many negative situations during their

collegiate years. The stress of making ends

meet, pleasing everyone, staying on top of

schoolwork and balancing a schedule can

district day 2012-13:

responsibLe WoMen

BY HiLarY MOE, EE | lEaDERsHIP DEvElOPmEnT & EvEnT COORDInaTOR

∑

DIS

TRICT DAY 2012-2013

EM

POW E R I N G ACTION


District Day schedule at a glance8-8:45 a.m. – Registration

9-9:30 a.m. – Welcome session

9:30-10:30 a.m. – Response-Ability Project Keynote

10:45 a.m. – noon – Advisor certification

10:45 – 12:00 p.m. – Response-Ability Project

breakout sessions

12:15-1:15 p.m. – District Day luncheon

1:30 – 5 p.m. – Advisor certification

1:30-4:30 p.m. – Career track for graduating seniors

and young alumnae

1:30-3 p.m. – Educational workshops part 1

3:15-4:30 p.m. – Educational workshops part 2

4:45-5:30 p.m. – Closing activities

Registration information Registration for District Day 2012-13 will be

available in August. Registration fees are $45

per person. Collegiate chapters may register

by filling out the District Day registration

form on the officer Portal. Alumnae

registration forms will be available on the

Alpha Sigma Alpha website.

Dates and locationsDistrict Day 2112–13: Responsible women

District 2 – nov. 10, 2012 – Breinigsville, PA

District 3 – nov. 3, 2012 – Pittsburgh

District 4 – Feb. 23, 2012 – Richmond, VA

District 5 – March 23, 2013 – Fort Wayne, in

District 6 – Jan. 26, 2013 – Memphis, Tn

District 7 – March 2, 2012 – Dallas

District 8 – oct. 27, 2012 Milwaukee

District 9 – Feb. 13, 2013 – Kansas City, Mo

Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation Programming from Mike Dilbeck, of the

Response-Ability Project and creator of

the every|Day hero Campaign is provided

in part by a grant from the Alpha Sigma

Alpha Foundation. All District Day events

will feature opportunities to participate in

the Foundation Red Ticket Raffle and the

Foundation chapter challenge.

Day. ASA members will leave District Day

with tools and resources to be responsible

women who seek to combat bystander

behavior and positively influence others

in their lives.

Also at District Day – Career track

Another exciting addition to District Day

2012-13 is the addition of a career track

specifically for graduating seniors and young

alumnae. Alpha Sigma Alpha is partnering

with JobBound Training Solutions to

offer the program. Translating the sorority

experience: The insider’s guide to landing

your first job

This program is designed to assist sorority

members in making their experiences

as a sorority member relevant in any job

opportunity. The program covers topics such

as résumé writing and tips on networking

and interviewing, while featuring the skills

and experience gained from being a member

of Alpha Sigma Alpha. The career track will

be a three-hour course during the afternoon

portion of District Day and will be open to

juniors, graduating seniors and alumnae

who have graduated in the past three years.

The goal of this career track is to provide

Alpha Sigma Alpha members the

opportunity to utilize the tools and skills

they have gained as a sorority woman to help

begin a successful career. Young alumnae

who are not able to attend the entire District

Day are encouraged and welcome to attend

the career track from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at

District Day for free.

problem. The Response-Ability Project is

designed to help anyone at any

age deal with these topics and become a

hero for someone.

What will the District Day schedule look like?District Day attendees will experience a new

schedule for the event. All of the educational

programming during the event will focus on

being a responsible person.

During the first half of District Day,

attendees will spend the morning in a large

group, participating in the Response-

Ability Project led by Mike Dilbeck. Then

participants will move to smaller breakout

sessions facilitated by Alpha Sigma Alpha

volunteers. These sessions will serve as

debriefing time to process and continue

the conversations that began during Mike

Dilbeck’s keynote. Attendees will share and

hear personal stories and come up with their

own plans to combat bystander behavior.

After the morning events, everyone will

gather together for an interactive working

lunch and hear special messages from the

national organization.

Following lunch, District Day attendees will

chose different educational workshops to

attend. These workshops will continue the

theme of responsibility with an infusion of

chapter operations, alumnae programming

and personal development. District Day will

end with an all-group closing session.

District Day 2012-13 will be an exciting

and life-changing event for all attendees.

Alpha Sigma Alpha is excited to continue

sponsorship of the every|Day hero

Campaign by providing the Response-

Ability Project programming at District


3. The seniors of the Zeta omicron Chapter

at Muskingum University, oh, pose

together before their final homecoming

parade. Front row from left: Crystal

Clawson and Steph Myers. Middle row

from left: Sara Penn, Alyssa Lowstetter,

erica Cazzell, Betsy Free, Ashley Fox and

Katie Borkoski. Back row from left: Jess

Durant, Cassie Marsh, Jayme Workinger,

Jenny Marshall, Paige Williams, hayley

Sutphen and Leigh Ann Amspaugh.

4. Members from the Zeta Tau Chapter at

Grand Valley State University, Mi and the

Beta Theta Chapter at Central Michigan

University pose for a picture at a Special

olympics event.

1. The Theta Alpha Chapter at Coe College,

iA, prepared a meal for their local Cedar

Rapids police force at their “Dinner for

heroes” event.

2. Members of the epsilon Gamma

Chapter made the drive from Virginia

Commonwealth University in Richmond

to visit the S. June Smith Center in

Lancaster, PA.

1

3 4

DISTRICT NEwS

2


Members watched a slideshow of the

chapter’s history as they ate and chatted.

in addition, executive board members

of nearby nu nu Chapter at Drexel

University, PA, joined the celebration.

7. Charter members and chapter advisor

of the epsilon Tau Chapter at University

of Maryland Baltimore County recently

met for a reunion with their husbands.

Front row from left: Katy Mulroe Stango,

Christy Wood Conklin, Rachel Sochol

Solomon, Cristina Rouiller, Christine

Strapac Thomas, AΓ, former EΤ Chapter

advisor and Andrea Schumacher. Second

row: Rhonda Martin.

8. The Dallas Alumnae Chapter hosted

their annual easter basket stuffing event

in April. They stuffed 20 baskets full of

goodies to give to the men and women

at the Arlington Adult Day Center.

From left: Adrienne Zimmerman, BΜ,

Adrienne’s daughter, olivia Zimmerman,

Ginny Lloyd, ΓΟ, nancy Demerath

Young, BΦ, Kathy Messina, ΓΔ, Bonita

Marince Maurer, AΓ, Tammy Ziegler

Woodman, ΔΧ, and Wendy Partain

Gerstenkorn, BΜ.

5. Members of the Boston Alumnae

Chapter at the Making Strides for Breast

Cancer walk in october 2011. From left:

Dawn eades, EΦ, Gina nagy McKinnon,

EΞ, Amy Fritz, EΩ, Janet Crook-

Conroy, BP, Jennifer Richard o’Beirne,

EΦ, and Julie Lords, ZΔ.

6. The Philadelphia Metro Alumnae

Chapter celebrated its 20th anniversary

with its annual brunch in February.

Current chapter president Stefanie

Ainge hahn, EK, and past presidents

Stefanie Spatola, ΔI, and Kathy Gaughan

Gallagher, KK, conducted the ritual for

the anniversary of alumnae chapters.

5 6

7 8

NEWS AND EvENTS

Leah Dooley eickhoff, AB, joined the national

headquarters staff on June 6, 2012. Leah

earned her bachelor’s degree from Truman

State University, Mo, and earned her master’s

degree in college student personnel from Western

illinois University. She previously worked for Alpha Sigma Alpha as a

leadership consultant from 2000-01 and has held numerous Alpha

Sigma Alpha volunteer positions. Leah was the director of Greek life

and leadership programs at the illinois institute of Technology and

most recently, Leah held the position of associate director of student

activities at Christopher newport University in Virginia.

As the program development coordinator, Leah will manage all

aspects of the sorority’s educational and training initiatives and

programs. Working closely with members of the volunteer curriculum

development & programming task force and national headquarters

staff, she will ensure that the sorority is providing relevant, appropriate

support, education and training to its members. Leah will also oversee

the ASA Advantage initiative and will manage the relationships with

Alpha Sigma Alpha’s national philanthropic partners.

Katie Matis Smith, ΔΗ, previous membership

growth coordinator, transitioned into the

communications & marketing coordinator position

on June 1, 2012. Katie earned her bachelor’s

degree in communications and digital cinema

from DePaul University in Chicago in 2008. She previously worked at

Lehigh University in Pennsylvania as the assistant director of broadcast

and multimedia and has been the Alpha Sigma Alpha membership

growth coordinator since 2010.

As the communications & marketing coordinator, Katie is responsible

for overseeing all sorority communications including social media,

the Phoenix magazine, website, e-newsletters and press releases. She also

directs the sorority’s marketing plan and manages promotional material

for the sorority.


Colony & extension updateAlpha Sigma Alpha has been invited to colonize at Western illinois University, Macomb, iL, in fall 2013. Western illinois

University is the home to Alpha Sigma Alpha’s Beta Kappa Chapter. if you are interested in getting involved with this

colony, email us at [email protected].

if you are interested in getting involved with our fall 2012 colonies at indiana University

(epsilon Phi Chapter reestablishment) or Boise State University, contact us at

[email protected].

Program development and communications & marketing coordinators hired

www.alphasigmaalpha.org 33www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org 23

Alma Thraves Caperton, A, served as chairman of the first Alpha Sigma Alpha national convention at the hotel Richmond in Richmond, VA, in 1905. Alma presided in the absence of Grand President edna elcan Jones, A.

from the archives

i support the Arista Alumnae Association because i want to give back to the organization that has provided me the opportunity to develop leadership skills and friendships with women all over the country. Also, i believe in supporting an organization that promotes lifelong learning. My contribution to Alpha Sigma Alpha’s Arista Alumnae Association will help give our future sisters the same opportunities that i have been given.

Patti Latin, Γ ClioDistrict 2 education Coaching Team Leadernew York City-Big Apple Alumnae Chapter

To learn more about the Arista Alumnae Association or to register for membership, visit www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org or call (317) 871-2920.

9002 Vincennes Circle | Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018

The Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha; Summer 2012

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