Starting Conversations

The Consultant Chronicles: Make It Count

by Stephanie Chavez
(Iota Omega, Carthage College)

As 2012 begins, we take advantage of the fresh, new start in front of us.  A new year brings the excitement of starting over.  It is the chance to get rid of the good to make room for the great.  We take time to reflect on the previous year and make resolutions to make the upcoming year even better than the last.

To be honest, I have never been good at keeping New Year’s resolutions.  Every January I promise to workout more and procrastinate less.  The next thing I know, it is mid-February and I am still procrastinating on that workout from two weeks ago.  Although I struggle to keep resolutions, I am always up for a good challenge.  For 2012, I have a challenge for Alpha Chi Omega collegians everywhere: make it count. Membership lasts a lifetime, but time as a collegian only lasts four years.

It is time to take advantage of every moment before it is over.  A little cliché?  Probably.  Worth it?  Most definitely!  Instead of seeing chapter meetings as just another meeting to sit through, think of it as more time to spend with your sisters.  Try attending a chapter event you normally would not go to.  Who knows, maybe you will find a new way to get involved within the chapter.  During recruitment, sing your heart out to those recruitment songs we all love so much.  You never know if that could be the party that convinces a woman to join Alpha Chi Omega.  Whatever you do, find a way to make all the moments of your collegiate experience count.

Happy 2012!  How will you make it count?

Kristin’s Story

by Andrea Cooper, Presenter of Kristin’s Story
(Delta Delta Delta Sorority)

In July 1998, my life changed drastically.  It was an absolutely wonderful change.  As most of you know, we lost our daughter, Kristin, an Alpha Chi Omega of Omicron chapter at Baker University, to suicide, New Year’s Eve, 1995.

At the Tri Delta Convention that July, I was offered a grant to travel and tell “Kristin’s Story” to campuses across the nation.  When Kristin died, I had no intention of going out and speaking on rape, depression and suicide to thousands of college students.  That first year, I spoke at 20 universities.  To date, I have spoken at over 300 campuses and 27 conferences in every state but three, as well as Canada and Australia.

Then, in the spring of 1999, Alpha Chi Omega also offered to provide a grant for me to present Kristin’s Story.  Both Tri Delta and Alpha Chi Omega provided 10 grants a year.  In addition to the grant schools, I spoke at many colleges who paid me independently as well at conferences.  After 10 years of providing grants, Tri Delta chose to no longer offer the grant.  Thankfully, Alpha Chi Omega has continued.  This fall of 2012, Alpha Chi Omega will have provided grants for 13 wonderful years, and Alpha Chi Omega continues to do so.

Kristin’s Story and Alpha Chi Omega are natural partners.  Alpha Chi Omega’s altruism is domestic violence awareness, and Kristin was a victim of rape which led to her suicide.

I have been blessed many times over.  I have met so many wonderful college men and women in my travels as well as the wonderful Greek Advisors.  These wonderful students have made me feel so appreciated and made me feel like Kristin’s Story is really making a difference.  I have held many women in my arms who are sobbing because they have been raped or molested.  I have hugged many men whose girlfriends or sisters have been raped.  I have had many men and women come to me and tell me their story of rape and/or molestation. 
Alpha Chi Omega is doing such wonderful work in their fight to end domestic violence.  Before I started traveling and speaking, I was unaware how prevalent dating violence is.

I feel by traveling and speaking to students, Kristin lives on and is helping others.

Learn more about Krisitn’s Story and how your university can receive a grant.

The Consultant Chronicles: Leadership—Is it in you?

by Laura Nelson
(Zeta Xi, University of North Carolina-Greensboro)

We all have the capability to serve as leaders for our organization. Over my travels, I have seen leadership in presidents and I have seen leadership in those members who volunteer to give up a Friday night to pick up a car-less consultant and take her out to dinner. It is the heart of those leaders that makes me step back and realize how lucky I am to be a part of this phenomenal organization. This side of leadership comes from a joy of giving back and finding what really makes you happy. We sometimes get lost in the false idea of what it means to be a leader. You do not have to have a position in the chapter in order to be considered an influential leader. It is someone who has the ability to serve as a positive example for those around her while bringing a passion and life to her work. So, just step back and evaluate what you really enjoy. Then translate that into a function of the chapter. I had the opportunity to meet an amazing young woman with an unmatched talent for art who just wanted to get involved in her chapter. The very next semester she took the position of banner chair and exponentially increased her chapter’s marketing. No, she was not a member of the executive board, but she did make an impact on her chapter and she did it with heart.   

As almost any member of a Greek organization will agree, we are constantly developing our organization and ourselves. So, remember to let what you love be your inspiration. In turn, inspire others to develop in a way that makes them happy. I’d like to propose that it is through those women who possess that “Alpha Chi sparkle” that we find a way to shine as well. I cannot express the amount of pride I feel when I meet with a chapter officer, general chapter member or chapter advisor that lives and breathes that sparkle. My time as a chapter consultant has given me exponential opportunity to meet those women, an experience that I will never forget but will always be thankful for.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”  ~Henry David Thoreau

Thank An Elf Today

by Malena Lott
(Psi, University of Oklahoma)
 
“Mom, I’m thirsty.”

“Can you resize that ad, like, before noon?”

“Hon, would you pick up my prescription while you’re out today?”

It’s no wonder I love this time of year: I’m obviously an elf disguised as your typical suburban work-at-home mom and wife. Not only does this Giving Season require gift-giving, but a heckuva lot of extra giving of our time.

I may have woken up feeling like the Elf who didn’t get invited to Santa’s ball, but while I was out buying all the things I forgot the first time I got out this morning, I realized the best way to remedy my Elf Blues is to feel gratitude for all the elves in my life. Example: The chipper middle-aged checker at WalMart, who despite having a job where she has to stand all day, sincerely told me to “have a nice day,” when I hadn’t so much as given her a smile beforehand.

Thanking the service people in our lives who keep our lives humming is a great way to turn that frown “upside down” or at least keep the stabby feelings at bay. Even more – we can make them feel better about their jobs and pass it on. Crazy how that works. Using Dale Carnegie’s principal to always call people by name, I started using it on the postal workers, my bank teller and, when I remember, checkers. I’m not sure how Dale figured out this easy way to win people over, but it truly delivers. When you call someone by his or her name, it says they are more than their “duty”; they are a person of value.

Connection happens. Relationships form. Elves unite.

When you come to think of it, we are all here to serve each other. We’re all elves who occasionally get our chance holding the reins and steering the reindeer.

I hope you’ll take a moment and think about all the people in your life who do little tasks and keep our homes, schools, communities and businesses thriving, one answered call, one check-out beep and one opened door at a time. If you call them by name, they may be surprised, but great things will start to happen. If you thank them for their service, you may even find your own service improves. You may even get a little something extra in your stocking this year.

Malena Lott is a brand strategist and author of several novels. Lott’s latest book is Sleigh Ride: A Winter Anthology, called “well-written” and “moving.” A portion of the profits will benefit the domestic violence prevention cause through the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Find out more at www.malenalott.com.

Real, Strong Women Having Real Conversations

by Josh Welch
(Assistant Director Residence & Greek Life,  University of Central Missouri)

Alpha Chi Omega’s Alcohol Skills Training Program Approach to Empowering Women

As a part of the Alpha Chi Omega ASTP facilitator team I am excited to join the women of Alpha Chi Omega in REAL conversations, specifically about alcohol use and how to approach the choice to drink in a way that one is able to avoid the negative consequences sometimes associated with consumption. The Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP) is an approach that gives drinkers and non-drinkers information about alcohol and helps to facilitate dialogue with chapter members to clarify social norms using facts and evidence based practices. The program addresses alcohol’s affects on the body based on expectancy, how alcohol enters and leaves the body, and gives participants the opportunity to ask questions and develop personal strategies. By arming these women with knowledge they are better equipped to make decisions around their use of alcohol or abstinence from. Thankfully ASTP is a REAL risk management prevention approach that meets students where they are and empowers them to use skills and facts to make decisions that affect their life.

As a facilitator of the ASTP program I have seen chapter members engage in the REAL conversations about alcohol use, identify ways to promote change in consumption behavior and clarify the social norms in their chapter about the REAL acceptability of alcohol use. The women identified REAL situations in their lives and with information from the program made REAL informed decisions on how those situations would affect them and their chapter. One of the more powerful moments of a recent program was hearing women in the chapter send a STRONG message that misuse of alcohol was not acceptable behavior from members.

I am reminded of a saying that “if we are going to send our kids to the pool, we better make sure that they know how to swim.” Alpha Chi Omega has realized that our students on college campuses are faced with decisions about alcohol use, and from that realization they’ve worked to develop a program to equip their women with knowledge to face that decision. As Alpha Chi Omega works to offer ASTP to more of their chapters my hope is that the real, strong women who are attending these programs will take the information they learn and start conversations about safer ways to consume alcohol within their other networks on campus.

The Consultant Chronicles: Coming Home to Alpha Chi Omega

by Alex Mallea
(Alpha Iota, University of Vermont)

You know the feeling when you’ve been away from home for a while? Going to a college that was three thousand miles away from “home” always made me feel so grateful when I was given the opportunity to travel home.  I found myself dressing a little nicer and anxious to see familiar faces.  The comfort of home was always something that I held close to my heart. 

Having the opportunity to travel as a chapter consultant for Alpha Chi Omega has been a dream come true. I can still remember thinking that I could not have wanted anything more at the time than to be a chapter consultant, and the exciting part is that after traveling for the first few months, I still have the same passion. Traveling for Alpha Chi Omega reminds me of home.  I get the feeling of instant comfort when I go to a new place once every five days because of the bonds of sisterhood that we already share.  During recruitment, women always encourage potential new members to choose Alpha Chi Omega as their home away from home. Being on the road has made me realize that “home” can be anywhere so long as you have your sisters beside you.  Some may think that traveling so often would make it difficult to create a feeling of home.  Living out of two fifty pound suitcases for months at a time and traveling between different time zones would be nearly impossible if I did not have the comfort that the Alpha Chi Omega women create.

When I reflect on my experiences over the last few months, each collegiate woman has been so welcoming and genuine.  I feel confident about the future as I see so many amazing women that are going to “set the world on fire.”  They have taught me that “home” is a state of mind, and if you give them the opportunity they can teach you so much more about life.  Only a select group of people have the opportunity to have their dream job fresh out of college, and I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to have one of the most rewarding experiences possible.

You learn to look for the small things to make your day. Be it waking up to a text message from another chapter consultant wishing you to have a great day or listening to your favorite Pandora station while you complete chapter reports at Starbucks; it is the small things begin to mean the most.  Being a chapter consultant for Alpha Chi Omega is finding out that you are not alone in your hopeless devotion for Alpha Chi Omega. It means waking up each morning excited for the next adventure.  Being an Alpha Chi Omega chapter consultant is finding out that no matter how far away you are from “home,” you’ll always have the values based organization that produces real, strong women to fall back on.  I am always so amazed with the women that I work with on a daily basis.  Although each may have their own personality, a common bond, much like a family, connects us all.

I Wanna Be an Alpha Chi…Chapter Consultant!

by Audra Sinclair
(Delta, Allegheny College)

Fifteen months is not a very long period of time. It’s a little over one year and a little less than 500 days.  Most people can count on one hand the places they have traveled in fifteen months but I can’t even on two. Most people have the opportunity to meet a bunch of acquaintances in that amount of time, I have met thousands. Most people have had relatively similar day to day experiences in only fifteen months, my life have changed more dramatically than I ever could have dreamed.

A little over a year ago I was living in Indianapolis, training to become an Alpha Chi Omega chapter consultant. I was confused 22 year old who had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. My degree is in biochemistry, and I was taking a year off to decide if medical school was the best next step in my life, or if it was something else I had yet to discover. I say now, fifteen months later, with absolute confidence, I have discovered more than I ever thought possible.

Being a chapter consultant isn’t all risk management and leadership development meetings with executive boards, even though you do those things.  Being a Chapter Consultant is gaining your first real professional experiences that are relatable to any and every occupation; it’s learning how to be more independent than you ever thought you could be; it teaches you discipline;  it’s personal development; it’s skills training; it’s a stepping stone; and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.  Not only was I able to travel and help develop young women in Alpha Chi Omega, all over the country, I was able to develop myself into a true young professional.

Four months ago I started my dream job with a pharmaceutical company as a territory sales manager (which is just a fancy title for pharmaceutical representative).  Halfway through my year of traveling with Alpha Chi, I traveled to Indianapolis for some more training in personal and professional development. This training didn’t revolve around risk management or executive board responsibilities, it focused on how our experiences were helping us to move forward in our lives professionally. I found out what my strengths are, I worked with my supervisor on how to work on my weaknesses and how to capitalize on each. As a collective group of consultants, we talked about how all of our experiences and skills we had gained could be relatable to every field we could come up with… literally everything. Through this training, I was able to discover exactly where my career path was heading and I relied on it heavily while I was applying for and interviewing for positions as a pharmaceutical representative. Without this training or the experiences I gained in ten short months working for this organization, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Fifteen months ago, I was a college graduate about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Five months ago I was a scared, unemployed, previous Alpha Chi Omega chapter consultant. Four months ago, I became a confident, young professional and the newest territory sales manager for a pharmaceutical company.  Whether it was during my interview for my position as a pharmaceutical rep, or everyday on the job as a pharmaceutical rep, or even in my personal life, I am always pulling from the experiences I had while traveling for Alpha Chi Omega.
Most people maybe have one life changing moment in only fifteen months, I have had countless.

We are now accepting applications for 2012-13 chapter consultants.  If you are interested, visit our website for more information.

The Consultant Chronicles: Living the Dream

by Jennifer Harrison
(Alpha Gamma, University of New Mexico)

Not many people can honestly say they’ve gotten their “dream job,” but as a chapter consultant, I have been fortunate enough to do just that. I was one of those collegiate members who frequently stalked the website, looking for all the latest updates, learning more than I needed to about the staff members, and generally being an “Alpha Chi nerd.” When consultants came to visit my chapter, I gawked at their poise, confidence, and leadership, hoping that someday I would be as fantastic as they were. I knew from that point on that this was my dream.

The most valuable part of my job is the women I get to work with. In every chapter, there is a member like me, just looking for the next opportunity to get involved. There are the visionary members, generating new ideas and leading the charge of creating positive change. There are the collaborators, the team players who go out of their way to make their sister’s endeavors successful. Our collegiate members create the melody of our song, and set the bar even higher for the legacy they leave behind.

The opportunity to work with a colony has made the dream that much sweeter. Every single day, I get to reaffirm my love for this fraternity and everything it’s given me. I have the opportunity to share my story with young women, and show them how this remarkable organization has literally changed my life. It’s refreshing to think that the reasons I joined my own chapter are the same things that other women across the country are looking for: something real and genuine, where sisters truly encourage one another to meet and exceed their personal best. Colonization means that there’s never a dull moment, and certainly never a shortness of excitement. I can’t describe the exhilaration I feel when a potential founding sister realizes that Alpha Chi Omega could be exactly what she’s looking for. The joy of that moment is so surreal, and makes me wonder what our seven founders dreamed of when they thought about our future.

In the middle of High Point University’s pristine campus is a pair of gigantic white rocking chairs, each standing over three stories high. These chairs exist to inspire and remind students to “dream big,” never settling for anything less than extraordinary. As the newest addition to the HPU family, I challenge my sisters, young and old, to do the same. Dream bigger, and push yourself to set your sights even higher. You’ll soar beyond what you thought were your limits, and seek new heights with every small win. Who knows, you may just get the opportunity to live out your dreams.

To learn more about our colony at High Point University in North Carolina, visit our website.

The Consultant Chronicles: Plane Rides, Bid Day and Ritual…Oh My!

by Ann Reightler
(Epsilon Tau, Virginia Tech)

From different accents, to various weather conditions, to learning the differences of flying on every airline in the United States, to the style and pace of recruitment songs, and to the celebration of new members on bid day, every chapter visit is unique and exhilarating. Some may think it would be strenuous and exhausting to adapt to different styles of chapters and only sleep on plane rides; however, that the exciting part about being an Alpha Chi Omega chapter consultant. Experiencing the diversity of chapters across the United States and learning of the different bonds created between members is truly a gift in itself and the best energizer for any consultant.

While learning new styles and trends from all chapters, there is always one thing that consultants know will be consistent with every chapter and that is the Ritual. The Ritual of Alpha Chi Omega is something that links all members regardless of what chapter they belong too. Why is Ritual so important you ask? Well, to state the facts simply, Alpha Chi Omega would not exist if it was not for our Ritual. The Ritual is the foundation of the organization and the values and beliefs our seven extraordinary founders help set in place to create a successful fraternity.

Many will never know our ritual, our handshake or what our crest means. They will never know the exact answers to those things; however, they should know what we, as members of Alpha Chi Omega stand for, by the way we present ourselves and what our values and beliefs are.  Being a member of Alpha Chi Omega is not about the colors we wear or the letters on our shirt; it is about upholding the beliefs of our organization and incorporating them into your life. Alpha Chi Omega would not exist if it was not for the foundation created years ago. Our Ritual is something that sets us apart from other organizations and creates the understanding that you are not just a member for four years during your collegiate experience; you are an Alpha Chi Omega for life.

Take some time today to read the Symphony, the Declaration of Our Shared Commitment or the Bond and reflect on why this organization is so important to you. Think about how it has and can always continue to help you be the best you can. From our seven founders, to the thousands of women who are now members of Alpha Chi Omega, we are all linked in the bond and we are all real, strong women.

“We are Strong Women. Strong in the courage of our convictions, the confidence in our actions and the purpose in our hearts.”
~Declaration of our Shared Commitment

The Lyre, Fall 2011 / Showing Commitment for Tomorrow, Today

The Alpha Chi Omega Foundation is proud to honor our collegiate donors through membership in a unique giving society called the Scarlet Ribbon Club. With gifts of $18.85, these women can make a difference in the lives of their sisters all across the country. With the first donation to the Scarlet Ribbon Club, each member receives a scarlet crystal dangle for her lyre badge. This dangle is not just an accessory; it symbolizes the member’s commitment to the future of Alpha Chi Omega and shows her pride in being a donor to the Foundation.

Scarlet Ribbon Club Challenge

This year, the Foundation challenged each chapter to have all collegiate members join the Scarlet Ribbon Club. The Foundation is excited to announce that, with 44 percent of its chapter members being donors to the Scarlet Ribbon Club, the Omicron chapter at Baker University has the largest percentage of women involved! When asked why such an initiative was appealing to the chapter women, Omicron Chapter President Molly Schmeidler explained that, as college students, they all have financial obligations—car payments, tuition, books, Alpha Chi Omega dues—but just because they are still in school does not mean they do not want to support Alpha Chi Omega efforts.

“At Omicron chapter, we believe in the big picture of Alpha Chi, and that mission would not be possible without the support of the Foundation,” said Molly. “Once we had a better understanding of the Foundation and got over any misconceptions, we wanted to give. And $18.85 seemed completely doable! The Scarlet Ribbon Club is a wonderful opportunity for collegians to show their commitment to Alpha Chi Omega.”

Collegians (and alumnae), why should you contribute to the Foundation?

Giving means more scholarships and grants for collegiate and alumnae members. It means that more campuses across the country will get to hear Andrea Cooper speak about the tragic yet inspirational story of her daughter with “Kristin’s Story.” Giving means more financial support for the enhancement of existing Fraternity programming and the development of new, exciting initiatives such as MyJourney, the Alcohol Skills Training Program, InTune and global service projects. Giving to the Foundation ensures that the Alpha Chi Omega experience meets the needs of women both today and tomorrow.

Thank you again to the Omicron chapter and all of our Scarlet Ribbon Club members for your outstanding commitment to the future of our organization!

Interested in joining the Scarlet Ribbon Club? Visit alphachiomega.org.