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Keeping It Real: Appreciating YOUR Body through Yoga

by René MacVay
(Theta, University of Michigan)

Each day advertisers are trying to get us to purchase a new product to either make our lives easier or enhance our appearance. How often do we hear commercials that ask us, the viewer, to assess our negative self-image and entice us to feel better by purchasing a new product? This can occur multiple times during an hour-long show. We can encounter ideas that foster a negative self-image when we open a magazine or walk through a mall.

How do we stay POSITIVE amid all of the negative advertisements? One way I found to truly appreciate my body and who I am is through the practice of yoga. Like many young women, I battled with my self-image. I was introduced to yoga as a means to recover from an injury. The yoga not only helped with the injury but it also made me appreciate my body and helped me develop the strong self-awareness. Because yoga gave me so much, I became a yoga teacher so I can pass that gift forward to others. 

A good yoga teacher will guide students not only through the poses but teach students in the class to become aware of what their bodies are capable of doing AT THAT MOMENT. Through a yoga practice, students learn to understand their body and work to make it stronger and more flexible. Students are encouraged not to compare themselves to other members of the class. After all, each body is unique and should be appreciated for what it can do. Clinical research has shown that the practice of yoga has medical benefits. A few of those benefits include decreasing risk factors of cardiovascular disease, assisting with control of blood sugar, improving stamina, strengthening the bones and facilitating weight loss/maintenance.

Each of us has a busy schedule. We balance our jobs, families, our home, and try to take time to see our friends. Fitting something else into our day, or week, may seem impossible. Not everyone has time to take a yoga class on a regular basis. A co-worker once asked me what poses would I suggest one do if they did not have time to take a class. That was a challenge since there are so many that I think are beneficial. The four I chose work the body in different ways so you do get a full body workout and many of the benefits that come from a class. (You can go to Yoga Journal’s Website for pictures and videos)

Seated Twist (Marichi’s Pose Variation)

Begin with your right leg bent and your left leg straight. (Always start a twist on the right as it aids with digestion as it follows the ascending colon.) Keep the straight leg active by flexing your foot. Face forward. Inhale and lift your left arm to the sky and press your right hand into the ground behind your back as a “second spine”. Exhale and bring your left arm to the outside of your right leg and bend your elbow. As you follow your deep inhalations and exhalations wring out your belly like a washcloth. Draw the left ribs to the bent leg and the right ribs away from you. Breathe for 3 to 5 breaths. Untwist on an exhalation. Switch Sides and repeat.

Cat and Cow

Begin on your hands and knees. Proper alignment is key. Have the joints in your arms stacked. Place your knees under your hips. Keep your arms shoulder distance apart with your fingers spread out like starfish. Keep your knees hip distance apart. As you inhale begin to round your spine by tucking your tail and chin and drawing your navel to your spine to protect your back. Imagine becoming the image of a “Halloween Cat”. As you exhale lengthen your spine and gaze forward. Imagine holding a piece of paper between your shoulders. Take slow breaths and repeat 3 to 5 times. You can even reverse the breath pattern. This pose allows you to lubricate your spine.

Add balance by bringing your spine to neutral and extending opposite arms. Make sure your are looking down, lengthening from your spine and reaching your hand as if you were to shake hands with someone.

Downward Facing Dog/Dolphin

Begin on all 4’s like your were at the start of cat and cow Inhale into cat and straighten your legs. As you inhale and exhale peddle (lowering a heel and bending opposite knee) your feet to lengthen your Achilles. Do this for 3 to 5 slow breaths. Inhale high on your tip-toes, exhale lower your hells in the direction of the ground. Engage your quads and glutes to have your major muscles do the work and free your wrists. Draw your navel in toward your spine to strengthen your lower back. Draw your shoulder blades together to strengthen your upper back. Gaze at your navel.

Add balance by extending one leg to the ceiling at a time.

If your wrists are sensitive, modify to Dolphin. You place your elbows under your shoulders and clasp your hands in prayer distributing weight along your forearms rather than your wrists.

Warrior II

Start standing. Reach your arms out and step your feet wide so that your ankles are under your wrists. Stay there if you feel stable. Shorten your stance if you do not. Take your right foot and pivot it so your toes aim forward while keeping both heels in alignment. Turn your left foot in slightly so your ankle is at about a 45-degree angle. Stack your spine; imagine a wall is behind you. As you exhale bend your right knee into a lunge. (Make sure your knee is bent over your ankle for safety!) Breathe here for 3 to 5 long breaths. Think lengthening your spins and pressing through your back little toes and your front big toe. On en exhalation straighten the bent knee, pivot your feet in the other direction and do the pose on the second side.

Alpha Chi Omega is about REAL, STRONG WOMEN. We need to find ways to appreciate who we are and not try to make ourselves into something we aren’t. The more we can become aware of our bodies, the more we can appreciate what each of us is capable of doing. Not everyone is built to be a professional athlete or a model. If we work to our potential in all aspects of our lives, then we know we are successful.

René is an advisor at Gamma Nu, an alumnae engagement specialist and a Foundation regional volunteer.  Visit her blog at http://healthybodyhealthylifestyle.blogspot.com/.

The Weight We’ve Carried

by Victoria Cardamon Gigoux
Alpha Psi, UCLA

Until recently, I was the last sitting President of Alpha Psi Chapter.  After a 71-year tradition at UCLA, during the beginning of my 2nd term of office, Alpha Psi went away.  I speak from my own perspective but I know I am not alone, this is a burden I have carried in my heart, for over 13years.  

The first time I walked into the Alpha Chi Omega house on Hilgard Avenue, there hung a composite of over 100 beautiful faces.  Many of those women were in the room and it was incredible to think I might get to join such a wonderful group.  I had instantly bonded with many of them.  They were smart, funny, and beautiful – inside and out.  When I was offered my bid, I could hardly sleep that night from sheer excitement.  That Spring, more than half of those women graduated and the following Spring close to half of those left graduated.  What had been more than 100 women were now about 30.  House capacity at the time was about 120 members, and now we were the smallest group on campus.  That same composite of 100+ women stayed in our foyer, so we could appear larger but our fate had been sealed.

For anyone who doesn’t understand how expensive it is to live in Los Angeles, or how hard it is to be a sorority but have no money to do anything but pay the bills and constantly recruit, I can tell you it is miserable!  Even with as much as we enjoyed the company of our sisters, we were no longer having fun.  We were floating bills to buy ourselves time and were no longer doing anything social.  My college boyfriend was a member of the most “popular” fraternity on campus, and while many of my sisters were dates at their events, the fraternity wouldn’t even co-host social events with us because it would have been uncool for their image.  The mid-90s were the time of Affirmative Action laws in California and as a result of an influx of minority groups on campus, groups that were considered “elitist” suffered.  Although we all knew them to be false, unfortunately, Greek Life fit such stereotypes.  Recruitment numbers were atrocious and to be the smallest chapter on campus, we were believed to have something wrong and avoided like the plague.  We also stuck to our guns and recruited to our Membership Standards.  By the Greek community, we were considered “too picky”, as if we had no choice but to take anyone who was left over.  We did often question whether or not these were the “right” decisions but always most important was maintaining the quality of Alpha Chi Omega.  Our very last new member class was 2 women, who we released prior to initiation to give them the opportunity to join another sorority and live their dreams of sisterhood.  This is the reality we lived with those last 18 months.

We took the abuse and listened to a lot of ranting and raving, people putting us down for “how dare you close the chapter” or “why don’t you try harder”.  On many occasions it outright shocked me that anyone who knew us would even think we were giving up.  We were the hardest working sorority on campus and probably one of the hardest working, most proud, want-to-succeed groups of Alpha Psis in the chapter’s history.  But, even as collegians, we knew what we had to do.  If we had any hope of still liking each other in the end, we were going to have to do something drastic.  The craziest thing is that we loved each other too much to let our circumstances come between us.  With the help of advice from several key members of the National Council, from some very supportive alumnae and from a quick tearful call to my own parents, I walked into our chapter room and lead a vote to write a sad chapter in the history books of Alpha Psi.

The composite that hangs in the foyer of the house today still is not that of the final group of ladies, the photos of my sisters and me.  Even through re-colonization, it wasn’t the RIGHT image to put forward.  I have always understood, and respected, the reasoning behind this decision.  But, that small composite and the few women who grace it are still the very reason I hold Alpha Chi Omega so dear.  The 30-something women on my composite are as close as any sisters can be.  We have been through many of the happy and sad times in our lives, together!  From that fateful evening we became a “family”. 

I can’t express how happy I was to be an Alpha Psi the day I heard the news our chapter was being re-colonized.  But, in all honesty, I have never been more honored to be an Alpha Chi Omega, than the evening I sat in our chapter room, with all of my sisters and with tears in our eyes and pain in our hearts, we voted unanimously to close our chapter.  It was at that very moment that I realized we had sealed our bond of sisterhood.  Even before it became our by-line, we were real, strong, women.

Your Beach Body Isn’t the Only Thing You Should Shape Up this Summer!

by Melissa Garcia
(Gamma Iota, University of Florida)

“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”  ~Russell Baker, American journalist and humorist

While many of us may be concerned with losing a few extra pounds around our midsection or toning up our pecks before hitting the shores this season, this might not be the only shaping up that needs to happen.  This summer, treat your resume like you do your bathing suit bod and you will find much more ease with your job search! You may want to evaluate your current situation and determine the best strategy to boost your chances of getting a call back. Depending on where you stand, you may find yourself bulking up, slimming down or simply just toning up your resume a bit over the summer: 

Need to bulk up: Is your resume looking a little bare? Need to beef it up? If you need to add to your resume, you may want to consider doing some volunteer work at local charities, alumni associations, community groups, professional interest groups, etc.

Volunteer work gives you a chance to gain important workplace skills and some extra experience. You can take it a step further by getting involved on the leadership level of an organization! Consider an elected or appointed position, the Board of Directors or possibly acting as a community advocate. Getting involved in higher levels of volunteer-based organizations will not only show you are self-motivated but will also let potential employers get to know a little more about what your passions are. Not to mention that volunteering can also lead to good job references and loads of networking opportunities.

Another way you can bulk up your resume would be taking additional courses and certifications. They may require a bit of a time commitment but you’ll be able to attend them at most local community colleges and educational facilities. Listing additional courses and certifications on your resume show you have some initiative, something all employers are looking for in potential employees.

Slim Down: Feel like you’ve got too much weight carried around on your resume? Is it bogging you down? Slimming down your resume may be just the trick, but it can be hard to do. We’ve all felt the need to include as much as possible on our resume, but in fact, you may end up jeopardizing your chances by including too much. The most important thing you can do on your resume is to have clearly described your skills and strengths. If you’ve done this and get asked in for an interview, feel free to go in depth at that time. So make sure you trim the fat. Avoid long lists of duties for jobs you’ve held and keep it to the facts that emphasize your accomplishments and successes. The most important thing you can do to keep a lean, mean resume is to keep it straight forward and concise.

As a rule of thumb for your resume, try to remember that less can actually be more!

Side note: If you are a more experienced job seeker and need to trim down your resume, a good way to do this (as well as prevent any possible age discrimination) could be leaving off the year you graduated from college. You may also leave off older work experience as well. 

Just a little tone up: Some of you may only need a few touch-up revisions to your resume. If this is you, congratulations on winning half the battle! As you tone up your resume, you’ll want to make sure to look over your resume for keywords. These keywords will be crucial in grabbing a hiring manager’s and recruiter’s eye. If you want to spark up interest, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got keywords scattered throughout your resume. Take a look at job postings in your field to determine some of the common keywords that you should include in your resume. If you find a job you’d like to apply for and the posting lists certain skills that are required to apply, make sure you include those on your resume, too (as long as they are valid, of course).  You may also want to consider adding a brief “special skills” section in addition to employment history. This can be a collection of the words that best summarize your experience and skills. Lastly, if you’ve trained and worked with certain computer programs (for ex. Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Excel), particularly if it’s unique and/or relevant to your profession, make sure you detail them as well. 

Follow these tips and you’ll find yourself ready to beat the summer heat and feel your best throughout your entire job seeking process!

Sources:

Want to land an interview? Bulk up your resume with keywords! – ExecuSearch group
How to bulk up your resume – ehow
Opportunities to add keywords to your resume – Quintessential Resume Resumes and Cover Letters Tips

About Melissa: Melissa Garcia is a 2005 initiate of  the Gamma Iota Chapter at the University of Florida. She is currently employed as a Marketing Coordinator at StormStaff, a professional services company that specializes in providing Administrative, Clerical, Legal and Financial professionals to various organizations. She is a frequent writer for the The StormStaff Career Tips and Tricks blog which covers a vast array of career-related subjects for every level of the job search, ranging from cover letter and resume advice, social networking tips, personal branding strategies and more.

Alpha Chi Omega Convention 2010, In My Words

by Britain Dwyre
(Beta Eta, Florida State University)

According to Webster’s dictionary a Convention is a large meeting or conference, esp. of members of particular profession. While this definition works, I argue that Alpha Chi Omega Convention is SO much more. Convention to me is five days to reconnect with sisters and friends and a time to make new connections! It is a time to celebrate, to learn, and to shop. Convention is a time to stay up late and wake up early, and to do as much in between the prior as possible. Convention is the most fun you will have with 800+ of your sisters, that only happens every two years.

In the weeks leading up to convention many emails, tweets, and Facebook messages are sent coordinating meetings, presentations and reunions. Packings lists are made, analyzed and amended. Blog posts are done sharing past conventions, offering wardrobe advice and showing support for the Star Booth. Pre-Convention shopping takes place for: reunion night dinner decorations, Stars honoring those Alpha Chis who have impacted us, last minutes wardrobe “essentials” for convention, etc. After all of this is complete I had a suitcase weighing 49.5 pounds (*sigh* I am under the Delta imposed limit). I am ready for convention. 

I was able to travel to convention with a fellow alumna, Amy Zoldak (Zeta Upsilon).  We have made it our convention “tradition” to arrive a day early, allowing us to check in at registration, unpack, enjoy the area and potentially dine with sister-friends before the whirl-wind of convention begins. This year was no different.  We arrived in DC and found our way to the convention shuttle to be greeted by Alpha Chis from across the nation. Our “shuttle group” traveled to the Marriott, and the Alpha Chi Omega Convention fun began.

Over the next five days, I was able to experience my fourth Alpha Chi Omega Convention. I attended the luncheons and dinners celebrating Alpha Chi Omega’s organizational, chapter and individual-accomplishments. I attended chapter meetings where delegates were able to vote on legislation that would affect the future of the organization. I attended and facilitated workshops for Alpha Chi Omega collegiate and alumnae members-where members where able engage in conversations and gain knowledge in a vast array of topics benefiting both the individual and/or their collegiate/alumnae chapter. I attended an alumnae chapter installation, tweet-ups, regional meetings and impromptu meetings with sisters and vendors I have worked with over the years and sisters I will be working with in the future.  

In the end, Convention 2010, like the conventions I attended prior, was an amazing experience. And as I left DC and returned to Tallahassee, Florida, I reflected back on the prior 5 days.  Upon doing so is easy for me to Declare that I look forward to doing it all again in St Louis for the 2012 convention! And I hope to see each and everyone of you there.

Britain is the recipient of the 2009 Young Alumna Award, in addition to holding numerous volunteer positions.

The Lyre, Summer 2010 / Best Practices of the National Housing Corporation

by Aggie Smith Steiner
(Βeta Eta, Florida State University)

When I was growing up, my favorite colors were yellow and green. Pollyanna was my favorite movie and a yellow daisy my favorite flower.

Pollyanna was the story of a young woman who lived her life by seeing the best in others, and expecting the same of herself. Every Sunday, she and her cousins were made to dress-up and sit for hours on uncomfortable wooden  pews in a stifling hot church where a minister preached fire and brimstone. When told that there was no way she could find good in that, she quickly responded, “Sunday only comes once a week.”

I joined Alpha Chi Omega as a shy, naïve 18-year-old. My sisters always expected the best from me. They saw something in me of which I was unaware–a potential for leadership–and gave me opportunities to succeed. Fast forward 40 plus years and I am serving as the National Housing Corporation President. When I was asked to write the “Corner Office,” I began by thinking about what makes our NHC the best. Quite simply, it’s our philosophy.

We believe that a premier living environment adds value to the overall Alpha Chi Omega experience. And, we believe this provides a competitive Panhellenic advantage. We are in the business of providing our sisters a home away from home.

In mid-March, Alpha Chi Omega leaders met in Indianapolis to determine future directions. We reviewed where we are today with read-outs on the Strategic Plan 2005-10 and discussed where we want to be five years out. We discussed best practices and agreed upon a shared vision.

In 2005 the NHC embarked upon a forward-looking plan to work more closely with all Alpha Chi Omega facilities by being the best that we could be.

• We seriously focused on operating within our means and becoming revenue neutral.
• We grew total assets by 12% and our general fund to 108%.
• We refinanced our owned/managed properties to secure more favorable interest rates and pay-back periods.
• We grew inventory of our owned properties by 20%, leased 60%, custodial 10% and developed new models to support un-housed chapters and locally owned properties.
• We reduced administrative costs and facilitated cash positive positions for the majority of NHC properties while providing 10-year maintenance and repair plans for 100% of them.
• We implemented a vibrant housing volunteer structure and supported the creation of a Housing Advisor position to better focus the Chapter Advisor on programming and member issues.
• We further defined our grant policies and provided $30,000 for health and safety related projects such as sprinkler and fire door installations, replacement windows and bathroom remodels.

For me, I think that is a very good list of results for our best practices work!

Over time, my favorites have changed. I learned that I should never wear yellow and most greens aren’t that good either. My current favorite color is red and movie is The Blind Side, a movie about seeing the best in others and providing opportunities to achieve. I guess I haven’t really strayed that far from my youth. Oh, and my favorite flower—a red carnation.

The Lyre, Summer 2010 / Finding Financial Freedom

by Lisa Young Stiers
(Epsilon Omicron, Indiana State University)

Graduating from DePauw University last spring, Caitlin Cavanaugh thought she was prepared for life in the “real world.” After all, she had been successfully managing her own spending money for years. But the financial world still held a few surprises — particularly the cost of establishing an apartment.

 “You don’t think about how much a new ice cream scoop is going to cost or how much toilet bowl cleaner is going to cost,” Cavanaugh remembers. “Budget liberally because everything’s going to cost more than you think it will.”

Financial surprises await most college graduates. According to a recent study by Sallie Mae, 84 percent of undergraduates said they needed more education on financial management topics.

Now a year later, Cavanaugh, an initiate of Alpha chapter, has a year of graduate school under her belt and a firm grasp on fiscal responsibility — even giving up her favorite steaks to live within her budget.

“Know what you can and can’t do, and stay within your boundaries,” recommends Cavanaugh, who plans visits to her parents when she craves red meat. “The more aware you are of how you spend your money, the better shape you’ll be in.”

Still, it can be a stressful adjustment to living on your own limited income.

“You get to the end of the month and have just a little money left, but you still have to pay bills,” says Cavanaugh, a grad student in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. “It can be difficult.”

To help new Alpha Chi Omega alumnae make a smooth financial transition, we gathered tips from some financial savvy Alpha Chis. Here is their advice.

Don’t Go Crazy

Job equals paycheck equals new things, right? Not so fast!

“Don’t be anxious to get a new car or great apartment,” urges Nancy Cooper Pitt, JD, a certified financial planner and representative of Miller Cunning & Pitt, part of Financial Partners Group. “You’ll have time to grow in to those. It’s important not only to plan for your immediate needs but also have a plan for your future.”

An essential first step is building an emergency fund — money that is readily and easily available. Do everything you can to keep expenses low for the first few months so that you can sock the extra away, says DeLynn Moring Zell, a certified financial planner and Managing Principal at Bridgeworth Financial in Birmingham. This might even mean moving back in with parents, staying in your college apartment with roommates, or living in someone’s basement.

When she graduated from Birmingham-Southern College, Zell moved into the basement of Virginia Bailey, her Alpha Omega chapter advisor. The two exchanged free board for evening babysitting— a barter that benefited them both.

“It was huge for me,” Zell remembers. “I was able to save my first few paychecks. When I moved out, I had money in the bank and was able to pay the first and last deposits on an apartment and get utilities turned on. I had an emergency fund in place, and I was able to move on to the next step.”

Cavanaugh recommends finding a roommate, who can split the cost of utilities, household supplies and furniture.

Don’t go crazy with job expectations, either, Pitt says. Be flexible and realize your first position may not be ideal. View it as continuing education in the workplace.

“This may not be the job you stay with the rest of your life,” she says. “But it is important to use your skills and do something you enjoy.”

Once you find a job, Pitt recommends investing in an appropriate work wardrobe.

“Even if purchased at a thrift store, this can be a wonderful investment,” she explains.

Build a Budget

Despite what many believe, “budget” is not a punishment. Experts urge new graduates to create a budget as a tool, a guide to get you where you want to go.

“Some people look at a budget as a bad word,” says Pitt, an initiate of Alpha Chi chapter at Butler University. “I look at it as a way to structure your income and build a pathway to your future.”

In addition to the necessities — food, clothing, shelter — include savings as a budget line item.

“Pay yourself first,” Zell recommends. “What you accumulate in life is not based on what you make but on what you spend. Living below your means is the key. If you can’t put away 10 to 15 percent of your paycheck every month, then your expenses are out of whack.”

Another budget essential is insurance— from health to automobile to renters insurance. At the urging of her father, Cavanaugh invested in a renters insurance policy.

“I wouldn’t have known about renters insurance if my parents hadn’t told me,” she admits. “If anything should happen, it covers your belongings.”

Once a budget is in place, it’s crucial to stay on top of your spending. Cavanaugh tracks her banking online, so that she can be alerted to any discrepancies quickly. She uses Quicken to keep spending details organized and categorized — and make preparing taxes at the end of the year easier.

Dig out of Debt

In 2009, the average college senior graduated with $4,100 in credit card debt, up from $2,900 five years earlier, reports the Sallie Mae study. Nearly all had charged direct education expenses, including textbooks, supplies and even tuition, to their cards.

If you have credit card debt, take careful inventory of each debt — amount, interest rate, terms — to determine the best strategy to eliminate them.

Zell recommends ordering debts from highest to lowest interest rate. Make at least minimum payments on all outstanding loans, but put all extra money toward the card or debt charging the highest interest rate. Once that is eliminated, take the amount of the monthly payment and roll it into paying off the loan with the next highest interest rate. Resist the urge to add new debt — such as mortgage payments — until your clear out past debts.

“People have been sucked into thinking they should forget about these other things so they can get the down payment for a house,” Zell says. “I think they should get debt paid off and then worry about a house.”

Revisit Student Loans

If you have student loans, talk to an expert about your options, which might include changing your payment plan, consolidation or deferment.

Don’t assume your current repayment plan is your only option. Depending on your situation, federal student loan repayment options might include extended repayment; graduated repayment (lower payments at the beginning with increasing amounts due later); and income-sensitive or income-based plans.

“You have to know your options for payback,” Cavanaugh says, “and you have to have all the right paperwork filed with the right people.”

Create Good Credit

A credit score — sometimes referred to as a FICO score — is the grade of your credit behavior. Credit scores range from 300 to 850 — the higher, the better.

A good score can mean lower interest rates and more choices on potential loans.  A bad score can lead not only to loan rejection but also difficulty renting an apartment or setting up utilities.

“You should treat it as one of your most valuable possessions,” Pitt says. “It will stay with you the rest of your life.”

Ways to improve your credit score include:

• Paying bills on time
• Making more than the minimum payment on credit cards
• Keeping credit card balances to less than 50 percent of the available credit limit on the card
• Having a long credit history — canceling an old credit card may hurt your score because it may shorten the length of  your credit history

Avoid actions that might lower your credit score, such as:

• Exceeding your limit on credit cards
• Opening and closing too many credit accounts in a short period of time
• Making late payments
• Defaulting on a loan
• Writing bad checks
• Declaring bankruptcy

Be cautious about any potential loan, including credit cards that offer rewards or low interest rates. In exchange for these perks, you might find an annual fee or other unfriendly terms. “You have to know the benefits as well as the pitfalls,” Pitt warns. “Do some searching and find the one that’s right for you.”

Fund Your Future

Even though you’ve just started in the workforce, now is the perfect time to begin saving for retirement. Time is on your side. Consider this example from the U.S. Department of Labor publication Saving Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future. “Let’s say that you put $1,000 at the beginning of each year into an IRA from age 20 through age 30 (11 years) and then never put in another dime. The account earns 7 percent annually. When you retire at age 65 you’ll have $168,514 in the account. Your friend doesn’t start until age 30, but saves the same amount annually for 35 years straight. Despite putting in three times as much money, your friend’s account grows to only $147,913.”

The earlier you start saving, the more your money can work for you, thanks to the power of compounding. For every 10 years you delay before starting to save for retirement, you will need to save three times as much each month to catch up.

Even a small investment can make a big different. And, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by investigating your employee retirement options, and enroll as soon as you’re eligible. Strive to invest as much money as will be matched by your employer.

“That’s free money,” Pitt says. “Take advantage of that.”

Keep Learning

Educate yourself about your financial options. The internet, books, TV and seminars are great ways to become familiar with terminology and basic financial knowledge. When you’re ready, find a financial planner you can trust to help build your financial future, Pitt says. One place to start is the national Financial Planning Association, which lists professional members who adhere to a code of ethics, says Pitt, immediate past president of the Financial Planning Association’s Indiana organization. Learn more at http://www.fpaforfinancialplanning.org/.

Find Financial Freedom

Sure, a new car or designer dress may make you feel great right away, but being fiscally responsible can bring much greater contentment.

“People need to find what brings them joy,” Pitt says. “Worrying about money is one of the quickest ways to dampen joy. Don’t let money overwhelm you. You can find richness in friends and family as well as dollars and cents. Let dollars and cents help you get there. Don’t let it be the goal.”

The Lyre, Summer 2010 / A Lifetime Commitment: How I’ve Chosen to Make a Difference

by Kirstin Floberg Barbour
(Nu, University of Colorado)

As an alumna, I have met several extraordinary women and created lifelong friendships with Alpha Chi sisters scattered across the country.  My journey has shown what a small, wonderful world we live in. I work at Starz Entertainment on a team of 23 people from various parts of the country. A nameplate went up on a cubicle of a new hire named Stephanie Watson (Nu). Before she started, I asked the hiring manager if she attended the University of Colorado, of which she replied yes. I knew instantly this was one of my Nu sisters. We had lost touch and were excited to be reunited by work. The connections continued as we were getting to know a few women that worked out of our Atlanta office. Sororities came up in the conversation, as they asked how we knew each other so well. When we told them that we were both Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters, their jaws dropped. It just so happened that two of the women were Alpha Chi Omegas as well, Katharine Collins (Theta Lambda) and Christi Burton (Gamma Chi). Imagine the inconceivable notion of four of a 23 person team being sisters! It has always been obvious to me, the great links and relationships created by my Alpha Chi Omega membership. Why stop my involvement at college graduation?

How I Became Involved

With the exception of the first six months of my life, I grew up living in Colorado, attended the University of Colorado where I am an initiate of the Nu chapter – just about as close to a native as you can get. A couple of years after getting married, my husband’s job took us to Richmond, Virginia. After a few short months, moving back to Colorado was all Jason, my husband, and I could think about. It took us almost two years, but we were finally able to move “home.”

It was one of my best friends, Shelly Peppard Russell (Theta Iota), that reignited my fire within to actively engage as an alumna in our Alpha Chi Omega sisterhood. After moving back to Colorado, Shelly invited me to attend the Nu Nu (representing the Denver area) chapter’s fall kickoff luncheon. All it took was a request for a new historian, combined with my passion for scrapbooking, to rope me in for the journey of a lifetime.

My First “Active” Steps

Over the course of my first year as an “active” alumna, I realized the incredible growth opportunities available to Nu Nu and the entire Alpha Chi Omega organization. The greatest of those opportunities lies in our investment in the future of fellow sisters. At the end of my first year of alumnae activities, I considered myself an “active” alumna; after all, I paid my dues, attended events and gave what I could financially. But a loud voice inside my head was telling me that being “active” was something more than being “present.” I found myself wanting to increase my involvement, as I so enjoyed all of the women that I met. That internal calling was answered when I was nominated for the executive board as treasurer.

As my term drew to a close, I determined that while my presence had increased, I still yearned to do more for the organization that had given me so much. Thus, I followed my dear friend Ali Hahle Barry’s (Delta Upsilon) footsteps, as president of the Nu Nu alumnae chapter, though I had some pretty big shoes to fill. As president, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to attend my first National Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Being More Than “Present”

In the blistering July heat of the desert, convention attendees were called upon to reflect, refresh and reconnect. In taking time to reflect on our sisterhood, I was reminded that the formation of our special bond is to provide a basis of mutual helpfulness and congenial fellowship, whose purpose is to facilitate the advancement of the intellectual, social and moral culture of our members. I thought long and hard about our core values, wisdom, devotion and achievement, and how I would convey my convention experience to the women of Nu Nu.

These three core values are a driving factor in my passion for mentoring others to assist their professional and/or personal development. But for as much reward as I garner from making a positive impact on others, I believe the foundation of the mentor/mentee relationship lies in continuous learning. Mentors not only share their wisdom and guide their mentees, but they learn from the mentorship experience and share the profound effects of touching lives.

So, I embarked on the next phase of my journey, involvement with the Nu chapter at the University of Colorado, my alma mater. This portion of my trek has not been without challenges. I have every excuse as to why it is ridiculous for me to achieve such involvement—I am the full time working mother of a toddler. And, if that isn’t enough, geography enters in, as I live and work a healthy 1½ hours from Nu. Yet, my “superwoman mentality” has prevailed.

I committed to mentoring the leaders of Nu and providing guidance to the chapter advisors, of which has been one of the greatest challenges and rewards I have experienced. I simply cannot express the thrill of witnessing the tremendous growth of some of these women. In turn, these women have pushed me to learn more about myself and our sisterhood in Alpha Chi Omega.

In an effort to bridge the gap between the remarkable women of Nu Nu and Nu, I have challenged the alumnae to refresh. While Nu Nu has always supported Nu chapter from afar, I strongly advocated that they look within themselves to impart the traditions they hold near and dear to their hearts with all of our collegiate sisters—ensuring the sustainability of our sisterhood.

A Lifetime of Transformation

Reflecting on the extraordinary women that have made an impact on my life, I am blessed to name quite a few: Mrs. Lee, my kindergarten teacher; Miss Kerber, a grade school teacher; my mother, who has dedicated her life to ensuring my success. Then there are those who have had a profound effect on shaping who I am today. Those, I proudly call my sisters: Shelly Peppard Russell (Theta Iota), friends for life since second grade; Sherry Bennett Trefz (Delta Upsilon), Recruitment Advisor while I was a collegian; Mary Witte Niemeyer (Nu), my “Big”; Jen Arcese Gelston (Nu), friends since our freshman year of high school; Ali Hahle Barry (Delta Upsilon), my Nu Nu partner in crime; Louverta Britt Brunkow (Nu), Nu Nu member; Courtney Ellis (Xi), bound by our commitment to Nu Chapter; Cherie Copare Mitchell (Nu), chapter sister; Katy Evanco Brown (Theta Omicron), Nu Nu member and former Alpha Chi Omega National Vice President; and countless others. But the most important of these real, strong women that make a difference is you!

We joined Alpha Chi Omega in pursuit of diverse goals, but no matter what our individual reasons for becoming sisters, we sought to better ourselves in some manner of which our sisters played a key role. Based on the values and principles of our founders, we all genuinely desire to transform young ladies into the real, strong women of our future.

This transformation takes place over the course of a lifetime. It begins as a new member, progresses through our college years as lifetime members and reaches new heights as alumnae. I have been honored to serve Alpha Chi Omega in so many ways that have afforded me the opportunity to learn from all of you. I have had the good fortune of working with high school students interested in sororities, collegiate members, recent grads to 75-year members.

It is true that each of our flames burn with varying degrees of colors and intensity. Yet, that is what makes us sisters in Alpha Chi Omega. With all of the pressures of our careers, families, friends, communities and economy, it is challenging to find the time or financial resources to spare. However, each of us has it in us to do something. Whether it’s getting in touch with a sister you haven’t talked to in a while or taking on a leadership role, it is part of our foundation to open doors for those who come after us, as our sisters did before us.

While I await the next path on my journey as an Alpha Chi Omega alumna, I challenge you to reflect on your Alpha Chi alumnae and collegiate experiences thus far. Think of the special moments you would not trade for the world. What afforded you that opportunity? Consider the legacy you are composing, and I believe you will find that you want to be one of those women that touched someone’s life—Alpha Chi Omega gives us the perfect opportunity.

The Lyre, Summer 2010 / Give a Snap…See a Smile!

In 1964, at the young age of 14, Susan “Sue” Carver Smith was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her parents did not let on to the diagnoses, allowing Sue and her siblings, Chris Carver Barlow and Laura Carver Stachler, to live full childhoods. The family continued their happy life, enjoying and appreciating every day. In her early twenties, Sue’s diagnoses was revealed, but life still did not stop. Amidst chemotherapy, doctors and hospital stays, Sue carried on with exuberance—following her big sister Chris to the University of Southern California, where they both joined the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. The youngest sister, Laura, would in turn follow Sue. At the age of 28, following her college graduation and marriage, Sue passed away—the disease finally taking its toll.

Having come from such a sweet, positive background, the Carver family held the notion that when they picked up the pieces, they would do it with love and a smile. And so they did. Never letting Sue’s passing be the purpose of negativity, but instead Sue’s life being reason for celebration. For Laura, her love and devotion for Sue had always been priority. When Laura and her husband Ken had found that they were expecting their first baby girl, no other name was more appropriate— they named her Susan Carver Stachler.

Unexpected Events

Laura continued Sue’s legacy by living her life with optimism and by saying “yes” to whatever obstacle or luck came her way. She had always enjoyed baking, especially as her children grew, and took pleasure in seeing how her special treats created happiness in others. Although, Laura had never officially trained in the culinary arts or had professional experience outside of growing up around her parents’ burger shop, she began to tinker with recipes. By word of mouth Laura’s treats became locally known and led to catering possibilities. This small-time business seemed to be growing exponentially, but life was not to be so easy. At the age of 41 and amidst their major business expansion, Ken was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Laura and her husband still considered themselves upbeat, cup-half full kind of people. And even with Ken undergoing treatment and Laura “reliving” Sue’s experience all over again, the family continued expanding the business. The following year marked Ken’s treatment a success and was a cause for celebration.

When their daughter Susan came home to visit during her senior year at Auburn University, what would normally be a routine visit was soon turned into an unthinkable chain of events—Susan had an unexplained lump on her throat. Six weeks later, Susan, too, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Laura would once again, go through the treatments, doctor visits and hospital stays. Unlike with her husband though, everything down to Susan’s age was a constant reminder of Sue. Even the paperwork read “Susan Carver.” On June 4, 2004, the anniversary of Sue’s death, Susan started treatment.

Molding to the Circumstances

Laura wanted to do something, keep morale up in some way. The family’s baking business began to take a new shape, molding to the circumstances. Laura created an original gingersnap recipe—ginger is a known stomach soother often eaten by patients undergoing chemotherapy and other cancer treatments—while Susan created the artwork related to the packaging. People across the country began to read of Laura and her family via the internet, and the little baking business took off!

Health, Success and Generosity

Today, Laura is happy to report that at the age of 28, Susan’s cancer has gone beyond remission—she is considered cured. And although her husband’s diagnosis is not of a “curable” nature, Laura and her family persevere with generosity and a sense of humor. The family, noted for their multi-generational and female diagnoses, has even been the cause for research in regards to Hodgkin’s lymphoma’s genetic traits. Laura and her family continue do all that they can—they aren’t saving the world, but they are definitely doing their part.

As for Laura’s little baking business, the Susansnap, the original gingersnap cookie aptly named for her sister, is now a best-seller, honored by Martha Stewart Living in New York, seen as “Snack of the Day” on the Rachael Ray Show, featured as one of “Paula’s Picks” in the Paula Deen Christmas Magazine, used by Chef Bobby Flay in his cooking shows at Metropolitan Cooking and featured among many other publications and radio spots. Beyond the website, Susansnaps has recently opened its first retail location and offers a wide variety of cakes and cookies. Laura and Susan continue to create, bake, package and market all on their own—making Susansnaps truly a family-owned and operated business. With over 8,000 cookies baked per day, the business is thriving.

One entity related to Susansnaps that is held very close to Laura’s heart is The Susan Carver Foundation. Having started with only $100, the foundation is now a great supporter of the Atlanta, Georgia treatment centers and the National Cancer Institute in Washington D.C. In honor of her sister and daughter, the foundation boasts that “cancer is not okay” and aims to support cancer research, specifically looking at the link between genetics and cancer. Ten percent of all purchases through Susansnaps is given to the foundation, along with 100% of all donations and monies raised through fundraising initiatives.

Give a Snap… See a Smile!

“Give a Snap… See a Smile!” These words, Laura’s motto for her Susansnaps, could not have more meaning had another said them. These words, as simple as they are, display the brightness, kindness and might that represent Laura. Coming from what many would consider devastating circumstances, Laura carried on to turn the most discouraging into the most uplifting. Taking a hobby that she always enjoyed and turning it into a small business; then, using that business to help not only her own family cope with their cancer struggles, but families everywhere touched by the disease. Laura, Sue, Susan and their entire family are an inspiration to us all—teaching us that with our heads held high and a loving smile, we can make it through anything.

To learn more about Susansnaps and The Susan Carver Foundation, visit susansnaps.com.

The Lyre, Summer 2010 / In Memory of Martha Hannegan Hanlon

by Ellen Little Vanden Brink, Past National President
(Alpha, DePauw University)

A 1951 initiate of the Omicron chapter at Baker University, Past National President Martha Hannegan Hanlon is remembered as a loyal alumna to both the Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity and the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and for her wonderful working relationships with collegiate chapters. She understood priorities and was devoted to straightening the Alpha Chi Omega budget. Martha was a businesswoman who demanded a lot from those who worked with her, but she never asked more of anyone than she asked of herself. She was a very good role model and mentored wisely.

During Martha’s two terms as National Collegiate Vice President (1976-80), much collegiate programming was developed. At that time, “middle management” existed within Alpha Chi Omega’s volunteer structure, and Martha supervised volunteer officers in recruitment, collegiate programming and the Assistant VPs who worked with her in management of chapters. Also, regional recruitment workshops were developed and implemented during her terms. She recognized that recruitment skills needed to be developed and reinforced, and that regional meetings were the best way to do it, fiscally and practically.

When it came to Martha’s National Presidency (1980-83), she was fiscally conservative but very progressive when it came to programming. The 1980 National Council inherited a deficit budget because of recent housing commitments. Martha immediately worked on the budget, holding all council members accountable to the best of their abilities. Martha declared that Alpha Chi Omega would live within her means. The National Council managed the finances very closely and looked for economically responsible extension opportunities.

Martha continued the practice of supervising extension and worked closely with the Extension Director. One of the responsibilities of National Council was to review campuses and determine where Alpha Chi Omega needed to be. Both Martha and her predecessor recognized that we were weak in established chapters in the southeast and northeast; therefore, Martha developed deliberate plans to visit some of these campuses to make our presence known. Martha traveled, visiting Vanderbilt University, Colgate University, Villanova University and other campuses, so that administrations could learn more about Alpha Chi Omega—allowing our organization to be more prepared when extension opportunities became available.

Beyond Martha’s efforts in extension, she is remembered as a guardian of the Alpha Chi Omega Constitution and a supporter of the Foundation. Martha constantly referenced the Constitution whenever new programs were being considered, and nothing got by her. While sometimes it seemed that the Constitution occasionally hamstrung actions, it saved many from making what could have been mistakes. Following her presidency, Martha spent a large portion of her time supporting the Foundation in preparation for its efforts for a major campaign to celebrate the centennial of Alpha Chi Omega.

Martha proudly served Alpha Chi Omega with strength and poise. We are thankful for her efforts and commitment, not only as a member of the National Council, but as an alumna of our organization. She will be missed.

Martha Ricks Hannegan Hanlon, born Martha Marie Carolan, passed away in Lewisville, Texas on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. She is survived by her sister, Betty J. Hayes; sons, L. David Hannegan, Tom Hannegan, and John Hannegan; and grandchildren, Michael, Kelly, Ryan, Katie, Cara, and Reilly.

Sharing the Legacy of Alpha Chi Omega

by Jennifer Gray Elwell
(Alpha Upsilon, University of Alabama)

When the ultrasound technician told my husband and me that we were having a little girl my mind immediately went to thinking in pink…and then red and green.  I started buying outfits with strawberries on them (our local chapter’s mascot) and started flipping through my old songbooks to remind myself of the words to some of my favorite songs.  My daughter Charlotte was introduced to the Dreamcake song as a newborn and has heard it countless times since then.  But as she has started growing up I’ve realized that I want to pass on more than just my love of Alpha Chi songs and colors. I want to pass along what Alpha Chi taught me.

I want Charlotte to know from the beginning what I learned in my four years on campus: she can be a leader and can make a difference.  As an active Alpha Chi I saw many women transform from shy freshmen trying to make new friends to bold seniors leading the University.  I had the honor of serving Alpha Chi as an officer on our local Panhellenic council.  In that capacity I was able to work with my Alpha Chi friends and my friends in other chapters to greatly impact our campus.  The trust and support that I received from my Alpha Chi sisters helped me achieve something that I could never have achieved by myself. I want Charlotte to grow up knowing women make wonderful leaders and they can impact the world greatly.

I also want Charlotte to know how important it is to have integrity and accept everyone for who they are.  I was part of a large chapter that only grew larger while I was on campus.  The size of our chapter meant that we weren’t close personal friends with every sister, and our chapter was made up from women from varying states and backgrounds.  I loved watching our sisters accept a student from Louisiana who came to Alabama for a brief period after Hurricane Katrina.  By letting her into our chapter for a short time I saw sisters showing love and friendship to someone that they had never met before.  I hope that I model this trait so that Charlotte grows up knowing that each person is worthy of our undivided attention and care.

Scholastic achievement was also a big part of our chapter and is something that I want to pass on to Charlotte.  Reading books to a four month old doesn’t really seem like it’s advancing her academic career, but I know that starting her thirst for knowledge early will only help her later in life.  I am so thankful that our chapter emphasized the need to excel academically so that we could later excel in the real world.  The constant encouragement and support from our alumnae and sisters helped me learn how to focus in the classroom which later helped me focus on the job.  Hopefully by watching me read books and continue to advance my education she will learn like I did that education can come from anywhere and is important to keeping you a healthy woman.

Despite all of those wonderful lessons that I learned from Alpha Chi, the one that I most want Charlotte to learn and embrace is finding close friends.  Alpha Chi blessed me with good friends while I was in college and has allowed me to make new friends now that I’ve graduated and moved on to a new stage in my life.  I want Charlotte to know that having strong women surround you who have your best interests at heart is important not only for your own benefit but for theirs as well.  With a strong group of women surrounding her I know that she can far exceed my highest expectations of her and she can help each of them exceed their dreams also. 

Alpha Chi will always hold a dear place in my heart, and I won’t pretend that I don’t hope to one day share our Lyre with my daughter, but mostly I want Charlotte to take the things that I learned from Alpha Chi and build on them.  I hope that she is loving and kind to others with a thirst for knowledge and a dream of making a difference.  And I hope that she is surrounded by strong women, like I am, who will help her become the woman she aspires to be.