Phi Sigma Sigma Newsletter
The award-winning e-Newsletter of Phi Sigma Sigma                                                                                                   April 2014
In This Issue
DUE Your Part!
Message from the Grand Archon
What's Happening
From the Archives
Foundation News
Seen and Heard
DUE Your Part!
  
Alumnae dues are a great way to continue contributing to Phi Sigma Sigma in the years after college. Proceeds from these dues support Phi Sigma Sigma's operations and programs.
 
To pay your dues for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, click here. Dues must be paid no later than June 30 to count toward toward the current fiscal year. For assistance paying your dues, email [email protected].
  
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[email protected]. Please include a description of the photo and the chapter name in the subject line.
  
Submit Your News 
 
Phi Sig wants to hear from YOU!
 
Do you have news you want to share with Phi Sigma Sigma? HQ is always looking for updates on our members.
  

Click here to email news. 

 

Note: Make sure to include the who, what, when, where, and any contact information. 

Alicia Scott
Dear Sisters,

 

At Leadership Conference 2014, we focused on two simple, yet powerful ideas - believing in Phi Sigma Sigma and being "more awesome." At our opening session, I shared A Pep Talk from Kid President to You. It's a great message about every person's ability to change the world by working together. 

 

Continue reading Alicia's letter

Phi Sigma Sigma Returning to Penn State

The Beta Eta Chapter will be recolonized this fall
The founding members of the Beta Eta Chapter at their installation banquet on January 4, 1946.

Phi Sigma Sigma will be making a comeback at Penn State University this fall. After nearly 45 years of being dormant, the Beta Eta Chapter has been invited to recolonize at the State College, Pa. campus.
  
Beta Eta was originally founded on January 4, 1946, when Aletheia, a local sorority, affiliated with Phi Sigma Sigma. The chapter achieved much success in its 24-year run on campus, earning Phi Sigma Sigma's top honors, including the National Achievement Award, the National Progress Award, the National Efficiency Award and the Division III scholarship, philanthropy and achievement awards.
  

The radical campus culture of the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to the blooming Women's Rights Movement, took a toll on fraternities and sororities everywhere, and Phi Sigma Sigma was not immune. Beta Eta Chapter closed in 1970, due to declining membership.

 

Part of Phi Sigma Sigma's rich history at Penn State includes esteemed alumna, Mimi Barash ('54). After graduating from Penn State, Mimi spent years running a successful advertising and marketing company, The Barash Group, which published State College's Town & Gown magazine for nearly 50 years. She was also the first women to be named chairman of Penn State's Board of Trustees.

 

When Phi Sigma Sigma's extension team presented at Penn State, Mimi enthusiastically joined them, sharing her memories and experiences at Beta Eta in the 1950s, as well as her hopes for a new group of Phi Sigma Sigma women. To learn more about Mimi, you can view the presentation video here.

 

Phi Sigma Sigma is thrilled to return to Penn State and welcome a new generation of Beta Eta women into the Pyramid.

 

What advice would you give to the new colony members at Penn State? Let us know!

 

Be sure to like Phi Sigma Sigma at Penn State's Facebook page!

 

James Madison University

 

Phi Sigma Sigma has also been extended an invitation to colonize at James Madison University in fall 2017. The Fraternity is excited to join such an outstanding Greek community!

 

Iota Rho Chapter Installed

131 women were welcomed into the Pyramid at Saint Joseph's University

 

Phi Sigma Sigma installed its newest chapter on April 5. The Iota Rho Chapter at Saint Joseph's University became an official part of the Pyramid with 131 women, the largest chapter chartering in Phi Sigma Sigma history.

 

The women celebrated their installation at a luncheon the following day with honored guests including Grand Archon Alicia Scott and past Grand Archon Veachey Bloom. You can view photos from the installation weekend

here.

 

Welcome to the Pyramid, sisters!

You Don't "Outgrow" Phi Sig!

Membership is for a lifetime

 

An editorial written by Shirley P. Gach (Zeta Chapter, UCLA) in the Winter 1953 issue of The Sphinx:
 

It is our firm belief that our Sorority provides for lifelong friendships, opportunities for the development of leaders, opportunities to enjoy a socially homogeneous group, and the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves. We believe that our alumnae groups provide for the continuation and mature fulfillment of these elements with only the change in focus that maturation brings.

 

It is natural that as we take our place in the community we gradually shake off those ties we outgrow and align ourselves with those whose aims echo our own. It is a source of great pride that Phi Sigma Sigma is not one of those affiliations we "outgrow."

 

Phi Sigma Sigma, through its alumnae clubs stands as a unit through which we can fulfill our many and varied needs and possesses the added ability of being flexible enough to grow with us and become the instrument for achieving whatever goal its members decide worth while.

 

Our sorority has accomplished much but the possibilities of further achievement are just as great as we, its members, make them. Individuals united in the concerted pursuance of a goal develop and achieve as individuals, and [inevitably] the group they work through is elevated. As a group we have valued goals but we can add new ones, expand old ones and in fulfilling ourselves as women can fulfill our purpose as a Sorority. We call upon every alumna to join with us and recall with us that "Diokete Hupsala" urges us to "Aim High."

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2014 UIFI Scholarship Recipients
Nine deserving women will attend the Institute this summer.
  

The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation is awarding nine scholarships to collegiate sisters to attend the 2014 Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI). These scholarships include registration and travel to UIFI.

 

UIFI is the premier undergraduate interfraternal leadership experience. It supports the principles of community, interfraternalism, leadership and creating positive change.  

  • 99 percent of the UIFI participants in 2012 indicated that they would recommend UIFI to a peer.
  • 95 percent indicated that they have seen continued personal growth as a result of UIFI. 

THANK YOU!  This scholarship opportunity is supported by our generous donors and chapter giving!

 

Congratulations to the 2014 Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation UIFI Scholarship Recipients!

 

  • Frances Adams, Delta Psi Chapter, University of West Florida
  • Melissa Chapman, Iota Eta Chapter, Florida Institute of Technology
  • Chelsea Conlon, Gamma Iota Chapter, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Danielle Eble, Epsilon Delta Chapter, Chapman University
  • Nicole Goehring, Epsilon Delta Chapter, Chapman University
  • Tatiana Huet De Bacellar, Gamma Iota Chapter, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Caroline McGowan, Zeta Gamma Chapter, West Chester University
  • Sarah Monteith, Gamma Iota Chapter, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Rachel Weiner, Zeta Gamma Chapter, West Chester University

 

Philanthropy Toolkit
Learn today. Lead tomorrow.
 
The goal of the toolkits is to provide a collection of resources to support our members in their philanthropic efforts that are centered on our philanthropic cause.

 

We recognize the need for current and real solutions to your everyday philanthropic activities.  With this in mind, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation will work hard to meet your needs and provide for you what we believe to be a wealth of meaningful resources that keep you engaged and excited about school and college readiness while impacting your local campus, neighborhoods, town and city.

 

Your input and suggestions to future versions of the toolkit are invaluable and as you are our servant leaders on the front line making a difference in people's lives.  Input and suggestions may be submitted to [email protected]

 

Click here to see the first phase of the Philanthropic Toolkit: Guide for Collegiate Chapters.

 

Learn more about our new cause: School and College Readiness.

 

Coming soon: Philanthropy Toolkit: Guide for Alumnae & Alumnae Chapters

 

Support the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation by shopping at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. Click here to begin shopping now!


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Gamma Tau Chapter Alumna Saves Two Lives
Allison Ruebusch put her emergency training skills to use twice in one day
  
Two times in one day Allison Ruebusch, an alumna of the Gamma Tau Chapter at Northern Kentucky University, who works as operations director of Ride the Ducks at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Ky., found herself in a position to help rescue someone.

 

Allison was in her office on Jan. 24 when she heard a radio call for help with a man who had collapsed. She assisted the man using her emergency training skills. Allison is certified in American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED.

 

Later that same day, Allison was shopping at her local Target store when a man began shouting that his girlfriend had collapsed in the bathroom. The woman had fallen in the family restroom and the door was locked. She couldn't move, so Allison used a quarter to unlock the door and stayed with the woman until paramedics arrived.

 

The Newport Fire Department gave Allison an award for her rescue work.

 

Way to go, Allison!

 

You can read more about Allison's heroic day on Cincinnati.com.

 

Tatyana McFadden Earns Medal in Boston Marathon
The Theta Chapter alumna came in first in the women's wheelchair race
 
Boston.com photo
 
On her 25th birthday, Tatyana McFadden, an alumna of the Theta Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, defended her women's wheelchair title at the 118th Boston Marathon on April 15. She finished with a time of 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 6 seconds.

 

Tatyana is the winner of the four big marathons in 2013 (London, Boston, Chicago, and New York), becoming the first person to complete such a feat. Tatyana also won a silver medal in Sochi at the Paralympic Games earlier this year (sit-ski event).

 

Congratulations, Tatyana!

 

Read more about Tatyana's win at Boston.com.