We recruited the most amazing new plegdge class this Fall. Read all about their new member period from our VP New Member Education, Morgan White:
Through the
process of fall recruitment, Alpha Chi Omega was lucky enough to give out 59
bids to 59 beautiful girls. We had a fun time celebrating on bid day with our
new additions, playing along with the theme of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and
serving breakfast for dinner. We had a fun time having a dance party on our
lawn, with music so loud, that one could hear it from four blocks away! We then
all piled into our cars to make our rounds to the other sororities and
fraternities on campus, then to Autzen Stadium for our famous photo opp.
Over the past
couple of weeks, Morgan White, our Vice President of New Member Education, has
been able to get to know these girls better and guide them into their new
chapter of college at Alpha Chi Omega. All of them have been so eager to learn
about the history and traditions of our sorority and meet all of our lifetime
members. We also just had our Big/Little reveal, so now the new members have
someone close to guide them through our initiation. Everyone cannot
wait to initiate all of our new members and officially make them sister of
Alpha Chi Omega.
Thank you, Morgan, for all of your work to develop our new members. You embody what it means to be an Alpha Chi, and we are proud to have you as the role model for all of our new members!
Read all about Natalie and Cristina's work with PRSSA!
Cristina Pellizzon and I are members of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) on campus and for the past few weeks have been working on a Halloween fundraising event. On Tuesday the 30th we had the Halloween event in the EMU open to all students. Both Cristina and I were on the planning committee and worked to put the event together to raise money for PRSSA. The event consisted of Halloween themed games and prizes with a costume contest at the end. We worked in a group with other PRSSA members and used our planning skills to put the event together. Between working together, organization, and communication we used our Alpha Chi Omega skills for this event for our entire school. This is expected to be an annual event & hopefully we will be working on the planning committee next year!
Great job Natalie and Cristina for being ambitious women in the work force!
Read all about our successful recruitment from your very own VP Recruitment, Evan Goldsmith!
Hello! My name is Evan Goldsmith
and I am the VP Recruitment for the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. When
I ran for my position one year ago, I wanted to do it because I felt that it
would be a contribution to the future of Alpha Kappa and Alpha Chi Omega
nationally. I would be educating and preparing my chapter for Fall Formal
Recruitment, and because of my efforts and the efforts of my sisters we would
have an amazing new pledge class. This was so appealing to me because these new
Alpha Chi Omega women would be the fruition of my hard work and because of that
I would have made a small, yet important, impact to Alpha Chi Omega’s future.
These new women would not only be my sisters for one short year (wow I’m a
senior?!?!) or my potential grand-little, these new women would be the future
leaders of our organization, the future spokeswomen for our national philanthropy,
Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, and eventually the 70 year old
women receiving 50-year pins as tribute to their years as Alpha Chi Omegas. For
these reasons I wanted to be VP Recruitment, but now that my job is done and I
must soon transition the next spirited (and lucky) individual into office,
there were a few unexpected things I gained from my position that I had no idea
I would be walking away with. And I am so thankful for all of them.
Having gone through this exhausting
but equally exciting process I have developed such a close-knit bond with my
sisters. I am confident that I truly know each and every one of my sisters as
well as their interests and needs. I am so unbelievably proud to be associated
with these women, and throughout these past few weeks I have been impressed
every single day by them. They inspire me and fuel me to be a better person
than I was the day before, and for that I am so grateful to each and every one
of my sisters. I also did not expect to learn from my sisters as much as I did.
The knowledge I gained from them is something that I will be able to use in the
real world after I graduate. I learned how to delegate and manage a committee,
I learned how to be more patient, and I learned many ways to better communicate
with others who are different than I. These are important life skills that I
believe will benefit me in the future. Running for this position I wanted to
make an impact on Alpha Chi Omega, but walking away from this position I now
know that Alpha Chi Omega has made a bigger impact on me, and I am so excited
to see what I learn from the new pledge class in the next year.
Thank you, Evan, for being such a fantastic leader for Alpha Kappa and running an amazing recruitment!
Read all about Alex Bilbruck's summer study abroad in France!
This past summer I studied abroad in France. I was so
excited that I had this amazing opportunity to be able to study there over the
summer. My friends can tell you how much I love Paris and the country of
France. I was lucky enough to have been to France multiple times before I
embarked on my study abroad adventure. I am currently an International Studies
major with a Business minor at the University of Oregon. Within my major it
requires me to have a third year proficiency in a language and French was a language
that I have been learning since high school so I wanted to continue to improve
and hopefully one day be fluent in the language.
I lived in
a small town called Angers; it is about an hour and half outside of Paris. It
was an intensive French language program so I spent most of my days speaking
French. It was good because I was able to improve on my speaking and writing
skills, which was very helpful. Also, I had the opportunity to go on multiple
excursions with my program including chateaux’s, Normandy, and St Malo/St.
Michel. St Michel literally looked Hogwarts. Lol Studying abroad was something
I always wanted to do before applying to colleges, and it was a great chance to
improve on a language that I love, and a country I find so beautiful. I stayed
with a host family during my time abroad and it was great to immerse my self in
their culture and way of life. It was an unforgettable experience and these
memories I will have for the rest of my life. I was able to make new friends
that I have become close with outside of fraternity/sorority life as well as
friends in other chapters. I traveled around with them on our days off and went
all around France and I will always share these memories with them. Now, that I
am back in the states I still hangout with my close friends from abroad. Who
would have thought I would end up meaning such great people and a new group of
friends to always hangout with. I absolutely love my time in France, and I
cannot say that I regret a single moment.
What an amazing experience for Alex! We are lucky to have someone as passionate and outgoing as Alex representing Alpha Chi in France. Thanks for sharing, Alex!
Welcome back to school Alpha Chi! Now that recruitment is finished, midterms are ending, and the leaves are changing, it's time to bring back the blog!
I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on how much our chapter grew last year and how bright our future looks. Last year, we had some amazing accomplishments. We won Chapter of the Year, first place in Miss Greek, second place in Greek Week, first place in Pumpkin Smash, and third place in Derby Days. Thanks to Cristina Pellizzon, we tripled the size of Diamond Days and just hosted our very first Nacho Night, making this year the most successful yet in terms of philanthropy. We said goodbye to some loyal seniors, and we've welcomed a diverse and excited new pledge class. We have had more women involved in something outside of Alpha Chi than ever before, and we have Alpha Chis in leadership positions all over campus and in the community. We clocked hundreds of hours of community service, and we've made a positive name for ourselves on campus and throughout Eugene. We've all grown as individuals this past year, but what I think we often fail to recognize is that we've all been growing together. We're never alone in our endeavors. We've supported each other through challenges. We've stayed strong through the hardships. When one of us succeeds, it's a success for all of us. But most importantly, we've grown as a sisterhood, and we've grown as a chapter. We have reinvented ourselves this past year as a united front, as a force to be reckoned with. Our bond is stronger than ever, and our symphony is ringing true throughout our house.
I want us all to be able to recognize what a special thing Alpha Chi Omega is. Alpha Chi means something different to all of us, but at the end of the day we are sisters, and we are in this crazy thing called life together. We deserved that big Chapter of the Year award because we showed the entire Greek community what it means to be a sorority woman and what it means to be a part of a sisterhood. We have an unbelievable foundation to build off of this year. I hope that we can take everything that we learned and accomplished last year and leave a permanent impact on our chapter that will continue to grow and develop when we're long gone.
I am proud to call you all sisters, and I am looking forward to seeing where we can all go together this year.
Read all about Alpha Kappa's sweat drive with Victoria Secret to donate to our local cause, Womenspace!
Alpha Chi Omega has partnered up with the Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representatives here at the University of Oregon to put on a sweats and clothing drive! Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy is the prevention of domestic violence. Here at the Alpha Kappa chapter, we support Womenspace, which is a local women’s shelter that provides the victims with shelter, toiletries, clothes, and a safe place to live away from their abusive relationships.
Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representatives and AXO have partnered up to put on a sweats drive for Womenspace since we have worked with Womespace in the past and we can help get word out there to the rest of the sororities in our community. I automatically jumped at the chance to help out our own philanthropy in any way we could.
All across the nation, campuses that have the Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representative group are having a competition between colleges to see which campus can raise the most amount of donated clothing items to a local organization. We really want University of Oregon to win!
Victoria’s Secret PINK and Alpha Chi Omega’s joint sweats and clothing drive will be March 12-18 (Monday-Saturday) from 12-2pm everyday. The drop off location for all of the clothes will be at AXO on the front Porch. The top 3 donators will receive Victoria’s Secret gift cards or gift bags filled with Victoria’s Secret PINK apparel. There will also be a prize for the sorority that donates the most items of clothing! All donators will receive exclusive coupons to redeem at the Valley River Victoria’s Secret store.
I'm glad that Alpha Chi is doing what we can to help victims of domestic violence here in Eugene!
Read all about Alpha Chi's membership development program, My Journey, from Melissa Andre!
This upcoming year our nationals is officially implementing a new program with our sorority. It's called My Journey and it is specifically designed to help each girl with the stages of life that they are in. For instance, as freshman it is there to help girls choose their majors, gain confidence, and work well with others. And for seniors it would be there to help you construct your resume and practice interviewing for a job. Each group of girls will be learning together with girls of their same age and they will be taught by their own peers. We will appoint a single person in each age group to lead the discussions and this will in turn give our girls another opportunity to become a leader in our house. I'm very excited about this because over spring break I will be traveling to Los Angeles for a regional conference to learn more about the program. Once I know more about the program I will train each grade representative and then we will officially begin My Journey next fall.
I am so excited to start using My Journey. The freshman and junior classes have already started to use it, and they are growing so much closer because of it. My Journey helps facilitate personal growth by learning from your peers. I know that this program will help us develop ourselves as well as help our chapter become more well rounded and successful!
Read all about Lauren Cartmell's volunteer work with the Greenhill Humane Society!
Being a huge dog lover—we’re talking made-my-dog-a-facebook
dog lover--it only seemed natural to start volunteering at Greenhill Humane
Society my sophomore year of college. It may have started more as a way to
fulfill community service requirements, but I quickly found myself driving
across town every week or two just to see those loveable animals.
While in the process of training to become a dog walker, I
worked as a “cattery companion.” It didn’t sound like my ideal job at first,
but I was amazed at how quickly I came to like spending time with the cats, getting
them used to human interaction and making sure they had a clean, safe place to
stay at the shelter.
After my brief stint in the cattery, I moved on to the
kennel, where I started by simply sitting with dog after dog, petting them,
feeding them treats, and acclimating them to collars, leashes, and the human
touch. I was in heaven. “Is this really community service?” I thought. It was
too much fun to be deemed “community service.” After this first level of
training in the kennel, I upgraded to dog-walker, which I have been doing to
this day. It’s a simple concept: you put a leash on, take the dog to a fenced
in yard to play, then walk them around the shelter’s grounds, and yet the dogs
are just ecstatic every time they get to go on one of these 15-minute walks.
It’s the highlight of their whole day. And it feels so good to be able to give
them that simple pleasure.
I’ve also spent time as a “kennel runner,” where I help
visitors find dogs that may be good matches for them. This is a rewarding job,
as I am directly involved in finding these dogs new homes.
Volunteering at Greenhill has been a wonderful experience.
Not only does it put a smile on my face, but it really changes the lives of the
animals there. I hope to continue volunteering there as long as I am in Eugene!
I don't know about all of you, but I am definitely jealous of Lauren's job! This sounds so fun and rewarding! I don't know how she's able to resist adopting them all!
Read all about President Annie and VP CRS Sam's time at the national Alpha Chi Leadership Convention!
The New Year has already help many exciting things for Alpha
Kappa. Early in the term, Annie and I were able to go the Leadership Convention
in Indianapolis, Indiana where we would meet with other presidents and Chapter
Relations and Standards from all over the country. It was truly an eye opening
experience to how grateful I am to my chapter here at the University of Oregon.
In our small groups, I found myself being able to speak up about not only of
efficient ways our house handles situations but also that I was able to give
solutions to other chapters problems because of the past exec board’s training
and the preparation we had been given in our new positions.
We are one of the chapters who cares the most. Not
necessarily about winning every single philanthropy event, or being the
“hottest” on campus (even though we definitely work it ;)), but that we care
the most about each other. I can say with all my heart that there is not a girl
in this house that would not look at a fellow member and not as least see a
fellow sister. There is a sense of unity in our house that not only do other
chapters lack, but that other chapters cannot revitalize. We have that spark
that has kept us sane thus far and that bit of logic in the back of our minds
reminding us that what goes on in “sorority life” isn’t always real life.But the people that we are becoming together,
the bonds we are constructing and rebuilding are the realest things we will
ever experience. The convention was a wonderful experience and I received a lot
of insight and training on dealing with sticky situations and dealing with the
overall stress of my position, but definitely the most rewarding thing was
being able to sit down with over 200 other chapters and tell them how proud I
am to be a part of Alpha Kappa chapter.
I am so proud to say that I had two amazing women representing Alpha Chi at Leadership Convention! Thank you both for all the hard work that you do!
Read all about Chloe and Sarah's study abroad in Spain!
Spain was a place that both Sarah and I always wanted to
visit and we were thrilled when we found out that we were able to study there
together in the summer of 2011. I am studying to be a teacher at the University
of Oregon and Spanish was something that I wanted to continue in order to be
more accessible to my possible Spanish-speaking students. Sarah is studying
both human physiology and Spanish and studying in a Spanish speaking country
was the opportunity she needed to practice her knowledge of the language.
We
lived in a small town called Oviedo, located in the northern Asturias region of
Spain, and we studied multiple aspects of the Spanish language and culture for
the majority of our days there. There were also chances to go on excursions to
nearby towns that were enriched with culture that we took advantage of. Being
able to study abroad was something we both knew we wanted to do before we
graduated college, and the chance to practice a language we both felt a passion
for as well as see first hand the way the Spanish people live was something we
will always treasure. Being able to immerse ourselves in another language and
country was an unforgettable experience on its own, but being able to share it
with each other made it all the more memorable. Having a sister to share this
trip with brought a sense of familiarity that made adjusting to a new place
easier and all the more enjoyable. We met through Alpha Chi Omega and have been
good friends, but being able to live in another part of the world together
created a deeper connection between the two of us that we are beyond grateful
for.
What an amazing opportunity for Chloe and Sarah! I'm sure their experience abroad was even more rewarding because they got to share it with each other!
On Hera Day, Cristina and Whitaker organized an event for Alpha Chi to give back to our local philanthropy, Womenspace. Keep reading to learn more!
Happy Hera day! March 1st is Alpha Chi Omega’s celebration
of service to others. In honor of our patron goddess Hera, Alpha Chi Omegas
give personal service for the happiness and well-being of others. It is a day
to remind our chapter to give back in some small way. Whitaker Sherk, VP of
Ritual and Fraternity Appreciation, and I decided our chapter needed to do a
small event on Hera Day to be reminded of our philanthropy, domestic violence
awareness, by being able to give back to Womenspace, the local women’s shelter
that the Alpha Kappa chapter supports. During a hectic time filled with midterms,
papers and classes coming to an end we wanted to do something small, but
meaningful for Womenspace. It was especially important for me, as VP
Philanthropy, to have our chapter always be thinking about the victims at
Womenspace at different times during the year and not solely when we raise
money and put on our philanthropy, Diamond Days, every May. This past Hera Day,
our chapter made supportive cards to the victims at Womenspace. We wanted to be
able to lift their spirits during this difficult time in their lives and hoped
it brightened their day. We wanted to make them feel like they are always loved
and constantly in our thoughts! We made over fifty handmade cards for the women
of Womenspace. The event turned out a great success! It meant a lot to our
girls as they felt like they were getting in closer contact with the victims,
who we are not normally able to interact with.It was great to have such a big turnout on Hera Day and have our chapter
give up their time for the happiness of others. Alpha Chi teaches us that even
something as small as making a card can brighten someone’s day and make a
difference.
I loved having the opportunity the make a card for Womenspace especially because we can't have personal contact with the members of Womenspace because of the sensitivity of their work. It was nice to be able to share something so personal as a card with a victim of domestic violence, and I hope that all of our cards brightened their day!
Read all about Lauren's involvement in Camp Kesem with her two Alpha Chi sisters!
It was not
until last year that I have ever heard of Camp
Kesem. My fellow Alpha Chi sister, Dana Helm introduced me to this national
organization that is sweeping across college campuses. Camp Kesem is a student run summer camp for kids with a parent who has (or had)
cancer. This one-week sleep away camp is a chance for kids ages 6-13 to have a
fun filled week and to just be kid.
After researching this amazing
organization I could not help but join Dana in the race to win a ten thousand
dollar grant from Livestrong. As well,
our fellow Alpha Chi, Kristiana Foppiano joined us in the promotion of Camp
Kesem on our campus. We competed against thirty other schools along the West
Coast hoping to retrieve the most online votes. Due to our persistence and
determination, we were given a generous donation from Livestrong to kick-start
our branch of Camp Kesem at University of Oregon. Fast forward one year, Dana,
Kristiana, myself, and six other amazing coordinators are currently working
towards our inaugural camp at YMCA Camp Collins in Gresham, Oregon. Dana is our
Co-Chair meaning she acts as a liaison with our regional and national director.
As well, she mediates meetings and is constantly checking in with each
coordinator to make sure we are all on track. Kristiana is our Student Support
coordinator; working as a solo act she is constantly using her outgoing
personality to recruit future camp counselors, interview them, and train them.
As for me, I am the Camper Care Co-Chair. This entails publicizing and
marketing our new camp to not only our University of Oregon campus, but also
the entire state of Oregon. I am so glad to say that I am a
member of this phenomenal organization. My reason for joining Camp Kesem is the
same as many others. I have seen the brutal affects of cancer, and I hope to
provide aid to those who have experienced the same. I can
firmly attest that being a member of Camp Kesem along with my two best friends
and Alpha Chi sisters, Dana and Kristiana has given me a once in a lifetime
opportunity. It is so rewarding to know that our consistent efforts and hard
work is going to fund a weeklong escape filled with laughter, smiles, sunshine
and fun!
This is such an amazing, worthwhile organization to be a part of! As a camp counselor myself, I think it is so admirable how much hard work and dedication they throw into this camp. Thank you, Lauren, Dana, and Kristiana, for all that you do for this community! I am proud to call you my sisters!
Read all about Gabo's work the the Student Health Advisory Committee!
It was last spring term when I first heard about the Student Health Advisory Committee or SHAC as we like to call it. A member of SHAC gave a short recruiting presentation about the group to the class and I was immediately drawn in. In the short presentation I learned that SHAC serves as the lesion between the University Health Center and the students in which it services. Not knowing what this fully meant I applied thinking it would be a good resume booster. As summer wound down I received news that I was selected to be a member of SHAC and our first meeting was Friday of week one.
The first Friday we jumped right into business and I was completely lost in the health center talk. I soon learned that we are a huge part of how the Director of the health center views and applies policy. As a member we evaluate the budgets and the student health insurance, recommend changes in the UHC services and promote good health to the university community. Ways in which we promote good health are through supporting movements such as the STFU or Smoke and Tobacco Free University and choosing representatives to serve on various committees such as the SRC steering committee and join in discussions on the universities sexual assault and harassment standards.
Becoming a member of SHAC has helped me become a more informed student on university policies and pushed me to become more involved in other aspects of campus beyond the SHC!
This sounds like an excellent way to be involved in the community! The work that Gabo does directly impacts all students on campus. I feel lucky to be able to say that someone as poised, outgoing, and warm hearted as Gabo is representing Alpha Chi in the SHAC!
Read all about Dad's weekend from your very own VP Membership Programming, Melissa Andre!
My position at Alpha Chi is VP Membership Programming and the best part about this is I get to plan mom’s and dad’s weekend. Well this past weekend was our dad’s weekend at Alpha Kappa and it was a huge success! Dad’s came in from all over the country to enjoy a fun filled weekend with their daughters. The morning played out with a tour of Matthew Knight Arena followed by lunch at Alpha Chi. Both dads and daughters were extremely excited to get a behind the scenes look at the infamous arena, we even had time to shoot a few hoops on the court. After lunch there was free time until bowling that evening at strike city lanes. Some dad’s even got into the competitive spirit with their daughters and made bets against each other (Have fun with your 30 hours of yard work Sam! I’ll buy you some sun block). To end the day we had an ice cream bar back at the house with a free raffle for an Oregon dad gift basket, the lucky dad was Lindsay Chenelia’s step dad, Rocky Paulsen. Congrats Rockey, I hope you enjoy it! Now there’s just about two more months until mom’s weekend, I can’t wait!
I know that this weekend was an amazing way to share our lives in Alpha Chi with our families back home. Thank you, Melissa, for setting up such a successful and fun weekend!
Read all about Paige Jeffrey's work with Rent the Runway!
What girl doesn’t love fashion and a good deal? As a representative for Rent the Runway On Camus this year, I have the opportunity to offer the ladies of University of Oregon an amazing chance to wear designer dresses for just a fraction of retail price. Maddy Robinson and I work with an awesome group of girls who share the same passion for style. As Runway Reps, we work under headquarters in New York City to bring the Rent the Runway company to our school and the West Coast. We are just 1 of 150 RTR campus programs across the United States who promote to their schools and plan fun events such as trunk shows and fashion shows. Due to the great success of our social media competition during Greek Week this Fall, our referrals exceeded 300 and we became one on the top ten RTR campus programs nationwide. We are so excited to continue to bring this company to U of O, especially focusing on sororities this Spring with formals coming up. Even though I have only been involved with this internship for six months, I have learned so much about working in a group in a more professional way. Unlike school project groups, Rent the Runway forces us to think in a completely business-like mindset while still having fun and promoting fashion! We have to deal with staying within a budget, working with other groups, and gaining new members each month. As the PR rep, I have come to love that part of communication even more and am proud to say that it will continue to be the field in which I focus and will someday have a career in.
Rent the Runway has made me realize that Public Relations is very fast paced and competitive. It is exciting to be part of a program that let’s me experience how a nationwide company runs, while connecting with my peers at U of O. All of the representatives in our group are so eager to make Rent the Runway a strong force and a smart choice for many formal events and opportunities here at Oregon.
It was important for me to branch outside of Alpha Chi Omega to gain experience in PR and help make an influence on campus in some way. Like so many girls in our sorority, it is so awesome to be able to do things outside of our chapter and then come back and share the experiences with sisters and try to get them involved too. Rent the Runway excites me since it is unlike anything else out there, and the fact that I can be involved with an on campus program is very ideal. I hope that with our upcoming Spring fashion show on March 11th ladies from all areas of our university will come together to experience what a great option renting dresses is. Wear. Love. Return.
This seems like the perfect job for Paige! Paige always looks five times as fashionable as I do, so she is clearly putting her passion for fashion and PR to work. It is great to know that Paige is involved in something that she loves!
Read all about Emily Inslee's volunteer work with the Early Childhood Cares program!
Before coming to the University of Oregon I knew I wanted to
be a teacher.After getting into the
Educational Foundations Program I decided I wanted to get a Special Education
minor to get more experience with the field. After taking many classes, I
realized that I was really interested in working in the Special Education
department and decided that I needed to get some experience in the classroom.I started volunteering at Early Childhood
Cares last year and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Early Childhood Cares is a program on campus
and it provides early intervention and early childhood education to infants, toddlers,
and pre-school aged children in Lane County.I work in a parent toddler class with children who have autism. It’s
been amazing to see the improvements and developments that the children have
made throughout the year, and it’s been a great opportunity to be able to work
with the individual children. Every
day, there is a meeting held for the parents to teach them specific skills for
their children; while the meetings are being held I take care of the children
and then we usually have free time, snack time, and circle time.Overall it’s been a great experience. I have
been fortunate enough to get to know all of the parents and been able to
discuss the hardships of having children with autism.Even though it’s a constant challenge, I am
able to see the love that these parents have for their children and it
reassures me every day that I want to be a teacher so I can have a positive
impact on future children and their families.
With so many education majors out there, it is great that Emily is seperating herself from the pack and putting this amazing work on her resume!
It
is the perfect job for me, on campus, flexible hours, and interesting. I get to
work on our website, caps.uoregon.edu. I am able to learn about a bunch of
different events and lectures that my center puts on about South East Asia. I
also get to do research of what kind of programs the University of Oregon has
to offer on Asian Studies. I get to use my Facebook skills to try to find alums
that had majors in different Asian Studies areas to get their information for
various grants we apply for. I also help compile data to help ensure that we
keep many of our grants that we run on.It might not be the most interesting job out there but it is one that I
am able to learn a lot at and expand my knowledge of different cultures. This
job has showed me how important relationships with your sisters are, they are a
great resource for many different things.
Sounds like Christine has a great way to earn some extra cash and to keep herself financially responsible, which just happens to be one of our values!
Read all about one of Alpha Kappa's celebrations of the arts by Whitaker Sherk!
In Eugene, the month of February is infamous. The exciting
feeling of a new year is long gone, the Ducks’ football season is over until
next fall and the rain never seems to stop. Students are busy cramming for
midterms and filling out housing applications.
At AXO, however, the vibe is not as pessimistic. This is
because every February we celebrate MacDowell Month. We spend time appreciating
various types of music and art because Alpha Chi Omega was founded on the arts.
This year, I wanted to come up with a celebration that both active members and
alumnae would look forward to as a distraction from tests and lousy weather.
After discussing various ideas with both our president and some of the alumnae,
we agreed that hiring On the Rocks to come perform would be a fantastic way to
celebrate. On the Rocks is one of the most successful collegiate a cappella
groups in the nation, and getting a hold of them was by no means an easy task.
After emailing every member that was listed on their website and getting no
response, I tried calling them; in fact, I called so obsessively that
eventually their contact numbers were deleted from the website.
Finally, I was able to get in contact with them and set up
the event. It was held on Sunday, February 19 at the AXO house. Around seventy
members and alumnae socialized and snacked on a delicious selection of
pastries, cakes, tea and coffee before the performance. We then gathered in the
living room for the show. It was one of the most amazing vocal performances I
have ever heard; the young men were so talented that they had hilarious
choreographed dance moves to go along with each song. Everyone was delighted
with the performance, and we could not have come up with a better way to
celebrate our MacDowell Month.
As a diehard On the Rocks fan, I was so excited to have them come and preform in our very own home! We had a great turnout, and everyone had an amazing time. Thank you Whitaker for putting on such a great event for our chapter!
Read about Alpha Kappa's different newsletters which work to promote communication in within our house and with our families curteousy of Caitlin Taylor!
As VP of PR/Marketing for Alpha
Chi, one of my main goals is to improve our Communication as a house. This term we have been able to
start working on that and I have implemented two small things that, I think,
will really help our house. The first is something called
“Alpha Kappa Stall News”. It’s something that I learned about at our exec
training in January. Basically it is a silly newsletter that goes in each stall
of the bathroom. It has important dates; the birthday’s of the Live-Ins,
inspiring quotes, pictures from the past month and a small feature on a girl in
the house. For February, I did a feature on a sophomore, Riley Bozich, since
she was the Derby Darling for Sigma Chi’s philanthropy that happened during
that month: Derby Days. Even though it is supposed to be a lighthearted way to
provide amusement, I have found that it is also beneficial to remind girls of
important things happening in the house! The second thing that I have been
working on is a parent newsletter! Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to
tell our parents what we are up to, and so I hope the newsletter will act as a
snapshot into the life of Alpha Chi! It is still a work in progress but I hope
to send the first one out sometime next month and then have it come out on more
of a regular schedule! It’s something I’m very excited about because I know how
much my parents support me and want to hear about what I am doing at school!
This will offer them a way to see what’s happening and to see what AXO is all
about. After all, we’re more than JUST a sorority! We are a group of women who
work hard for our school, for each other and our
community!
I absolutely love reading all of these newsletters, and I appreciate all the hard work Caitlin has put in to making this possible! Can't wait for more of these to come!
Read all about Jenn Hammond's volunteer work in a local health clinic!
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to work in the
medical field. My mom was a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at a local
retirement home and I would always enjoy going to work with her and I enjoyed
watching her work and care for the patients. Throughout junior high and high
school, I volunteered at hospitals and retirement homes, and these volunteer
opportunities solidified my desire to work in the medical field.
At the University of Oregon, I am part of the Pre-Health
Service Club. This club gave me the opportunity to reach out to the community
by providing me with contacts of several hospitals and clinics where I could
volunteer. One of the clinics that really stuck out to me, and basically
slapped me in the face, was Volunteers in Medicine. Volunteers in Medicine is a
free clinic that provides a wide-range of medical services for those who are
unemployed and/or have low income. Before I even knew free clinics actually
existed and that there were quite a few out there, I wanted to open one up so that
no one would be left sick, so I knew this would be a perfect opportunity to be
a part of something great. I immediately called the volunteer coordinator and
we set up an interview, and I was set to start Winter Term 2012.
Though I’ve only been at the clinic for a few weeks, I know
it’s a place I want to be at for a while and I plan on continually volunteering
for as long as I’m in Oregon. At Volunteers in Medicine, I am a receptionist.
Those who have known me for a long time know that talking to people isn’t an
easy feat for me, because I am very shy. However, being in Alpha Chi Omega, I
have grown to be a more confident and outgoing person which has helped me
tremendously at VIM because part of my job description includes answering
phones and talking with patients. If it weren’t for my growth through being a
part of Alpha Chi Omega, I probably would have been stuck organizing medical
records, which isn’t as fun and exciting as engaging with patients.
Jenn clearly does amazing work for this community, and she is not only helping others, but she is taking steps to solidify her future with this work. She is gaining crucial knowledge in her preperation for her career, and I know that she will go on to great things in the medical field!
Read all about Caitlin Taylor's internship with Victoria Secret!
It was an ordinary night during the week of Recruitment when
I saw an e-mail from our chapter president with a subject line that read
“Victoria’s Secret Internship”. I opened the e-mail, and within the first few
seconds of reading I knew that I wanted to apply. The internship involved
promoting the Victoria’s Secret brand around campus while gathering valuable
Public Relations and Marketing experience. I couldn’t be more excited. That
night I wrote out a cover letter, updated my resume and sent it all off with a
lot of hope that I would be selected. It would only be two days later that I
would find out that I had been chosen as a part of a group of girls for the
position.
Working with Victoria’s Secret has been one of the most fun
things I have done at University of Oregon. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a
ton of fun! The girls I work with are upbeat, enthusiastic and passionate about
what we do.
One of the best parts about being apart of the team is being
able to get my sisters involved too. Alpha Chi is one of the most important
things in my life and every time Victoria’s Secret has a campus event I know I
can count on my sisters to support me and show up. As much fun as it is to meet
new people through my internship its also comforting knowing that my sisters
will always be they’re for me.
That’s one of the things I love the most about AXO: the
support. These girls are my sisters for life and whether supporting me at my
internship of just sitting on the couch talking for hours upon hours with them,
I wouldn’t trade any of it.
What an exciting internship! I had the pleasure of seeing Caitlin out an about during Greek Week this fall promoting Victoria Secret, and she did an absolutely fantastic job convincing me that there is nothing better than Victoria secret. Not that I needed any convincing. But the real lingering question here is whether she got any free Victoria Secret merchandise from her position...If so, I bet the entire sorority community will be after her job next year!
Read all about Azia Calderhead's internship in the ASUO!
During the middle of fall term, I was
hanging out with a few Alpha Chis when I mentioned that I was involved in
student government during my years at Santa Monica High School. I was very
excited because I had just received news that I had been placed on a committee
for the ASUO, or the "Associated Students of the University of
Oregon". One of my sisters quickly told me that she absolutely had
to introduce me to Chrissy Hardesty. Upon hearing the letters, ASUO, Chrissy's
face lit up. She expressed to me in the deepest enthusiasm how happy she was to
be involved in student government. I asked her what she knew about the
internship program that the ASUO offered because I had seen it on the website,
and she encouraged me to apply. I was astounded when she told me that the ASUO
was one of the most powerful university student-run government in the nation
with a budget that surpassed $13 million a year. I had not met anyone who spoke
of student government with such excitement since I had started school here in
Oregon, and was ecstatic to talk to someone I could share that with! As soon as
I got home that night, I filled out my application, completed my resume, and
the rest is history.
My internship began this winter term. In
the classroom, I receive class credit while learning valuable information about
the Oregon government in relation to public education. We also make goals for
ourselves as student leaders by utilizing a "backwards plan". Guest speakers
come in often and share their experiences, and give the history of the ASUO's
inner workings. Outside of the classroom I work under ASUO Senate President,
Lamar Wise. When I applied, I was under the impression that my internship would
consist of a lot of coffee runs and busy work. The first time I met with my new
mentor one-on-one, he said, "Oh no, you're going to be worked much harder
than that." The type of things he needs me for is filling in for meetings
he isn't able to be at (his schedule is insanely busy) and asking my opinion on
various issues. I also serve on the Shared Governance Task Force committee with
him. We are currently conducting and compiling research on the most essential
ways to ensure that the ASUO and administration are cooperating in a
productive, beneficial way. Lamar is an incredible leader, and has taught me
more than I ever anticipated. He is constantly encouraging me to ask questions
and share my opinion. I deeply encourage everyone to observe a Senate meeting,
and find out how funds are allocated within out university.
Being a part of the ASUO internship
program has brought so much positivity to my life. Chrissy's strong words made
me really excited to apply for it, and without Alpha Chi I may not be an
intern! The support of my sisters has made my hectic schedule more bearable,
and I speak for so many of us when I say that. I've been a member of Alpha Chi
Omega for less than six months, yet I already know that I will benefit from it
for the rest of my life. I'm a sincere believer in working hard to make the
most out of every experience, and it lets me do just that, everyday.
Because I am involved in the ASUO myself, I can assure you all that Azia is one of the hardest interns in the internship program this term. Lamar is one of my closest friends, and he constantly raves about how amazing Azia is. She definitely proves that Alpha Chi is a sorority with solid values and a sorority that is involved in the community. I absolutely adore seeing Azia around the office, and we have become much closer because of the ASUO. Azia has a bright future ahead of her in the ASUO, and I look forward to working with her every step of the way!
Read all about Rach Dobkowski's study abroad experience in Italy!
Prior to college I knew that I loved to travel.I spent numerous summers in high school
traveling the world.After tenth grade I
went to Spain on a Spanish speaking language program.And after eleventh grade, I participated in a
charitable work/service program in New Zealand and Fiji.I also went to Mexico, the Dominican
Republic, Puerto Rico and various places throughout America.Seeing new places and traveling alone or
within a group, were life changing experiences for me because I matured significantly,
while learning about different cultures and peoples, thus solidifying my love
of travel.
Rachel at the Colosseum
in Rome!
Due to my
international adventures in high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad in
college.I was concerned that my
collegiate responsibilities might keep me from achieving my goal to study
abroad.However, I realized that I could
fulfill my arts and letters requirement by learning to speak Italian, and I
that turned out to be the perfect reason for me to study abroad.After taking just three terms of Italian, I
was off to Lecce, Italy for two months during the summer.This was University of Oregon’s first program
in that location of Southern Italy.One
unique benefit of this program was that it was offered during the summer, which
meant I wouldn’t miss out on any sisterhood activities or events held by
fraternity/sorority life, especially our spring philanthropy event, Diamond
Days.
Rachel at the
Trevi Fountaim!
In Lecce, I
spent my much of my time taking Italian language classes, as well as cooking
and ceramics elective classes.Our group
also traveled to different cities in the North and South, experiencing Italian
culture, exploring Italian beaches and making new friends from across the
world.While in Italy, I treasured
talking to locals because they always taught me more about the language and
culture than I could possibly learn in class.It was always easy to talk to them, even if you made a mistake.Fun fact: there is no word for awkward in the
Italian language.The Italian people
were extremely warm, friendly, outgoing and kind-hearted.My only regret was not having a sister there
to enjoy the experience with me.
My study
abroad trip to Italy was one of the highlights of my life.My Italian language skills improved
dramatically.I also learned about
Italian culture, saw some of the most historic and beautiful places in the
world, and ate some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.I miss Italy dearly but I am thrilled to be
back in Oregon enjoying my senior year with my sisters!
Clearly, Rachel had the time of her life when she was abroad! Luckily, we didn't have to say goodbye to her during the year. Rachel took full advantage of everything that was offered to her in Italy, and I have no doubt that she promoted the values of Alpha Chi in the world beyond Alpha Kappa!
Read all about how Alpha Chi educates our new members from your very own VP New Member Education, Morgan White!
Alpha Chi Omega is very interested in remembering where it
came from, and passing along this history to the new members that come to us
every year. We stress this importance and have weekly meetings to enforce the significance
of our history and traditional ritual. As Vice President of New Member
Education, I am responsible for every new member that comes through our door. I
make the experience a fun one, full of sisterhood bonding events to get to know
one another and making our new members feel at home in a house of over one
hundred and fifty girls. I stress the importance of learning our ritual, and
our five standards that all Alpha Chi Omega’s strive to live by. It is such an
easy and fun process, getting to know one another and forming life long
friendships. Also at our new member meetings, we go over
other house duties and obligations that any of our new members might have
questions or concerns about. It is their time to really get to know and become
involved in the sorority. My goal is to make this process as smooth as it can
be, and make sure that every new member is receiving the full experience that
is Alpha Chi Omega.
I remember when I was a freshman in the house that these new member meetings were the most informative hours spent in the living room in Alpha Chi. We learned about everything from ritual to how to ask out that cute boy in your business class to spring formal. I was able to bond with my new sisters, and I am so glad that I had those hours from exec that were completely devoted to educating the new members.
Thank you, Morgan, for the wonderful job that you are doing with the new freshmen pledge class!
For those of you who weren't at informal chapter this past Monday, you definitely missed one of the most unique chapters in Alpha Kappa's history. Speaking on behalf of those of us who went to chapter, I can honestly say it was an experience I will never forget.
Happy McDowell Month!
In honor of MacDowell Month, Whitaker Sherk decided to throw a dance party for us after chapter to celebrate the fine arts. Yes, 80's neon clothing was present, and the upbeat music mix was impossible to not dance to. The best part about it was the fact that it was a total surprise for ninety-five percent of the chapter. It was a great sisterhood event where we danced and went crazy and truly appreciated the fine arts of our generation.
Below are videos from the dance party. For those of you that know me, it should come as no surprise to you that I had technically difficulties, so sorry that there are two videos! Enjoy!
Thank you Whitaker for planning such a fun event for our chapter!!
Read
all about how Alpha Chi is taking measures to protect our environment courtesy
of Sophia Kirk!
Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Chapter, does our best to look out for the
best interests in our environment and create a high level of sustainability.
Since the sorority house is physically very large and requires a lot of
energy to power, steps to preserve electricity have been made. Energy
preservation is important because it will reduce dependence on natural
resources and fossil fuels, which have a large negative impact on our
environment. Light motion sensors have been installed and lights are turned off
when not in use in order to cut back of energy usage. Additionally, compact
fluorescent light bulbs have been replacing older technology bulbs to bring
higher efficiencies to our lighting. In the summer months when the house is not
at full capacity, lights are always turned off. The house has a steam heater,
which is used only when necessary in the winter months.
Your Recycle Chair, Morganne Towne,
taking out the recycling!
Alpha Kappa gives a member the opportunity to become
involved in advocating sustainability. Recycle Chair has the role of overseeing
the recycling system that all girls use in the house. There are three locations
of recycling (in both study dens as well as kitchen) where girls can recycle
cans, plastic, and paper in separate bins. Both study dens also have a small
bin where girls can deposit their old ink cartridges and batteries to be
disposed of correctly. Each bin is clearly labeled and all girls are educated
on how to properly recycle as well as the benefits of removing potentially
harmful items, such as batteries, from landfill bound garbage.
The Recycle Chair will also give fun facts about recycling and
sustainability through announcements during weekly chapter. Fun facts are
typically given as a trivia game, with the winner receiving some type of
“green” product that the Recycle Chair has planned. This brings awareness and
education to the entire house every week. The past Recycle Chair has also been
posting newspaper articles relating to sustainability and issues that apply to
real world events in locations in the house where girls will read it (like
second floor landing and bathrooms).
With the combination of actions taken to keep the Alpha Kappa chapter
of Alpha Chi Omega more eco-friendly, we can pride ourselves in sustainability
efforts.
It is so reassuring to me to know that the place I call home is doing
everything it can to protect the environment. For a house built in 1927 and
thus not built to be up to date with the new green technology, I think it is
very impressive that our house is taking measures to reduce waste. For your
information (and maybe even a fun fact to throw at someone) here are some facts
about energy consumption in the US and the huge issue of global warming:
-
Americans consume 26% of the world's energy.
-
18% of total emissions comes from operating our homes.
-
90% of the energy used by traditional bulbs is wasted in producing heat.
-
At any one time in most households an average of 8 appliances are left on
stand-by.
-
Industrialization, deforestation, and pollution have greatly increased
atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide, all greenhouse gases that help trap heat near Earth's surface.
-
Sea level could rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 to 59 centimeters) by
century's end, the IPCC's February 2007 report projects. Rises of just 4 inches
(10 centimeters) could flood many South Seas islands and swamp large parts of
Southeast Asia.
-
Strong hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and other natural disasters
may become commonplace in many parts of the world. The growth of deserts may
also cause food shortages in many places.
Climate
change is a scary thing, and we could easily be feeling the effects of it in our
lifetime. Our generation was left to face this problem, and it is important
that we do everything we can to protect this Earth.
Part of being a responsible member of society means utilizing your voice as a citizen. This can mean anything from sending a letter to your local senator, volunteering on a candidate's campaign, or donating $5 to a campaign. However, the easiest way to have a say in politics is to vote. Voting is a luxury that most people our age take for granted. When we do vote, a lot of times our generation is uneducated and uninformed about different issues facing our country today. Having the right to vote is something that many people in this world don't have. It is important to take advantage of this right especially because the people who are elected to public office will have a huge influence over our daily lives.
Morgan White getting
registered to vote!
Because of this, I invited the Oregon Student Association to our chapter dinner on Monday, January 30. OSA brought a ton of voter registration forms, and they registered everyone who wasn't already registered to vote. They gave a perfect speech about why it's important to vote in Oregon because, as students, there are many things decided in Salem that affect us as students.
More Alpha Chis
registering to vote!
Having OSA come to our chapter was easy and informative. They were so excited that a Greek house had reached out to them, and they were very impressed at how enthusiastic all of us were to be active members of our community.
For those of you wanted to register in your home state, I have listed some links below to voter registration information in Washington, California, and Colorado:
With a big presidential election coming up this fall, it is very important that as students we utilize our right to vote! Below are some links where you can find facts about the upcoming elections:
PolitiFact (Website that does fact checks about statements that candidates make): http://www.politifact.com/
New York Times (Has an amazing campaign and politics section which is updated regularly): http://www.nytimes.com/
Read up about this election and become an educated voter! Thank you to all of you for being so welcoming to OSA and so excited to become voters!
"I am sure that every one of my colleagues - Democratic, Republican, and Independent - agrees with that statement. That in the voting booth, everyone is equal." - Barbara Boxer
It's officially February! You know what that means. MacDowell Month! Read all about MacDowell Month written by the lovely Kristen Anderson!
Today our fraternity focuses on more than just our musical
abilities, but it is still important to remember why we celebrate MacDowell
Month. Every February we celebrate MacDowell month, but do we really know why
it is so special? Do we know what the MacDowell Colony creates for
artists?We celebrate this month to
honor the arts and how important they are to the community.
Alpha Chi
Omega first got involved with the MacDowell Colony when Fay Barnaby Kent, an
alumni of the Delta chapter and a former student of MacDowell, proposed that
the fraternity should work with the Edward MacDowell Association in 1908.Edward MacDowell was a talented American
composer in the early 1900s.His wife,
Marion Nevins MacDowell, also a former Alpha Chi from the Zeta chapter,
supported her husband in his composing and wanted to do something special for
him.Edward MacDowell composed much of
his work in their home, an old New England farmhouse in Peterborough, New
Hampshire, but he was never able to fully concentrate on his work. Marion
thought of the idea of a retreat for her husband to go on so he would be
completely isolated and be able to fully engage in his work.She thought a log cabin would be an ideal
place because he loved nature and the woods relaxed him.Marion Nevins MacDowell secretly designed and
helped construct a cabin so her husband could have a remote workshop to
compose.The cabin was placed not far
from their house on Hillcrest Farm in a secluded setting. The cabin sparked the
idea not only for great music but also the beginning of an institution that
would foster creative art. Unfortunately soon after the cabin was built, Mr.
MacDowell passed away, with a wish to create a haven for other artists to
compose and create their own work in a quiet atmosphere.Since Edward MacDowell’s untimely death, his
wife Marion has built 23 studios.In the
next 40 years, the original 80 acres turned into 700 acres and 3 buildings
turned into 40.
In 1909
Alpha Chi Omega started sponsoring Marion Nevins MacDowell, in the project
which would become one of the most outstanding art movements in America.The following year, Alpha Chi Omega began
fundraising to build a studio at the MacDowell Colony.Our fraternity donated a studio to MacDowell
Colony so artists can continue to create masterpieces in a serene environment
with no distractions.
The Star Studio was completed in 1911.It is completely hidden from the road that
passes the MacDowell’s home.Above the
door of the studio, a plaque reads “Star Studio, dedicated to the cause of Art
and to the artist’s need of solitude by Alpha Chi Omega, 1911.”MacDowell Colony is the 1st National
philanthropy Alpha Chi sponsored.With
the help of the fraternity and Marion’s hard work, today the colony means
emancipation for many artists, freedom from the pressure of noise and hurry,
constant interruption, nervous tension, and the consequent loss to society of
inspired painting, sculpture, literature and music. Now, MacDowell Colony is an
exclusive place where artists can go to develop their work. It is unbiased to
the different types of arts but is limited to a certain number of men and women
each year.The Colony is open from June
until the end of September and most artists stay a period of two months.It is home to about 25 artists at a
time.Some famous artists that have
benefitted from MacDowell Colony are Aaron Copeland, who wrote the musical,
Billy the Kid, and Alice Sebold, the author of The Lovely Bones.
So maybe this February stop by the Jordan Schnitzer Museum
of Art and think about how this artwork was created, or just admire the work
and celebrate the arts!
I had no idea that there was so much more to MacDowell Month! Remember to enjoy the arts this month and celebrate what we were founded off of!
Read all about Alpha Chi's Winter term scholarship dinner celebrating our outstanding grades courtesy of your very own VP Intellectual Development, Whitney Haskin!
On Monday, January 23rd,
the Alpha Kappa chapter had their very first Scholarship Dinner of 2012. This
dinner is an Alpha Kappa tradition that is not nationally practiced in every
Alpha Chi Omega chapter. Scholarship Dinner commemorates the achievements and
progress that the ladies of Alpha Kappa have made throughout the past term.
3.5 and above
The
dinner began with the introduction of our two guests of honor. Ben Eckstein,
the ASUO President, attended the event and sat at our head table next to Alpha
Chi President Annie DeMarchena. We were also honored with the presence of
Professor Mary Wood, a law professor at the University of Oregon. The entire
chapter was so pleased to see two incredibly influential individuals attending
our chapter dinner. After a swift dinner and dessert, Annie made her
announcements and the scholarship ceremony began. The categories of the
honorees at each Scholarship Dinner are 3.0 and above, 3.5 and above, and 4.0
and above.
3.0 and above
Both the above a 3.0 and above
a 3.5 categories received recognition in front of the whole chapter. A photo of
each group was taken and will be posted next to a certificate within a frame on
the wall of our house so that their achievements can be more permanently displayed.
Ladies with a 3.0 and above do not have to complete any study tables. They have
presented themselves as beyond capable of excelling and completing their own
academic goals.
Those who fall into the final
category, above a 4.0, are rewarded with more substantial candy, the photo and
frame, and are also given a pair of hand made “smarty pants” or pajama shorts
with our decorated Greek letters embellished somewhere along the seam. While
that tradition may sound a little silly, it is something that girls work for
and look forward to.
4.0 and above with their smarty pants!
Our chapter has many goals and
hopes for the new year. Within the realm of academics, we hope to strive far
above and beyond our last cumulative GPA and tend to our own personal
ambitions. As sisters, it is our duty to help and encourage one another to
“seek the heights” of our personal intellectual destinations. 2012’s
outstanding numbers in each of the three recognition categories has inspired
the members of Alpha Kappa to work harder, to study that extra hour or two, to
explain a difficult concept in economics to a friend, to proofread that paper
for the third time, to be an inspiration to other students, and to strengthen
our bond as sisters.
“Excellence
is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are
everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.” -Warren
G. Bennis
I am so proud to say that I am sisters with all of these amazing women who work so hard! I know that each and every one of them is going to go on to accomplish great things. Whitney worked so hard on this dinner, and she did an outstanding job of showcasing how much our chapter cares about academics and scholarship. Can't wait for the next dinner Spring term!
